Monitor & Spyder2 question - DPChallenge Forums

Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8-4 Compact High Speed Zoom for Nikon

02/25/2006 06:10:35 PM · #1

I have a ViewSonic Professional Series P95f+ CRT monitor. It has 3 brightness settings :

-Normal: Text/Spreadsheet
-Ultrabrite 3x: Graphics/Game
-Ultrabrite 4x: Video/Movie/DVD

I had calibrated the montior with my Spyder2 based on the 2nd one, 'Ultrabrite 3x'. I always have the monitor set on 3x.

However, it is the concensus that this picture was too dark:

(My intention was a Black cowboy hat where the left side was in shadows but you could see the right side.)

So, my question is....what setting should I have my monitor on for calibration and photo editing?

Picture This

Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro

02/25/2006 06:12:54 PM · #2

I can see the hat now, but couldn't make out what it was during the challenge. Did you adjust it since then?

And Hi Jen ;)

02/25/2006 06:17:08 PM · #3

to me the image looks fine... it is dark and as you described MENT to be dark... there are a bunch of folks on here whose monitors are uncallabrated that gripe about dark images...

02/25/2006 06:18:18 PM · #4

Originally posted by Picture This:

I can see the hat now, but couldn't make out what it was during the challenge. Did you adjust it since then?

And Hi Jen ;)

Nope, have not touched it :)

02/25/2006 06:19:40 PM · #5

Originally posted by nomad469:

to me the image looks fine... it is dark and as you described MENT to be dark... there are a bunch of folks on here whose monitors are uncallabrated that gripe about dark images...

Well, I had asked (on another forum) for people who's monitors are calibrated if the pic was too dark and the majority said 'yes'.

I just want to make sure I calibrate my montior correctly before I edit any more pics...LOL

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

02/25/2006 06:27:00 PM · #6

I think that they may have ment too dark as in too dark visually and not from a callabration aspect ...

(hope that you dont mind) I pulled a copy of the image into my CS2 to look at the histogram and it is VERY dark...

I think there is not enough tonal range ...

I use a spyder on a dell LCD monitor and a Mitsubishi CRT

error99

Canon EOS-6D

02/25/2006 06:28:28 PM · #7

I can see everything in the image as you just described it. I thought it was very nicely done. I like subtle work like this. The texture and dark tones drew me into the shot.

Monitors lose brightness (especially CRT's) with useage. What once was callibrated may now be quite a bit off. I have an old Sony 21" that's seen so much use it looks like somebody's put a piece of tinted glass in front of it when compared to what I'm using now. I never noticed how much brightness it had lost until replacing it.

02/25/2006 06:31:36 PM · #8

Here is the shot posted back with the histogram added

02/25/2006 06:41:30 PM · #9

Thank you :)

So you think I am fine living it on the 3x setting for calibration? Do the other shots in my album look ok as far as brightness goes?