Help matching colors on different monitors?

[casualsax3]

I've tried changing the color settings myself in software and hardware on the monitors, but I can't seem to get it right.

Is there a program that assists with the calibration of colors accross multiple monitors? It's really annoying to see a window drastically change color when I switch screens with it.

Does anyone have experience with a utility called Powerstrip? http://www.entechtaiwan.com/util/ps.shtm
Is this what I'm looking for?

 

[bNeta86]

bump for a good question. I have no clue - but would love to know as I have the same problem on my desk.

 

[bocamojo]

I use an RGB color chart I downloaded off the internet. It's basically the same concept as tweaking the color settings on a TV. You just adjust gamma, color, brightness, contrast,etc, until you get balanced colors and greys. You should be able to see the distinct shift of black to grey to white in both directions uniformly. If you have a monitor that uses a digital connection to your card, you will most likely want to make the adjustments in your video card's color settings area. If it's a 15 pin VGA connection, then you should be okay with editing these settings directly in your monitors color menu. If you can't find an RGB color chart, I can send you a .jpg of one.

 

[corkyg]

My 19-in LCD monitor came with color calibration software. Do a Google for Color Calibration.

This came from that:

Color

Also: Calibrate

 

[Woody419]

Pantone make a Spyder for professional color matching.

 

[Navid]

You can adjust the brightness, contrast and color temperature using the adjustment keys on your monitor.
You can adjust Gamma using the advanced display properties (software).

If you search on Google for monitor calibration, you will find lots of pages that have graphs and instructions to help you adjust all of those.

If you make the adjustments for one monitor and save the only software setting (Gamma) in an appropriate profile and then make the adjustments for your other monitor and save the Gamma adjustments in another profile, you should be all set. Every time you change the monitor, you need to switch the profile in the advanced display properties.

Then, you should get the same, or at least very close, picture on both monitors.

 

[mshan]

newbie question:

Why isnt' there any white balance adjustment on corkyg's "calibrate" link?

Also, what exactly does that program change: web browser viewing or some color setting within Windows itself?

And do I still use a color management profile (I use SRB colorspace as default) if I calibrate my monitor with the online utility at the calibrate link above?

 

[Navid]

Originally posted by: mshan
newbie question:

Why isnt' there any white balance adjustment on corkyg's "calibrate" link?

Also, what exactly does that program change: web browser viewing or some color setting within Windows itself?

And do I still use a color management profile (I use SRB colorspace as default) if I calibrate my monitor with the online utility at the calibrate link above?

I am not sure whom you are talking to. My apologies in advance if you were not talking to me.
The reason I talked about using a profile was that the original poster has two monitors. Each monitor has keys for setting brightness, contrast and temperature. So, those can be set for each monitor separately. However, Gamma is set in software. So, after he calibrates Gamma, if he switches the monitor, his Gamma setting will be wrong.

That is why I suggested that he save the Gamma setting for each monitor in a profile. Then, every time he switches the monitor, he can easily switch the profile and get the correct color without having to calibrate again.

 

[mshan]

Hi:

I was referring to corkyg's posting above, but insights from everyone are greatly appreciated!

What is the best way to calibrate the monitor for brightness, contrast, and color temp (what is the correct color temp to choose)?

After that, should I pick a color management profile or use a program like that easyrgb link to do that or are they different?

(I am also just trying how to do this for my single crt monitor)

And what do you guys think of Nokia Monitor Test (http://www.construnet.hu/nokia/Monitors/TEST/monitor_test.html)?

 

[casualsax3]

Nokia's monitor test would be very usefull... if I could run it on both screens. It only runs on the primary.

 

[Navid]

This is an example of monitor calibration guide.
You can follow it to calibrate your brightness and contrast using the keys on your monitor. Use advanced display properties to calibrate Gamma.

 

[bocamojo]

Here's a few other links for calibration:

http://www.oceanlight.com/html/about_color.html

http://www.normankoren.com/makingfineprints1A.html#QuickGamma


Good image to test with:

http://digitaldog.imagingrevue.com/files/PrinterTestfile.jpg.hqx

 

[mshan]

Great links, guys!

For those online programs that allow you to click on the proper spot, what exactly do they change on my computer?
- a hardware setting on my monitor?
- some software setting within windows?
- other?

 

[bocamojo]

Originally posted by: mshan
Great links, guys!

For those online programs that allow you to click on the proper spot, what exactly do they change on my computer?
- a hardware setting on my monitor?
- some software setting within windows?
- other?

Although I am not sure to which online program you are referring, I would venture to guess that any changes are software only. Probably registry changes relating to the OS's video settings, such as color, contrast, brightness, gamma, etc.

 

[casualsax3]

They just change how that particular website displays colors.

Spyder would be sweet, if it wasn't so expensive...