What is the best Monitor Calibration software used by professionals ?
Someone has recommended Spyder Elite. Any comments or better alternatives before I make this purchase? Thx.
What is the best Monitor Calibration software used by professionals ?
(28 posts) (11 voices)-
Posted 1 year ago #
-
I use a Spyder Elite and it works for me
Am I professional ?
that's a whole new ball game
Posted 1 year ago # -
First of all, it's not the software that's important but the combination of software and device called colorimeter/calibrator. Personally, I'm using Spyder, but there are different brands on the market too, i.e. colormunki. Apart from that there are also build in calibrators.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I use the Spyder Elite as well, but I am not a professional either. Now, does that mean that the Spyder is used mainly by non-professionals? :)
Posted 1 year ago # -
Spyder and Colormunki seem to be the big players in the market, It's worth noting that the Spyder will ONLY calibrate your monitor, the Colormunki will also correct your printer (which is probably 1 reason it's a lot more expensive). I am also planning on buying one of them, both seem to have favourable reviews. As a side note, I think both but definately CM offer a visual check system on their website, to see the colour range that your monitor can produce. Might be worth just checking this first to see if you have any obvious problems? It's no subsitute for propper calibration of course.
Posted 1 year ago # -
-
-
Thanks for that Seven, I didn't know they did one, are they two separate devices? The Colormunki does both in one machine, so that seems quite a good idea.
Posted 1 year ago # -
X-rite has some good products that are used by many professionals. Make sure you get a system that can do your monitor and your printer if you print yourself, otherwise you will be left wanting (as i am).
Posted 1 year ago # -
Spyder 3, and yes I am not shy to call myself a professional.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Thanks to all of you. i will purchase the Spyder Elite tonight. ALL of you PROFESSIONALS are awesome.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Right, after all this time I'm finally going to get a monitor calibration thingumajig. One of my clients is going to buy me one as payment for some photos. I have asked them to get me the X-Rite Colormunki photo, but I now notice they sell an "i1Photo pro", after having a look at the X-Rite website, they both seem to do the same thing. What's the difference?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Well I asked this same question SkintBrit, from what I can see the differences are the Colormunki only uses 24 colors to compare prints and the iPhoto Pro can use maybe more than a 1000 colors. The iPhoto Pro seems to be able to calibrate your camera as well (not sure what this means). This way from capture to print you know what you got. The iPhoto Pro can have software and hardware added to it for graphic designers and equipment that will automatically scan a color palets (this stuff is really expensive). I don't think you can do much for the Colormunki for software or hardware.
As a warning they sell two versions of the iPhoto Pro, the normal version and a version that is UV Cut. The UV cut version can scan photo papers that have artificial brighteners in them. From what I have read you need to buy the version that you will print on, the hardware is different between the two so its not something you can swap back and forth. If you do swap back and forth with papers you can buy the iPhoto Pro UV cut version and some autoscanner they sell that will even adjust for the amount of optical brighteners in the paper, but I think this scanner was around $2000 US. I found the normal version of iPhoto Pro for $1100 US dollars but the cheapest I found the UV cut version was $1400 US. For my needs I would need the UV cut version as I print on papers that have brighteners in them.
I can get the Colormunki for around $450 US so to spend a $1000 more for something I probalby couldn't tell the difference with I could not justify (anything is better than me guessing). I ordered the Colormunki, it should get here this Monday.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I just joined a photo club which has a Colormunki that members can borrow for a £20 refundable deposit. Cool. When I was shown how to use it the guy said that most people run their screens way too bright and so get dark, disappointing prints. Hands up all those that this applies to (my hand is up)!
Posted 1 year ago # -
Thanks guys! Looks like I'll be coming to you if I get stuck with it :-) Although it does look like they have very good hand holding tutorials on their site, so hopefully I won't need to? You're right, from what you say scooby, the upmarket version will be way more than I need at this point. @spraynpray, I'm actually not guilty of that (I think), as I run my Dell U2711 at 20% Brightness/Contrast. Any more than that I go blind and get heat stroke! :-)
Posted 1 year ago # -
Ah, the smell of cooking meat....
Have you ever noticed how we small like pork? ;-)
Posted 1 year ago # -
quite a few people have isses with the color munki, in that it is not adjustable from the auto settings. the software seems to be very basic, and they only allow advanced settings in there more expensive kits.
I am looking at probably getting spyderstudio at some stage, the software is supposed to be far superior to colormunki photo, and allows fine tuning the settings.
the spyder 4 colorimeter (comes in the spyderstudio) is also supposed to be the most accurate.
Posted 1 year ago # -
another thing that people seem to overlook.
if you are going to compare your monitor to a print, make sure the light that you're comparing them under is good. ie; full spectrum daylight.
there aren't many of these available in nz, it looks as though I will have to install a fluorescent tube in my studio
Posted 1 year ago # -
Reviving this to avoid a detailed conversation about this in the PAD. So, I've been looking into the ColorMunki or the i1Display, although I don't print. I'm currently using a 32" Sony LCD for PP, though I've been eyeing NEC and EIZO monitors. So, onto the questions:
1) Anyone have experience with either of these calibrators? How do they perform?
2) Is it worth my time to even worry about calibrating and using a TV for PP?
3) Any recommendations for a second monitor specifically for PP?Appreciate anyone's response. Thanks.
Posted 9 months ago # -
the place for this is luminous landscape where I asked exactly the same question a while back
i1 Display Pro and Paper Manufacturers ICCs vs Colormunki Photo
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/forum/index.php?topic=68972.0X-Rite (Gretagmacbeth) i1 Pro 1 vs Colormunki Photo
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/forum/index.php?topic=69211.0I ended up with an i1 pro, which is very good, and learnt colour management along the way, I now feel I pretty much understand the whole colour management routine for my setup.
Posted 9 months ago # -
Gareth said:
the place for this is luminous landscape where I asked exactly the same question a while backi1 Display Pro and Paper Manufacturers ICCs vs Colormunki Photo
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/forum/index.php?topic=68972.0X-Rite (Gretagmacbeth) i1 Pro 1 vs Colormunki Photo
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/forum/index.php?topic=69211.0I ended up with an i1 pro, which is very good, and learnt colour management along the way, I now feel I pretty much understand the whole colour management routine for my setup.
Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks for your time.
Posted 9 months ago # -
-
-
look into luminous landscape more.
general consensus seems to be nec
the NEC PA271W is highly regarded and looks like a winner, but the Dell u2711 uses the same panel and is cheaper (might be a big difference where you live).
the nec allows direct lut adjustment via the calibrator and has more bits, thus it is better / costs more. it nec also has spectraview software that works with the i1 display pro.
Posted 9 months ago #
Reply »
You must log in to post.
