[filmscanners] Re: Monitor adjustment

["Rob Geraghty" <robg@wordweb.com>]

Thanks for the responses!  I am surprised this topic doesn't come up more
often on a filmscanner list.  I also found a utility on simtel.  The home
page for it is http://www.passmark.com
The utility above at least gives me the basic test patterns to set up the
monitor.

Andreas wrote:
> if you don't have the hardware for calibration, this might help:
> http://www.littlecms.com/

Thanks Andreas!  I wasn't actually after a CMS, because there's one built
into Windoze 2K, but if I decide to give editing in Linux a try, this will
be handy.

Doug wrote:
> If you have Photoshop, the Adobe Gamma tool that comes with it will at
> least get you close.

Thanks Doug, but I don't have Photoshop.  I use Paintshop Pro - partly
because I'm poor, and partly because I prefer the interface.  Especially the
printing interface!  The only thing I miss from Photoshop is the ability to
edit 16bit images.  Picture Window Pro has a really cool way of editing in
16bit - it's great for adjusting contrast without screwing up the colour
balance.  But I have to find the money to buy PWP...

Michel wrote:
> http://www.lenswork.com/calibrate.htm
> http://www.zonezero.com/calibration/english.html
> http://epaperpress.com/monitorcal/

Thanks!  I'll check them out.

Paul wrote:
> I used to use Colorific. I think they're still around.

I tried it in the past and didn't like it, but I don't remember why.  I have
a copy of ProveIt! somewhere but I've moved several times and I can't find
it. :(  ProveIt! has quite a good routine for adjusting the monitor, aside
from profiling.  I don't really want to generate a profile, because the
manufacturer has provided one which ought to be adequate.  I just need to
set up basic things like the brightness, contrast and colour temperature
correctly.

Julian Robinson <jrobinso@pcug.org.au> wrote:
> http://members.austarmetro.com.au/~julian/photography/adjust-monitor.htm

Thanks for the links, Julian!

> One day I'll learn about full CM but at the moment I seem to be getting by
> fine with my simple approach.

I went through a huge amount of pain trying to match my old monitor, Windows
98SE and an Epson Photo 700.  When I bought the Epson 1160 I found out that
my main problem was the printer, not the adjustments of the scanner or
screen.  I really don't think "proper" CM is possible without hardware
calibration - meaning a colorimeter to get the monitor profile right for
starters!  But I have found that for my purposes, the default profiles are
"good enough" provided the basic screen settings are right.  My old monitor
has been dying for a while - I bought it in 1995 so the mere fact that it is
working at all is a miracle.  But I couldn't use it for scanning any more
because the colours had all shifted - white was no longer white, and trying
to adjust it manually was pretty much impossible.

Now if I could just afford the Epson 2100, my prints would probably improve
again due to better drivers and more inks...

Rob

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