Monitor calibration

[Doug Nelson]

So many dark entries makes me wonder if we're calibrating our monitors. Most calbrated monitors will look darker than non-calibrated monitors, so perhaps images look fine on non-calibrated, but dark on calibrated.

[DJ Dubovsky]

Just did it as a matter of fact with Adobe Gamma. It's all I've ever used but I must admit to being a procrastinator when it comes to calibrating regularly. Should get into the habit I guess even if all I use is Adobe Gamma, it's still better than not doing anything at all.
DJ

[kathleen]

busted!

every once in a while. how often should you do it?

and, having just sent you a few things, i have to ask, "you talkina me?" (please supply necessary accent)

hafta admit it got a little brighter around here just now when i did it. re my stuff, happy to rescan and resend if it helps.

[Doug Nelson]

You're "supposed" to do it weekly, but I do it semi-annually (sloppy, I know).

And I'm not talking to anyone in-particular. Just a generalized concern. No one need rescan anything they don't feel like rescanning

[Sanda]

oops I didn't know you had to do it more than once.

[Ed_L]

Adobe gamma used here. But like others, not very often.

Ed

[efivern]

Hi,
I use Adobe Gamma about every 2 months...
However, I haven't been able to produce prints on my Epson Photo EX that accurately depict what I see. I presume the difficulty is in the printer end of the process.

[Doug Nelson]

There's a thread or two here somewhere about printer profiles. Epson's use ICC, which is pretty good. Try using the 'search' for "profile" or "ICC".

We'll have to do a poll on printer calibration next

[debelieson]

Yep. Adobe Gamma, but not very often, either. One more thing to add to my "do this every week" list.

[DJ Dubovsky]

I find it's best to do it at night and then turn off the lights so only your monitor light is illuminating the room. You don't get any exterior influences affecting what you see on your monitor that way.
DJ

[Ed_L]

Debbie,

Why don't you do all of us a favor and make up an action for it?

Ed

[DJ Dubovsky]

Oh wouldn't that be nice. I know you can save your settings when you do the gamma thing so I am hoping that all I have to do is load the settings I saved the last time and be done with it. Haven't tried that part yet. Not even sure if this save settings is part of the version 6 or if 5.5 had it also and I just discovered it because it took me that long to calibrate from the last time.
DJ

[Sylvia]

Speaking of calibrating monitors, I just got a new Apple G4 Powerbook without thinking about having to clibrate the monitor, and there doesn't seem to be a way to do much in the way of calibration for the LCD. I am thinking I will need to get a second monitor for my Photoshop work. I am very new at this. Any suggestions???

[DJ Dubovsky]

Sylvia
Welcome to Retouch Pro. I can't answer your question, I wish I could, but I would think that there are others on this site who could. What you should do is start a new thread in this Hardware forum that specifically asks about LCD calibration to your Apple Powerbook so more people will notice it. That way it won't get buried in this thread and go unnoticed. Good luck.
DJ

[CJ Swartz]

I have an LCD monitor and am able to do some calibration although I believe Doug has explained that CRT monitors offer better calibration options. If your computer allows contrast and brightness adjustments to the LCD screen (I'll bet that it does) then I believe that it can be calibrated using Adobe Gamma. The color cast will be adjusted by Adobe Gamma as you answer questions (which square looks like neutral gray?). I'm sure it would be better for you to get a REALLY good [really expensive] monitor, but I think that you'll be able to eliminate color casts and improve image contrast well enough with your monitor until you are ready to add another monitor. One way to test it, I guess, is to submit some work to a Challenge or to the Gallery and see what Doug thinks about the contrast and color.

Oh, you're new! Two things - 1. Welcome! 2. I have no training in calibration, just opinions.