Spyder 3 Express Monitor Calibration

[Bobby Kintanar]

Hello, I just aquired a Spyder 3 Express Monitor Calibration tool and here are the effects of the calibration.

Photo 1 was uploaded to Flickr on November 13, 2010. I had not yet purchased the Calibration Tool at that time:



Photo 2 was uploaded today after I calibrated my monitor:



It's clear that the 1st photo is a bit too warm, while the 2nd photo achieves a nearer-to-white result.

I did not boost any color or adjust sharpening in the 2nd photo.

What do you see in your monitor please?

[Clemn A. Macasiano Jr.]

Bob, thats the way to go ! Now you hit the right WB. White feahter is white on my monitor calibrated with Spyder 3 Elite.

[Bobby Kintanar]

Thanks Doc! Great to hear that! :-)

[Eric Patdu]

To my uncalibrated monitor, the feather colors of the second photo looks white. I guess, I have to buy one too.

[Romy Ocon]

The first one is a bit on the warm side, but Pogito and I prefer it over the second one, which has a blue cast on the lit whites. Even the black tarsi and bill of the second one is biased towards blue.

Pogito can see the second pic's blue cast on the whites and blacks on my LCD, while I cheat and use the eye dropper tool of PS to see the R-G-B numbers. Here's the histogram of the lit whites, showing the bias towards blue. If you check the R-G-B numbers of the shaded whites in the second pic, they're also biased towards blue. RGB numbers don't lie, even if one is color-blind and/or has an uncalibrated monitor.



Ideally for my taste, I'd reduce a bit the color temp of the first one, albeit its WB is already acceptable to my eyes. Many nature photographers tend to err on the warm side when setting WB, as that yields more pleasing colors than erring on the cold side.


If you wish to check the calibration of your LCD, it's best to look at standard targets (ex. GretagMacbeth Color checker) rather than at photos with many variables (egrets can have feathers that might not be neutral white).

[Bobby Kintanar]

If you wish to check the calibration of your LCD, it's best to look at standard targets (ex. GretagMacbeth Color checker) rather than at photos with many variables (egrets can have feathers that might not be neutral white).

Alright Ka Mastah, got it! :-) My PP Sofware (Paintshop Pro X2) does not have the sophistication of Photoshop in determining R-G-B Numbers, it does have a simple color histogram that may do the job. It's all I can afford for now (Photoshop costs 800+ USD), but I will try to adjust my PP some more. Little by little does it. :-)

[Bobby Kintanar]

I used the Color Histogram to check the blue bias on the photo and equalized it's level with the R ang G Channels using the "Color Balance" Tool and came up with this image:



On my supposedly "calibrated monitor" it now seems just a wee bit on the warm side - the whites are not really whites. I also noticed, using the histogram, that brightness was a bit low, so I adjusted that too. Is this okay?

[mantarey]

This one looks a lot better in my uncalibrated monitor Bobby, a little hottish on the crown but it could just be on my monitor.

[Romy Ocon]

Nov 26, 2010 13:05:22 GMT Bobby Kintanar said:

I used the Color Histogram to check the blue bias on the photo and equalized it's level with the R ang G Channels using the "Color Balance" Tool and came up with this image:



On my supposedly "calibrated monitor" it now seems just a wee bit on the warm side - the whites are not really whites. I also noticed, using the histogram, that brightness was a bit low, so I adjusted that too. Is this okay?

This version's WB looks spot on now as far as my taste is concerned Bobby!

The levels look great for a print (passive lighting). For web display (backlit), I might try adding some blacks to make the colors richer. Here's a version where I added some blacks via a quick levels adjustment in PS (15, 1.0, 255). See if you prefer the richer colors.

[Bobby Kintanar]

Alight! Yes, thanks for the advice and the tip Ka Mastah! Bobby is happy now! :-)