Monitor Color profile for 24" iMac with Snow Leopard
Hi Everyone,
I have a most updated 24" iMac and running Snow Leopard. I use Lightroom 2 to edit my photos. I always export the photos out from lightroom by choosing sRGB. I notice my photo looks different when I view them at other computers. Which bring me the question; "Is my iMac monitor display the color correctly?" So I just want to ask any iMac users how did you go about calibrating the iMac? Do you guys use the default color profile? (which looks a bit yellow to me), Or you use sRGB(one of the preset provided), or you simple just click the "calibrate" button and calibrate by eye? If we suppose to calibrate by eye, what gamma value should be used? The default is 2.2, and I know PC uses 2.2, so in theory, if I want the photo to look the same no matter which computer I use, I should use 2.2, BUT! What I have notice is that when I view many color chart (or grey scale chart) in the internet, I found using gamma 1.8 actually can see the black gray scales better!
So what is going on here? 2.2 is the recommended gamma value, but can not see black gray scales compare to 1.8( I don't mean 2.2 can not see any black gray scale, but 1.8 can see more), so which protocol should i follow? I am very confused with this whole color issue. Some people say as long as the photo looks good in your monitor, there is no problem, which i disagree, I want my monitor to look good but also display colors correctly.
Anyone who knows about this issue, or any expert photographers out there, please help me with this. Now I feel no matter how good my photo looks, there is no use, because when I send them to my friends, they might look awful, because my monitor is all wrong...Thanks.
I have a most updated 24" iMac and running Snow Leopard. I use Lightroom 2 to edit my photos. I always export the photos out from lightroom by choosing sRGB. I notice my photo looks different when I view them at other computers. Which bring me the question; "Is my iMac monitor display the color correctly?" So I just want to ask any iMac users how did you go about calibrating the iMac? Do you guys use the default color profile? (which looks a bit yellow to me), Or you use sRGB(one of the preset provided), or you simple just click the "calibrate" button and calibrate by eye? If we suppose to calibrate by eye, what gamma value should be used? The default is 2.2, and I know PC uses 2.2, so in theory, if I want the photo to look the same no matter which computer I use, I should use 2.2, BUT! What I have notice is that when I view many color chart (or grey scale chart) in the internet, I found using gamma 1.8 actually can see the black gray scales better!
So what is going on here? 2.2 is the recommended gamma value, but can not see black gray scales compare to 1.8( I don't mean 2.2 can not see any black gray scale, but 1.8 can see more), so which protocol should i follow? I am very confused with this whole color issue. Some people say as long as the photo looks good in your monitor, there is no problem, which i disagree, I want my monitor to look good but also display colors correctly.
Anyone who knows about this issue, or any expert photographers out there, please help me with this. Now I feel no matter how good my photo looks, there is no use, because when I send them to my friends, they might look awful, because my monitor is all wrong...Thanks.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Marc Crowther on -
Alternatively, you're sending the photo to them (and it looks good), but their monitors are all wrong (so it looks bad at their end).
A key point with displaying of items on a screen is the type of panel used in it. Most iMac's these days are IPS panels.
This page has a good explanation of the panel types:
http://www.pchardwarehelp.com/guides/lcd-panel-types.php
At a guess, most of your friends would probably have TN panels...and as the above article says, TN has the worst color reproduction.
A quick google comes up with a few suggestions of color calibration tools/software - I'd have a bit of a read around on those to get a better idea. Generally though, it seems best to use a proper calibration tool + software to get the best out of it if you're wanting the resultant pictures to be as professional as possible. Understandable considering that the hardware/software would be static, whereas our hardware (eyes) might be universal but our software (visual processing in our brains) is different from person to person.
Good luck! -
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Permalink Reply by Tom Chen on -
Hi Marc,
Thanks for the reply. Yes, you right, it could be other end has the problem, but either its me or their problem, I wish at least I can make sure my side is correct. Yes, buy a proper calibration device might be the best way to go (ie spyder 3 pro), but I also heard iMac screen are hard to calibrate with calibration tools, the reasons are 1. the screen is too bright, 2. there is a glass panel infront of the actual LCD, which let ambient lights in and refracts into the calibration hardware device hanging infront of the screen, which makes the result less accurate... So, this is problem! I really want to know how professional photographer who use iMac how they solve the problem.... -
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Permalink Reply by Marc Crowther on
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I don't know how useful it is, but maybe it would be possible by removing the glass? The glass on an iMac is generally held on by a number of extremely powerful magnets. Here's a rundown on removing it. I'm not sure if it would void your warranty though!
http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Repair/Installing-iMac-Intel-20-Inch-EM...
Fingers crossed there is someone a little more 'pro' who can give us both some more information. I'm having a similar problem related to this. -
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