Calibrating a Monitor for Photography

Hi, everyone, I'm professional nature and travel photographer, Ian Plant. For me, a fully consistent and calibrated digital dark room workflow is vital. But even if you aren't a pro like me, if you are passionate about photography, if you share your photos online, and if you like to make prints of your work and even hope to get published from time to time, then you need to ensure that your monitor is calibrated. Picking a good monitor, which I discuss in another video, is an important first step, but having a good monitor isn't enough. You need to take an extra step and make sure that you keep it calibrated. Factory calibration settings vary by manufacturer and by brand, and a monitors display settings can drift over time making them less reliable. Calibration hardware and software is designed to ensure that your monitor is always displaying colors correctly. To start with I should note that you shouldn't bother with the built-in calibration offered by your Windows or Mac device. And yes, I am using derisive air quotes around the word calibration. These just aren't accurate enough for critical photo editing. Also, don't try to calibrate your monitor by manually adjusting the settings until it looks right. Once again, notice my use of derisive air quotes. This is just something that you can't do by yourself. Some high-end photo editing monitors, like my EIZO ColorEdge monitor have calibration systems built in. My integrated calibration is automatic. So I don't ever have to worry about it. The monitor routinely calibrates itself on a regular schedule. I always know that my EIZO is going to be picture perfect. If your monitor doesn't have built-in calibration hardware then you need an external sensor and software package. Two of the most popular brands for monitor calibration are the Datacolor Spyder and the X-Rite ColorMunki. Both systems are easy to use. Just follow their instructions, attach the sensor to your monitor, and run the diagnostic software. Just remember, when you edit on a calibrated screen and then post a photo online, this doesn't mean that all the screens and devices that are used by viewers will display the photo the same way. Most people looking at photos are not using screens that are properly calibrated. And there is a lot of variation between the quality and settings of all the different computer, smartphone, and tablet screens out there. But calibration on your end will still ensure that your photos look the best they can, even if you can't control what everyone else is seeing. But calibration isn't just important for web viewing. It is also important if you ever wanna print your photos or have them published in a magazine. When you are properly calibrated you should get better, more consistent results whenever you are printing your images. So if you are serious about your photography, like me, then you need to make sure that your monitor is properly calibrated. Doing so will mean that your photos always look their best. I'm Ian Plant and thanks for watchin'.