Spectraview-II software with alternate colorimeters?

[dsandford]

Are there advantages or disadvantages to using the NEC colorimeter in the Spectraview packages versus an Xrite i1Display Pro or ColorMunki Display?   Externally, they all appear to be the same hardware.  Just wondering if anyone knows if there are any real differences?

I am planning on purchasing a PA271w which I would like to calibrate with the Spectraview software.   However, I also have laptops and other monitors that I'd like to calibrate with the same colorimeter.   I'm hoping to use the same colorimeter with different software.

Thanks,

   -- D

[digitaldog]

Are there advantages or disadvantages to using the NEC colorimeter in the Spectraview packages versus an Xrite i1Display Pro or ColorMunki Display?

Same hardware and I'm using the i1Display Pro with SpectraView II on Mac.

[dsandford]

Same hardware and I'm using the i1Display Pro with SpectraView II on Mac.

Thanks for the quick info.

  -- D

[Mark D Segal]

I'm using the NEC-branded X-Rite colorimeter that came bundled with the display, but with BasicColor 4 software (a separate purchase from BasicColor.de); the results are fine.

[jsw_nz]

Hi All,

I too have a similar situation - getting the NEC PA301W-BK-SV - that ships with SpectraView II
AND getting the i1Pulblish Pro 2 package.

So what you are saying....
I will have the 'EXACT SAME' SpectraView calibration II results using the i1Pulblish Pro device.
I thought the devices were different - one dedicated to NEC the other to all brands of monitors 
- instinctively I would say that's a mismatch - invites 'subtle differences into the equation
- but then again
- you say it should be no problem?

cheers,
john

[digitaldog]

I will have the 'EXACT SAME' SpectraView calibration II results using the i1Pulblish Pro device.

Yes, (with the SpectraView software). No with the i1P software. The latest bundle of hardware from NEC provides you the newest X-Rite hardware, the big differences are software.

[heinrichvoelkel]

Check Spectraview compability with the OS X your running. My P221 is pretty useless since I upgraded the OS, because the software doesn't work with OSX and my monitor has no USB port.

[jsw_nz]

I will have the 'EXACT SAME' SpectraView calibration II results using the i1Pulblish Pro device?

Yes, (with the SpectraView software). No with the i1P software. The latest bundle of hardware from NEC provides you the newest X-Rite hardware, the big differences are software.

OK - I guess this boils down to color workflow issue,,,

Heinrich/Andrew - what is your suggestion then - both monitor and i1P arrives Monday.
What would be the order/proceedure to get up and running (win7 - 64bit)

ie - run Spectraview II to get monitor calibrated then install and run i1P
to obtain monitor ICC profile? Does i1P have a calibration feature and should I bypass
this function - relying on Spectraview. Sorry if the question seems lame - again - my
gear arrives near term - just need recommmendations here.

cheers 

[digitaldog]

IF you own a SpectraView II system, you want to use their software, not any other. The software and hardware work in tandem. If you want to use another display system, you'll have to use the other software product. And the two qualities in terms of calibration let alone calibration options will be significant depending on what you use on the non SpectraView II display system. You can use the same hardware, you don't want to (nor can you) use the same software on both assuming we're talking about SpectraView II.

[jsw_nz]

Hi Andrew (& others)

OK - I guess I have a first things first question....
- my NEC PA301 w/Spectraview 2 arrived along with
- i1Pro 2 Publish package
- and just not sure where to start.

This seems to be the logical way to proceed:
(1) Install the NEC software along with ProfileMaker
(2) Calibrate NEC using Spectraview 2
(3) Run i1 Pro 2 Publish - especially to get profiles for printing - I am targeting the Breathing Color products.

What confuses me is what profile for the monitor should I use
- SpectraView 2 will do a hardware adjustment - guessing that is first
- but should I proceed to have i1 Pro 2 create its own profile for the NEC
- if at the end of the day they both do the same thing.

hoping this is not too confusing
and that i am not comparing apples to oranges - (which I may)

I am currently painting the walls for my digital darkroom
- planning to use 4700K 50W Solux bulb(s) for it
- Once ambient light levels are established
- planning get the monitor up and running
- and run the ""proper sequence of software & hardware" measurements and calibrations

Very open to suggestions
- a wee bit on the cautious side...

Thanks in advance
jsw_nz

[digitaldog]

This seems to be the logical way to proceed:
(1) Install the NEC software along with ProfileMaker
(2) Calibrate NEC using Spectraview 2
(3) Run i1 Pro 2 Publish - especially to get profiles for printing - I am targeting the Breathing Color products.

Sounds good, and yes, use the NEC software for all calibration and profiling of the display (Not ProfileMaker Pro if that's what you got). Take baby steps. Start with the display and don't even mess with building output profiles until you feel comfortable there.

[jsw_nz]

Hi Andrew

Thanks for the reply - now its time for me to split hairs so to speak in regards to the distinction between calibration and characterization.

It's pretty clear that SpectraView 2 will handle calibration, particularly by uploading a DDC2 calibration correction tables back to the NEC via USB. I will be using these target defaults D50, gamma  2.2, 140 cdm for the SpectraView setup - using the color puck which ships with SpectraView, which although identical in principle to the puck that ships with X-Rite's i1 2 Pro, is in fact a customized version of it - designed specifically for the wide gamut display types (PA301). This part is pretty clear - at the end of the day I got a calibrated display - which also has generated an ICC profile.

The question that comes to mind is characterization -(periodic profiling) - and how the entire color workflow setup is handled by i1 2 Pro (in my case I have Publish version) - It seems counter-intuitive that I should not have i12 Pro generate its own profile for the NEC301 (using the color puck that ships with the i12 Pro package) - particularly for a given week or month or time of day for that matter.

Is what you are saying - completely skip having i12 Pro get its own measurements of the monitor? I would seem to me that having i12 Pro get measurements and produce workflow ICC profiles - will not in anyway jeopardize color accuracy and may in fact may enhance it - through speaking the same language from monitor to print.

So I guess what I am proposing is in fact two monitor measurements.

kind regards
& interested in you thoughts...
-john-

[Schewe]

Is what you are saying - completely skip having i12 Pro get its own measurements of the monitor? I would seem to me that having i12 Pro get measurements and produce workflow ICC profiles - will not in anyway jeopardize color accuracy and may in fact may enhance it - through speaking the same language from monitor to print.

So I guess what I am proposing is in fact two monitor measurements.

You want to profile using Spectraview only (for the NEC). Profiling that display using i1 Display (or Profiler) is a less optimal redundant action...

[jsw_nz]

Cheers Schewe

OK - good to know
- thanks both to you and Andrew.

much appreciated,