Eurolux Loc: NYC

To all fellow UHH members, kindly assist with recommending the best option for a monitor calibration system. I am aware of Colormunki and Spyder, but I just purchased a new NEC monitor (PA272W), which I now discovered has its own proprietary system called "Spectraview II".

I'm using LR5 and still learning the ropes. I intend to do both PP for photos and some graphic design too. The new NEC monitor should be my mainstay for awhile, though I might add another monitor for a separate location in the future. If so, I might not purchase another NEC, so I am wondering if the other two calibration systems (Colormunki or Spyder) are truly compatible with my NEC monitor. Ideally, I would own one calibration system that can handle several different brands of monitors.

Thank you all for any and all input.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

If it has its own system, use it.

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

I have read good things about Colormunki, also I would not go with a system that was mfg dependent, such as the NEC you talk about as if you move away from NEC or purchase a different monitor later you are back to square one with calibration.

Capture48 Loc: Arizona

I'm going to disagree with using it's own system. Also do you plan on doing any in home or in studio printing? If so you need a calibration unit that can calibrate a monitor, and a printer. These get to be a little more expensive, but for printing in home, they are needed.

Most calibrating systems, certainly the two you mention can handle many many monitor brands. If you get one that does both monitors and printers, they can run $150 more than just the monitor calibrators.

Eurolux Loc: NYC

Thanks for the input. If I stick with NEC calibration I'm assured compatability. I see some other useful points made by others too. Will keep reading. Thanks

Eurolux Loc: NYC

Good point. Thanks

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Don't know much about Spectraview II, but it claims to be useable with non-NEC monitors as well. If they are throwing it in for free with your monitor, I would go with it.

Eurolux Loc: NYC

Thank you. Didn't know some can also calibrate a printer. I do have a decent Canon printer but won't be doing lots of printing. Still good to think about. Thanks.

Eurolux Loc: NYC

The ad said "Free, except for weekends and weekdays!" I wish....

BebuLamar

The Spectraview II does hardware calibration rather than software calibration and it's better. I makes adjustment to the monitor and not the color profile. You do have to buy one of the probe either NEC owned probe or either the ColorMunki or Spyder4 would work. Since it has to make adjustment to the monitor it only works with NEC monitors. However, since you will have to get the probe and if you use another brand monitor you can use the software that came with the probe.

Eurolux Loc: NYC

Wow! Thank you. Great info! May I ask.....if it were your decision, which system would you invest into? Assume the NEC monitor will be used almost exclusively for the next two years. Thank you

BebuLamar

I would use the Spectraview II and buy may be the Ione Pro sensor. The ColorMunki is good but some version of it isn't compatible with Spectraview. The Spyder4 works with your model of monitor but doesn't work well with some other model of monitors from NEC. I am currently using the old Spyder2 with 2 old NEC LCD2190UXp monitors.

Eurolux Loc: NYC

Thanks for your advice. If you need an architectural question answered I'm your man!

infocus Loc: Australia

If he purchases a new monitor later surely he is back to square one with calibration any way - it's a different monitor. I also agree with you re Coloumunki it does a good job I've been told.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

There are three primary brands of calibration devices:

Color Munki by X-Rite
Spyder by Datacolor
Huey by Pantone

There are others, but those are the names you'll see most often.

All three work fine and come as a "suite" that includes hardware (the sensor) and software. There are various versions of each brand, too... from basic and inexpensive to fancy, pricey suites that can calibrate all sorts of things (TVs, projectors, laptops) and even generate custom paper/ink profiles for printers. Some also offer "live adjustments", constantly measuring ambient light and making tweaks on the fly (might be useful with a laptop, in particular).

I'd suggest you look at the websites and study the interfaces for each of them, to see what seems most intuitive and easiest to use.

I know photo clubs who buy a calibration device to share among themselves and are used on a wide variety of brands and types of monitors. So, you don't have to worry much about using it on several different monitors (more of concern is the monitor intself... just be sure of it's type and ability to be calibrated... sounds as if that NEC is no problem).

IMO, the single most important thing is that any calibration needs to first set the brightness of the monitor. That's usually way too bright for most photographic purposes... resulting in too dark prints. I also see a lot of too dark images online (not to mention oversaturated, weird tints and/or washed out images).

Personally I use a Spyder, but don't think it matters much... just get whichever seems most comfortable and easiest to use. You'll need to re-calibrate every so often (say every 2 or 3 months), as monitors change brightness and color over time and with use.

Oh, and you also can just buy the colorimeter (the sensor), if your monitor has it's own proprietary calibration hardware/so. Do some searches online for recommended sensors and to be sure it's fully compatible with your monitor's firmware.