Anybody using Spyder ?

Tim Nelson · April 7th, 2005

Just wondering if anybody is or has used this and what their opinions of it are.

http://www.colorvision.com/profis/pr...iew.jsp?id=101

I'm thinking about buying it since every time I have to print, I always end up getting mad because it never prints the way I want it.

DennisHolland · April 7th, 2005

Hi Tim,

you can calibrate your monitor with Adobe gamma (Most pc's have it allready installed but also comes with Photoshop)...

Start Adobe Gamma, located in the Control Panels folder or in the Program Files/Common Files /Adobe/Calibration folder on your hard drive.

Do one of the following:

To use a version of the utility that will guide you through each step, select Step by Step, and click OK. This version is recommended if you're inexperienced. If you choose this option, follow the instructions described in the utility. Start from the default profile for your monitor if available, and enter a unique description name for the profile. When you are finished with Adobe Gamma, save the profile using the same description name. (If you do not have a default profile, contact your monitor manufacturer for appropriate phosphor specifications.)

To use a compact version of the utility with all the controls in one place, select Control Panel, and click OK. This version is recommended if you have experience creating color profiles.

This is from the Photoshop 7.0 helpfile. Must have Photoshop intalled though

Good luck,
Dennis

jackb602 · April 8th, 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Nelson

Just wondering if anybody is or has used this and what their opinions of it are.

http://www.colorvision.com/profis/pr...iew.jsp?id=101

I'm thinking about buying it since every time I have to print, I always end up getting mad because it never prints the way I want it.

I've been using it for a couple of years to calibrate my Formac Gallery 1710 LCD. When I print to my Epson 2200, the print is nearly indistinguishable from the image on the screen. I recommend it.

Jack

Jeff Mottle · April 8th, 2005

Ahhhhhhhhhh! No! That Adobe Gamma is the worst thing you can use. Stay far far away.

As far as the new Spyder 2, we just bought the latest version at work and it is by far the best one they have made yet. It is very very good. Run, don't walk and pick your's up now! We just bought the Pro Studio version.

There have been a few threads about this recently so here is the link to the manuals I made a few years ago: http://www.cgarchitect.com/vb/showth...ht=ICC+profile

Jeff Mottle · April 8th, 2005

I should also premise that you can get about 80-90% of the way to getting matched prints if you have a proper printer ICC and a calibrated monitor. If you want 99-100%, then you need a controlled room and a small viewing booth.

Craig Ramsay · April 8th, 2005

I use one too, they are very good if you use them properly.

Tim Nelson · April 8th, 2005

Thanks for the tip Dennis. I ran Adobe Gamma last night just to make sure I hadn't inadvertently missed it before, but then I remembered going through it already.

I think my monitor must be getting old because it has good contrast but even at its brightest settings is still a little dark. I have to use the Nvida gamma correction to give it a little boost.

Jeff, what would you say the advantage is of the PRO version over the regular Spyder package? Now that you guys have got me convinced, I'm excited to try it out, but I want to know if the standard package would be good enough for my needs.

Thanks.

Jeff Mottle · April 8th, 2005

Tim,

We have only just started testing all of the other features that are specific to the Pro version, so I can't tell yet, but the base software itself (Pro and Non-Pro) it MUCH more user friendly than the original and will also calibrate monitors that do not have seperate gun controls. A really nice feature too is that it will match dual monitors too.

Jeff Mottle · April 8th, 2005

Here is a comparison matrix:http://www.colorvision.com/store_compare.shtml

angelo · April 8th, 2005

We used the Spyder a lot at my old place of work--nice because it worked on both CRT's and LCD's. Once we had our monitors dialed in, it wasn't hard to get output that was very close.

By the way, has anyone tried the printfx optical thingy that they also sell in one of the packages?

