Can any monitor be calibrated? - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

01/31/2007 04:28:25 PM · #1

Can all monitors be calibrated? In other words, is the calibration used by Spydrs and so forth achieved through software adjustments or hardware adjustments?

More specifically, can the TFT on my Dell laptop be calibrated? It does not have external controls for contrast and the like.

hanneke

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

01/31/2007 04:30:18 PM · #2

I believe spyders are external software. but it's also hardware.

;)

to answer your question: all monitors can be calibrated. you just need to install the software on the computer.

jmsetzler

Sony Alpha a6400

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 (E-mount)

01/31/2007 04:31:33 PM · #3

You can calibrate it. The controls are handled by software somewhere in the video driver...

DjFenzl

01/31/2007 04:37:53 PM · #4

yes but with varying degrees of success. I have an old LCD monitor that has a yellow tinge to it no matter how many times I calibrate it. My new monitor looks very different even though they are calibrated to the same settings with my Spyder Pro.

01/31/2007 04:39:50 PM · #5

OK, next question. The print company wants a typical temperature setting of 6500 and I'm assuming a default gamma of 2.2. What are the benefits/drawbacks of Spyder 2 versus Spyder Pro?

bfox2

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

01/31/2007 04:39:58 PM · #6

I read this thread title as "Can my mother be calibrated" and wondered what kind of new technology had been released!

As far as I know though, LCD monitors won't calibrate as well as CRT's but in our photo lab at school they've got a bunch of dell LCD's which have been calibrated and are as accurate as I've ever needed.

Gordon

RIM BlackBerry Curve

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

01/31/2007 04:44:06 PM · #7

All monitors can be profiled. Not all monitors can be calibrated. The spyders etc perform a four step process - one, getting the monitor within a reasonable range of contrast/ brightness, two adjusting the colour to a reasonable base level, three, adjusting the video card settings to further tune the colour, four, measuring and creating a profile.

Not all monitors can display the required contrast/ brightness ranges - that's why some for example can't ever see the white levels 255/245 as a distinct step, while being able to see the black levels 10/0.

Also, not all monitors let you manipulate the RGB values or colour temp/ white balance, to get the colours into a reasonable state.

Not all video cards have flexible, reprogrammable DACs so can't be fine tuned.

Any monitor can be profiled - that's just comparing expected values with actual values (that's what the spyder evaluates)

Cheaper LCDs in particular, don't have the dynamic range to reach the full contrast/ brightness range required and also many don't allow individual RGB changes. The DAC manipulations don't make as much sense for a digital display (i.e., not using the VGA cable)

Good LCD monitors can be calibrated & profiled though.

DjFenzl

01/31/2007 04:46:22 PM · #8

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

OK, next question. The print company wants a typical temperature setting of 6500 and I'm assuming a default gamma of 2.2. What are the benefits/drawbacks of Spyder 2 versus Spyder Pro?

Pro works with multiple monitors and you can save different profiles. It also gives you more control over the settings (you can manually put them in as opposed to just presets).

I had the Spyder Express and then quickly upgraded to the Pro version.

check out their website for a more detailed explanation of the two.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

01/31/2007 04:48:05 PM · #9

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

OK, next question. The print company wants a typical temperature setting of 6500 and I'm assuming a default gamma of 2.2. What are the benefits/drawbacks of Spyder 2 versus Spyder Pro?

I don't know, I use the Eye-One from Pantone/Gretag Macbeth.

Are you restricted to the Spyder?

I use it on my Dell widescreen that's hooked up to my Mac. I can definitely tell a difference when I switch between the uncalibrated and calibrated profiles.

01/31/2007 04:50:45 PM · #10

Originally posted by Spazmo99:

Originally posted by DrAchoo:
OK, next question. The print company wants a typical temperature setting of 6500 and I'm assuming a default gamma of 2.2. What are the benefits/drawbacks of Spyder 2 versus Spyder Pro?

I don't know, I use the Eye-One from Pantone/Gretag Macbeth.

Are you restricted to the Spyder?

I use it on my Dell widescreen that's hooked up to my Mac. I can definitely tell a difference when I switch between the uncalibrated and calibrated profiles.

No, I'm not limited, I just hear those mentioned the most often. I want a reliable calibrator that will accomplish what I need for the best price. Thats all. :)