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Calibrating my Macbook Pro with Spyder 3 Express
Most of you who read this blog have some sort of fancy camera (i.e. a DSLR) and most of you have some sort of fancy editing program (i.e. PSE, PS or LR) but I cannot safely say that most of you have a monitor calibration system. So, I am going to briefly talk about what the heck that is and why you might need to do it (oh, and I’m giving one away).
What does it mean to calibrate your monitor and why should you do it?
Calibrating your monitor helps you see the colors you think you are seeing, so that the pictures you print have the color you meant them to have.
Simply put, the calibration system measures the colors on your monitor (in the right lighting conditions) and adjusts them to be truer colors if they are off. If you have ever edited a picture, loved everything about it, then printed it and got a big surprise because the picture did not have the colors you were seeing on your monitor, that was most likely because your monitor needed calibrating.
How do you calibrate a monitor? You buy a monitor calibration system. There are many available, some more elaborate and expensive than others. My suggestion to you is access your needs then find the calibration system that will meet those needs. My needs were simple, so I bought a simple system.
What do I use for calibrating my monitor? Spyder 3 Express. It is affordable, easy to use and effective. I bought it 1.5 years ago and I have been extremely pleased with it. I have a video showing how to use the Spyder 3 Express at the bottom of this post, for those interested.
Here are some tidbits about my Spyder that may be helpful to know:
- I can calibrate two separate computer monitors with it
- It notifies me when the calibration has “worn off” and to recalibrate
- I get notified when there are free software updates
- It is small and easy to tote with me if I need to calibrate while away
Things to remember about calibrating:
- Do not calibrate your monitor “cold;” allow it to warm up for 30 min before running the software
- Do not calibrate in the dark
- Do not calibrate with light directly hitting your monitor (like don’t have sunlight shining directly on the monitor)
- Do not calibrate then print at a discount lab (i.e. Walmart, Costco, CVS, etc.) and expect to see the same colors as your monitor – the problem there is the LAB.
To better explain what a calibration system does, here is the product description of Spyder3 Express (per the product page at Amazon):
The Spyder 3 Express adjusts the color on your monitor so your photos appear more accurately. Easy-to-use right out of the box, this award winning proven technology helps you calibrate your display – just like professionals. There’s a reason your on-screen colors aren’t always true. Chances are, your monitor color is the problem, not your camera or your printer. The Spyder 3 Express is a simple monitor color correction tool that automatically adjusts the color of your monitor so what you’re seeing is more true. It is designed for Photo Enthusiasts, Advanced Amateurs, Passionate Photographers and DSLR users of all kinds.
GIVEAWAY IS OVER
Comment #20, made by Beth, was the winning number chosen via Random.org. Thank you to all who entered!
I am giving away one brand new Spyder 3 Express calibration system.
To enter the giveaway simply tell me your favorite book (or top 3 for book lovers out there).
- One entry per person
- Comment must be left on this blog post, not on Facebook
- Giveaway ends Thursday, November 10 at 11:00 PM EST
- Winner will be chosen via Random.org
- Winner will be notified by me via email and has one week to respond, after which another winner will be chosen
GIVEAWAY IS OVER
Note: This is not a sponsored post. I will be buying the Spyder3Express for the winner, not DataColor. All links to Amazon are affiliate links which means I earn 3% of sales made through the link, which help me cover the cost of items I giveaway here.
About Amanda
My favorite book is a kids book LOL “The BFG” by Rohl Dahl
1. Wuthering Heights
2. Harry Potter Series
3. The Help
My favorite is Redeeming Love. Best book ever!
1. J.R.R. Tolkien – The Lord of the Rings (yes I read ALL of it)
2. Anything by Shakespeare
3. Most books my Anne Rice
Actually there are too many for me to post. I’ll just say that I LOVE books. Must be why I have a B.A. in English Literature. ha ha 🙂
If you’re an animal lover, ‘A Dog’s Purpose’ will touch your heart!
Oh boy….I haven’t read a “grown-up” book since college (and that was because it was mandatory hehehehe! ). I do love “On the Night You Were Born” children’s book we read that every night.
Thank You so much for the chance to win a Spyder….this is on the Top of my (very long) list of things I need to get….so thanks for the chance to win!
Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers….. or pretty much any book by Beverly Lewis.
I can see I’m not alone in the “love to read” group! My 3 favorites are as follows:
1. The Book of Mormon
2. The Hobbit
3. Wizard’s First Rule
This obviously doesn’t count Star Trek, Star Wars or books by Brad Thor and Vince Flynn…and so many others! Good luck everyone!!!
I love WWII history books – The Pacific, Band of Brothers, etc. It is amazing to see what young people did to preserve our freedoms!
