Software for monitor calibration

[santoro80]

Could you recommend me some simple software for monitor calibration? Something I could use without any additional hardware...

[Panascape]

Unfortunately you can't calibrate a monitor properly or accurately without some form of hardware device that can read the values being displayed by the screen.

I would suggest you look at a Colormunki create package as its a really cheap option and does a good job.

[pixelzombie]

here's a freebie for basic use:

http://photographerusa.com/screencheck/index.html

[TommyO]

I would agree with the others, there is not much point in trying to calibrate by your eye. Good hardware represents a rather fixed standard... whereas our eyes can vary greatly, and compensate for our surroundings. You can acquire a Spyder3 for about $60 US.

If you plan on using your eyes, then check your eyes out first just to see how good they are. Here is a color test from X-Rite... very revealing.

Since you are likely going to try it with your eyes anyway, here are a few other things to remember:
- typically a calibrated monitor has a lower brightness setting than we are used to (or like) for other applications. So, don't be surprised if you need to lower it to see the gradations properly on webpage referenced by Pixelzombie.
- turn off any automatic color and contrast settings that may be internal to your monitor.
- try calibrating in a closed room, with lighting similar to what will be present when you retouch. Go out and buy a good florescent fixture and some 6K tubes. You can order the tubes online if need be. These represent a more natural spectrum that typically results in better color correction work (but no guarantees). You don't have to spend a fortune, maybe another $70 US. But, the fixture will last 6-8 years easy, and the tubes 1 yr each for about $10. That's pretty cheap for a good lighting environment.

[santoro80]

$60 US fo Spyder3? Thats not so expensive as I thought.

In older versions of Photoshop there was a plugin called Adobe Gamma. Now I have Photoshop CS4 and I cant find it there...

[TommyO]

Adobe Gamma was a DOS based visual calibration tool. I'm sure you could find it on the internet. Whether it would run correctly under XP/Vista/7 I really don't know. Most of us just bite the bullet and get some good calibration hardware.

[delph99]

the eye test from X-Rite was very cool! It told me I have perfect color vision! anyway, i use the monaco optix xr calibration tool. seems to make thing more "pink" on my screen. Is spyder better?

[bpurvis]

I love my Spyder 3. Makes a huge difference in my monitor color and is very easy to use. I thought it was reasonably priced and have been using since the fall of 2008 with nary a hiccup.

[Pictus]

Last time I saw the Spyder3 Express was US80,00
And if want the best possible result use ColorEyes Display Pro with Spyder3

http://luminous-landscape.com/forum/...2&#entry295512
We have an entire fleet of colorimeters and spectrophotometers available for in-house
measurement. For wide gamut displays such as the Eizo CG221, HP LP2480, and Samsung XL24 we
find the Spyder3 outperforms the i1Pro when used with ColorEyes Display. This is based on both
qualitative visual evaluations and quantitative measurements using an RPS 380
spectroradiometer. On both the Samsung and HP displays, the most saturated midtone and
highlight greens, yellows, and oranges are more accurate and have smoother tonality when the
i1Pro is used for measurements. This is offset by poorer shadow detail and artifacts that are
not present in the Spyder3-generated profiles and calibrations.