Datacolor Spyder3 Elite Help Manual

Spyder3 Help Index

Welcome Screen: An overview of the application.
Before You Begin: Preparatory Steps.
New Display: Define whether a new display is to be calibrated.
Select Display: Choose which display to work with.
Current Settings: Shows current choice of calibration settings.
Select Gamma: Choose or define a gamma selection.
Select Response Curve: Select a non-Gamma curve.
Create Response Curve: Define your own custom response curve.
Select White Point: Choose a whitepoint value or create your own.
Display Type: Select type of device to calibrate (first time only).
Select Target: Choice from predifined calibration targets.
Select Ambient Light Compensation: Decide if you wish to correct for ambient light.
Ambient Light Analysis: identify and adjust your ambient light level.
Select Luminance Mode: Decide if you wish to target specific brightness endpoints.
Measured Luminance Mode: Uses your Spyder to define black and white.
Specify Luminance Values: Allows user to enter values for black and white.
Identify Controls: Designate what general controls your display offers (part of the New

Display Assistant).

Identify Color Controls: Designate what color controls your display offers (part of the

New Display Assistant).

Adjust RGB Gain Controls: Adjust the color of white with RGB Gain Controls (an

advanced option activated in Preferences).

Adjust Kelvin Slider: Adjust the color of white with a color temperature Slider.
Adjust Kelvin Preset: Adjust the color of white with a color temperature Preset.

Reset Factory Defaults: Info on resetting your display to factory default settings.
Set Black Luminance: Adjusting Black on displays that have a black control.
Set White Luminance: Adjusting White Luminance and related controls.

Check Calibration: Allows checking display calibration, and ReCALibration.
Current Calibration: Displays useful data about your Current Calibration, and recommendation

based on it.

Gray Balanced Calibration: Allows user to select this default option, or deselect it.
Gray Balance Refinement: Allows user to select this advanced option, or deselect it.
White Luminance Reduction: Allows user to select this advanced option, or deselect it.

Remove Sensor: Remove the Spyder from your screen.
Specify Profile Name: Name your display profile.
Profile Created: Verifies completion, shows path to profile location.

SpyderUtilityTM: Checks for correct diplay profiles, calibration data, and ambient light levels.

SpyderProofTM: Check your profile and calibration against a series of test image.

Expert Console: Advanced option for seeing all the settings for a display in one screen.
SpyderCertifiedTM: Allows users to define a display to be held to tight certification

standards.

StudioMatchTM: Allows users to define a studio target, based on the capabilities of

their monitors, and their studio conditions.

In Closing: Final suggestions, and a chance to calibrate other displays.
Curves Window: Shows graphs of your correction curves for analysis.
Information Window: Gives statistics on your display and calibration.
Preferences: Allows users to chose among various options.
Advanced Preferences: Offers advanced options and settings.
ICC Settings: Allows choices of ICC profile options.

Further Information

For information such as a list of Frequently Asked Questions and details on all
Datacolor products be sure to visit our website:

http://www.datacolor.com/Spyder3

Welcome

Help Index

Introduction

Calibration keeps your monitor in a consistent state so that it displays colors in the
same way, day after day, month after month.

Profiling allows you to create an ICC profile that describes the monitor characteristics
including: White Point, Tone Response and RGB Primary colors. This profile is then
used by ICC-aware applications such as Adobe® Photoshop®, InDesign®, or
Illustrator® so they can display colors as they are intended.

Further Information

For information such as a list of Frequently Asked Questions and details on all
Datacolor products be sure to visit our website:

www.datacolor.com/Spyder3

Before You Begin

Help Index

Display Settings

Please set your display to 24-bit color or better. Settings lower than 16-bit are not
recommended. Monitor color settings can be changed using operating system controls:

Macintosh: System Preferences > Displays

Windows: Display Properties > Settings

Warm Up

CRT and LCD monitors should warm up for an hour before calibrating, to assure
correct color. Projector lamps should be on for at least ten minutes before calibration.
Connecting the calibrator and allowing it to warm up for at least five minutes will
ensure optimal results.

