Monitor Calibration: Needing advice on a calibration system. My pictures are being over processed. The saying, "you get what you pay for". I do not want to go cheap, but not to...

RDJpanther

Needing advice on a calibration system. My pictures are being over processed. The saying, "you get what you pay for". I do not want to go cheap, but not to expensive.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Datacolor Spyder or XRite Colormunki. I use a Spyder 5Pro and am very satisfied. Both companies have solutions in the $125-$150 range, and there are often sales. There was one on the UHH for sale section a few weeks ago, but not sure if it's still available.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

This is a topical often discussed on the UHH section Printers and Color Printing Forum at http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-120-2.html

Here are a few threads:
Review of Datacolor Spyder 5 Monitor Calibration Devices at http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-422086-1.html

FAQ: How to Calibrate and Profile a Monitor for Color Printing (and accurate image viewing) at http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/monitor-calibration.htm

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

RDJpanther wrote:

Needing advice on a calibration system. My pictures are being over processed. The saying, "you get what you pay for". I do not want to go cheap, but not to expensive.

What display are you trying to profile?

CatMarley Loc: North Carolina

RDJpanther wrote:

Needing advice on a calibration system. My pictures are being over processed. The saying, "you get what you pay for". I do not want to go cheap, but not to expensive.

Spyder. Not too expensive, easy to use, does a good job. Have used it for 8 years.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

CatMarley wrote:

Spyder. Not too expensive, easy to use, does a good job. Have used it for 8 years.

It won't profile a Dell Ultrasharp.

https://photographylife.com/how-to-properly-calibrate-dell-u2413-u2713h-u3014-monitors/

I have a pair of Dell 2413's and found I had to replace my Spyder. I know use an XRite i1 Display Pro - about $200- $250, look for deals.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

I have a Spyder Pro 5, and I had two older versions before it. Been quite happy. I use both Mac and PC.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

TriX wrote:

Datacolor Spyder or XRite Colormunki. I use a Spyder 5Pro and am very satisfied. Both companies have solutions in the $125-$150 range, and there are often sales. There was one on the UHH for sale section a few weeks ago, but not sure if it's still available.

I use the Spyder5Pro. It works well, unless you have one of those pricey monitors Gene mentioned.

Calibration and profiling your monitor is only part of the equation. Exposure, white balance, working space profile, and output profile all come into play. It's a system, every part of which must be set right.

RDJpanther

Thanks, for your help.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

RDJpanther wrote:

Needing advice on a calibration system. My pictures are being over processed. The saying, "you get what you pay for". I do not want to go cheap, but not to expensive.

What does calibration have to do with over processing? Over processing is something that humans do to an image. Calibration is a procedure run on hardware.

What exactly do you mean by "over processed" and what is it you are you wanting to calibrate?

RDJpanther

If my monitor color is not calibrated right, them my colors on the pictures when printed are off. I have moved my sliders to far one way or the other. If you can not see the colors correctly, then how can you process your images to your liking. Then why are photographers spending several $$ for monitor calibration? Am I missing something?

JD750 Loc: SoCal

RDJpanther wrote:

If my monitor color is not calibrated right, them my colors on the pictures when printed are off. I have moved my sliders to far one way or the other. If you can not see the colors correctly, then how can you process your images to your liking. Then why are photographers spending several $$ for monitor calibration? Am I missing something?

That is a much better explanation of the the problem. There is a process called "color management" that can be used to assure consistent print colors. Monitor calibration is part of that process. The links below will take you to short articles that explain the process.

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/color-management1.htm

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/soft-proofing.htm

http://digital-photography-school.com/why-is-monitor-calibration-important-and-how-to-do-it/

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

RDJpanther wrote:

If my monitor color is not calibrated right, them my colors on the pictures when printed are off. I have moved my sliders to far one way or the other. If you can not see the colors correctly, then how can you process your images to your liking. Then why are photographers spending several $$ for monitor calibration? Am I missing something?

When you calibrate your monitor using a HW calibration tool such as those that have been mentioned, they modify the LUT (look up table) on the video card that drives your monitor, resulting in the correct displayed colors. This is a much more accurate result than you can achieve using the monitor's sliders which have limited (and course) color correction ability. Make sense?