Determing Bit Depth of My Monitor Prior to Professional Calibration - Windows Says Two Depths...?

[lilCystar]

Hi All,

I'm about to buy a pre-owned calibration device to use with DisplayCAL free software. To use DisplayCAL it says you must have: “True color” 24 bits per pixel or higher graphics output.  In Windows 11, Display Settings/Advanced Display/ it lists my main monitor as "8bit" (see screenshot). But when I click on"Display Adaptor Properties for Display 2" (my main display, attached to my laptop) and then click 'List All Modes",  the mode that is highlighted by default says: "1920x1080 True Color 32 bit 60 Hertz" (also in screenshot) [Btw, I can't use the NVIDIA control panel, it says I am not using a display attached to an NVIDIA GPU.]

Can someone please tell me if I meet the system required bit depth to use DisplayCAL or not?

Any replies genuinely appreciated?

[D Fosse]

8 bits x 3 channels = 24 bits.

Any monitor today satisfies this, at least formally. TN panels are natively 6 bits per channel, but add the last two bits through temporal dithering (rapid flashing). VA and IPS panels are 8 bits natively.

More expensive monitors for graphic and photographic use are often 10 bits per channel = 30 bits total.

[Conrad_C · Accepted solution]

When DisplayCAL wants 24 bits, it means they want:

8-bit Red channel

8-bit Green channel

8-bit Blue channel

8 + 8 + 8 = 24 bits

…the mode that is highlighted by default says: "1920x1080 True Color 32 bit…

By @lilCystar

32 bit means it does 24 bits RGB (meeting the DisplayCAL requirements, as practically all current displays do), plus an 8-bit alpha channel that the graphics hardware can use to do transparency effects. This 32-bit spec is also very common now.

So, 24 + 8 = 32 bits.

By the way, in the background of your screen shot, the Display Information says 8-bit. That is not wrong, because it’s talking about bits per channel. The other spec is talking about total bits in all channels. This is often a source of confusion, but it’s important to understand both the 8-bit and 32-bit numbers are true, as long as you understand how many channels each bit depth number refers to.

[lilCystar]

Ah...  One is talking about bits per channel and the other about the total bits of all channels. It could be clearer in Windows... Glad to understand it now.  Looking forward to calibrating my monitor.

Thanks so much for explaining!! 🙂

[Trevor.Dennis]

@lilCystar  I think a few of us would be interested in your subjective opinion in the difference between pre and post-calibration.  We can see what screen you are using, but I'd be interested what you are using to calibrate it?

[lilCystar]

I ordered a DataColor Colorvision Spyder2 today and will be using DisplayCAL with it. It won't arrive for a week. I will certainly let you know how it goes!

[D Fosse]

If Spyder 2 wasn't a typo, you can't use it on a modern monitor. The Spyder 2 is an ancient antiquity by now, and even back then it had a pretty bad reputation for being inaccurate and inconsistent.

The first Spyder model to work with LED and wide gamut displays was the Spyder 3 - but even that was way back in 2008 or so.... It also had a makeover at that time to improve the frequently reported quality issues, and apparently it got much better. Spyder still struggles with a bad reputation, but I think they're pretty good now.

However, the best one on the market is the one previously known as i1 Display Pro, now rebranded and sold as Calibrite Display Pro. B+H sells it for $279, and it's a no-brainer. It comes with software, but it's supported everywhere and worth it just for the sensor alone.

[lilCystar]

Hey there, This is very disappointing to hear, as I have already purchased the Spyder2. I'm on a disability pension, with a small p/t job, and am poor as a church mouse. No way I can afford what you recommended. If you are 100% certain the Spyder2 will not work on my monitor (Acer H200SQL) then I can borrow the money to buy a pre-owned Spyder3 - you said it was improved and will do wide gamut displays - but I'd be really scraping financially. (The Spyders seem to be what is widely available, used, for sale online.)

So.. are you certain the 2 will not work?

And will a 3 be an improvement over nothing?

(I have started a small online business selling my digital artwork as image files buyers print themselves, however they envision. The works go up to 36" wide in size. I want to make sure the colors print close to what I see on my monitors... thought this was a solution I could afford, but apparently not...)

Thank you for your input!

