Monitor Calibration Hardware

Monitor Calibration Hardware

It is important to have your monitor calibrated. Why? I hear you ask there are a few reasons but I would say the main two reasons are:

1. This is to your own benefit, as you will get better results with a calibrated monitor when printing photos, as the colours and tone of the printed photo will match what you see on the monitor more closely
2. For viewing someone else’s photos which have been edited on a calibrated monitor, you will see the same result as them. If your monitor is not calibrated, you will see a very different photo, this can range from a photo appearing lighter or darker to you, and colours and tone being different

Here is a list of hardware that you can use to calibrate your monitor; any links will take you the manufacturer’s website. Later, perhaps Philip can add links to the PhotoActive Shop where you can purchase one which will benefit the forum.

Products

I have tried to show products that is best suited to photographers. Prices range from £60 to £400

PANTONE huey - Monitor calibration in less than three minutes
The PANTONE huey is a simple to use, plug-and-play monitor calibration solution that delivers excellent results on LCD, CRT and laptop displays in as little as three minutes.

Unlike most professional monitor calibration tools, which require a basic understanding of colour management to operate, the PANTONE huey is almost totally automated, allowing anyone to obtain accurate on-screen colour.

The PANTONE huey also features continual ambient light measurement and adjustment, adapting your monitor’s settings as the room lighting changes.

The PANTONE huey boasts numerous functions and features, including:

• Fast, accurate calibration for LCD, CRT and laptop displays
• Automated and incredibly easy to use
• Small and compact, the size of a small marker pen
• Continual ambient light measurement and adjustment
• Connects via USB port for plug and play functionality
• Winner of DIMA ‘Best in show’ and TIPA ‘Best imaging peripheral’ awards

PANTONE hueyPRO – Enhanced calibration for multiple monitors
The PANTONE hueyPRO allows you to take quick, easy and accurate monitor calibration to the next level. (The difference between the huey and hueyPro, is the software the hardware is the same for both products)

Designed for photographers, creative professionals and image enthusiasts looking to increase their colour control, the hueyPRO combines the innovative form and ease of use of the award-winning PANTONE huey with increased levels of functionality. In addition to automated calibration, the hueyPRO offers users greater control over brightness and contrast, with separate menu choices for the selection of gamma and white point settings.

Another key feature of the hueyPRO is multiple monitor support; ideal for colour professionals working with more than one display and looking to achieve colour consistency across their system. The hueyPRO retains the original huey’s ambient light measurement and adjustment feature, adapting your monitor’s settings as the room lighting changes.

The PANTONE hueyPRO boasts numerous features and functions, including:

• Definitive calibration and colour control for LCD/CRT and laptop monitors
• Automated calibration in less than 3 minutes
• Support for multiple monitors
• Select white point and gamma settings
• Customisable options for increased control of brightness and contrast
• Continual ambient light measurement and adjustment

PANTONE huey and PhotoTune Software Bundle – A colour accurate screen for accurate colour corrections
Before you colour correct images, it’s essential to make sure your monitor is colour accurate. With the PANTONE huey and PhotoTune Software Bundle you can do both with one user-friendly, great value package. The PANTONE huey plug and play monitor calibration solution delivers excellent results on LCD, CRT and laptop displays in as little as three minutes. Huey’s almost totally automated operation makes it easy to use even for complete newcomers to colour management, allowing anyone to get accurate on-screen colour.

PhotoTune software operates as a Photoshop or Elements plug-in, and is designed to simplify the time-consuming process of colour correction. PhotoTune 2.2 uses patented ColorTune technology and a six-step Color Wizard to guide you to accurate colour in as little as 15 seconds. At each stage of colour correction the Wizard presents you with a choice of two corrected images; simply select the one you are happiest with until you reach the final, most accurate image. PhotoTune also incorporates SkinTune technology, a skin tone correction tool ideal for photographers.

Spyder2express – Must-have monitor calibration for accurate on-screen colour
Spyder2express is an essential monitor calibration tool for photographers, designers, gamers, or anyone seeking accurate on-screen colour.

Providing quick and accurate monitor calibration, Spyder2express ensures precise and realistic on-screen colour, true-to-life flesh tones, together with flawless shadow detail and highlights.

Quick to install and easy to use, the Spyder2express’s wizard-based software guides you through the calibration process in just three simple steps. Its advanced algorithms work behind the scenes to give you the best colour experience possible.

