What's it all about?
In general, computer screens are too bright and are set to whatever default color the device ships with. Screen calibration aims to get your screen to a known standard giving good representative color and brightness.
That's a short explanation. There are plenty of articles on the internet. Here are a couple:
PDF file "Complete guide to color management" at xritephoto.com
Calibration is carried out using a device which is suspended in front of the screen to record measurements of the light emitted by the screen. A colour profile is created and subsequently used to "correct" the colours shown by the device.
The club calibrator and software download
The club calibrator is an X-rite i1 Display Pro (model number EODIS3-XR). In the box you will find:
- The i1 Display Pro calibrator
- Quick Start booklet
- The original CD containing i1Profiler Software version 1.5.6
You can find out more about the device and check for newer versions of the i1Profiler Software on the manufacturer website.
On the download page for the i1Profiler you may need to expand the "Show more" link in order to see the full list of available software versions. The required download is the "i1Profiler (i1 Publish)" software.
General information about the i1 Display ProHow do I use the calibrator and software?
This a summary of the process from start to end (using default settings and the "Basic" user mode in the software). Once completed, the profile that is created will be loaded when the machine starts.
- Install the i1Profiler software BEFORE plugging the device into a USB port on your machine. Note that:
- The user must have Administrator rights to install and uninstall the application.
- The install process may ask "Would you like to install this device software?" - choose "Install" to continue.
- Reboot at the end of the installation process if prompted to do so.
- Once the software installation is complete and/or after a reboot, attach the device to an available USB port. This should produce some system message(s) about a device being connected.
- Run the i1Profiler software (there should be a desktop shortcut created by the installation). The screenshots below are for version 1.7.1 of the software on Windows 7 with the "User mode" setting on the first screen set to "Basic".
- Note: on the first screen there is no need to change anything in the Licensing section.
Screen shown on starting the software.
- Select "Display Profiling" in the Workflow Selector pane.
- The "Display Settings" screen shows some information about your display type. The screenshot shows the settings for the club laptop.
The Display Settings screen.
- Click on the Next icon to move to the next step.
- The "Measurement" screen carries out the profiling process.
The Measurement screen (before the measurement process).
- Click on the Start Measurement button.
- At this point the device needs to be placed against the screen, as shown below. If it isn't, the software will provide some on-screen messages about how to position the device.
Rotate the silver part within the black calibrator arm to expose the optics.
Press the button on the counter weight and slide it along the cable.
Position the device with the optics at the centre of the display and the counter weight hanging behind the display.
Adjust the counter weight if necessary and ensure that the device sits flat on the display.
- Once the device is positioned, the measurement process can begin. Respond to any prompts as necessary e.g. it is likely that you will need to adjust the screen brightness as part of the process.
- At the end of the measurement process the software will ask you to twist the silver part of the device back to the original "ambient measurement" position i.e. with the screw thread visible and the lens protected by the black u shaped arm.
- On the "Measurement" screen the Start Measurement button should now be greyed out.
The Measurement screen (after the measurement process).
- Click on the Next icon to move to the next step.
The ICC Profile screen (before saving the profile).
- On the "ICC Profile" screen click on the Create And Save Profile button.
- Once the profile is saved you can use the Before and After buttons to see the effect of the profile.
The ICC Profile screen (after saving the profile).
What about the "Advanced" user mode?
The above is a quick run through using the basic settings. For more information on the advanced options, please try a Google search.
System Requirements
The i1Profiler software version 1.7.1 contains the following information about "minimum suggested hardware requirements". Refer to the information supplied with later versions of the software for any changes to these requirements.
Macintosh®
- MacOS X 10.8.x through MacOS X 10.12.x
- All Operating Systems should have the latest updates installed
- 2GB RAM
- Intel® Core 2 Duo Processor
- 2GB of available disk space
- Powered USB Port
- Monitor resolution of 1024x768 pixels or higher
- Dual display support requires either 2 video cards or a dual head video card that supports dual video LUTs being loaded
- Latest drivers for video card installed
- DVD drive or high-speed Internet connection required for software install, download and automatic software update
- User must have Administrator rights to install and uninstall the application
Windows®:
- Microsoft® Windows 7® 32 or 64 bit
- Microsoft® Windows 8® 32 or 64 bit
- Microsoft® Windows 8.1® 32 or 64 bit
- Microsoft® Windows 10® 32 or 64 bit
- All Operating Systems should have the latest updates and Service Packs installed
- 2GB RAM
- Intel® Core 2 Duo or AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 or better CPU
- 2GB of available disk space
- Powered USB Port
- Monitor resolution of 1024x768 pixels or higher
- Dual display support requires either 2 video cards or a dual head video card that supports dual video LUTs being loaded
- Latest drivers for video card installed
- Network adaptor installed and driver loaded
- DVD drive or high-speed Internet connection required for software install, download and automatic software update
- User must have Administrator rights to install and uninstall the application