Cheap (free) Ways to Calibrate Color on LCD Monitors?

I just received a second LCD monitor to add
to the one I already have on my desk. This is a nice
way to work but I notice that the color calibration
of the LCDs is quite different. I know
there are some very expensive products
out there that the hardcore graphics people
use to solve this problem but I wonder
if there's anything that's cheap, or better
yet, free that us amateurs can use.

Cordially,
-- 
Jon Forrest
Unix Computing Support
College of Chemistry
173 Tan Hall
University of California Berkeley
Berkeley, CA
94720-1460
510-643-1032
jlforrestberkeley.edu


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Jon:

You don't specify which OS you're using with these monitors,
but I'm  
assuming you're looking more for consistency between the two
monitors  
than high-fidelity color reproduction.  Is that correct?

If so, there is software that will help you do this.  On Mac
OS X,  
there's even one built into the "Displays" System
Preference--open  
System Preferences, Click on "Displays," click on
the "Color" tab,  
click "Calibrate", check the "Expert Mode -
This turns on extra  
options." checkbox, and then follow the directions.

Hope this helps,

Ian

On Mar 8, 2007, at 10:19 PM, Jon Forrest wrote:

> I just received a second LCD monitor to add
> to the one I already have on my desk. This is a nice
> way to work but I notice that the color calibration
> of the LCDs is quite different. I know
> there are some very expensive products
> out there that the hardcore graphics people
> use to solve this problem but I wonder
> if there's anything that's cheap, or better
> yet, free that us amateurs can use.
>
> Cordially,
> -- 
> Jon Forrest
> Unix Computing Support
> College of Chemistry
> 173 Tan Hall
> University of California Berkeley
> Berkeley, CA
> 94720-1460
> 510-643-1032
> jlforrestberkeley.edu
>
>
>
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> server:
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> For information about Micronet, including subscribing
to
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> about upcoming meetings, please visit the Micronet Web
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Ian Crew wrote:
> Jon:
> 
> You don't specify which OS you're using with these
monitors, but I'm 
> assuming you're looking more for consistency between
the two monitors 
> than high-fidelity color reproduction.  Is that
correct?

That's exactly right.

> If so, there is software that will help you do this. 
On Mac OS X, 
> there's even one built into the "Displays"
System Preference--open 
> System Preferences, Click on "Displays,"
click on the "Color" tab, click 
> "Calibrate", check the "Expert Mode -
This turns on extra options." 
> checkbox, and then follow the directions.

This is excellent information. What about Windows?

Thanks,

-- 
Jon Forrest
Unix Computing Support
College of Chemistry
173 Tan Hall
University of California Berkeley
Berkeley, CA
94720-1460
510-643-1032
jlforrestberkeley.edu


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With Windows it varies with the display adapter. My ATI
Radeon allows 
me to load ICM or ICC colour profiles. I still have to at
least set 
the colour temperature of the monitor to match. I am not
sure what 
happens with dual heads. As a first step, see if the base
colour 
temperature on the two monitors is set the same. Probably
5500, 6500 
or 9300 K.

If you want a custom profile you might need Adobe Gamma or a
similar 
to create a profile.

At home I use a Spyder to calibrate the various computers.
My wife is 
a graphic artist, so some consistency is desirable.


Graham
--
Graham Patterson, System Administration
Dept. of Economics, UC Berkeley (510)643-5397


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