Apple Display and Calibration

[Michelle Pena]

Sorry, not sure where to post this in the Apple or calibration section. Does anyone here edit with an Apple Display Pro ? Been having issues with prints being dull and dark.

I use a Colorchecker Display Pro. Prints not matching, they are either too warm or too cool on either setting. 

 

These are the settings I have tried so far.. Can there be a D60 lol!! Lum 60 is the most it can do. 80 lum is too bright.

1) Native and 60 lum- too cool

2) D65 and 60 lum - too cool

3) D55 and 60 lum- way too warm- hard to see colors and brightness at this setting 

4)D50 and 60 lum- still too warm but better

 

Does anyone have issues like this with their Apple Display? Should I purchase another non-Apple screen that I cannot afford for the Mac Mini?

 

Thanks for any help.

 

 

[Damien Symonds]

Are you sure the light in your room is bright and white enough?  Room lighting is the #1 cause of non-matching.

[Brian]

You are the 1st person that has asked about the Apple Display Pro XDR, and unfortunately...I don't have any real experience with it.   

I know the default White Point is D65, according to Apple, but I find that too cool. Personally, I'm using D55 on My 27" iMac and it matches my prints very well. I will say this...if you have the option to choose which Display Panel Type in your Calibration Software, look for GB-LED. If you choose the wrong one, you will get weird...and usually frustrating, results. 

[Michelle Pena]

3 hours ago, Damien Symonds said:

Are you sure the light in your room is bright and white enough?  Room lighting is the #1 cause of non-matching.

It's always been the same. I've not changed anything in a few years. LIght bulbs are white 6500k

[Michelle Pena]

1 hour ago, Brian said:

You are the 1st person that has asked about the Apple Display Pro XDR, and unfortunately...I don't have any real experience with it.   

I know the default White Point is D65, according to Apple, but I find that too cool. Personally, I'm using D55 on My 27" iMac and it matches my prints very well. I will say this...if you have the option to choose which Display Panel Type in your Calibration Software, look for GB-LED. If you choose the wrong one, you will get weird...and usually frustrating, results. 

I have the regular Apple Display, not the XDR, but it doesn't matter though lol Yes, it's too cool at d65 but it's so easy on the eyes and to edit .With the d50 setting, it's so warm and dull, it's hard to edit on this; everything looks hazy. I'll try the GB-LED option! Maybe that will help some. 

[Brian]

Apple switched over to GB-LED Screens in 2015, and as far as I know, they are still GB-LED. I know my 2017 27" iMac has one. 

[Michelle Pena]

I tried the GB-LED setting this evening, and I think the screen looks better. Not as warm. Prints match a tad better. I'm about to edit a session that is mostly pink and white, which makes it super difficult to see colors correctly due to the warm screen. I may consider a new non-Apple monitor if I can with the Mac mini. I'm just not in the budget for it right now.  

[Brian]

17 hours ago, Michelle Pena said:

may consider a new non-Apple monitor if I can with the Mac mini.

Unfortunately, Macs do not like 4K. Things like text SUCK on Macs at 4K. The only Display that looks decent, which gives you the "Apple Experience" with the M1 - M4 Line of Macs is the Apple Studio Display. Yes, it's $1600. Yes, Apple does this on purpose. 

I just want to clarify, this is the Display you currently have or do you have the Apple Display Pro XDR that's about 5 years old? Displays do change over time, and yours might be due for replacement. That's why Calibration is so important, not only do shoot for accurate colors, but you also want to be made aware if your Display starts fading due to age. 

But before you go out blowing all sorts of money, we might want to replace your Calibrator. Chances are, if your Calibrator is about 5 years old as well, it's likely not going to play well with Apple's modern Studio Display. So you are gonna have to buy one anyways. 

Let me know specifically which display you have. 

[Michelle Pena]

I have the Apple Studio Display with my Mac mini M2 pro, and I also purchased the Calibrated Color Checker Pro new. So both are almost two years old. I'm shit out of luck then ! 

 

[Brian]

Hmm...

Have you tried getting samples from different printers? I know, I know "...BUT MILLER'S CUSTOMER SERVICE IS AMAZING!!!!! "

*Sigh*

You'd be surprised on how machines don't get routine maintenance. Or have qualified people trained to fix them. I know...I'm in the business as my day job. I can't tell you how many times I've been told to, "Just go fix it..." and I had no idea the product existed in the first place, but I'm expected to make it work. Bonus Points: Having to train a customer on how to use it by watching a YouTube Tutorial Video 5 min before walking through the door. (I'm dead serious.) Fortunately, it's mostly folding machines and shredders, and not something like a printing machine. 

But trust me, companies don't like training...that costs money. They rather get the money for the service contract and figure it out later.  

So before you throw your hands up, I want you to pick 5 different new printing places and get some test prints back. You might find that a particular company works better color-wise with your new Mac, even thought you've "Always used Company X." I personally like CPQ.com. But I will say, a little color goes a long way with them and D55 matches the best. 

Not only are you going to submit photos of what you normally shoot, I want you to do general stuff too. Black & Whites, Landscapes, Macro. All sorts of things. See which works overall. Personally, I feel that 90%-95% matching is the best compromise, and a realistic scenario. You will never get 100% matching. If you do, great...you just have bragging rights. You want things to be close, and predictable, plus keeping your monitor consistent over the years. 

[Michelle Pena]

I do know a bit about labs and how they work from the film days. A Loooong time ago... LOL... I used to work at a Riz Camera back in my early twenties, and they constantly calibrated and performed regular maintenance. Versus Walgreens, which rarely changed out the chemicals, so you know how that goes, lol! I use Shootproof for my clients. And tried all the labs except one or two, but I liked Miller's better. Have my settings in PS according to their specs. I will be talking to them on Monday about my issues. I wish they had CPQ as a choice.

[Michelle Pena]

Oh, I also wanted to ask if anything has changed with setting up Photoshop?  I have your article or Damien's on how to set it up. I'm about to upgrade to PS 2025 and want to ensure that my settings remain the same. Thanks so much! 

[Michelle Pena]

Sorry, my questions are random lol! This is what Miller's prefers, so the North American purpose 2 or whatever it is changes to custom, is this an issue that you know of?

 

Below is a picture of what these specific settings to be.

 

 

[Damien Symonds]

Michelle! STOP USING FUCKING MILLERS.