Calibrating Monitors

[Gregg]

Having a calibrated monitor is vitally important if you are using it to check exposure, lighting contrast etc.  (Monitors for pulling focus can be ignored for this conversation)

There are many colorimeter devices out their to calibrate computer screens (Spyder, Calibrite, X-Rite, i1Display etc.).  Unfortunately it’s not apparent how these can be used to calibrate small on board camera monitors.

I would love to hear how most cinematographers calibrate their monitors.

Topic

[Stip]

Some higher end monitors can be calibrated with these devices (LUT calibration, not ICC). Lower end monitors usually not but they can have color/tint/contrast/brightness controls, so you can get them in the ballpark by dialing it in manually when comparing to a calibrated monitor.

[Roger Deakins]

I may sound like a broken record but regardless of that you should always trust your eye. That means you need to train your eye, whether it be for exposure or for contrast. Looking at a monitor also takes time and, judging by the films I have worked on, time is always in short supply.

• This reply was modified 12 hours, 25 minutes ago by Roger Deakins.

[Gregg]

Thanks Roger.

[Author]

Replies