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• Best monitors for editing
Color calibration is hugely important if you want to edit your best photos, because how can you edit an image effectively if your monitor is giving you a false reading?
Image manipulation is a delicate process that involves lots of subtle tweaks. Imagine if all of those subtle tweaks were slightly off, because the colors and tones you were seeing weren’t accurate. This is especially important if you plan to print your images. A key step in printing is soft proofing, which lets you preview how your printer will print your image. However, if your monitor isn’t calibrated properly, the soft proof could look very different to what actually comes out of your printer.
That’s where color calibration tools come in. For this tutorial we’re using a Datacolor SpyderX. This clever device is placed directly onto a screen, where it uses its built-in lens to measure the accuracy of the display, which it then calibrates accordingly. It’s compatible with Windows and Mac operating systems, and plugs into a USB port, or a USB-A to C adapter.
The SpyderX doesn’t just read your monitor’s display, though; it also considers the lighting of the room you’re working in, which affects how you view your screen. Because of this, there are a few considerations you must make to perform an accurate calibration. Here’s how to boost your monitor’s accuracy.
How to calibrate a monitor
01 Download the software
Download the SpyderX software from the Datacolor website. There are versions for the SpyderX Elite and Pro – in Windows and Mac flavors – so make sure you choose the right option for your setup. Follow the simple installation wizard, but don’t plug in the device until the installation is complete.
02 Start afresh
Revert to your monitor’s default settings using its built-in menu and set the colour temperature to 6500 Kelvins (if you’re able to). Mac users can enter System Preferences > Displays, click the Color tab, choose the necessary display profile, select Calibrate and then adjust the temperature in the Target White Point section.
03 Lose the light
How light falls upon your monitor will impact how you see its display. It’s therefore important to make sure that no light is directly hitting your screen, so switch off lights and draw your curtains/blinds, if necessary. Finally, set your monitor’s brightness to your preference and make sure any automatic brightness settings are switched off.
04 Select your setup
Ensure the SpyderX is connected and select Desktop or Laptop. Enter the manufacturer and model of your display, and tell the software whether you were able to adjust the brightness and / or colour temperature. Select your monitor’s backlighting technology. If you’re unsure, choose the General category.
05 Light meter
Choose your calibration settings. As this is a first-time setup, choose FullCAL. Head into the Change Settings menu and select Room Light: Room Light Switching – Automatic. This tells the SpyderX to measure the lighting in your room. The results are then factored into the calibration.
06 Calibration
Remove the SpyderX’s lens cap and place the lens on the silhouette that appears on your display. Drape the cap over the back of your monitor and use it as a counterweight. We tilted our screen back to ensure the device sat flush against our display. Hit Next to start the calibration.
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