Monitor Calibration - Advice

[atr1981]

Hi Guys,

I'm constantly printing out images that look nothing like the image on my screen.

Now I'm pretty sure some of it has to do with the settings within Photoshop and my printer drivers but i'm also looking at my monitor calibration.

I'm thinking about the SpyderPRO system at the moment and am wondering if anyone has any experience of this or has any other ideas with regards tobrands and products.

Thank you.

[HCking]

I would go for the Eye-One Display LT or Eye-One Display 2. (if you get the LT you can upgrade the software to the same as 2 for free). In my experience they provide better more accurate profiles then the spyder series of meters.

After you have calibrated your screen i would get your printer calibrated for the paper and ink you use, that will give you a good base to work from.

[RobDickinson]

May depend on the screen you have, 6bit LCD's (TN panels) arnt very good with colour anyhow.

Have you calibrated it at all with software? Photoshop CS2 has calibration software included as does nvidia drivers (except on vista!)

Hardware is probably the best way but if you need accurate results make sure you have a good screen first.

[tomson]

I use a Spyder 2 Pro - it came highly recommended by several commercial photographers I worked with. Does the job perfectly and I have no complaints. The only other one I've used was a Monaco Optix - again it worked as it should, but I only used it once for a print job so have no long term experience with it.

Some people do seem to have problems with some models - don't know if it's a monitor or a computer issue or something else but generally they all do their job well. There's lots written about calibration, it's a bit of a black art. Have a read of http://www.drycreekphoto.com

Edit - I use an Apple Cinema display as did the peeps who recommended the Spyder. So, there may be a link... they seem to work well together.

[Gordon @ Convergent AV]

The main problem with the Spyders is that the probes are very variable (I am told). While one may be accurate you may find the next one is not so great. This is one of the reasons that datacolor now offer a Spyder Platinum probe for their home theatre calibration package. I think it's actually just a tighter tolerance product rather than any actual physical change.

Gordon