Color calibration for new machine?

Hey folks. I do a lot of color-related work on my notebook, but am short of actually getting really high end calibration software. Was thinking you might be able to help...

Just got my AW 15 and am matching it against my 2012 M17x. It seems as though the screen is plenty good and can reproduce the colors perfectly, but it's the balance between the colors I can't seem to get right (sky is blue, ground is too yellow. Ground is right, sky is too red, etc.) with the super limited Intel color display adjustments.

Can you recommend any sort of free software that will allow me to set much finer color controls, save profiles, etc.?

Thanks!!!

 

If colors are that important I would bite the bullet and at least get a Spyder Pro or ColorMunki.

 

Free software can only change your screen temps. If you want free then find out your exact screen model and search for a calibrated color profile. Otherwise buy the Spyder 5 Pro like I did, it allows you to calibrate as many screens as you wish. Nothing even comes close to calibrating the screen yourself with a proper colorimeter since the new color profile is made exactly for your screen rather some generic color profile made for all. Each screen is different even if they are from the same model.

 

Displays tend to have some color shifts as they age as well, so recalibrating it once in a while isn't a bad idea either. If you go for a profile online, make sure to backup the default Windows one.

 

Thanks a lot guys- do you have any suggestions re: the three different models?? I guess the mid tier one is perfect, but am really not sure.

Thanks!!

 

Use AIDA Extreme 64 and tell us your exact model number. Maybe I can hook you up with a profile free of charge.

 

Couple of points:

A) Thanks
B) I was referring to the model of Spyder. You were referring to... model of LCD panel?
C) Once I were to get a profile from you, would I just tell Windows to use it via the color management system in control panel?

Thanks!

 

This is how you can change the icc profile for Windows: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-ca/windows7/change-color-management-settings.

Regarding which spyder to get, the express version will work on a single monitor, the pro and uphave more bells and whistles, the pro is great if you have multi-monitor setups. The current hardware is the Spyder 5 line, but if you want to save some buck, you should be able to grab a Spyder 4 used for less.

 

True although I wouldn't go for anything less then the pro to be able to calibrate as many screens as I want

I've had both the Spyder4Pro and currently the Spyder5Pro, both are excellent the only benefit I see in the pro is that it's body contains a cover to protect the sensor from dust otherwise I didn't notice a diff between the calibrations really so u can save some money and get the 4Pro

 

can also look into colormunki display or i1 display pro.