Sometimes people come to me with comments that my images seem to be a little dark, so I thought I’d give a couple of pointers to where you can go to hopefully improve your viewing pleasure.
Calibrating your monitor can make a huge difference between seeing what the original author intended, and seeing very little. Here are some links that may be of interest if you would like to improve your viewing.
I use a Spyder 3 Pro, however, these links below can offer a free way to get started on seeing more…...
Calibrate your monitor offers a fast and easy fix
WikiHow has some tips that may be helpful too.
Andrew Bosman, 2 months ago
Or people could just turn the brightness up…..... :-)
Mel Brackstone in reply to Andrew Bosman’s comment, 2 months ago
Sometimes the brightness can be all the way up….and it still doesn’t offer enough…..I’ve had monitors like that :D
I guess that’s a good reason to get a new one, huh?
John Pitman, 2 months ago
Have been thinking of getting Spyder 3. Would you recommend it Mel?
Stephen Mitchell, 2 months ago
I often find my work is slightly darker when viewed on other computers, even in the final print, so I agree, this is a great idea. Thanks for the links.
Mel Brackstone in reply to John Pitman’s comment, 2 months ago
As it turned out, I only noticed a very slight change in the colours when I used it first, John, so this monitor was pretty good to start with, but you never know until you’ve checked, do you? I put one of my shots onto my husbands computer the other day and he couldn’t see very much at all!
Mel Brackstone in reply to Stephen Mitchell’s comment, 2 months ago
You’re welcome, Stephen!
Stephen Chapple, 2 months ago
Just noticed a big difference after I moved to the new IMac and large screen, compared to my standard monitor that was often so dark. Thanks for the hint Mel!
Sean Farragher, 2 months ago
i must have a brilliant monitor
Jennifer Woodward, 2 months ago
I’ll come back to this at some point, I’ve been meaning to do this for a while but for some reason, my head’s telling me it’s going to be REALLY complicated when it more than likely isn’t!!! Thanks for the links :-)
Mel Brackstone in reply to Stephen Chapple’s comment, 2 months ago
Same here, Steve, my macbook is brilliant, and so was my new monitor, but my little side one I use as second monitor is a shocker….lol.
Mel Brackstone in reply to Sean Farragher’s comment, 2 months ago
Good to hear it Sean! Some are great….some are most definitely not.
Mel Brackstone in reply to Jennifer Woodward’s comment, 2 months ago
The first link can show you very quickly whether you’re on the right track, Jennifer, and you won’t need to do anything just to check.
Jennifer Woodward, 2 months ago
I’m on the laptop at the min, it’s the PC monitor that seems a little dark… I’ll definitely have a peek at the link later today :-)
Mel Brackstone in reply to Jennifer Woodward’s comment, 2 months ago
Good luck!
Jennifer Woodward, 2 months ago
Thanks… we have two printers also, so it might be a a bit fiddly trying to get them all synchronised (or however you spell it, he he!) so that what you see is what you get kinda thing! Ah, I’m getting a headache already…
Hans Kawitzki, 2 months ago
Never ever had a problem with your images on my monitor Mel or do I have perfect vision ? :)
Mel Brackstone in reply to Jennifer Woodward’s comment, 2 months ago
ahhh….it does get complicated…..good luck!
Faith Hunter, 2 months ago
Hi Mel,
I’ve had this comment too (although I think in my case I think they are correct). I’ve put off calibrating as i always work from a laptop and as of course the conditions can vary slightly everytime you open the laptop, even to the angle the laptop monitor is on, I did attend a colour management course once and now that we are settled in one place and looking forward to getting a fixed monitor I can use. The laptop will still move around but the monitor never!
So maybe, some of your viewers are viewing from laptops that are being opened in varying conditions, with the monitor flipped open at different angles depending on the conditions etc?
Mel Brackstone in reply to Hans Kawitzki’s comment, 2 months ago
I’m so very pleased to hear it, Hans! Your monitor and your eyesight must be excellent!