Lighting Conditions For Monitors

The lighting conditions in the room where you are viewing the monitor should be
stable and repeatable. If the light changes while you are viewing the monitor this can
effect your color perception. Calibrating in one lighting condition and then viewing in a
different lighting condition should also be avoided.

Light should not fall directly on the display screen. For example, if you have overhead
lighting, you should prevent those lights from shining directly on the face of the
monitor by using a hood or other shield.

Exterior windows are a common source of variable light. Outside light entering the
viewing area will change in both intensity and color throughout the day (and across
seasons) which can affect your color perception.

Lighting Conditions For Projectors

The room in which the projected image is being viewed should be as dark as is
practical. Especially during calibration there should be no lights shining on or near the
projection screen. Be sure that no ambient light is shining toward the Spyder sensor.

Screen Saver

Screen Savers and Energy Savers should be turned off before calibration. If the
monitor turns off or dims during the calibration process the process will have to be
repeated. If the monitor goes to sleep and wakes up again during regular use, color
accuracy will be affected until the monitor warms up again..

Further Information

For information such as a list of Frequently Asked Questions and details on all
Datacolor products be sure to visit our website:

www.datacolor.com/Spyder3

New Display

Help Index

Usual Setting

Mark the checkbox to allow the display to be calibrated by the software.

The Purpose of This Step

When a new display device is found by the software the New Display Assistant will run.
New Display is the first screen of this process. Successive screens will then ask the
user to identify the type of display (CRT/LCD) and indicate what controls the monitor
has (Brightness, Contrast, etc.)

Also on this screen (New Display) there is a checkbox where the user can indicate
whether they want the software to calibrate this display. If this checkbox is not
marked then the application will ignore the corresponding display – not offering to
calibrate it and (on the Windows operating system) not trying to apply calibration data
to that display’s video card upon computer startup.

Further Information

For information such as a list of Frequently Asked Questions and details on all
Datacolor products be sure to visit our website: www.datacolor.com/Spyder3

Select Display

Help Index

Usual Setting

Choose the display you wish to calibrate from the popup menu.

The Purpose of This Step

For multiple monitor configurations, this step selects which monitor to calibrate, or
which to calibrate at this time.

The Long Answer

Computers may have more than one display attached. Each display has different
characteristics and must be calibrated and profiled individually.

A separate monitor profile will be created for each monitor that is calibrated.

Note: Multiple Monitors

Computers using the Windows operating system with multiple displays may need to
have a separate video card for each display. Multi-head video cards (a single card that
drives two or more displays) that are not PCI Express cards often are not capable of
holding unique calibrations for multiple displays. Each display must have its own
profile, created specifically for that display, associated with it. Associating different
profiles to displays attached using a multi-head video card may not function correctly
under Windows.

Computers using the Macintosh operating system do not have this issue. There is no
problem using multi-head video cards on Macintosh.

Further Information

For information such as a list of Frequently Asked Questions and details on all

Datacolor products be sure to visit our website: www.datacolor.com/Spyder3

Current Settings

Help Index

Usual Setting

You will typically use the current settings, and continue on by choosing the Next
button.

The Purpose of This Step

This screen displays the current settings that will be used for calibration. These are the
values that will be used to adjust the monitor’s characteristics.

The Long Answer

The settings are the desired values to which the monitor will be adjusted.

Settings include:
White Point (the color of white)
Tone Response (often called Gamma)

and optionally:
Black Luminance (darkness and detail at the black end)
White Luminance (brightness and detail at the white end)

If you want to calibrate to values different than those shown, you may click the
Change button to see other choices.

Why choose one calibration setting over another?

Calibrating to the expected gamma and white point for the type of work you do can make non-color
managed applications display in a more reasonable manner. Color managed applications will compensate

for your choice of gamma, so choosing a gamma setting close to the display’s native gamma minimizes lost
levels and increases smoothness. Choosing a whitepoint near to paper white under your viewing or proofing
lights can make display to print matching easier. More advanced settings and options are described
elsewhere in the Help files. If in doubt, start at 2.2/6500, unless you find a specific reason to use other
settings.

