Mike Chaney's Tech Corner

Probably one for the geeks among you  ;D
My IMatch 3 software has a validation feature which gives the dE2000 errors for the current monitor icc profile.
These dE2000 errors, in simple terms,  are a measure of out-of-gamut amount of the monitor in relation to the test colour patches. A value is given for each patch and an
average.
I always use the advanced method of calibration which allows you to set the monitor colour temperature with the RGB gain controls which leaves less for the graphics card to adjust via the LUT.

I have been aware for some time that the individual RGB gain settings and the brightness setting combination can affect the validation values, both on my old cheapo monitor and my current Eizo wide gamut unit.
Recently I played with the RGB gain settings on the Eizo monitor to see what could be achieved.
By reducing the RGB (individually) values when the colour temperature is set, and correspondingly increasing the brightness to still get 120CD/Msq, the average dE2000 error went from 0.74 to 0.59. Not much overall but, significantly, the error on some individual colours improved considerably, but  a few got worse.
There is a limit as to how much you can alter (reduce in this case) the gain settings as they go out of range and the optimum setting indicated by the software.
A table from a spreadsheet is attached below: the green numbers show improvement and the red are where the values got worse.
I suppose this shows it's worth using the advanced method of calibration and setting the gain values individually to achieve the colour temperature and to try different RGB values to get the best possible overall result. Once done and the trend is understood, it's then easy to maintain the improvement on subsequent calibrations.
Or is it all rather academic?
Terry.

I am afraid you are far to advance for me :)

My Eizo only get a monthly calibration with a Spyder2Express.

Interesting subject though.

I was with a group on Monday looking at members efforts on a laptop, rendition was poor to bad.  It was then decided to couple up to the telly - a massive 3 or 4 foot job - a transformation.  The images now had a full range of strong colours.  Funny thing nobody remarked at the difference.

Jeff

I now find that the Eizo monitor is so stable that every 3 months is fine.
I calibrated a friend's Iyama 24" monitor last night. There was little scope for adjustment on the RGB values which were up at at 97% and brighness at 100%. l left Contrast at it's native value of 50%. The validation check showed that the result was good with a low (<1) error value.
I'm not sure if laptop screens vary in quality but my Acer 15.5" has a small gamut and is not stable, the calibration seems to go off, based on the validation check, within a couple of weeks.
Terry

I use ColorEyes Display Pro and when I adjust the white balance using the Brightness and RGBs, I set the Brightness about 2% higher than the indicated level for my targeted luminance value.  This gives the software a bit of "headroom" for adjusting the RGB levels and makes a much better profile.  The support people from IntegratedColor/ColorEyes often suggest setting the brightness level 5-10% higher than indicated.

My question to you Eizo users is, why aren't you using Eizo's integrated hardware calibration system with ColorNavigator software and DDC?

(http://www.chasfrady.com/myphotos/misc/adjust_monitor_white.jpg)

(http://www.chasfrady.com/myphotos/misc/validation.jpg)

Hi Chas,
Because mine is one of their lower cost models, the S2242W, which does not have the hardware calibration feature like the "ColorEdge series. It requires the more conventional software calibration where the LUT is on the graphics card rather that in the monitors own electronics.
The Eyematch 3 software can, I believe, be used for hardware calibration if required.

Terry.

Sorry... I just assumed you were using a ColorEdge series monitor.  My bad for assuming.

Chas,
No worries, I'm just a poor retired person  ;)
After having a really cheap monitor, even a "lower-end" Eizo is a new world to me, it makes judgement of colour and calibration so much easier.
Terry.

I'm in a similar boat... physically challenged and soon to retire on disability income.  Suddenly I've become very frugal.