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A.Miguel Oliveira
Member
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# Posted: 9 Jan 08 00:39
Reply
Could anyone tell me, by your own experience, if you use (and the true added value) any monitor (and print) calibration, such as the most acclaimed Color Vision (now renamed Datacolor) Spyder3 Elite, or the cheaper Spyder2 Express or the much cheaper and simple Pantone Huey?
Another question is if you own, for photography work, a specially good Monitor (CRT or TFT) that you would highly recommend (from 22'' to 30'' range).
Finally, your own experienced recommendation for an ink-jet printer for A3 size.
Thanks to all of you who can give me this kind of advise!
Greets,
Miguel
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Bernhard
Member
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# Posted: 9 Jan 08 09:54
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Miguel, I recently bought a Spyder 2 Express for monitor calibration. I use it for my 22" Asus TFT (nothing special, TN-Panel). Handling is easy, after the calibration the software allows a comparison of the results with the former settings (by showing sample pictures).
The added value, well, I noticed that the colour temperature changed to less blue, more red. And the range of grey tones can be recognized much better.
Regards,
Bernhard
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Oscar_
Moderator
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# Posted: 9 Jan 08 10:27
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Hello Miguel,
here some interesting links about this subject. Very interesting to read.....
Regards,
Oscar
http://www.macworld.com/article/43612/2005/03/monitorcalibrator.html several equipment of color calibration
http://www.photo-i.co.uk/Reviews/Misc/Spyder3/Spyder%203.html test of the spyder 3
http://www.drycreekphoto.com/Learn/monitor_calibration_tools.htm testing some devices
http://www.easyrgb.com/ about the colors
http://www.spyder3.com/ the new spyder 3 incl a demo.
http://www.letsgodigital.org/html/review/colorvison/spyder2/colorvisio n_spyder2_en.html very good example of this product.
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Oscar_
Moderator
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# Posted: 9 Jan 08 10:41
Reply
I just saw prices of the spyder 2 here in Holland for just about 85 euro.
I think I have to buy one for myself this year......
http://www.camera.nl/view_product.php?product=907
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Rob Verwilligen
Member
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# Posted: 9 Jan 08 11:56
Reply
Hello Miguel,
I have bought Spider2Express last year after I printed a couple of pictures that ended up much darker and with a slightly different color on the print then they looked on screen. Ever since I calibrate my screen this has not happened again.
The only drawback is that whenever something changes in your screen setting you basically have to recalibrate which for instance for a laptop is not very usefull as even by only moving the screen the display wil lchange.
Having said that I feel that taking the efforts in mind that I sometimes make to shoot a picture and the time we spend post processing the time it takes to calibrate is totally justified.
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Martin de Rijk
Member
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# Posted: 9 Jan 08 16:11 - Edited by: Martin de Rijk
Reply
Hallo Miguel,
I have bought recently a very nice Samsung SyncMaster 226cw 22" TFT monitor.
The monitor comes with calibration software and has a great performance. There is a contrastratio of 3000:1 and 97% Wide Color Gamut .
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Ruden Fretsbo
Member
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# Posted: 9 Jan 08 19:35
Reply
If I had to buy now a new monitor for photo edition I would choose for shure a good CRT and not a TFT as the TFT changes the brightness of the image depending on the position from where yopu are looking. I'm very convinced about this, that nowadays a good CRT is still much better than the best TFT. Just an opinion, of course.
Parabens!
Ruden
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A.Miguel Oliveira
Member
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# Posted: 9 Jan 08 20:28
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Thank you so much for all your advise and opinions!
Thanks Bernhard, Oscar (great, so many links to study!), Rob Verwilligen, Martin and Ruden!
To Martin I'd like to ask what are the width and height of your new Samsung. As you know we can obtain a 22' diagonal with different combinations of those measures, and I think the best is the 2:3 relation, just approximately like the one from traditional pics (24X36mm).
Ruden, that's my problem! I own a very good "old" CRT, the Sony Multiscan E200 (17'), and can't find anymore a greater screen (22' minimum). I also have a laptop from HP, the (14') Pavilion dv 1664, which has a marvellous screen for its price range and dimensions. To upgrade, I've been reading normally the best suggestions from the best photo magazines I know, technically speaking, at least, (I can only read portuguese, spanish, english, french and some italian), both french: Chasseur d'Images and Réponses Photo. Particular models (it differs from model to model inside the same brand!) from Viewsonic, Nec, and Samsung (now also from HP) are among the best, though highly priced. That's why I was asking if anyone had already some experience about their results.
