Comments on: Monitors and Calibration Systems for Digital Photography http://thelightroomlab.com/2009/01/monitors-and-calibration-systems-for-photography/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=monitors-and-calibration-systems-for-photography TheLightroomLab.com is for professional and amateur photographers who use Adobe Photoshop Lightroom as part of their digital workflow. We have tips, tricks, tutorials, videos, news, and more. Wed, 16 May 2012 22:33:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: David Marxhttp://thelightroomlab.com/2009/01/monitors-and-calibration-systems-for-photography/comment-page-1/#comment-458110 David Marx Wed, 16 May 2012 22:33:20 +0000 http://thelightroomlab.com/?p=1581#comment-458110 Dear Sheila Devlin, It's hard to answer this question without actually playing with your monitor. Here are a couple of things that you might try: 1. Make sure that you have not turned down the screen brightness using your operating system controls. 2. In the Dell Monitor OSD menu there is a "reset to factory settings" option. Try resetting and then recalibrating. 3. I have found that if you use the custom color controls on these dell's that you are altering both the color and the brightness of the display. You might try adjusting all three custom color settings up higher and see if this brings the brightness back up. It is possible that the screen is just getting old and loosing some of its luminance but I would like to think that this monitor is still working fine. Mine is and I have had it for about five years. But again I can't make that statement with any certainty without actually going to your house and messing around with all of the monitor's buttons! -- David Marx Dear Sheila Devlin,

It’s hard to answer this question without actually playing with your monitor. Here are a couple of things that you might try:

1. Make sure that you have not turned down the screen brightness using your operating system controls.
2. In the Dell Monitor OSD menu there is a “reset to factory settings” option. Try resetting and then recalibrating.
3. I have found that if you use the custom color controls on these dell’s that you are altering both the color and the brightness of the display. You might try adjusting all three custom color settings up higher and see if this brings the brightness back up.

It is possible that the screen is just getting old and loosing some of its luminance but I would like to think that this monitor is still working fine. Mine is and I have had it for about five years. But again I can’t make that statement with any certainty without actually going to your house and messing around with all of the monitor’s buttons!

–
David Marx

]]> By: Sheilahttp://thelightroomlab.com/2009/01/monitors-and-calibration-systems-for-photography/comment-page-1/#comment-457460 Sheila Tue, 15 May 2012 08:35:55 +0000 http://thelightroomlab.com/?p=1581#comment-457460 Hi David. Having followed your advice three years ago I bought a Dell Ultrasharp Flatscreen Monitor and have been using it successfully with an Eye One display 2 calibration device.Recently I upgraded the software and again both the monitor and calibration device have been working well.In the last month though when I have tried to calibrate the monitor everything works except the brightness.I cannot seem to achieve the required level even when the brightness of the monitor is at 100%.I have checked that the Eye one is working (which it says it is) and the computer says the monitor is working.Is this a sign that the monitor is about to pack up?I am not sure what the lifespan of these monitors are these days. Hi David.
Having followed your advice three years ago I bought a Dell Ultrasharp Flatscreen Monitor and have been using it successfully with an Eye One display 2 calibration device.Recently I upgraded the software and again both the monitor and calibration device have been working well.In the last month though when I have tried to calibrate the monitor everything works except the brightness.I cannot seem to achieve the required level even when the brightness of the monitor is at 100%.I have checked that the Eye one is working (which it says it is) and the computer says the monitor is working.Is this a sign that the monitor is about to pack up?I am not sure what the lifespan of these monitors are these days.

]]> By: David Marxhttp://thelightroomlab.com/2009/01/monitors-and-calibration-systems-for-photography/comment-page-1/#comment-412028 David Marx Thu, 23 Feb 2012 17:11:43 +0000 http://thelightroomlab.com/?p=1581#comment-412028 Dear Kathi Taylor, Printing is hard. It's a frustrating, expensive, messy process and calibrating the monitor is just one of the many variables. Everything you say about your monitor calibration sounds good. The next variable in the chain is the quality of the color profile that you are using and ultimately the consistency of your lab. See Andrew Rodney's excellent article on <a href="http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/why_are_my_prints_too_dark.shtml" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">"Why are my Prints too Dark?"</a> -- David Marx Dear Kathi Taylor,

Printing is hard. It’s a frustrating, expensive, messy process and calibrating the monitor is just one of the many variables. Everything you say about your monitor calibration sounds good. The next variable in the chain is the quality of the color profile that you are using and ultimately the consistency of your lab. See Andrew Rodney’s excellent article on “Why are my Prints too Dark?”

