[Tsantsa]

I swear there was a sticky before about how to start up with calibration...maybe I'm blind or just stupid...


Anyhow. I'm a beginner at calibration and I'd like to calibrate my two tv's and my gaming monitor. I was looking into the spyder deals and almost pulled the trigger until I decided to look a little further into this. I'm glad/annoyed that I did!

It appears there are quite a few different beginner/consumer level calibration packages to be had. What I don't know how to figure, is what suits my needs.


I'm thinking I need, multi-display calibration and software compatibility. I THINK I've read that most of the low cost units can't make use of other software, but I'm not quite positive.


If anyone has a link about what to expect or tutorials of any kind that are reliable, please link them. I realize that google is my friend, but I'd like to be able to trust what I'm reading. Is there a product comparison chart out there with the most popular models? What about a software comparison?


Oh, I'm thinking my budget is about $200, which I figure is enough to learn on. I might be able to bump it up a bit if necessary.

 

[fairchild99]

 GREYSCALE & COLOUR CALIBRATION FOR DUMMIES = free

Fork of HCFR = free

AVS HD 709 - Blu-ray & MP4 Calibration = free (can look up other calibration disks such as the GCD which is also pretty good.)

Colormunki Display (based on new i1Display 3) = under your price point


If you want to spend more you can get the pro version, but from what I've read they both should be equally accurate.


This is the method I used when I started to learn calibration. Except I bought the i1DisplayLT (based on the i1Display 2) and the original HCFR. This method is primarily for calibrating your display devices such as TV's, for doing monitor's not sure if the Colormunki does it, I know the Pro version might have the needed software.

 

[Tsantsa]



Quote:
Originally Posted by fairchild99  /t/1466764/beginner-calibration#post_23165551

GREYSCALE & COLOUR CALIBRATION FOR DUMMIES = free

Fork of HCFR = free

AVS HD 709 - Blu-ray & MP4 Calibration = free (can look up other calibration disks such as the GCD which is also pretty good.)

Colormunki Display (based on new i1Display 3) = under your price point


If you want to spend more you can get the pro version, but from what I've read they both should be equally accurate.


This is the method I used when I started to learn calibration. Except I bought the i1DisplayLT (based on the i1Display 2) and the original HCFR. This method is primarily for calibrating your display devices such as TV's, for doing monitor's not sure if the Colormunki does it, I know the Pro version might have the needed software.

TY

 

[LarryInRI]

If you are going to use HCFR, look into this one: http://www.amazon.com/X-Rite-EODIS3-Xrite-i1Display-Pro/dp/B0055MBQOW


Larry

 

[Matt L]

Funny, I'm doing the same thing. I looked at the CalMan software, the Eye One match 3 and HCFR and opted for the HCFR. My budget is tighter than yours and I opted for an iOne 2 off ebay for $27 delivered. I've just started playing with the software and while a little complex I think it will do what I want - at least for now.

 

[Tsantsa]

Hm. I'm willing to spend only $27 to get the basics and then upgrade later. Let me know how it turns out.

 

[Larry L]

When buying used, you do not know if the sensor is calibrated. If the sensor is out of calibration, you can be wasting time and effort.

 

[Tsantsa]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Larry L  /t/1466764/beginner-calibration#post_23168470


When buying used, you do not know if the sensor is calibrated. If the sensor is out of calibration, you can be wasting time and effort.

For sensors that can be re-calibrated, how much does it normally cost?

 

[mrfury]



Quote:
Originally Posted by fairchild99  /t/1466764/beginner-calibration#post_23165551

GREYSCALE & COLOUR CALIBRATION FOR DUMMIES = free

Fork of HCFR = free

AVS HD 709 - Blu-ray & MP4 Calibration = free (can look up other calibration disks such as the GCD which is also pretty good.)

Colormunki Display (based on new i1Display 3) = under your price point


If you want to spend more you can get the pro version, but from what I've read they both should be equally accurate.


This is the method I used when I started to learn calibration. Except I bought the i1DisplayLT (based on the i1Display 2) and the original HCFR. This method is primarily for calibrating your display devices such as TV's, for doing monitor's not sure if the Colormunki does it, I know the Pro version might have the needed software.

fairchild99,


I've being searching for the last couple days about calibration, as I purchased new projector.


I'm choosing what to buy/use for the calibration process, and I've some things in common with your suggestion.


- I plan to use the guide from Curt Palme;

- I'm leaning towards the i1 Display PRO (aka Display 3), as my meter;

- I've a copy of the Digital Video Essentials: HD Basics (not in physical Blu-ray, just the media files from the HD-DVD) test disc suggested on the guide; (Is it as good as what you suggested?)

- My biggest (and only, I think) setback though, is about the HCFR. Is the forked version trustable to use with the i1 Display PRO? I've heard it wasn't supported before. I've even started to think about buying ChromaPure or something...



