Monitor color calibration suggestions

Markk655 wrote on 2/13/2011, 10:50 AM
Usually my video colors seemingly turn out OK, but my still photo color prints do not. I tend to play more with colors in my stills anyway. Consequently, I think that I am looking for a monitor calibration tool (purely for hobbyist photos/video). I do use ICC profiles for printer/paper in Photoshop, so I am just thinking that the issue is an uncalibrated monitor. Any recommendations?

One of the standard ones from some preliminary research is the Spyder 3 Express from DataColor or theHuey from Pantone. Any others that I should consider in the same range?

Comments

musicvid10 wrote on 2/13/2011, 1:06 PM
You don't need to spend money to calibrate your monitor for noncommercial use. Calibrize does exactly what Adobe Gamma does, and it's free.

"I do use ICC profiles for printer/paper in Photoshop,'
You should be using sRGB profile to print color images from Windows. It is specifically set up for 2.2 gamma, and provides the best starting point for screen-to-print matching. Printing with no profile (i.e. RGB) would not give you a match, no matter how well your screen is calibrated. Also, you did not say what printer you are using. Most consumer / prosumer color printers are 'way off the mark to begin with.
Eugenia wrote on 2/13/2011, 1:32 PM
I agree with musicvid that for pictures/printing it's important to calibrate. But for videos, not so. Not because it's really not important (it is), but because it's a waste of time. TVs are sold with so cranked up saturation and different color looks (so they appeal to housewives in the stores), that your video will never look the same on any two TVs. As long as it kinda looks ok to you, just go with that and be happy that the situation is not any worse than it already is. :D
Markk655 wrote on 2/13/2011, 1:49 PM
Musicvid, Eugenia,

Thanks for your advice. It is a Canon IP5200. I've been playing around with the Canon ICC profiles with Photoshop and funnily enough, I came to a conclusion regarding Adobe RGB 1996 providing prints more in line with screen than the Canon printer/paper profile. I thought that sRGB was more for the web???

Maybe I just need to adjust the lighting in the room that I make my edits in. :)

For video, it seems like we are lucky that we don't have as big of an issue with color. Especially, as you point out that everyone's TV is different and we have no control over the final output as viewed on their screens.
musicvid10 wrote on 2/13/2011, 5:28 PM
Adobe RGB is certainly a good profile, and I use it where there are lots of solid graphics (colored text and backgrounds, CG, etc.) mixed with photography.

RE video: My theory is that people adjust their sets for what they like to see from the preponderance of material, those being broadcast and DVDs. So I always reference my video to those known "good" sources, much the way an audio engineer references his mixes to known good standard recordings on CD.
MSmart wrote on 2/13/2011, 11:07 PM
Over at the Inkjet Printer Forum, Profile Prism is a recommended software for setting up printer profiles. One of these days I'll get it.

If you haven't gotten into refilling your iP5200 carts, I highly recommend it. I've been refilling my OEM carts for 2+ years now and love the $$ I'm saving.
Markk655 wrote on 2/14/2011, 5:43 AM
Thanks for the tip. I"ll have a look!