Monitor Calibration

[Rob13]

I'm using a glossy Laptop LCD screen which is probably the worst kind of monitor you could use to get correct calibration and as such I have no idea whether i'm looking at images the same way which others are looking at them.

I understand that hardware calibration is a fortune, but does anyone have any tips on software calibration? Its never going to be great with a monitor which changes brightness depending on the viewing angle but I guess its better than nothing?

[andy-xr]

Older Spyders are cheaper, the latest one isnt massively expensive though

[ian in lancs]

I've used a Huey Pro on all three of my computers for about 2 yrs now. Very good and never had a problem. About £85 from Amazon.

[RobDickinson]

Used a borrowed spyder 3 pro, seemed to work fine, would like one for the brightness monitoring though , unless you can 100% control the ambient light levels all the time.

[ian in lancs]

RobDickinson said:

Used a borrowed spyder 3 pro, seemed to work fine, would like one for the brightness monitoring though , unless you can 100% control the ambient light levels all the time.

The huey pro sits on my desktop permanently and alters brightness of the screen depending on ambient light levels.

[Simpo Two]

ian in lancs said:

The huey pro sits on my desktop permanently and alters brightness of the screen depending on ambient light levels.

Unless I'm misunderstanding you, that sounds dangerous for photo editing - the results are going to vary in brightness as the light changes!

[jon-]

Rob13 said:

I'm using a glossy Laptop LCD screen which is probably the worst kind of monitor you could use to get correct calibration and as such I have no idea whether i'm looking at images the same way which others are looking at them.

You probably are viewing them as "most" people are viewing them, I've seen some horribly setup monitors in my time!

[ian in lancs]

Simpo Two said:

ian in lancs said:

The huey pro sits on my desktop permanently and alters brightness of the screen depending on ambient light levels.

Unless I'm misunderstanding you, that sounds dangerous for photo editing - the results are going to vary in brightness as the light changes!

I've not really had a problem and the effect is quite subtle. The desktop running the lightroom library is in my study and its where I do editing and although there's a side window the light levels don't vary that much. At some times of the year the sun can fall on the monitor so the venitian blind gets used. Apart from that its fine. Oh and I have used a macbeth (sp?) color (sic!) checker for critical work and have it professionally printed. The workflow weakpoint is definately the printer, a Canon Pixma ip3000 - i've never been really happy with the results and I'm using Canon paper and inks.

Edited by ian in lancs on Tuesday 20th October 12:40