Screen calibration for iMac (10.6.8)

[Harry Briels]

I looked through this forum for threads regarding screen calibration, but did not find anything that I could use.
My question is: does it make sense to invest in a hardware calibration device to calibrate my iMac screen (resolution 2560 x 1440, 32 bit)?
If so what make would you recommend for my iMac?

 

[The Hat]

There’s a very good reason why you didn’t find anything on screen calibration, we do printer issues here and do them rather well, and you’re the first to request this sort of information or advice.

There are many guru’s here who know a thing or two about screen calibration so they might be able to help you, but I don’t have a need to go there myself thankfully..

 

[Harry Briels]

I have difficulty understanding why one should not expect discussions about screen color calibration in a Forum that is dealing with printing?
It is normal that one wants to have a photo coming out of the printer that reproduces what one decided to print as seen on the computer screen.
If the screen is not well color calibrated this will certainly not always be the case.

 

[3dogs]

The Hat does not calibrate, he has his output colour sorted.
But there ARE indeed GURUs who will respond to your question. I calibrate, screen and printer - monthly, but then I run an EIZO and Win7. Cant help with iMac.

Cheers

Andrew

 

[The Hat]

The reason why I don’t need my monitors calibrated is simple, I don’t alter any photos before printing, and what I shoot is what I print, the other reason is my screens are self calibrating !.

Any of the gismo’s on the market that calibrate monitor screens can well cope with Mac monitors, that’s my opinion on it, it’s the O/S that’s different not the monitor screens.

It is normal that one wants to have a photo coming out of the printer that reproduces what one decided to print as seen on the computer screen.

The monitor screen can’t alter the output a photo in any way, that’s usually down to the guy sitting in front of it !

 

[stratman]

Some here recommend the Spyder4Pro. Others use the Colormunki which can calibrate cameras, monitors, projectors and printers.

I have SpectraCal's Calman Enthusiast which does computer monitors and TV's. You might only want the Calman RGB and colorimeter package to calibrate your monitor. (0http://color.spectracal.com/mac-solutions.html)

 

[3dogs]

Some here recommend the Spyder4Pro. Others use the Colormunki which can calibrate cameras, monitors, projectors and printers.

I have SpectraCal's Calman Enthusiast which does computer monitors and TV's. You might only want the Calman RGB and colorimeter package to calibrate your monitor. (0http://color.spectracal.com/mac-solutions.html)

Iam thinking that the Spyder gets much bad press for being unable to spot read accuratly with the configuration of the unit itself.
There are contant gripes in other fora related to its hit and miss performance with iMac. In fact l'm not so sure the iMac calibrates all that well (based on posted complaints) but then that could easily be a user problem.

 

[stratman]

@3dogs

Tom's Hardware did a fairly thorough evaluation of both the current Spyder and the CalMAN models.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/calman-rgb-monitor-calibration,3749.html

Been using CalMAN for years. My next step up would be to get a spectrophotometer, but I seem to be doing fine with the lowly colorimeter. We will see when I start to calibrate TV's.

 

[3dogs]

For me your recomendation as a long time user carries far more weight than sellers pay for comment, Toms is a great site, they may be genuine, but the fraud sites have made me a devout sceptic on professional comment.
Cheers
Andrew

 

[stratman]

I only have PC's. No Mac products. Don't understand why the Mac would have calibration problems. Maybe others here can assist.