Just got a Spyder4Express...now what?

[jdpence]

So I just got finished calibrating my monitor using a Spyder4Express. Now what? Are there any changes I need to make in Lightroom 3 or PS CS5 or will these programs automatically use the new monitor profile created by the Spyder software?

[tonylong]

PS and LR pick it up automatically. A few other apps do as well, but don't count on it! The Canon Raw processing software Digital Photo Professional (DPP) can be set to read it as well.

[jdpence]

Thanks for the reply. For some reason I was thinking I had to assign the monitor profile but I couldn't figure out how to do it. Now to get some test prints from WHCC and check the calibration. Thanks again Tony

[tonylong]

Jeremy, be aware that sometimes calibration doesn't "nail" a proper monitor brightness, so if your test prints come back too dark don't panic! Turn the brightness down to match the prints and re-calibrate and get more test prints to verify!

Also if you have Photoshop and/or Lightroom you can download profiles from WHCC for the paper/printer they will use and use those profiles to "Soft Proof" your images (and to compare with the prints when they come in).

[jdpence]

In preparation for going through the calibration process I recently turned down the monitor brightness from 100 to about 50. I've been reading a lot about color management the last couple of days and realized I have been having a problem with dark prints probably for this very reason.