Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
gain allows users who have control over their RGB electronics on their
CRT displays to set them using the Colorimeter in the software to closer
reach a target color space. After that process is complete, Spyder2PRO is
used to further calibrate and then profile the display. The software is
wizard-based and has comprehensive help screens at every step of the
process.
ColorVision also has a product called Spyder2 (formally known as
PhotoCal). Spyder2 is intended for novice users and doesn't allow the
calibration of black target using the Colorimeter, but instead relies on
eyeball calibration. For this reason, I'd suggest going directly into the
Spyder2PRO product. ColorVision's Spyder2 Colorimeter can be used
on both LCD and CRT displays. This second-generation Spyder provides
a fivefold increase in sensitivity over the previous-generation
Colorimeter.
GretagMacbeth is a company with an entry-level display Colorimeter
called Eye-One Display2, which can be used with the supplied Eye-One
Match (version 3.0) software. Eye-One Display2 is a second-generation
Eye-One Colorimeter for calibrating both LCDs and CRTs, and Eye-One
Match is easy to use, wizard-based software that walks the user though
the various steps for calibrating and profiling these devices. With its soft
DDC functionality, the Eye-One Display2 can automatically calibrate all
fully DDC-compliant monitors with no user interaction. For these mon-
itors (since Y2000, more and more monitors do offer this functionality),
the Eye-One Display2 is a one-button solution. There are two modes in
the software wizard, easy and advanced. For this audience I'd suggest
using the advanced controls, especially for CRT displays as this mode will
let you set RGB controls for precalibration. Version 3.0 has a reminder
option that will inform the user when it's time to recalibrate and profile
the display system. Eye-One Match software can also be used to build
other types of profiles but those modules will be grayed out when using
the Eye-One Display2 Colorimeter since the instrument is what unlocks
the various modules.
Eye-One Match will also work with GretagMacbeth's Spectropho-
tometer, which is known only as Eye-One Pro. This unit can be purchased
to unlock and utilize the modules for building printer and even projec-
tor profiles. Both Eye-One Display2 and the Eye-One Pro Spectropho-
tometer also can be used to calibrate and profile a display using the
display module from GretagMacbeth's high-end package called Profile-
Maker Pro (version 5.0). Figure 3-4 shows the interface for this module,
which has more features than the Eye-One Match product without the
wizard-based interface. Users who wish to calibrate a number of displays
to match the same luminance will find this feature in both ProfileMaker
and Pro Eye-One Match. Both products are able to measure ambient light
falling on the display using the Eye-One Pro or Eye-One Display2. The
software will alert the user if the ambient conditions in the environment
are within the ISO 3664 specification discussed later.