This is so hard because I am an avid reader!!! I love Gone With the Wind, but I have to say that the Little House on the Prairie Series is still my favorite! I also love anything by Nora Roberts. Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
Jane Eyre. Hands down favorite book. Well, If I don’t win this, I will be putting it on my Christmas list! Thanks Amanda.
I am still in love with the TWILIGHT series. I have read the series 2 times and still fully enjoy it! Next on my must read list is The Help..
The Book Thief
Fortune’s Rock by Anita Shreve. Did not want it to end!
I <3 anything by Nicholas Sparks!!
Twilight Series!
Summer Sisters.
House of Sand and Fog.
I read a lot. I read these when I was young. They have always stayed with me. Maybe, it was the first time I realized that life took place outside of my small safe circle?
Audrey Rose by Robert Wise
The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury
Flowers in the Attic by Virgina Andrews
re posting… my e-mail was wrong…
I love anything by Nora Roberts, Diana Gabaldon and Anne McCaffrey
I’m a self-help book lover: How to win friends and influence people (best ways to work with people, motivate them), Who moved my cheese (short read, amazing for teens to read too and there is a child’s version of the same about perservering), and The Slight Edge (about how doing just a little bit more will make the biggest difference in your life).
Thanks!
Jennife
What a great giveaway! My three recent favorites are: Secret Daughter, by Shilpi Somaya Gowda; Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, by Lisa See; and The Forgotten Garden, by Kate Morton.
The Stand by Stephen King
I like books written by Karen Kingsbury
Danedelion Dust is a favorite
Great information regarding calibrating my monitor…thank you!
My top two favourite books are
Water for Elephants
Pillars of the Earth
Thank you for this opportunity
Uhm, I don’t really like to read but I always make time to read my Bible. Yep, that’s it.
The Secret Garden
The Harry Potter series
One Thousand Gifts
And so many, many more. I love to read!
Outlander – Diana Gabaldon
Once you calibrate your monitor do you need to calibrate your printer? I print most of my pictures at home for scrapbooking purposes. My new printer is “off” anyway, would this solve that problem?
“What Should I do with my Life” – Po Bronson. Gave me the final inspiration I needed to become a photographer. 🙂
The Secret Life of Bees
The Help
The Book of Romans (in the Bible)
(in no particular order)
Thanks for all the information you share and thanks for sharing with this give away!
One of my favorites is Fried Green Tomatos
Carol in FL 🙂
Thanks for the calibration info and the giveaway.
Hands down…..The Harry Potter Series!
My absolute favorite book is Our Endagered Values by Jimmy Carter!
My favorite Book is the Bible and my favorite series is Clan of the Cave Bears.
The Bible and Pride and Predudice
I love so many books (many already listed above) but John Steinbeck is my favorite author. I can’t decide between “Travels with Charley,” which makes me laugh and cry or “The Grapes of Wrath,” which makes me cry and laugh!
Also, I just wanted to take a second to thank you for all the wonderful information/freebies/giveaways you make available on this website. God bless your experience and generosity!
My top 3 are
The Bible
Island of the Blue Dolphins
The Giver
Right now my favorite book is “The Help,” by Kathryn Stockett…and no, I have not seen the movie yet, but I heard it was just as great!
Two of my other all time favorites is “The Red Tent,” by Anita Diamant & “The Fifth Sacred Thing,” by Starhawke
Oh wow, I don’t have a favorite book… one of my favs is probably The Notebook.
I would so love to win!
I’m a John Gresham fan! If I had to pick just one, I’d say it’s The Firm
1. Any & everything by Janet Evanovich
2. Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard
3. Rumble in the Bayou by Jana DeLeon
What an awesome giveaway! Keeping my fingers crossed!
I used to read 3-4 books a week. Then I had four kids!!! Now my favorite book is You Are All My Favorites, with Good Night Moon a close runner-up. 🙂
My favortie book is the bible. 🙂
“I Know This Much Is True” by Wally Lamb
“Wild Swans” by Jung Chang
Totally a book lover, here.
Favorites:
(1) Diary of Anne Frank
(2) To Kill a Mockingbird
(3) many, many more…
Ooh tough one. Probably – The Trick Is To Keep Breathing by Janice Galloway, but just now loving the Sara Donati books (a bit lighter!)
I think if I had to pick one, it would be The Glass Castle. Love love love that book.
This is such good info! Thanks for sharing!
My favs are ALL Nicholas Sparks book – with “At First Sight” at the top of my list. 🙂
I love to read the Twilight Series, as well as rereading all Harry Potter books 🙂
Wow. What a hand post and awesome giveaway!
My favorite books are The Bell Jar, The Things they Carried and The Restorer.
Too many to think of, but recent faves have been Water for Elephants and Still Alice!