SPYDER3ELITE REVIEWAug 27, 2008, ET
Display calibration is important in order to ensure that the colors you see on your screen are going to be the colors seen on someone else’s screen, or on the paper when you print. There are several good products out now that can handle the calibration process for you but like everything, there is always room for improvement. With the new DataColor Spyder3Elite, that improvement is both welcome and visible. WHAT'S NEW: The Spyder3Elite is the top of the line version of DataColor’s colorimeter products. The main differentiation in all the Spyder3 products is the level of software functionality you have. With the Elite package, you have total control over the critical settings like color temperature, gamma and luminance. Also new to the Spyder3 is an ambient light control which will automatically measure the light in a room at regular intervals to help you keep your display accurate when changes are detected to the ambient light. On the software side, DataColor has completely reworked the user interface to make it easier to navigate through the various options. Like before, there are two modes: a guided wizard mode and an expert console for those of us that like to know what’s going on and make specific selections. SETUP: At all times, helpful text tells you what your options are. You have complete control over settings for color temperature, gamma, gray balance and ambient light compensation. The calibration process measures different color values determining what your display is capable of reproducing and then making adjustments to the video settings to give you an accurate rendition of color. Once calibration is completed, you'll see a summary of the results. From here you can go back and recalibrate if you feel it necessary. If you already have a profile created and in use, the next time you launch Spyder3Elite you'll be asked if you want to recalibrate or just check the current calibration. Doing a checkCAL reduces the time required to profile to less than three minutes and gives you a report on whether a full recalibration is needed. COMPARISON: I compared the results from the Spyder3Elite to the profile I created with X-Rite’s i1Display 2 and EyeOne Match software. Both tools produced excellent profiles with slight differences. I found that EyeOne Match gave me warmer tones and a slightly brighter display than the Spyder3 did. However the Spyder3 gave more neutral grays and slightly better shadow detail. Using ColorThink Pro to examine both profiles, the Spyder3 produced a profile with a larger gamut volume on my 30” Apple Cinema Display. CONCLUSION: The new $279 Spyder3Elite is a very nice upgrade from the previous version. With greater accuracy and reduced profiling times, even users of the Spyder2 should consider upgrading to the latest hardware. If you’re already using the X-Rite i1 Display 2, I don't see a reason to run out and replace your existing hardware. But, if you're just getting started with color management, this is an outstanding option that will serve you well for years. When combined with DataColor's Spectrocolorimeter package, you have a full setup for both monitor and printer profiling at a fraction of what this setup would have cost even two years ago. To see examples of how this product works and to read the article in its entirety go to www.photographyblog.com.  This
review was excerpted from www.photographyblog.com,
a comprehensive blog about photography. Jon Canfield, writer and photographer, is a regular contributor for the PhotographyBLOG specializing in Raw image processing, color management and printmaking. Along with writing for the PhotographyBLOG, Canfield is a contributing editor at Shutterbug and Digital Journalist, and a frequent contributor to PC Photo, Outdoor Photographer and Digital Photo Pro. He is the author of several books on digital imaging and fine-art printing, including Raw 101: Better Images with Photoshop Elements and Photoshop, Print Like a Pro: A Digital Photographer’s Guide, and Photo Finish: The Digital Photographer’s Guide to Printing, Showing, and Selling Images. Canfield also consults on printing and color management for companies like HP, Canon, Pantone and Inkpress Paper as well as teaching workshops around the country. To view some of his work visit www.joncanfield.com SPYDER3ELITE REVIEWAug 27, 2008, ET
INTRO:
Display calibration is important in order to ensure that the colors you see on your screen are going to be the colors seen on someone else’s screen, or on the paper when you print. There are several good products out now that can handle the calibration process for you but like everything, there is always room for improvement. With the new DataColor Spyder3Elite, that improvement is both welcome and visible. WHAT'S NEW: The Spyder3Elite is the top of the line version of DataColor’s colorimeter products. The main differentiation in all the Spyder3 products is the level of software functionality you have. With the Elite package, you have total control over the critical settings like color temperature, gamma and luminance. Also new to the Spyder3 is an ambient light control which will automatically measure the light in a room at regular intervals to help you keep your display accurate when changes are detected to the ambient light. On the software side, DataColor has completely reworked the user interface to make it easier to navigate through the various options. Like before, there are two modes: a guided wizard mode and an expert console for those of us that like to know what’s going on and make specific selections. SETUP: At all times, helpful text tells you what your options are. You have complete control over settings for color temperature, gamma, gray balance and ambient light compensation. The calibration process measures different color values determining what your display is capable of reproducing and then making adjustments to the video settings to give you an accurate rendition of color. Once calibration is completed, you'll see a summary of the results. From here you can go back and recalibrate if you feel it necessary. If you already have a profile created and in use, the next time you launch Spyder3Elite you'll be asked if you want to recalibrate or just check the current calibration. Doing a checkCAL reduces the time required to profile to less than three minutes and gives you a report on whether a full recalibration is needed. COMPARISON: I compared the results from the Spyder3Elite to the profile I created with X-Rite’s i1Display 2 and EyeOne Match software. Both tools produced excellent profiles with slight differences. I found that EyeOne Match gave me warmer tones and a slightly brighter display than the Spyder3 did. However the Spyder3 gave more neutral grays and slightly better shadow detail. Using ColorThink Pro to examine both profiles, the Spyder3 produced a profile with a larger gamut volume on my 30” Apple Cinema Display. CONCLUSION: The new $279 Spyder3Elite is a very nice upgrade from the previous version. With greater accuracy and reduced profiling times, even users of the Spyder2 should consider upgrading to the latest hardware. If you’re already using the X-Rite i1 Display 2, I don't see a reason to run out and replace your existing hardware. But, if you're just getting started with color management, this is an outstanding option that will serve you well for years. When combined with DataColor's Spectrocolorimeter package, you have a full setup for both monitor and printer profiling at a fraction of what this setup would have cost even two years ago. To see examples of how this product works and to read the article in its entirety go to www.photographyblog.com. This review was excerpted from www.photographyblog.com, a comprehensive blog about photography. Jon Canfield, writer and photographer, is a regular contributor for the PhotographyBLOG specializing in Raw image processing, color management and printmaking. Along with writing for the PhotographyBLOG, Canfield is a contributing editor at Shutterbug and Digital Journalist, and a frequent contributor to PC Photo, Outdoor Photographer and Digital Photo Pro. He is the author of several books on digital imaging and fine-art printing, including Raw 101: Better Images with Photoshop Elements and Photoshop, Print Like a Pro: A Digital Photographer’s Guide, and Photo Finish: The Digital Photographer’s Guide to Printing, Showing, and Selling Images. Canfield also consults on printing and color management for companies like HP, Canon, Pantone and Inkpress Paper as well as teaching workshops around the country. To view some of his work visit www.joncanfield.com
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