Luminous Landscape Forum
Equipment & Techniques => Computers & Peripherals => Topic started by: JohnKoerner on January 11, 2010, 10:04:18 am
-
I see a lot of discussion on color-calibrated monitors for desktops (e.g., NEC 2690, which I have) ... but what about color-calibrated laptops?
I was thinking about getting a travel laptop, so I could view and adjust some of my photos while traveling, and it suddenly occured to me I haven't heard of a laptop whose monitor can be calibrated.
Is there such a thing? If so, who makes them?
If not, which of the offerings are good enough to trust in this capacity ... or is it simply best to wait until you get home?
Thanks for any input.
-
I see a lot of discussion on color-calibrated monitors for desktops (e.g., NEC 2690, which I have) ... but what about color-calibrated laptops?
I was thinking about getting a travel laptop, so I could view and adjust some of my photos while traveling, and it suddenly occured to me I haven't heard of a laptop whose monitor can be calibrated.
Is there such a thing? If so, who makes them?
If not, which of the offerings are good enough to trust in this capacity ... or is it simply best to wait until you get home?
Thanks for any input.
Nothing beats a desktop monitor but you can (and should) calibrate your laptop. If you are looking for laptop screen reviews/tests from a photographer's perspective RobGalbraith.com has a couple of write ups (Macs & PCs):
http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_pag...d=7-10041-10146 (http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_page.asp?cid=7-10041-10146)
http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_pag...cid=7-9320-9876 (http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_page.asp?cid=7-9320-9876)
--
Site (http://www.jonroemer.com/) | Blog (http://www.jonroemer.com/blog/)
-
Keep in mind that laptop screens are only 6bit. I've seen night shots with deep sky gradients looking heavily posterized. Really hard to tell what you've actually got.
-
I didn't realize laptops were only six bit. Thanks.
-
TN panels are 6 bit. Most, but not all, laptops use TN panels. There are a few that do not.
-
TN panels are 6 bit. Most, but not all, laptops use TN panels. There are a few that do not.
TFT Central is quite a useful resource (though whoever designed it hasn't got much of a clue about how to use frames - sometimes you end up with 2 or 3 navigation frames and the content squeezed at the right.) It concentrates on free-standing monitors, but the reference info is reasonably helpful.
You might start with the FAQ (http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/faq.htm) for instance
-
TFT Central is quite a useful resource (though whoever designed it hasn't got much of a clue about how to use frames - sometimes you end up with 2 or 3 navigation frames and the content squeezed at the right.) It concentrates on free-standing monitors, but the reference info is reasonably helpful.
You might start with the FAQ (http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/faq.htm) for instance
What am I looking for in the FAQ?
-
What am I looking for in the FAQ?
It just mentioned 6 vs 8 bit as a starting point
-
THe Dell Studio XPS 16 offers an RGB LED backlit laptop display which is better at color accuracy than any other display type.
http://www.dell.com/us/en/home/notebooks/l...cs=19&s=dhs (http://www.dell.com/us/en/home/notebooks/laptop-studio-xps-16/pd.aspx?refid=laptop-studio-xps-16&cs=19&s=dhs)
-
It just mentioned 6 vs 8 bit as a starting point
Help me out here. You posted that in response to "TN panels are 6 bit. Most, but not all, laptops use TN panels. There are a few that do not." I've found nothing related to 6 vs 8 bit laptop displays. Am I wrong about the TN panel thing? And if so which part? The TN panels are 6 bit thing or the laptops use TN panels thing?
Edit: Added a closing quote.
-
I appreciate the responses, thank you.
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
THe Dell Studio XPS 16 offers an RGB LED backlit laptop display which is better at color accuracy than any other display type.
http://www.dell.com/us/en/home/notebooks/l...cs=19&s=dhs (http://www.dell.com/us/en/home/notebooks/laptop-studio-xps-16/pd.aspx?refid=laptop-studio-xps-16&cs=19&s=dhs)
Thank you Jerry, that is the info I was looking for in particular.
Jack
.
-
THe HP EliteBook 8730w Mobile laptop also offers a 17" RGB LED backlit DreamColor display:
http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF...49-3784202.html (http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF25a/321957-321957-64295-3740645-3955549-3784202.html)
-
you can calibrate the laptop monitor, but i think it's no-sense because you can just run a software calibration and set the luminosity. with a desktop monitor like eizo you can make first an hardware calibration and then make a profile... by the way, i calibrate my macbook just to know wich is a good luminosity level...
-
you can calibrate the laptop monitor, but i think it's no-sense because you can just run a software calibration and set the luminosity.
There are several errors here:
- No laptop monitor I know of has hardware calibration capability similar to the Eizo.
- Doing a software profiling with i1 or other calibration device does much more than "set the luminosity". The profile will compensate for non-linearities in the monitor's color channel responses, correctly measure the monitor's RGB primaries, and various other things that go far beyond luminosity adjustment.
- Unless a laptop is always used in the same controlled lighting environment, the optimal calibration luminosity setting is the one that causes the profile to do the least adjustment to the RGB values going to the monitor. This is especially important given that most laptop monitors are only 6 bits/channel instead of 8.
