Hi!
I just received my brand new M2 MacBook Pro 16-Inch and my Studio Display.
Why is the display of the MacBook Pro yellow compared to the Studio Display?
The displays are using their default settings:
MacBook Pro: Apple XDR Display (P3-1600 nits)
Studio Display: Apple Display (P3-600 nits)
I turned True Tone off.
It is really important to me that both look the same please.
Thank you!
Christian.
MacBook Pro 16″
No matter what I do, the colours don't match at all between my Apple Studio Display and my MacBook Pro.
And you will, literally, never get there trying to do this by eye.
I tried the Reference Modes. Not only are they too dark, they don't look AT ALL the same on the Studio Display and the MacBook Pro.
I also tried the "Fine-Tune Calibration" mode; I was expecting being able to calibrate my monitors like before with the little sliders and everything (Display Calibrator Assistant), but all I'm getting are input boxes...
The built-in Calibration function, as I've already stated, is a complete waste of time. It can only guess what your monitor looks like. When you start the function, it clears the LUT and displays what it can only assume is a perfect 6500K, 2.2 gamma display with a predetermined luminance value.
That might be a fairly accurate guess if the monitor is less than a month or two old. After that, forget it.
Again, no matter what I do, both displays look very different. I'm not expecting them to be 100% identical, but I'm expecting my brand new 7000$ set-up to be a little more plug and play than that.
My EIZO CG279X monitor alone cost $2,300, and I still know it needs to be calibrated and profiled on a regular, scheduled basis.
All monitors drift. There are no exceptions. Doesn't matter how much you paid for it. In an almost 100% manner, LCD and LED monitors tend to drift pink as they age. When you eyeball it back to what looks neutral to you, the OS sees you're adding green. It has no idea why, even though you know it's to counteract the pink cast. The OS only knows you seem to like a greenish gray balance, and that's what you printed grays will look like.
I've been spending countless hours trying to figure things out with no success. As I said, I see the differences mainly when I'm on Safari, TextEdit, or when I'm on the Finder with windows open; the big white windows show the warmth and brightness differences the most. However, when I open my photos in Photoshop, they seem almost identical on both screens. 🤷♂️
And that's just one problem with a non-color managed monitor. Some apps don't work well with ColorSync. Others, not at all. On any monitor that has not been properly calibrated and profiled, there's no telling what each app will display.
I'm at a loss. I can't spend more money buying a monitor calibrator. I just want both displays to be closer in appearance than THAT:
Sooooo, you've spent 7 grand on your Mac setups, but you won't spend less than $300 to properly color manage the displays? If you ever expect them to match, you need a monitor profiling system. If you ever expect to get professional color results, there's no way around it.
The Calibrate function can only guess at what you're doing. It has no clue - at all - what the monitor's gamut, color range, gray balance, or anything else actually looks like. In other words, it's pointless to even use it.
A monitor profiling system knows exactly what the panel response is. That's what the hardware is for.
I need more sleep, or something. Misread your initial post - again. There is an XDR version of the Studio Display, but you have the less expensive model. Regardless, X-Rite's info still stands. Only the newer colorimeters can properly handle that display.
I had figured the X-Rite device you purchased could likely work since it's just one generation model back. I looked up the specs and now see why it can't work. The ColorChecker Display Pro tops out at 1000 nits. Not enough to profile those newer panels.
In this case, 80 refers to lumens.
To be that difficult to view, I'm assuming you're in a brightly lit room and thereby washing out the screen.
Whether doing photo retouching or video production, professionals work in dimly lit rooms. This is partly to cut down on glare and helps to hide any unwanted surround color. For video work, it's also to help simulate the way most people view their TV at home.
As an example, draw all of the window shades and only have enough side lighting on for comfortable, but muted viewing of the rest of the room. When I'm doing color work, the only light on is the D50 viewing booth next to me. The only window has room darkening curtains that are kept closed. This makes a lumen setting of 80 plenty bright enough to work on, and blocks all other light sources that are not D50.
