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DPChallenge Forums >> Current Challenge >> Brightness of Voter's Computers
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AuthorThread
 03/29/2011 04:35:17 PM · #1
Hi!
I realized, as I was about to submit one of my photos today, that while the photo brightness was correct when I had on full brightness on my computer, it looked horribly underexposed when I moved my brightness down to half... Any input on what brightness you set your computer on when you vote, or how you figure how bright you want your picture to be when you submit it?
btw I have the MacBook Pro
Thanks so much!
Nicky
 03/29/2011 04:43:40 PM · #2
Get your gear calibrated and that's all you can hope for. Trying to aim your entry at a floating unknown for the voter's screens is a lost cause.
ETA: You can view your shot on a couple different people's computers if it worries you, but I'd caution you with the information this provides.

Message edited by author 2011-03-29 16:44:18.
 03/29/2011 05:20:59 PM · #3
I set my monitor brightness to one notch above the middle setting. Even then, the brightness of an image will vary dramatically based on ambient light. Both for viewing/voting and image processing, it's best to have balanced, natural, but never direct sunlight. When people have told me my images have blown out highlights, it is often because they are using a laptop with brightness at maximum setting and they are voting in the black of night in a room without any supplemental light. So, yes, it's a problem. But, people just need to understand the importance of ambient light and their monitor setting.

All one can do is process images in a "normal" light setting. Normal ambient daylight and normal monitor settings. Goes without saying one should be using a calibrated monitor. As monitors age, they require more frequent calibration... as they do drift. I calibrate at least once a month.

One of the tests of my monitor is my ability to generate a print from my Canon Pro9500 MkIi which EXACTLY matches the image on my monitor in terms of luminosity and colors.
 03/29/2011 05:46:31 PM · #4
My main monitor is an HP LP2475W which is always calibrated with my Spyder3Studio SR kit...along with my printer. My laptop is as well. When I submit photos I always check them on my laptop as well as my iPod Touch to ensure consistency.

The way a person intentionally processes an image is separate though. You can still get comments from voters saying your photo is to dark etc. If that's the way YOU wanted it to be. Or if you intentionally over saturate things. There is bound to be someone who thinks your monitor is off etc.

I know my whole color management is correct so if I process a photo with normal exposure levels etc. and someone happened to say...Way to dark etc. Well, I know it's their monitor or viewing environment and I take that with a grain of salt.

With that said....I never really get comments pertaining to exposure or color unless they are positive. In general it's my subject matter that normally dooms my shots. LOL.

Dave
03/29/2011 06:27:50 PM · #5
What happened to the little luminosity strip that used to be on the bottom of each image?

In any case, I tend to do a quick check of my submissions by turning up/down the brightness of my monitor to see what those with non-calibrated monitors might be seeing.

It's all well and good having a calibrated monitor but doesn't help much if the voter doesn't have one as well.

bazz.
 03/29/2011 06:31:07 PM · #6
Originally posted by sir_bazz:
What happened to the little luminosity strip that used to be on the bottom of each image?...

I see the gradient boxes below each image in the voting window. It's good to draw attention to those. Each box should be a different tonality than the adjacent one.
 03/29/2011 06:33:01 PM · #7
Underneath all challenge entries, there is a strip of greyscale boxes. Adjust your brightness and contrast so that you can just barely discern the difference between the two brightest and the two darkest squares.

Here is a monitor calibration chart that is similar in nature, with explanations. It's not as good as a real color calibration with the proper gear, but it gets you in the ballpark.


I've actually got my own monitor eyeball calibrated. I have an inexpensive calibration device, but the times I have used it, it has caused a noticeable color cast. One day I'll get a good one, but I think my present eyeball calibration is fairly close.

03/29/2011 06:33:03 PM · #8
Originally posted by nB:
Hi!
I realized, as I was about to submit one of my photos today, that while the photo brightness was correct when I had on full brightness on my computer, it looked horribly underexposed when I moved my brightness down to half... Any input on what brightness you set your computer on when you vote, or how you figure how bright you want your picture to be when you submit it?
btw I have the MacBook Pro
Thanks so much!
Nicky


i have found that no matter how bright or dark my computer was, i still got crappy scores,then i started looking at my monitor.....
 03/29/2011 06:33:45 PM · #9
Originally posted by sir_bazz:
What happened to the little luminosity strip that used to be on the bottom of each image?

