Calibrating????

[Matt K.]

Well, I tried the Pantone HUEY ... not very impressed. Does not allow you much for control at all. I wonder if someone could enlighten me on the other products out there. I am eyeing the Spider 3 Pro. Would there be a need to go to the Elite? And if so, why? What about other software/hardware? If on a budget, will it suffice, or will I run into the same issue I had with the HUEY?

[JAS_Photo]

I just have my laptop, one monitor to calibrate so I use the Spyder3 Express
Spyder3Express - Datacolor - Global Leader in Color Management Solutions

There is also the Spyder3Pro - Datacolor - Global Leader in Color Management Solutions

and the Datacolor - Global Leader in Color Management Solutions

but I am told they all use the same calibrator, it is just the software that is different.

Also the pro and elite give more control, but since I am only using the one laptop with one monitor, I think it is good enough. Having that colour profile though has done wonders for my prints. My prints look like my screen and I don't sit there with a print and a screen shot that look totally different anymore.


Marko did a podcast on the colormunki awhile back if you want to check that out as well.

[Mad Aussie]

I have the Spyder Pro 3 and use twin monitors ... and Leanne has a laptop with an extra monitor attached to that. We find the Spyder Pro3 very sufficient

[Matt K.]

thanks, you two ... I think I will venture out into consumer land and find me a spider 3 pro. Had Casil not said anything I would have never thunk to buy one ...

[casil403]

I bought the Pro3 at The Camera Store Matt. I choked at the cost originally as it cost me just under $200. However after using it for a coupla weeks, I now think it was work the bucks as I have noticed the quality of my photos has definitely gone up a level in terms of getting the colour and exposure right in post.
It is amazing really.

[Marko]

I tested the colormunki and the i1 last year. BOTH rock but the edge (and pricetag) goes to the i1. colormunki at B&H is about 450.USD I was very satisfied with the results I got from the colormunki last year. Very easy to use.

[F8&Bthere]

I'm not sure how much control you need, but I bought a Huey off eBay for $75 and I use it on my Dell Ultrasharp 2009WA eIPS monitor and I just let it run a calibration without needing to do any tweaks really and I've been happy with the results. I know it's not the best that's out there, but I did notice an improvement over the uncalibrated monitor. I was like you I guess, not wanting to spend $200+ on a calibrator...at least not at this point.

[Matt K.]

I'm not sure how much control you need, but I bought a Huey off eBay for $75 and I use it on my Dell Ultrasharp 2009WA eIPS monitor and I just let it run a calibration without needing to do any tweaks really and I've been happy with the results. I know it's not the best that's out there, but I did notice an improvement over the uncalibrated monitor. I was like you I guess, not wanting to spend $200+ on a calibrator...at least not at this point.

I seem to be learning the hard way here ... it's like buying a tripod: you can spend 50 buicks four times, because the damn thing won't work or will break, or you can spend the 500 bucks and buy the one that will do everything you need it to do and not break down. So I am going to spend some money on this thing, but not go crazy either....