Recommendations on Monitor Calibration

All the information on color management is bewildering. Having sorted out the info that is useful to me, my next step is to calibrate my monitor.

I would appreciate any recommendations on a colorimeter (e.g. Eye-One, Huey, Spyder etc.) that is compatible with an Intel Mac running Snow Leopard.

Thank you very much.

kitjv wrote in post #9352453
I would appreciate any recommendations on a colorimeter (e.g. Eye-One, Huey, Spyder etc.) that is compatible with an Intel Mac running Snow Leopard.

Laptop?
iMac? (24" or 27"?)
Different brand external monitor?

The number of options is NOT bewildering, but you can't go wrong with an EyeOne Display 2.

Just going through this myself. I've got the Spyder 3 Pro but the software does not get the 24" iMAC screen brightness down low enough.

Been running the 10 day trial of ColorEyes Display Pro http://www.integrated-color.com/ although waiting on a minor bug fix this software does seem to work in getting the screen brightness down, worth a look.

Try join their forum, have a good read there before downloading the 10 day trial, works with a number of hardware calibration devices.

Dave, I use the Spyder3/ColorEyes combination. But I subscribe to the philosophy that if the manufacturer did not engineer the monitor to go down to low brightness levels, we shouldn't force it beyond those operating parameters.

And I'm aware that CEDP has issues with Snow Leopard, so I didn't suggest it.

Hi Chas,

Not an authority on any of this but... Not sure low brightness and engineered go together, as in the iMAC case I'd think the high brightness is mainly for consumer market reasons and not what the hardware can or can't do, and with most monitors its being too bright that damages and reduces life not too dim.

Apple seems to be big on not allowing hardware to be easy adjustable by consumer, perfect example would be the total RAM allowed in iMAC before latest versions the max was 4GB, but only because of limitations fixed by Apple as chip set and hardware would under normal PC cases have allow more, but again not speaking as expert.

I also understand the issues with Slow Leopard and CEDP are no longer an issue with latest release, the minor issue I was hinting at was for the Apple monitor plug-in. Although it works it sets brightness slider in OS to 100% which it should not, this I understand is being fixed and a new patch release in the next few days.

Again just want to say I'm by no means an expert in any of this and its only my experience since I've been trying to do Color Management on my system over last few weeks and CEDP has impressed me over everything else I've tried. Did think about trying the Elite version of Spyder but there is no fully functioning trial of that.

I'm almost out of my 10 day trial but will hold on purchasing until new patch and will still be looking for any other better option. Any pointers on that would be good.

Clootie wrote in post #9353901
Did think about trying the Elite version of Spyder but there is no fully functioning trial of that.

Are you sure about that? Doesn't sound right. I used the Spyder3 Elite package and it worked fine on my Dell 2209WA, but CEDP seems to give me a more neutral display profile... no discernible color cast, excellent shadow detail, smooth gradients. But again, for the OP's sake, I'm not going to blindly recommend it to everyone.

I do feel confident in recommending either the EyeOne Display 2 or the Spyder3 Elite.

ChasP505 wrote in post #9354272
Are you sure about that? Doesn't sound right. I used the Spyder3 Elite package and it worked fine on my Dell 2209WA, but CEDP seems to give me a more neutral display profile... no discernible color cast, excellent shadow detail, smooth gradients. But again, for the OP's sake, I'm not going to blindly recommend it to everyone.

I do feel confident in recommending either the EyeOne Display 2 or the Spyder3 Elite.

Reference Elite, I'm fairly sure, downloaded it last week and it requires a serial number to active, even not entering one did let me profile, but I did not seem to be able to access the Elite features almost the same as my register Pro version. But now you mention it I'll plan to give it another try.

Agree reference OP, he should try all software and make his own mind up and take all comments as just that. I also can recommend the Spyder3 as I've not tried other, but this one for me works well, but is only as good as the software you use!

Chas, how have you found the documentation in CEPD, I guess the guided method, what I'm having problems with is interpretation all the results, lol.

