Could it be my screen????

[allison_dcp]

I'm always lurking on the people photography forum. Alot of the images I've seen, IMO look to bright, but no one ever really mentions it. I'm thinking it has something to do with my computer screen. I do my editing on here, and want to make sure I have optimal settings for it.
Any advice is greatly appreciated

 

[tirediron]

It probably does. Is it a CRT, LCD/LED panel, or laptop? For proper editing, a calibrated monitor is essential. This ensures that your monitor is displaying accurate colours/hues/saturation levels. There are a number of tools out there; I've used the Spyder 2/3/4 Pro series for a long time and been happy with it. You also need to make sure that you have your monitor adjusted for the optimum viewing angle.

 

[KmH]

A key display adjustment is the gamma of the display. Here is a small group of tutorials that have more information for you - Tutorials on Color Management & Printing

There are several types of computer display, which tirediron got into a bit.

Many desktop computers and laptops come with a Twisted Nematic (TN) type display. TN displays are inexpensive, but have very narrow accurate viewing angles, some so narrow that an image that fills the display screen cannot all be seen accurately without moving your head around.

In-Plane Switching (IPS) type displays have broad accurate viewing angles and are preferred for image editing. IPS displays can range from $300 or so, to over $10,000 for a pro model.

The lower cost IPS displays often do not have a gamma adjustment the user can manipulate, but that calibrating software can adjust to some extent.

Which brings us to the fact that calibrating a display requires some hardware and the hardware's associated software. Many consumer and pro print labs recommend X-RITE brand display calibration tools - Xrite EODIS3 i1Display Pro
Some used examples of the previous X-RITE model are available from a variety of sources - X-Rite i1Display 2 Color Calibrator for LCD, CRT, and Laptop Displays

 

[Trever1t]

About a month ago I calibrated my workstations...I never realized how screwy my screens were displaying previously.

 

[12sndsgood]

my screen at home is calibrated. and my two work screens arnt when Im looking at photos on my workscreen I wont even comment because there so far out of wack. I keep meaning to bring my spyder pro in to calibrate them but ive been slacking.

 

[allison_dcp]

Thanks guys! I did some adjusting through my computer and it looks much better

 

[Trever1t]

I can't say how highly I recommend purchasing a calibration tool! On screen calibration is no comparison.

 

[ceejtank]

This thread / information should be a sticky IMO.