Further Information

For information such as a list of Frequently Asked Questions and details on all
Datacolor products be sure to visit our website: www.datacolor.com/Spyder3

Select Gamma

Help Index

Usual Setting

Gamma 2.2 is the most common choice for tone response because most displays
perform naturally near that value and many of the commonly used color spaces are
defined with that value.

The Purpose of This Step

This screen allows you to specify a gamma or non-gamma curve as the desired tone
response of the display.

The Long Answer

Tone response is a description of how the monitor’s output luminance relates to the
input signal. In practical terms, tone response mostly affects the lightness of the
middle and quarter tones of images displayed.

Generally, higher gamma values (e.g. 2.2) cause images to appear with more contrast
and color saturation – usually with a loss of shadow detail. Lower gamma values (e.g.

1.8) cause images to appear with less contrast and saturation but with more detail in
the shadows. But color managed applications adjust for monitor gamma, showing
similar results at a range of gamma choices.

Gamma 2.2 also provides a perceptually uniform tone range to the observer.

Gamma 1.8

Gamma 2.2

If you want to specify a Tone Response that is not a gamma curve, click the Curve
button and be sure to read the Help section accompanying the Curve screen.

Further Information

For information such as a list of Frequently Asked Questions and details on all
Datacolor products be sure to visit our website: www.datacolor.com/Spyder3

Select Tone Response Curve

Help Index

Advanced Feature

Setting an arbitrary tone response curve is an advanced feature not chosen by most
users. It is used to match unusual output devices such as film recorders or in other
special situations.

The Purpose of This Step

This screen allows you to specify a non-Gamma curve as the desired tone response of
the monitor.

The Long Answer

Tone response is a description of how the monitor’s output luminance reflects the
input signal. In practical terms, tone response mostly affects the lightness of the
middle and quarter tones of images displayed.

Cineon:

If you want to specify a Tone Response that is not listed in the popup menu, click the
New button to create a new curve to your specifications.

If you open the Curves Window (select Curves from the Tools menu) you can view the
shapes of the various curves as you select them in the menu.

Further Information

For information such as a list of Frequently Asked Questions and details on all
Datacolor products be sure to visit our website: www.datacolor.com/Spyder3

Create Custom Tone Response Curve

Help Index

Advanced Feature

Creating an arbitrary tone response curve is an advanced feature not chosen by most
users. It is used to match unusual output devices such as film recorders or in other
special situations.

The Purpose of This Step

This screen allows you to create a custom non-Gamma curve as the desired tone
response of the monitor.

The Long Answer

Tone response is a description of how the monitor’s output luminance reflects the
input signal. If you want to create a custom Tone Response Curve, click the Custom
button to create a new curve to your specifications.

In the Custom Curves Window you can define the shapes of the Composite, Red,
Green, and Blue curves by moving any of the seven adjustable control points up or
down with the up/down arrowheads below each control point. The input and updated
output value for the active point will be displayed below in the Input and Output fields.

Checking the “Preview” checkbox will cause the curve adjustments to effect your
display as you make them, allowing a real-time preview of the curves you are
creating. Custom Curve Sets can be saved by choosing the “Save” button and
providing a name. Saved sets can be opened by choosing the “Load” button and
selecting them by name.

Further Information

For information such as a list of Frequently Asked Questions and details on all
Datacolor products be sure to visit our website: www.datacolor.com/Spyder3

Select White Point

Help Index

Usual Setting

MONITORS
6500K is the most common choice for White Point because it closely approximates the

color of noontime daylight. Many of the commonly used color spaces are defined with
this value. Some photographers prefer a

somewhat warmer white to match their prints under their ambient lighting, such as 5800k.

PROJECTORS
Set Native as your target value when calibrating a projector. White Point is a very

adaptive function of the human eye. Even on a significantly off-white projection
surface, such as a beige or peach wall, the eye will correct for the native White Point,
and your images will look fine.