Clootie wrote in post #9354463
Chas, how have you found the documentation in CEPD, I guess the guided method, what I'm having problems with is interpretation all the results, lol.

I have a special talent for software. I can usually just sit down and use it within a few minutes.

With CEDP, I already knew the profile settings I wanted... the GUI took a few more minutes. I didn't need too much documentation.

As for the results... It's all about standardized test images. I NEVER use my own photos to try and judge the quality of the display profile (or print). I have 3 or 4 favorite test images which are designed to illustrate certain display or print qualities. Here's a great download source:

http://www.northlight-images.co.uk …le_pages/test_i​mages.html

Also... the validation results with CEDP are only going to be as good as your individual calibration puck. If you have one of those Spyder3 pucks that just barely passed the QC tests, your results will not be as accurate and certainly not consistent. I think I lucked out with the puck I use.

Many thanks will use them over weekend.

For OP, kitjv the first thing you need to decide on is the hardware, I'd suggest reviewing this forum, and the manufacturers forums of the three you stated. Once you find the one at top of your list, then start searching or asking what works best software wise with it. Everyone is different, ever-bodies setups are different, but the forums will give an idea on whats good and bad, but remember most makers forums have more bad post than good, just they way those forums work. Here are another few links to bookmark:

The Luminous Landscape Forum

Digital Photography Review Forum (Mac Talk)

Dry Creek Photo (website)

That should keep you going

ChasP505 wrote in post #9354598
Also... the validation results with CEDP are only going to be as good as your individual calibration puck. If you have one of those Spyder3 pucks that just barely passed the QC tests, your results will not be as accurate and certainly not consistent. I think I lucked out with the puck I use.

Think that could be said for most makers! But my calibrations are okay, or should I say getting there. Just need to drop about 10-20 cd/m2 but I'm waiting for patch. Then its onto printing, lol...

ChasP505 wrote in post #9353279
The number of options is NOT bewildering, but you can't go wrong with an EyeOne Display 2.

I agree. I have two Mac Pros with high-gamut monitors running OS X 10.6 with CS4, one with one 24 inch monitor and the other with two 20 inch monitors. The machine with the dual monitors also runs WIndows 7 64 bit with PSCS4 64 bit. These machines are connected to an Epson R2400.

I calibrate with an EyeOne Display 2 and all images look the same on all the monitors, and the images coming out of the printer match the images I see on the screens.

ChasP505 wrote in post #9353279
Laptop?
iMac? (24" or 27"?)
Different brand external monitor?

The number of options is NOT bewildering, but you can't go wrong with an EyeOne Display 2.

I use a MacBook Pro. I meant that the info on color management was bewildering; not the colorimeter choices.

Thanks.

I was just about to ask the same question as the OP (or at least a similar question).

I've been sort of hashing around looking for a decent, reasonably-priced calibrator. I see some references to the Spyder3 Elite, but how about the Spyder3 Express? I don't have two monitors, so I don't care about the multiple-monitor functionality. Other than that, will Express work as well as Elite? Anyone have experience with Express?

Thanks for the input.

jsvphoto wrote in post #9367012
...will Express work as well as Elite?

I find that users with lots of experience calibrating monitors find the Express to be more than enough while rookies to display calibration are equally perplexed by both versions.

The hardware is identical save for the ambient light sensor which only comes with the Pro and Elite versions. The Spyder3 hardware works great with CEDP software.

This chart is still very accurate, even though it lists the Spyder2 Express.

http://spyder.datacolo​r.com/s3compare.php

ChasP505 wrote in post #9367239
...while rookies to display calibration are equally perplexed by both versions.

Ha! That's pretty funny... It's interesting, reading through reviews of electronic equipment, how many people give negative reviews because they were unable to get something to perform its designed function - most likely due to ignorance stemming from failure to read the instructions.

Functionality is my concern; I'm pretty sure I'll be able to figure out how to use it, if I buy it.

Thanks for you insights - and your humor