Arachnophobia... spyder v. spyder question

[mschubb]

Is it a mistake to buy the cheap version of a monitor calibration package?   Are the advanced features needed for decent calibration?

The Spyder2 unit also comes with Spyder2 Express version which can be had for under $70.  Aside from bundled bonus software, the core differences between the Express/Suite/Pro versions seem to be:

>>> Monitor Gamma/Temp Choices: FIXED versus MULTIPLE versus UNLIMITED
>>> RGB Control Calibration: NO versus YES versus YES            

Price difference is roughly $70/140/$220.

As a cheapskate amateur, can I get by w/the Express version?  (Or the competing pantone huey?)   Or will these limitations matter in my basic Windows XP / Photoshop CS2 / Viewsonic LCD workflow?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[digitaldog]

You get more options with huey!

The settings are not absolutely clear but correlate to:

1) Gaming
-----------------------------------------------------
Color Setting:               Neutral
Contrast Setting:           Low
 
2) Web Browsing & Photo Editing
-----------------------------------------------------
Color Setting:               Neutral
Contrast Setting:           Medium
 
3) Grafic Design & Video Editing
-----------------------------------------------------
Color Setting:               Neutral
Contrast Setting:           High
 
4) Custom: Warm, low contrast
5) Custom: Warm, medium contrast
6) Custom: Warm, high contrast
7) Custom: Cool, low contrast
Custom: Cool, medium contrast
9) Custom: Cool, high contrast
 
…with:
 
Cool =                         7500K
Medium =                    6500K
Warm =                       5000K
 
…and:
 
Low contrast =            1.8
Medium contrast =      2.2
High contrast =            2.5

[Serge Cashman]

Short answer - no. No obvious benefits in calibration of a single mainstream LCD (you don't want to push RGB buttons on them).

The problem is that you won't know what's going on, either. You won't know anything at all. You'll see colors flashing and after that you're done. Spyder2 Pro offers a welth of info tools, validation, black and white luminance targeting, detailed report, custom CIExy targets,  lots ov very valuable things. But if you just consider calibration to the same wp/gamma targets the results will be the same for an 8 bit LCD.

Spyder2Express actually has a choice of white points for LCDs. It's older software version offered Native and the newer version offers 6500K (cause people complained they didn't see much difference after calibration... Duh...) If you don't percieve a color shift on your monitor in it's factory default state then Native is a better option.

Spyder2Express, unlike Huey, is upgradeable to better software. Unfortunately Coloreyes currently supports Spyder2 on Macs only, but the PC version is in the works. Colorvision does not yet offer software upgrades although the colorimeter would work with a licensed version of Spyder2 Pro software.

For an artist on a budget I'd recommend Spyder2Express over Huey. Even though Huey offers a choice of targets (chances are you'll end up calibrating to 6500K/2.2 anyway) the colorimeter itself is not pro-grade and not software-upgradable and the targets do not have a Native wp option for LCDs.

One of the uses of the extra info that you get from more full-featured software is that it can be used for troubleshooting (a common thing on PCs). If you consider a  full-featured package then take a look at  EyeOne Display2 ($180).

[mschubb]

Was travelling; sorry not to respond sooner.  Thanks for the responses.  Very helpful.