The Purpose of This Step

This screen allows you to specify the desired White Point to which the application will
calibrate the display device.

The Long Answer

White Point is a value that describes the color of white displayed on the display.
Generally this is described in terms of degrees Kelvin.

Lower Kelvin values (i.e. 5000K) specify a warmer white (reddish). Higher Kelvin
values (i.e. 6500K) specify a cooler white (bluish).

The most common value is 6500 degrees Kelvin (6500K) because this is very similar
to the white produced by a mid-day sun. This is also the White Point specified by
many color spaces as well as being a fairly easy value for most displays to achieve.
Some photographers prefer a

somewhat warmer white to match their prints under their ambient lighting, such as 5800k. It is
recommended that you begin by calibrating to 6500k, and adjust that only as needed.

In the rare situation where you want to set a White Point that is not available in the
popup menu you can select Other and enter a desired white point in either degrees
Kelvin or CIE xy.

If you do not want to change the White Point from the current hardware setting then
choose Native. If you do this, you will not be prompted to adjust the monitor controls
for White Point (e.g. Kelvin Presets or RGB Gain controls) and the software will not
make any adjustment to the White Point as part of the calibration.

If the monitor has RGB Gain controls and you want the software to assist you in

setting these controls, choose the desired White Point. The software will prompt you to
adjust the RGB controls to set the White Point in the monitor hardware. In this case,
the software will not make any adjustment to the White Point as part of the calibration
(i.e. no White Point adjustment in the Look Up Table) since this adjustment has
already been ma

de with RGB Gain controls.

Further Information

For information such as a list of Frequently Asked Questions and details on all
Datacolor products be sure to visit our website: www.datacolor.com/Spyder3

Identify Display Type

Help Index

The Purpose of This Step

To identify the type of display you are calibrating, so that the correct process can be
run.

CRT Display

CRT Displays are heavy and deep. They generally resemble traditional television sets
made with glass picture tubes.

LCD Display

LCD Displays are lighter and not so deep, often with plastic screens. They resemble
modern Thin Screen TVs.

Laptop

Laptop or Notebook computers have built in processors and keyboards, as well as LCD
screens. Choose the Laptop mode to calibrate this type of display.

Projector

Front Projectors have a lens and display large images on a screen that is placed
several feet away. Some use LCD technology while others use DLP. Both are calibrated
using Projector mode.

Further Information

For information such as a list of Frequently Asked Questions and details on all
Datacolor products be sure to visit our website: www.datacolor.com/Spyder3

Select Target Values

Help Index

Usual Setting

Select 2.2-6500 to calibrate your display to Gamma 2.2 and White Point 6500K, the
most common choice. When calibrating projectors choose 2.2-Native.

The Purpose of This Step

This screen allows you to choose the values that you will use to calibrate your display.
The desired values are specified by selecting a Target from the popup menu. A Target
is a convenient way to collect all of the desired values together in a single setting with
a meaningful name.

The Long Answer

Target values are the desired values that you will use to calibrate your display.
Target values must include:

• White Point (the color of white on your display)

• Tone Response (often called Gamma)

The Target may optionally include:

• Black Luminance (how black your display’s blacks are)

• White Luminance (how bright your display’s whites are)

TM

• Certification (to define this as a SpyderCertified

display)

Each selection in the Target: popup is a set of these values. When you change the
menu selection, the individual values contained in the set are displayed on the right.

If there is not an existing Target that contains the values that you desire you may
create a new Target by clicking the New button. If you create a new Target, it will
remain Untitled unless you save it using the Save Target As command from the File
menu.

A Target can specify just a Tone Response (e.g. Gamma) and a White Point or it
can also include Black and White Luminance values that are used in Measured

Luminance mode. It can also determine if the monitor will be treated as
SpyderCertified

The easiest way to create a Target is to proceed completely through a calibration
process, setting all of the Target values and then after Calibration is complete,
choose Save Target As from the File menu to create a Target that records all of the
values used for that Calibration. That Target will then be available in the Target:

popup to use for future calibrations or other monitors.

