Monitor Calibration Targets and workflow? Confused.
Discussion
14 replies
Posted by Bruce King on March 26, 2011 at 11:44 AM
Hey friends, I just picked up an NEC PA241W w/Spectraview II and am in the process of setting it up and educating myself about color spaces, printer profiles etc and how all this integrates into my workflow.
So, it seems a separate calibration target is used for each application such as photo edting, web presentation and printing. OK, but does that mean I have to process an image sparately for each intended output using the proper target? Or, do I process an image in RGB and then apply the proper target to the output?
The Spectraview manual recommends calibrating in Full/Native color space if using color management applications such as Adobe PS. Does this mean for example, I don't need to use sRGB for web presentation? I'm confused. Thanks for any advice.
Use the SpectraView software to create the Full/Native color space as indicated in the manual. I used a contrast ratio of 400:1 and a luminance of 110 Cd/m^2 for my NEC P221W in SpectraView.
I use Adobe RGB in PS and when I am preparing for the Web, I duplicate the file and convert it to sRGB.
For printing, I softproof using the profile for the paper I will be printing on, allow Photo Shop to manage color, and turn color management 'off' in my Epson printer driver.
There is a link to an excellent eBook on Colour Management in another thread (Free Colour management eBook) posted by David Bostedo in this forum. There's a huge amount of info in the book--check it out.
I hope this helps,
--P
Posted by Bruce King on March 26, 2011 at 12:59 PM
Thanks Preston. Curious, why contrast ratio at 400:1 and not Monitor Default which is the highest possible contrast ratio? I left that at default. Should I calibrate to print standard target also and how or when would I apply it when preparing an image for printing?
The default contrast and luminance of LCD panels is far higher than that of a print. The ratio of 400:1 is what I use, but you may need to experiment a bit to get the best Monitor/Print match. The 400:1 ratio I use (it was recommended by several folks) is a good starting point.
Standard targets are used for creating printing profiles that are specific to the paper/ink/printer you will be using. Unless you have the hardware and software for creating printer profiles, you will use either the manufacturer's profile, or have a vendor make a custom profile for you.
Read the eBook, Bruce. It will answer a lot of questions.
With SpectraView II, I created a custom 'MyPhotoEditing.TGT' file, where I have a contrast ratio of 250:1, White Point at D65 and a luminance of 115 Cd/m^2. These settings were recommended by color management guru Andrew Rodney and just happen to work for me for creating prints that resemble my monitor as closely as possible. Neither Preston nor I are wrong or right...it'll be up to you to determine which settings are most accurate for you. These are just guidelines to help you decide.
Posted by David Edwards on March 27, 2011 at 3:19 AM
Hi Bruce. This is the same monitor I am about to purchase. There is a lot of good info about calibrating using SV2 on this site - http://www.imagescience.com.au/kb/questions/142/How+To+Calibrate+An+NEC+Monitor+With+SpectraView+II
If you scroll about two thirds of the way down you'll see the section on custom targets for print work. As Preston and John said, it's about starting off in the general area then fine tuning in regards to your own setup. I am definitely looking forward to getting my monitor in a week or so, and I'll be very interested to see how you go with yours, so I might email you about that. Regards.
Great article David, thanks. Yes, feel free to email anytime.
The manual as well as the article recommend removing any suction cups from the calibrator. Is it referring to the 30 very small cups? I gently pulled on a couple of them and they don't appear to be removable, it would take needle-nose pliers to get them off and even then it might just tear them apart.
Posted by David Edwards on March 27, 2011 at 8:01 PM
Bruce, it sounds like you're using the i1Display2 device, which I have as well. I've been using this calibrator on my crusty old Samsung monitor, but never had trouble with the little suction cups sticking (if you just gently place it on the screen). I tried removing them too when I first got it, but those suckers are really glued down!!
