Tcgural Posted December 8, 2016 Share Posted December 8, 2016 I have been using the Spyder 5 Elite to calibrate both of my monitors and typically recalibrate them every 2 weeks. Within the last couple of weeks one of my monitors has been changing its brightness on its own to a very noticeable difference so I've been recalibrating more often to ensure that the calibration is still in effect. I just received back a bunch of prints back that I ordered and they are a lot darker and more red than what I see on my monitor. The print company said it seems to be either my gamma is incorrectly set (1.8 or 2.2) or my brightness (between 80-120 cm/d2) is off. I have been calibrating each monitor in the step by step system and for the 1st time just tried to calibrate them in the "as close as possible" two screen match and the system indicated that my ideal brightness on both monitors is 120, whereas before it was always at 80. I feel like this may be way too high since at 80 my prints were already coming back too dark. If I try to match my screen to my print I have to set my brightness to the minimum possible and the print is still slightly darker. How can I move forward and correct this? Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damien Symonds Posted December 8, 2016 Share Posted December 8, 2016 Hi, it's not quite clear from your post - are you following my calibration instructions here? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tcgural Posted December 8, 2016 Author Share Posted December 8, 2016 (edited) Yes, I followed your instructions when first setting up and now I just recalibrate every 2 weeks. I decided to try the studio match but re-looking at your instructions, I will go back to the step by step assistant. The studio match I just tried his afternoon and that is the one that brought my brightness up to 120 Edited December 8, 2016 by Tcgural Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damien Symonds Posted December 8, 2016 Share Posted December 8, 2016 12 minutes ago, Tcgural said: Within the last couple of weeks one of my monitors has been changing its brightness on its own to a very noticeable difference Which one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tcgural Posted December 8, 2016 Author Share Posted December 8, 2016 The MacBook Pro. My other monitor is an Acer which has been consistent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damien Symonds Posted December 8, 2016 Share Posted December 8, 2016 Which one is your primary editing monitor? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tcgural Posted December 8, 2016 Author Share Posted December 8, 2016 I edit in Photoshop on the Acer but have my lightroom open on my Mac (and do very minor edits in LR). Once my editing is complete I usually open the jpg and compare on both screens before sending to print. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damien Symonds Posted December 8, 2016 Share Posted December 8, 2016 26 minutes ago, Tcgural said: I just received back a bunch of prints back that I ordered and they are a lot darker and more red than what I see on my monitor. Have you also compared an older set of prints, to make sure this wasn't just a bad print job? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tcgural Posted December 8, 2016 Author Share Posted December 8, 2016 I've never had this problem before with my prints and assumed it was a bad print job but the company said that after review it was my gamma or my brightness settings that are off. My gamma is set at 2.2 as you indicate in your instructions and my brightness at 80 (which has always been fine beforehand). As I mentioned to get my screen to match the print I would have to lower my brightness to zero and it is still not a complete match Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damien Symonds Posted December 8, 2016 Share Posted December 8, 2016 NEVER trust anything the lab says. Get some old prints out, this is VITAL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tcgural Posted December 8, 2016 Author Share Posted December 8, 2016 I've given all of my recent prints to clients (who have all been very happy with the results) but have some from awhile ago that I can show the lab. Based on my settings though, in your opinion, do you think it's the lab or something I would have to adjust on my end? Also, I should go back to the step by step assistant and not the studio match correct? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damien Symonds Posted December 8, 2016 Share Posted December 8, 2016 Don't show the lab!!!!! Just compare them to your screen, and tell me what you see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tcgural Posted December 8, 2016 Author Share Posted December 8, 2016 My print is a little darker but my brightness is also set at 120 now whereas before it was 80 so that is most likely the explanation, apart from that they are a very close match Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damien Symonds Posted December 8, 2016 Share Posted December 8, 2016 But the recent prints are dark and red? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tcgural Posted December 8, 2016 Author Share Posted December 8, 2016 yes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damien Symonds Posted December 8, 2016 Share Posted December 8, 2016 This this is a problem with that particular print run, don't you see? Your lab cocked up. Don't let them tell you different. First, make sure your calibration is perfect, so that it still exactly matches the older set of prints you have. Then hit the lab, all guns blazing. Don't take their crap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tcgural Posted December 8, 2016 Author Share Posted December 8, 2016 Ok, that is what my initial thoughts were as I follow your setup instructions to a tee and my prints have never had an issue! Thank you for your help, Im off to hit em up lol!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tcgural Posted December 8, 2016 Author Share Posted December 8, 2016 One last question, the step by step assistant is better than the studio match correct? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damien Symonds Posted December 8, 2016 Share Posted December 8, 2016 In your case, the studio match might be necessary. You have to search in your Mac settings to find what's causing the brightness to dim. It'll be some kind of power saving thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tcgural Posted December 8, 2016 Author Share Posted December 8, 2016 Ok, I'll check on that! The studio match is advising me to adjust brightness to 120 though so I should manually put it back to 80 since that worked for me in the past right? The 120 is SO bright!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damien Symonds Posted December 8, 2016 Share Posted December 8, 2016 Oh yeah, 120 is madness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tcgural Posted December 8, 2016 Author Share Posted December 8, 2016 LOL!! Definitely!! Thanks for your help and happy holidays! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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