Angelo

April 7th, 2005	#1 (permalink)
Tim Nelson Veteran Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Providence, RI Age: 30 Posts: 1,636 Name: Tim Nelson	Anybody using Spyder ? Just wondering if anybody is or has used this and what their opinions of it are. http://www.colorvision.com/profis/pr...iew.jsp?id=101 I'm thinking about buying it since every time I have to print, I always end up getting mad because it never prints the way I want it. __________________ Tim Nelson timnelson3d.com

April 7th, 2005	#2 (permalink)
DennisHolland Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rotterdam Age: 41 Posts: 738 Name: Dennis de Priester	Re: Anybody using Spyder ? Hi Tim, you can calibrate your monitor with Adobe gamma (Most pc's have it allready installed but also comes with Photoshop)... Start Adobe Gamma, located in the Control Panels folder or in the Program Files/Common Files /Adobe/Calibration folder on your hard drive. Do one of the following: To use a version of the utility that will guide you through each step, select Step by Step, and click OK. This version is recommended if you're inexperienced. If you choose this option, follow the instructions described in the utility. Start from the default profile for your monitor if available, and enter a unique description name for the profile. When you are finished with Adobe Gamma, save the profile using the same description name. (If you do not have a default profile, contact your monitor manufacturer for appropriate phosphor specifications.) To use a compact version of the utility with all the controls in one place, select Control Panel, and click OK. This version is recommended if you have experience creating color profiles. This is from the Photoshop 7.0 helpfile. Must have Photoshop intalled though Good luck, Dennis __________________ __________________________________________ PRIESTERMEDIA 3D Visualisaties & Presentaties Rotterdam, the Netherlands Last edited by DennisHolland; April 7th, 2005 at 10:16 PM.

April 8th, 2005	#4 (permalink)
Jeff Mottle President/Founder Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Age: 33 Posts: 5,162 Name: Jeff Mottle	Re: Anybody using Spyder ? Ahhhhhhhhhh! No! That Adobe Gamma is the worst thing you can use. Stay far far away. As far as the new Spyder 2, we just bought the latest version at work and it is by far the best one they have made yet. It is very very good. Run, don't walk and pick your's up now! We just bought the Pro Studio version. There have been a few threads about this recently so here is the link to the manuals I made a few years ago: http://www.cgarchitect.com/vb/showth...ht=ICC+profile __________________ Jeff Mottle CGarchitect.com

April 8th, 2005	#5 (permalink)
Jeff Mottle President/Founder Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Age: 33 Posts: 5,162 Name: Jeff Mottle	Re: Anybody using Spyder ? I should also premise that you can get about 80-90% of the way to getting matched prints if you have a proper printer ICC and a calibrated monitor. If you want 99-100%, then you need a controlled room and a small viewing booth. __________________ Jeff Mottle CGarchitect.com

April 8th, 2005	#6 (permalink)
Craig Ramsay Moderator Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Scotland Age: 28 Posts: 741 Name: Craig Ramsay	Re: Anybody using Spyder ? I use one too, they are very good if you use them properly.

April 8th, 2005	#7 (permalink)
Tim Nelson Veteran Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Providence, RI Age: 30 Posts: 1,636 Name: Tim Nelson	Re: Anybody using Spyder ? Thanks for the tip Dennis. I ran Adobe Gamma last night just to make sure I hadn't inadvertently missed it before, but then I remembered going through it already. I think my monitor must be getting old because it has good contrast but even at its brightest settings is still a little dark. I have to use the Nvida gamma correction to give it a little boost. Jeff, what would you say the advantage is of the PRO version over the regular Spyder package? Now that you guys have got me convinced, I'm excited to try it out, but I want to know if the standard package would be good enough for my needs. Thanks. __________________ Tim Nelson timnelson3d.com

April 8th, 2005	#8 (permalink)
Jeff Mottle President/Founder Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Age: 33 Posts: 5,162 Name: Jeff Mottle	Re: Anybody using Spyder ? Tim, We have only just started testing all of the other features that are specific to the Pro version, so I can't tell yet, but the base software itself (Pro and Non-Pro) it MUCH more user friendly than the original and will also calibrate monitors that do not have seperate gun controls. A really nice feature too is that it will match dual monitors too. __________________ Jeff Mottle CGarchitect.com

April 8th, 2005	#9 (permalink)
Jeff Mottle President/Founder Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Age: 33 Posts: 5,162 Name: Jeff Mottle	Re: Anybody using Spyder ? Here is a comparison matrix:http://www.colorvision.com/store_compare.shtml __________________ Jeff Mottle CGarchitect.com

April 8th, 2005	#10 (permalink)
angelo Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 78 Name: Angelo Marasco	Re: Anybody using Spyder ? We used the Spyder a lot at my old place of work--nice because it worked on both CRT's and LCD's. Once we had our monitors dialed in, it wasn't hard to get output that was very close. By the way, has anyone tried the printfx optical thingy that they also sell in one of the packages? Angelo

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