Quad HP LP2475w problem (?)

Papillon · 15 Feb 2009 at 11:38

I have recently bought four HP LP2475w monitors for a quad monitor setup. My machine has dual graphics cards (identical) each with dual DVI outputs. The problem is that when I have a white background stretched across all the screens (such as Google etc) there is a variance in the shade of the white on each monitor. Some have a green tinge, some red, and some look dull in comparison. It is also noticeable, to a lesser degree, when viewing some colours (lighter shades mainly). I made sure all the monitors were reset to the factory setting before checking on this.

I am wondering what I can do. It doesn't seem like there is a fault as such but I would like them all to be the same, and see no reason why they shouldn't.

Would a calibrating device be useful in this situation? ie, could all the monitors be set to one standard?

Thank you.

philjohn · 15 Feb 2009 at 12:32

Yes, this is exactly where a calibration device is very useful - no 2 panels will ever be the same due to manufacturing tolerances (the CCFL backlights used mainly, but even LED backlights are never fully uniform).

Papillon · 16 Feb 2009 at 17:15

Thanks for the reply. I don't know much about colour calibration devices, but have started to do some research into them. I realise they're mainly for getting the correct colour for photography work etc, but I can't see how they would work for multi monitor setups. Do they adjust the monitor using software, and would that software know that I am using four monitors on one system?

Thanks.

Kreeeee · 16 Feb 2009 at 18:05

You assign a different colour profile to each monitor (the 4 separate monitors are listed independently in the display properties within windows).

Papillon · 16 Feb 2009 at 18:36

Thanks for the reply.

Which device would be best for my needs do you think?

philjohn · 16 Feb 2009 at 18:38

As well as generating a profile for use in colour managed apps, they will get you to change the brightness/contrast and RGB values on the monitor.

High end monitors (like the NEC 24WUXI that's being released in europe soon) have a built in look up table and so you calibrate the monitor directly - but they cost a lot more than the HP's.

As for devices, it's wide gamut and you want to calibrate more than 1 monitor on the same system, so it'll be a bit pricey. The i1 Display 2 is highly regarded and costs around £250.

Papillon · 16 Feb 2009 at 18:51

I have just read some reviews on Amazon (.com, not .co.uk), and someone stated that you can't use i one display 2 on a wide gamut monitor. Is this correct?

philjohn · 16 Feb 2009 at 19:39

Papillon said:
I have just read some reviews on Amazon (.com, not .co.uk), and someone stated that you can't use i one display 2 on a wide gamut monitor. Is this correct?

I doubt that is correct as it's the same probe packaged with the NEC 26" IPS monitor with internal LUT which is also wide gamut.

Have a look on the manufacturers website (X-Rite) to double check though.

edit: I stand corrected, someone over at [H]ard forum seems to say that it's a slightly different proble and hence the Spyder 3 is the better option.

Papillon · 17 Feb 2009 at 09:41

philjohn, does the spyder 3 support multi monitor?

Flying Gribble · 17 Feb 2009 at 11:04

According to this, both Spyder 3 Elite and Spyder 3 Pro support multiple monitors. Spyder 2 Express doesn't though.

Typhoon · 17 Feb 2009 at 12:14

Also try swapping the monitors around, sometimes 1 DVi port works better than the other, sometimes its the DVI cable. Also with a multimonitor set up, viewing angles come into play and some panals give really strange shades of white and colours when viewed off axis.