jerryg Loc: NE Pa

The Spyder Pro4 is $159 to $169 and it seems you need to use it once to calibrate your monitor. Seems rather costly - is it? Does it really make a great difference after you use it. What can you tell me regarding this issue. Thanks in advance.
There is also the less costly Express and the more costly Elite.
What I really want is for my pics to get printed using my Canon Pro 9000 and look like what I saw on the monitor without having to make a series of 4"X6" prints to use for adjusting my PSE12 color sliders.

Gitchigumi Loc: Wake Forest, NC

Good question... I am interested in doing this, too. From what I've read, the monitor needs to be checked and adjusted with some regularity, not just once. It will be nice to hear from UHH folks who actually do this calibration.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I've been using the Spyder Pro for a number of years. I usually check my monitor calibration about once a month. Oddly, the more critical adjustment I had to make was not with colour, but with brightness.

Because of my low need for printing, I have my printing done professionally at a local imaging centre. We worked through what I was giving them and what adjustments they needed to make. It all came down to a matter of a slight tweak on brightness.

However, I do know that at least my colours are correct when I've completed work on an image.
--Bob

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

I use it and I do the same...once a month. Yes...it is VERY necessary.

I use the Express version.

When I first used it I thought something had broken! My monitor tint was so "brown" or "warm" that I thought I must have done something wrong...and so I calibrated it again!

But nope...I was just so used to looking at a laptop screen that was "too blue" or "cool" that when it was correct...it seemed odd.

If you want correct colors to display...it's a must.

Nothing worse than spending $30.00 on a 30 x 40 print that has white in it and finding out that your white is blueish because your white balance was off on your monitor and you adjusted it to look right.

Trust me...you'll wonder how you got along without it.

jerryg Loc: NE Pa

Does the calibration really change on its own monthly. How does that happen and what Spyder model are you using. Thanks for your info.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

No, hardly. It's more a set and forget. When CRT monitors were common, the calibration could change over time. The newer LCD type monitors pretty much never change.

I spend part of the first weekend of the month cleaning equipment, etc. It gives me something to do. The cleaning is mostly just gently dusting the outside of several cameras and cleaning the UV filters on lenses. While I'm doing that, the calibration is going on. Thus, taking care of two tasks at the same time.
--Bob

flyguy Loc: Las Cruces, New Mexico

Re-calibrating and profiling only takes a few minutes and it is great insurance for getting the beast out of your production, if you share a computer with someone they could inadvertently change your settings or you could, too. Why take a chance?

Also, displays wear out over time and those changes are imperceptible to us, but the colorimeter that is used will detect those changes and adjust your profiles to compensate for those changes.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Not sure how much...but there has to be SOME interval...right? :)

Really for the effort it takes...(plug in..start software...wait 6 minutes) it's not a big deal.

I'd be more P.O.'d if I sent something to AdoramaPix and found out that my colors and WB were off enough to ruin a $50.00 poster!

flyguy Loc: Las Cruces, New Mexico

Just now seeing that I made a typo in this thread quote "... getting the 'BEAST' out of your production when I meant to say the best.

Actually color issues can sometimes feel like one is trying to tame a "beast" when attempting to get the print "just right". 8-)

Morning Star Loc: West coast, North of the 49th N.

I have the Spyder4 Pro. And yes, the colour on the monitor really does shift in 4 weeks. I have set the Spyder software so that it gives me a warning after 3 weeks to recalibrate.

Harry Thomas Loc: Doylestown, Pennsylvania

My exact concerns motivated me to order The Spyder Pro 4 at a cost of $169. I have not received shipment to date but looking forward to getting it soon.

When I get and try it, I will report my findings.

jerryg Loc: NE Pa

Thanks to all of you. It always happens when you get varying answers you still are left with your own decision. I wanted the "crystal ball" answer. Been searching for the best price. Humts Video had it for $129 a few weeks ago but won't sell it for that price now. Amazon had it for $119 at the same time but won't sell it for that price now either. Genesis-Technologies of Texas has it for $136.95 + $8.95 shipping now.
Thanks Jerry

Morning Star Loc: West coast, North of the 49th N.

Unfortunately there are no crystal balls to give this kind of information....
What I can tell you is this: I do a fair bit of editing on my laptop now that I've learned how to angle the screen and to keep the same ambient light.
Before I had the Spyder4 Pro, I often had the feeling that the prints from the lab came back "hit and miss" as to colouring and light- or darkness.
A few months ago, after I had installed Spyder, I had a photobook printed with a company whose default is "We do not colour correct" - my husband and I were very impressed with the colours in the book and holding it beside the monitor (as far as you can compare monitor and paper) the colours were dead-on.
For single prints from a local lab, too, there has been a major improvement since I installed Spyder.
To me, Spyder4 Pro has been worth every penny.

One thought as I'm sending this: Are there any among your photography friends who alread own a monitor calibrator and will let you try it out? You can always uninstall the software again!

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

I upgraded the SpyderElite 4 and I calibrate my monitors on an every 2 month basis. the software lets you you when to calibrate by what ever time unit you select. I use the Elite because I have 2 monitors attached to my desktop and I also want my laptop to have the same color calibration

nikonwaddy

Jerry, same issues here. I had been printing to Canon Pro 9000 mk II from PSE 10/11/12 using a Asus 246 LCD, IPS monitor and never truly got "wysiwyg." Like you I resorted to endless 4X6's before larger prints were finally made. I shoot a lot of studio nude/glamor/portraiture and even with preview and re-edit it seems a whole lot of skin tones on my subjects came out way to high in the red channels, warm. Also as noted elsewhere in this post brightness was usually considerably off. The thing is Jerry, I have upgraded to a Canon Pro 1 printer, and now using Adobe CC (subscription CS6) and have installed and calibrated my monitor with the Datacolor Spyder Pro4....and have not seen any better "wysiwyg" at all. I may be expecting to much or just to much of a cave man to really get color management dialed in. My understanding is that it is exceptionally complicated. What I do know is I have spent months digging through tutorials, photo-blogs, and YouTube trying to get a handle on this issue but in the end, even with the Spyder calibrator, your 4X6 workaround has worked best for me. It's way cheaper then printing off a 13X19 otherwise nice capture but awful color sends it strait to the trash..If you or anyone else here has an idea they will share please do so, I would really be grateful. Other data. Now shoot D800 and before that D7000,D90,D80. Windows 7X64. Small home studio mostly Paul C Buff. Am only a hobbyist photographer in my retirement years. Thanks to all you Hoggers and HNY from Austin Texas.