Monitor Calibration and Spyder 4 Pro
Finding the right monitor calibrator is a daunting task. For starters, you rarely see these equipments and they come in different weird shapes that you cannot resemble as such. These equipments also come with specification that even a color professional can barely fathom. Try digging specs like 7-channel sensor colorimeter or measurements in candela per square meter.
No matter how complex these equipments may seem, one thing’s for sure, you’ll be lost in the dark without a measuring device guiding you through the digital workflow. There is no way for you to know whether your monitor is displaying the right colors unless you calibrate and profile it using a monitor calibrator.
There are numerous tasks to be performed in calibrating your monitor and lucky for us, most of these tasks are automated. A third party device is necessary to calibrate your monitors since the monitor needs a feedback on how the colors are perceived.
During monitor calibration, a proprietary software that goes with the device is launched. Typically, you’ll be asked to set the calibration parameters such as monitor type, gamma and white point. In most advanced calibration, ambient light and brightness is set. Afterwhich, a set of color patches are displayed while the device reads and analyse each and every patch.
At this time, data collected from the monitor’s output is compared from the expected measures. Adjustments are then compiled into a file which is then used by the computer’s operating system in correcting the colors before outputting it to
your monitor. The automated process of color data analysis is the easy part. Mostly, unsuccessful calibration lies during the setting of parameters which may sometimes be assumed as obvious settings. But making a mistake at this stage of calibration can be catastrophic to the result.
If you’re new to this, it is best to consult the supplier of your device or run a number of tests before settling in. The result of the calibration can be discouraging especially when the brightness is dropped to 120 cd/ m2 which is a standard in color matching. A typical uncalibrated monitor is normally bright at 200-300 cd/m2.
Lately, I spent a lot of time trying to decipher the new Spyder 4 Pro. I think that it has a very good hardware but needs a lot of improvement in the software side. If you set it with the right parameters, everything is a breeze otherwise, good luck.
Of course, not all features of the software needs improvement. I like the way it bares all the information after calibration which is very useful in comparing from your previous runs. It also has a very quick recalibration process which is time-saving. Overall, I think Spyder 4 Pro is a good investment.
If you’re a photographer, it is imperative that you calibrate your monitor in order for you to achieve the right color and contrast of your photos. Most of the photography club owns a calibrator where you can borrow or pay a certain amount.
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