-
You may want to take a look at the Lenovo W700... Covers, I think, 75% of Adobe RGB and has built in Xrite calibrator (option). The calibrator is built in the laptop near the keyboard, the software tells you to close the lid and an indicator lights up when calibration is done. Simple and easy.
Also, comes with a built in digitizer...
Allround nice hardware
-
The killer problem on laptops is the viewing angle. I use a Lenovo Thinkpad SL-500 which I've profiled with my Monaco Optix-XR. It profiles well and I can get the colors - and black and white points - very close to what I have with my desktop systems, but the viewing angle means you have to park your head in pretty much one location. Side to side, up or down, the slight change in viewing angle changes the apparent contrast. The W700 mentioned with the self-calibration sounds wonderful, as does the HP. If only viewing angle were routinely taken into account and resolved, like the old T60. Maybe someday...
Mike
______________
Mike Bailey
The Elemental Landscape
BlueRockPhotography.com (http://bluerockphotography.com)
-
What about Apple laptops [mostly MacBook Pro]?
-
What about Apple laptops [mostly MacBook Pro]?
Meh. At least for the 13" Macbook I have. Viewing angle changes contrast/gamma significantly.
-
Meh. At least for the 13" Macbook I have. Viewing angle changes contrast/gamma significantly.
I hate my 13" MBP [2009] anyway, but i will use it until i can save budget and fix/repair my 17" better MBP [2008].
-
Meh. At least for the 13" Macbook I have. Viewing angle changes contrast/gamma significantly.
My wife's MacBook, which I calibrated for fun, really really sucks in every respect for image viewing. The screen is obviously built for casual browsing and word processing and fails miserably at viewing colors and viewing angle is minimal.
On the other hand, my Macbook Pro 15" with matte screen (old intel version) is almost as good as my very nice Samsung 23" monitor. The ONLY difference I see between the two is that the MBPro has a very very slight salmon color cast compared to the Samsung even after calibrating.
On the other hand, the MBPro has LED screen so its colors and luminosity is good at startup. The Samsung takes about 20 min to warm up.
For me, having the size of the desktop monitor is nice but I would never wait till I got home because of calibration concerns. If nothing else, you can do 99% of the work on your laptop (assuming its a decent screen like the MBPro LCD matte screen) and then just check at home and tweak if necessary.
-
John:
No current laptop that I know of can rival that of a higher end hardware calibratible monitor (all Eizo CG models, some NEC 80 series, most NEC MultiSync 90 series and the new NEC PA241W). A correctly calibrated reference monitor in a stable viewing environment is ideal for final color corrections. However, many photographers only have the option of using a laptop in the field or traveling. The practical realities mandate that when viewing on a laptop you should still calibrate it. Calibration provides viewing stability and consistency over time, and the profile created provides interchange for the next step, whether its printing, transferring to a lab or just editing and archiving back at your studio.
Several good software packages exist, my favorite being ColorEyes Display Pro. X-Rite has several packages: an i1Display2 or i1Basic with i1Match, ColorMunki device and ColorMunki software. DataColor has the Spyder3 variants.
Standard advice.... when shopping for a laptop, get one with as good a screen as you can afford. And then calibrate it. It will definitely help.
rickhatCHROMiX
-
The Sony AW series (discontinued in most places) were hardware calibrated at the factory and calibrate very well, if you get the full HD screen. 137% of aRGB colour space, so, very wide gamut and excellent viewing angles. I can't tell the difference between mine and my Eizo monitor as far as quality of image is concerned. I'm sure my own eyes are the limiting factor. The Lenovo W700 series has the option of built in hardware calibration (modified Huey Pro) close to aRGB colour space and a wacom panel in the handrest. I haven't seen the Dellbut it is supposed to be a good screen as well.
Finding a good laptop screen is difficult but possible.
Gordon
-
I have owned three versions of the Dell Precision laptop because it's a good choice for my day job, and I enjoy the NEC 2690 connected to a desktop for home photo editing. I have the itch to replace an aging Dell Precision M90 with a newer M6500 LED-type mobile workstation and read some review information (you need to look at the "Update" section). Note that the M6500 machines are expensive, but not as expensive as my engineering software.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/2957/9 (http://www.anandtech.com/show/2957/9)
I have i1 Match 3 puck & software for the laptop... any way for me to confirm color calibration accuracy as shown in the review?
-
The Lenovo W510 has a built in color profiling option. There has been a hold on the FHD screen option, which has a 95% Adobe RGB gamut. FHD screens are supposed to be available in June, but there has been a monthly postponement of availability for 4 straight months....
-
I just placed an order for the 'Lenovo W701ds' with the premium WUXGA (RGB LED), 100% gamut duel 17" & 10" screens.
Looking forward to delivery but having to wait 4 weeks on back order!.....
Will have to report back with my review when it arrives.
Link:http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/c...10/W701-W701ds
-
The Lenovo W510 has a built in color profiling option. There has been a hold on the FHD screen option, which has a 95% Adobe RGB gamut. FHD screens are supposed to be available in June, but there has been a monthly postponement of availability for 4 straight months....
Mine is on the way. There are plenty of resellers on ebay that have connections at the factories in China. They scoop them up before they even get shipped to Lenovo.
Laptop Authority is another online reseller that has recently got the FHD in stock.