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Profiling Your
Monitor
by Dan Rose
After getting the
right ink and paper, calibrating your monitor is the best
thing you can do to achieve great prints. Did you know that
calibration should be done monthly? That’s right! In one
months time there can be noticeable changes in your monitor’s
settings.
When you use the calibrating tools (already on your computer)
in your Windows or Mac operating system you can obtain the
best settings for your monitor. You will be saving your
settings on your computer in the form of an ICC Profile. It’s
easy; anybody can do this. We have the steps for you below.
Remember that your
monitor will look differently depending on your ambient
lighting. For you to get the most out of calibrating your
monitor, set the ambient lighting in your room the same way it
will be when you edit photos. Then remember to set your
ambient lights for your work environment the same way every
time you edit photos.
Windows
If you have a Windows computer you will be using Adobe Gamma.
To calibrate your
monitor and create an ICC profile in Adobe Gamma:
Click on Start.
Click on Control Panel.
Click on Adobe Gamma.
Select the Step By Step Wizard, and then click Next.
In the Description box, type a name for your custom profile. A
name and today’s date is a good idea.
(Write this down: When you save the profile at the end of the
wizard, you need to retype the name before saving.)
Click Next, and then follow the on-screen instructions.
At the end there is a cool thing you will get to do before
saving your changes. Adobe provides Before and After buttons
so that you can see how the changes you made affect the
monitor. Don’t use this to decide whether you keep the changes
or not. Save your changes, and then use them in regular
editing practices. If you do not like the changes you made,
you can always do another calibration or return the monitor to
its factory settings.
MAC
If you own a Mac you will use a calibration tool called the
Display Calibrator Assistant.
Go to System Preferences.
Select Displays.
Click the Color tab.
Click on the Calibrate tab – you will see the Calibrator
Assistant screen.
Check the box marked Expert Mode.
Click Continue.
Follow the on screen directions.
At the end you will be able to save your profile. Mark your
calendar for monthly calibration checks. Make sure when you
are editing your photographs you use the same ambient lighting
that you used today for your calibration. If the lighting
conditions change in your office you will need to recalibrate
your monitor.
If you would like
to delve further into this area there are several commercial
calibration tools to help you go to the next level. Remember:
This is only for those interested going to the highest level
of control. Most users will not find this necessary. Below are
a few you might want to look at.
• GretagMacbeth’s Eye-One Display
• Spyder3 ProStudio 3.0.
• MonacoOPTIX
Dan is owner of the
Suprachrome
(www.Suprachrome.com),
a company that provides
"Exact Match"
Fine Art quality ink to the discerning hobbyist and
professional photographer.
Dan
divides his business hours between the companies offices in
Kansas City and Chicago. All of Dan’s fine art photographs are
printed on Suprachrome Media with archival pigment Suprachrome
Ink.
Dan is honored to be the first photographer
appointed to the Kansas Arts on Tour Roster underwritten by
the State of Kansas and the National Endowment of the Arts.
'Make
Your Own Color Tests and Adjustments'
'Improving
Your Print Quality'
'Make
Your Printer Run Faster Without Quality Loss'
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