Monitor calibration

[kipper]

Is there a cheapo way to do monitor color, brightness and gamma calibration?

I don't want to spend big bucks on one of those hardware/software combinations that analyses the monitor. Be nice if there was a peice of software or a document on the internet that can help. I don't want it to be perfect, but just want to make sure that my monitor isn't too bright/dark etc. I don't want to modify things like brightness in photoshop at the moment only to find out that it's washed out on the majority of other peoples monitors.

[gooseberry]

Since you've already got PS, have you tried Adobe Gamma ?

[kipper]

No, but I will be soon

[stubbsy]

Kipper

Have a look at Quick Gamma- it's free

[the foto fanatic]

I think Adobe Gamma does a pretty good job.

[MATT]

I must be dumb cause I cant make sense of the instructions of adobe gamma . Well not that bad but the results are no good .

may be cause I using an LCD??

MATT

[lukeo]

I posted about this awhile ago,

simple colour calibration should be as easy as creating in photoshop, with the paint bucket a Red, Green, Blue, White, and Black 6x4" sized image. Just set the colours to be pure 255 in value. Save the files.

The key to this "simple" method is your monitor will be calibrated to one lab, I usually take mine to be printed on a Fuji Frontera system. Pick a lab thats does your prints (or if you own a epson r800 or something then you are your own lab).

Take these files and some photo's out of your D70 (with no PP applied) to the lab spend $5 dollars getting them all printed.

Take them home and calibrate you monitor crudely with the RGB and W/B and then make fine adjustments on the actual photo's.

This way what you see on your screen will be what you get back from the lab.

It does not get your monitor in any way calibrated to anyone else's ... it's purely so onscreen looks like what you get back from the lab.

More accurate than adobe gamma for a purpose ...

[leek]

I must be dumb cause I cant make sense of the instructions of adobe gamma . Well not that bad but the results are no good .

may be cause I using an LCD??

MATT

You may be dumb, but then so am I... The step by step wizard is OK, but I cannot get the patterns to do what it suggests should happen... e.g. get the middle square to fade into the patterned frame - mine just turns grey!

Any words of advice out there???

[lukeo]

...

read your monitor manual? find out which buttons bring up RGB adjustments, gamma, contrast, brightness etc.

You do know with a TFT they cannot possibly ever display true black like a CRT? The best you will ever get is a dark shade of grey.

[Matt. K]

John
You need to squint your eyes up when trying to balance those shades of gray. Technically, it's called "reductive viewing".

[MattC]

Kipper,

When you are on the edge of losing your sanity, go out and buy a spyder. This is the only way to get reliable, trustworthy results. I have been where you are now, and did not enjoy it.

Colorvision ColorPlus ~$200. http://www.kayellnsw.com.au/ - not the greatest prices (better elsewhere) but he is the Aussie distributor.

Cheers

Matt

[phillipb]

Leek, same thing happens with my monitor.

Matt, see if I got this right, first the instructions tell me to reduce all ambience light - which opens the aperture in my eyes to f1.4
then you tell us to squint - to close the aperture in my eye to f11
Should we blink very quickly too - to increase the shutter speed in my eyes?

[MCWB]

Might need to fiddle with the ISO a bit too Phillip.

[phillipb]

MCWB, I take it that by ISO you mean putting one hand over one eye?

[stubbsy]

Here's an excellent link on monitpr calibration that I've just stumbled across.

http://www.drycreekphoto.com/Learn/monitor_calibration.htm

I've also just received my ColorVision Spyder and tried it out on my work PC. Dead easy to use. Will put it through its paces at home and also see how the screen compares to the printed image.

[birddog114]

Here's an excellent link on monitpr calibration that I've just stumbled across.

http://www.drycreekphoto.com/Learn/monitor_calibration.htm

I've also just received my ColorVision Spyder and tried it out on my work PC. Dead easy to use. Will put it through its paces at home and also see how the screen compares to the printed image.

So those are the worst thing for "LUST" and "LUST" no ending
And what's next?

[johndec]

Here's an excellent link on monitpr calibration that I've just stumbled across.

http://www.drycreekphoto.com/Learn/monitor_calibration.htm

I've also just received my ColorVision Spyder and tried it out on my work PC. Dead easy to use. Will put it through its paces at home and also see how the screen compares to the printed image.

Good catch Stubbsy. Ah... My Kingdom for a Spyder...

[stubbsy]

So those are the worst thing for "LUST" and "LUST" no ending
And what's next?

Birddog I have many lusts. So far as what's next - there's always printer calibration

Have just calibrated my nonitor at home - boy do my images look different (but better). Just done a test print and it's a damn good match.

[digitor]

Have just calibrated my nonitor at home - boy do my images look different (but better). Just done a test print and it's a damn good match.

Excellent news, Stubbsy - did you get the basic $239 Spyder? I'm still trying to make up my mind.

Cheers

[stubbsy]

Have just calibrated my nonitor at home - boy do my images look different (but better). Just done a test print and it's a damn good match.

Excellent news, Stubbsy - did you get the basic $239 Spyder? I'm still trying to make up my mind.

Cheers

Yes I did (the ColorPlus ColorVision) - got it from Adorama for $US99 with a few other bits & pieces since that worked out cheaper than buying it here. I'm happy with the purchase. Comes with suction for CRT & weights & stuff for LCD (since you can't use suction on LCD). Software is dead easy to use.

[Matt. K]

Gents
I was not kidding when I suggested that you squint your eyes when going through the Adobe calibration...it works!

[Alex]

I must be dumb cause I cant make sense of the instructions of adobe gamma . Well not that bad but the results are no good .

may be cause I using an LCD??

MATT

You may be dumb, but then so am I... The step by step wizard is OK, but I cannot get the patterns to do what it suggests should happen... e.g. get the middle square to fade into the patterned frame - mine just turns grey!

Any words of advice out there???

So am I. I find AdobeGamma instructions very confusing, and after a couple of attempts decided to leave it alone before I do any more damage. The prints I get from a local lab are good and consistent with what I see on my monitor.

Cheers
Alex