MicrostockGroup Sponsors


Author Topic: Monitor Calibration for Stock Photos  (Read 25218 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

« Reply #25 on: December 03, 2009, 14:18 »
0
The first time that you a get a rejection from IS for "file has been altered too far from it's original appearance" you will appricate that they can tell.

Another example; I shot a test with a young African-American model.
I shoot raw and place a WhiBal card in the first frame.
The shots I sent her were dead on accurate, but she was unhappy with her skin tones.
She thought I made her look like an 'orange moon'.

Why? Because she does not have a calibrated monitor.
So on her screen she looked too orange.

This is the reason that color science exits and why calibrating to a known standard is essisential for consistency.

No one cares if the grass in your shots is a little too blue or too yellow... Unless the person buying the shot is in the grass seed business.
The same applies to many fields in science and industry. Accurate color matters.

And as in my example above, certain ethnic groups are very aware of how their skin tones are represented. 

Skin tones is the one place I see as needing some control, because we all have an idea what skin should look like :)  no matter where it was shot, or under what light.

Can I calibrate (adjust) a common monitor, or is it only possible with high end breads ?
My monitors have some control over brightness, contrast, gamma and colour, but is it enough for an exact setup ?? 



« Reply #26 on: December 03, 2009, 14:46 »
0
Virtually any monitor can be calibrated.
The hardware/ software calibration solutions will adjust the response curve of your graphics card to acheive calibration.

High end graphics monitors have built in look- up tables (LUT) and can be calibrated independantly from the graphics card in the computer.

 Supposidly the latter is the superior method, though I have seen reviews saying that calibrating the graphics card instead provided better results.

« Reply #27 on: December 03, 2009, 19:15 »
0
For those of you that don't think that calibration is important, please look at this link. In order to calibrate your monitor properly, you need to take the subjective human element out of the equation.

You need hardware to "view" the colors that your monitor displays compared to what it should be displaying and adjust your graphics card accordingly.

I had always thought that my monitors looked great until I bought a Spyder (a Huey or other tool will work, too) and saw what it should look like. Before buying the Spyder, I had tried all of those online "calibration screens" and it was still wrong. Only hardware, not humans, can calibrate your monitor.

lisafx

« Reply #28 on: December 03, 2009, 19:21 »
0

I had always thought that my monitors looked great until I bought a Spyder (a Huey or other tool will work, too) and saw what it should look like. Before buying the Spyder, I had tried all of those online "calibration screens" and it was still wrong. Only hardware, not humans, can calibrate your monitor.

Agreed.  Hardware is the best answer, but most hardware calibrators still require you to set your contrast, brightness, etc. 

FWIW I have owned three generations of Spyders and all of them managed to give me weird color casts.  The Huey gets it right every time. 

« Reply #29 on: December 03, 2009, 23:38 »
0
My Spyder 2 Express just tells me reset the monitor to factory specs (I think...) before I start. The Huey seems like a good solution.

eyeCatchLight

  • Imagination is more important than knowledge.
« Reply #30 on: December 04, 2009, 00:20 »
0
monitor calibrators are not that expensive...if you buy a spyder2 express its about 70 or 80$... and then you can use the coloreyes display pro demo version, it works very well. the spyder2 is maybe not the best...but if you want to save money it is ok in terms of the results. (don't use that express software though, for me it was a disaster...)

eyeCatchLight

  • Imagination is more important than knowledge.
« Reply #31 on: December 04, 2009, 00:22 »
0
yeah... i am doing that, remember the other thread about monitors... i ordered the 245T, but it is backordered everywhere and i still haven't received it  >:(

Oh yes, I do remember.  You definitely made the right choice.  Too bad so many others did the same thing.  Hope you get it soon. Maybe in time for Christmas? :D

hehe finally i ordered it on ebay today  ;D.
all other companies have it backordered not earlier than january!! how can it be  ???
the guy on ebay is an Austrian photographer living in NYC, me Austrian living in Montreal, that's the best about it hehehe.

Guys calibrate your monitors, it is essential, there is no doubt about it. it doesnt have to be expensive. you can even borrow a calibrator from someone else from time to time or share expenses with someone or join a photo club and use theirs or whatever. but do it.

« Reply #32 on: December 04, 2009, 05:22 »
0
FWIW I have owned three generations of Spyders and all of them managed to give me weird color casts. 

That's not a very good argument for buying a calibrator !! 

If u can't even trust them, what's the point !?   May as well eye it surely !?

« Reply #33 on: December 04, 2009, 05:29 »
0
For those of you that don't think that calibration is important, please look at this link. In order to calibrate your monitor properly, you need to take the subjective human element out of the equation.


