Monitor Calibrating/What Does It Mean?
08-21-2007, 02:29 PM
#1
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Monitor Calibrating/What Does It Mean?
I have seen in some of the threads here in photo, that some of you say you have calibrated monitors. What does that mean, and what are the benefits?
Also, how do I go about doing it, and where can I buy what I would need?
I have a 17" lcd monitor FYI
T.I.A.
Roger
BTW---I am assuming this has to do with color/picture quality on the monitor?
Also, how do I go about doing it, and where can I buy what I would need?
I have a 17" lcd monitor FYI
T.I.A.
Roger
BTW---I am assuming this has to do with color/picture quality on the monitor?
08-21-2007, 04:26 PM
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There are actually two processes at work when most folks say their monitor is "calibrated". One is the calibration (setting your monitor's color temperature and contrast range (gamma) to a known standard) and the other is creating a profile for the Monitor so graphics programs know how to display an image on that monitor.
To do this right requires a device that can read the colors, brightness and contrast of the monitor, like the Macbeth Eye One (website)
The old standard for monitor calibration was a color temperature of 5000 Kelvin (also known as D50) and a gamma of 1.8. This is still the standard for pre-press work.
The standard for digital photography is a color temperature of 6500 Kelvin (D65) and a gamma of 2.2.
Once the monitor is calibrated to a standard, then the device will read a series of color and greyscale patches to create a profile of how the monitor displays those colors. This profile is then saved, generally in a folder where the system maintains the colorsync profiles (though I believe Microsoft has gone to their own proprietary color managementt system.)
This profile is understood by programs like Photoshop, and allows them to adjust how the colors of the image are displayed.
The true benefit of a monitor profile comes when it is paired with a printer profile for a given paper. Photoshop can then show you approximately how the image will appear when printed. This is known as "soft proofing".
-Steve
To do this right requires a device that can read the colors, brightness and contrast of the monitor, like the Macbeth Eye One (website)
The old standard for monitor calibration was a color temperature of 5000 Kelvin (also known as D50) and a gamma of 1.8. This is still the standard for pre-press work.
The standard for digital photography is a color temperature of 6500 Kelvin (D65) and a gamma of 2.2.
Once the monitor is calibrated to a standard, then the device will read a series of color and greyscale patches to create a profile of how the monitor displays those colors. This profile is then saved, generally in a folder where the system maintains the colorsync profiles (though I believe Microsoft has gone to their own proprietary color managementt system.)
This profile is understood by programs like Photoshop, and allows them to adjust how the colors of the image are displayed.
The true benefit of a monitor profile comes when it is paired with a printer profile for a given paper. Photoshop can then show you approximately how the image will appear when printed. This is known as "soft proofing".
-Steve
08-21-2007, 08:26 PM
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Originally Posted by AgS2K,Aug 21 2007, 07:26 PM
The old standard for monitor calibration was a color temperature of 5000 Kelvin (also known as D50) and a gamma of 1.8. This is still the standard for pre-press work.
The standard for digital photography is a color temperature of 6500 Kelvin (D65) and a gamma of 2.2.
The standard for digital photography is a color temperature of 6500 Kelvin (D65) and a gamma of 2.2.
08-22-2007, 04:08 AM
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Originally Posted by F1-Fanatic,Aug 21 2007, 11:26 PM
Clarification: 1.8 is for standard Windows based machines and 2.2 is for Mac's
08-22-2007, 06:44 AM
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I use the spyderpro product for calibration and its a great product
http://www.colorvision.com/product-mc-s2p.php
http://www.colorvision.com/product-mc-s2p.php
08-22-2007, 06:47 AM
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MS has a downloadable utility that helps with the loading of monitor/printer profiles
https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=512964
https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=512964
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08-22-2007, 07:51 AM
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Originally Posted by AgS2K,Aug 22 2007, 07:08 AM
Sorry, you have that reversed. 1.8 used to be the standard for the Mac, 2.2 for the PC. Today, however, 2.2 is the gamma for any system when you're dealing with digital images that may be printed by a lab.
08-22-2007, 08:49 AM
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The difference between Gamma 1.8 and 2.2 is probably only noticeable in shadows where you're just barely holding detail. In most situations, you probably won't see much of a difference when it comes to proofing.
08-22-2007, 09:09 AM
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Originally Posted by AgS2K,Aug 22 2007, 11:49 AM
The difference between Gamma 1.8 and 2.2 is probably only noticeable in shadows where you're just barely holding detail. In most situations, you probably won't see much of a difference when it comes to proofing.