Calibration

Josh66 · Jul 30, 2009

OK, I know that you need to calibrate your monitor, and I do.

But, there are a lot of choices out there.

Right now I use the Huey, by Pantone.

What will a "better" unit do for me that the Huey can't?

So far, I think it works pretty good. Have any of you noticed my colors being 'off'?

I guess I'm just wondering if it's worth upgrading. What kind of difference will I see, or what new abilities will I get that I don't currently have?

Andrew Boyd · Jul 30, 2009

I upgraded a couple of years back from the Spyder probe to the Eye1Display2 monitor probe. This is the bomb! It calibrates in regular daylight (no need to shield your monitor from ambient light) and does a great job of setting your overall color and luminance points. You can also create a monitor calibration and then use it to set calibration on other monitors too.
If you haven't considered it, go to Eye1color and check it out.
Andrew Boyd
TheDiscerningPhotographer

inTempus · Jul 31, 2009

The Huey Pro calibrates for different ambient light... it's done that for a while. Plus, if you leave it plugged in and in the cradle, you can set it to constantly update your settings based upon the ambient light.

I use the Huey Pro because I've used more expensive tools (at work) and honestly, I see no difference, certainly not a $200+ difference. The Huey is only $90.

If you're printing photos and want to calibrate your printer to your monitor, then I would go with the ColorMunki. I'm actually going to pick one up when I finally jump on that Epson R2880.

Mr. Murmeli · Jul 31, 2009

How well does the apparently very popular Spyders fare compared to other calibrators? I've seen some very cheap prices for the Spyder2 but will it adjust the colors good enough?

My monitor is Lenovo L220x (S-PVA panel).

Thanks!

Garbz · Jul 31, 2009

Here's the thing. Compare it to a good print. Do you get the colours you expect or is there a colour cast or a saturation change?

I have an eyeOne Display2. NEC actively recommend NOT using a Spyder 2 on any wide gamut display. The only reason you would want to upgrade is if your current device is not providing the correct reference colours or if the current device doesn't support your screen.

Everything else is just procedural. The huey calibrates for your room lighting conditions? Constantly update? Horrid. Completely bad form. You should calibrate your room light to the standard, then it doesn't matter anymore, a procedural issue rather than cutting corners. Then any working device that works on your display will do.

JerryPH · Jul 31, 2009

I use the EyeOne Dsplay 2 as well (I have dual monitors). It made a big difference for me once it was set up properly. If you go online and do the research, the Spyder is the one that is most often bought... and has the highest complaints by far too.

I'd suggest the EyeOne first and Huey 2nd.

DScience · Jul 31, 2009

O|||||||O said:
OK, I know that you need to calibrate your monitor, and I do.

But, there are a lot of choices out there.

Right now I use the Huey, by Pantone.

What will a "better" unit do for me that the Huey can't?

So far, I think it works pretty good. Have any of you noticed my colors being 'off'?

I guess I'm just wondering if it's worth upgrading. What kind of difference will I see, or what new abilities will I get that I don't currently have?

get a mac

JerryPH · Jul 31, 2009

Not happening. They are going to have to pry that PC from my cold dead hands. :lmao:

The Huey does a nice job, it is not going to do anything drastic for you to change calibrators. The fact that it is calibrated is the big difference... as long as you are calibrating the monitor properly.

Josh66 · Jul 31, 2009

tharmsen said:
The Huey Pro calibrates for different ambient light... it's done that for a while. Plus, if you leave it plugged in and in the cradle, you can set it to constantly update your settings based upon the ambient light.

The 'regular' Huey does too. That's another thing I couldn't really see the difference on - regular Huey vs. HueyPro.

DScience said:
get a mac

Why?

JerryPH · Jul 31, 2009

Maybe becuase he doesn't know that they need calibration too? :razz:

Plankton · Jul 31, 2009

I'm assuming he meant that they have a built in calibration tool. But, the discussion is about harware calibrators which are far superior to calibrating with your eyes. So mac or PC...doesnt make a difference.

JerryPH · Jul 31, 2009

Plankton said:
I'm assuming he meant that they have a built in calibration tool. But, the discussion is about harware calibrators which are far superior to calibrating with your eyes. So mac or PC...doesnt make a difference.

Oh my gosh yes, not even on the same planet. Adobe had a software calibrator built into CS2 and it did get you closer, but it was surprising how far off it still was after I did my first hardware cal.

Just becuase you have a MAC doesn't mean perfectly calibrated monitors. MAC users should do the same things PC users do.

table1349 · Jul 31, 2009

JerryPH said:
Plankton said:

I'm assuming he meant that they have a built in calibration tool. But, the discussion is about harware calibrators which are far superior to calibrating with your eyes. So mac or PC...doesnt make a difference.

Click to expand...

Oh my gosh yes, not even on the same planet. Adobe had a software calibrator built into CS2 and it did get you closer, but it was surprising how far off it still was after I did my first hardware cal.

Just becuase you have a MAC doesn't mean perfectly calibrated monitors. MAC users should do the same things PC users do.

And we do.

Well the smart ones of us do.

The one thing I have found and a couple of friends that also use Macs find that with the 30" HD monitor the monitor does not drift off target far or fast. I still calibrate every two weeks, or at least try to, but the changes are minor.

There are plenty of monitors out there besides Mac's that are the same way, but like most things, they cost a bit more.

JerryPH · Jul 31, 2009

If you do it every couple of weeks thats awesome, and only the very cheap monitors on the market would drift off enough to be a visible difference after a cal that was done regularly.

I do mine every 4 weeks, unless I am doing a wedding in which case I run through the cal whether it needs it or not.

table1349 · Jul 31, 2009

I will confess :blushing: One reason I do it every two weeks is when I installed the software and calibrated I didn't change the default 2 week reminder and I'm just to lazy to change it now. It only takes about 20 minutes to go both the Desktop and the laptop.