monitor calibration

[HASHASHIN]

im bidding on the spyderPRO , good enough?

 

[Alex_B]

depends on what you want to do with it.

i have the spyder, it is ok to prevent your screen being totally off in terms of colour. it certainly does not fulfill colour proofing standards for many pro applications.

but then again, you probably do not own a 2000 USD proofing monitor anyway.

I am happy with my spyder.

 

[Big Mike]

I'm also happy with my Spyder.

 

[HASHASHIN]

depends on what you want to do with it.

i have the spyder, it is ok to prevent your screen being totally off in terms of colour. it certainly does not fulfill colour proofing standards for many pro applications.

but then again, you probably do not own a 2000 USD proofing monitor anyway.

I am happy with my spyder.

i dont have a proofing monitor...i have a 350 dollar 19" lcd

but as long as it gets me closer to where i want to be ill be happy...

i just notice that at work on my nice new 24" monitors my pics look totally different, and better, then on my monitor at home.

 

[Alex_B]

i dont have a proofing monitor...i have a 350 dollar 19" lcd

but as long as it gets me closer to where i want to be ill be happy...

i just notice that at work on my nice new 24" monitors my pics look totally different, and better, then on my monitor at home.

should be fine with the spyder

if you do not need 100% 1:1 correspondence between screen and printing anything more is probably a waste.
If you include printing everything gets more complicated since you have to profile your printer/ink/paper combinations.

 

[HASHASHIN]

what about getting prints done professionally, how is that handled..

do you have to get their profiles? im planning on getting some big prints done for my house..whats the best way of handling this?

 

[Alex_B]

what about getting prints done professionally, how is that handled..

do you have to get their profiles? im planning on getting some big prints done for my house..whats the best way of handling this?

if you print at a lab. get your screen calibrated/profiled and let the rest be done by the lab. they profile their printers so you will not be bothered with that. try to find a lab where small scale proofs are included in the price. so if you are not happy with the colours then you can tell them before the final large scale print.

 

[HASHASHIN]

any labs you recommend based in the us?

 

[Alex_B]

any labs you recommend based in the us?

sorry, no idea at all ... the only money I ever spent on photography in the US was spent on buying film

... but you are talking of fine art large scale printing. over here this is usually done by smaller independent pro labs/printers and by small companies specialised on printing permanent advertisments/banners and the like.

 

[HASHASHIN]

thanks for all your help, much appreciated

 

[tash]

I get prints done at MPIX. they have a little checkbox (that is automatically checked) that says 'color correct' or something. they will check your files on thier color corrected monitors before printing if you don't uncheck that box. they will also send you a 'calabration kit' if you ask. its just a print and a cd with the file so you can eyeball it. I have been happy so far.

 

[BoblyBill]

I get prints done at MPIX. they have a little checkbox (that is automatically checked) that says 'color correct' or something. they will check your files on thier color corrected monitors before printing if you don't uncheck that box. they will also send you a 'calabration kit' if you ask. its just a print and a cd with the file so you can eyeball it. I have been happy so far.

do you have a website address that I could check out... and if you don't mind would you happen to know how big of a print that they could make?

 

[JD in Socal]

do you have a website address that I could check out... and if you don't mind would you happen to know how big of a print that they could make?

www.mpix.com

 

[BoblyBill]

www.mpix.com

I feel like a retard now...

 

[gmarquez]

(posted on BoblyBills' thread as well, formatting on tables blown to heck):

16x24 20x30
mpix - kodak endura - $17.99 $24.99
mpix - kodak metallic - $22.59 $31.99

16x20 20x30
adorama - kodak endura - $ 4.95 $ 9.95
adorama - kodak metallic - $ 9.95 $18.95

16x20 20x30
kodak - kodak endura - $17.99 $22.99

16x20 20x30
calypso - Fuji Crystal Archive - $23.50 (14) $44.00 (26.50)
calypso - Fuji Supergloss - $23.50 (14) $44.00 (26.50)
calypso - Epson Giclee - $35.75 (21) $67.10 (40)

16x24 20x30
West Coast Imaging - FCAG - $114.67 $179.17
West Coast Imaging - FSuperG - $125.33 $195.83
West Coast Imaging - KMetallic - $125.33 $195.83
West Coast Imaging - WColorS - $114.67 $179.17
proofs $18-$25

16x20 20x30
Color One - FujiFlex - $44.00 $80.00

16x20 20x30
Laser Light - FujiFlex - $50.00 $95.00


16x24 20x30
Mighty - Kodak Metallic - $42.00 (29) $65.00 (45)
Mighty - FujiFlex - $42.00 (29) $65.00 (45)