On the other hand, I see nobody has a special predilection for ink-jet printers A3 size! Maybe I still have the chance to read from any member later, one of these days.
Thanks to all of you again!
Greets,
Miguel
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Ruden Fretsbo
Member
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# Posted: 9 Jan 08 21:41
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Something more about the monitor... For me the size of the monitor is really not so important, if you have the possibility I would recommend you to keep your old 17' CRT as a second monitor and to buy a good CRT. I work always with two monitors, the bigger one to see the full image and the second to see all the PS commands, histogram, paintbrushes, etc... Then you don't need such a big monitor as principal... Hope you understand my english...
I bought a good Asus TFT 19' not much time ago and even if it's a good monitor I feel a little bit dissapointed when editing pictures and I regret not to buy a CRT.
Hope you find this helpul!
Ruden
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Ruud~
Member
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# Posted: 10 Jan 08 00:32 - Edited by: Ruud~
Reply
Hi Miguel,
Instead of buying a spider you cam also try calibration images like this one
http://www.normankoren.com/Gamma_black_new.png
Some LCD monitors are almost as good as CRTs, but they are really expensive! The best LCDs use PVA technology. (check Wiki on PVA MVA and the other types of LCD)
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A.Miguel Oliveira
Member
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# Posted: 10 Jan 08 01:24
Reply
Thanks again, Ruden (and to me you could have written in spanish... ;)
(I presume you made an involuntary mistake in the second line writting CRT a second time, where you meant, I presume, TFT; But I understood).
Thanks Ruud~, I'll go there!
(oh, have you seen the way the story goes?.. ;) Please see http://www.woophy.com/forum/index.phpaction=vthread&forum=4&topic=2946 &page=2
hehehe!
Well, thank you all!
P.S. Wainting for A3 printers freeks too!
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vahephoto
Member
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# Posted: 10 Jan 08 05:36
Reply
Hi Miguel,
I purchased the Epson R2400 last year and couldn't be happier. I used to own a Canon i9900, and had a lot of difficulty getting my prints to match what I had on my monitor. With the Epson, you get an ICC profile for each paper that you use, which makes sure that the printer interprets the colors correctly and adjusts them for the paper you are using. The Epson papers are also great, and come in a variety of textures. You can also print on canvas! The other advantage the Epson has over the Canon 9900 is how well black and white photos are reproduced. With the Canon, black and white prints always had a color cast (green or magenta), especially when viewed at an angle. The Epson has three black ink cartridges: photo black, light black, and light light black, which ensures that you get true black and white archival prints. You even get to change the photo black to matte black if you're using matte paper. The maximum print size is A3+, or you can have roll paper (or canvas) that is 13 inches wide by 20 feet long.
As for monitor calibration, I have a laptop with an LCD display, and the Huey has done a good job for me.
Hope this helps!
Vahe
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A.Miguel Oliveira
Member
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# Posted: 10 Jan 08 19:11
Reply
Thanks Vahephoto for your reply!!! That's the one I was thinking of... ;)
As the money is short for the DX3800... That's the one! I only wanted an opinion from the real world (you, in this case) and was not sure about its utilization to print B/W pics.
If you come across this topic again, could you tell me if you bought it through a web site or directly at a store in your own country?
Many thanks again,
greets,
Miguel
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vahephoto
Member
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# Posted: 10 Jan 08 20:26
Reply
Hi Miguel,
I bought the printer in a store in Los Angeles (Samy's Camera). I have access to several walk-in stores near me which are actually quite competitive with online stores, so I've been buying the larger items (printer, camera body, big lenses) in-store. For me, printing black and whites, especially high contrast black and whites, was crucial, and I definitely have not been disappointed. I typically use the Epson Premium Luster paper, by the way.
All the best
Vahe
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A.Miguel Oliveira
Member
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# Posted: 11 Jan 08 19:00
Reply
Thanks again, Vahe! It was helpful!
Pity the taxes I would have to pay if I imported from the US, or even better if I'd go there personally (taxes again... ;) ). Trade worldwide shoud be tottaly free of charge... (not to talk, more seriously, about the LDC's which always lose in the international trade!...).
All the best, too!
Miguel
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