monitor calibrator

what exactly are monitor calibrators?

Do they do what they do automatically(change the color and contrast etc)

Do you just plug them in? Do you have to run them every time that you use your computer?

My monitor has three settings - its three numnbers (something like 4500,6000 and 9000). Do these correspond to white balance settings in cameras. say 4500 links to daylight (presumably you are using your computer with strong daylight.

also - are monuitor calibrators specific to a given monitor (eg samsung).

Here's my weak stab at explaining it...I'm sure someone else can do much better.

A monitor calibrator walks you through adjustments on your monitor to get it to a baseline setting, and then reads a series of colors that your monitor produces. Once it has all of the colors, it creates a monitor profile that tweaks the colors to get them to standard conditions so that what you see on the monitor is as close to "standard" as you're going to get. If you have an uncalibrated monitor, you have no idea what you're looking at. It could be very close to standard, or it could be WAY off.

Calibrators are monitor independent.

I've got the Pantone Eye One Display 2 and couldn't be happier with it. The Pantone Huey and Spyder 2 Express are two cheaper alternatives that generally get good reviews.

Yes, I've got a GretagMacbeth Eye-One Display 2 as well, and it's great!

The purpose of monitor calibration is not "to match my printer" or anything else. It's simply to ensure consistent colour from your monitor, day-to-day, month-to-month.

Therefore, a photo you view on a calibrated monitor today will look the same five years from now. And it will look the same on somebody else's calibrated monitor.

Even if you take no other steps towards colour management, monitor calibration is critical.

No, you don't need to calibrate every day (although some people do). If your monitor is fairly new and stable, once every 2-4 weeks is enough. It doesn't take very long.