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| Thread ID: 98205 | 2009-03-15 06:52:00 | A question for photographers | R.M. (561) | PC World Chat |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 756695 | 2009-03-15 06:52:00 | I print my own photos for club competition. I have calibrated my monitor (LCD) and need to buy some software to do this for me. What do YOU use to match what you see on your monitor with what is printed? And what software do you use? And where did you buy it? Any comments in general? Good? Bad? I'd be grateful. :) |
R.M. (561) | ||
| 756696 | 2009-03-15 07:06:00 | Real monitor calibration is with a device like a Colorvision Spyder or Gregtagmacbeth etc. They connect via USB and stick on your screen and read the diff colors that pop up and does its thing. Much better than trusting on your own eyes. I cannot think of any software that does it without the device. Maybe turning color mgmt off the printer and use Photoshop to do it and manually alter the colors, oh .. maybe turn color mgmt off and go to printer settings and boost each of the primary colors by trial and error and print them out and see what works best for you. But you need to stick to this per the same ink / printer / paper. You an get ICC editor but that you still need the hardware device and those software are even more expensive, think of 5 digits, they tend to manually tweak the ICC files. Hardware calibrators photowarehouse.co.nz have them. I bought mine from New York over the net but with the NZD hardly the option now. Another way I can think of is get a calibrated chart - like a gregtagmacbeth color checker or something on that line, some are also cheaper but again I don't know the software. Many software have a highlight, shadow and mid tone dropper - you can use this in Photoshop but then you ignore the colors. I cannot remember but some Photoshop plugins works with these charts, so after you shoot the chart in the scene you can use the plugin and it will scan and produce you a ICC file but given each scene differs there is not much point. But these charts can be quite expensive too like $70USD. Cheapest and best option - hardware calibrator. If you do a lot of indoor macro / studio - get the color chart and plugin to neutralised each scene. If you print as well, use the ICC from printer or else, search for Cathy's profiles online and they do it cheaper than colourmanagement.co.nz who will ask you to print a chart out of your printer and they scan it with $$ equip and email you a custom made ICC file. Scanner - you can get charts made for flatbed scanners like the GMB color checker and even for film scanners - a film thingy design for the CCD scanner. But foremost you will need to get a hardware scanner for the monitor and then each other thing you want. computer-darkroom.com has some stuff I think. |
Nomad (952) | ||
| 756697 | 2009-03-15 07:10:00 | Hardware: www.computer-darkroom.com PS Plugin: www.computer-darkroom.com I am not in favour of the 2nd alone, cos even if it calibrates it correctly but you monitor is off, you will see inaccuracies. Foremost go for #1 and then if you want #2. |
Nomad (952) | ||
| 756698 | 2009-03-15 07:13:00 | I print my own photos for club competition. Why ? are you not near any outlet than can do it for you ? I have calibrated my monitor (LCD) and need to buy some software to do this for me. What do YOU use to match what you see on your monitor with what is printed? Now you are talking - and that probably answers my first query. However could you not try to find an outlet that has a setup like your monitor. I have subscribed to this thread as am very interested in where it goes. Hopefully Digby will be online soon ! And what software do you use? And where did you buy it? Any comments in general? Good? Bad? I'd be grateful. :) I use Photoshop Elements 6. It certainly meets everything I need now and probably will for another two years, at the very least, or perhaps the duration of my time on planet Earth. I bought it online from Elive. Misty :) |
Misty (368) | ||
| 756699 | 2009-03-15 07:23:00 | Thanks for your comments . :) I used Colorvision Spyder 2Pro but need to get my own software . I see that the latest version is Spyder 3Elite . That is available in a number of places in NZ - the dollar is against me at the moment though . Is Gregtagmacbeth (Eyeone) stuff available in NZ - I can't find a supplier (but haven't emailed anyone)? I talked to colourmanagement . co . nz - she (forgotten her name) but she no longer sells colour management software - just printer profiles . I'm using Photoshop CS3 - have been doing my own printing, matting etc for about 3 years now . Quite enjoy the fiddling and messing about! (Except when I cut my finger with the Stanley knife!) . |
R.M. (561) | ||
| 756700 | 2009-03-15 07:29:00 | Monitor calibration can drift over time and within diff sample variation even with the same model / brand . My Spyder software for eg . , reminds me to calibrate it every 2 weeks . Printer, I just use ICC from my printer that is supplied for each paper . If you wanna closer match or use diff papers, you may need someone to scan that chart you printed out that will be a custom made ICC file . In NZ, there is one lab in Auckland that used to provide ICC files but not anymore they now supply you a print out but it is v hard to match it . The labs in USA provides you ICC file so if your monitor is calibrated you can soft proof it with this ICC file and you can basically print preveiw the colors as it is printed off their machine . I've always found NZ labs good for snapshots where accuracies are not too impt, or that if there is a variation it might be good enof anyway . Some labs do offer a service of color matching if you supply them a print but that's another hard question to get . They should be happy to do what you tell them like increase saturation etc . , but having nothing concrete to match is a bit like chinese whispers . With the low NZD, colourmanagement . co . nz may be cheaper (ICC) but for monitor maybe best to just buy one . They could come over and do it for you but they are in Wellington I think or Kapiti . |
Nomad (952) | ||
| 756701 | 2009-03-15 07:31:00 | Oops, I am still in the stone-age R.M. - good luck with your quest ! Misty :D |
Misty (368) | ||
| 756702 | 2009-03-15 07:33:00 | What's wrong with software? If you need an update they should be downloadable. If you are wanting something diff like a diff one for dual monitors etc.. I think you can talk to a shop or else it may be import cos in NZ might be a lack of them available. GMB is available in NZ, colourmanagement.co.nz provides them from the last time I read or go to any pro photo store and they should get them for you. Photo Warehouse, Wellington Photographic Supplies, other pro shops in Auckland etc. Photo.co.nz |
Nomad (952) | ||
| 756703 | 2009-03-15 07:43:00 | support.datacolor.com Download it there. You would require a CD serial key. IMO the software doesn't provide anything fancy other than new OS support, bug fixes etc. The most of the diff one is the new scanner. Some of the spyder software are diff cos it supports dual monitor, while mine doesn't, afaik my hardware spyder is the same as the more $$ one but my software supports single monitor, while the more $$ one has a software which supports dual monitor calibration. |
Nomad (952) | ||
| 756704 | 2009-03-15 18:42:00 | Thanks for all your comments. I appreciate them. :) | R.M. (561) | ||
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