Dual Monitor Profile Set Up Help

[dwdallam]

I have a Philips 23" graphics LCD and I bought a cheap Costco 20" "AOC" monitor to do computer work on actual computers, just so I don't have to plug and unplug my graphics/work monitor. It was only 140 bucks. It's got the nice glassy screen, like those found on laptops, and the image is actually very crisp and bright. I have no idea how accurate it is or can be in color reproduction, but that isn't the function I'll be using it for anyway.

However, I'd like it to at least look close to the eye. I calibrated both monitors individually using settings in Vista Graphics Properties, and the ColorVision Spyder II Suite assigned each of the monitors a different profile, which I checked in the Spyder software to make sure both were using different profiles. Sure enough, there are two different profiles both named Default Monitor Profile, but one is assigned the prefix 1-xxx and the other 2-xxx. There are two profiles to choose. In other words, there is not ONE profile with monitor 1 and monitor 2 using the same profile--I think anyway. In the profile list, there are two default monitor profiles, same name, with 1 & 2 for the prefix. It's the default name SPyder gives profiles.

The problem is that the monitors are not displaying the colors--the same colors--anywhere near equally. The cheap monitor is much more "white" and the graphics 23" is more warm, or natural looking. Both were profiles in the same way--letting Spyder do all the adjustments. For example, the white on the cheaper m,onitor is more white and cool looking than on the graphics monitor, more like 9500K compared to 6500K, but both were profiles using the monitors' 6500K option.

Can anyone here shine some light on this for me? This is my first time messing with dual monitors--and when you finally try it, you probably won't go back? It's very nice.

I just hooked up this cheap monitor to have all of my browsers, calculators, notepads, explorers, etc on one monitor--the cheapo--and then my graphics on the other. It's also nice to split PS in that you can put all of the tools on one monitor, and have the entire screen space for the PS on the other with no clutter. But the color difference has me questioning if the graphics monitor is using the correctly profiled profile--lol.

[ecemfjm]

Hi

I have a similar configuration as you. I have a Sony Vaio laptop with Vista and use a 20" Samsung external monitor (1200x1600) really nice. I'm at the office now, so I cannot check the exact settings, but when I calibrate both monitors with Spyder II Pro with the SW provided by them, I had to have conected an switched on the external one. I set the laptop screen as main monitor and the external as secondary. The Spyder recognized both, and I calibrated first the laptop and afterward the external. I saved the profiles and Vista recognises both and apply each one to the correct monitor, provided I start the laptop with the external monitor connected. If not, Vista tend to confuse itself and do not apply correctly the profile if the external monitor is connected after the laptop has started. After calibration I changed the external monitor as main one and the laptop screen as secondary.

I also remember that independently of the monitor settings, the Spider asked whether the monitor can be adjusted for color temperature or not, and what color temperature I'd liked to use. May be you have some mismatch there. When the color profile is applied it may try to innecessarely correct the monitor's color temperature, or set a wrong one.

After calibration save the profiles with names you can recognise and check thet they are being applied to the appropriate monitor.

Regards

Manuel

[dwdallam]

Hi

I have a similar configuration as you. I have a Sony Vaio laptop with Vista and use a 20" Samsung external monitor (1200x1600) really nice. I'm at the office now, so I cannot check the exact settings, but when I calibrate both monitors with Spyder II Pro with the SW provided by them, I had to have conected an switched on the external one. I set the laptop screen as main monitor and the external as secondary. The Spyder recognized both, and I calibrated first the laptop and afterward the external. I saved the profiles and Vista recognises both and apply each one to the correct monitor, provided I start the laptop with the external monitor connected. If not, Vista tend to confuse itself and do not apply correctly the profile if the external monitor is connected after the laptop has started. After calibration I changed the external monitor as main one and the laptop screen as secondary.

I also remember that independently of the monitor settings, the Spider asked whether the monitor can be adjusted for color temperature or not, and what color temperature I'd liked to use. May be you have some mismatch there. When the color profile is applied it may try to innecessarely correct the monitor's color temperature, or set a wrong one.

After calibration save the profiles with names you can recognise and check thet they are being applied to the appropriate monitor.

Regards

Manuel

OK I just tried to calibrate both monitors using Spyder2 Suite, but I can't get it to calibrate the second monitor. If I choose calibrate again, it just wants to recalibrate the main display over again. How did you do it?

