Monitor Calibration - please help driving me mad

[mikeyw]

Guys,

I'm wasting so much time constantly changing images due to poor monitor calibration its driving me mad. I purchased a huey pro but got the horrible green tinge experienced on some set ups so didnt keep it. I've tried this software which has helped but doesn't help on brightness levels.

http://quickgamma.de/indexen.html

Without spending a fortune what is the most reliable tools people have used, i really want to get to the stage where i shouldn't need to worry about calibration again going forward if possible....

Many thanks in advance,
Mike.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Low end monitors are not worth spending the cost of High end calibrators on. Even though they would improve the results.
Your old Huey pro should have done the Job perfectly well for a domestic screen .
Pantone was sold to X-rite who replaced the huey with their ColorMunki Range. The smile is the bottom of the range and the X-rite i1 at the top. and consider by most to be the best available.
The colomunki smile is available from £67.00 but not often available second hand ( which suggests people are happy with it)
http://www.wexphotographic.com/buy-...atch=e&plid=&gclid=cliz1yld-8gcfecswwodqnaa4w

 

[mikeyw]

Thanks Terry - did a bit of research and only heard very good things about the colormunki often beating the more expensive hardware. My only concern is it doesn't do brightness which is the one area i really struggle with. My monitor leaves me with images that look over exposed on other monitors, even on print which surprises me.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Thanks Terry - did a bit of research and only heard very good things about the colormunki often beating the more expensive hardware. My only concern is it doesn't do brightness which is the one area i really struggle with. My monitor leaves me with images that look over exposed on other monitors, even on print which surprises me.

I find the brightness problem quite easy to solve. There are various step wedges to be found on many technical sites. I have downloaded one.
Provided you have the contrast set right, it is only a matter of adjusting the screen brightness to just see the difference at the top and bottom steps of the wedge.
Mostly screens are set much too bright for comfort out of the box

While many people have their monitors set Ok for colour, they rarely match each other for brightness.
Another way to get it about right is to put up some full tone black and white pictures from some one you know has a studio quality set up. (pookeyhead)
Do his shots look right on your screen for brightness? if not, it is easy to adjust till they do.

 

[sep9001]

Mike,

What monitor are you trying to calibrate and what OS are you running?

I had issues with the Spyder3Pro on my dell 2209wa which are IPS on OSX 10.9 and above. I am now using i1 display pro and am happy with it. It does give the brightness display option/check as part of the software. It might be worth seeing some near you can lend you one to try.

Kev

 

[Pookeyhead]

Thanks Terry - did a bit of research and only heard very good things about the colormunki often beating the more expensive hardware. My only concern is it doesn't do brightness which is the one area i really struggle with. My monitor leaves me with images that look over exposed on other monitors, even on print which surprises me.

What do you mean by it doesn't do brightness? All calibrators will allow you to calibrate to a set luminance value... usually 100 to 120cd/m2.





Don't use auto though. Set to between 100 adn 120cd/m2 and use moderate room lighting

 

[sbowler579]

I use THIS for my Home Cinema projector.

 

[sbowler579]

The optimizer is available as an extra on a number of Bluray discs, you can check the AV forums for info. Basically the brightness setting is achieved by adjusting the brightness controls until you can barely see the drop shadow behind the THX logo. I believe it is on the blurays of StarWars and most Disney discs, Cars and Monsters Inc if I remember rightly.