STEP BY STEP CALIBRATE YOUR MONITOR

We look at how to calibrate your computer display with the popular Datacolor Spyder X

01 DOWNLOAD YOUR SOFTWARE

Download the Spyder X software from the Datacolor website. There are versions for the Spyderx Elite and Pro for Windows or Mac. Follow the simple installation wizard, but don’t plug in the device until the installation is complete.

02 RESET YOUR MONITOR

Revert to your monitor’s default settings using its built-in menu and set the colour temperature to 6500 Kelvins (if you can). If you’re a Mac user go to System Preferences>displays, click the Color tab, and choose the necessary display profile.

03 DIM YOUR SCREEN

Having a screen that’s too bright will make your colours look unrealistic compared to the printed version as this will have no back illumination. Dim your screen to 80% or lower, though the calibration software will tell you if it’s too bright.

04 SELECT YOUR SETUP

Ensure the Spyder X is connected and select desktop or laptop. Enter the manufacturer and model of your display, and tell the software whether you were able to adjust the brightness and/or colour temperature. Select your monitor’s backlighting or choose General if unsure.

05 METER FOR THE LIGHT

Choose your calibration settings. As this is a first-time setup, choose FULLCAL. Head into the Change Settings menu and select Room Light: Room Light Switching – Automatic. This tells the Spyder X to measure the lighting in your room. The results are will then be accounted for.

06 CALIBRATION

Remove the Spyderx’s lens cap and place the lens on the silhouette that appears on your display. Drape the cap over the back of your monitor and use it as a counterweight. We tilted our screen back to ensure the device sat flush against our display. Hit Next to start the calibration.