Followed the LINK, it took me to an ad for a Spyder3  !?  what was your point ??


They will tell me to calibrate I'm sure, but then they are trying to sell a calibrator, aren't they !?

RT


« Reply #34 on: December 04, 2009, 05:53 »
0
Personally I think some people try to get too technical about monitor calibration, if you intend to print your shots then it is essential to calibrate your monitor in association with your printer, but as this thread is titled 'Monitor calibration for Stock photos' the easiest and cheapest (free to be exact) way to do it is this:

Take a shot of a popular subject and upload it to any agency, then go to that agency and do a search so that your image shows up amongst many similar others, if your colours look OK you're done, if not adjust your monitor.


« Reply #35 on: December 04, 2009, 06:06 »
0
Personally I think some people try to get too technical about monitor calibration, if you intend to print your shots then it is essential to calibrate your monitor in association with your printer, but as this thread is titled 'Monitor calibration for Stock photos' the easiest and cheapest (free to be exact) way to do it is this:

Take a shot of a popular subject and upload it to any agency, then go to that agency and do a search so that your image shows up amongst many similar others, if your colours look OK you're done, if not adjust your monitor.

Nice one !!  ;-)  A man after my own heart :-)

I'm new to this game and one of those Spyder thingies costs more than I am likely to earn in the next 10 yrs !!  :)  Think I might try your idea.

« Reply #36 on: December 04, 2009, 12:15 »
0
Personally I think some people try to get too technical about monitor calibration, if you intend to print your shots then it is essential to calibrate your monitor in association with your printer, but as this thread is titled 'Monitor calibration for Stock photos' the easiest and cheapest (free to be exact) way to do it is this:

Take a shot of a popular subject and upload it to any agency, then go to that agency and do a search so that your image shows up amongst many similar others, if your colours look OK you're done, if not adjust your monitor.



Tell the truth, Richard.
I'll bet you have the entire X-Rite color management suite ;) 

RT


« Reply #37 on: December 04, 2009, 13:03 »
0
Tell the truth, Richard.
I'll bet you have the entire X-Rite color management suite ;) 

Haha, not quite but yes I do have an expensive piece of plastic that I can hang over the screen that I've had a while.

When I switched over to a Mac I rang a company who specialises in nothing but colour profiling, because I'm a technical idiot and didn't know whether there was a difference between Mac and Windows monitor calibration. Now bear in mind that this guy could have sold me the top of the range thingy because I'd have believed anything they told me (poetic license I'm not actually that thick technically) but he ended up selling me absolutely nothing despite me willing to hand over wads of cash. The reason is he asked me what I did, when I told him he explained that I'd be wasting my money because unless every other single person that will be viewing my photos via the agencies has the exact same set up as me, the same room layout and lighting as me (which incidentally should be a room with no windows and black or grey walls) then calibrating my monitor to the extreme would be utterly pointless because every one else will see a different profile on their monitors, he then explained to calibrate it to my set up using my old spyder and mentioned the tip I gave above.

In short he explained monitor calibration is important for printing from your monitor onto your printer, anything after this is pointless unless the other person has the exact same set up.

On a side note - I can't remember the last time I printed a photo, if I want a print I send the file to a lab (who's monitors are in a windowless room!) and they check, adjust if needed and send the print back within 24hrs for a fraction of how much I used to pay for ink and paper let alone the time involved, I know some people enjoy the whole printing process but not me.


« Reply #38 on: December 04, 2009, 14:06 »
0
Well there's a revelation !!  8-)

I think the phrase :
'calibrating my monitor to the extreme would be utterly pointless because every one else will see a different profile on their monitors'
is the crux of the matter and takes us back to where we started I think !! ;-)


Quote:  
Take a shot of a popular subject and upload it to any agency, then go to that agency and do a search so that your image shows up amongst many similar others, if your colours look OK you're done, if not adjust your monitor.

Only problem with this is has everyone else done the same !?  in which case I'm no better off ! ;-)  Maybe I should compare with yours ??  But then maybe not, if u don't bother any more :)

I think 'lisafx' summed it up nicely :  FWIW I have owned three generations of Spyders and all of them managed to give me weird color casts.