• Spyder2express boasts numerous features and functions, including:
• Accurately colour calibrate all CRT, LCD and laptop displays
• Patent-protected light baffle for accurate characterisation of LCD displays
  Grey Balance and Tonal Response Algorithms provide smooth gradient steps and neutral greys
• Unique before-and-after viewing feature
• Free software updates
• 2 year warranty

Spyder3Pro - Fast, accurate and affordable monitor calibration
Spyder3Pro is built around the professional photographer’s workflow for fast, accurate and affordable monitor calibration. With the Spyder3Pro you can calibrate LCD/TFT, CRT and laptop monitors in just five minutes, with subsequent recalibrations taking just two and a half minutes.

Spyder3Pro boasts the industry’s first seven-detector colour engine, providing extra sensitive colour readings for greater accuracy, and offers a 400% increase in light sensitivity over the original Spyder2.

The Spyder3Pro offers a choice of sixteen white point and gamma combinations for flexible profiling to suit your needs. A built-in intelligent ambient light sensor means the Spyder3Pro can adapt to your surroundings, and the SpyderProof function offers both ‘before and after’ comparisons and soft proofing options.

The Spyder3Pro boasts numerous functions and features, including:

• Calibrate all flat panel LCD/TFT, CRT and laptop monitors
• Industry first seven-detector colour engine
• 16 white point and gamma combinations
• Built-in ambient light sensor
• 400% increase in light sensitivity over Spyder2
• SpyderProof function offers ‘before & after’ comparisons
• 2 year warranty

Spyder3Elite - Next generation monitor calibration, for colour accuracy, flexibility and affordability
Spyder3Elite takes fast, accurate affordable monitor calibration to the next level. Designed around the professional photographer’s workflow, the Spyder3Elite calibrates LCD/TFT, CRT and laptop monitors in just five minutes, with subsequent recalibrations taking just two and a half minutes.

The Spyder3Elite also features the industry’s first seven-detector colour engine, providing extra sensitive colour readings for greater accuracy, and offers a 400% increase in light sensitivity over the Spyder2.

As the Spyder3Elite allows unlimited and user defined custom gamma and temperature settings, you can create profiles to your specifications, taking colour control to a new level. The StudioMatch Assistant feature allows you to calibrate multiple displays to a single target, creating consistently accurate colour within a studio environment and the SpyderProof function offers both ‘before and after’ comparisons and soft proofing options.

The Spyder3Elite boasts numerous features and functions including:

• Calibrate all flat panel LCD, TFT, CRT and laptop monitors
• Industry first seven-detector colour engine
• 400% increase in light sensitivity over Spyder2
• Create bespoke profiles to your own specifications
• Built-in ambient light sensor
• SpyderProof function offers ‘before and after’ comparisons
• Calibrate multiple displays to a single target
• 2 year warranty

Colour Confidence Studio XR2 – The complete monitor calibration and colour management solution
The Colour Confidence Studio XR2 is an easy and versatile introduction to getting started in colour management. Ideal for digital photographers, graphic designers, and anyone for whom colour accuracy is essential.

The ‘one-box’ Colour Confidence Studio XR2 monitor calibration and colour management solution, consists of three great products:

i1Display 2 Is an award-winning monitor calibration system suitable for profiling LCD, laptop and CRT displays. The powerful i1Match software offers a choice of Easy and Advanced modes, together with multiple monitor support and adjustment for lighting conditions.

Kodak Colour Management Check Up Kit Comprises of a set of seven photographic prints and a CD containing the original files. Simply compare the prints to the on-screen view and verify that your monitor is colour correct, then print the files to check the accuracy of your printer.

Total Balance A grey card provides photographers with a neutral background to measure lighting conditions, ensuring images are correctly exposed. The Total Balance offers all the benefits of a traditional grey card in a convenient and durable foldaway package, featuring an 18% grey neutral background on one side and a white surface on the reverse.

The Studio XR2 contains the perfect combination of solutions for colour managing your entire workflow, from capture to print and offers:

• The definitive ‘one-box’ introduction to colour management
• Award winning monitor calibration with the i1Display2
• Instant colour print checking with the Kodak Check-Up Kit
• Convenient grey card checking with Total Balance
• A ‘Digital Photographer Magazine Editor’s Choice' product of the year
• 2 year hardware warranty

i1Display 2 – Affordable, accurate and consistent colour
The i1Display 2 is a powerful, professional monitor profiling solution and the key to accurate, predictable on-screen colour.

Ideal for photographers, creative directors, publishers and designers, the i1Display 2 monitor profiling solution, calibrates and profiles any flat panel LCD, CRT or laptop display. Connected and powered via any USB port, the i1Display 2 monitor calibrator, can also be used at multiple workstations with no additional licensing fee, allowing you to establish consistent colour throughout a studio.

The i1Display 2 monitor calibration solution, boasts the latest i1Match software, a simple to use interface that provides an ‘Easy Mode’ for great results with just a few clicks, plus an ‘Advanced Mode’ for experienced users to achieve the best possible monitor calibration.

