Everything looks crunchy

[SabraM]

Hi!  I've had the same workflow for years, but everything looks different on my new laptop--very crunchy and contrasty.  I calibrated, but images that were printed and matched my old laptop monitor look terrible on this monitor.   

Do I have any options in PS to fix this, because I can't find any options with my monitor.  Maybe I need a better calibration software tool?    

I use Photoshop CC.  Old laptop was an HP Envy, calibrated with Spyder 3 Express.  New laptop is an ASUS ROG GL753VE, calibrated with the same Spyder 3 Express.  

Thanks! 

[Damien Symonds]

Hi Sabra,

Was the new laptop "crunchy and contrasty" looking as soon as you started it up?  Did the calibration make it better, worse, or no different?

[SabraM]

It was crunchy and contrasty from the beginning, it's marginally better with calibration.  

[Damien Symonds]

Thanks.

When you right-click on your desktop and choose "Display Settings", can you confirm that both of these settings are on "Recommended"?

(The numbers won't necessarily be the same as mine, I'm just making sure yours are on their own recommended settings)

[SabraM]

Both are set to recommended (my recommended is 100%)

[Damien Symonds]

Great.  And what is the resolution of yours?  1920x1080 like mine, or something else?

(I have an ASUS ROG too, by the way, and I want to assure you you've chosen well.  It's a great computer.)

[SabraM]

Oh good, I was afraid you were going to tell me I bought a crappy computer, lol.  It's also 1920x1080.

[Damien Symonds]

And do you recall the resolution of your old computer?

[SabraM]

1600x900, according to the specs on Amazon

[Damien Symonds]

Yep, that sounds right.

1 hour ago, SabraM said:

I calibrated, but images that were printed and matched my old laptop monitor look terrible on this monitor.

Can you describe this further?  In what what do they look terrible?

[SabraM]

They look oversharpened and very contrasty.  The blacks are way too black.  

[Damien Symonds]

Do they look roughly the same in both Photoshop and Windows Viewer? (Or "Photos", it might be called.)

[SabraM]

Yeah, they do.  

[SabraM]

Okay, check that--they are a little worse in the photo viewer.  Colors are oversaturated as well.

[Damien Symonds]

Ok.  Can you take a screenshot for me?  Showing me a photo open in Photoshop?

[SabraM]

Sure, do you want to see a RAW or processed? In PS or in ACR?

[Damien Symonds]

Just one of those printed files you mentioned would be fine.

[SabraM]

Hope I did this right, it's a screenshot from Bridge

[Damien Symonds]

Yep, that'll do.

It's your calibrator, I'm afraid.  It's just too old for the modern LED screen technology.  Let's face it, the Spyder 3 Express wasn't even very good in its day, and its day is long past.

[SabraM]

Lol, shoot.  Well, at least it's not an impossible fix.  Thank you for your help!  I assume you have recommendations on the site, I'll take a look. 

[Damien Symonds]

https://www.damiensymonds.net/what2buy_cal.html

[SabraM]

My Spyder5 Elite will be here tomorrow.    

[Damien Symonds]

Fabulous.  You'll find my instructions here.

While you're waiting for it to arrive, make sure you have your prints (and their corresponding files) ready to go; and also pause to consider your room lighting.

[SabraM]

5 minutes ago, Damien Symonds said:

Fabulous.  You'll find my instructions here.

While you're waiting for it to arrive, make sure you have your prints (and their corresponding files) ready to go; and also pause to consider your room lighting.

Thanks for all your help, I appreciate how generous you are with your knowledge!  You may not remember, but you've been answering my random questions since about 2010.

[Damien Symonds]

Lol, I hadn't remembered, but I just went browsing.  Yes, we go back a long way, don't we?