Just wondering what process any of you chaps use to calibrate your monitors. I was messing with mine earlier and cant get it back to where I thought it should be. It then dawned on me, what if its been bad all along and my post work is bad?

I've tried a few bits of free online software and nothing seems to work correctly, I'm getting a really odd colour cast with most of them.

I'm considering buying Pantone Huey Pro but think it's a quite a bit to fork out for someting I'm probalby going to use once. Anyone fancy going halfers

Hi,
I have a Spyder 3 that I no longer use (use to run a photography business)
Works great, always shocked me how far out the colours could be!
Would be looking for £50 posted or poss swap for some fishing gear as only just started out...
Cheers
James

I've got a cracking 22" Samsung. I'm getting rid of my desktop so don't need the monitor any more. Open to offers.

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Cheers for the offer, Ive got 2 22's but just need them calibrated.

Thanks anyways

I just use the software calibration thats included in my video card drivers (nVidia) I have seen the Spyder 3's Colour Monkey etc. but they would probably cost more than my monitor is worth.

I don't do any paid work so aren't overly worried. My pictures look OK on my screen and when printed - I can't control how other people view my pictures (e.g. non colour managed viewers) so aren't that worried to be honest.

I use a Spyder 3 Pro, well worth doing, but needs doing every month to keep on top of it.
Also don't wear anything bright when you do it as it'll affect the readings & can throw the colours even further out.

Note there is a distinct difference between "calibration" and "profiling". The Spyder 3, i1 Photo Pro (like mine) etc are used for profiling. Few but the best LCD displays are able to calibrated (via display controls).

There are quite a few people that offer profiling services but it does require them to pop over with a spectrophotometer.

I use a Pantone Huey Pro. It's not something that you can go halfers on unfortunately, as once you have set it up, the wee gizmo sits on front of your monitor and reads the room light every few minutes for brightness and white balance and adjusts your monitor on the fly - it makes a huge difference between working in bright window light, working under tungsten light and working in the dark. If for no other reason it is worth having it for this use. It prompts you to recalibrate every couple of weeks as well.

So, you need to have the wee device permanently plugged in to your PC.

The only bit that leaves me going 'hmmm?' is that I have a 2-monitor set-up (image on the high quality left one, palettes and windows etc on the cheapo Dell one on the right) and after calibrating both monitors (same gamma and temperature choice for both) the white balance is quite different on the 2 monitors. I keep meaning to contact Huey (Shuggie if you live in Scotland ) to ask them why that should be.

Maybe Steve K can advise?

Col

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Cheers for the replys folks I've managed to get hold of Spyder 3 Pro so I'll see how I get on with that.

Yep Col, without knowing too much about it I assumed it was something which I could plug in once and hey presto, I'd be sorted for a while

Calibrate your monitor? Now you hear of something new every day. What does this mean? What does it do?

I've got a 22" LED. Should I need to calibrate it?