Spyder PRO 4

[Ilana K]

Hi, just bought the Spyder Pro 4 and calibrated my monitor, came out brownish and all my edited images looked all funny, how accurate is the Spyder ? Maybe I'm doing something wrong?

[Chris F]

I use the Pro3 and my images drastically improved since using it.

[Ilana K]

Yes, can't wait for improved images if I can just get it right first, surely it can't be right when your CS5 is brown instead of grey?

[Leo Theron]

Ilana K,

It all depends…

But before I get there… On your Spyder CD there is a calibration image. What does it looks like when you view it on your calibrated monitor? Another calibration image is available here:

http://www.pbase.com/leot/image/131734444 It is a freely distributed calibration image from Fuji. In short, you should be able to:

- See all the steps on the right hand side - free from any colour cast.

- The greyscale on the left should be without any steps (smooth), nor any colour cast.

- The clouds should be white, again without any colour casts

- Below the Fuji balloon there is two trees. Can you see the difference in colours of the leafs?

- The eyes of the models should be without a colour cast and see if they are wearing white T-shirts on your computer…


Your bad looking images - after calibration:

- If you had a cool (too blue) out-of-box screen, you would have corrected your images by making them more red to compensate. Now you have calibrated your screen, and if you view those 'old' images, they would be too red!

[Forgiss - Sean Nel]

The spyder is very accurate, but ambient light and original settings (brightness/contrast/sat) plays a big role - everything should be back to neutral/default before you start