Think I'll live with my rough and ready manual methods for now :-)
« Last Edit: December 04, 2009, 14:46 by Stu »

RT


« Reply #39 on: December 04, 2009, 14:49 »
0
Only problem with this is has everyone else done the same !?  in which case I'm no better off ! ;-)  Maybe I should compare with yours ??  But then maybe not, if u don't bother any more :)

My monitor is calibrated but just not to the extreme that some people would make you believe you need to, I calibrated mine to my settings so that my images appear the way I want them to appear when I view them on an agency site, I shoot a fair amount of people and if I were to check a similar shot I can guarantee you that some would look the same as mine and others slightly different, the important part is that yours don't appear 'odd'. Some people like their skin tones to have a slightly yellow caste, others opt for a cooler tone.

I had a look at your portfolio and will send you a PM

« Reply #40 on: December 04, 2009, 16:26 »
0
RT wrote:

Take a shot of a popular subject and upload it to any agency, then go to that agency and do a search so that your image shows up amongst many similar others, if your colours look OK you're done, if not adjust your monitor.

You are right . . .  after getting the calibration reasonable corrected.  What drives me crazy is that each site presents the images a little different.  It seems to me that images on SS have slightly more contrast then IS,  and DT kicks up the sharpening which brightens the image . . . .  or am I seeing things?

E

lisafx

« Reply #41 on: December 04, 2009, 19:16 »
0
FWIW I have owned three generations of Spyders and all of them managed to give me weird color casts.  

That's not a very good argument for buying a calibrator !!  

If u can't even trust them, what's the point !?   May as well eye it surely !?


Well, fortunately it is only the Spyder line that I had problems with.  Although others seem to like them.  

The Huey is cheap ($69), accurate, and so easy a monkey (or me) can use it with great results :)

FWIW it has made a difference in my results.  Not just printing, but I had some rejections for color casts and I don't get those anymore.
« Last Edit: December 04, 2009, 19:21 by lisafx »

« Reply #42 on: December 05, 2009, 06:09 »
0
Interesting thread and great to hear everyones' views on this as I've been umming and ahhing about buying a calibration device for months.

I use a LaCie 22" CRT monitor 'calibrated' by the Mark 1 eyeball. When I recently had to replace the monitor (with an identical model bought for pennies off eBay) it needed adjusting but I just used my existing portfolio as the reference.

From a business point of view I'm struggling to justify the costs as I can't see how they would be recovered (through additional sales) as in 5 years I don't think I've ever had a rejection for dodgy colours or anything similar. Having said that, from a business perspective, the cost is minuscule in comparison to earnings and surely it is 'unprofessional' to have an uncalibrated monitor when you earn your income from photography?

Up to now I've been using RT's method of simply assessing how my own images appear when displayed alongside those of others' on each agency and that seems to have worked fine so far. When I'm away from home and/or using other displays to view my portfolio then I'm generally happy about how they appear (making allowances for some of the horrendous monitors you can get in internet cafes).

To be honest if I used a calibration device and it changed the way my images appeared compared to others then I'm sure I would trust my own judgement more than that of the device.

Regarding the Spyder/Huey debate, on Amazon UK the Spyder scores significantly higher than the Huey with a similar number of reviews __ but again I would personally value Lisa's experience, in doing what we do, far more than that of the unknown reviewers.

« Reply #43 on: December 05, 2009, 13:01 »
0
Whatever we say about calibration, it does not seem that IS thinks it is important.
Example:

Left is IS, right - DT (and this way it looks on all other sites)

RacePhoto

« Reply #44 on: December 05, 2009, 22:05 »
0
I'm with Lisa. It works, it's good, reasonable price, it isn't complicated.

Bought one Huey pro two years ago and it works. Same as the look see or the compare or fly it by eye, but for the $69 or whatever it was, it adjusts to room light as it changes and makes things reasonable close, which beats the look and guess method. After three monitors and looking at old pictures from before, it does make a difference. Maybe a small difference, but it's worth the investment. (still a CRT guy keep that in mind)

Other reason that people keep touching on. Even though the buyer and people looking may see what they see because their system is not calibrated, for reviews it will help, for someone using it, it will be better and if someone wants to print, it will come out correct, not all strange. Meeting standards makes things more "standard" ;)  and easier for the end user. Do you buy cheap lenses and the cheapest cards and used flashes from a bin? Why take all that effort, expensive equipment and time to make great photos and in the end, just have sloppy color correction?

Do you cook all day, making a special dinner and then serve it on paper plates with plastic forks too? :D


FWIW I have owned three generations of Spyders and all of them managed to give me weird color casts.  

That's not a very good argument for buying a calibrator !!  

If u can't even trust them, what's the point !?   May as well eye it surely !?


Well, fortunately it is only the Spyder line that I had problems with.  Although others seem to like them.  

