Monitor Calibration?

R8JimBob88

R8JimBob88

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James Stockton
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Good evening guys and girls.

A quick question for you all. I have been printing a few of my own photos latley, the good new is that they look just like they do on my monitor.... BUT.....

The bad news is, I cant afford to print my own (I'm not poor, just ink is expensive!) and use Photobox.co.uk instead. A few prints that I have just ordered dont look a damn thing like they do on my monitor :( the colour is similar but different.

Anyone got any advice? Do I need to change some settings? A screen calibrator is expensive :(
 
When you printed yourself did you set up your software/printer with a profile or did you just use the "photo enhance" or whatever the printer options offered you?

Do you have photoshop/elements installed?

What monitor are you using and check the menus to see if it has an sRGB option in the colour settings somewhere.
 
My printer isnt connected to my pc :(

I take an image, edit it in PS and then copy it back to the card so I can put the card in the printer. I dont use any kind of Photo enhance at all, just straight from the computer to the card to the printer.

I uses elements 5 and my monitor isnt anything special, just an old 15in Sharp TFT. I cant see anything that relates to sRGB either :)
 
Ok, this chart:

sRGB_chart.jpg


gives a rough guide to sRGB gamma.

Firstly, see if you monitor has an option for colour temp. if it does set it to 6500k.

The top left box you should be able to see a difference between the leftmost two squares. This is the black point and is controlled by the monitors brightness setting.

The top right box you should be able to see a difference between the rightmost two squares. This is the white point and is controlled by the monitors contrast setting (if it has one).

The 12 squares below have an inner and outer section. If you squint slightly you shouldn't be able to see any difference in brightness between the inner and outer parts on each square.

How does it look?
 
Sorry to jump in on this.
PX18 everything is as you discribed apart from the two lower greens and the two lower greys, when squinting I can still see a slight variation in those 4
What does that mean?
Cheers
 
Hmmmm, I can see what you mean with that chart. All seems ok, I have just found out how useless my monitor is too, not many options to adjust much at all. Pretty much a few preset settings and I can also change the language :lol:

Thanks anyway apriciate it! Time for bed now I think, I'll get my head around it tomorrow, got an early start :D
 
That the gamma curve for green isn't quite right in the mid to high range.

I should have mentioned, best to copy/paste the image into PS/Elements/etc and assign the sRGB profile to it, then you'll see what effect your monitor profile is having on colour management as well.
 
pxl8 said:
That the gamma curve for green isn't quite right in the mid to high range.
.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info :thumbs: not quite sure what to do with it yet, but its intersting that in CS3 (sRGB profile) if I adjust the Gamma to .83 I get just the effect that you mention, though the two top "blacks" do start to merge though are still just distinguishable. I guess I should try this ( setting) when sending to photobox?
 
I think for photobox you should set your gamma to 2.2 . Don't confuse this with the setting on your graphics card though. Here will explain more http://www.normankoren.com/makingfineprints1A.html and then my advice would be to create a monitor profile using quickgamma.

Then tweak to the calibration print (much easier when you're in the same ball park) you should have received from photobox with your first print.
 
The chart above is 2.2, that's kind of the point of it :lol:
 
I should also add that the chart above, quickgamma, etc. won't get you calibrated. They won't solve colours being out, only the whites, blacks, and the tonality between the two.
 
walls said:
I think for photobox you should set your gamma to 2.2 . .
Click to expand...


Thats way out for me. comparing the last lot to the raw files
.83 is a lot closer but the yellows are still a bit on the orangey side.

edit this is kinda a pointless post then, I must type faster or read then post :D
 
agreed and if your monitor is a bit old or a bit of a pig only a decent hardware option can bring it into line...I've spent days tweaking the damn things but in the end spent a bit of cash to do a proper job.
 
walls said:
agreed and if your monitor is a bit old or a bit of a pig only a decent hardware option can bring it into line...I've spent days tweaking the damn things but in the end spent a bit of cash to do a proper job.
Click to expand...

