What monitor calibration tool should I get?

[phnoob]

I dabble in photography and web design and have always had trouble getting colors right since I use a cheap TN panel LCD monitor. Well, I just recently purchased a second LCD monitor and, after setting it up, have found the colors and brightness of the two differ significantly. If I spend a lot of time messing around I might be able to get them to match pretty closely, but I really think it's time for me to break down and buy a monitor calibration tool -- that way, not only will I get the monitors looking the same, but they should actually have the correct settings, too.

So my question is, what calibration tool should I use? The Spyder3 seems to be popular. Would the Spyder3 Express work well for me?

Keep in mind that I'm not a professional and I don't need the absolute best calibration tool out there. In fact, I'm actually a student, and so I can't afford to pay too much.

I appreciate your advice

 

[thierry]

You go it. I have Spyder 3 Pro and love it. It works great on my PC. However, any of the following would work great and I would reccomend:

Datacolor DC S3X100 Spyder 3 Express
Datacolor DC S3P100 Spyder 3 Pro
X-Rite i1Display 2 Color Calibrator for LCD, CRT, and Laptop Displays

 

[ann]

Am using colormunki and am pleased as it also lets me make icc profiles for paper as well.

 

[WesternGuy]

If you want to get what is called a "studio match" for your two monitors, then you will have to go with the Spyder3 Elite, neither the Express or the Pro model will give you this capability. As far as I know, it is the only "hardware/software" combination that will give you the ability to match two, or more, monitors - Datacolor - Global Leader in Color Management Solutions. You can, of course, use the Express or the Pro model or even one of the ColorMunki tools and they will all allow you to calibrate any number of monitors, as far as I know, but they will not give you the ability to "match" one or more monitors. A comparison of the three products can be found here - Spyder3 Solution Comparison Chart - Datacolor - Global Leader in Color Management Solutions

I have an ASUS ProArt PA246Q P-IPS monitor and a Dell ST2310 TN monitor. I use the Spyder 3 Elite to give me the "best" match I can get between the two, but it is not exact because the technical aspects of the two are quite different. I will be replacing the TN monitor in the New Year with another ASUS Pro AP246Q for that reason. HTH.

Cheers,

WesternGuy

 

[Dao]

I bought the i1 Display 2 a month or so after they discontinue the model. (I think the discontinue it around July this year). So far so good.

- It is quite easy to setup and use
- It works with Windows 7 64bit as well as Linux
- In Windows 7 box with 2 monitors setup (different brand monitor), I can calibrate each monitor and save the profile separately. Then Apply the profile to the corresponding monitor. So now both monitor looks very close in terms of brightness, contrast and color.

And the last print my wife print from the local walgreen looked a lot better than before. So she is happy.

 

[phnoob]

Thanks for your replies, everyone!

If you want to get what is called a "studio match" for your two monitors, then you will have to go with the Spyder3 Elite, neither the Express or the Pro model will give you this capability.

I'm a little confused by this. If both monitors are calibrated correctly, then shouldn't they "match"?

 

[Big Mike]

I'm a little confused by this. If both monitors are calibrated correctly, then shouldn't they "match"?

In a perfect world, yes.....but perfect calibration is more of a goal, not a reality for most people (especially if don't have top end gear).

Also, I don't think that the Data Color (Spyder) 'Express' software will allow you to calibrate two monitors on the same system. It only loads one profile. For calibrating two screens, you would need a higher software option.

But the way most people work, you really only need one screen to be fully calibrated, and that will be the one that you view/edit your photos/designs etc. The other screen is often used for tool pallets or other applications etc. that probably aren't required to be accurate.

 

[KmH]

Is your new display also a TN panel, or did you get an IPS display?

I use a 2 display set up, a TN display and an IPS display. I only edit on the IPS display and use the TN display for my desktop and edit work pallets.

I only calibrate the IPS display. I too recommend the discontinued i1 Display 2 calibration device and software, and quite a few of the pro print labs also recommend the i1 Display 2. The price is quite a bit lower (about $100) since it was discontined.

 

[Dao]

I'm a little confused by this. If both monitors are calibrated correctly, then shouldn't they "match"?

In a perfect world, yes.....but perfect calibration is more of a goal, not a reality for most people (especially if don't have top end gear).

Also, I don't think that the Data Color (Spyder) 'Express' software will allow you to calibrate two monitors on the same system. It only loads one profile. For calibrating two screens, you would need a higher software option.

But the way most people work, you really only need one screen to be fully calibrated, and that will be the one that you view/edit your photos/designs etc. The other screen is often used for tool pallets or other applications etc. that probably aren't required to be accurate.

Will the software able to save the profile after each separate calibration? If yes and you are using windows 7 (not sure about other Windows or OS), you can apply each profile to the corresponding monitor in Windows7.

i.e.
Display one : Monitor brand #1 ----> monitor1_profile.icm
Display two : Monitor brand #2 ----> monitor2_profile.icm

 

[Big Mike]

I'm a little confused by this. If both monitors are calibrated correctly, then shouldn't they "match"?

In a perfect world, yes.....but perfect calibration is more of a goal, not a reality for most people (especially if don't have top end gear).

Also, I don't think that the Data Color (Spyder) 'Express' software will allow you to calibrate two monitors on the same system. It only loads one profile. For calibrating two screens, you would need a higher software option.

But the way most people work, you really only need one screen to be fully calibrated, and that will be the one that you view/edit your photos/designs etc. The other screen is often used for tool pallets or other applications etc. that probably aren't required to be accurate.

Will the software able to save the profile after each separate calibration? If yes and you are using windows 7 (not sure about other Windows or OS), you can apply each profile to the corresponding monitor in Windows7.

i.e.
Display one : Monitor brand #1 ----> monitor1_profile.icm
Display two : Monitor brand #2 ----> monitor2_profile.icm

Good question. I'm still running XP and I haven't really found a way to calibrate both with Express (not that I have looked that hard). The profile reloads at start-up, and I have a feeling that they would have engineered it to only load one profile. Maybe it could be done manually, but I'd probably have to do it after every start up. But, like I said before, I don't do any critical stuff on the 2nd monitor...it's just there to help keep the main screen clear of tool pallets etc.

 

[mommy-medic]

I just ordered a spyder- tired of my prints not matching my digital versions and having to reprint 6 times to get it "acceptable". I don't want "acceptable", I want what I see and what I know my images to look like in my photoshop and lightroom!

TY to thread contributors! (Sorry if this is "resurrecting" an "old" thread, but I figured using the handy dandy "search" feature and actually doing quite a bit of reading and learning was better than starting a new thread on an already-discussed topic. I mainly lurk here and have learned a TON this way anyhow). Anyway, thanks again!

 

[KmH]

Won't ever happen, for a couple of reasons.

1. The computer display uses the additive color model - RGB. A print is made using the subtractive color model - CMYK.

2. The computer display is back lit. Prints are fore lit.

You can see a fairly close approximation of the print on your computer display if you soft proof. To soft proof you need the ICC profile(s) for the print device and the paper the print is made on.

Most of the print labs I used recommended the X-RITE calibration devices and software.

Here is a small group of tutorials that cover the basics - Tutorials on Color Management & Printing