My understanding is that only my MacBook Pro has a Liquid Retina XDR display; the Studio Display has a 5K Retina display (not XDR).
After opening the Display Calibrator Assistant app, option+click on THIS will make the Expert Mode appear:
MY GOD!
The new Visual Fine-Tune calibration saved my sanity!
Today, I feel like the Studio Display is a bit too blue and bright; I always feel like I want to lower its brightness, but I need the brightness of both screens to be the same.
I actually like the warmth of the MacBook Pro, and I wish the Studio Display could be a little warmer as well.
I see the differences mainly when I'm on Safari or when I'm on the Finder with windows open; the big white windows show the warmth and brightness differences the most.
However, when I open my photos in Photoshop, they seem almost identical on both screens. 🤷♂️
If you have anymore suggestions or ideas, I'm all ears!
Thanks again!
Hey guys, me again.
No matter what I do, the colours don't match at all between my Apple Studio Display and my MacBook Pro.
I tried the Reference Modes. Not only are they too dark, they don't look AT ALL the same on the Studio Display and the MacBook Pro.
I also tried the "Fine-Tune Calibration" mode; I was expecting being able to calibrate my monitors like before with the little sliders and everything (Display Calibrator Assistant), but all I'm getting are input boxes...
Again, no matter what I do, both displays look very different. I'm not expecting them to be 100% identical, but I'm expecting my brand new 7000$ set-up to be a little more plug and play than that.
I've been spending countless hours trying to figure things out with no success. As I said, I see the differences mainly when I'm on Safari, TextEdit, or when I'm on the Finder with windows open; the big white windows show the warmth and brightness differences the most. However, when I open my photos in Photoshop, they seem almost identical on both screens. 🤷♂️
I'm at a loss. I can't spend more money buying a monitor calibrator. I just want both displays to be closer in appearance than THAT:
Can it be that the Studio Display or the MacBook Pro is faulty?
Thanks again!
My guess is no. The displays are different and you have the fix in the above comments.
Finances do not enter into the electronic solution; finances only determines if you are able to afford the electronic solution. And you've already made a decision there.
Nobody here can actually promise you anything.
We can promise we'll be responsible in our suggestions, but promising you a certain outcome shall happen is not reality.
If I made you a promise and it didn't come true, what would you do? It's only a person's recommendation of what he/she feels is a likely outcome, not a declaration of a 100% known future.
I understand. Thank you. I truly appreciate EVERYTHING you guys are telling me.
It's just that I've been wasting literally two weeks (night and day) on this matter, and I can't take it anymore. I'm a graphic designer and graphic design teacher, working with Macs for 26 years, and I've never seen nothing like this.
Every single time I try something, it fails: Expert Mode has vanished from the Display Calibrator Assistant (making it impossible to change anything but the temperature), the profiles created with the Display Calibrator Assistant don't stick after sleep or reboot ( ICC profiles not sticking - Apple Community ), I get the "Failed to add preset" every time I try to customize a preset on my Apple Studio Display ( Failed to add the preset? - Apple Community ), and the list just goes on!
I've had numerous computers and monitors, and I've NEVER experienced ANYTHING like this. For this price (7000$ CAD), I consider all of this to be unbelievable. And on top of that, it looks like I have to spend MORE money on ANOTHER gadget.
And guess what? I'm pretty sure this will ALSO fail! (The profiles generated with the calibrators won't work or will stop working after reboot, etc.)
I'm literally going insane, and I just want to see the light at the end of this infuriating purchase that was supposed to be a good and positive thing to begin with.
"Expert mode is still there. You have to hold down the Option key while clicking the + button to start a new calibration."
It's unfortunately not on my computer.
"And why do you think a monitor profiling system would fail? They've been around for decades, and work very well. The last step the software does is save the completed profile (which also contains the LUT to set the matching calibration) and automatically sets it as that monitor's default profile."
