Calibrating Liquid Retina XDR MacBook Pro and BenQ PD displays

[starbase218]

I currently have an X-Rite i1Display Studio colorimeter and the ccStudio software. Calibrite recently came out with unified software for all their devices, called Calibrite Profiler. I could use my current device with this (after upgrading the license for about 10 pounds), but it doesn’t support all the features, in particular validation.

So I was looking for one of the Pro devices. The latest devices Calibrite has introduced are the Display Pro HL and Display Plus HL. And it seems that, using these devices, Calibrite Profiler can also calibrate mini LED technology, which is found in Apple’s 14 and 16 inch M1 MacBook Pro laptops, which I happen to own.

I also own a BenQ PD3220U, which seems to be a white LED display. Or maybe PFS, but in any case, it is supported even if I used my existing colorimeter, or the ColorChecker Display Pro (which is the predecessor to the Display Pro HL, and also supports validation).

The reason I was looking at this last device is that I read that actually, the HL devices (“high luminance”) can calibrate HDR displays, but at the cost of decreased sensitivity for darker tones. At least according to Ted Aspiotis, which is a name I found (see https://www.liftgammagain.com/forum...splay-pro-hl-for-hdr.18157/page-2#post-172842).

So it seems that I can choose between having great calibration, but not for my laptop (the ColorChecker Display Pro), or having worse calibration that works for every screen, but is more expensive (the Display Pro HL).

Meanwhile I’m not even sure how good of a calibration I need. I have the profile reminder set to 4 weeks, but I’m lazy. And I can allow myself to be lazy because none of this is my job. Photography is just a hobby. And also, I’d rather be out shooting than post-processing. Still, it is a hobby that I care about.

I wonder how much I should care about what Ted Aspiotis says. Versus, for example, Art Suwansang of the YT channel “ArtIsRight”.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[CAcreeks]

Sorry, I don't know enough to help you, but saw this on the BenQ product page:

"The PD3220U ships from the factory with default color settings that perfectly match Mac [Air?] and MacBook Pro laptop colors."

With my < $400 LG monitor, I can see that reds are oranges are less saturated than on the Macbook, but that is explained by lesser DCI-P3 coverage.

 

[Abbott Schindler]

If it's any help to you:

I've got a M2 MBP Max and had to go through a minor, well documented hoop to calibrate it. Using a SpyderXElite to calibrate the "Apple Display (P3-500 nits) setting, I get a virtual overlay to Apple's "Photography P3-D65" curve. Based on that, I've just been using the built-in Photography curve for editing photos, and the "Apple Display" profile for general viewing (because it's brightness can be adjusted, whereas the "purpose-built" curves can't be.

 

[starbase218]

Sorry, I don't know enough to help you, but saw this on the BenQ product page:

"The PD3220U ships from the factory with default color settings that perfectly match Mac [Air?] and MacBook Pro laptop colors."

With my < $400 LG monitor, I can see that reds are oranges are less saturated than on the Macbook, but that is explained by lesser DCI-P3 coverage.

Well, yes, out of the factory it comes with that profile (which matches quite well with the default Mac profile). You can switch to another profile as well, including Display P3.

But the thing is, colour reproduction can change over time. ccStudio (which I'm using with my X-Rite i1Display Studio) even has a profile reminder option, which you can set to anything from 1-4 weeks. So that after that period has elapsed, you'll get a message saying you should profile again.

 

[Hifromhere]

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www.youtube.com

 

[starbase218]

Thank you. I know his channel. I've mentioned his name. In fact one of his videos highlighted the fact that the new Display Pro HL can be used on mini LED displays. Which I mentioned in the opening post.

 

[starbase218]

Actually, if someone can explain to me why it's such a big deal for a monitor to be factory-calibrated, when it deviates over time anyway, that would be helpful; I don't really understand it.

 

[starbase218]

If it's any help to you:

I've got a M2 MBP Max and had to go through a minor, well documented hoop to calibrate it. Using a SpyderXElite to calibrate the "Apple Display (P3-500 nits) setting, I get a virtual overlay to Apple's "Photography P3-D65" curve. Based on that, I've just been using the built-in Photography curve for editing photos, and the "Apple Display" profile for general viewing (because it's brightness can be adjusted, whereas the "purpose-built" curves can't be.

Ah, so you have more or less the same color reproduction with both profiles now, with the only difference that one is adjustable for brightness, and the other is not?

 

[Abbott Schindler]

If it's any help to you:

I've got a M2 MBP Max and had to go through a minor, well documented hoop to calibrate it. Using a SpyderXElite to calibrate the "Apple Display (P3-500 nits) setting, I get a virtual overlay to Apple's "Photography P3-D65" curve. Based on that, I've just been using the built-in Photography curve for editing photos, and the "Apple Display" profile for general viewing (because it's brightness can be adjusted, whereas the "purpose-built" curves can't be.

Ah, so you have more or less the same color reproduction with both profiles now, with the only difference that one is adjustable for brightness, and the other is not?

More or less. For field work, I can drop the "Apple Display" profile brightness down to ~2/3 of max and get pretty close to the Photography profile. If I need closer, I switch to the Photography profile, and for final edits I use my desktop with calibrated NEC PA272W displays. Frankly, Apple's unmodifiable "Photography" profile's been pretty good for me except when I'm doing critical printing work.