Steve,
I don't know what they told you, but it is not what Karl Lang writes (see the document above), it is not what I got as information from NEC (see email above), it is also not what Czornyj and others have wrote here in this forum (see quotes above), and it is not what you can read on the Argyll/dispcalGUI information (see quote http://luminous-landscape.com/forum/index....t&p=372083), and it does also not meet what I have read from other specialists across the Web.
I'm not a specialist, and you know that, but I try to understand. So what can NEC mean, when they nonetheless state in their instruction manual that the i1d2 and other unfiltered colorimeters are compatible? (BTW is there any instrument that is not in that list?) I think that's what I wrote. They mean to say that it works, just not so well.
Also, as I said, I can visually tell the difference between a calibration and profile made with a corrected colorimeter or an uncorrected one. You have to try it, to see it. Alternatively, you could try a software that corrects for wide gamut, like Quato's iColor Display 3, though the latter would not be able to do hardware calibration. As mentioned earlier, the correction can be made either in the hardware or the software.
I'm not sure what qualified as a "Specialist.." I'm just a guy who has been using color profiled monitors for well over a decade and have helped others set up dozens of systems. I have 'some' experience, but nothing that qualifies me as a "specialist" and I'm naturally skeptical of anyone making that claim.
I'm just not buying NEC puts a colorimeter in their catalog and instruction manuals as "Compatible, but just not so well.." That's silly. I do believe it's possible all colorimeters listed meet minimum tolerances and some 'might' hold tighter (but not different) tolerances.. but now we're taking the word of "specialists" on the net.. already explained how I feel about that.
You have the NEC puck as well as the 1id2? And you've used them on a known good NEC monitor? I'm sorry, but from what you've listed of your experiences you can't really be sure of anything. You've had a couple questionable Eizo monitors, many different programs, and a testing strategy that (to me) doesn't appear logical in the sense that you were trying to pin down specific things that work or not.. only if it worked. There's a difference.
And no.. anyone running an NEC monitor and not using SVII is defeating the main advantages of owning an NEC monitor with DDC support.. I hope you don't plan on using anything but SVII.. if you do good luck.
Lets look at it this way. I've been using color profiled monitors for many years.. on matched monitors and single workstations. I know what the colors should look like and if they weren't correct I'd know and my entire workflow wouldn't work. sRGB emulation is new to me.. but my colors are holding across all gamuts providing I work my entire workflow with the same gamut/profile. Test images from Phase One and others (images worked up to show the color checker and more just for this purpose) and a physical color checker are perfect. IF I did run another puck and got other colors.. they wouldn't be right. Or the differences would be so small only the colorimeter would see it.. and not me.
Do I believe you're having issues? Yes. But I'm guessing a lot of them are a. Self induced or b. You're worrying about things you shouldn't yet be worried about concerning the NEC monitor.
Now.. when you get your NEC monitor and you have both the NEC puck and the i1d2 puck.. and you run them side by side and tell me you're getting 'significant' visible differences.. then we'll talk more. Until then you can keep reading all the "specialist" talk on the net and wringing your hands and anticipating issues you might or might not have when you get your new monitor.
How do you know a color profile is correct? You compare it to references. A color checker print out in a light tent compared to the real thing gets you really close.
There are two reasons you color profile.
1. So the prints you make, either from your own printer or a print shop, look as they should.
2. So your files are the same as a standard that you can share across the profession.
If they do 1&2 above.. to the tolerances needed for your work.. then you're color profiled.
It's going to be very interesting when you get your NEC monitor..