Dual Monitor Calibration - DPChallenge Forums

Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS

03/31/2009 12:49:48 PM · #1

This subject may have been covered elsewhere but my cursory search turned up nothing.

Anyone have any tips for calibrating two monitors on one system?

I have two different 24" DVI monitors, one Dell and the other ASUS, on a Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit machine set to extended. My graphics adapter is an ATI radeon X1950 Series. The Dell is my main post processing monitor, but I would like both monitors to be at least semi-reasonably close and calibrated separately.

When the computer boots it recognizes that both monitors have separate monitor profiles and appears to want to load them so it seems I should be able to profile separately and use them.

Even though the Spyder2Express, my hardware calibration tool, isn't designed to calibrate dual monitors it can be fooled and I know how to do that.

Here is the problem... when I have two monitor profiles the system will only ever let me select one of them to use with both monitors. Is there a way to get around that and assign profiles separately?

I'm new to dual monitors so it might be something simple I've overlooked. I'm a tech type of a guy so don't be afraid to get detailed with me.

Thanks

PapaBob

Sony Alpha a7 IV

03/31/2009 01:02:14 PM · #2

I did it once but I am sketchy how I actually did it, but from memory after I calibrated the first monitor I switched the second monitor into the main monitor postion then calibrated it, when I switched it back it both monitors seemed to keep the right profile (or at least they fooled me into thinking they did).

03/31/2009 02:29:49 PM · #3

i think you answered your own question... frustration with the super fast machine. never fails :)

Originally posted by Artifacts:

Even though the Spyder2Express, my hardware calibration tool, isn't designed to calibrate dual monitors it can be fooled and I know how to do that.

Here is the problem... when I have two monitor profiles the system will only ever let me select one of them to use with both monitors. Is there a way to get around that and assign profiles separately?

are both monitors the same model/brand ?

with the vid cards utility - DVI- OUT - can you manually assign a color profiles ?

Message edited by author 2009-03-31 14:31:02.

03/31/2009 05:56:22 PM · #4

Originally posted by soup:

Originally posted by Artifacts:

Even though the Spyder2Express, my hardware calibration tool, isn't designed to calibrate dual monitors it can be fooled and I know how to do that.

Here is the problem... when I have two monitor profiles the system will only ever let me select one of them to use with both monitors. Is there a way to get around that and assign profiles separately?

are both monitors the same model/brand ?

with the vid cards utility - DVI- OUT - can you manually assign a color profiles ?

They are both different monitor models and brands... one is a Dell 2408WFP and the other an ASUS MK241H. And no, I can't assign separate color profiles with the video graphics adapter software. I can adjust colors, but not profiles and the color adjustments always apply to both monitors.

Even if both monitors were exactly the same there might still be a problem.

Here is the situation as best as I can explain it...

When I look in Vista's 'Device Manager' under 'Monitors' there are two drivers - one is for the DELL 2408WFP and the other is the standard 'Generic PnP Monitor' driver. ASUS does not have a monitor driver for their monitor so it uses the generic Microsoft driver. That, according to ASUS, is how it is supposed to be used.

When Vista is started my monitor profile software from Colorvision, the makers of Spyder2Express, shows both monitors with separate drivers just like I would expect. The Dell has it's and the ASUS has the generic driver.

There are different profiles that show for each monitor. One is the profile I created for the Dell. However, for the ASUS I get this message:
"Sorry, no calibration data was found in the profile "sRGB Color Space Profile" for monitor "Generic PnP Monitor". Please select a different profile using ProfileChooser. (1168)"

I'd like to go there and select my own profile, but when I go there via Vista OS there are no profiles listed, including anything called "sRGB Color Space Profile".

I'd like to think I could calibrate the ASUS as a main monitor, rename the profile to 'sRGB Coloor Space Profile' or some other selectable name and apply that profile at startup, but that doesn't appear to be the case.

To confuse the issue more for me is that I can go to my ATI graphics adapter software - a program called "Cataylst Control Center" - and there are color controls there I can set, but nowhere can I select a monitor color profile. Further, I can assign different attributes to the two different monitors, but only one set can be chosen at a time and that applies to both monitors.

It is all very technical and confusing.

Any suggestions?????

03/31/2009 06:16:46 PM · #5

Gadzooks, Batman!!!

As fate would have it, asking for help and describing a problem to folks blazes a trail straight to the solution. :)

I can solve the problem for any other of you out there in DPC land that are similarly afflicted on Windows Vista but will spare the rest of you the gory, boring details. lol!!!

03/31/2009 06:36:55 PM · #6

spit it out man - i want to hear all the boring details !!! :)

03/31/2009 06:57:28 PM · #7

Originally posted by Artifacts:

Yeh Steve, give with the info man! Inquiring minds want to know!

;-)

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 12-24mm f/4.0G IF-ED

03/31/2009 07:09:39 PM · #8

fwiw - i have a spyder2 express - and a 2nd monitor i COULD be using !!!

i want some spyder spit !

jbsmithana

Nikon D300

03/31/2009 07:44:33 PM · #9

I'm using a fairly inexpensve calibration tool, Panatone Huey Pro software upgrade for the older Huey, and it calibrates both my monitors without issue. The software just asks that you move the sensor over to the second monitor and run the calibration again. After each monitor it lets you type in a different profile name. FWIW I also have tow different monitors, a Dell 20" traditional format and a Viewsonic 24" widescreen format.

Message edited by author 2009-03-31 19:45:20.

03/31/2009 08:09:55 PM · #10

JB, which OS are you running?

04/01/2009 09:49:12 AM · #11

Sorry folks... just saw your queries... you are a funny group, for sure.

