ColorVision Spyder2 Express Win/Mac
From ColorVision
The most effective entry level monitor calibration, just plug in by USB, let it calibrate, remove from monitor…done! Easy as 1-2-3!
- Amazon Sales Rank: #183 in Software
- Brand: ColorVision
- Model: S2E100
- Released on: 2006-05-03
- Platforms: Windows XP, Mac OS X
- Format: CD-ROM
- Original language: English
- Dimensions: 3.75" h x 8.50" w x 10.25" l, 1.35 pounds
Calibrate your display--just like professionals. Spyder2express calibrates monitors in three easy steps--simply plug it in, specify your display type, and it does the rest, automatically calibrating your monitor or laptop. Check the before-and-after. You'll see the improvement!
Features:
- CRT, LCD, and laptop displays to industry standards
- Easy software wizard guiding you through the calibration process in just a few steps means you don't have to be a color guru
- New state-of-the-art optical science provides a five-fold increase in color sensitivity over previous technology with a patent-protected light baffle for accurate characterization of LCD displays
- Sleek, dual-phase hardware design offers effortless LCD, CRT, and laptop calibration while protecting delicate LCD screens
- Outstanding reliability backed by a two-year hardware warranty
- Sophisticated gray balance and tonal response algorithms provide demanding users with exceptionally smooth gradient steps and neutral grays
- Unique before and after viewing feature lets you compare your display with and without calibration
Good Basic Colorimeter
Pros: Good, well contructed, colorimeter for the novice, easy to use software walks you through every step. I notice a definite improvement in my new 22" WS LCD's picture. I had tried Adobe Gamma and Quick Gamma, but these programs rely on your eyes for making brightness and contrast corrections, and setting gamma. My eyes are not as sharp as they were 20 years ago.
Cons: The new updated software, version 2.3, has been out since June, 2006 but Colorvision is still shipping with the older version. Go to their website [...]), download 2.3 (110.3 MB), install it, and use the keycode on your 2.2 version to run it. The 2.3 version changes the target white point for LCDs to 6500K instead of Native. I personally prefer 6500k anyway. Gamma 2.2 and 6500K are the only choices with the Express. If you want more choices you will have to purchase the more expensive Pro version.
After calibration and exiting the software I got a "Can not find color profile" error message. Rebooting solved this.
With the counter-weight adjusted, I still had to tilt my LCD monitor back 15 - 20 degrees before I could get the Spyder to lay completely flat on the screen.
So That's What it Should Look Like
I am always editing photos and then getting back the prints and wondering where I went wrong. I tried using manual color calibration tools which did make a big difference, but my color was still not quite right. This was so easy and accurate I regret not doing it sooner. All you have to do is install the software, disable any color altering settings you currently have in use, plug it in and let it go. It takes a few minutes going through various colors and then it is done, just like that. I have done this on both my desktop LCD and notebook LCD and they both look great. The colors just seem to have more contrast and detail. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking to get accurate color representation out of their monitors but don't want to spend a lot of time doing it.
Easy as can be
Just load the software and plug it in. Follow the instruction on screen and that's it.
Couldn't be easier and the results are great. My prints now look like what I see on the monitor. Photo paper and ink are expensive. This item has already saved me more in paper and ink than it cost to buy.
