What target settings for LCD monitor calibration?

"My ACDs are similar to his and do not have functional brightness/contrast/color temp settings so for CM/PS I use the "native" setting - while he prints thru a RIP and I do not I may have to try his setup. "

With this being the case (no dedicated brightness/contrast controls) how do you calibrate your monitor's white and black luminance points?

Brett,

In general, 2.2 gamma has become more of an accepted standard. Even a lot of Mac users use 2.2 gamma. The internet is based on sRGB and that is 2.2 gamma too. Since there are a lot more PC users than Mac users, this seems like a reasonable approach. Also, monitors native gammas are usually closer to 2.2 than 1.8, and often higher than 2.2.

Actually, one reason I calibrate to 2.2 is for non color managed applications. Less tonal shift.

Lou

Just by way of comment - looking over a friend shoulder I was surprised to see that his color settings (in Photoshop) included the monitor profile for his Apple Cinema display(s).

My ACDs are similar to his and do not have functional brightness/contrast/color temp settings so for CM/PS I use the "native" setting - while he prints thru a RIP and I do not I may have to try his setup.

cvt

Thanks for your quick reply Lou. Would you also recommend 2.2 gamma for non-colour managed applications on Macs? Do you know if Apple has moved away from 1.8 gamma?

/Brett

Brett,

Not required. Pick a color temp that gives you the best monitor to print match for your monitor, viewing lights, etc. For me, that is about 5100K to 5200K. Some people seem to like 6500K, but I find it way too blue. Use what works. If you find your prints are too yellow compared to the monitor, then your monitor color temp is set too high. This assumes, of course, you are comparing your monitor to prints made using a good custom printer profile for your printer/paper/ink combination.

I work in a number of different color spaces, including sRGB and Adobe RGB, both of which are 6500K spaces. Using a different color temp for monitor calibration is not a problem.

BTW, I have suggested a 2.0 gamma in the past, but discovered an anomoly with the program I was using to load the calibration into the VLUTs and compare gammas (DisplayProfile.exe by Gretag). I now use 2.2 gamma since it is the Windows and internet standard. The profiling software corrects for gamma, so you will get the proper tonal distribution with either gamma in color managed applications, but you'll be better off with 2.2 gamma in non color managed applications.

Lou

Thanks everybody for a really informative thread. I have a beginner's question:

If I calibrate my screen to, say, 5100K and 2.0 gamma, what relationship does this have to the colour space I choose in Photoshop? I have read that Adobe RGB (1998) has a D65 white point and assumes 2.2 gamma, whereas Adobe Wide Gamut and ProPhoto have D50 white points.

If I have calibrated my monitor to 5100K, should I choose a colour space with the same white point?

Thanks,
Brett

>Native Gamma may not be a good choice because SpectraView II can make corrections to as small a step as 1/256 of the intensity range to the on-board LUT....

True! For this unit, not a benefit nor necessary.

Second thoughts on what I said earlier (and maybe more -- after Lou sends me his stuff):

> If you are using a color managed workflow, just pick something and forget it.

Native Gamma may not be a good choice because SpectraView II can make corrections to as small a step as 1/256 of the intensity range to the on-board LUT. I can see from my LUT correction data that a profile that works off of fewer patches will have trouble accounting for the local spikes and an ugly curve in the very deep shadow region. So it would seem best to provide the profiler with a smooth gamma characteristic to profile.

I would stay away from the extreme gammas though, say 3.0 or 1.0, since this will wreck your desktop.

Larry

Larry,

If you don't object, send me your email address. I'd like to email you something off line. My email address is listed under my profile.

Lou Dina

That's right he's got a SpectraView. I forgot about how they work with display's LUT rather than the video card's.

Follow Larry's advice because I can tell when I leave my iMac or Samsung at native gamma with the no gamma curve downloaded to the video card both displays are butt ugly both showing duotone grayramps with the iMac so contrasty about half of the highlite region is blown completely white.