Do I need to calibrate monitor if not printing?

**Hattifnatt** · 11-27-2014, 01:59 AM

Hello,

I have recently acquired an IPS monitor (Dell S2340l) after my BenQ died on me. I have a quick question, do I need to calibrate the monitor if I'm not printing anything and I'm not planning to print in the future? or I can go along with default sRGB profile or some profile downloaded from TFT central for my monitor?

Many thanks!
hatti

rawr · 11-27-2014, 02:25 AM

I would still calibrate any monitor.

It's about being confident that whatever you do to your images on your computer is producing colour accurate and consistent (and shareable...) results.

Display calibration tools (eg the Datacolor Spyder4EXPRESS - $69 at the moment at B&H) are not expensive or hard to use.

EarlVonTapia · 11-27-2014, 04:05 AM

Originally posted by Hattifnatt

Hello,

I have recently acquired an IPS monitor (Dell S2340l) after my BenQ died on me. I have a quick question, do I need to calibrate the monitor if I'm not printing anything and I'm not planning to print in the future? or I can go along with default sRGB profile or some profile downloaded from TFT central for my monitor?

Many thanks!
hatti

What rawr said above.

Here's a free calibration tool that works OK.

Hex2Bit - Software by Mike Walters

Probably not as fancy as a paid program but it's free, easy to use, and it makes a difference.

**Hattifnatt** · 11-27-2014, 04:25 AM

Originally posted by rawr

Display calibration tools (eg the Datacolor Spyder4EXPRESS - $69 at the moment at B&H) are not expensive or hard to use.

I have no knowledge about this kind of tools. Is it just a software or it's a physical device?

rawr · 11-27-2014, 04:48 AM

Originally posted by Hattifnatt

Is it just a software or it's a physical device?

Both:

Quote:

"Install the software, attach the color sensor to USB, and step through the wizard. The sensor measures a series of colors on your screen and creates a “profile” that brings your display to a reference state".

Datacolor Spyder 4 Express product info page

**Miguel** · 11-27-2014, 04:34 PM

Originally posted by rawr

I would still calibrate any monitor. It's about being confident that whatever you do to your images on your computer is producing colour accurate and consistent (and shareable...) results. Display calibration tools (eg the Datacolor Spyder4EXPRESS - $69 at the moment at B&H) are not expensive or hard to use.

Exactly.
Everything on my monitor looks better after I calibrate and profile it. Even icons.

Originally posted by EarlVonTapia

Here's a free calibration tool that works OK. Hex2Bit - Software by Mike Walters

I'm not a big fan in software-only calibration attempts, but it's better than nothing. This is free, and worth trying to see if you notice an improvement. Hardware-driven calibration takes into account the lighting of your own monitor. There is a puck that hangs on your monitor, evaluating the light emanating. Some better products will measure ambient light in the room as well, which makes a difference. Be sure to have fairly dim, indirect lighting when you are calibrating.
If you spent good money on a decent IPS monitor you should complete the loop and enjoy!

M

**Mikesul** · 11-27-2014, 07:48 PM

Your photos and those of others will almost always look better on a calibrated monitor. It also helps insure that others with calibrated monitors will see your photos as you intend them.

6BQ5 · 11-27-2014, 08:53 PM

A calibrated monitor is a must whether you print or not. If you ever want to share your images online with your fellow Pentaxians then it would be good to make sure red is red and not brownish. Blue should be blue and not purplish. Otherwise we're all going to wonder what you did to your histogram and curves when you were post processing!

**Hattifnatt** · 11-29-2014, 02:02 PM

Thank you for your answers. I'll try to get a display calibration tool (Datacolor Spyder4EXPRESS seems a nice little device to do the job).

schnitzer79 · 12-02-2014, 01:16 AM

Originally posted by Hattifnatt

Thank you for your answers. I'll try to get a display calibration tool (Datacolor Spyder4EXPRESS seems a nice little device to do the job).

That would be a good idea even though your colours were always spot on

**Kerrowdown** · 12-02-2014, 02:07 AM

I certainly would and for critical work I use a "Color Checker Passport" at the time of taking to ensure accurate colour rendition.

