Calibrating a monitor can come in handy if you are not sure that it displays colors correctly. This operation is carried out in several steps, the purpose of which is to configure various monitor parameters.
Calibrating the LCD monitor is a complex and painstaking task that requires patience and attention. You probably repeat the procedure several times until the desired result is obtained. Before starting calibration, turn on the monitor and work on it for about 20 minutes or more. During this time, it will warm up and begin to show the image of those colors that you need. While it is warming up, you should check to see if the correct drivers for it are installed. For normal operation, you must install the "native" drivers for the monitor, and not standard for the system. You must set the highest quality level of color rendering at 24 or 32 bit. For image processing, a 16-bit value is not acceptable. After that, you should use a special cloth to remove any possible dirt and glare from the surface of the screen.
Monitor Calibration: Step One
The first step is to set the white point, that is, the white temperature. The position of this point usually depends on the type of lighting at which the color temperature is adjusted. If we are talking about direct sunlight, then the white point corresponds to 5000 Kelvin, and for ordinary incandescent lamps 5500 K. When working with color, the correct determination of the white point is a significant factor, and if the monitor does not have the ability to adjust the color temperature, then the ability to work with color is practically excluded. Before proceeding with the setup, it is necessary to create lighting in which the image will be processed. In the settings menu of your monitor, you should find the item "Color temperature" or similar.
By comparing the white on the monitor with a white sheet of paper, adjust the white point so that the colors match each other. Calibration of the monitor should be carried out smoothly, if this is not possible, then select the most optimal color temperature value from the proposed ones. Since most monitors offer the opportunity to choose from two temperature options - 6500 and 9300 K, then you should choose the first one, and then adjust the display of red, blue and green colors so that your white looks more like a white sheet. It is worth remembering that if the setting is left as it is proposed by default, then when working with the image, the colors will be set warmer, and when printing, the image will be excessively red.
Monitor Calibration: Step Two
Now it's time to do the hardest thing about calibrating your monitor. For optimal settings, you should use the Adobe Gamma program, which allows you to configure image profiles. If everything is done correctly, then it will be possible to achieve the same results that the hardware calibration of the monitor gives. Before starting the program, you must delete all profiles that were previously installed on the computer. You can work both in master mode and in control panel mode. First you must give a name to the new profile, and then go further. Now you must adjust the brightness and contrast for the image. For this, the program offers a special picture as a guide. When you go through this stage, you will need to indicate the color of the phosphor used, then the program will be able to determine how to display the different colors. The monitor documentation indicates the type of phosphor in coordinates. You must indicate them. If you use an LCD monitor, you should leave the default value.
Next, you must again check the white point, and if it has not changed, then the setting is completed.