Any tips for new i1 Display Pro and ColorCheck Passport Usage

I have been needing to upgrade my color management tools for quite a while. I used to use a Spyder2 colorimeter to profile my monitor, but since I moved to an Apple 27" Thunderbolt Display, I've not been able to do it since its incompatible. After a frustrating printing session over the weekend, I did some research and ordered the X-Rite i1 Display Pro and ColorChecker Passport Bundle. I use Lightroom 4 almost exclusively for my processing work, rarely opening CS5 if needed. I have also used either an Exposdisc or Westcott calibration target for custom white balance and they work reasonably well, but I've heard good things about the ColorChecker.

So as I transition to these new tools, any tips or advice on their use with Lightroom 4 would be appreciated.

Use the Color Checker and the free software to profile your camera. It is easily done and the s/w puts the profile into the right folder for LR. Adobe made the DNG Camera Profiles using a limited number of units - the profiles are excellent, but still, there is inevitable variation in any physical device and your unit may be well off the center of the bell curve. If you regularly shoot in a particular light environment (studio, for instance) be sure to profile in that light, because the sensor's chromatic sensitivity differs according to the illumination.
I profiled my cameras using the QP Card, a similar system, and although I will switch profiles if it aids the editing, the QP profile has become my default.

Subscribing as I have a ColorMunki and Colorchecker coming soon.

tzalman wrote in post #15460070
Use the Color Checker and the free software to profile your camera. It is easily done and the s/w puts the profile into the right folder for LR. Adobe made the DNG Camera Profiles using a limited number of units - the profiles are excellent, but still, there is inevitable variation in any physical device and your unit may be well off the center of the bell curve. If you regularly shoot in a particular light environment (studio, for instance) be sure to profile in that light, because the sensor's chromatic sensitivity differs according to the illumination.
I profiled my cameras using the QP Card, a similar system, and although I will switch profiles if it aids the editing, the QP profile has become my default.

Thanks... so what lighting do you use to baseline the camera, or do you mean to profile it on every outing? I do a lot of sports so I am thinking I will definitely use it in each gym/venue like I use the Expodisc today.

Also, does this depend on me using the DNG RAW format, because I have been storing RAW in camera specific format?

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #15460080
Subscribing as I have a ColorMunki and Colorchecker coming soon.

I went back and forth between the ColorMunki and i1 before finally pulling the trigger. Did you get the CM Photo, or the Display?

I believe it's the Display (the mid-level model)

It's been a few weeks since this thread last saw activity. Any feedback on either calibration system? I'm leaning toward the i1 Display Pro because I will want to calibrate a couple laptops and a desktop system. My understanding is that the Colormunki can only be installed on one system at a time.

Bob

Hot Bob wrote in post #15572512
It's been a few weeks since this thread last saw activity. Any feedback on either calibration system? I'm leaning toward the i1 Display Pro because I will want to calibrate a couple laptops and a desktop system. My understanding is that the Colormunki can only be installed on one system at a time.

Bob

Where did you get that "understanding" of the Colormunki? I don't have one, but that doesn't sound right...?

tonylong wrote in post #15572608
Where did you get that "understanding" of the Colormunki? I don't have one, but that doesn't sound right...?

Not quite sure. Probably from the product reviews on B&H. I've never used a color management system so I'm trying to figure out what is the best way for me to go. Since I use a lab for most of my printing, I'm leaning toward the i1 Display Pro as, according to an X-rite white paper, a colorimeter is going to be more accurate across the gamut of my displays than a spectroradiometer like the Colormunki.

Bob

I have "Munki" installed on laptop and desktop with no issues.

I use both in my personal workflow.

Just wanted to make a quick personal point about the Color Checker, I made profiles for both my 20D and 5DMII, using both the XRite Profile software and Adobe DNG profiler, and I much prefer the profiles created by the Adobe software. I'm not sure how to describe it, but the color in the XRite profiles seems to be much more vivid while the color in the same adobe profiles seems much more natural.

Alright, I just ordered the i1 Display Pro/ColorChecker Passport combo from B&H. I've been putting this off for too long and need to get things under control.

Bob