monitor printer match

I've been using a 200 dollar Viewsonic with my Epson 1280. Need
a monitor that can be calibrated more precisely, budget under 500.
Anybody got a recommendation? Need to keep it to 17" to fit
in my cubbyhole, but maybe can stretch a little bigger. thanks.--Art Rosch

Art

Forget about a monitor and get something like Monaco's calibration software for your existing monitor. I think the software and puck / meter that suctions onto the monitor is about $400.00. You can then build custom profiles that match your scanner's (if you have one ) inherent color bias to your monitor and out to your printer. This way everything matches..... no surprises when you go to print..... what you see (or scan) is what you get. This way when your monitor dies out you can just re-profile your new monitor. This software is easy to use and truly produces results that are predictable and repeatable. Just a happy user.
Don

Art Rosch said:

I've been using a 200 dollar Viewsonic with my Epson 1280. Need
a monitor that can be calibrated more precisely, budget under 500.
Anybody got a recommendation? Need to keep it to 17" to fit
in my cubbyhole, but maybe can stretch a little bigger. thanks.
--
Art Rosch

Click to expand...

Don Rooney said:

Art
Forget about a monitor and get something like Monaco's calibration
software for your existing monitor. I think the software and puck /
meter that suctions onto the monitor is about $400.00. You can then
build custom profiles that match your scanner's (if you have one )
inherent color bias to your monitor and out to your printer. This
way everything matches..... no surprises when you go to print.....
what you see (or scan) is what you get. This way when your monitor
dies out you can just re-profile your new monitor. This software is
easy to use and truly produces results that are predictable and
repeatable. Just a happy user.
Don

Don, that's not a bad idea. My input is primarily a Canon D30.

Click to expand...

Wish I could rent one of those things! Anybody in the Bay Area?Art

Monitor calibration is not a one time thing. The colors drift, requiring you to recalibrate regularly.

Art Rosch said:

Don, that's not a bad idea. My input is primarily a Canon D30.
Wish I could rent one of those things! Anybody in the Bay Area?Art

Click to expand...

ART

The problem with "renting this is that it is a software program as well as hardware and I've never heard of renting software. And as the previous post states ..... it's an ongoing process.
Don

Art Rosch said:

Art Rosch said:

Don, that's not a bad idea. My input is primarily a Canon D30.

Click to expand...

Wish I could rent one of those things! Anybody in the Bay Area?Art

Click to expand...

I agree that you should start by calibrating your current monitor. If you do end up needing a new 17" you can get a good one for under $300 these days. For calibration I have been using Monaco's EZColor profiling software for a week or so. I bought it for $149 without the spyder using an offer that was bundled with my Epson 1640sup scanner. If you go to the Monaco site I think they list current bundles. I'm very happy with the software although I'm sure it requires more time to get a good profile without the spyder. I'm still fine tuning as I work on different images. As others have mentioned it is not a one time process. The instructions actually recommend redoing a printer profile each time you change inks. This should be no surprise to Epson users :
Hap

I just got a warranty replacement 1280 and it has the Monaco "deal"
in it, and I will mostly likely ask my rich auntie Visa for a loan, because
I have burned up so much ink and paper it's a shame. Yes, every time
I turn the monitor on and off, the colors drift slightly. This would
be a nice thing to have. thanks for the humongous tip, folks.
btw, Color Mechanic Pro is an awesome plug-in, check it out. Art