–
David Marx

]]> By: Kathi Taylorhttp://thelightroomlab.com/2009/01/monitors-and-calibration-systems-for-photography/comment-page-1/#comment-411593 Kathi Taylor Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:22:49 +0000 http://thelightroomlab.com/?p=1581#comment-411593 Hi David, I have been following your advice on monitor calibration, and am still getting photos that are darker than my prints from lab. I have a Dell 2208, LCD, and white point at 6500, 2.2 gamma and lum at 120 calibrated with i-2 display. So what do I do, everything is set srgb, how do I compensate for dark photos? Could this be a monitor issue, I mainly edit photos at night. I also read where another lightroom lab suggested to make four virtual copies in lightroom, a just sliders with different degrees of brightness, send to lab and find the sweet spot which is what I am in the process of doing right now. Big issue with LCDs and trying to get photos to match monitor! Help! Hi David, I have been following your advice on monitor calibration, and am still getting photos that are darker than my prints from lab. I have a Dell 2208, LCD, and white point at 6500, 2.2 gamma and lum at 120 calibrated with i-2 display. So what do I do, everything is set srgb, how do I compensate for dark photos? Could this be a monitor issue, I mainly edit photos at night. I also read where another lightroom lab suggested to make four virtual copies in lightroom, a just sliders with different degrees of brightness, send to lab and find the sweet spot which is what I am in the process of doing right now. Big issue with LCDs and trying to get photos to match monitor! Help!

]]> By: Harryhttp://thelightroomlab.com/2009/01/monitors-and-calibration-systems-for-photography/comment-page-1/#comment-127502 Harry Wed, 02 Mar 2011 12:28:46 +0000 http://thelightroomlab.com/?p=1581#comment-127502 David, what about the Eizo S2433 monitor. Is that better then the U2410 from Dell. Difference between CG and the S versions is the hardware calibration at the SC series. The SC are too expensive. Harry. David,

what about the Eizo S2433 monitor. Is that better then the U2410 from Dell. Difference between CG and the S versions is the hardware calibration at the SC series. The SC are too expensive.

Harry.

]]> By: KariKarahttp://thelightroomlab.com/2009/01/monitors-and-calibration-systems-for-photography/comment-page-1/#comment-79583 KariKara Tue, 14 Dec 2010 11:59:37 +0000 http://thelightroomlab.com/?p=1581#comment-79583 Hi. Has anyone encountered problems with the Eye 1 Display 2? I just bought one and installed the software that came with it, and as soon as I try to open it crashes. I've googled around, and found out that I'm not the only one having this problem. I'm using a 27" iMac, and I understand it's some kind of Snow Leopard OS issues, if someone in this good community has some answers, please let me know. Kari. Hi.
Has anyone encountered problems with the Eye 1 Display 2? I just bought one and installed the software that came with it, and as soon as I try to open it crashes. I’ve googled around, and found out that I’m not the only one having this problem. I’m using a 27″ iMac, and I understand it’s some kind of Snow Leopard OS issues, if someone in this good community has some answers, please let me know.

Kari.

]]> By: davemhttp://thelightroomlab.com/2009/01/monitors-and-calibration-systems-for-photography/comment-page-1/#comment-64602 davem Tue, 16 Nov 2010 03:07:47 +0000 http://thelightroomlab.com/?p=1581#comment-64602 Dear Miguel Bosch, I do indeed backup my computer's internal drive. I backup my startup disk to an external drive and I also backup my most important files online! I recommend <a href="http://thelightroomlab.com/2010/03/backing-up-windows-computers-using-acronis-true-image/" rel="nofollow">Acronis True Image Home</a> for backing up Windows computers. Mac users can easily backup their internal disk with a dedicated hard drive, or disk partition, and Apple's TimeMachine software. Personally, I prefer <a href="http://thelightroomlab.com/2010/03/backing-up-a-mac-with-carbon-copy-cloner/" rel="nofollow">Carbon Copy Cloner</a> though. I think that both Apple and Microsoft deserve some credit for integrating backup utilities into their operating systems. Windows 7's backup utility and Apple's TimeMachine utility are adequate but neither program is as full-featured as Acronis or Carbon Copy Cloner. Carbon Copy backups, for example, are bootable should your internal disk completely fail. Acronis is so elegant that it can even turn your computer off when its done backing everything up! The important part though is not the software but the results. Every hard drive will eventually fail so back it all up! -- David Marx Dear Miguel Bosch,