The i1Display 2 offers numerous functions and features, including:

• Calibrate and profile any flat panel, LCD, CRT or Laptop display
• Built-in counterweight
• Use at unlimited workstations with the single license
• Intuitive and easy to use with built-in i1Match software
• Connect and power via a USB port
• Built-in suction cups for profiling displays with a hood
• 2 year warranty

ColorMunki Photo – Convenient, cost-effective monitor-to-print matching
ColorMunki Photo is the essential all-in-one colour control solution for photographers, combining speed, accuracy and simplicity of use. ColorMunki Photo delivers:

• Fast, accurate monitor-to-print matching
• Easy or advanced monitor profiling
• RGB and CMYK printer profiling
• Fast and accurate projector profiling
• With this convenient portable device, you can Calibrate, Capture, Communicate and
• Create anywhere:

With this convenient portable device, you can Calibrate, Capture, Communicate and Create anywhere:

• Capture colour from any surface
• Complete with ColorMunki Create software on CD
• Automatically extract colours from images
• DigitalPouch™ – automatically checks if colleagues or clients will receive images correctly
• AppSet™ - easily set printer profiles in photo and design applications

ColorMunki Photo offers photographers new levels of colour control, flexibility and versatility at superb value, while its user-friendly software which comes in the box on a CD, means even colour novices can benefit from its vast range of features. You never need to worry about colour accuracy again – now ColorMunki does that for you.

Spyder3Studio – The complete monitor calibration and printer profiling package
The Datacolor (formerly ColorVision) Spyder3Studio offers next generation monitor calibration and sophisticated printer profiling in a convenient, excellent value package. Designed around the professional photographer’s workflow, the Spyder3Elite calibrates LCD/TFT, CRT and laptop monitors in just five minutes, with subsequent recalibrations taking just two and a half minutes. The Spyder3Elite also features the industry’s first seven-detector colour engine, providing extra sensitive colour readings for greater accuracy, and offers a 400% increase in light sensitivity over the Spyder2. Key features include unlimited and user defined custom gamma and temperature settings, StudioMatch Assistant for multiple monitor calibration, ‘before and after’ comparisons with SpyderProof and built-in ambient light measurement.

Spyder3Print is a user-friendly printer profiling system that allows you to create custom colour or black and white ICC profiles to suit your printer’s capabilities and your media selections. Using the Datacolor 1005™ spectrocolorimeter and easy to use Spyder3Print software, it produces quick, accurate results and helps you create gallery quality prints and produce images correctly first time, saving both time and money.

Colour Management Aids

Kodak Colour Management Check Up Kit

From screen to processing to print – Be confident colours match
Profiling your monitor and configuring colour management settings is only half the battle. How do you know your screen is really colour correct? The Kodak Color Management Check-Up Kit is a quick, easy way to verify that your monitor is displaying colour correctly, and can also help you spot colour drift problems with a monitor or printer. Ideal as a complementary purchase with a monitor calibration system, or if you already own one and are seeking total confidence in your colour.

Brian

Thanks for that Brian, presumably the bulk of text is sourced from the manufacturers websites or material?

It is pretty evident here we all have different settings on our monitors to suit tastes I'd guess, and of course resolutions are different and indeed the ability of the monitors to display well in the first place.

Would I be right to think once you set up your monitor apart from maybe checking calibration every few weeks or months the device pretty much sits in the drawer?

BC

I think with the Huey it sits in a cradle next to your monitor connected to your computer and monitors the ambient light and adjust the screento match.

Don't know about the others.

I have a Spyder but I ahve been thinking of getting the Huey as it is on special offer at Park Cameras.

Steve

Sounds pretty interesting! May look into something like this at some point, as I find things never look quite the same on the PC as they do in print or on the camera!

xx

Having spent the morning looking at reviews, the two that have the best reviews taking into account the cheapest to the dearest price are:

• Huey Pro; price ranges from about £85 upwards, if you have a Huey all you have to do is upgrade the software which costs £35.70 from Pantone
• ColorMunki Photo; received the best reviews out of all those that I posted, calibrates monitors, printers and projectors. Best price is £284.26 delivered from software4education

Brian

PS Off to upgrade my Huey, or do I go for the ColorMunki?

The spyder2express is pretty inexpensive and does a reasonably good job.

You can also try to calibrate your monitor by eye, although I wouldn't recommend it on a pc (it's a bit easier on Macs).

How much is the Huey Steve?

At Park Cameras at the moment it is £84.99

http://www.parkcameras.com/7109/Huey-Pantone-Pro.html

Steve

Thanks Steve. I quite like that ColorMunki one that Brian posted about too