MONITOR CALIBRATION

alexam

alexam

Suspended / Banned
Messages
1,566
Name
Malcolm
Edit My Images
No
My prints don't come out the way I see them on the monitor. I have Windows 7 Ultimate and Elements 8 and although my printer is fairly new (Epson SX415) I appreciate it may not be the best for good prints 10x8.

Someone mentioned calibration - possibly of monitor and the printer, but in looking up calibration - there seems to be a lot of systems out there.

Can anyone please give an up to date appraisal of the good calibration systems available as I'm wasting a lot of paper.

Thanks

Malcolm
 
I have seen several versions of the spyder and other types of calibration. I was looking for a little more help and information on what is best. Have yoiu used both of these and which in your opinion is the best?

Anyone else please?
 
I have and use Colormunki photo. Its not the cheapest by far but what it does do is walk you thru how to use with excellent on screen instructions. It also allows you to set up not only the monitor but for paper type -the make of printer and your own profile against the computer preset one.
Find profile (windows XP) in control panel -display- settings-advanced-colour management, if you don't know where to find it. Best to disconnect the computer profile if possible but not essential.

I am not over far away from you (WS3 5AF), so if you want to come and see how it works and have a try you are most welcome. Bring your gear if you want so you can try on your own stuff.

I note your printer is not a dedicated photo printer like the Epson Stylus Photo PX710W I use, also the type of paper makes a world of difference. Again I find the Ilford Galerie professional inkjet photo range (smooth gloss) transformed how my pictures came out in hard copy form. Not the cheapest but definately worth checking out.

Forgot to say your monitor is backlite which can make a slight difference to what you see on hard copy so bare that in mind when printing and the quality of the monitor.

Realspeed
 
Last edited:
You might find your local camera club have one which members can use... joining the club will be cheaper than buying your own - and someone might even show you how to use it!

Beware the spyderII - this doesnt sort out the brightness of your screen!
 
Thanks Bazza, and for the pm to which I have replied.

Malcolm
 
Thanks David, I will contact the club and see if they have something.
 
also you need to make sure you profile where you use the computer and I have several profiles for different times of day too.
 
Not a clue what you mean Poah. Can you explain in lay- mans terms please.

Malcolm
 
Alexam

What POAH is saying is that when calibrating using something like the Colormunki Photo it is sensitive to the light it is being used in. It detects such as daylight- tungston light-fluerescent light etc. before it even starts "reading " the monitor. So what POAH has done is each time the calibration is done in a different light another calibration is taken, building up a list (one can name individually )of different lighting conditions. This list can be stored in the colour management of the computer, as found in my first posting, and selected to suit. This may not apply so much with a desktop computer, being generally in one place under the same lights, but more with the laptop screen being portable and used indoors or outside.
I can only speak for the Colormunki which is what I have which calibrates monitor and/or printer, other calibrating gear may be different in not being able to calibrate both or be light sensitive I don't know.

When I went to Focus on Imaging at the NEC a few years back I went specifically to look at the different offerings of calibration by different makes, as they were all under the same roof so to speak, and demonstrated by experts. In my opinion the Colormunki stood out far above what the others could offer and thought the extra expense was justified. Like most things I do some research prior to making a purchase so it wasn't a rush decision.

Hope this explains better.

Realspeed
 
Last edited:
Thanks once again Bazza, it's getting clearer, the old grey matter takes a little time these days. Will be in touch

Malcolm
 
alexam said:
Not a clue what you mean Poah. Can you explain in lay- mans terms please.

Malcolm
Click to expand...

what realspeed says - spyder gives you a profile chooser so you can change to a different profile that you've made for each type of ambient light. I generally only change when I'm printing though.
 
I'm a bit puzzled as to why there could be a need for different monitor profiles for different times of the day. Viewing prints can be done using a colour balanced lamp or photo viewing booth. This allows consistent viewing regardless of the ambient light.

(I use a GrafiLite lamp from Colour Confidence by the way.)

Anthony.
 
not talking about prints

Anthony.Ralph said:
I'm a bit puzzled as to why there could be a need for different monitor profiles for different times of the day. Viewing prints can be done using a colour balanced lamp or photo viewing booth. This allows consistent viewing regardless of the ambient light.

(I use a GrafiLite lamp from Colour Confidence by the way.)

Anthony.
Click to expand...
 
POAH said:
not talking about prints
Click to expand...

Well... you did say in post #13 "..I generally only change when I'm printing though" hence my puzzlement.

I also thought the OP was concerned with matching prints and monitor - perhaps I misunderstood his original question.

Anthony.
 
Anthony.Ralph said:
Well... you did say in post #13 "..I generally only change when I'm printing though" hence my puzzlement.

I also thought the OP was concerned with matching prints and monitor - perhaps I misunderstood his original question.

Anthony.
Click to expand...

yes when printing so the calibration of the screen matches the ambient light -thought that would have been clear
 
POAH said:
yes when printing so the calibration of the screen matches the ambient light -thought that would have been clear
Click to expand...

At the risk of going round in circles, I reiterate my first post - by using a balanced light source to view a print, the variables of ambient lighting are negated and the need for multiple monitor profiles becomes redundant surely?

Anthony.
 
Anthony.Ralph said:
At the risk of going round in circles, I reiterate my first post - by using a balanced light source to view a print, the variables of ambient lighting are negated and the need for multiple monitor profiles becomes redundant surely?

Anthony.
Click to expand...