TM

.

Further Information

For information such as a list of Frequently Asked Questions and details on all
Datacolor products be sure to visit our website: www.datacolor.com/Spyder3

Select Ambient Light Compensation

Help Index

Usual Setting

Ambient Light Compensation is an advance feature. Basic calibration does not use
Ambient Light Compensation.

The Purpose of This Step

Your visual perception of an image displayed on a monitor is influenced by the
ambient (surrounding) light in the viewing area. Perception of tone may change as the
amount of light in the room increases and decreases. The best procedure is to keep
your ambient light conditions constant and appropriate while you are doing color
critical work.

If you choose to turn Ambient Light Compensation On then the program will measure
your surrounding room light and suggest any appropriate changes to your calibration
target values and/or ambient light conditions.

The Long Answer

This analysis identifies the ambient light condition as one of five levels:
1: Very Low
2: Moderately Low
3: Medium
4: High
5: Very High

For each level, the analysis provides:

• a description

• suggested steps to take

• suggested calibration target values

The recommended responses to respective ambient light levels 1 through 5 are as
follows:

1: Very Low: appropriate for prepress image editing. Calibrate the display to a White
Luminance level of 85-100 cd/m^2* and a White Point of 5000K (warm white) to
compensate for the eye’s cooler response at low light levels. LCD monitors (including
laptops) can be used in this situation as well as CRT displays.

2: Moderately Low: dim, but appropriate for photo image editing. Calibrate the
display to a White Luminance level of 125-150 cd/m^2 and a White Point of 5800K
(slightly warm white) to compensate for the eye’s slightly cooler response at
moderately low light levels. LCD displays (including laptops) can be used in this
situation as well as very bright CRT displays.

3: Medium: appropriate for casual photo editing. Calibrate the display to a White
Luminance level of 175-200 cd/m^2 and a White Point of 6500K (medium white) to
compensate for the eye’s moderate color response at medium light levels. Only LCD
displays (including brighter laptops) can be used at this level. An example of medium
ambient lighting would be a photographer’s customer consultation area, typically not
kept as dim as the actual color correction studio.

4: High: uncontrolled, not recommended for color critical work. Lower the ambient
light if possible, otherwise use a monitor hood and calibrate the display to the
maximum White Luminance it can produce and a White Point of 6500K or higher. An
example of High ambient lighting would be a typical office environment with overhead
fluorescent strip lights.

5: Very High: uncontrolled, not recommended for any color managed work. Requires
a very bright display. If you must work in these conditions use a monitor hood, black
umbrella or photographer’s cloak and calibrate the display to the maximum White
Luminance it can produce and a White Point of 6500K or higher. An example of Very
High ambient lighting would be previewing digital photos outdoors on a laptop display.

CRT monitors should be used only at levels 1 and 2 since most CRTs cannot achieve a

White Luminance over 125 cd/m^2. LCD monitors with limited White Luminance

should also be used only at levels 1 and 2.

Only LCD monitors should be used at level 3 and even then, some LCD monitors and
many laptops cannot achieve the 175 cd/cm^2 needed for good viewing in those
conditions.

If your monitor cannot achieve the recommended White Luminance level for your
chosen ambient lighting, then you should lower the ambient light level to a range that
is compatible with your monitor.

Critical color work requires an environment where the ambient light is consistent and
at low to moderate levels.

For more detailed information on Ambient Lighting, Monitor Surround, and the
relationship between Luminance and White Point, see the Ambient Light Analysis
Help Page.

*cd/m^2 is a measurement of the amount of light a device emits. cd/m^2 is an
abbreviation for candelas per meter squared.

Further Information

For information such as a list of Frequently Asked Questions and details on all
Datacolor products be sure to visit our website: www.datacolor.com/Spyder3

Ambient Light Analysis

Help Index
Surround
Luminance & WhitePoint

Usual Setting

Click on “Accept Suggested Settings”, and continue with your calibration.

