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DPChallenge Forums >> Current Challenge >> Voting And Monitor Setting Differences
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 12/14/2006 05:34:07 PM · #1
In looking over all of the photos in these challenges, I've realized that what appears GREAT on one monitor, doesn't appear so great on another one. I have 2 computers and rally back and forth between them as I'm working. (Job work, not photo work *grin*) I've noticed that what looks good on the laptop, doesn't look good on the desk top monitor. The colors are also different as are contrast. I then, checked on my daughter's computer at home and same thing.....different again!

So, my question is...........yeah, there was a question there.......how do we truly judge what will look good on other people's monitors when editing our photos? When I'm editing for color and contrast and brightness, I'm doing it to match my eye on MY computer monitor, but since everyone's monitor is different and the settings are different, HOW does one know what will appear too dark or light, or color differences????

Anyone else think about this......or, am I the only nut??? *grin...sheepish smile*
 12/14/2006 05:40:54 PM · #2
No, you are not the only nut :)

I believe everyone working with pictures on computers experience this problem, but there really isn't much you can do about it. You can of course work with a calibrated monitor when editing your pictures - but, my guess would be that the majority of voters here do not work on calibrated monitors, you can't really tell how they see your picture.

I try to make my pictures look good on my monitor (I've learned that I have to make them a little lighter than what I actually think is best though), and hopefully they still look OK on the majority of monitors used.
12/14/2006 05:42:57 PM · #3
Hi. Not the only nut. Been a source of conversation before many times and a real source of irritation.
Believe it or not, I sometimes look on 4 or 5 different monitors and they all tell something different. It's a tough call but it's probably best to stay in the 'safe' range. Good contrast and not too dark overall. It's really the dark images that'll kill you in the end. Wis I knew a way of correcting the problem, but there dosn't seem to be any way around it. :)
 12/14/2006 08:29:44 PM · #4
Well, glad to see that I'm not the only one who spends what little free time I do have, worrying about the "little things"! *smile, silly grin*

Actually, though.....the advice to keep the photo on the light side and err on the side of caution is probably a good one. I also see a tendency when I've edited for color and contrast that I tend to overdo it. I will be mindful of that from here on out and try the lighter version.

I'm just smiling here Qart when you said that you've checked it on 4 and 5 monitors because I've literally done the same thing. That's when we know that we've gone WAY TOO FAR!!!

Is there a 12 step program we can join for this??? *grin*
 12/14/2006 08:40:12 PM · #5
Where uncalibrated monitors (of the voters) is really going to hurt you is if you are trying highkey or lowkey work. IF there monitors are clipping detail on the scene, they might just see your photo as too light or too dark and not catch important details that you left.

You really get slaughtered with those photos if you are not careful. I've been playing with a brightness/contrast adjustment layer on most of my photos lately to make sure it still looks ok on crappily set up monitors.

As far as color calibration goes, there ain't a lot you can do, unless you make all your entries B&W. Remember, voters are looking at everyone's photos on the same monitor (most of the time) so their eyes are pretty much going to be adjusted to a color shift. (Because our eyes auto WB).

All in all, if you do your work on a calibrated monitor and try to give a little bit of flexinility you should be ok though.
12/14/2006 08:43:17 PM · #6
Originally posted by fotomann_forever:
Where uncalibrated monitors (of the voters) is really going to hurt you is if you are trying highkey or lowkey work. IF there monitors are clipping detail on the scene, they might just see your photo as too light or too dark and not catch important details that you left.

You really get slaughtered with those photos if you are not careful. I've been playing with a brightness/contrast adjustment layer on most of my photos lately to make sure it still looks ok on crappily set up monitors.

As far as color calibration goes, there ain't a lot you can do, unless you make all your entries B&W. Remember, voters are looking at everyone's photos on the same monitor (most of the time) so their eyes are pretty much going to be adjusted to a color shift. (Because our eyes auto WB).

All in all, if you do your work on a calibrated monitor and try to give a little bit of flexinility you should be ok though.


Yeah you do that then you offer them cheese and blind people needlessly. :P
 12/14/2006 08:45:30 PM · #7
Originally posted by yanko:

Yeah you do that then you offer them cheese and blind people needlessly. :P


You keep begging for it... I'm thinking it's time to revisit that theme ;-P
 12/14/2006 08:53:37 PM · #8
I try to submit to a Challenge a day or so in advance of the deadline...that way I can check my entry on my laptop, and then I check both monitors at work (they vary slightly) - just to make certain that my entry isn't hideous - and still have time to make adjustments, if necessary.