The theory is, that the human's perception of what they see on the monitor changes depending on the ambient light that is falling on the monitor.

so even though the prints may be viewed under a consistent light source, if what is sent to the printer is changed, due to a human changing the curves/levels because of what they see on the monitor, then the output will change
 
I'm the one with poor knowledge of this at present, but Anthony is correct in that I want to be able to print photographs that match the quality I get on my monitor. THis is done in the same location and although it may sometimes be in the daytime with natural light, other times it is tungston lighting.

If the arrangements were that the printing was done at the same light setting always, presumably there would not be a need for different profiles, or are the profiles also for different papers?

However, once the printer is set for the various papers being used, would the software then be redundant? I have heard of Spyder, bur the Colourmonki seems to be better if it works on the monitor as well as the printer settings? Anyone tried both?

Malcolm
 
coldpenguin said:
The theory is, that the human's perception of what they see on the monitor changes depending on the ambient light that is falling on the monitor.

so even though the prints may be viewed under a consistent light source, if what is sent to the printer is changed, due to a human changing the curves/levels because of what they see on the monitor, then the output will change
Click to expand...

This I can understand, which is why I try to keep the illumination in the room within reasonable limits i.e. a venetian blind on window to mitigate bright sunlight (which can be at any time of the day of course) and a hood on the monitor to ensure no direct light falls onto it. As far a colour changes are concerned the fact that the monitor is a transmitted light source means that it will provide a consistent colour.

I will admit that until recently I had neglected the question of controlled viewing light sources, but once having read an excellent article by Andrew Rodney I bought a GrafiLite and my colour fidelity and light consistency has improved significantly.

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/why_are_my_prints_too_dark.shtml

alexam said:
[..]

If the arrangements were that the printing was done at the same light setting always, presumably there would not be a need for different profiles, or are the profiles also for different papers?
Click to expand...

The printer profiles are, in effect, a way of translating the output from the program to the printer, taking into account the ink and paper type being used. Therefore each paper/ink combination will need a profile to adjust the program output to suit the individual printer. For premium results these profiles need to be made for an individual printer, but the canned profiles produced by printer and/or paper suppliers these days are very good.

However, once the printer is set for the various papers being used, would the software then be redundant? I have heard of Spyder, bur the Colourmonki seems to be better if it works on the monitor as well as the printer settings? Anyone tried both?

Malcolm
Click to expand...

Monitor calibration (to produce a profile) and printer profiles are two different things. For a given paper/ink combination a profile, once created, will give consistent results. however, the colour of a monitor will, because of it's nature will, over time, drift. It is necessary to recalibrate regularly to ensure consistent results. Many people suggest a monthly recalibration; I have even read of daily calibrations in design studios working on colour critical applications - but for us mere mortals, I would have thought every couple of months with modern LCD monitors would be sufficient.

For an excellent review of the Colormunki try Keith Cooper's one at NorthLight

http://www.northlight-images.co.uk/reviews/profiling/colormunki.html

Anthony.
 
Last edited:
I don't have a balance light source, I print in my brother in laws bedroom which has various types of ambient light, I also edit in my own living room so even more ambient light sources. unless you have a black out room and a specific light source (which I would have if my house was bigger) your ambient light is always changing.

Anthony.Ralph said:
At the risk of going round in circles, I reiterate my first post - by using a balanced light source to view a print, the variables of ambient lighting are negated and the need for multiple monitor profiles becomes redundant surely?

Anthony.
Click to expand...
 
You can get the same light at Hobbycraft as the Gretag - except it's half price

GrafiLite
http://shop.colourconfidence.com/product.php?xProd=1955&xSec=10317&a=S102&xForce=Y

And the Hobbycraft one
278264_1_zoom.jpg


It helps "close the loop"

The amount of light in the room makes an influence on how you perceve your monitor - imagine you are looking at your computer in a room with all the lights off at night - then the same screen outside in daylight. IN the dark room the screen appears much lighter - and you then make the image dark to compensate - and the opposite in a room thats too light.
 
snappingsam said:
You can get the same light at Hobbycraft as the Gretag - except it's half price

GrafiLite
http://shop.colourconfidence.com/product.php?xProd=1955&xSec=10317&a=S102&xForce=Y

And the Hobbycraft one
278264_1_zoom.jpg


[..]
Click to expand...

I do wish you hadn't shown us this :) especially as I did do a Google search to try and find a better price. My only consolation* is that mine is a nice grey colour and the hobbycraft one is all white - or am I clutching at straws?

* regardless of the prices, I'm saving plenty on less wasted paper and ink - so a bit more consolation(!)

Anthony
 
In the workroom in the lab I have replaced all the 6" strip lights with proper D65 tubes - it seemed very blue to start with - but a great enviroment to work in - and to check prints..

These small lights are good - you'll also find the replacement bulbs in shops like hobbycraft for about £10 so you could keep using your old anglepoise...
 
Just coming back to calibrating the monitor.

I have recently had some prints/enlargements processed by DSCL, they are somewhat different to what I see on my screen, they are quite dull and lacking in contrast, in one picture of horses in the mist the mist has a brownish tint whereas the original on my screen has a blueish/grey colour.

Is this down to monitor calibration or my colour profiles incompatible with DSCL's profiles.

jeff
 
Hi Scott, I haven't converted to DSCL profiles, they are sending me a disc (I think). I am fairly new to the printing process so treading slowly. Read all of the thread you directed me to and trying to absorb it all. Is is still worth calibrating the monitor.

Thanks

jeff
 
Jeff.B said:
Hi Scott, I haven't converted to DSCL profiles, they are sending me a disc (I think). I am fairly new to the printing process so treading slowly. Read all of the thread you directed me to and trying to absorb it all. Is is still worth calibrating the monitor.

Thanks

jeff
Click to expand...
defo get your monitor calibrated, its well worth it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top