Screen calibration with dual monitor setup

[Geoff]

Hi ppl,
Bit embarrassed to ask this question, but anyway here goes.
I have a dual monitor setup here in my office and I want to calibrate BOTH monitors. One is LCD the other is CRT. How do I calibrate both of them? Is it simply a case of calibrating one then pluggin in the other and doing the same? Then won't there be TWO profiles? I'm a little confused. Any help would be great appreciated! Thanks in advance.

[Alpha_7]

I believe there is no easy method, I think Stubbsy is in a similar situaiton, one CRT one LCD and his CRT is calibrated and his LCD is not...

(but that's just going from memory). What video card(s) are you using to get dual displays ?

[sirhc55]

That’s exactly what you do Geoff Don’t forget that it is only a monitor profile and not a print profile. As you know I have both a CRT and LCD and there is a slight amount of difference between them - but then I know this and can adjust my mindset to this

[Geoff]

That’s exactly what you do Geoff Don’t forget that it is only a monitor profile and not a print profile. As you know I have both a CRT and LCD and there is a slight amount of difference between them - but then I know this and can adjust my mindset to this

You calibrate your mind???

[Geoff]

I believe there is no easy method, I think Stubbsy is in a similar situaiton, one CRT one LCD and his CRT is calibrated and his LCD is not...

(but that's just going from memory). What video card(s) are you using to get dual displays ?

It's a Radeon 9800XT 128Mb RAM

[leek]

On a Windows PC, I believe that the only way that you can have separate calibration profiles for the 2 monitors is to have them attached to separate graphics cards... If the two monitors share a graphics card, then you will have to live with the differences. Personally, I'd calibrate the CRT which you're more likely to use for image display than the LCD.

[Geoff]

On a Windows PC, I believe that the only way that you can have separate calibration profiles for the 2 monitors is to have them attached to separate graphics cards... If the two monitors share a graphics card, then you will have to live with the differences. Personally, I'd calibrate the CRT which you're more likely to use for image display than the LCD.

Thanx for the advice people. That's what I thought too John and I will (and have) calibrated the CRT now. Cheers

[DaveB]

I have a dual monitor setup here in my office and I want to calibrate BOTH monitors. One is LCD the other is CRT. How do I calibrate both of them? Is it simply a case of calibrating one then pluggin in the other and doing the same? Then won't there be TWO profiles?

Each monitor behaves differently, and thus yes each should have its own profile. Photoshop is smart enough to use both, including doing the right mapping when a window is spread across both monitors!

Your screen calibrator (Spyder, EyeOne, Optix, Squid, whatever) should recognise that there are two displays and let you calibrate each. At least, that's the way it works on my Macs.

HOWEVER, a profile describes the behaviour of a display that has been calibrated, and part of that calibration is done through the manipulation of the video card lookup tables (LUTs). Thus when a profile is activated, the software needs to load the appropriate LUT data into the graphics card (there'll be a LUT-loading program in the Startup folder/etc on Windows, installed by the calibration software).
A problem with Windows comes in here when you have two monitors driven off a single card. I think it's a problem in the device-driver interface (at least with most cards) that means BOTH MONITORS SHARE THE SAME LUT DATA. This is a complete WOFTAM, and means that you can only calibrate/profile your primary display accurately, and you have to manually adjust your secondary display (i.e. the one where your Photoshop tools/etc will go) to be as close a match as possible. This can get ugly when your have vastly-different monitors.

Hopefully this problem will get fixed, and maybe there are cards out there that work around the problem. But the people I know who've managed to work around it have done so by installing a second video card...

[DaveB]

Sheesh! I must type too slow (or too much )!

[birddog114]

I think it's a problem in the device-driver interface (at least with most cards) that means BOTH MONITORS SHARE THE SAME LUT DATA. This is a complete WOFTAM, and means that you can only calibrate/profile your primary display accurately, and you have to manually adjust your secondary display (i.e. the one where your Photoshop tools/etc will go) to be as close a match as possible. This can get ugly when your have vastly-different monitors.

DaveB,
Well said and cleared explanation, thanks.

These problems which made me never again have two displays, and I love to have one only.

[DaveB]

These problems which made me never again have two displays, and I love to have one only.

The solution that works for me is to use a Mac.

[birddog114]

These problems which made me never again have two displays, and I love to have one only.

The solution that works for me is to use a Mac.

No apple with me, even with my doctor's advice

[sirhc55]

An apple a day keeps the doctor away

[jethro]

Dave Knocked it on the head. Every monitor has its own characteristics. And to the average Joe Bloggs he thinks his monitor is great. Calibrating two different types of monitors the same is feasibly impossible. The obvious, is manufacturers factory settings and also the two entirely different types of monitors as previously discussed.

Program choice to which a majority here use is PS, has a number of profiles and settings. My personal choice is to exclusively use percentages. If you no colour values then use them. Skin tones are more predominant in the yelo tones. etc . Many variables in colour balance can and cant be attained even with the most trained eye.

Honestly if looks good and you are happy with the result, monitor to print dont screw around. If you a fussy bugger then have a go but dont blame your monitor.

jethro.