Best screen calibration software

[leica dream]

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What is the preferred mid-range screen calibration software these days? I note there is a difference between gelatine and glass models, and my old Spyder 3 needs replacing.

[zeitz]

Your question is rather jumbled.  The Spyder 3 is hardware, not software.  When you buy screen calibration hardware,  it comes with its own software.  Also I don't know what you mean by "a difference between gelatin and glass models".

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[M11 for me]

As far as I know from coleagues in the photo club the Spyder is still the most used tool.

[EricC]

I use the ColorMunki.

Great for profiling your whole system.

[Jeff S]

NEC monitors work well with SpectraView II, which can be pre-installed on various models along with provided hardware.  Not inexpensive, but more budget friendly than Eizo.  Mine has been working well for 9 years.

Jeff

[leica dream]

Zeitz, for me it is the software which requires specific hardware on the screen and they are a pair. As for gelatine versus glass, some cheaper packages use gelatine filters in the hardware elements rather than glass. Gelatine has a more limited life of accuracy before deterioration. 

[zeitz]

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Interesting, LD.  I use an Eizo monitor with built-in sensor and Eizo software.  I wonder what it uses.  And I love the Eizo.

[Guest Nowhereman]

Another question is whether and how a different approach, or equipment, is best used for a highly adjustable external monitor, like an Eizo, vs. the built-in monitor of a portable computer like the MacBook Pro, which has only a brightness control.
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[pgk]

Actually the question which few actually ask is about the viability of calibration versus experience and/or the need for 'accuracy' and its 'tolerance'. I used to calibrate everything but I have now given up and rely one 'learning' my screen and the outputs required. Not viable for 'absolute' colour requirements (oddly enough I'm working on such a requirement for a customer at the moment and all we are really able to do is ensure that at point of supply, the colour is as 'accurate' as we can practically ensure. I see few 'absolute' workflows and in all honesty few of us genuinely need them. The variables involved in ensuring 'accurate' colour reproduction require far more than simple screen calibration.

[zeitz]

The camera / lens combination profile, the screen calibration, and the printer profile for a specific printer / paper have to be correct for accurate color.  Of these I think the printer / paper profile is the hardest.  But you are right that accurate color is not always the objective and may not even be desirable in most cases.  However, I do like to have the printer to match what I see on the screen.

[LocalHero1953]

Exactly. It was frustration with my inability to make my prints look like the colour I saw on screen that persuaded me to calibrate both screen and printer. I'm less worried by absolute colour accuracy than predictable results.

[Chuck Albertson]

If you like the results you get with the Spyder 3, see what the cost of an upgrade might be. I have the Spyder 4, and they're always emailing with upgrade offers. I'm fine with version 4, I calibrate my monitor weekly (probably not strictly necessary) and like the consistency I get printing.

[leica dream]

Thank you everyone - I opted for the Colormunki Display.

Next issue is building a printer profile to ensure correct hard copy, but the Colormunki Display will not do that, they tell me I need a spectrophotometer but they seem very expensive and I could not justify the cost. Has anyone found a way to profile the printer which is less expensive.  I have heard there might be a service somewhere that one can send a printed colour chart to and they return an appropriate profile for a given printer model but I do not know where that is. A UK/EU contact would be particularly useful.

[LocalHero1953]

2 hours ago, leica dream said:

Thank you everyone - I opted for the Colormunki Display.

Next issue is building a printer profile to ensure correct hard copy, but the Colormunki Display will not do that, they tell me I need a spectrophotometer but they seem very expensive and I could not justify the cost. Has anyone found a way to profile the printer which is less expensive.  I have heard there might be a service somewhere that one can send a printed colour chart to and they return an appropriate profile for a given printer model but I do not know where that is. A UK/EU contact would be particularly useful.

https://www.permajet.com/Products/PermaJet-ICC-Profiling-Services-for-Inkjet-Papers

If you only want a few papers profiled this is cheaper than buying your own spectrophotometer. If you buy their own paper, profiling is free. In fact you can get quite a lot of papers profiled before it's worth buying the hardware yourself.

Edited October 23, 2018 by LocalHero1953

[EricC]

The version i have is the ColorMunki Photo.

Here : https://www.xrite.com/categories/calibration-profiling/colormunki-photo

This comes complete with the hardware to profile your display and printer.

 

 

Edited October 23, 2018 by EricC

[leica dream]

Thank you , Paul, for that link. Looks quite similar to another outfit I found called "Pure Profiles". As you say, it will be better probably for me to submit occasional orders instead of buying my own device.

I think, Eric, that I made a mistake by getting just the "display"  option instead of the "photo" version. I guess that comes with lack of experience.

[EricC]

That is a shame, if you have just purchased it can you return the version you have for the Photo version?

[Simone_DF]

On 10/14/2018 at 2:21 AM, Nowhereman said:

Another question is whether and how a different approach, or equipment, is best used for a highly adjustable external monitor, like an Eizo, vs. the built-in monitor of a portable computer like the MacBook Pro, which has only a brightness control.
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What do you mean? You can can change the color profile and everything else on your MBP.

[M11 for me]

MBP?

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Hallo,

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[Exodies]

Mac Book Pro