Monitor calibration

[jet_kit]

Does anyone know where I can hire monitor calibration equipment? Adobe's attempt is only slightly better than useless.
Cheers
Chris

[amk1977]

I don't know about hiring but you can purchase monitor calibration gadgets relatively cheaply. You can pick up the Datacolour Spyder 3 Express for under £70, new, on Amazon. Pantone Huey Pro is another gadget.

At some point I need to get one myself.

[jet_kit]

Yes amk, I know about both these gadgets and, by all accounts, they work well. But, It's a lot to pay for something you're only going to use once for each monitor (and how often do you buy one of them?). I would be happy to hire one for a day for, say, £20 - So when you get yours ....
Chris

[amk1977]

Hi Chris,

A calibrator isn't something you'd buy, use once and shove in a draw to collect dust. The display of your monitor can and does change/deteriorate over the course of time and so it requires relatively frequent recalibration.

From what I've read it appears that the majority of owners use their calibrators anywhere between every 2-6 weeks, to ensure correct gamma, colour etc. Professional users, who do print/publication work will do it more often than the hobbyist, as a matter of necessity and the product pays for itself very quickly.

I was going to borrow one off my brother-in-law, who works in graphic design and publishing and has his own company too. It would be impractical to keep doing so every few weeks though, which is another reason why I'll be investing in one in the near future.

[jet_kit]

OK Chris,
I'm sold.
Cheers,
Chris

[thefonz78]

It's a lot to pay for something you're only going to use once for each monitor (and how often do you buy one of them?)

I thought the exact same thing. Why pay all that money for something you use once. I would have never thought you would have to do it ever 6 weeks!

Used Pantone Huey Pro go for cheap on ebay i was looking the other day.

[jet_kit]

Thanks for the heads up

[wavemachine]

If you print at home then they are a godsend, I wasted so much paper and ink looked great on screen but the prints never matched usually to dark. I bought the Spyder 3 and have never looked back.

[deena]

I also thought that this was something you did just the once! I have a printer at home but hardly ever use it because the colours are darker when printing. Thanks for the info It's going on my xmas wish list!

As an afterthought, I have a PC and a laptop. Can you use the Spyder 3 on multiple monitors or only the one?

[wotcars]

on multiple monitors Deena