RED is too saturated on my monitor. What can I do?

Question

RED is too saturated on my monitor. What can I do?

Hello,

I'm using a Apple Cinema Display HD 23". I calibrated the display with the Leopard control panel but it seams that my monitor has a reddish tone compared to the monitors in our office.

I runed the calibration process several times but still, the red color is *way too saturated*.

MacBook Pro 17", Mac OS X (10.5), 2.0 GB RAM

Posted on Dec 25, 2007 9:36 AM

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Answer 1

Cmaig

Level 1

125 points

Dec 26, 2007 2:32 AM in response to Danielle Kamp

Reddish tone and saturated reds are 2 different things.

The reddish or bluish tone of a display is the color temperature. It can be adjusted at the end of the advanced calibration process by moving a slider. It should be around 6500k by default. Move it to the right for a colder image (less red, more blue).

Red saturation is how vivid reds are. A high saturation is usually a good thing.

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Answer 2

Dec 26, 2007 4:36 AM in response to Cmaig

Thank you Cmaig for your reply. Yes, I probably created a bit of a confusion with my 'reddish tone'. Well, the colors are ok, the red is just way too strong. If I create a graphic on my computer I have to boost up the red saturation in Photoshop by +35, so that the graphic looks the way I want on other computers (On my computer it now looks just red). I have to do that because my monitor displays the red too strong.

BTW, I don't use any Photoshop color correction. I also see the same effect when browsing through the internet with Firefox or Safari.

I also have a MacBookPro with Leopard. I also calibrated the display and the colors are the way they should...

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Answer 3

Cmaig

Level 1

125 points

Dec 27, 2007 12:41 AM in response to Danielle Kamp

Laptop screens have a reduced color gamut. Your MacBookPro will always look less saturated. This is normal.

But it should apply to all colors, not only red.

Take a look at these gradients :
http://www.lagom.nl/lcd-test/colorbands.png

Do you see all the steps in the red gradient or does it reach its peak brightness before the end ?

(Try with the default color profile too).

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Answer 4

Dec 27, 2007 12:57 AM in response to Cmaig

No, I can see all the steps in this gradient. To the last one.

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Answer 5

Cmaig

Level 1

125 points

Dec 27, 2007 1:33 AM in response to Danielle Kamp

Now, take a look at this gradient :
http://www.lagom.nl/lcd-test/gradient-h.png

Does it look reddish somewhere ?

If it doesn't, I guess your Display is OK. It's the laptop screens that are crappy.

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Answer 6

Dec 27, 2007 9:47 AM in response to Cmaig

No, this gradient looks ok, too. I guess it's just me then. Nothing wrong with the display

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