LCD Monitor Calibration

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<p >I recently upgraded from a 19 inch Sony LCD to the 24 inch HP 2475 monitor that covers the Adobe 1998 color gamut. For some years I have used the Gretagmacbeth Eye One Display 2 to calibrate my monitor. The settings I have used are Brightness 140, Gamma 2.2 and Color temp 6500. My main interest is making large prints (MAC OSX 10.4, PS CS3, HP designjet 130nr printer).</p>

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<p >With the new monitor I checked into the latest suggested monitor calibration settings and found a lot of different suggestions and I am trying to find out what I should use. There appears to be a consensus on Gamma to 2.2, but not on brightness and color temp.</p>

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<p >1. Photo.Net tutorial says use brightness of 110 and color temp of 6500 or 5500 for print press work. See <a href="http://www.photo.net/learn/digital-photography-workflow/color-management/monitor-profiling/">http://www.photo.net/learn/digital-photography-workflow/color-management/monitor-profiling/</a></p>

<p >2. The maker of Eyeone Display 2: Color temp 6500, brightness of 140</p>

<p >3. Dan Reid: Brightness 140, Color temp 6500 See: <a href="http://www.rpimaging.com/rpi/pdf/calibration_and_profiling.pdf">http://www.rpimaging.com/rpi/pdf/calibration_and_profiling.pdf</a></p>

<p >4. Lou Dina: Brightness 90, Color temp 5200. See: <a href="http://www.dinagraphics.com/useruploads/files/Creating%20Monitor%20and%20Printer%20Profiles-RevA.pdf">http://www.dinagraphics.com/useruploads/files/Creating%20Monitor%20and%20Printer%20Profiles-RevA.pdf</a></p>

<p >5. UPDIG Coalition: For Pre Press, Brightness 100, Color temp 5000/5500. For ink jet, Brightness should match the lighting of print viewing, Color temp 6000/6500. See: <a href="http://www.updig.org/guidelines/ph_monitor_calibration.html">http://www.updig.org/guidelines/ph_monitor_calibration.html</a></p>

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<p >My questions:</p>

<p >What is your experience? What settings do you use? Why?</p>

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<p >Since most prints are viewed under normal home lighting, ie not Gallery Solux 4900K lights, should we use a number like 5200 for color temp?</p>

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<p >When I have found my prints darker than the image on the monitor, I thought it is because one is a lighted image and the print is a reflected image. But have you found that lowering the brightness setting to 110 or 90 during calibration will improve the brightness of the print?</p>

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<p >Any help is appreciated. If you know of some article that really clarifies the issues please let me know. Thanks.</p>

<p >Ajit Gokhale</p>

<p >www.AjitPhoto.com</p>

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<p>Ajit, <br>

It may seem maddening, but all the above recommendations are good one. The recommended brightness and color temperature settings are based on 1) the ambient light in your workspace 2) your need to perform screen to print matching. Generally, the dimmer your ambient light (the lower the brightness on your monitor) and the more yellow your white point (lower Kelvin setting). The 5000-5800K range is ideal for photographers preparing images for reproduction on magazine or similar paper, which is quite yellow <em>and</em> are matching the screen to a hard copy print viewed in a 5000K viewing booth. <br>

For photographers who are preparing images for inkjet reproduction and are working in a less controlled light environment, a higher brightness is in order. You're on the right track decreasing the brightness of your monitor to match your printed piece, particularly if you are viewing your prints under a solux, or similar light source. From there, make minor adjustments to your white point setting until you feel you have the best screen to print match. <br>

One final cautionary tale, with many inexpensive to mid-range monitors decreasing the white point of the monitor pushes it farther from its native color temperature and can create banding or unevenness in gradients. Once you've found a color temperature that works for you visually, view a simple black to white gradient. Is it smooth? Are there bands of color throughout? You may have some trial and error to get to the exact settings that work for you.</p>

<p>Best regards,</p>

<p>Jay</p>