This procedure is for a Windows Vista PC but would be sorta similar in WinXP. It presuppoes you have separate monitor drivers for each monitor. In my case I have a driver for the Dell but use Microsoft's generic driver for my second monitor.

There is no mystery here and it is easy but it is complicated a bit because of the Spyder2Express...

As those of you who own one already know, the Spyder2Express is not designed to calibrate more than one monitor. That is on purpose because they want you to buy the more expensive Spyder2Pro which does. lol!!! But you can get around that little problem with some extra work.

First you calibrate your main monitor normally. It will be given the color profile name "Spyder2Express". You have no control over that. After you are done locate and rename "Spyder2Express" to whatever you want. For example, I renamed mine to "Spyder2Dell" for my main monitor's manufacturer. Then switch your secondary monitor to make it your main monitor and then calibrate that one normally. You can either leave that profile named "Spyder2Express" or rename it for your second monitor. After that you can switch the monitors back to their rightful positions.

Then, in Windows Vista, use this procedure for each monitor:

1: Select "Start-->Settings-->Control Panels-->Personalization"
(You can get to the same place by right-clicking a blank area of the desktop and selecting "Personalization")

2-Click "Display Settings" at the bottom of the list
This displays a dialog to select a monitor to set a color profile for.

3-Select a monitor you want to assign a color profile
Be sure the right monitor driver is assigned to the monitor you are working with.

4-Click the "Advanced Settings" button

5-Click the "Color Management" tab on the dialog that comes up

6-Click the "Color Management" button that you see
(Why, you may ask do they make you do this? Answer: It's Windows Vista, silly!... 'nuff said)

7-Select the named profile you made earlier with the Spyder2Express for that monitor from the list in the box.
If the box comes up blank, don't panic. Simply click the "Add" button at the bottom and selected the desired profile from the list that will now magically appear. Then select that profile when it does appear in the box.

8-Apply and/or Save your changes

That's it.

Perform the same procedure for your second monitor and you will now have separate color profiles assigned to each of your two monitors.

Yippeeeeeee!!!!

04/01/2009 10:05:14 AM · #12

Thanks Steve!

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 12-24mm f/4.0G IF-ED

04/01/2009 10:10:35 AM · #13

that doesn't sound tooo bad. except you'll have to go through the whole process again in about a month...

thanks for the info.

jbsmithana

Nikon D300

04/01/2009 10:50:58 AM · #14

Originally posted by kirbic:

JB, which OS are you running?

sorry, should have mentioned it. Vista.

04/01/2009 11:18:00 AM · #15

Originally posted by soup:

that doesn't sound tooo bad. except you'll have to go through the whole process again in about a month...

You will only have to go through periodic calibration just like you normally would. Keep the profile names the same and you will not have to repeat the Vista procedure.

04/01/2009 11:23:16 AM · #16

Originally posted by jbsmithana:

The Vista procedure is all you need. Since your monitor profiler allows calibration of separate monitors you don't have to perform the workaround I do with Spyder2Express.

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Nikon

04/01/2009 12:38:49 PM · #17

on a similar topic - there is a way to use a spyder to calibrate an HD TV. they sell a spyder TV. w/o violating TOS - anyone looked into a work around to buying a second piece of hardware in order to calibrate using a spyder2 express ?

i'm not talking about pirated software - but something easier and open source - than what i mention below...

i did some research on it - and the solutions all seemed pretty convoluted.

i also have some software on my laptop that allows me to use the spyder2 hardware and get readings - but from there you're given these crazy charts and you need to use other software ( all french help files )... to input info from the charts to generate color settings to use to manually calibrate the TV...

ETA - i got pretty fed up with it - but will see if i have the links saved somewhere.....

here's some info on the main software that allows the laptop to see the spyder2.
//www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=737550

Message edited by author 2009-04-01 12:47:06.

ikopanas

Nikon D7000

04/01/2009 01:20:15 PM · #18

I am going to buy a new monitor. I am looking for 22 in. with a contrast 8000:1 or 10000:1 cost 130-150â�¬ (150-200$). Mostly for photo editing. Any ideas?

My choice so far:
LG W2242S-PF 22'' TFT

Sorry if this topic is irrelevant...

Prof_Fate

04/01/2009 01:39:49 PM · #19

vista does not play well with two non-same monitors. that is problem number one.
number two is you need the proper hardware/software to calibrate two seperate monitors.
you video card should be able to do this, but not all can, so you need to verify that.

workarounds and such may work, may not, but can you trust them? IMO, no.

04/01/2009 05:39:50 PM · #20

Originally posted by Prof_Fate:

If Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit has a problem with two monitors from different manufacturers then I'm gonna have to break the bad news to my computer because it is handling them just fine, including separate color profiles for each monitor.

The only workaround I have is with my hardware profiler... it doesn't handle multiple monitors, but that is not Vista's fault.

04/01/2009 07:36:57 PM · #21

Originally posted by Prof_Fate:

workarounds and such may work, may not, but can you trust them? IMO, no.

I think Steve has clearly shown that the only impediment to getting Vista to use two different profiles is the limitation of some profiler software. Other software seems to handle it just fine, as jpsmithana posted. And there is absolutely no reason that Steve's work-around would not be trustworthy. A valid profile is created, and it can be assigned, albeit manually.

04/01/2009 09:11:19 PM · #22

Btw, kirbic...
I was inspired to try out the Gigapixel Panorama Speedtest you did several months ago to put my new PC through it's paces. I will enter a new discussion topic for it with my results and thoughts... probably do that tomorrow.