Monitor and printer calibration

[m9photo]

I just bought an epson R2400 and have question to all that have been doing their own printing. Do I have to buy both softwares? or monitor calibration is enough? I know that spyder has few version (elite, pro and express) also they have the studio (monitor and printer combo) but the latter on is so much expensive ($599) so I will have to pass on that option, so which one should I buy? thanks all!.

[Joe A.]

Hi Ike,

Adobe has a monitor calibration program called Adobe Gamma that comes with Photoshop. But to utilize it you would need a monitor that allows you to make changes to the settings -- brightness, contrast, etc. I always found it difficult to use but that could be just me and my eyes. I'm sure a Google search would give you some more free calibration programs. But -- if you want precise calibration, you probably should go with a program that includes a colorimeter.

As for printing can you print from Windows. File/Print and select the Epson 2400. I believe most people print for an imaging program, such as Photoshop.

The answer to your question is no, you don't have to buy both programs.

Hope this helps,

Joe

[rexster314]

Get yourself online, find and buy a Spyder (makes no difference in which version; I bought the middle of the pack one). To profile your monitor to me is the most important thing in printing at home. Generally, the profiles associated with the paper(s) are pretty good, but you've got to be able to actually see what you get and you will never do that without profiling your monitor. No amount of guessing will get you a great print

Rex

[Joe A.]

Originally Posted by rexster314

Get yourself online, find and buy a Spyder (makes no difference in which version; I bought the middle of the pack one). To profile your monitor to me is the most important thing in printing at home. Generally, the profiles associated with the paper(s) are pretty good, but you've got to be able to actually see what you get and you will never do that without profiling your monitor. No amount of guessing will get you a great print

Rex

Agree. I use the Spyder2Pro.

[luis_relampago]

I use the Huey Pro and i love it. For $100 does a pretty good job, I print out of a Epson
R1900 and I only have to increase the brightness by 15% overall to get perfect prints.

[Arnor]

Hi Joe,

Originally Posted by Joe A.

Adobe has a monitor calibration program called Adobe Gamma... I always found it difficult to use but that could be just me and my eyes.

Before I bought my Spyder I had tried to use AG but I never figured out how to use it. The instructions were good, and the program worked, but the colors/pattern never changed as the docs said they should. And even for those that did, the margin of error is so big that itis, IMHO, not much better than just eyeballing it;) I spyder all my computers now and LOVE it! I don't have my Epsons (2200 and R-340) calibrated, but they produce virtually identical results when using same paper and appropriate profiles.

Best regards,

[ChuckW]

I wouldn't bother with the printer calibration package, everything that I have read about this indicates that it is tricky to do as a home user. Further, Epson's profiles for their own papers are pretty good. Also, some manufacturers/distributors of other papers offer profiles for their papers on specific printers. For example, Red River paper offers profiles for their papers for your printer.
Monitor calibration, or the other hand, is almost a necessity. I have the Spyder2, but other brands work as well.

[m9photo]

Thanks guys, I think I will go with spyder pro.