[D Fosse]

A calibrator is an essential piece of equipment, and it's not expensive considering what it gives you, which is confidence in your work and what you send out to others. That's an investment well worth it.

If you can get a Spyder 3 it should at least be usable, but no guarantees about accuracy on modern displays. But the Spyder 2 is useless and worth precisely nothing today. It was made for CRT monitors.

[lilCystar]

Thank you for your valuable time and information!

[NB, colourmanagement]

@lilCystar @D Fosse has given you some useful info on the Spyder versions, to look into the Spyder 3 support you'll need to try to discover the latest operating system supported. Datacolor are on Spyder v 5 now.

Older Spyders were made by Colorvision, later Datacolor.

This page may help: https://spyder-support.datacolor.com/hc/en-us/categories/4405428633106-Spyder-Archive

Checking DSW downloads, it looks like Spyder 3's software is made for Windows 7, that’s quite old (2009)

- for Mac OS X 10.6, 10.7, 10.8, 10.9, 10.10 - so, latest version is 10.10 Yosemite from 2014

Ooh, good news Spyder 3 is supported by basICColor Display 6 (only on Windows) it seems - that would seem to indicate the presence of current device drivers - maybe. basICColor Display 6 is a free demo download (I am a basICColor reseller, I better say that in the spirit of openness)

The issue you're up against is device drivers (software), generally, the manufacturers of hardware device such as the Spyder cease support by not making device drivers for newer operating systems once the devices are superseded by newer models. You may be able to return the Spyder 2 on the basis of it only being supported in older operating system versions. 

Spyder has its own software (see above link) you'd need to ask Displaycal developers what spyder versions they support.  You might be lucky

I hope this helps
neil barstow, colourmanagement net - adobe forum volunteer - co-author: 'getting colour right'
google me "neil barstow colourmanagement" for lots of free articles on colour management
Help others by clicking "Correct Answer" if the question is answered.
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[lilCystar]

Thank you for the info! It looks like I'm stuck with the Spyder 2. And I'll need a Spyder 5 to be compatible with my Windows 11. Put in some offers on E-bay for a 5, still going to be pricey (for my budget anyhow. What is, or is not, expensive is completely relative...) 

So, I can download the Spyder 5 software. Or I can use DisplayCAL software. DisplayCAL says it supports the following Spyder devices: 

• Datacolor/ColorVision Spyder2
• Datacolor Spyder3 (since ArgyllCMS 1.1.0)
• Datacolor Spyder4 (since ArgyllCMS 1.3.6)
• Datacolor Spyder5 (since ArgyllCMS 1.7.0)
• Datacolor SpyderX (since ArgyllCMS 2.1.0)

Do you advise the Spyder or DisplayCAL software? 

(Thinking Spyder as they are meant to work together...)

Thanks for your help!

[davescm]

The limitation with the Spyder 2 is in the hardware it uses. It was designed to measure the colour output from the screen phosphors of CRT tubes, not the different coloured outputs from modern, wide gamut, LCD/LED/OLED panels.

So whether using Datacolor or DisplayCal software, that limitation remains.

Dave

[NB, colourmanagement]

@lilCystar As I mentioned, basICColor display seems to work with the Spyder 3, of course a 5 will be better, more future proof. 

"

Hardware Support List basICColor display 6.6.4
==============================================
January 2024

Colorimeters
basICColor DISCUS
basICColor SQUID 3 (X-Rite i1Display Pro),

Datacolor Spyder 3 (Windows only), Datacolor Spyder 4 (Windows only),

Datacolor Spyder 5
Calibrite Display Plus HL, Calibrite Display Pro HL, Calibrite Display SL
Datacolor Spyder 5, SpyderX
Datacolor Spyder 3, Spyder 4 (Windows only)
EIZO Swing
EIZO Calibration Sensor
Klein Instruments K-10A, K-8 (Windows only)
NEC SpectraSensor Pro (X-Rite i1Display Pro) X-Rite i1Display Pro
X-Rite i1Display Pro, i1Display Pro Plus
Spectrometers
Konica Minolta FD-7
Konica Minolta MYIRO-1 USB and WLAN 
X-Rite i1 Pro, X-Rite i1 Pro 2, X-Rite i1Pro 3, X-Rite i1Pro 3 Plus 
X-Rite i1Studio

"

I hope this helps
neil barstow, colourmanagement net - adobe forum volunteer - co-author: 'getting colour right'
google me "neil barstow colourmanagement" for lots of free articles on colour management
Help others by clicking "Correct Answer" if the question is answered.
Found the answer elsewhere? Share it here. "Upvote" is for useful posts.