11-27-2014, 01:59 AM	#1
Hattifnatt Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Bucharest Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,625	Do I need to calibrate monitor if not printing? Hello, I have recently acquired an IPS monitor (Dell S2340l) after my BenQ died on me. I have a quick question, do I need to calibrate the monitor if I'm not printing anything and I'm not planning to print in the future? or I can go along with default sRGB profile or some profile downloaded from TFT central for my monitor? Many thanks! hatti

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11-27-2014, 02:25 AM	#2
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	I would still calibrate any monitor. It's about being confident that whatever you do to your images on your computer is producing colour accurate and consistent (and shareable...) results. Display calibration tools (eg the Datacolor Spyder4EXPRESS - $69 at the moment at B&H) are not expensive or hard to use.

11-27-2014, 04:05 AM	#3
EarlVonTapia Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,207	Originally posted by Hattifnatt Hello, I have recently acquired an IPS monitor (Dell S2340l) after my BenQ died on me. I have a quick question, do I need to calibrate the monitor if I'm not printing anything and I'm not planning to print in the future? or I can go along with default sRGB profile or some profile downloaded from TFT central for my monitor? Many thanks! hatti What rawr said above. Here's a free calibration tool that works OK. Hex2Bit - Software by Mike Walters Probably not as fancy as a paid program but it's free, easy to use, and it makes a difference.

11-27-2014, 04:25 AM	#4
Hattifnatt Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Bucharest Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,625 Original Poster	Originally posted by rawr Display calibration tools (eg the Datacolor Spyder4EXPRESS - $69 at the moment at B&H) are not expensive or hard to use. I have no knowledge about this kind of tools. Is it just a software or it's a physical device?

11-27-2014, 04:48 AM	#5
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Originally posted by Hattifnatt Is it just a software or it's a physical device? Both: Quote: "Install the software, attach the color sensor to USB, and step through the wizard. The sensor measures a series of colors on your screen and creates a “profile” that brings your display to a reference state". Datacolor Spyder 4 Express product info page

11-27-2014, 04:34 PM	#6
Miguel Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Near Seattle Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,743	Originally posted by rawr I would still calibrate any monitor. It's about being confident that whatever you do to your images on your computer is producing colour accurate and consistent (and shareable...) results. Display calibration tools (eg the Datacolor Spyder4EXPRESS - $69 at the moment at B&H) are not expensive or hard to use. Exactly. Everything on my monitor looks better after I calibrate and profile it. Even icons. Originally posted by EarlVonTapia Here's a free calibration tool that works OK. Hex2Bit - Software by Mike Walters I'm not a big fan in software-only calibration attempts, but it's better than nothing. This is free, and worth trying to see if you notice an improvement. Hardware-driven calibration takes into account the lighting of your own monitor. There is a puck that hangs on your monitor, evaluating the light emanating. Some better products will measure ambient light in the room as well, which makes a difference. Be sure to have fairly dim, indirect lighting when you are calibrating. If you spent good money on a decent IPS monitor you should complete the loop and enjoy! M

11-27-2014, 07:48 PM	#7
Mikesul Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 7,594	Your photos and those of others will almost always look better on a calibrated monitor. It also helps insure that others with calibrated monitors will see your photos as you intend them.

11-27-2014, 08:53 PM	#8
6BQ5 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Nevada, USA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,348	A calibrated monitor is a must whether you print or not. If you ever want to share your images online with your fellow Pentaxians then it would be good to make sure red is red and not brownish. Blue should be blue and not purplish. Otherwise we're all going to wonder what you did to your histogram and curves when you were post processing!

11-29-2014, 02:02 PM	#9
Hattifnatt Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Bucharest Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,625 Original Poster	Thank you for your answers. I'll try to get a display calibration tool (Datacolor Spyder4EXPRESS seems a nice little device to do the job).

12-02-2014, 01:16 AM	#10
schnitzer79 Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,248	Originally posted by Hattifnatt Thank you for your answers. I'll try to get a display calibration tool (Datacolor Spyder4EXPRESS seems a nice little device to do the job). That would be a good idea even though your colours were always spot on

12-02-2014, 02:07 AM	#11
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,818	I certainly would and for critical work I use a "Color Checker Passport" at the time of taking to ensure accurate colour rendition.