In any case, I tend to do a quick check of my submissions by turning up/down the brightness of my monitor to see what those with non-calibrated monitors might be seeing.

It's all well and good having a calibrated monitor but doesn't help much if the voter doesn't have one as well.

bazz.


It's only there during the voting period...below the comment box.
 03/29/2011 06:38:51 PM · #10
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:
Underneath all challenge entries, there is a strip of greyscale boxes. Adjust your brightness and contrast so that you can just barely discern the difference between the two brightest and the two darkest squares.

Here is a monitor calibration chart that is similar in nature, with explanations. It's not as good as a real color calibration with the proper gear, but it gets you in the ballpark.


I've actually got my own monitor eyeball calibrated. I have an inexpensive calibration device, but the times I have used it, it has caused a noticeable color cast. One day I'll get a good one, but I think my present eyeball calibration is fairly close.


Yes, I used to use that site, along with the Windows 7 built in calibration before I got my calibration kit etc. It's definitely a good test if people don't own anything else.

Looking at the chart you posted I can clearly see all the blocks at their proper levels, including the circles and rectangles below. I still check that site from time to time to make sure all is well.
 03/29/2011 07:45:37 PM · #11
Oh, another option for those that use Corel Paintshop Pro, it has a visual monitor calibration that is fairly good. Go to File-->Color Mnagement-->Monitor Calibration and it will walk you through some a visual calibration, saving the result as a monitor profile that is applied to your system.
 04/02/2011 05:21:31 AM · #12
The following 2 monitor calibration sites have visual tests that will give you a very good idea to see if your monitor is calibrated correctly or at least very close to correct.
//www.lagom.nl/lcd-test/
//www.normankoren.com/makingfineprints1A.html

On the 2nd site check out in particular the GAMMA test patterns by scrolling about halfway down the page.

Message edited by author 2011-04-02 05:25:12.
 06/30/2012 04:47:35 AM · #13
I know this is an old thread, but I wonder at what most people set their screens to while voting? I use my IPad and have my brightness and contrast very low because it hurts my eyes if I have it at max b&c. I also edit everything on my computer at low b&c, I notice when I vote that a lot of images look really dark, but not mine. How do you set your various screens and does low B&c make an image look worse ?
06/30/2012 06:00:41 AM · #14
I do like the old Photofriday tool - it seems to work well for me and I check it frequently. It isn't THE most accurate way, but it sure beats doing nothing at all.

Obviously not everybody bothers to check their monitor, and then images like this one (that rely on half-decent calibration) really suffer for it:


06/30/2012 09:27:06 AM · #15
Originally posted by JunieMoon:
I know this is an old thread, but I wonder at what most people set their screens to while voting? I use my IPad and have my brightness and contrast very low because it hurts my eyes if I have it at max b&c. I also edit everything on my computer at low b&c, I notice when I vote that a lot of images look really dark, but not mine. How do you set your various screens and does low B&c make an image look worse ?


Your comment made me smile, because that was my first experience with digital processing. I had my monitor adjusted for my own personal comfort (dim) & people complained regularly of blown highlight areas. "D So, reluctantly, I went to just below the max in brightness. Only now I sit much further away from the monitor, so I have to do a lot of zooming in on the details. Ambient light can do a lot to limit eyestrain. And I sit where I can look out the window from time to time, to relax my eyes.

There is a lot of talk about monitor calibration because it's important, especially if you're processing to print. But monitor calibration IMO has little to do with the personal, artistic decisions you make when PP, which has more to do with how you see, what's important when looking at your composition.

I look at my photos on as many different screens as I can, just out of curiosity. I'm probably the only person at work who bothers to use all the adjustment controls on the monitor. The best screen for a nice crisp picture is of course my iPhone.
 06/30/2012 10:04:42 AM · #16
Just as a note,

I am consistently surprised and impressed with the performance of this Sony Bravia 3D LED TV that I use for a monitor - brightness and contrast are always spot on, with huge dynamic range. When I first bought it I was worried that it would perform poorly - instead it has turned out to be the best monitor I've ever owned - by quite a margin in fact.
 07/11/2012 03:49:00 AM · #17
We have that same TV, I should try it out!
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