[D Fosse]

@NB, colourmanagement 

As the official UK retailer for basICColor, what would a license cost? There doesn't seem to be any price listing anywhere, just "contact sales".

https://www.colourmanagement.net/products/basiccolor/ 

[NB, colourmanagement]

@D Fosse The link you posted is to the basICColor software section header on my site, clicking the actual product name takes there you to a page with full info - There was a direct link to the product info page, including pricing, in my first reply to @lilCystar . As you mentioned it, I've now edited my second reply to @lilCystar  include the link too, anyhow, here it is again.

You're interested? I believe it's very good software - try the free 14 day demo perhaps, the installed folder includes a comprehensive manual and hardware support list.

I hope this helps neil barstow, colourmanagement net - adobe forum volunteer - co-author: 'getting colour right' google me "neil barstow colourmanagement" for lots of free articles on colour management 

[D Fosse]

I'm doing very well with Colornavigator, I just thought it odd that I couldn't see any prices.

If she can only afford a secondhand Spyder 2, it's not very likely that she'll find £69+vat an attractive offer. That money would be better spent on a better colorimeter.

[Lumigraphics]

If I were in your position, I would put out a request locally (Facebook groups, and anyone you know in the industry) to borrow a hardware calibration device for long enough to properly profile your display. This isn't a perfect solution but its better than wasting your money on a device that doesn't work.

[NB, colourmanagement]

@Lumigraphics good suggestion, that’s a nice idea for an under-resourced user 

If she uses DisplayCal or basICColor display @lilCystar would not be violating the device manufacturer's software user agreement, either. They normally mandate that a user of the OEM software should own their instrument. 

I'd call,  by and do it for her to help out if she were near me in the UK. 

I hope this helps
neil barstow, colourmanagement net - adobe forum volunteer - co-author: 'getting colour right'
google me "neil barstow colourmanagement" for lots of free articles on colour management
Help others by clicking "Correct Answer" if the question is answered.
Found the answer elsewhere? Share it here. "Upvote" is for useful posts.

[lilCystar]

Thank you all for the helpful suggestions and general info. I purchased a Datacolor Spyder 5 Express, pre-owned, on E-bay. Should get to me in a couple of weeks. Hopefully it does the trick. I really appreciate all the guidance!

[D Fosse]

Yes, smart decision and a much better place to start.

The sensor should be fully supported in DisplayCAL (your original plan), which is probably better than the Spyder software. Just be aware that DisplayCAL is packed with a lot of unnecessarily complex options that aren't really needed for practical use. Or at least it was the last time I looked at it.

Just keep it simple and don't get overwhelmed. If you have any questions, make screenshots and we'll figure it out.

[lilCystar]

Hopefully I can navigate the DisplayCAL software. I may, however, need to take you up on your very kind offer to assist, should there be a problem I can't find the solution to myself. Have a great day! 🙂

[NB, colourmanagement]

@lilCystar let us know how you get on with DisplayCAL, I am no expert on that software but I have been told it's far from straightforward, I hope you manage OK

I hope this helps
neil barstow, colourmanagement net - adobe forum volunteer - co-author: 'getting colour right'
google me "neil barstow colourmanagement" for lots of free articles on colour management

[lilCystar]

Hi, thank you very much for offering to assist. The calibrator may not get to me in the mail until the 24th of July. Will let you know how it goes. Fingers crossed!

[lilCystar]

Hi NB,

Sorry I didn't get back to you till now. I got my Spyder 5 Express and calibrated my monitor using the Spyder software... DisplayCal was all set up to go, but when I had to select a monitor from the drop down list it had, mine wasn't there. Couldn't resolve this, so just used the Spyder program.

It was surprisingly easy, so easy in fact, I feel a little uncertaina bout how accurate it was.

But it is dome and I didn't need help after all. Thanks so much for your time and effort assisting me - it is truly appreciated!