Colour Calibration - What do you use

Warspite · 19-01-2006, 02:06

As in the title.
(not sure if this is the correct area to ask this - if not please relocate to an appropriate one)

Im looking to get more accurate calibration mainly for my monitors, although I'd be interested in how, or what you use for printers aswell.

Basically do you use software like Adobe Gamma or hardware calibration like the Spyder devices I have seen available. Also how do you rate them - are they worth it or do you use because you must for absolute accuracy, etc.

Thanks

**stepheno** · 19-01-2006, 07:14

I use Adobe Gamma, but purely to achieve the best monitor display I can from a working point of view. After many hours, much ink and many sheets of photo-glossy I have given up trying to get parity between what I see on screen and what I print. I've decided it's eutopia and I'm certainly not going to waste more money on hardware calibration.

If I need to print a photograph I use Canon's Easy Photo Print which seems to interpret my 20d's profile most closely. But if I want a batch, like a holiday set, then it's off to Jessops - it's more cost effective and gives a very true likeness.

So to come back to topic, yes, it's Adobe Gamma I use. But to add to the thread - I am aware that a monitor interprets colour differently to a printer and I am happy that as long as my prints look good I'm not bothered about them looking different to the monitor. So, to me, I'd rather put the mullah towards a lens rather than something like Spider (which I honestly don't think will give a finite solution).

regards

P-E · 19-01-2006, 09:45

I have wrested with colour management for months

Firstly I used the Adobe Gamma and played around with my monitor Contrast/Brightness etc but was never quite happy.

Decided to purchase Spyder........still was not happy with my set up

Finnished up setting my monitor to factory settings......Brightness 100% Contrast 50% (Spyder on screen intructions advised this)......then just set anything and everything I could find to work in sRGB.........a little happier with things now.

I will try with Spyder again.

Arkady · 19-01-2006, 10:06

Adobe Gamma...

Although... it makes little difference to anything I transmit for publication as most Picture eds will do Auto-levels and Auto-colour corrections on everything that passes across their desks - savages!

***Dave*** · 19-01-2006, 11:50

I tried Adobe Gamma but could never get the central boxes to "dissappear" into surrounding lines as per guidelines..... so gave up

Arkady · 19-01-2006, 12:15

You just get them near as dammit...

CriPPle · 19-01-2006, 12:38

I use adobe gamma also, seems to do a pretty good job. I get all my photos printed in a lab, they always seem to come out as on screen.......Unless the lab takes it upon themselves to screw with my pics (this seems to happen sometimes, even when I ask for no changes to be made).

Boon · 19-01-2006, 19:59

just as a side note, i downloaded an ICC file from Epson for my R200 printer last week, its still sitting on my desktop, anyone know what folder to put it in, and when thats done, how do i tell it to use it before printing???

digitalfailure · 19-01-2006, 21:32

Boon

Have a look HERE for Epson's ICC pack for the R200

If you download them and save them somewhere where you can find them, you'll be able to install the profiles correctly if you read and follow Pook's excellent guide

http://www.thephotographyforums.com/...ead.php?t=1454

Hope that helps you in your search for colour match.

Boon · 19-01-2006, 22:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by digitalfailure

Boon

Have a look HERE for Epson's ICC pack for the R200

If you download them and save them somewhere where you can find them, you'll be able to install the profiles correctly if you read and follow Pook's excellent guide

http://www.thephotographyforums.com/...ead.php?t=1454

Hope that helps you in your search for colour match.

Thanks mate, looking forward to some decent colour pictures

Warspite · 20-01-2006, 00:26

Thanks for your responses people - I was thinking of getting a Spyder 2 or possibly a Spyder 2 Pro as I have multiple monitors on my machines.

Looks like your experiences may have saved me some cash as I dont think I'll bother now

Thanks for all your experience

digitalfailure · 20-01-2006, 21:56

I'd love to read some comments on the spyder's

Around the net you read some people's glowing comments, while others say they went back to Adobe gamma.

P-E · 21-01-2006, 11:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by digitalfailure

I'd love to read some comments on the spyder's

Around the net you read some people's glowing comments, while others say they went back to Adobe gamma.

I gave Spyder 2 another try last night but again uninstalled........returned my monitor back to default Brightness/contrast and just set everything to sRGB.

digitalfailure · 21-01-2006, 16:51

What issues were you having with it?

At the moment i'm pretty happy with how the monitor looks after setting in adobe gamma, but even with the right ICC files for my printer/paper combo the results are unpredictable.

one print came out with a warm cast to it, the next had a sort of green cast

in both cases images looked ok on screen.

P-E · 21-01-2006, 17:39

I will post my problems with it when I have more time (her who must be obeyed telling me to get ready for night out).

One thing if I can ask.........what Kelvin setting does everyone use on their monitor's?