I post process on an old CRT that is calibrated (which makes a total of 4 monitors monitored before I submit).
Usually, I stick with how it looks on that, and if it suffers from a voting standpoint, then, oh well. I'd rather produce something that's good and calibrated correctly, than process an image to the middle ground. (Now, if only I could 'produce something that's good') :-)

All that being said, it's definitely not the voter's calibration that has kept me from winning a ribbon - it's the mo ron behind the camera! :-)

That is all.

12/14/2006 08:57:19 PM · #9
Originally posted by mattmac:
it's definitely not the voter's calibration that has kept me from winning a ribbon - it's the mo ron behind the camera! :-)


I have nothing to do with you not winning ribbons... stop trying to pass the blame :-P
12/14/2006 09:16:23 PM · #10
In addition to the calibration, the resolution of the monitor makes a big, big difference. Got a lot of comments about "out of focus" on my challenge entry. Pic looked good to me on my laptop which has resolution of 1440x900. So, changed the resolution to 800x600. Wow, it really is out of focus!!! Also, sensor dust and minor imperfections are much, much more noticable at lower resolutions.
 12/14/2006 09:19:40 PM · #11
Originally posted by fotomann_forever:
Originally posted by mattmac:
it's definitely not the voter's calibration that has kept me from winning a ribbon - it's the mo ron behind the camera! :-)


I have nothing to do with you not winning ribbons... stop trying to pass the blame :-P


But the mo ron behind your camera has everything to do with you not winning ribbons. And the mo ron behind mine is worse than the mo ron behind yours...which makes me a mo' mo ron? Great. A new title.
:-)

12/14/2006 09:24:33 PM · #12
Originally posted by PhotoInterest:
Well, glad to see that I'm not the only one who spends what little free time I do have, worrying about the "little things"! *smile, silly grin*

Actually, though.....the advice to keep the photo on the light side and err on the side of caution is probably a good one. I also see a tendency when I've edited for color and contrast that I tend to overdo it. I will be mindful of that from here on out and try the lighter version.

I'm just smiling here Qart when you said that you've checked it on 4 and 5 monitors because I've literally done the same thing. That's when we know that we've gone WAY TOO FAR!!!

There IS a 12 step program. Unfortunately it's for those that still show a glimmer of hope.
See you in the gutter... :)

Is there a 12 step program we can join for this??? *grin*

12/14/2006 09:39:43 PM · #13
Originally posted by PhotoInterest:
Actually, though.....the advice to keep the photo on the light side and err on the side of caution is probably a good one. I also see a tendency when I've edited for color and contrast that I tend to overdo it. I will be mindful of that from here on out and try the lighter version.


I'm not sure I agree with that advice. There was a recent photo by SandyP who many felt should have scored a lot higher. Her photo was processed on the "ligh side". In fact I don't recall any photo that err on the light side having won a ribbon. They always look "perfect" to me as in deep rich blacks and bright (non-clipped) whites.

My advice would be to not use your eyes but rather the eyedropper in photoshop. Use it to test the values in the highlights and shadows of your photo where you want to maintain detail. If the RGB values register too close to 0,0,0 or 255,255,255 then chances are your details will be missed by many voters.

ETA: I also meant to add check your areas where there doesn't suppose to be detail showing. If something looks black to you but isn't voters may see something you meant to hide like say part of a background that was erased/masked.

Message edited by author 2006-12-14 21:58:02.
 12/15/2006 08:41:57 PM · #14
I see that moire taffeta type design on my stuff as well as others but I don't detract because others don't see it. I've recalibrated, changed everything I know to change and I can't seem to make it right. It's a relatively new one too. UGH
 12/15/2006 09:03:35 PM · #15
I went crazy with my Sky entry on this. Some monitors it was way too dark, others washed out. I don't know why this one was so hard. I'm also getting comments ranging from wow to too dark.

I was traveling so I was also editing on my Dell laptop, which I can't stand any more. I use Macs at home, I'm getting a Mac Book after the new year and installing Windows for work stuff so I can have OS X and good screen and graphics when editing photos on the road.


12/15/2006 09:32:50 PM · #16
I just got a new video card and a second monitor to run dual monitors,and new hardware/software to calibrate the monitors (colorvision spyder pro 2 - need the pro to be able to calibrate 2 monitors on 1 PC). One monitor is a CRT the other an LCD.

My pet portrait entry looks a tad pinker on the white areas on the LCD compared to the CRT, even thought both are properly calibrated. Interesting. The LCD has more contrast and I like it better (it's new - been using CRTs exclusively till now).

Some folks have monitors that are way out of whack - my LCD has many settings for brightness and contrast, and from the box it was set completely wrong for photo editing.
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