Monitor Tones versus Print Tones?

[Mark.A]

Having just got some of my digital images done in print I've noticed a significant difference in the brightness/contrast of the images on my monitor compared to the actual prints, as well as a quite big difference in colour.

When I can I'm going to get a monitor colour calibration tool (Spyder, Huey, etc.) to calibrate the colour properly.

For now I've adjusted my monitor gamma/brightness/contrast to match that of the printed images, which is weird. To get the right tones I've had to turn my monitors contrast down a LOT and the brightness right down to 0. So the screen now appears very dull to me as I'm used to it much brighter but if this way means I get correctly toned prints then so be it. Anyone else noticed this?..

[Benji]

I have noticed even with a calibrated monitor my prints are different. Think about it. The image on the monitor is projected onto the back of a piece of translucent glass and "glows." The image on a piece of photographic paper is composed of photographic dyes imbedded in a piece of white paper. Two completely different mediums that will never be identical.

I have to chuckle when reading critiques of portraits from certain individuals. They will pontificate about white balance, and contrast and slight exposure problems like these are going to ruin the final print. If the file is submitted to a good professional lab, none of the above mentioned "problems" are problems at all for them. The print will be returned with correct color balance, correct contrast and correct density (lightness or darkness of the overall print.)

Benji

[jfrancho]

make sure you get a profile/calibration device that includes measured luminance and black point. This will correct your brightness and contrast issues. My prints from my lab look exactly as they do on my calibrated CRT.

[Mark.A]

Thanks guys, I was looking at the Pantone Huey will that be okay?..

[jfrancho]

Nope. it's junk in my opinion. Get an Eye one or Spyder2Pro.

[Mark.A]

Thanks jfrancho, Can you expand on why you think it's junk? Any particular reason?..

[jfrancho]

it doesn't have measured luminance and black point, changes its calibration based on ambient room light (this has led to several problems) are two at the top of my head.

[Tom Swaman]

I second what John recommended. Also, there is good technical support available from both companies for the use of their hardware/software. Also, depending upon which unit you purchase, these can be markedly upgraded by in-house software changes if you decide you need to upgrade, i.e. the hardware for several different models is identical, only the application software differs.

Finally, if you really are interested in what makes all of this color stuff work, you might buy a copy of the late Bruce Fraser's book. Real World Color Management, Second Edition. This is probably the "color Bible".

Tom

[jfrancho]

A very good book, though it probably took me more than a month, to begin to grasp the concepts. A moment of silence for Bruce.....


Thanks.

[Mark.A]

On the Pantone website it says that the Huey has user defined 'White Point', is that not as good as 'Black Point'?

Here's what Pantone say about the Huey:

Tune your calibration to a specific output destination or try different settings to see what works best for you. Now you have the option to choose your own combination of Whitepoint and Gamma targeting in calibration for a new level of customized profiling.

Take control of your LCD Contrast and Brightness by visually tuning the controls to your custom viewing environment. Previously only available for CRT calibration, you can now calibrate your Contrast and Brightness on any LCD display with the appropriate controls.

Here's a direct quote on what they say about the sensor:

huey is designed with the same advanced optical color sensors as the Eye-One® Display solutions.

Is what they're saying just not true? I can appreciate that the two you mentioned are probably better but as I'm on a budget the Huey is looking much more appealing. If it can do the job (make the colours and tones on my monitor match the prints) then I'll be happy, obviously if it just won't do the job then I'll have to think again. I just can't see how Pantone can get away with marketing the Huey to do this job if it just doesn't work?

[jfrancho]

Go ahead and try it out if your determined. Everything I've read online is that it isn't as good as other units. It is inexpensive, though. I've had nothing but success with my Spyder2PRO on both CRT and LCD.

[Mark.A]

I'm not determined about getting it, I'd just prefer to spend less if I can. If it's definitely not going to be good enough then I haven't got a problem getting one of the others instead. So you haven't actually tried it yourself? Is there anyone who has tried or got the Huey here that can let me know what they think please?..

[blumesan]

I have been using a Huey for the past 18 months. My prints (from various printing services; not in house) come as close to what appears on my monitor as one can expect from two completely different media. I do use the printing profiles from the services to soft proof the final copy.

Cheers/Mike

[Lee4145]

Originally Posted by blumesan

I have been using a Huey for the past 18 months. My prints (from various printing services; not in house) come as close to what appears on my monitor as one can expect from two completely different media. I do use the printing profiles from the services to soft proof the final copy.

Cheers/Mike

Exactly my experience. Except I haven't had mine for 18 months.

[Mark.A]

Cheers guys, I don't do my own prints either. From what you say the Huey may well be enough for my needs, guess there's only one way to know for sure. If anyone else has comments I'd still love to hear them...