Monitors: PC Mac Color Profile Calibration LCD CRT? - HELP!!

[shiningstardv]

So lately my biggest issue has been with my color adjustment on all my photos. When I try to adjust something in Photoshop it always comes out looking different everywhere else. On my Mac it looks like one thing, then on the web it looks different, and on my mom's PC with her CRT it looks still different. So how do I calibrate anything and everything to get what should be "normal" on my monitor? It's not always just color, but contrast and brightness in each photo as well. I understand that every monitor will view a photo slightly differently, but I just want to get my monitor/software standardized for when I color correct my photos. I am using Photoshop CS, Windows XP, a Samsung SyncMaster 151s LCD, and a Canon 20D. I am afraid I am permanently messing up all my photos because I am correcting them based on a miscalibrated monitor! Please help me!

PS -- I basically don't know where to start. Do I need a new monitor? A different color profile? To recalibrate my monitors settings? Or what?

[robertwgross]

Each of your computers must be completely color-calibrated independently. This is not a monitor-only operation or a printer-only operation.

---Bob Gross---

[shiningstardv]

I appreciate the time you took to reply Bob, however it does not really answer my question. I realize that much, now how do I go about doing this?

[robertwgross]

Every computer has its own methods for color-calibration, somewhat leaning on the operating system. Often, you can start to get there with proper installation of color-managed software, and the OS takes it from there. Often, you can tune that a bit with Adobe Gamma, etc. Then the rest of the time, to do it properly, you end up with a Spyder on the monitor to start the whole calibration process.

---Bob Gross---

[scottbergerphoto]

Monitor: You can start by calibrating your monitor with Adobe Gamma in Windows XP. You run the program and save the file you create as you default monitor profile. Then Windows always knows to use it. You can then graduate to a colorimeter package like a Spyder/Optical package from Colorvision. This monitor profile is Never a Working Space. Unless you do this step, you never know how your edited pictures will look until they are printed.

Printer: You can choose to used the canned profiles that come with your printer, which in some cases are very good (Epson) or you can buy a profiling kit to profile your printer for each paper/ink combination you use, or you can print out some samples of color charts and have profiles commercially done. That can run $50-75 a profile. I use an Epson 2200 and the Epson supplied profiles.

Software:It is also important that in your photo editing software you have set the correct preferences for your Working Space and make sure that the program has the correct monitor profile selected as your default monitor profile.
Scott

[robekert]

I know exactly what you are referring to. This all seems so involved, and it is. I started my digital journey 3 years ago thinking it was all just the camera. I use a Mac so I don't know what is in Window's OS for monitor calibration, but the easy answer for me was a Gretag Macbeth iDisplay Calibration device.

So many times I posted a picture that looked great to me and someone would reply.....looks dark, looks light, etc. etc. Now if someone makes that comment I know their monitor is off.......not mine. Get a GM iOne Display or a Spyder, either will work.
Just my experiences,
Rob

[PacAce]

Monitor: You can start by calibrating your monitor with Adobe Gamma in Windows XP. You run the program and save the file you create as you default monitor profile. Then Windows always knows to use it. You can then graduate to a colorimeter package like a Spyder/Optical package from Colorvision. This monitor profile is Never a Working Space. Unless you do this step, you never know how your edited pictures will look until they are printed.

Printer: You can choose to used the canned profiles that come with your printer, which in some cases are very good (Epson) or you can buy a profiling kit to profile your printer for each paper/ink combination you use, or you can print out some samples of color charts and have profiles commercially done. That can run $50-75 a profile. I use an Epson 2200 and the Epson supplied profiles.

Software:It is also important that in your photo editing software you have set the correct preferences for your Working Space and make sure that the program has the correct monitor profile selected as your default monitor profile.
Scott

And to add to what Scott has already said, you can calibrate the Mac (OS X) by going into the System Preferences), clicking on the Display icon and then clicking on the Calibrate button. To have the most control over the calibration, select the Advanced option. Then follow the instructions displayed as you calibrate. If you are going to be using Photoshop as your main editing program, use a gamma value of 2.2 instead of the Mac default of 1.8.

Once you're done manually calibrating the monitor this way you can fine tune the monitor calibration by using a calibration device like SpyderPro, if you have on.

[robekert]

And to add to what Scott has already said, you can calibrate the Mac (OS X) by going into the System Preferences), clicking on the Display icon and then clicking on the Calibrate button. To have the most control over the calibration, select the Advanced option. Then follow the instructions displayed as you calibrate. If you are going to be using Photoshop as your main editing program, use a gamma value of 2.2 instead of the Mac default of 1.8.

Once you're done manually calibrating the monitor this way you can fine tune the monitor calibration by using a calibration device like SpyderPro, if you have on.

Hmmmm,
I was not aware of this manual calibrating step proir to using the calibration device. Have to give this a try. Thanks PacAce.
Cheers,
Rob

[PacAce]

Hmmmm,
I was not aware of this manual calibrating step proir to using the calibration device. Have to give this a try. Thanks PacAce.
Cheers,
Rob

You're welcome.

Re the Mac manual calibration, that is the recommended procedure for the SpyderPro. I'm not sure if that's the recommendation for other cal. devices as well but it won't hurt to do it any way. :)