[ecemfjm]

OK I just tried to calibrate both monitors using Spyder2 Suite, but I can't get it to calibrate the second monitor. If I choose calibrate again, it just wants to recalibrate the main display over again. How did you do it?

I've been capturing some screens.

I've set the nvidia control panel to dual view:

[attachment=11163:01.jpg]

Then, when starting Colorvision SW, it allows to calibrate both:

[attachment=11166:04.jpg]

These names are the ones given by the system. If I select the 1-... the colorvision window moves itself to the laptop screen (if not already there). If I select 2- the window moves to the external monitor. This is authomatic although some times I do not why, you have to select the monitor and press the bottom right back button in order the SW accepts the change.

I start calibration or recalibration and save the profile with a recognizable name.

You can check with colorvision profile chooser SW the profile used by each monitor:

[attachment=11168:06.jpg]

Or with Vista's Screen configuration / Advanced configuration / Color administration

[attachment=11169:07.jpg]

I think the main issue is that the Colorvision SW should recognise both monitors (In my case 1- is a generic PnP and and 2- is the Samsung). If not, I'd try to play with the graphic card control panel or moving by hand the color vision window to the external monitor, calibrate it, save the profile and assign it to the external monitor by hand in the Vista's color administration panel.

Regards / Manuel

[dwdallam]

I've been capturing some screens.

I've set the nvidia control panel to dual view:

[attachment=11163:01.jpg]

Then, when starting Colorvision SW, it allows to calibrate both:

[attachment=11166:04.jpg]

These names are the ones given by the system. If I select the 1-... the colorvision window moves itself to the laptop screen (if not already there). If I select 2- the window moves to the external monitor. This is authomatic although some times I do not why, you have to select the monitor and press the bottom right back button in order the SW accepts the change.

I start calibration or recalibration and save the profile with a recognizable name.

You can check with colorvision profile chooser SW the profile used by each monitor:

[attachment=11168:06.jpg]

Or with Vista's Screen configuration / Advanced configuration / Color administration

[attachment=11169:07.jpg]

I think the main issue is that the Colorvision SW should recognise both monitors (In my case 1- is a generic PnP and and 2- is the Samsung). If not, I'd try to play with the graphic card control panel or moving by hand the color vision window to the external monitor, calibrate it, save the profile and assign it to the external monitor by hand in the Vista's color administration panel.

Regards / Manuel

Hey thanks a lot. That was really helpful. I had it all set up like you did, but my version of Spyder2 which is "Suite" doesn't give me the option to drop down change monitors. I guess what I can try is disabling my main monitor, make the second monitor my main, and then calibrate it. After that, I can enable both monitors and see if each is using its own profile.

Thanks again.

Update: Just got an email back from ColorVision saying my version doesn't calibrate 2 monitors.

[Panorama]

Hey thanks a lot. That was really helpful. I had it all set up like you did, but my version of Spyder2 which is "Suite" doesn't give me the option to drop down change monitors. I guess what I can try is disabling my main monitor, make the second monitor my main, and then calibrate it. After that, I can enable both monitors and see if each is using its own profile.

Thanks again.

Update: Just got an email back from ColorVision saying my version doesn't calibrate 2 monitors.

Just read your update.....Not sure what they told you though.

Anyway, take heart because I too use dual monitors on one of my PCs (main is 2560x1600 and secondary is 1680x1050). The video is a now old Nvidia 7900GS (?) that once was top of the line. I'm assuming that you're using a "double headed" digital video card with the requisite capabilities. If not, and you're running a monitor via analog, you may want to consider an upgrade. As already pointed out, you need the nvidia software to recognize and control both monitors. If you don't allow Nvidia to recognize, and configure, both, then you may have trouble later.

The other issue is the Spyder-2 software. Make sure you have the most current version, and you need to have the "Pro" suite as well (the only version that supports dual monitors). Whatever you do, don't waste your time talking to Colorvision. They don't like answering questions about the dual-monitor implementation because they know it never matched their marketing literature..They're surly, defensive, and unhelpful/misleading. That doesn't mean everyone at tje company is because I've met several on multiple occasion, but the support guys? Don't bother...

Good luck.

[eronald]

Get the Basiccolor or the ColorEyes Display demo. Then set up one screen as you like it, measure the color temperature and set the second one up to match. Next time, please post in the Color Management forum which Michael has so nicely provided, the experts will help you

Edmund