Datacolor User to User Support Group.

Using Spyder2PRO, I am trying to calibrate and profile two monitors 
connected to a PCIe display adapter, ATI Radeon X600.  Monitors are 
Dell 1907 and HP LP2065, both LCD monitors.  The Dell is monitor 1, 
HP is monitor 2, and desktop is extended over both.

When I calibrate the Dell with Spyder2PRO, there is visible change in 
the screen appearance.  If I move from 6500 K to 5800 K, the screen 
appears warmer.  When I check the effect of calibration at the end of 
the process, there is visible change.  Neither of these are true with 
the HP.  In several trials I have, perhaps by chance and by choosing 
different starting points, gotten desktop colors that are similar 
(not perfect, but close).  However, upon rebooting this similarity 
goes away.  When I open Photoshop and open a photo in display 2 and 
move it to display 1, colors change visibly.

While I intend to use the HP for photo editing, I would like for 
there to be some rough consistency between the two.  I don't believe 
this should be impossible.  I fear that I have overlooked something 
obvious, but can't put my finger on it.  Any help out there?

(BTW, I have searched this group's messages and not found the answer.)

Del

"Or, add a PCI Express videocard, those appear to work in virtually 
all cases for dual monitor calibration.
"

I have the ATI Radeon X600, which is PCI Express.  Unless Dell has a 
custom crippled version.  Does that change anything?

Del

--- In colorvision_group@yahoogroups.com, CDTobie@... wrote:
>
> 
> In a message dated 4/14/07 1:30:19 PM, delk1945@... writes:
> 
> 
> > When I calibrate the Dell with Spyder2PRO, there is visible 
change in
> > the screen appearance.  If I move from 6500 K to 5800 K, the 
screen
> > appears warmer.  When I check the effect of calibration at the 
end of
> > the process, there is visible change.  Neither of these are true 
with
> > the HP.
> > 
> This would indicate that your videocard does not hold discreet sets 
of video 
> corrections (VLUTs) for both monitor outputs. Its not uncommon 
under Windows 
> for this to happen, or for the dual-head videocard to fail to be 
seen as two 
> devices by Windows, which will cause you to be unable to assign 
distinct 
> profiles. Either case will mean a failure to obtain full and 
distinct color 
> management on both monitors. Two possible solutions: add a low cost 
second videocard, 
> and run the second monitor from that. Or, add a PCI Express 
videocard, those 
> appear to work in virtually all cases for dual monitor calibration.
> 
> >   In several trials I have, perhaps by chance and by choosing
> > different starting points, gotten desktop colors that are similar
> > (not perfect, but close).  However, upon rebooting this similarity
> > goes away.
> > 
> That would be the VLUTs getting loaded (or not getting loaded...) 
at that 
> point.
> 
> >   When I open Photoshop and open a photo in display 2 and
> > move it to display 1, colors change visibly.
> > 
> That could be from incorrect VLUTs on one of the displays, or an 
incorrect 
> profile on one display, or both; no way to tell from that 
description.
> > 
> > While I intend to use the HP for photo editing, I would like for
> > there to be some rough consistency between the two.  I don't 
believe
> > this should be impossible.  I fear that I have overlooked 
something
> > obvious, but can't put my finger on it.  Any help out there?
> > 
> > I assume I have described your "something obvious" above, though 
few people 
> greet the news that they need to purchase another card, and find 
room for it, 
> with pleasure...
> 
> Another possibility is that upgrading to Vista MIGHT fix the issue, 
but the 
> likelihood of Vista not supporting your current videocard at all, 
or not 
> supporting it for advanced usage, is perhaps more likely that it 
being a fix. And 

> there is always the possibility of other incompatibilities or 
> unavailable/reduced function drivers in the bargain.
> 
> C. David Tobie
> Product Technology Manager
> ColorVision Business Division
> DataColor Inc.
> CDTobie@...
> www.colorvision.com
> 
> 
> 
> 
> **************************************
>  See what's free at http://www.aol.com.
>

OK, thanks for your patience.  Wish it did change more, as I have a 
sinking feeling about this.  I just found and loaded a new device 
driver.  Am trying the calibration of both monitors again, so we 
shall see.  I could probably run the Dell from the motherboard 
display adapter, and the HP from the DVI if the Dell configuration 
permits.  My main goal is to be able to edit with accuracy on the HP, 
and have the Dell look roughly consistent.  Does that seem reasonable?

Del

-- In colorvision_group@yahoogroups.com, CDTobie@... wrote:
>
> 
> In a message dated 4/14/07 3:17:42 PM, delk1945@... writes:
> 
> 
> > "Or, add a PCI Express videocard, those appear to work in 
virtually
> > all cases for dual monitor calibration.
> > "
> > 
> > I have the ATI Radeon X600, which is PCI Express.  Unless Dell 
has a
> > custom crippled version.  Does that change anything?
> > 
> Only the accuracy of my advice... <G>
> 
> You can try downloading Microsoft's color control utility (anyone 
remember 
> the exact name of this utility, and the download URL?) and see if 
that is 
> capable of loading both LUTs at once, but typically, if the card 
doesn't work, and 
> there isn't an updated driver available, than you're pretty much 
stuck adding 

> another card for the other monitor.
> 
> C. David Tobie
> Product Technology Manager
> ColorVision Business Division
> DataColor Inc.
> CDTobie@...
> www.colorvision.com
> 
> > 
> 
> 
> **************************************
>  See what's free at http://www.aol.com.
>

Well, it is a good days work when you are pretty sure it is over.  It 
appears that the key was updated device drivers.  Along the way, I 
made use of Windows Color applet, which worked very well; taking 
advice I got from somewhere that appeared reliable, I load the LUTs 
with it at boot time.  Both displays seem to act as they should using 
the Spyder.  The results are display consistency (in particular in 
white point luminance in candela/meter squared and rough color 
temperature), with differences attributable to the displays 
themselves; the HP has deeper blacks than the Dell, and smoother 
color and shading transitions.  SpyderPRO2.2 worked as advertised.  
Thanks for your help.

Del

--- In colorvision_group@yahoogroups.com, CDTobie@... wrote:
>
> 
> In a message dated 4/14/07 3:17:42 PM, delk1945@... writes:
> 
> 
> > "Or, add a PCI Express videocard, those appear to work in 
virtually
> > all cases for dual monitor calibration.
> > "
> > 
> > I have the ATI Radeon X600, which is PCI Express.  Unless Dell 
has a
> > custom crippled version.  Does that change anything?
> > 
> Only the accuracy of my advice... <G>
> 
> You can try downloading Microsoft's color control utility (anyone 
remember 
> the exact name of this utility, and the download URL?) and see if 
that is 
> capable of loading both LUTs at once, but typically, if the card 
doesn't work, and 
> there isn't an updated driver available, than you're pretty much 
stuck adding 

> another card for the other monitor.
> 
> C. David Tobie
> Product Technology Manager
> ColorVision Business Division
> DataColor Inc.
> CDTobie@...
> www.colorvision.com
> 
> > 
> 
> 
> **************************************
>  See what's free at http://www.aol.com.
>