Calibration Tool?

[OnTheFly7]

First, forgive me if this is the wrong place for this post.

This post is with regards to monitor calibration equipment.

Do you folks utilize monitor calibration equipment such as SpyderWare or X-Rite?

I am trying to decide if I really need to, or should shell out the money for something like this.

Thank You!

 

[tirediron]

I use the Spyder 4; there any a number of other choices. IMO, it's an important part of your equipment, especially if you plan to print or display your images.

 

[Overread13 1]

Using a Spyder 3 myself and yes I'd say its well worth being a part of your setup.

Hardware based calibrators allow you to calibrate your screen to a fixed, repeatable standard. This makes it much easier to prepare photos for online display and for print; and also allows you to work with a constant state rather than one that might drift over time (monitors do drift which is why you have to recalibrate at least one or twice a month).

Trying to do it by eye won't work because our vision system isn't fixed and is quite adaptive to chances so you can't calibrate to any repeatable standard.

 

[OnTheFly7]

Going with a calibration device, I should be able to get multiple screens to appear very similar, yes?

Example: I have a 24" monitor which I hook into when in my office, however I also like to work in the living room by the TV. Thus, I am directly on my laptop. I also plan on using the laptop in the field. With the calibration device, I should be able to get both monitors almost identical to each other.

 

[Overread13 1]

In theory yes - in practice remember that:

1) Ambient lighting plays a part, whilst modern calibrators have detectors on them to adapt to ambient light your own eyes also do that too; which is why consistent editing is advised to be done in a lighting controlled room (ergo keep away from natural light sources). In practice though in the real world most of the time it will get them close enough - so long as you're aware that if you're in blazing sunshine your laptop screen isn't going to look exactly the same as in shade.

2) Laptop/lcd screens often have contrast changes/brightness changes as your viewing angle changes. Calibrators always look straight on at the screen so you should aim to do the same unless you've one of the higher end screens which doesn't have that effect (in a laptop it tends to only be the very top models that have it).

 

[KmH]

Most online print labs and image editing experts recommend and use X-Rite calibration hardware/software.

A regularly calibrated is necessary if you want to manage the color in your photographs.
Tutorials on Color Management & Printing