HOT TIPS: Monitor Calibration and Profiling

• In monitor profiling, the first step is to achieve consistency on the monitor by optimizing the hardware settings (if available) for contrast, brightness, and color temperature. Optimized settings provide the best image reproduction on-screen.



• Don't confuse monitor software tools with calibration. As long as the monitor falls within a reasonable contrast and color balance range, your color management program should be able to calibrate it. For example, if you want to calibrate to 6500K and your monitor's preset is 6700K, it should be close enough to calibrate.



• Calibration means achieving a known standard of performance. For monitors, the standards are contrast (gamma) and color balance (white point).



• Network monitor calibration is very useful for remote proofing. If two people at different locations will be viewing the same files, the proof will be more accurate if the monitors are calibrated together.



• Profiling Dual Displays. If you use more than one monitor on the same computer, you may want to profile both displays. Keep in mind that monitor calibration values are stored in the video card, so if your video card only supports the calibration of one monitor, you can only calibrate one of the displays.

Color Docs for Deeper Knowledge

X-Rite Guide to Color Management
Soft Proofing in CS2 Photoshop
Color Theory, Aesthetics of Print, Evaluating Substrates by John Paul Caponigro