[MonkeyBoy]

I've spent an inordinate amount of time researching quality graphic monitors, colour profiling tools, and display set-up; garnering bits of info here and there is time consuming and often dissatisfying. I've created this thread as a consolidated info-dump for all to add to; feel free to expound on what others have added, pose questions- and when answerers aren't readily available, go out and find them and bring them back.

(I tend to 'pontificate vigilantly'- so I'll add my thoughts in successive posts.)

[MonkeyBoy]

I'd written off calibration tools due to expense: I figured that if it came down to it, I could tweak the colour profile with the assistance of a professional printer, or by producing proofs and tweaking my settings in Photoshop, running another proof. Obviously, that is a shortsighted position- either of those methods will end up costing more in the long run.

As you know, what you see on your screen may have little baring on what you will see on another's display or in print- unless you've calibrated the monitor using a sensor. A sensor/software combo will guide the set up of the monitor so that what you see as red doesn't turn out to be salmon, and make sure that what you see as black isn't really gray, etc. In addition, such tools may reveal inadequacies of your monitor, indicating portions of the spectrum that just can't be displayed correctly- if at all.

When combined with a colour profile in an application like Photoshop, images may be fairly consistently reproduced for specific print methods or to adhere to your industries standards.

I've found a hardware/software bundle for little over $100! Until the end of October, the Pantone ColorView Spyder system has manufacturer discounts from $50-$70; even without these discounts, the Spyder sensor and OpitCal or PhotoCal software bundles may be had for about half the LaCie BlueEye system.

You may find the PDF for the coupon, as well as product info, here:

http://www.colorvision.com/store/monitor.shtml

Do some price checking of your own; I found the introductory product (Spyder+PhotoCal) for $119 after discount, here:

http://shop.pcconnection.com/web/Shopping/Product.htm?NRMODE=Published&NRORIGINALURL=%2fweb%2fshopping%2fproduct%2ehtm%3fproduct_id%3d447337%26SourceID%3dk15506&SourceID=k15506&product_id=447337&NRNODEGUID=%7bC03E868D-1CEF-4F98-8F00-45BF12FCEA4E%7d&NRQUERYTERMINATOR=1&cookie%5Ftest=1

Since there is no standard for indicating the actual colour space of a monitor- manufacturers only list the theoretical maximum -we're dependent on the use of a calibration tool to accurately report on what can and can't be displayed simultaneously. Monitor reviews that don't include a calibration profile don't really tell us much beyond overt geometry or refresh issues, etc. With access to a monitor candidate, such a tool would allow you to determine the suitability.

Question: on duel monitor set-ups, those of you who use a colour calibrator, will your OS or video card allow for independent profiles for each? If so, what calibrator are you using and did you have to do anything special to make both work properly?
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MonekyBoy

(my muse is back)

[Eric Pommer]

This is an issue causing me some frustration. When I print images, they come out looking like they do on my monitor. But when I view my images on other monitors, they always look much darker, with all subtle details lost on images that are dark to begin with. The other monitors are older, but still....

Actually, I could use some help. The image below is a greyscale range (a great idea, snatched from another forum). On my monitor, I start to see differences in grey around the 9 or 10 mark. If other people could look at it and tell me where they start to see differences, that would be great.

www.mindplaces.com/save/greyscale.jpg
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Mindplaces: Artwork by Eric Pommer
http://www.mindplaces.com

[MonkeyBoy]