Monitor Calibration

Hello all... I have a question about calibrating my monitor. I don't have any nice software addition and am just using the adobe gamma thing.

Problem is that is is asking me what my Phosphors are and I have no idea what that means???

I'm using a HP 17" LCD... I hear LCD's are more difficult to calibrate?? Problem is that my last batch of developing did not turn out as on my screen... frustrating when I spend so much time getting things to look a certain way. My prints were much darker and more saturated than what I see on my monitor.

Any advice?? And does anyone know what a "Phosphor" is??

Phosphors are the chemical elements of a CRT monitor--you have an LCD display, which does not use phosphor to generate light and color.
I've read reputable authors who suggest that the stock manufacturer's display profile is better for LCDs than trying to calibrate them visually, using Adobe Gamma.

Instead, you might look at a hardware calibrator, like ColorVision's spyder (make sure to get a newer version that specifically mentions it works with LCDs). If your budget is a bit more flexible, spyders from Monaco/X-rite and Gretag Macbeth are very well reviewed:
http://www.drycreekpho​to.com …tor_calibration​_tools.htm
(more great info at that site too)

If you want even more info, check "Real World Photoshop CS2" by David Blatner and Bruce Fraser
http://www.amazon.com …n=507846&s=book​s&v=glance
It's has a great intro to color management in the first few chapters. If you want to drink from a fire hose, try Fraser's "Real World Color Management."

Dear Kristy,

Don't feel bad about problems with an LCD monitor. Mine has really noticeable shifts in contrast and brightness with no more than a few inches of head movement up and down. Not only that, but the little patterns that they want you to adjust so that they "blend in" - they don't - no matter what you do.

Mine is a ViewSonic 17" model VX 710. As soon as I get around to it, I'm going to swap it out for a different make and model, and if that doesn't work I'm going back to glass bottle.

Get absolutely as far back as you can (litterally so you can barely operate the keyboard and mouse), and squint your eyes when you make the adjustments to the patterns. You will see the blending MUCH better.

Kristy-
Your monitor will almost always look brighter than room-lit prints because a monitor is actually a light source while your print just reflects the light of the room. To make prints look better make sure there's a lot of light on the picture. If it's a good print you'll see more detail and better colors.

Where did you get the prints done? Do they have an option for "don't touch my colors" (I've seen it called TrueColor among other things)? Of course if the tech doing the printing edits the pictures then all bets are off


Robert-
My wife and I went to several stores looking for LCDs that would allows us to sit next to each other at the desk and see the same colors. The best looking bunch that we saw in person were the Apple displays.

Online research indicated that Dell uses the exact same LCD panel in its FPW series, being several hundred dollars cheaper than Apple we now have 2 Dell 2005FPWs. The biggest downside is that it has problems displaying pure black, but other than that there's 0 color shift for at least a 90 degree viewing angle (after that it's only slight).

Thanks, I'll try the squinting!

Thanks guys... I've been researching and trying to calibrate to the actual photo on my desk.... UUUGGGHHH.... I decided to just buy a calibration tool. It will save me trouble in the long run, I believe. I found Monaco XR Pro on special at www.chromix.com and have decided to give it a try... hopefully all will be well. I'll post my findings when it arrives.

Thank you again for the very informative posts and also for the time you spent answering my questions...

oh, and by the way... I get my developing done at WHCC... I was doing fine with them until my last set of prints came in.... they re-ran my order and when they came back looking exacly the same, I realized I had a problem and not them... Oh the woes.... I'm avoiding any editing right now because it seems like a waste of time if they prints are not what my monitor is telling me I'll get.

Here's what I did to match my Sony LCD for sRGB.

I used the 2.2 gamma charts on this page: http://www.photoscient​ia.co.uk/Gamma.htm#men​u

I adjusted the gamma curves for each channel in the gfx card driver until the squares all looked grey and thus blended. It took some time and I used 3 points on each curve to do it but the final result is that when I print with sRGB the prints are a perfect match.

One thing to note when using these charts on a LCD monitor is that moving them up or down a pixel changes how they look due to the way the RGB cells are laid out in the monitor. I double checked I had them in the right place by viewing them at 200% as well as 100%. That probably doesn't make sense - but it will if you try it.

Kristy, I think you're on the right track with monaco. I just got the non-pro version and it's amazing what it can do for an LCD screen. I too, have waited a while to process a big batch of photos for fear that they will come out way off color-wise. Now I can do it confidently. You've made the right choice in IMHO.

Dennis,
If you bought the non-Pro version in the last month or so, check out their rebate offer--they'll send you a free upgrade to the Pro version of the software.
I'm having trouble reaching their site right now, so I can't give you the exact link, but it should be right on the Optix page at www.monacosys.com.

Robert

If your going to upgrade your Viewsonic with another model I would suggest one that I just got which has srgb built in and it is so easy to calibrate my home printer and lab printers, its a ViewSonic 19" model VA1912w widescreen.

Bruce

dbump wrote:
Dennis,
If you bought the non-Pro version in the last month or so, check out their rebate offer--they'll send you a free upgrade to the Pro version of the software.
I'm having trouble reaching their site right now, so I can't give you the exact link, but it should be right on the Optix page at www.monacosys.com.

If you're taking advantage of the rebate do it soon because I believe it expires on Dec 31st. Great deal, Great offer!!

Very interesting - I wasn't planning on purchasing any new monitors, because I have too many sitting around already gathering dust. I am seriously thinking of backing up to one of my 17" glass CRT types just to see if it is really any easier.

Nonetheless, I appreciate the input. Maybe things will look different 6 mos down the road.
Thanks,