calibrate monitor with Macbeth ColorChecker?

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Level 2

155 points

calibrate monitor with Macbeth ColorChecker?

I've got a 24" Samsung 245T with the input coming from a BlackMagic Intensity HDMI.

The image looks startlingly good, so it must not be calibrated. Unfortunately, the Intensity comes with no calibration software like the MXO, and I can't use my MacBeth Eye One Display monitor calibrator (as the HDMI is only output from the FCP's canvas, not the desktop).

It was suggested that I shoot a MacBeth ColorChecker card with my camera, and use that to calibrate the monitor by sight.

First, I'd white balance the camera using a MacBeth White Balance card, then shoot the ColorChecker card under the lighting conditions I'd commonly use.

Possibly, I would combine this with setting up the black levels, etc using the color bars output from FCP as outlined here:
http://www.bluesky-web.com/colorbars.html
http://www.videouniversity.com/tvbars2.htm

(should the black levels be calibrated first?)

As this is not a CRT, and has no 'blue-switch', I could purchase a small wratten #47 to hold over my eye while I calibrate.

Or, use the G Take plugin to display just the blue channel (can't FCP6 do this on its own? will this work?)
http://www.nattress.com/Free/freeFCP.htm

Does this sound like a good plan, or am I way off base?

BTW - a tech at BlackMagic said he had heard of users installing the DeckLink drivers (which does come with some calibration tools) for use with the Intensity. But, he did not have the details.

Anyone doing that?

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.1), RME FireFace 400

Posted on Dec 7, 2007 8:54 PM

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Answer 1

Dec 8, 2007 1:49 PM in response to exquirentibus

Hello Les

Some comments :
The image looks startlingly good, so it must not be calibrated

I dont follow this; you infer that if the display is calibrated you will see bad pictures?

If you want to calibrate the Samsung, the only thing that is affordable by the end user is SyderTV, its similar to the Macbeth iOne but designed for television displays:

http://shop.colourconfidence.com/product.php?xProd=1726

It was suggested that I shoot a MacBeth ColorChecker card with my camera, and use that to calibrate the monitor by sight.

If you really want to mess your picture up then this is the thing to do-
the camera will introduce its own colourimetry and errors to the test tablet, then you will introduce your own take on what the image should look like.
if you think your picture is that good already why do you want to calibrate?

I would combine this with setting up the black levels, etc using the color bars output from FCP

This is a mistake, you must not use editing systems, cameras, process amplifiers etc etc to calibrate equipment, it must be done independantly using a test signal generator so if you cant buy or hire one leave well alone.

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Answer 2

exquirentibus Author

Level 2

155 points

Dec 9, 2007 10:19 AM in response to Gary Scotland

Gary - I'm trying to get my head around all this.

My concern about my monitor's image looking so good came from:

In the Sept/Oct Creative Cow
http://magazine.creativecow.net/downloads.php

Bob Zelin's article on Monitor Calibration states:

"Wait a minute, you say: “My HD pictures look fanastic!
I’ve tweaked the monitor in my room to within an inch of its
life and the color is stunning!”
And that’s the problem. I don’t care one bit if the
picture is “stunning.” We need to observe accurate
color, color that will not get rejected, color that will be
consistent at other professional facilities, over the air, or
at your client’s place.
That’s why a consumer plasma TV whose chroma is
cranked way up, and whose colors are jumping off the
screen — “Wow, look at the colors! I can get a suntan from
that screen!” — is worse than useless. It doesn’t project
an accurate image, no matter how nice the picture looks.
A set-up like this will eventually get you into trouble.
We do this for a living, so we need to see what others
see and I’m not talking about your mom’s 42” DLP."

------
He suggested some simple calibration using color bars.

I read a review on the SpyderTV you mentioned, and it stated:
-------
Datacolor's SpyderTV calibrates a TV with the assumption that it will be viewed in a dimly lit or dark room. This "one size fits all" approach isn't highlighted in the documentation, and we would be rightfully upset to realize the $270 spent on the SpyderTV was essentially wasted because a TV's primary viewing area happens to be a sunny or well-lit room.

For viewing environments where proper light control isn't an option, the Lucasfilm THX Optimizer (included with many DVD movies) or the Monster/ISF HDTV Calibration Wizard would lead to more appropriate picture settings and better resulting image quality—for about a tenth the price of SpyderTV.
--------------------

Which gave me an interesting idea. I have an older video essentials calibration DVD. Maybe I could rip the MPEG2 from the DVD, play it in FCP which would would display thru the HDMI monitor, and use that for some calibration?

Or, just forget about it, enjoy the stunning picture, and stop worrying so much!

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Answer 3

Zebulun

Level 5

6,749 points

Dec 9, 2007 11:11 AM in response to exquirentibus

Dude,

You're completely spinning in circles, buying gear, looking for results of something and just what is it you're trying to accomplish? What is your end product? This Samsung monitor is a computer monitor. I don't care what you feed it with, it's a computer monitor and as such, is not capable of reproducing the NTSC or ATSC full color gamut. If you want to monitor hd from your Intensity card, you need an hdtv or a full blown hd monitor, not a computer monitor. Some folks are gonna argue the MXO can make a computer monitor an NTSC or ATSC monitor. I'm not all that agreeable to that but whatever.

The Macbeth color checker is an extremely useful chart to have on set and photograph with a still camera or a video camera in order to balance color in post - I have one as well as an NTSC bar chart. The Color Checker is an incredibly useful tool to use to build custom ICC profiles for devices such as digital cameras, scanners and computer monitors provided you have the tools to build ICC profiles. It will do you no good in the context for which you wish to use it.

Zeb

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Answer 4

exquirentibus Author

Level 2

155 points

Dec 9, 2007 11:34 AM in response to Zebulun

Gary & Zeb - thanks for stopping me from going down a dead-end path!

Would minimal black level calibration with the color bars output from FCP still be somewhat useful?

I understand the end product would not be a calibrated reference monitor, but at least an improvement? (BTW - does the part with the blue filter apply to an LCD display)?

http://www.bluesky-web.com/colorbars.html
http://www.videouniversity.com/tvbars2.htm

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