Best regards.

 

[fairchild99]

The latest HCFR fork (3.0.4.2) now should properly support the iD3. I've read some user's have calibrated with it and the ColorMunki with no problems. I have used it with my iD2 and it works fine with the latest HCFR fork. Can get the latest one which has been updated by Zoyd here:

http://sourceforge.net/projects/zoyd000.u/files/downloads/


Read the notes from here which should explain which meters are supported and how to get them working:

http://sourceforge.net/p/hcfr/wiki/Home/


Here is a link to one user who has had success using the latest HCFR fork + a ColorMunki Display (which is based on the iD3/Display Pro)

http://www.avsforum.com/t/1399319/official-samsung-unxxes8000-owners-thread/11940#post_22933867

 

[Rpml]

Ahh thank you for this thread i have been reading about meters for days and getting more confused. Just ordered a colormunki display.. hope it works well. this new projector is making me nuts. Havn't been able to find anyone to calibrate new macomb michigan

 

[Tsantsa]

Mine is coming on Tuesday. We should keep in touch as we both learn to use it. Either through PM or on this thread I guess.

 

[Matt L]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Rpml  /t/1466764/beginner-calibration#post_23202342


Ahh thank you for this thread i have been reading about meters for days and getting more confused. Just ordered a colormunki display.. hope it works well. this new projector is making me nuts. Havn't been able to find anyone to calibrate new macomb michigan

Chad B is in the area from time to time. I'm up in Flushing, west of Flint and he did my plasma several years ago and it' still looks stunning.

 

[Tsantsa]

Well, I got my Colormunki today and messed with it a little. I used the software that comes with it just to see what it does and it's pretty basic. I started up the HCFR fork and was instantly thrown into WTF-Land! I'll spend more time with it to get to know it, but initially it was quite overwhelming!

 

[PeterLewis]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Tsantsa  /t/1466764/beginner-calibration#post_23208066


Well, I got my Colormunki today and messed with it a little. I used the software that comes with it just to see what it does and it's pretty basic. I started up the HCFR fork and was instantly thrown into WTF-Land! I'll spend more time with it to get to know it, but initially it was quite overwhelming!

I have the colormunki display and love it with HCFR...Make sure you downloaded version 3.0.4.2 from zoyds sig in the HCFR thread.


Get the avs709 or GCD or Mascior's free calibration disc here in the forum as they work great.


What I did to calibrate my plasma was, I first installed the colormunki software and copied the Colormunki DLL file (found in the Xrite/program file) over to HCFR program file to enable the meter.You can use the the argyll drivers that come with HCFR to enable the meter as well but i just chose to use the factory one.


Then once HCFR see's my meter I chose it in the Sensor list ,click next then in the spectral drop down box I pick the Plasma spectral (If your calibrating an LCD,LED chose that spectral).


Then you just want to check your preference in the advance tab and choose your gamma setting,HD709 color space etc,just like the calibration guide for dummies suggest.


Then just load up your favorite calibration disc and do what the guide says.Set contrast,brightness then your greyscale 80% and 30% patterns as close to 100% as possible.


Oh btw I would recommend using the software that came with it to calibrate your laptop,computer,gaming display.HCFR for your tv's.

 

[Tsantsa]

Hmm. I have a problem. I used the Colormunki software on one of my PC's last night and all was fine. Just a bit a go, I turned it on and my resolution is all jacked up. In the screen resolution page, it's showing 640x480 (1080p monitor) but it's greyed out and I can't change it. I reinstalled the nvidia driver and still nothing.


Is this a common problem and is there a common fix here? I don't know what to do.



EDIT: So I thought I'd be able to just switch to another profile and it would be ok but it's not working as the menus are so big that I can't Apply some of the changes I'm trying to make.


EDIT 2: It doesn't do this on the laptop. There must be some configuration of my pc that doesn't like the Colormunki software. As soon as I delete the icc profile and uninstall the program, everything is fine!


So, can I use HCFR and the meter to calibrate my monitor? I assume that I can, but I would then be doing it with the controls rather than making a profile, correct?

 

[fairchild99]

I've never bothered to calibrate monitor's since they are not what I use to watch movies on, and I could care less how my desktop and some games might look. I don't know if you can calibrate the monitor with HCFR but it's worth a shot. Perhaps if your monitor does have good controls you can.

 

[Tsantsa]

Maybe I can just use the built in Nvidia controls. Does doing this put any extra stress on a vid card?

 

[fairchild99]

I don't believe it does, but don't quote me on that.

 

[Tsantsa]

Ok, day 4 (last night). Used HCFR to calibrate 2 of my tv's! Having lots of fun too!


I just can't get the colormunki software to work. I figured out that it's saving my profile (I think) as a mobile profile for some reason.


And yeah, the Nvidia controls weren't much better than the controls on the monitor itself. I'm going to email colormunki to figure this out.