Questions about Spyder3 Express

Well, I believe I'm going to get one of these, but there's a couple things I'm wondering about.
1) In the ads and reviews I've seen for it, they talk about using it to get correct color. Does it also do anything about setting correct brightness and contrast? Are there standards for them?
2) I've read that you set your screen color to 6500K when setting it up. Since the calibrator is supposed to set your color, why do you have to do that? (I have a feeling there's a basic lack of understanding of something going on here, and I have a feeling you folks can fix that.)

Thanks

ncjohn wrote in post #10560848
...(I have a feeling there's a basic lack of understanding of something going on here, and I have a feeling you folks can fix that.)

Unlikely... we can only offer advice.

DataColor offers 3 versions of the Spyder3 product, all with essentially the same hardware. But the software has different limitations of customization, depending on which version you purchased. NONE can adjust brightness or contrast for you. You have to manually adjust your monitors controls during the calibration process. Automatic adjustment of the monitor's settings is something you typically only get when you buy a high end professional grade monitor with a proprietary calibration system.

The Spyder3 Express is the least customizable version of this product and is pre-set for 6500K, 2.2 gamma. Before using it for the first time you must reset all your monitor's settings back to factory defaults. There is usually a menu item which will do that for you. If you can't find it, refer to your monitor's user manual.

You should warm up your monitor for at least 30 minutes before using the Spyder3. Perform the calibration in a dim or dark room, with absolutely no light shining on the face of the monitor. This is a HANDS OFF process. Just let the software complete and don't touch any controls.

Once the software has run, you now have a color adjusted display, but it will be too bright for photo editing. Now, lower your monitor's Brightness control to about 20%. Finally, repeat the calibration process, starting with the monitor at 20% brightness. DON'T TOUCH any other controls and give yourself at least 48 hours to get used to the new look. If you think the monitor is still too bright or too dim, adjust the Brightness only, in small increments, recalibrating after each setting change.

Let us know how it's working out.

Contrast is set basically by gamma and I believe the express is fixed at 2.2 which is what you probably would want to use anyway. I'm not sure it if can configure brightness but the more advanced models definitely can.

The calibrator sets the gamma curve and measures the color gamut of the screen. The 6500K is the color temperature and is set at white. The gamma curve is typically not adjusted for this as it can lead to posterization if your hardware color temp is set to something far from 6500K.

Sdiver2489 wrote in post #10563372
...I'm not sure it if can configure brightness but the more advanced models definitely can.

The key here, is whether it does so automatically. I think a common misunderstanding is that the calibration device and software will adjust the brightness FOR you. It can't and it won't. Neither will the more expensive versions of the Spyder3.

The actual "calibration" step in the process, is manually adjusting your monitor's controls to get the display as close to a certain standard or condition as possible. Since Brightness is the only hardware adjustable setting on a typical consumer LCD monitor, that is all you should adjust.

The software phase is actually "profiling" your monitor and a custom profile is created. This profile is loaded to the video card which sends a color/gamma adjusted signal to your display.

Good discussion here:
http://photo.net/digit​al-darkroom-forum/00Wt8i

ChasP505 wrote in post #10563496
The key here, is whether it does so automatically. I think a common misunderstanding is that the calibration device and software will adjust the brightness FOR you. It can't and it won't. Neither will the more expensive versions of the Spyder3.

The actual "calibration" step in the process, is manually adjusting your monitor's controls to get the display as close to a certain standard or condition as possible. Since Brightness is the only hardware adjustable setting on a typical consumer LCD monitor, that is all you should adjust.

The software phase is actually "profiling" your monitor and a custom profile is created. This profile is loaded to the video card which sends a color/gamma adjusted signal to your display.

Good discussion here:
http://photo.net/digit​al-darkroom-forum/00Wt8i

They CAN adjust the brightness automatically if your monitor and software is DDC/CI compliant. My NEC and Spectraview II software do this and so does CED and some popular models.

Sdiver2489 wrote in post #10564491
They CAN adjust the brightness automatically if your monitor and software is DDC/CI compliant. My NEC and Spectraview II software do this and so does CED and some popular models.

The OP asked specifically about the Spyder3 Express (thus the thread title "Questions about Spyder3 Express). And I already said:

ChasP505 wrote in post #10563355
Automatic adjustment of the monitor's settings is something you typically only get when you buy a high end professional grade monitor with a proprietary calibration system.