1.8 or 2.1 native gamma

[Moejoe]

hi all.

until 3 days ago did not know that colour calibration was such an important issue. Anyways, now i know im trying 2 fix it. My issue is should i set the native gamma to 1.8 or 2.2. I use mac. and know that PC's are still majority, but then again most studio people that I am likely to send any demonstration work 2 will probably use macs. Do most mac professionals change their Gamma to 2.2? Apart from that I think I am sussing it. White to black on 100 scale I can tell the breaks, with difference between 1–5 and 95–100 barely noticeable and 100 becomes indistinguishable from what I know is a black background

[Markzebra]

2.2 is generally the standard now, and now recommended by Apple. 1.8 was used for specific output in the old days - calibrate your monitor thats the most important recommendation

[TommyO]

Moejoe,
Mark is correct. Today's standard for a CRT is 2.2. (For LCD's you often cannot adjust anything but the brightness of the backlight tubes.) Apple had always standardized on 1.8, as that gamma matched their Apple Laserwriter. But, that gamma does not work as well in the color managed world and is more prone to posterization/banding.

The hardest things for people today are:
- determining the difference in calibration methods for CRT's vs LCD's;
- keeping their hands off the video settings control panel.

So, follow the guides from the calibration tool you buy. That will solve #1.
Then, don't play with any settings, either on the front of your display or in the control panel. They both readjust the video card and toss out your calibration. Remember, the calibration process adjusts the video card, not the monitor/LCD (except on a very few very high end models).