Datacolor User to User Support Group.

I'm trying to calibrate a Canon SX60 LCOS projector using Version
2.2.2 of Spyder2Pro. We're using this projector in our camera club in
order to display photographic images for both review/critique and
photo competitions.

   After quite a few attempts it seems that no matter what settings
I've tried I can't get a very satisfactory image. Projected images
seem to lack good contrast and black levels and seem to have
lackluster color saturation, or punch, as we'd say about a colorful
image print.

   I'd like to have some recommendations as it's certainly possible
that we're setting up something incorrectly during calibration. It's
also possible that this is a limitation of this type of projector and
that maybe we should be using something else.

   Here's a summary of what we're doing:

   Projector is set up for defaults using Canon's sRGB input mode on
the analog input. Projector driven by our HP laptop's VGA port with
resolution set to 1400 x 1050 using 32-bit color mode.

   Using Spyder2Pro we walk through the steps for projector
calibration using gamma setting of 2.2 with native mode white point.
This projector has brightness and contrast controls so we use that
setting. While tweaking the brightness and contrast I do notice that
it seems difficult to obtain a lot of separation in the multiple white
and black boxes in the next couple of calibration screens.

   That's about it. Any help you could suggest would be greatly
appreciated.

Thanks,
Jim

Hi David,

      I certainly appreciate your quick reply. The Spyder is set up
per your software recommendations. It is set 1 foot from the screen,
in the dark and the projector is projecting full size screens of color
patches. Question on the baffle. Is that the black plastic piece with
the suction cups for the lcd displays? I notice it's detachable.
Should that be on or off?

   I'm going to check about whether or not our software is color
managed. One other thing that I forgot to mention is that we're using
the laptop in dual display, Windows extension mode where we have
separate profiles for the laptop's lcd screen and the external VGA
port. Using your profile chooser application I can clearly see the
correct profiles for both laptop screen and external projector.

Thanks,
Jim


> In a message dated 9/15/08 1:12:33 PM, james.west@... writes:
> 
> 
> >    Projector is set up for defaults using Canon's sRGB input mode on
> > the analog input.
> > 
> That concerns me a bit, is there a mode that isn't sRGB?
> 
> >  Projector driven by our HP laptop's VGA port with
> > resolution set to 1400 x 1050 using 32-bit color mode.
> > 
> That part sounds fine...
> > 
> >    Using Spyder2Pro we walk through the steps for projector
> > calibration using gamma setting of 2.2 with native mode white point.
> > 
> Those settings are correct...
> 
> > This projector has brightness and contrast controls so we use that
> > setting. While tweaking the brightness and contrast I do notice that
> > it seems difficult to obtain a lot of separation in the multiple white
> > and black boxes in the next couple of calibration screens.
> > 
> Well, then you may not get good highlight and shadow detail with your 
> projector, but you don't want to make adjustments so extreme that
they ruin the rest 
> of your image attempting to chase highlight and shadow detail.
> 
> You don't note how you are setting the Spyder up (some people simply
refuse 
> to set it a foot from the screen, looking at its own shadow, others
forget to 
> remove the baffle, so there are two possible issues) and you don't
note how you 
> are displaying images (if its from a non-color managed application, the 
> projector profile simply isn't going to get used).   And a last
possibility: are 
> you calibrating in the dark? I mean the pitch black? Thats the right
way to do 
> it, as screen black is only as dark as the room you are working in.
Oh, and one 
> last question: is the software projecting full screen color patches?
If its 
> not, for one reason or another, you really can't profile the
projector with 
> just a small color patch in the middle of the screen, the way you
would with a 

> monitor...
> 
> C. David Tobie
> WW Product Technology Manager
> Digital Imaging & Home Theater
> Datacolor
> CDTobie@...
> www.datacolor.com/Spyder3

David - I don't understand your comment below about having the
projector profile and LUT's turned off. The projector has a couple of
modes, one called "standard" the the other being "sRGB". As far as I
know this can't be disabled. You get to pick one or the other. Would
you recommend a different way of configuring the laptop with the
projector?

Thanks,
Jim


--- In colorvision_group@yahoogroups.com, CDTobie@... wrote:
>
> 
> In a message dated 9/15/08 1:48:44 PM, james.west@... writes:
> 
> 
> > I certainly appreciate your quick reply. The Spyder is set up
> > per your software recommendations. It is set 1 foot from the screen,
> > in the dark and the projector is projecting full size screens of color
> > patches. Question on the baffle. Is that the black plastic piece with
> > the suction cups for the lcd displays? I notice it's detachable.
> > Should that be on or off?
> > 
> This is covered in the software, you won't get it wrong if you are
paying 
> attention...
> > 
> >    I'm going to check about whether or not our software is color
> > managed. One other thing that I forgot to mention is that we're using
> > the laptop in dual display, Windows extension mode where we have
> > separate profiles for the laptop's lcd screen and the external VGA
> > port. Using your profile chooser application I can clearly see the
> > correct profiles for both laptop screen and external projector.
> > 
> > Yes, but can you set the projector to have the profile and LUTs
turned off, 
> for calibration, then get both the correct LUTs, and the correct
profile, 

> loaded for your projector for use? Thats not trivial...
> 
> C. David Tobie
> WW Product Technology Manager