I do indeed backup my computer’s internal drive. I backup my startup disk to an external drive and I also backup my most important files online! I recommend Acronis True Image Home for backing up Windows computers. Mac users can easily backup their internal disk with a dedicated hard drive, or disk partition, and Apple’s TimeMachine software. Personally, I prefer Carbon Copy Cloner though.

I think that both Apple and Microsoft deserve some credit for integrating backup utilities into their operating systems. Windows 7′s backup utility and Apple’s TimeMachine utility are adequate but neither program is as full-featured as Acronis or Carbon Copy Cloner. Carbon Copy backups, for example, are bootable should your internal disk completely fail. Acronis is so elegant that it can even turn your computer off when its done backing everything up!

The important part though is not the software but the results. Every hard drive will eventually fail so back it all up!

–
David Marx

]]> By: Miguel Boschhttp://thelightroomlab.com/2009/01/monitors-and-calibration-systems-for-photography/comment-page-1/#comment-63826 Miguel Bosch Sun, 14 Nov 2010 00:38:31 +0000 http://thelightroomlab.com/?p=1581#comment-63826 You mentioned how you back up, your external hard disk, do you have to do something similar with your computers or your file organization is also residing in the external disks You mentioned how you back up, your external hard disk, do you have to do something similar with your computers or your file organization is also residing in the external disks

]]> By: davemhttp://thelightroomlab.com/2009/01/monitors-and-calibration-systems-for-photography/comment-page-1/#comment-55457 davem Wed, 27 Oct 2010 18:02:57 +0000 http://thelightroomlab.com/?p=1581#comment-55457 Dear Tyler, I think that you get what you pay for! The Dell U2410 is the lowest priced wide-gamut monitor on the market. It's not the best but it is less expensive then its competitors. If I had the money right now I would probably shop for either a <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/597857-REG/NEC_LCD2690WUXI2_BK_MultiSync_2690WUXi2_25_5_Widescreen.html/bi/2798/kbid/3723" rel="nofollow">NEC MultiSynch 2690WUXi2</a> or a <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/542185-REG/LaCie_130778_324_24_Widescreen_LCD.html/bi/2798/kbid/3723" rel="nofollow">LaCie 324 Widescreen LDC Monitor.</a> Both of these monitors offer their own calibration systems too which is very convenient although I would probably spend my money on a<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00169N0BK?ie=UTF8&tag=lrlab-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00169N0BK" rel="nofollow"> X-rite ColorMunki</a> instead. -- David Marx Dear Tyler,

I think that you get what you pay for! The Dell U2410 is the lowest priced wide-gamut monitor on the market. It’s not the best but it is less expensive then its competitors. If I had the money right now I would probably shop for either a NEC MultiSynch 2690WUXi2 or a LaCie 324 Widescreen LDC Monitor. Both of these monitors offer their own calibration systems too which is very convenient although I would probably spend my money on a X-rite ColorMunki instead.

–
David Marx

]]> By: Tylerhttp://thelightroomlab.com/2009/01/monitors-and-calibration-systems-for-photography/comment-page-1/#comment-51938 Tyler Fri, 22 Oct 2010 17:18:38 +0000 http://thelightroomlab.com/?p=1581#comment-51938 David, I absolutely love how dedicated you are to this post and helping other photographers and designers find info on the best displays for them. It's really wonderful! I worry about the other reviews on seen on Amazon.com and CNET about these monitors because they were quite negative. Especially the color calibration and pink or green tinting in the corners or edges of the screen for the U2410. I'm just afraid of getting a lemon of a display. David,

I absolutely love how dedicated you are to this post and helping other photographers and designers find info on the best displays for them. It’s really wonderful!

I worry about the other reviews on seen on Amazon.com and CNET about these monitors because they were quite negative. Especially the color calibration and pink or green tinting in the corners or edges of the screen for the U2410. I’m just afraid of getting a lemon of a display.

]]>