Decent monitor that allows for calibration?

[sdsumike619]

I need to buy a couple of computer monitors for video editing. In the past I struggled with proper calibration because the LCD monitors that I had didn't allow me to make all the adjustments necessary to at least try and ballpark calibration. Any suggestions for what has worked for you?

[LMotlow]

What are you using to calibrate? What monitors have you been working with?

Most PC monitors lack controls for accurate calibration, unless you pay big money for semi-pro monitors that come with dedicated calibration gizmos and software. Most photogs, videographers, printer specialists and advanced hobbyists calibrate with a colorimeter and software-- like the i1 Dipslay2 and Xrite software. Example calibration and test readout: http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/reviews/eye_one_display2.htm. Newer version of Display2 is the I1 Profiler. Almost all but the cheapest monitors can be accurately calibrated with the proper tools.

You should be using at least an IPS display for graphics work, at the least.

[Constant Gardener]

I have an Asus Pro-Art PA248Q which came precalibrated; not sure what a professional would think of it, or how much it will drift over the years, but for fiddling with stills, watching videos, and playing the occasional video game, it's great. My son, who's in the broadcast industry, uses PB238Qs for video editing - and gaming - he did borrow some kind of calibration device when he first set them up.

[LMotlow]

The PA248Q can make an excellent performer, but it does have some problems -- nothing that can't be fixed with a good calibration kit:

Quote from last page of the TFTCentral review:

The default setup is moderate, but there are some discrepancies with gamma and white point which aren't possible to correct through the OSD menu and would require a calibration device to sort out. The so-called factory calibration didn't really deliver anything better sadly, and for some reason the 'user' preset modes, where you have access to change the RGB channels, do not allow a decent colour calibration. Having said that, the wide viewing angles, decent image quality and high (for IPS) contrast ratio mean the screen can deliver a good picture quality. If you are able to calibrate the screen, either with your own device or with the bundled Spyder4 package if you bought the PA248QJ version of the screen, then you should be able to overcome those limitations with gamma, white point and colour accuracy anyway.

A thorough review and calibration of this model: http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/reviews/asus_pa248q.htm.

[sdsumike619]

Ok, how about a sub $200 monitor coupled with a decent calibration device? I'm not shooting/editing hollywood epics here, just like to make sure I'm at least in the ballpark as far as colors, brightness, etc.. This one appears to be pretty good too Dell UltraSharp U2412M

[LMotlow]

I've seen the 2412M in action, looked pretty good to me. It's an older model but so what? http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/reviews/dell_u2412m.htm It's been superceded by new versions with similar specs, so prices are good.

I'm using LG and HP IPS monitors, both under 200 when new. Dell's IPS front panels are made by LG to Dell specs.

[sdsumike619]

What about this one? ASUS VS24AH-P along with a calibration device? Would this be a good one for video editing?

[LMotlow]

It's a lower end IPS -- no color channel controls, and certainly no calibration kit. Comes with a triucky to use calibration software disc, pretty generic and no way to get real use of it if from lack of better image controls. Reports I've seen on tech forums/newsgroups say it has some edge bleed problems, not too bad but about par in its price class. Factory settings are said to be pumped-up and sorta unreal, with only a few preset modes instead of real color controls, but many people like that sort of thing. Display is 1980x1200, so it has user adjustment for 16:9 and 4:3. Your move.

[sdsumike619]

After reading your comments on it, now I'm not so sure about that one... ugh.

[sdsumike619]

I guess I'll just got with the Dell U2412M, found it online for under $230

[LMotlow]

Dell Ultrasharps are quite nice, and factory settings are at least in the ballpark for decent imaging. Save up later for a real colorimeter/calibration kit and the damn thing will look almost as good as you get in a movie theater.

[sdsumike619]

I finally got the Dell U2412M and am using it now, what a beautiful monitor!
As far as calibration goes, I'm at: http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/articles/icc_profiles.htm#the_database
And there's 12 entries for my monitor. Should I use the settings from one of those entries,, if so, which?

[LMotlow]

I'd go with the X-rite i1 Pro + LaCie (as in the U2412M review and calibration in http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/reviews/dell_u2412m.htm) or the DTP94 + Argyll setup. Avoid calibrations made with Spyder kits.

Not all monitors are exactly alike, even among samples of the same model. As you can see, users came up with different numbers. Eventually you should get something at least like the i1's ColorMunki for any critical work. The colorimeter can also be used to calibrate a TV.

[sdsumike619]

Thank you for your suggestion on which profile to go with. Is it just a matter of downloading the profile, or is there some special procedure to get it into place? This is really "mission critical," I just want to be within the ball park with calibration so I think with it being a brand new monitor, going with someone else's calibration will get me close enough.

[LMotlow]

Your personal profile says you are using Windows XP. The color management profile is an .icm file that should be associated with your graphics card performance -- not the same as the DELL .icm "driver" file that identifies your monitor to the system. You need both the DELL system driver and the Color Management profile.

Install the DELL driver first. Likely the '24' came with a setup disc. Usually when you insert a DELL monitor disc it starts by itself with a menu that leads to the user guide and other stuff, and the DELL driver setup. If that driver is not installed, then when you go into your desktop Advanced settings menu and look at your monitor you'll see a listing for some kind of generic display monitor. After the DELL driver is installed, Windows will more precisely identify your monitor to the system.

The tftcentral .icm profile you downloaded is a Color Management profile. Copy that .icm file to C:\Windows\System32\spool\drivers\color. Then go back into your desktop properties setup, Click the "Settings" tab at the top, click the "Advanced" tab at the bottom, and look for a "Color Management" tab at the top of the window. The window of color management profiles that you've already installed or used earlier will have your DELL driver shown as the default color management profile. Likely, the "new" .icm won't be listed yet. Click on "Add...", locate your color management .icm file, click on "Add" again. Then select that profile in the color management window and click "Set As Default". Then click "Apply", and exit the setup dialogs.

Don't forget that the tftcentral listing for those profiles also shows settings for things like brightness, RGB, etc. Those settings are integral to the calibration. Go into your monitor's manual setup menu, find those controls, and manually make those same settings.

When you use a calibration kit and colorimeter, the internal CM settings are made for you during the calibration, except for the manual monitor stuff. But the software kit leads you through the manual part with some graphic displays to let you see what you're doing.

[sdsumike619]

Sorry about the outdated profile, no I am using Windows 7 64bit. Thanks for the info!

[sdsumike619]

I did everything you said. After adjusting the brightness, contrast and RGB, the monitor looks totally different. apparently it was way bright from the factory. Question, what exactly do those .icm files do? When I selected the custom one from that site, I didn't see anything actually change on the screen.

[LMotlow]

For video work, out of the box monitors -- even good ones -- are 50% to 100% too bright for video work. The, too, most people work in very bright light, whose main effect is to make monitor contrast look too tame.

Calibration with the user controls on non-pro monitors is only an approximation, especially since it affects mostly the midrange and is done at only one brightness level and one RGB point (usually 75% or 100% RGB white patch). The .icm is created to bring your graphic card and monitor characteristics closer together across the spectrum, from light to dark and every place in between. Luminance and gamma curves are really tough to adjust with the usual monitor controls, too.

Three or 4 years ago a former member posted graphic results that begin with what the RGB curve looks like after using manual controls, then what things look like after polishing off the calibration with a colorimeter kit. https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/335402-VHS-capture-critique?p=2083260&viewfull=1#post2083260. That post kinda sold me on getting a better adjustment kit.