The Purpose of This Step

You have set Ambient Light Compensation to “On”. On this screen, the program
presents an analysis of your surrounding lighting conditions based on the
measurement taken of those conditions. These settings are recommended for best
calibration under your current conditions. You may choose to adjust your ambient light
levels, and remeasure, to obtain more desirable results.

The Long Answer

This analysis identifies the ambient light condition as one of five levels:
Very Low
Moderately Low
Medium
High
Very High

For each level, the analysis provides:

A description

•

Suggested steps to take

•

Suggested calibration target values

•

The recommended responses to respective ambient light levels 1 through 5 are as

follows:
Very Low: appropriate for prepress image editing. Calibrate the display to a White

Luminance level of 85-100 cd/m^2* and a White Point of 5000K (warm white) to
compensate for the eye’s cooler response at low light levels. LCD monitors (including
laptops) can be used in this situation as well as CRT displays.

Moderately Low: dim, but appropriate for photo image editing. Calibrate the display
to a White Luminance level of 125-150 cd/m^2 and a White Point of 5800K (slightly
warm white) to compensate for the eye’s slightly cooler response at moderately low
light levels. LCD monitors (including laptops) can be used in this situation as well as
very bright CRT displays.

Medium: appropriate for typical photo editing. Calibrate the display to a White
Luminance level of 175-200 cd/m^2 and a White Point of 6500K (medium white) to
compensate for the eye’s moderate color response at medium light levels. Only LCD
monitors (including laptops) can be used in this situation.

High: uncontrolled, not recommended for color critical work. Lower the ambient light
if possible, otherwise use a monitor hood and calibrate the display to the maximum
White Luminance it can produce and a White Point of 6500K or higher.

Very High: uncontrolled, not recommended for any color managed work. If you must
work in these conditions use a monitor hood, umbrella or photographer’s cloak and
calibrate the display to the maximum White Luminance it can produce and a White
Point of 6500K or higher.

CRT monitors should be used only at levels 1 and 2 since most large CRTs cannot
achieve a White Luminance over 125 cd/m^2. LCD monitors with limited White
Luminance should also be used only at levels 1 and 2.

Only LCD monitors should be used at level 3 and even then, some LCD monitors and
many laptops cannot achieve the 175 cd/cm^2 needed for good viewing in those
conditions.

If your monitor cannot achieve the recommended White Luminance level then you

should lower the ambient light level to a range that is compatible with your monitor.

Critical color work requires an environment where the ambient light is consistent and
at low to moderate levels.

Advanced Topic: Surround

Another area worthy of attention is the monitor Surround. This is the area of the
room that your eyes see in their peripheral view while you are looking at the monitor.
The Surround should be smooth, neutral in color and dimly lit.

If the Surround is brightly colored or brightly lit this will influence your perception of
color and tone on the monitor. Viewing the same image with a different Surround
condition may result in a different perception of the image. Including exterior windows
in the Surround area causes variable influences on the eye, as well as glare and eye
fatigue, and should be avoided for any long-term or color-sensitive work. Covering the
wall behind the monitor (including any windows it may contain) with an opaque,
medium gray cloth is the best solution to situations where the wall color, brightness,
and windows, cannot be otherwise controlled.

Advanced Topic: Luminance and White Point

Each ambient light level has a recommended White Luminance that is based on
keeping monitor brightness high enough for good perception of the full display range,
and avoiding White Point adaptation by the eye to whites in the Surround, instead of
on the monitor. If the monitor is not bright enough (or conversely, the ambient light is
too bright), room lighting will reduce the eye’s acuity and ability to distinguish shadow
detail on screen. If there are bright areas in the Surround brighter than the white of
the screen, the eye may adapt to the White Point of the surround, instead of the
display, causing the display to appear both dim and off color.

Each ambient light level has a recommended White Point that is based on the eye’s
differential response to color with increasing luminance. In darker conditions, the Rods
in the eye play a larger part in vision. The blue cast the Rods incorporate into vision
mean that under low light conditions, a warmer monitor White Point is required for the