Its only about a year old and was supposed to be a "new-ish" model when I bought, it. but it looks like I might have to take the expensive option :D
 
Thanks for all the help. My monitor was a cheapo budget one, looks like i'll be adding another item on the crimbo list! :D
 
pxl8 said:
Ok, this chart:

sRGB_chart.jpg


gives a rough guide to sRGB gamma.

Firstly, see if you monitor has an option for colour temp. if it does set it to 6500k.

The top left box you should be able to see a difference between the leftmost two squares. This is the black point and is controlled by the monitors brightness setting.

The top right box you should be able to see a difference between the rightmost two squares. This is the white point and is controlled by the monitors contrast setting (if it has one).

The 12 squares below have an inner and outer section. If you squint slightly you shouldn't be able to see any difference in brightness between the inner and outer parts on each square.

How does it look?
Click to expand...

when i set my monitor at 6500k the whites of the forum background look very slightlly pink. do i need to back off the reds a bit in the monitor adjustment?
 
Are you using any form of calibration? If so, having set the monitor to 6500k go through your normal calibration process and see how it is then.
 
Not really.. i just try to get the white looking white .. or look at a photo that i know the colours of and get it right from that!

Very technical!! :D
 
Yes
i ido
i find that the screen differs in colour where i sit too.. looking higher up at the screen looks slightly pinker than lower down.
i suppose i should adjust my chair so i am at a correct position.
 
Janice said:
Yes
i ido
i find that the screen differs in colour where i sit too.. looking higher up at the screen looks slightly pinker than lower down.
i suppose i should adjust my chair so i am at a correct position.
Click to expand...

Janice :nono: ;)
 
:lol: @ tiler65

Janice, try the following:

Set the monitor to 6500k
Set the monitor brightness to it's lowest level and then bring it up until you can just tell the difference between the two leftmost squares top left of the chart
Set the monitor contrast to it's highest level and then bring it down until you can just tell the difference between the two rightmost squares top right of the chart
Now run adobe gamma and follow all the instructions

This should get you a halfway decent calibration when viewing in photoshop/elements but outside of them it won't make much difference.

The colour shift is because you are changing the viewing angle to your monitor. First get the monitor so the middle of the screen is as close to eye level as possible. Now try and move it as far away from you as you can, the further away it is the less effect your moving will have on the viewing angle.

What monitor is it btw?
 
My monitor does not have a contast feature on it. Does this matter?

Its a dell 2007fp
 
Sony sdm hx73 i cant find adobe gamma in the control panel now :( i thought it installed with photoshop.
 
I thought it did aswell, I only have elements and its not with that :(
 
tiler, the contrast setting on a lcd only changes the backlight brightness and is a bit of a kludge in that respect. As long as you can see the difference between the two brightest squares then you don't need to worry. If you can't then proper calibration can sort it out because it can always make things darker.

Janice, I tried to check what kind of panel technology is used in your monitor but that model isn't listed in the tftcentral database. No matter tho. I'd have a go at getting adobe gamma re-installed when you get a minute tho, or ask santa for a huey pro :thumbs:
 
AFAIK Adobe Gamma is included with Elements...
 
Janice said:
Sony sdm hx73 i cant find adobe gamma in the control panel now :( i thought it installed with photoshop.
Click to expand...


program files/common files/adobe/calibration ...should be in there. Install.
 
I'll have a gander when I get home later. I thought it should have it
 
walls said:
program files/common files/adobe/calibration ...should be in there. Install.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately there is not a folder called calibration within that adobe folder.
 
Janice said:
Unfortunately there is not a folder called calibration within that adobe folder.
Click to expand...


I've got Elements 5 & CS3 and I can't find it (Adobe gamma) either :shrug:
Tried programme / file search on my hard drive and rummaging through the Adobe bits and bobs as well

 
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