I was speaking to the director at ImageScience about the i1 and he recommends upgrading to the Spyder3 express as they are much more effective with calibrating the NEC's, and are a more technically advanced calibrator than the i1. Apparently the i1's may result in a color cast after calibration on the NEC's, but he's had excellent results with the Spyder3 express (so I'll be getting the Spdyer with my NEC monitor purchase). I wonder what calibrators others are using with the NEC's and how they have found the results? Regards.
Yes I'm using the i1. It seems to have calibrated very well, for web output at least. I haven't done any printing yet.
I've been reading the ebook from Colour Collective mentioned by David Bostedo . It's packed with great info.
I wonder what calibrators others are using with the NEC's and how they have found the results?
I am using my Monaco Optix XR. I did check that it is compatible with SpectraView II before using it. It seems to work pretty well with SpectraView.
--P
Posted by John Mumaw on March 28, 2011 at 11:24 PM
I'm using the NEC SpectraView 'GammaComp MD' puck that came with my monitor and software.
No suction cups, so I have to tilt the monitor back a few degrees so it will rest on the target. No problems at all to report.
Discussion
14 repliesSo, it seems a separate calibration target is used for each application such as photo edting, web presentation and printing. OK, but does that mean I have to process an image sparately for each intended output using the proper target? Or, do I process an image in RGB and then apply the proper target to the output?
The Spectraview manual recommends calibrating in Full/Native color space if using color management applications such as Adobe PS. Does this mean for example, I don't need to use sRGB for web presentation? I'm confused. Thanks for any advice.
Use the SpectraView software to create the Full/Native color space as indicated in the manual. I used a contrast ratio of 400:1 and a luminance of 110 Cd/m^2 for my NEC P221W in SpectraView.
I use Adobe RGB in PS and when I am preparing for the Web, I duplicate the file and convert it to sRGB.
For printing, I softproof using the profile for the paper I will be printing on, allow Photo Shop to manage color, and turn color management 'off' in my Epson printer driver.
There is a link to an excellent eBook on Colour Management in another thread (Free Colour management eBook) posted by David Bostedo in this forum. There's a huge amount of info in the book--check it out.
I hope this helps,
--P
I did download the ebook but haven't read it yet.
Standard targets are used for creating printing profiles that are specific to the paper/ink/printer you will be using. Unless you have the hardware and software for creating printer profiles, you will use either the manufacturer's profile, or have a vendor make a custom profile for you.
Read the eBook, Bruce. It will answer a lot of questions.
--P
If you scroll about two thirds of the way down you'll see the section on custom targets for print work. As Preston and John said, it's about starting off in the general area then fine tuning in regards to your own setup. I am definitely looking forward to getting my monitor in a week or so, and I'll be very interested to see how you go with yours, so I might email you about that. Regards.
Excellent article and quite detailed. I saved it for my own reference. Thanks for sharing!
Speaking of calibrating--mine is overdue!
--P
The manual as well as the article recommend removing any suction cups from the calibrator. Is it referring to the 30 very small cups? I gently pulled on a couple of them and they don't appear to be removable, it would take needle-nose pliers to get them off and even then it might just tear them apart.
I was speaking to the director at ImageScience about the i1 and he recommends upgrading to the Spyder3 express as they are much more effective with calibrating the NEC's, and are a more technically advanced calibrator than the i1. Apparently the i1's may result in a color cast after calibration on the NEC's, but he's had excellent results with the Spyder3 express (so I'll be getting the Spdyer with my NEC monitor purchase). I wonder what calibrators others are using with the NEC's and how they have found the results? Regards.
I've been reading the ebook from Colour Collective mentioned by David Bostedo . It's packed with great info.
I am using my Monaco Optix XR. I did check that it is compatible with SpectraView II before using it. It seems to work pretty well with SpectraView.
--P
No suction cups, so I have to tilt the monitor back a few degrees so it will rest on the target. No problems at all to report.
http://www.naturephotographers.net/imagecritique/bbs.cgi?a=vm&mr=64109&CGISESSID=8632c3f7283dbb3733624d7026d48ccb&u=30109
--P