The Huey is cheap ($69), accurate, and so easy a monkey (or me) can use it with great results :)

FWIW it has made a difference in my results.  Not just printing, but I had some rejections for color casts and I don't get those anymore.
« Last Edit: December 05, 2009, 22:09 by RacePhoto »

« Reply #45 on: December 06, 2009, 05:22 »
0
I'm with Lisa. It works, it's good, reasonable price, it isn't complicated.

Bought one Huey pro two years ago and it works. Same as the look see or the compare or fly it by eye, but for the $69 or whatever it was, it adjusts to room light as it changes and makes things reasonable close, which beats the look and guess method. After three monitors and looking at old pictures from before, it does make a difference. Maybe a small difference, but it's worth the investment. (still a CRT guy keep that in mind)

Other reason that people keep touching on. Even though the buyer and people looking may see what they see because their system is not calibrated, for reviews it will help, for someone using it, it will be better and if someone wants to print, it will come out correct, not all strange. Meeting standards makes things more "standard" ;)  and easier for the end user. Do you buy cheap lenses and the cheapest cards and used flashes from a bin? Why take all that effort, expensive equipment and time to make great photos and in the end, just have sloppy color correction?

Do you cook all day, making a special dinner and then serve it on paper plates with plastic forks too? :D


FWIW I have owned three generations of Spyders and all of them managed to give me weird color casts.  

That's not a very good argument for buying a calibrator !!  

If u can't even trust them, what's the point !?   May as well eye it surely !?


Well, fortunately it is only the Spyder line that I had problems with.  Although others seem to like them.  

The Huey is cheap ($69), accurate, and so easy a monkey (or me) can use it with great results :)

FWIW it has made a difference in my results.  Not just printing, but I had some rejections for color casts and I don't get those anymore.

I think that's a fair summing up :)

If u can afford it (and it's about 90 over here, NOT $70 !! ) then it's worthwhile, but NOT essential !!
It may help with reviews and if it adjusts to ambient light (a new one on me!) then very handy :)

If the other guys monitor is way out, then you're no better off of course.

If I find one going cheap, I'll give it a try ;-)

« Reply #46 on: December 06, 2009, 05:45 »
0
Bought one Huey pro two years ago and it works. Same as the look see or the compare or fly it by eye, but for the $69 or whatever it was, it adjusts to room light as it changes and makes things reasonable close, which beats the look and guess method. After three monitors and looking at old pictures from before, it does make a difference. Maybe a small difference, but it's worth the investment. (still a CRT guy keep that in mind)

Other reason that people keep touching on. Even though the buyer and people looking may see what they see because their system is not calibrated, for reviews it will help, for someone using it, it will be better and if someone wants to print, it will come out correct, not all strange. Meeting standards makes things more "standard" ;)  and easier for the end user. Do you buy cheap lenses and the cheapest cards and used flashes from a bin? Why take all that effort, expensive equipment and time to make great photos and in the end, just have sloppy color correction?

Do you cook all day, making a special dinner and then serve it on paper plates with plastic forks too? :D

Great post Race. You've convinced me!

« Reply #47 on: December 06, 2009, 05:51 »
0
B&H in the states do it for 45 ($76)  which is great !  BUT, they charge $107 to send to UK !!!  Ouch !!  Anyone, on the other side of the pond, want to send me one for Xmas !?  ;-) 

eyeCatchLight

  • Imagination is more important than knowledge.
« Reply #48 on: December 06, 2009, 08:36 »
0
what about ebay?
http://shop.ebay.co.uk/i.html?_nkw=huey+calibrator&_sacat=0&_trksid=p3286.m270.l1313&_odkw=huey&_osacat=0

i do go home (=austria) for christmas...i could maybe help you out.

« Reply #49 on: December 06, 2009, 08:50 »
0

Do you cook all day, making a special dinner and then serve it on paper plates with plastic forks too? :D


Love this (+ use plastic cups for wine)

PS:
People do not wary about buyers, if they are professionals they already have calibrated monitor.

Kone


 

Related Topics

  Subject / Started by Replies Last post
16 Replies
9263 Views
Last post April 13, 2007, 08:02
by leaf
7 Replies
4633 Views
Last post June 25, 2008, 23:39
by Phil
3 Replies
4021 Views
Last post June 05, 2013, 17:06
by Mantis
8 Replies
3622 Views
Last post January 31, 2015, 19:38
by Mantis
1 Replies
3856 Views
Last post March 04, 2018, 10:59
by disorderly

Sponsors

Mega Bundle of 5,900+ Professional Lightroom Presets

Microstock Poll Results

Sponsors