Monitor (iMac) Calibration - Is this right?

Shadowness · 31 May 2011 at 21:25

I've had my 2011 iMac for a couple of weeks now, and I've only just got around to calibrating it!

I'm borrowing a Spyder2 Pro from work, I just want to check everything looks right.

(these screenshots were taken when I told the software I had RGB sliders, which clearly I don't, but I know from past experience this tells you the readings)

Before calibration:

After calibration:

I think the first screenshot confirms Apples cool colour temperature out of the box. Now I've got the temperature almost smack on, I'm just having to get used to a much warmer display! White doesn't look like the same anymore lol!

But I guess I was used to the uncalibrated white temperature, which despite looking great, is incorrect.

Does that sound about right?

clintham · 31 May 2011 at 23:26

my spider2 is exactly the same, with the RGB bars i mean - you soon get used to it and accept it as correct

Adrianr · 1 Jun 2011 at 02:12

Your screen shots wont show anything to us because the RGB values are exactly the same in each. The difference occurs between the graphics card and the monitor, not in the file. In both of those pictures white will be 255/255/255, to us they'll just look like whatever white looks like on our monitors

However the 'problem' you describe is very common, and is almost always just a case of the screen being very wrong out of the box. Very, very few screens are accurate to general photo editing specs out of the box. Even Eizos etc need to be recalibrated to target. In some cases the colorimeter can be creating a cast if it's duff (one/some of the filters not working properly, interpreting the results poorly, having a lamp on when doing the calibration and skewing the results, etc), but generally it's just you being used to the wrong kind of white. Give it a week and see how it looks then

Shadowness · 1 Jun 2011 at 07:25

^I should have pointed out that the screenshots will look exactly the same colour wise. It was the measurements I wanted to be sure about.

I'll stick it out and get used to it

Thanks

Razor-BladE · 1 Jun 2011 at 08:54

Shadowness said:
snip

You should set the calibration target for luminance and gamma, as well as colour temp.
They say optimum settings is 2.2 gamma and 120cd/m2. Luminance you can set to your preference but you should aim for 6500k and 2.2 gamma.

Shadowness · 1 Jun 2011 at 11:18

^Yeh I set that up in the steps prior to the screenshot above. I think I've got a pretty well calibrated display now....I hope!

Johnny|lucidcomposure · 1 Jun 2011 at 11:22

You need to get those bars exactly the same
I'm sure I got my difference to something like 0.5 or something.
Either way what it is now isn't going to make hardly any difference. Color calibration is something that you'll hardly see at those values. Its all about the brightness and contrast!

Ive moved off a Spyder now and im on a ColorMunki! Far far far far superior

Shadowness · 1 Jun 2011 at 11:30

^ I can't say I agree with that. I'm noticing a huge difference. White looks much warmer now the colour temperature is lower (read correct).

Johnny|lucidcomposure · 1 Jun 2011 at 12:01

Shadowness said:
^ I can't say I agree with that. I'm noticing a huge difference. White looks much warmer now the colour temperature is lower (read correct).

I'm sorry? A difference of 0.12 and doubt you'll see a noticeable difference.
I work with a professional grade LaCie 324 and work closely with Loxley and in house print on Canon 9500 Pro. I don't think Im being naive sorry.

Shadowness · 1 Jun 2011 at 12:07

But the difference WAS 1.3, and after it's 0.12. That's a big difference.

Johnny|lucidcomposure · 1 Jun 2011 at 12:07

and I think I might of sounded like I have contradicted myself. When I said you wont see a massive issue at the calibrated setting I meant by getting those bars exactly the same was the sheer aim of the game.

Johnny|lucidcomposure · 1 Jun 2011 at 12:08

Shadowness said:
But the difference WAS 1.3, and after it's 0.12. That's a big difference.

No I was only referring TO the 0.12 reference. I was talking about further more precise calibration to absolute zero

Shadowness · 1 Jun 2011 at 12:10

Ah I see. You sounded as if I wouldn't see a difference after the calibration.

I agree, I won't see much difference from my after calibration setting to a perfect RBG setting.

I just wanted to check that what I've done is correct, and the warmer white I now have is correct. It sounds like it is

Johnny|lucidcomposure · 1 Jun 2011 at 12:15

Yes you have done it correctly

Johnny|lucidcomposure · 1 Jun 2011 at 12:17

You are advised to re calibrate each month. But thats abit overkill unless you are producing a lot of work. Really depends how much you manipulate.. Like I said its more about contrast and making sure things that arent absolute black dont get printed as solid black.