New Spyder3 and I'm SO confused!

Hello folks.
I got a Spyder3Express today. I have 3 computers: 2 desktops (one with WindowsXP and one with Win7) and a Dell laptop using WinXP Pro. The two desktops share the same LCD monitor, and they're in a room with only indirect light coming in. I calibrated the WinXP desktop this afternoon and when it was finished, I was so disappointed to see NO difference whatsoever. So I checked using a downloaded test image, and as far as I could tell the calibration changed nothing. So I recalibrated this evening, with the room dimmer, and the result was the same.
So then I calibrated the Win7 machine. This time I could see a difference in both the color and brightness; the new image is noticeably cleaner and less bright. When I calibrated the laptop, the result was the same. (Bummer! I do most of my work on the WinXP desktop!:cry

So I have questions, please:
1) I was told (on this forum) that the Spyder3 didn't calibrate the brightness, that that was up to me. But the "after" screens on both my Win7 machine and laptop are noticeably dimmer than before. Maybe they changed the Spyder software so it does change the brightness?
2) It's true that I have been really pleased with the display settings on the XP desktop, and while I have used some web sites to "eyeball calibrate" it, it's just really hard to believe that it was perfectly calibrated before I got the Spyder3. But there is no change happening when I switch from calibration on to calibration off. Is it possible that my video card (Radeon 7000) is causing a problem? Any other ideas?

(A note here for anyone else who may have a new Spyder3: I could not see any difference using the "display test" images they provide. I had to use a downloaded test image with gray scales in it.)

Thanks a lot.

The changes on my PC are subtle. The Spyder will not set the luminance of the monitor but it will measure it and you can chnage the luminance manually (monitor controls).

True, the software cannot change the brightness of your monitor. But it does adjust the gamma. The Spyder3 default settings (can't be modified) are for 6500K white point and 2.2 gamma. That probably accounts for any perceived change in brightness.

http://www.aardenburg-imaging.com/news.49.ht​ml

When calibrating a monitor, don't trust your eyes... Our eyes easily and quickly adapt to changes in color and what may have skewed color, can look neutral to you.

ChasP, changes in the gamma would result in the appeance of changes in the mid-tones, right?

The changes on my Win7 machine and laptop are subtle; they're non-existent on the WinXP desktop. I'm going to try a different video card.

ncjohn wrote in post #10666531
'm going to try a different video card.

Probably a waste of time and money. Your machine which doesn't show a big change is most likely natively closer to 6500k/2.2. And most laptop displays and low end LCD monitors "don't like" when you try to force them away from their native white point and gamma settings.

When I calibrate a monitor, I always first use the device and software to measure the uncalibrated native white point. If it's within 500k +/- of 6500K, I'd leave it at it's native value.

ChasP505 wrote in post #10666581
Probably a waste of time and money.

Nah, all I have to do is open up my mother-in-law's old machine and take it out.I'm not looking for a better card, just a different one to see if I can see a change with calibration.

Are you thinking that the desktops have different monitors? They don't, they share a monitor. I see a change in the monitor with one machine but not with the other.

And I know that you can't judge a monitor by eye, but when you can turn the calibration on and off while staring at a fixed point in an image, it seems that you would be able to see any change. At any rate, I'll change the card and see what happens.

Thanks

Well, it looks like the Radeon card is the problem. It uses ATI drivers, and, according to the datacolor/spyder3 website, ATI drivers don't like 3rd party color calibrator tools. So I need to either check out some new drivers or steal my MIL's old video card.

ncjohn wrote in post #10666531
I'm going to try a different video card.

I couldn't fathom what difference this would make, unless something is wrong.

Edit: Ah. Okay. Something was wrong

Whatever video card you use, make sure before calibrating, that the video card settings are reset to defaults. There should be no adjustments made to the monitor's appearance from the video card controls. And disable any video card management apps which may be running in the the background.

ChasP505 wrote in post #10667098
Whatever video card you use, make sure before calibrating, that the video card settings are reset to defaults. There should be no adjustments made to the monitor's appearance from the video card controls. And disable any video card management apps which may be running in the the background.

If I may butt in...

That confused me. Because if I set my monitor (a 22" acer) to reset, its kinda blue, but the Spyder says also to set the monitors temp to D65.

My monitor seems to only have in its manufacturer auto settings, a 'text' and a 'graphics' setting. There is also a 'warm' 'cool' and 'user'.
When I reset and checked RGB settings, they are all at 80. I then set the monitor to 'warm' thinking that would be D65.

The OP is right...this is confusing!

GtrPlyr wrote in post #10667147
If I may butt in...

That confused me. Because if I set my monitor (a 22" acer) to reset, its kinda blue, but the Spyder says also to set the monitors temp to D65.

My monitor seems to only have in its manufacturer auto settings, a 'text' and a 'graphics' setting. There is also a 'warm' 'cool' and 'user'.
When I reset and checked RGB settings, they are all at 80. I then set the monitor to 'warm' thinking that would be D65.

The OP is right...this is confusing!

You're misunderstanding the directions, most of which were written eons ago, for CRT monitors. DataColor/Spyder3 sucks in that aspect. Set your monitor back to factory default settings PERIOD. And if you ever see any reference to setting contrast to 100%, it really means 100% of the factory default setting. (If the default setting is 80, leave it at 80).

The software's job is to "characterize" the display performance of your monitor, then create a "profile" which contains the adjustment instructions which the video card uses.

Would you mind loaning your Spyder 3 to a fellow member?

I will cover shipping, and will ship it back within one day of receiving it.

ChasP505 wrote in post #10667211
You're misunderstanding the directions, most of which were written eons ago, for CRT monitors. DataColor/Spyder3 sucks in that aspect. Set your monitor back to factory default settings PERIOD. And if you ever see any reference to setting contrast to 100%, it really means 100% of the factory default setting. (If the default setting is 80, leave it at 80).

The software's job is to "characterize" the display performance of your monitor, then create a "profile" which contains the adjustment instructions which the video card uses.

OK, thanks, I'll give it another whirl. When I did a reset, the RGB all default to '80' and the contrast at '50'. So, I'll just go with that and whatever color temp it defaults to also.

However, I have the latest version (4.0.2 or what), the GUI has a check list for those things....'set monitor to D65', etc., before beginning the calibration process

What software are you using to view the images?

lotsa spyder threads today, eh