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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
1. The Notebook
2. The Hunger Games
3. Charlaine Harris anything…
Favourite book….anything by Michael Connelly
Harry Potter FTW!
I am going to go with Twilight. Huge fan of the whole Saga!!! Written by Stephenie Meyer
My favorite book right now is 100 secrets to happy people. :).
and I would be REALLY happy with a monitor calibration device.
I would have to say I love the harry potter books, they are a good read and I enjoy reading them to my daughter! Here is to hoping that I win!
The Notebook! 😀
My Favorite Book is Murder on the Orient Express! LOVE Agatha Christie!!!
The Notebook! 😀
My favorite books would be the Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers. It’s a series of three books. 🙂
Jane Austen’s Pride and Predudice
Time Travelers Wife:)
My newest favorite book is ‘Ahabs Wife: Or The Star Gazer’ beautifully written
Next would be ‘The Thirteenth Tale’ very Southern Gothic and just the right of dark twisty plot line
Then ‘The Historian’ I am a sucker for a good old Dracula novel and this one is fiction with a whole lot of non-fiction mixed in.
and just one more; ‘Pompeii’ a fictional novel based on the day Vesuvius erupted. Awesome story=)
Thanks for the opportunity to win the spyder3 express!
My favorite book is:
I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings – Maya Angelou
Well, I have a couple, but I’ll say 1984 and anything by David Morrell
I love to read, so to pick out a favorite is hard…But I do love the Twilight Saga books, The Notebook & to read to my boys, I’ll love you forever…
Thanks for the info about calibration! I was just looking into doing this so if I dont win, will have to pick the one up you suggested!
Inheritance. Thanks for the post. I have been looking into calibrating my monitor!! 🙂
Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Child!!! It really worked! Still true even with my 11 year old…
I need a new calibration system since upgrading tonew OS x!!
Racing in the Rain
I need this to calibrate my monitor…
Right now I would have to say the Love Dare. Even when a relationship is in a healthy place it helps keep me centered 🙂
I pretty much read whatever I can get my hands on! Right now I have a slew of Robert B Parker books. Thanks for the opportunity to win the monitor calibrator. :o)
My Favorite book at the moment is Red Star Rogue. It’s about the untold story of a Soviet submarine’s nuclear strike attempt on the United States. The period of the Cold War was a very dangerous time in our past. But have things realy changed?
Twilight series- love me some vampires!
Ecoholic
Little Women
My all time favorite is Little Women. My recent favorite is The Help. Also enjoyed both movies/shows. Thanks for the opportunity!
Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance by Robert M. Persig
My favorite book would have to be Mao’s Last Dancer, I couldn’t put it down.
I’ve been wanting a proper calibrating system for.ev.er.!
Thank you for the opportunity!
My fave book … The entire Shopaholic series, really. Sophie Kinsella makes me laugh out loud 🙂
Right now I am thinking Angela’s Ashes. Loved it.
OK, I’m gonna have to go with the obvious and say the Twilight series. I have been anxiously awaiting the release of Breaking Dawn next Friday! Yay!!
The 4 Hour Work Week & The 4 Hour Body by Tim Ferris
I always just have the Lab check for color correction to make double, triple sure my prints come out right, but would love to be able to skip that step! Thanks for sharing!
My favourite book is Les Miserables by Victor Hugo – an old book, but classic! Thanks for the giveaway – I really really would love to have my own calibration software.
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath has always been a favorite of mine.
Most recently, Heaven is for Real.
I love Santaram by G. Roberts.
Thanks for the great giveaway!
Heaven is for Real (but have your tissue close by) AWESOME GIEVEAWAY!!!
Little Women & Secret Garden. Classics I could read over and over. Anne of Green Gables, too!
Thank you for doing what you do!!
Wow, just found your blog. Love all your advice and tutorials.
this post answered a lot of questions for me, and I would LOVE a spyder.
thanks
My favorite book is Wuthering Heights! Thanks so much for the opportunity to win!
Melinda Walters
Mew Photography
melwltrs58@yahoo.com
My favorite book is Like Water for Chocolate. Thanks for all your tips Amanda!
Bridget
My favorite book is I love you, Stinky Face! Such a sweet book to share with your kids.
My favorite book is A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.
I love the Twilight series and Dee Henderson’s O’Malley Series. Loved the Spyder lesson. You are so lovely.
Anne of Green Gables 🙂
Too hard to answer what is my all-tme favorite book — I don’t think I have one. I have lots of favorites, and it changes all the time. I read The Hunger Games over the summer (assigned reading for my 7th and 9th grader) and found it gripping.
My fav book is which ever one I happen to be reading at the moment! So at this moment it’s 11th Precinct
Where the Red Fern Grows
The Last Song is the last book that I read and it is my favorite:) And I also like anything by Nicholas Sparks.