Mel Brackstone in reply to Faith Hunter’s comment, 2 months ago
It’s very likely, Faith. There are so many different combinations of monitors/graphics cards/conditions etc that trying to show the best result to everyone is near impossible. My suggestions are just a vain hope that one or two people might be able to get a slightly better view…..lol!
Shanina Conway, 2 months ago
They’re perfect on my baby Mel…but it’s a great idea to start this thread as I don’t know how many people actually calibrate their monitors.
Globalphotos, 2 months ago
They look perfect me too, never calibrated mine, hope they’re ok !!
Mel Brackstone in reply to Shanina Conway’s comment, 2 months ago
I don’t know either, and if it helps one or two, that’s a good thing :D
Mel Brackstone in reply to Globalphotos’s comment, 2 months ago
With the responses you get, I’m guessing your monitor is great :D
Shanina Conway, 2 months ago
It’s a great idea Mel…I also use the other computer to check things and pop into internet cafes to see how things look too;)
Mel Brackstone in reply to Shanina Conway’s comment, 2 months ago
I do that as well, but the other day I asked my hubby to look at one of my shots, and it was so dark he couldn’t make out much detail. His monitor is set up for autocad though, so he’s not too concerned, as long as he can see his screen for his work….and he won’t let anyone touch his computer!!!
Globalphotos, 2 months ago
LOL :)))
Shanina Conway, 2 months ago
lol! He sounds like me…no-one touches my baby ;)
Mel Brackstone in reply to Shanina Conway’s comment, 2 months ago
Same here…..but I muck around with it a bit….whereas Scott doesn’t even upgrade his! It’s a dinosaur…..
JudyBJ, 2 months ago
I dont find them too dark if one looks at them enlarged (as i always do),but when this small,it tends to loose detail .I noticed that with my own pics too and i dont know why that is-it only happens to me on this site
Peter Marin, 2 months ago
It’s also surprising how quickly a monitor becomes ‘un-calibrated’ also. With my setup, I run two screens while doing any processing, the one on my left is a 19” LCD which was calibrated using a EyeOne unit about a year ago, and the other is a 22” LCD which I calibrated 2 weeks ago using the same cal’ unit and I can see a shift….....albeit ever so slight to the dark side on the smaller screen. Regular calibration is a must if you require consistency in colour and density of your work, and if you supply clients with images be it on digital media or in printed form, and you are being payed for that service, it’s a must, in fact it should be your top priority. I think they call it ‘best practice’.
Mel Brackstone in reply to JudyBJ’s comment, 2 months ago
Thanks, Judy, good to know you look at the full size image :D
Mel Brackstone in reply to Peter Marin’s comment, 2 months ago
Thanks Pete, I also have different results from my two monitors, and a shift in colour between them. but I use my big one to do all my photoshop work, knowing that it’ll print as I see it. The other one only gets used for tool bars and email :D
John Robb, 2 months ago
So let me get this right: – monitors come in color these days?
Mel Brackstone in reply to John Robb’s comment, 2 months ago
nah, it’s all a nasty rumour
tomg, 2 months ago
I always thought your images were excellent and the dark ones were that way for a reason.
Jacqueline Bar..., 2 months ago
thanks Mel!
Steven Lippis, 2 months ago
I’m looking to get a calibration spyder at some point. Right now I’d just like to get my computer running again!
I use a laptop, but I plug it into a 22” monitor on my desk to work on photos. For a long time I just used the laptop monitor, but then I did a wedding digitally, and I just didn’t trust it. I think my monitor may possibly be a little bit bright, judging by prints I’ve had. But it’s not too far off.
Ant Vaughan, 2 months ago
I used Spyder 2 but I found my favourite print place has calibration snap that I use every now and again to check.
JAKEB, 2 months ago
(whispers) i like the darkness it adds to the atmosphere