Screen Calibrator

WillNicholls

WillNicholls

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Hi all,

I'm looking to calibrate my new laptop as the colours look different to my main editing computer. Mainly the white look slightly red.

Any recommendations for a good calibrating device? I am not looking to spend a lot, as I have never needed to calibrate the iMac (and yes I have checked it against professional prints), so I imagine the MacBook Pro will be the same in holding its calibration well.

Thanks!
Will
 
Hi, Don't no if he still has it but arad85 on here was selling a calibrator in the same thread that I bought the Colorchecker from.
Hope it helps
Russ
 
WillNicholls said:
Hi all,

I'm looking to calibrate my new laptop as the colours look different to my main editing computer.
Click to expand...

If you don't have a calibrator.... I'm assuming neither is calibrated. It could well be your desktop machine that's out, not your laptop :)

X-Rite i1 Display Pro or X-Rite Color Munki.
 
I use the Datacolor Spyder 4 Express on my monitor and laptop and it now gives good consistent result. You need to make sure that any other color profiles you have are removed and you may not even be aware you have any running as in my case. I also found it was worth tipping the screen back so that the Spyder mad good contact with the screen.
 
WillNicholls said:
Just looked - a little too expensive I think!
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You can always make me an offer... ;) But how much are you looking to spend? A calibration device is an investment (only selling as I've upgraded)....
 
arad85 said:
You can always make me an offer... ;) But how much are you looking to spend? A calibration device is an investment (only selling as I've upgraded)....
Click to expand...

I think I'm going to keep looking as no one has recommended the i1 yet I don't think. I want to make sure I get one that I've had recommended - sorry!
 
The i1 will certainly be cheaper ;) :D

I will leave others to tell you about the i1 in case it comes across as a sales pitch. I purchased the i1 over the Spyder 3 at the time as it appeared from review sites that the i1 was more accurate.

I'm only selling as I've upgraded to an i1 Display Pro.
 
arad85 said:
The i1 will certainly be cheaper ;) :D

I will leave others to tell you about the i1 in case it comes across as a sales pitch. I purchased the i1 over the Spyder 3 at the time as it appeared from review sites that the i1 was more accurate.

I'm only selling as I've upgraded to an i1 Display Pro.
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Just read a review online about it. You seem to have to do some parts manually? Are some calibrators completely auto? I fear that if I involve myself in the calibration I'll screw it up :bonk:

Here's a better question; why are you upgrading if I may ask? :P
 
Eye One is great on laptops according to my research, and it did a very passable job on mine (which is considerably more recent than the calibrator). The screen does look too yellow initially, but when you compare it to a print it's actually pretty much spot on!

I was selling mine but I think the thread got so old it auto archived.
 
WillNicholls said:
Just read a review online about it. You seem to have to do some parts manually? Are some calibrators completely auto? I fear that if I involve myself in the calibration I'll screw it up :bonk:
Click to expand...
Not on Win 7... Just let it do its stuff... It is always possible to screw up as you have to set the initial brightness which is an iterative task, but it seemed to do a pretty good job on full auto (I started using Argyll last year as that's more tweaktastic and is the sort of stuff I like to play with).

WillNicholls said:
Here's a better question; why are you upgrading if I may ask? :P
Click to expand...
The pro is quicker, and more accurate at low light intensities. I also fancied a new toy (I often have geek GAS :D)
 
arad85 said:
Not on Win 7... Just let it do its stuff... It is always possible to screw up as you have to set the initial brightness which is an iterative task, but it seemed to do a pretty good job on full auto (I started using Argyll last year as that's more tweaktastic and is the sort of stuff I like to play with).

The pro is quicker, and more accurate at low light intensities. I also fancied a new toy (I often have geek GAS :D)
Click to expand...

I use an iMac (Apple) - is that a problem?
 
WillNicholls said:
I'm looking to calibrate my new laptop as the colours look different to my main editing computer. Mainly the white look slightly red.

Any recommendations for a good calibrating device?
Click to expand...

Will,

Is there anyone near you who can run a calibrator over your monitors so you can see if the benefits are tangible enough for you to buy one?

I'd happily do it, but it's a 75 mile round trip for me to Hexham, there must be someone closer.

FWIW: I use an X-Rite ColorMunki Display which seems to work great (altho' I've never compared it to anything else).

Cheers,
Tony
 
TonyHall said:
Will,

Is there anyone near you who can run a calibrator over your monitors so you can see if the benefits are tangible enough for you to buy one?

I'd happily do it, but it's a 75 mile round trip for me to Hexham, there must be someone closer.

FWIW: I use an X-Rite ColorMunki Display which seems to work great (altho' I've never compared it to anything else).

Cheers,
Tony
Click to expand...

Cheers Tony - but wouldn't want you travelling that far anyway!
I live in the sticks out of Haydon Bridge actually, so even further.

There isn't anyone I know of round here with one. I think I may just bite the bullet and buy one after some more research so that I have the screens perfect.

How come the calibration doesn't last for ever? I mean the profiles don't change themselves do they?
 
No experience on a Mac sorry ;)

As to why you need one - screens drift over time - so to keep them in trim you should calibrate them every so often. It becomes more apparent when you have a number of screens side by side...
 
Hi, We use the "Datacolor 4 Express" on all of our screens and the consistency is very good. Maybe a bit of an overkill but we calibrate at the beginning of every working week. It's essential though to let the screens warm up for about half an hour before calibrating. Hope this helps.
 
WillNicholls said:
I think I'm going to keep looking as no one has recommended the i1 yet I don't think.
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Yes I did.. post #4 LOL

WillNicholls said:
How come the calibration doesn't last for ever? I mean the profiles don't change themselves do they?
Click to expand...


It's not the calibration that ages, it's your monitor. The LCD matrix itself will age, and shift in colour response as it does so. The back lighting ages, and becomes dimmer, and can also shift colour temperature affecting both gamut and colour.

I run a report on my screen every time I recalibrate. I've set Color Navigator to flash the screens power LED every 100 hours use to remind me, but before I do recalibrate, I always run a report on it, so I have a before and after comparison, and there can be some noticeable drifts.

Also.. room temperature and humidity can also have an effect believe it or not, but less severe.
 
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