understanding (color calibration) - print vs Macbook screen

For various reasons, I've gone from the PC world to buying a new Macbook Pro and overall couldn't be happier. However, I guess there is going to be a learning curve regarding what I see on the screen vs. what gets printed. For example, I just received a print (Mpix) and the white balance is way off - the image is much more warm than what is displayed on the Macbook. I understand that there will be a difference between what a photo looks like in ambient light vs what is shown on a screen, but how do you mange your colors? There really isn't any calibration tools, just profiles. To rule out an issue from Mpix, I had the photo printed at Walmart and the results were similar, albeit not as sharp. When I create an image on the Macbook, how can I be assured that is what will get printed because right now, its not and its driving me nuts.

Take a look at your display preferences first. Macs often use a setting called something like True Tone that automatically adjusts the display’s white point based on ambient lighting. Turn that off. Same with any automatic display brightness setting. If your display is too “cool” you will tend to make image adjustments that print “too warm” - if your display is “too bright” you will tend to make image adjustments that print “too dark.”

You need to control these things yourself and adjust them for your working environment. To do this, you can try to use the factory profile first to see if it works ok once you get rid of all of the automated adjustments. If not, you will probably benefit from calibrating and profiling your display with a colorimeter (xrite, datacolor , etc).

Comparing the display to your print should be done in consistent lighting so you can see the results of your adjustments and make deliberate changes.

Enjoy your new Mac!

Kirk

Thank you for the info. I do have True tone turned off as well as auto adjust brightness. From what I have found the older macbooks had a built in calibration system, but the new M1 only has presets. There is a "Photography" preset but when I select it, it doesn't seem to do anything other than dimming the screen. I have an older colormunkii that I used to use on a PC but I'm not sure if it is compatible with the newer macbook. Its quite puzzling (and frustrating).

The older Mac calibration utility was “by eye” and worthless.

Treat yourself to a colorimeter, a holiday gift to yourself!

Another thing to consider is downloading and printing reference images of known quality, like these:

https://www.northlight​-images.co.uk/printer-test-images/

This will help remove confounding color issues that may have crept into your edits.

Kirk

I'm on the Calibrite website right now checking my options! lol

I hope you don't mind, but I edited the title swapping white balance, which is a setting in cameras and editing software, for "color calibration" to make the subject of the topic a bit more on point.

I've used hardware (Spyder etc.) and my own eyes and monitor adjustment settings in the past to get things better. Of course the calibrator was better!

firefighter4u wrote in post #19454542
Thank you for the info. I do have True tone turned off as well as auto adjust brightness. From what I have found the older macbooks had a built in calibration system, but the new M1 only has presets. There is a "Photography" preset but when I select it, it doesn't seem to do anything other than dimming the screen. I have an older colormunkii that I used to use on a PC but I'm not sure if it is compatible with the newer macbook. Its quite puzzling (and frustrating).

The standard factory-adjusted monitor is set up bright in order for it to better present itself in the bright retail environment...for that reason, most monitors have to have their brightness reduced a certain amount, for monitor adjustment hardware and software to be able to properly adjust hues and brightness and contrast to a known level (as detected by the screen measurement hardware), which inherent better matches calibrated printer output.

Monitors often have preset levels for warmth/coolness of the display, and (in external monitors with dedicated buttons on the side/bottom/back) the user gets to choose that level. It sounds as if factory default is for a somewhat cool, which is why the Mpix print looks warm in comparison...look for display adjustment option within your laptop settings (in lieu of pressing buttons on the monitor)

So I installed the latest software for my colormunki display device and performed a calibration. Since my print was way warmer in color than the MacBook display, I expected the display to be much warmer after calibration. However, while it is a tad warmer, the display still does not come close to what the printed image looks like. I am to the point where I am gun shy editing anything on the MacBook and going back to my old PC. I either did something wrong during the calibration process or my expectations are too high. I find it hard to believe that a brand new M1 MacBook Pro can not be calibrated correctly. I have watched a couple of YouTube videos that state that the M1 shouldn't even need calibrated for photography! Of course there is a good chance that I am overthinking all of this as well...

The display options are limited to selecting "presets" now. There are very few options for adjustments.

To perform a calibration (bringing the display to a known state) and profiling (adjusting color to match reference values) you need to give the color software target values that you hope to achieve- for example, white point and luminance values. This is usually something like 6500 degK and 120 cd/m2 or whatever you choose. If you are viewing the print under a specific lighting condition, then you can adjust your target values to match the printed output viewed under your reference lighting.

I would suggest that you print some of the reference images to which I linked with the printer or print lab or your choice. Then try different white point and luminance target values with your cal software. Perhaps start with a “warmer” white point like 5500 degK. Native white points are usually pretty “cool” compared to daylight.

Kirk