How to calibrate monitors?

[rdtagman]

I have dual monitors and would like for them to display the same color profile (for lack of the proper nomenclature). I like using dual monitors with Lightroom 3, having the tool panels on one monitor and the large size photo on the second monitor. I am using a Dell U2410 and a Dell ST2310. What hardware/software do I need to do this and is there a link to a step by step process that would guide me through this project?
Thanks.

 

[MLeeK]

You'll need either the Spyder3Pro or the i1D2 (or better...)

 

[Big Mike]

Welcome to the forum.

You'll need a monitor calibration device and software that is compatible with a duel monitor set up. For example, if you go with the Spyder3, don't get the 'Express' package, as that doesn't support duel calibration.

Although, if you are doing this...

having the tool panels on one monitor and the large size photo on the second monitor.

You really only need on monitor to be accurate.

I use two monitors can only calibrate one of them.

 

[WesternGuy]

If you are going to calibrate two monitors seperately, then Spyder 3 Pro will do, or Colormunki Display, or Colormunki Photo, as well as some of the x-rite I1 products - these are aimed more at the professionals though. CM Photo will also help in calibrating your printer. If you need/want a studio match for the two monitors, then you will need Spyder 3 Elite. The "studio match" tries to match as closely as possible the color gamut of both monitors. I have Spyder 3 Elite and it works pretty well for me. I also have Colormunki Photo, but I am currently only using it for printer calibration as it will not do a studio match. It could still be a little tricky, because the U2410 is an H-IPS monitor and the ST2310 is a TN panel. I have the ST2310 and an ASUS PA246Q wide gamut, IPS monitor. The Spyder 3 Elite will calibrate them both very well individually, but the studio match currently leaves a bit to be desired - they are completely different monitor technologies and I suspect this has a bit to do with the less than excellent match I sometimes get. Plan to add another monitor to replace the ST2310 in the new year - will probably get another ASUS PA246Q. Before I got the ASUS monitor, I had 2 TN monitors and the "studio match" process with them worked quite well. Hope this helps.

Cheers,

WesternGuy

 

[KmH]

Here is a small group of tutorials you may, or may not, have seen: Tutorials on Color Management & Printing

The Dell U2410 is an IPS display, while the ST2310 is a TN display. TN displays have much narrower accurate viewing angles. You will not be able to make those 2 displays look the same regardless the colorimeter or spectrophotometer model you use to attempt calibrating them.

Like Mike suggested, I only calibrate my IPS display and use it to display the image I am working on, and use my smaller, un-calibrated, TN display for my desktop and tool pallets.

I recommend X-RITE's products. Since X-RITE has introduced the i1 Display Pro, the price of new i1 Display 2's have dropped about $125 to just $128 or so.

X-Rite i1Display 2 Color Calibrator for LCD, CRT, and Laptop Displays

Here is the new i1 Display Pro: Xrite EODIS3 i1Display Pro

And X-RITE's spectrophotometer, the ColorMunki, needed to profile your printer, scenner, or projector: ColorMunki Photo - Monitor, Printer & Projector Profiler

 

[rdtagman]

Thanks for you replies. Makes sense to calibrate the one monitor with the large object display.

 

[Dao]

I used the i1Display2 and calibrate each monitor separately to create 2 separate profiles. And then in Windows7, I apply the profiles to the corresponding monitors. Now, both displays look some what the same.

 

[BlairWright]

The color monkey pro does a great job... Not the cheapest but if you are doing pro work its all relative.

-B