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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
I’m liking Dee Henderson and Irene Hannon these days…Thanks
Harry Potter series
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls.
The Chronicles of Narnia is up there; I’ve read way too many others to narrow it down!
Thanks for this awesome giveaway!
I have so many favorites! I love reading the books my 12 yr old picks out of the young adults section at our local library.
1) Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
2) The Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon (who wouldn’t love a Scottish man in a kilt!)
3) The Circle Series by Ted Dekker
Thanks for the wonderful information on the how’s and why’s of calibration. As well as for the generous chance to win a calibration system. Good Luck everybody!
I am not much of a reader but there was only one book that I actually enjoyed through my school career, The Great Gatsby… its the only book I didn’t get cliff notes for!
The Abode Photoshop CS5 book for Digital Photographers by Scott Kelby. Seriously!
That’s what I’m reading right now.
I read at least 3 books at a time so picking a favorite is hard. I love sf fantasy and anything by Mercedes Lackey or Anne Mccaffrey. My favorite author is Madeleine L’Engle and her Wrinkle in Time series.
Pride and Prejudice…my heart still melts over Mr. Darcy
I simply love to read almost anything! It would be easier to list the three books I didn’t like than list my favorites! I absolutely love Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights by the Bronte sisters; Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen; Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier; anything by Kathy Riechs; the Twilight Saga; the Harry Potter Books; Gone with the Wind; Gwen Bristow books (I read all of her books that my high school library had); all of the Victoria Holt books; . . . . I could go on. I simply love to read!
Patricia Cornwell – All the books in the Scarpetta series.
Probably “Where the Red Fern Grows”, although I love Harry Potter and Dan Brown books too!
The Time Traveler’s Wife. Loved it!! Too bad the movie was awful.
Only three! Oh dear. Pride and Prejudice. Gone With the Wind. Jane Eyre.
Pride and Prejudice
The Notebook
Horse Whisper
Montana Sky and Black Hills by Nora Roberts
I would have to say any of Beverly Lewis’s books. I’m a sucker for Amish love stories!LOL
The Notebook, Snowflower and the secret fan.
National Geographic “Complete Guide to Photography”
High Fidelity
I wish I had time to read as much as I did when I was a kid! I read the Lord of the Rings over and over again…still love them. Also love the Twilight Saga and the Mists of Avalon is another fav. Thanks for this great post on calibrating. I’d be interested to know what pro-labs you use and/or recommend too.
Awesome article! I’d love to win one 🙂
My favorite books – Tom Rath’s Strengths Finder 2.0, Understanding Exposure, and John Grisham’s The Client.
Bible, All of Janette Oke’s books are the ones that I can think of now. Thanks for the great post on calibrating it is something that I never really thought of. Have a great day everyone!
I love your blog/facebook/everything! Thank you for the tutorials and tips. Now, to enter into this great giveaway…My favorite book (right now) is This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti.
When I was young I loved to read Stephen King Books. I love all of his books but if I had to choose a favorite it would be The Dark Tower! Thanks for the chance to win!
“It’s Always Something” by Gilda Radner.
My favorite book is anything written by Jodi Picoult. If I had to choose just one, I would recommend The Pact or Nineteen Minutes. She authored the book My Sister’s Keeper that was made in to a movie. Like other movies the book was much better. Janet Evanovich’s, Stephanie Plum series will keep you in stitches if you like a funny read. She is great. Look her up. She has about 18 books in the series starting with One for the Money. Love them. You will not be disappointed.
My favorite book of all-time is The Great Gatsby! But I enjoy so much many of the books that I read…and now I’ve recently gotten into e-books that I can read on my Sony Tablet! I love it!
Hmmm…my all time fav’s are:
Water For Elephants
The Help
The Secret Life of Bees
The Bible.
I would have to say my favourite books are anything by Robert Whitlow.
Laughing at Pam’s post above.. I am also reading The Abode Photoshop CS5 book for Digital Photographers by Scott Kelby.. and a book on photographing children. 🙂 When I was younger, I loved Mary Higgins’ Clark books ..
The Green Mile ..basically anything by Stephen King
Unbroken
I agree with Olivia, would be easier to choose 3 books I don’t like! I absolutely love anything by Terry Prattchett, memoirs of a geisha and Bride stripped Bare.
The Notebook 🙂
Sadly I don’t have much time to read – but I really enjoyed all of the shopaholics book.
Anything by Scott Kelby, currently reading photo shop elements 9 for digital photographers.
I just can’t find my Spyder 3 Express since we moved back home from Texas-so I’m desperate;)
I LOVE to read so picking a top 3 is hard-I’ll say: Memoirs of a Geisha, The Thirteenth Hour and Julia’s Chocolates.
The Westing Game. I know it’s a kids’ book, but it’s one that I reread every few years, and I’m usually a once-and-done reader. I read it aloud to my kids this summer, and they tried to sneak it away between sessions to see how it ended.
I read A LOT of photography books, I got a nook color for my Birthday last year and my library consists of nothing but photography books, its an addiction I think lol my top three right now are Understanding Exposure by Brian Peterson, Extreme Makeover Techniques by Bill Hurter, and Fast Track Photographer by Dane Sanders.
I love that you have to name your favourite book/s for this one…I work in a library, and here in Australia we’re heading into our National Year of Reading! My top 3 books:
Shantaram – Gregory Roberts
To Kill A Mockingbird – Harper Lee
Bearbrass – Robyn Annear
thanks 🙂
I loved reading The Secret Lives of Bees!
Whatever I am reading at the time… if its good. 😀 I tried a cheap ereader to see if I liked & would use one- I love it! But should not have wasted my money on a cheapy. I have all types of books on it- even PSE books. BTW- I never heard of calibrating your monitor before. Thanks
Oh man!
I love The Clan of the Cave Bear Series. I just started the final novel. But I totaly enjoyed Gone with the Wind and Scarlett. Oh choices!
just got a new Nicholas Sparks book……The best of Me. Usually love all his books except The Last Song was not a favorite. 🙁 Excited to get this one read as the days are getting shorter.
James Patterson is a favorite!
I’ve read so many books….. I’m really not sure what my favorites are! But I always love Frank Peretti or Ted Dekkar!
Jemima J by Jane Green. Funny book!
The Bible and anything Western.