Spyder3Pro vs. Spyder3Elite

Does Sypder3Pro support inkjet printer?

saralee wrote in post #6989054
Does Sypder3Pro support inkjet printer?

Spyder3 Pro is a monitor only calibration tool.
I was already wondering what some of the previous posts in this thread were talking about printer color matching...

For printer calibration you need someting like the Spyder3 Print.

I ordered the elite version from calibration-direct.com and just received mine. I'm using mine with a dual monitor setup and now both monitors match each other.

Any further opinions?

amoergosum wrote in post #7779928
Any further opinions?

Always! The Spyder3 Elite is the much improved successor to the older Spyder2 Pro. The Spyder3 Pro is the much improved successor to the earlier Spyder2 Express.

One difference in the software between the Spyder3 Elite vs Pro is the inclusion of the "Expert Console", a screen which presents all your specific settings in a consolidated format. Most novice users of the Spyder3 Pro follow the sometimes confusing instructions verbatim, leading them to use the RGB sliders to calibrate and selecting a common color temperature like 6500K. But if you actually speak to a DataVision Tech Support person, they will tell you to select Native white balance for an LCD monitor and to NOT use the RGB controls. That's a topic for debate, because that seems to be the method used to achieve a target white luminance value with the Spyder3 Pro software.

The Expert Console screen in the Spyder3 Elite software allows me to simply enter my custom White and Black Luminance target values directly (ie. 120cd/m2 and 0.35cd/m2). If you wanted, you can also specify any color temperature too, not just the 4 choices given by the Spyder3 Pro software.

Bottom line is, I never touch the RGB sliders when calibrating and I go directly to the expert console and enter my custom settings (they are actually saved so I just select from a drop down menu). The only monitor controls that get touched during calibration are the Brightness and Contrast. I get consistent and superb results on my newer Dell 2209WA.

I've seen the Spyder3 Elite selling new for as low as $170 USD recently. I bought mine slightly used for much less than that.

All this discussion, and only one post, the last one, begins to answer the question.

I have the same question: What is the difference between the Pro and Elite?

A comparison chart of the differences (from the mfg's website) is here: http://spyder.datacolo​r.com/s3compare.php

But what do those things mean? How are they implemented. How well do they work?

The last poster addressed the Expert Console.

In particular, what is:

...the Iterative Gray Balance Option?

... Graph and Compare Tone Response

...Chart W. Lum?

...Comp. Various OSD settings

etc.

tom, you may get a good direct response if you PM'd Chas directly. This thread is over two years old and besides it's hard to say how many folks have used both the Pro and Elite version, whereas Chad seems to know "the stuff".

Old thread but I see no mention of the iMac automated luminance adjustment with the Elite. I just ordered the Elite over the Pro largely for that reason. Plus there is a rebate that runs until Feb 2012 which puts the Elite a bit closer to the Pro in price, especially with my $50 cash Christmas gift.

I have also read that the Spyder2Express I currently have is not and will not be supported under Lion. I had to do something.

When it arrives I'll refer back to this thread for ChasP505's response. It looks like there are more reasons to get the Elite.

I wound up getting a Pro a couple of months ago.

It seems to be working good. It makes my two different model IPS monitors, one of which is about six years old and the other from this year, look alike and they never did before.

I'm still not fully sure what I'm missing from the Elite, but I guess I got the main things covered already.

Titus213 wrote in post #13621351
Old thread but I see no mention of the iMac automated luminance adjustment with the Elite. I just ordered the Elite over the Pro largely for that reason. Plus there is a rebate that runs until Feb 2012 which puts the Elite a bit closer to the Pro in price, especially with my $50 cash Christmas gift.

I have also read that the Spyder2Express I currently have is not and will not be supported under Lion. I had to do something.

When it arrives I'll refer back to this thread for ChasP505's response. It looks like there are more reasons to get the Elite.

So I suspect you have an iMac that you have calibrated. I went from PC to an iMac last April with the 27" screen and just love it, so the Elite does a good job with the iMac?

ralff wrote in post #13622286
So I suspect you have an iMac that you have calibrated. I went from PC to an iMac last April with the 27" screen and just love it, so the Elite does a good job with the iMac?

I do have an iMac 27 i7 also (and do love it) but my Spyder3 Elite won't arrive until next week. I have calibrated my iMac with a Spyder2 Express - my current calibration unit - and after setting the backlight level it works pretty good. At least my prints seem to match the screen quite well. The problem is the Spyder 2 Express is not going to be supported under the new Lion OS so I've got to move on. The Spyder3 is on sale right now and B&H has a great price. I'll end up paying $150 for the Elite after rebate.

I'll post my results after the unit arrives.

I am happy with my Spyder3Studio which includes Spyder3 Elite and Print, my monitors are all calibrated and i didn't even use that Spyder3Print yet for my printer, i am happy with the prints i've get out of my printer so far and i don't really feel i should go too accurate yet.

I've received and installed the Spyder3Elite on my iMac 27" and all is well. The monitor looks great but the brightness was an issue. Based on the ambient light measurement (I think) it selected a luminance of 180 for the monitor. After a short while it was burning my eyes so I re-calibrated and dropped it to 120. It looks to be about where I would normally have it.

Interesting that with the lights turned off in my office and very low ambient light it selected a luminance of 90.

I have a couple of prints set up and will see how they look when I get them back.

Titus213 wrote in post #13655467
I've received and installed the Spyder3Elite on my iMac 27" and all is well. The monitor looks great but the brightness was an issue. Based on the ambient light measurement (I think) it selected a luminance of 180 for the monitor. After a short while it was burning my eyes so I re-calibrated and dropped it to 120. It looks to be about where I would normally have it.

Interesting that with the lights turned off in my office and very low ambient light it selected a luminance of 90.

I have a couple of prints set up and will see how they look when I get them back.

Keep us tuned!!!

Yeah, the Spyder "ambient light" thing is more about viewing than it is about printing, so I'd say the best thing to do is just turn it off and set your monitor to a good low setting that will match a good print.