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Color Management Workflow & Monitor Calibration
Hey All,
Looking for ideas on implementing a color managed workflow with Vegas. All the video we produce winds up on the web so I’d prefer not to insert any dedicated broadcast monitors into the mix.
I’m also working with consumer grade LCD monitors as the pro ones (with traditional calibration controls) cost a fortune.
Wondering what the best solution might be to ensure that my colors/contrast/brightness are accurate (or as close to accurate as possible.) I fully realize that most end users don’t calibrate their monitors so I’ll need to take that into account as well.
I’m familiar with devices like X-rite’s Colormunki or Datacolors’s Spyder 3.
If I purchase one of these devices and calibrate my monitor based on what that device instructs me to do, will that do the trick? These devices seem geared for photographers so I’m not sure if this translates over to the video space. I suspect so but am not sure.
Also, are there any recommendations on setting cd/m2 (overall brightness of the display)?
When working with a Colormunki in the past, my monitor looked mighty dim. I realize that this is probably technically “correct.” However if this “correct” image looks lousy to end users on uncalibrated monitors, it’s not going to work for my workflow.
Thanks all in advance for the help!
Steve
PS – Reading through past posts, I read that I’ll need to use Vegas’ “preview on external monitor feature” to acheive a color accurate image, is that correct? Preview mode won’t work?
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2 Replies
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I’m familiar with devices like X-rite’s Colormunki or Datacolors’s Spyder 3. If I purchase one of these devices and calibrate my monitor based on what that device instructs me to do, will that do the trick? These devices seem geared for photographers so I’m not sure if this translates over to the video space. I suspect so but am not sure.
I use a Spyder 3 and it’s effectiveness depends on the quality of your monitor and it’s ability to be calibrated. I use a pair of SyncMaster 215TW’s ($450 each in their day but now discontinued) and the Spyder 3 has no problem calibrating them. Right from the factory they were pretty darn close.
Also, are there any recommendations on setting cd/m2 (overall brightness of the display)?
The calibration software will instruct you on how to set this.
When working with a Colormunki in the past, my monitor looked mighty dim. I realize that this is probably technically “correct.” However if this “correct” image looks lousy to end users on uncalibrated monitors, it’s not going to work for my workflow.
I have never used a Colormunki but my Spyder 3 doesn’t have this problem.
PS – Reading through past posts, I read that I’ll need to use Vegas’ “preview on external monitor feature” to acheive a color accurate image, is that correct? Preview mode won’t work?
That is correct for correcting for SD TV. You can use the Windows Secondary Monitor features to preview for an LCD. You can even load the profile from the Spyder 3 into it.
~jr
http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com -
The calibration devices are designed to set the monitor so that the monitor will accurately reproduce what you will see on a color accurate print. The aim is to adjust colors and luminance so that a photographic print will look identical to what is seen on the display. It is NOT aimed at seeing the image accurately on uncalibrated video monitors (the web) or on a television. I think the main issue lies in luminance rather than color adjustments when seeing differences between prints and a television. Since most computer monitors are not calibrated, and since manufacturers bias the display to look “better” (i.e. usually brighter), it’s impossible to anticipate the appearance of an image on the web. Most people recommend Microsoft’s RGB color space for the web.
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