rob_w Posted September 9, 2019 Share #1 Posted September 9, 2019 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) I need to move on from a Spyder4 which has been made obsolete by the manufacturer refusing to update the accompanying software, so need to find something else. I'm minded not to stay with Datacolor, having already purchased 3x generations of Spyder products for no apparent improvement other than their marketing claims. What do others photographers do about screen calibration - what devices or approaches have you found work best for you? In my case I am about to install a new iMac with 27" retina screen. Is calibration even needed for a modern machine? Thanks in advance for any suggestions. Edited September 9, 2019 by rob_w Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted September 9, 2019 Posted September 9, 2019 Hi rob_w, Take a look here Screen calibration choices. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jaapv Posted September 9, 2019 Share #2 Posted September 9, 2019 X-Rite i1. The advantage of the system is that it will adjust your screen to the ambient light every 10 minutes. You must certainly calibrate a Retina screen! They are slanted to display images, making them far too contrasty and "poppy" for critical photoediting. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick_S Posted September 9, 2019 Share #3 Posted September 9, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, rob_w said: I need to move on from a Spyder4 which has been made obsolete by the manufacturer refusing to update the accompanying software, so need to find something else. I'm minded not to stay with Datacolor, having already purchased 3x generations of Spyder products for no apparent improvement other than their marketing claims. There is no need to buy a new colorimeter -- just change your calibration software to DisplayCal, a powerful free open source package which is available for Mac OS X, as well as MS-Windows and Linux. I found it does a much more thorough calibration and profiling job than the Express version of Datacolor, which came with my Spyder 5. There are simple default options or a very detailed set of options available for fine control, when a user enables “Show advanced options” in the “Options” menu. DisplayCal supports a large number of colorimeters and spectrometers. More information and the software download page is available at their website: https://displaycal.net/ Edited September 9, 2019 by Nick_S 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob_w Posted September 9, 2019 Author Share #4 Posted September 9, 2019 Thank you both. Two excellent suggestions which I shall follow up. Shows the value of being a forum member - ask a question, get a useful, friendly pertinent response an hour or two later. 😊 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted September 9, 2019 Share #5 Posted September 9, 2019 I’ve been using an NEC monitor with SpectraView calibration software built in. Less expensive than an EIZO, which is the other screen I would consider before any Retina display. Mine is 10 years old and my prints still benefit from the same reliable workflow, which includes softproofing through ImagePrint. Prints are what I care about; the desktop screen is just an interim vehicle, not a final display tool. Jeff 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitz Posted September 9, 2019 Share #6 Posted September 9, 2019 Just for reference, the Eizo EX3 calibrator is a Spyder 5 with a different front label. It is used with Eizo's Color Navigator software, however; it doesn't use Data Color software. Spyder X does not yet work with Eizo's Color Navigator. Display Cal seems like a good option. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
giampo Posted September 9, 2019 Share #7 Posted September 9, 2019 Advertisement (gone after registration) You won't go wrong thi X-rite! And absolutly yes! All displays need to be calibrated. Considering also that the apple display are not professional photo screens. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pedaes Posted September 9, 2019 Share #8 Posted September 9, 2019 (edited) 40 minutes ago, giampo said: You won't go wrong thi X-rite! And absolutly yes! All displays need to be calibrated. Considering also that the apple display are not professional photo screens. What is a "professional photo screen". Plenty of good work done on Apple screens! Yes, important to calibrate screen and printer. Edited September 9, 2019 by pedaes Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
giampo Posted September 9, 2019 Share #9 Posted September 9, 2019 (edited) 6 minutes ago, pedaes said: What is a "professional photo screen". Plenty of good work done on Apple screens! They are those display that are engineered and built for that specific use, most famous and used brands are Eizo or Nec. With that I didn't mean to offend apple, which are very good display. Edited September 9, 2019 by giampo 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted September 9, 2019 Share #10 Posted September 9, 2019 Monitor performance changes with age, hence the need for regular recalibration. I aim to do mine every 200 hours. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitz Posted September 9, 2019 Share #11 Posted September 9, 2019 Be aware that not all Eizo monitors are designed for professional graphics. We are talking about the Color Edge / Color Guard line of Eizo monitors, not the Flexscan line. Some of the Color Edge monitors have the spectrometer built into the monitor's bezel. My Eizo CX271 has a calibration tool in the bezel that operates at a pre-set time; mine is set for 200 hours of on-time. But the CX271 must first be profiled with a separate spectrometer; the calibration tool maintains the sprectrometer's settings. Other Eizo monitors have a true spectrometer built into the bezel. If I were in the market for a monitor, I would wait until the Apple Pro Display XDR is available to at least have a look at it. This monitor may set a new price level for reference monitors. (The stand is $1,000 in addition to the monitor; but then again really good tripod heads approach that amount. The stand on my Eizo CX271 is painful to use in regards to repositioning and rotating.) Asus also entering $5000 reference monitor price point like Apple with its recently announced Pro Art Display. The Eizo Color Edge Prominence CG3145 reference monitor has a list price of $30,995. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted September 9, 2019 Share #12 Posted September 9, 2019 Even older Eizo CG screens are a good choice when on a budget. Having said that, an Apple Retina screen is quite good, provided it has been properly calibrated to "tame it down" Punch for displaying is not the best environment for editing, a good screen is quite muted. The point is not just the intrinsic colour and contrast characteristics of the screen either. One of the essential parameters is also the consistency in all areas of the screen. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitz Posted September 10, 2019 Share #13 Posted September 10, 2019 DataColor sent me their office statement today about Spyder software. https://lp.datacolor.com/index.php/email/emailWebview Interesting DataColor has the skill to redo Spyder 5 & X software in 64 bit; but it is Apple's fault that the earlier Spyder software can't be updated to 64 bit from 32 bit. I assume that Catalina will be available today, but DataColor is just starting to work on the 64 bit software. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leica dream Posted September 14, 2019 Share #14 Posted September 14, 2019 I have changed from a MacbookPro to an iMAC 27 inch retina recently and also ditched my spyder calibration tool. Xrite are super and I have used the i1 with a professional photographer. The advantage is that one can create printer profiles too, but I could not afford that version so went for the Colormunki which does my retina screen well. It also takes into account reflected light in the screen environment. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bart D Posted September 15, 2019 Share #15 Posted September 15, 2019 There seems to exist an open source software that works on Catalina and can be used with Spyder 4. https://displaycal.net/ I haven't tried it yet since I don't plan to upgrade to Catalina before late summer or early autumn 2020. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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