Re: monitor choice/calibration system
Re: monitor choice/calibration system
- Subject: Re: monitor choice/calibration system
- From: email@hidden
- Date: Thu, 07 Aug 2003 00:54:51 -0400
Sharon,
Get the calibrator first.
Reliable sources recommend the basICColor squid package - software and
monitor calibrator for LCD / CRT monitors about $200
or basICColor Chroma Bundle (CRT) About $160.
Most calibrators will indicate if you monitor is not bright enough and
if that is the case you know to get a new monitor.
I personally like the LCD monitors, but many people are sceptic if they
can be trusted for critical work. I find that they show more accurately
what is in the darker parts of the images. In CRT's I like the flat
screens - less distortion and less reflections.
It should be mentioned that besides the quality of the monitor the
lighting conditions are important. The room should not be dark, but
ideally dark in front of the monitor to minimize reflections and dont
wear your pink t-shirt when doing color corrections. Light sources in
you peripheral vision is also influential so avoid lots of light from
regular light-bulbs that are inherently warm and fluorescent is a color
killer. Unless they have been replaced with Macbeth 5000K bulbs.
Surprisingly many people that have complained about their monitors
being dark have not cleaned them regularly. Dust is attracted and forms
an ND filter on your CRT.
Even so what you see on the screen is video and it never looks like the
print except when you've gained enough experience for your minds eye to
start to anticipate and predict what will happen. The view / proof
colors command with simulate paper white etc in the set-up. in
Photoshop is a way to try to predict what will happen with 4/c printing
and a rude awakening as well.
....but unless you are going to 4/c printing often and want to get
into calibrating your monitor and learning quite a lot about the whole
process, my advice would be to make a nice print on say an Epson that
you are comfortable with and give that print with the RGB file and ask
them to try to match it. Printers charge for the work of matching, but
you will end up with multiple proofs if you do it yourself and the
associated cost before you like it, which is pertinent if you do want
to learn how to do it.
Ulf
- Given my situation, should I put most of the money into the monitor,
or
should I split it between monitor & calibration system? (Will the
calibration system be part of the solution even with printers who
don't get
profiles?)
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