Because everything that has been working for years is failing right now...
Man... I've been sitting in front of my Studio Display for 30 minutes so far and my head is pounding. The red/blue light is excruciating...
Thank you so much again again for all of your info!
When I click on Fine-Tune Calibration, I get this:
and when I click on Calibrate Display, I get this:
So still no Display Calibration Assistant – Expert Mode to be found.
Presently, I teach Adobe Illustrator and I do calligraphy.
I use Photoshop to work on my calligraphy photos for my online portfolio: https://flic.kr/s/aHsjY6c5mq
Since I don't print anymore, I tried the Photography (P3-D65) preset on both displays.
With this preset, my photos are red/blue on my Apple Studio Display and yellow on my MacBook Pro (especially the white paper in the photos).
I tried the Design & Print (P3-D50) preset on both displays, and everything is VERY yellow (the MacBook Pro being even more yellow).
When I use the default Apple Display (P3-600 nits) preset on my Studio Display and the default Apple Display (P3-600 nits) on my MacBook Pro, my photos are magenta/blue on my Studio Display, and magenta/yellow on my MacBook Pro. Also, the default presets are very hard on my eyes.
I obviously uncheck the True Tone option, but pretty much everybody I know, including ALL the computers at my college use it. I have to say that I'm VERY tempted to use this option because it makes it much better on my eyes.
My iPhone is yellow. My girlfriend's iPhone is red. My iPad is blue. My girlfriend's iPad is pretty much neutral.
Knowing all of this, it's very difficult for me to know where to position myself and what references are good and what workflow is to be trusted.
At the moment, all I want is for my calligraphy photos to display correctly on the Web (Flickr, Instagram, etc.).
Does the X-Rite device offer a user setting for my needs?
I will definitely check the video you shared.
Again, thank you so much.
Expert Mode isn't on my MacBook Pro either. :(
If I understand your explanation regarding D50 correctly, I should use it even if my intentions are for screen purposes only (I'm not printing my photos, just publishing them on the Web). So why is the Photography preset using D65?
Another thing: when I use the Design & Print (P3-D50) preset, my displays get super dark and the brightness adjustment buttons are locked. I know I can adjust the presets and make them a bit brighter, but still... I don't understand the logic behind the brightness being locked.
"I know this is going to sound like a broken record, but you truly need a monitor calibrator. It is literally the only way you will get your monitors to match."
Understood. However, are the X-Rite calibrations also going lock the brightness adjustment buttons?
Thanks again.
I watched the video, and what I saw seemed way too complicated; I wanted something a little more intuitive and user-friendly (plug, calibrate, play), as the SpyderX seems to be.
I'm not a colour technician/scientist, and playing with all those numbers scare me.
However, you DID tell me: "You don't need to waste your time manually futzing with the values. If you simply choose D50 from the menu, those values are already correctly and automatically set."
Would that be the "White Point" menu? Art uses "Measure". I would choose "D50"? If so, what should I do from there?
Concerning the brightness adjustment button: I read the comments and I found this:
This is what I was talking about :(
Concerning the profiles not sticking after sleep or reboot:
This is also what I was talking about :(
If ever those issues get resolved, is there a specific X-Rite product you recommend? Art recommends the Calibrite ColorChecker Display Pro (which I think I would choose considering the price and after reading the description) or Plus (which is discontinued).
Thanks again!
Here is the ColorChecker Display Pro on calibrite.com: https://calibrite.com/us/product/colorchecker-display-pro-monitor-calibration/
So I'm going to purchase this product and do the calibration, but then won't be able to adjust my brightness because the buttons are locked, and have to manually go back into ColorSync Utility to reassign the calibrated profile every single time my displays go to sleep.
Man... Everything is so counterintuitive and complicated for no reason.
MacBook Pro Display too yellow compared to Studio Display
