Calibrating an external monitor connected to an iMac

[tsinsf]

I will soon be purchasing the new 27 inch iMac. I don't really need or want the Apple monitor because I am quite happy with my 30 inch NEC, so that will be my go to monitor. I don't know yet if I will be mirroring the monitors or not. Does it matter in terms of calibrating the Nec? I have questions about calibrating the NEC when it is running off of the iMac. I am hoping that it is just as simple as picking the NEC in my calibration software and placing the puck on the NEC, and calibrating. Is there more to it than that?

[digitaldog]

In terms of the existing NEC, no. You can calibrate and profile it as you did and move on, you can ignore the Apple display. This is exactly how I treat my setup (MacBook Pro, NEC).

[tsinsf]

Thank you!

[BobShaw]

What calibration software are you using?
I have and Eizo connected to an iMac and have to calibrate the Eizo with Color Navigator and the iMac with the Spyder programme.

[tsinsf]

I have the software and hardware that is built into this Nec Monitor, Spectraview II software and a sensor made by X-rite, the MDSVSensor3. As of yet I don't have a calibration device for the iMac; probably won't be using the monitor for photography If I do I'll have to purchase one since the NEC system only works on NECs.

[digitaldog]

I have the software and hardware that is built into this Nec Monitor, Spectraview II software and a sensor made by X-rite, the MDSVSensor3. As of yet I don't have a calibration device for the iMac; probably won't be using the monitor for photography If I do I'll have to purchase one since the NEC system only works on NECs.

You can simply use SpectraView with the NEC and utterly ignore dealing with the Apple display. Or you can get the native X-rite software and try to calibrate it resulting in a match but that's probably a lost cause for so many reasons.