New Monitor Calibration Question - OK to cripple the Gamut?

[mshudy]

Hello!
I just got a new computer and monitor and trying to get it calibrated.

T

his is the monitor: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=email&A=details&Q=&sku=1176775&is=REG

Using my old Spyder4Pro – is this still adequate for calibrating?

 

I used your instructions for calibrating. When comparing my calibrated screen and test prints, the match is OK, though the screen is more vibrant and maybe a little warmer than my prints.

 

If I change the Color Gamut in my MONITOR settings (using the little buttons on the bottom of my monitor…NOT any editing software) from AdobeRGB (the default) to sRGB, the test print-monitor match is really good. I think I’ve read all of your articles on Calibration, the Wide Gamut Myth, and EDITING always in sRGB. I realize that buying a wide gamut monitor and then crippling it by changing that setting is counter intuitive…but is it BAD to do? Will it hurt anything? Would I need to re-calibrate with the sRGB setting?

 

Thank you!

[Damien Symonds]

After making that switch on the monitor setting, did you recalibrate?

[mshudy]

Not yet. I wanted to know if it was even ok to make that switch? And asked if i should re-calibrate? And if so, just use the recalibrate instructions? (not the initial calibration instructions)

[mshudy]

And when I recalibrate, should I choose "wide gamut" or "normal gamut" on the drop-down menu in the Spyder program? (I obviously selected "wide" the first time, but now if I have it set to sRGB, should I be choosing "normal" this time around?)

 

[Damien Symonds]

Technically the screen shouldn't be on either sRGB or Adobe RGB.  What other settings are there?

[mshudy]

Under the "Color Gamut" tab on the display menu the choices are AdobeRGB (default), sRGB, Rec 709, and DCI-P3.

On the Spec Sheet it says:

Color Gamut‎

: AdobeRGB 99% ,100% sRGB, 100% Rec.709‎

Per the user manual:

Adobe RGB - Suitable for Adobe RGB compatible peripherals
sRGB - Suitable for sRGB compatible peripherals
Rec 709 - For better color matching representation with Standard Rec 709
DCI-P3 - For better color matching representation with Standard DCI-P3

This monitor also has a hardware calibration option, which I don't really understand and didn't plan to use...but wasn't sure if that maybe had something to do with the Gamut options?

I guess mostly I want to know: Is it OK to switch to the sRGB option on the monitor display? If I do so, should I recalibrate? And if I recalibrate, should I select "Wide Gamut" or "normal gamut" from the drop down menu for my monitor type?

If I do those things and my prints match my monitor, I should be good to start working on this new monitor?

 

[Damien Symonds]

1 minute ago, mshudy said:

I guess mostly I want to know: Is it OK to switch to the sRGB option on the monitor display?

Well, it seems an awful shame.  But if it's what it takes to get a print match, I guess you'll have to.  At least until you can get a newer calibrator.

2 minutes ago, mshudy said:

And if I recalibrate, should I select "Wide Gamut" or "normal gamut" from the drop down menu for my monitor type?

Yeah, sRGB would be considered "Normal".

2 minutes ago, mshudy said:

This monitor also has a hardware calibration option, which I don't really understand and didn't plan to use

I wouldn't dismiss this out of hand.  If you can get it to work, it should be the best option.

[mshudy]

3 minutes ago, Damien Symonds said:

Well, it seems an awful shame.  But if it's what it takes to get a print match, I guess you'll have to.  At least until you can get a newer calibrator.

Yeah, sRGB would be considered "Normal".

I wouldn't dismiss this out of hand.  If you can get it to work, it should be the best option.

I have the Spyder5Elite that should be here next week, but I ordered it early LAST week and desperately need to get some work done this weekend (had no idea it would take so long directly from the company or I would have ordered elsewhere).

Is that something you would be able to answer questions about? Does the hardware calibration override the software calibration? Or do you use both? I read through the instructions, but just like the whole calibration process, it's all way over my head and I'm leery to deviate from your step by step directions.

FWIW the before and after calibration I just did were nearly identical. Hopefully that's a good sign that (besides the brightness) it looked good straight out of the box?

 

[Damien Symonds]

6 minutes ago, mshudy said:

FWIW the before and after calibration I just did were nearly identical. Hopefully that's a good sign that (besides the brightness) it looked good straight out of the box?

How's the print match?

7 minutes ago, mshudy said:

Is that something you would be able to answer questions about? Does the hardware calibration override the software calibration? Or do you use both? I read through the instructions, but just like the whole calibration process, it's all way over my head and I'm leery to deviate from your step by step directions.

I've got nothing, sorry.  I don't know how it works.

[mshudy]

1 minute ago, Damien Symonds said:

How's the print match?

I've got nothing, sorry.  I don't know how it works.

Monitor is more vibrant and maybe a little warmer than my test prints. When I switch it from AdobeRGB to sRGB on the monitor display settings, the print-monitor match is much closer. I just switched it to the sRGB option and am recalibrating now.