Benq SW321C monitor calibration options

[CarlosNino]

Hi,

In order to get a better point of view, this is my complete photo equipment/setup

I shoot photo with a Nikon Z6 ii in RAW 14-bit and video with a Blackmagic Pocket 4K in RAW 14-bit

My computer is a Mac Mini M1 and I have 2 monitors, a Benq SW321C as main monitor and a Benq GW2765 as secondary monitor. For photo editing i use Photoshop 2022 32.5.0 and for video editing I use Davinci Resolve 18.

Now the SW321C can be calibrated directly from the monitor connecting my Calibrite ColorChecker Display Pro to a monitor's USB port or with X-Rite's software.

Doing it with directly from the monitor only allows me to calibrate the monitor itself but no the ambient light. Is the ambient light really that important? And if it is, how do I do it correctly?

Which calibration method would be the best for photo editing?

Thank you

 

[Box Brownie]

FWIW

I have the BenQ SW270C and the Xrite i1 Display.

However, I use the BenQ Pallette Master calibration software (AFAIK it is based on the Xrite software) and it allows for hardware calibration where up to 3 calibration profiles can be set in the the monitor. Using Xrite software you can only do software calibration, the LUT is loaded into the graphics card when the computer is booted up.

As for ambient light adjustments, IMO and practice I edit in very subdued light and do not use any ambient light adjustment function. My monitor brightness is set within Pallette Master at 90cd/m2

Hope that is of some help

 

[CarlosNino]

FWIW

I have the BenQ SW270C and the Xrite i1 Display.

However, I use the BenQ Pallette Master calibration software (AFAIK it is based on the Xrite software) and it allows for hardware calibration where up to 3 calibration profiles can be set in the the monitor. Using Xrite software you can only do software calibration, the LUT is loaded into the graphics card when the computer is booted up.

As for ambient light adjustments, IMO and practice I edit in very subdued light and do not use any ambient light adjustment function. My monitor brightness is set within Pallette Master at 90cd/m2

Hope that is of some help

Thank you for your reply.

I made a first profile in the monitor and the luminance was set to the default 120. When you say "monitor brightness", do you mean luminance? I ask because I can'y find that exact option in Palette Master...

Thank you

 

[Box Brownie]

FWIW

I have the BenQ SW270C and the Xrite i1 Display.

However, I use the BenQ Pallette Master calibration software (AFAIK it is based on the Xrite software) and it allows for hardware calibration where up to 3 calibration profiles can be set in the the monitor. Using Xrite software you can only do software calibration, the LUT is loaded into the graphics card when the computer is booted up.

As for ambient light adjustments, IMO and practice I edit in very subdued light and do not use any ambient light adjustment function. My monitor brightness is set within Pallette Master at 90cd/m2

Hope that is of some help

Thank you for your reply.

I made a first profile in the monitor and the luminance was set to the default 120. When you say "monitor brightness", do you mean luminance? I ask because I can'y find that exact option in Palette Master...

Thank you

Sorry, loose memory on my part...... IIRC it is "target Luminance" this, again IIRC, is the same description in Xrite Profiler software. I say memory because I typically re-calibrate every 2 months and I forget the setting descriptions especially as most are set as used before.

In case regard to using Pallette Master software I suggest you check out (sorry no link as posting via my phone) the 'Art is Right' YouTube channel.....he is a BenQ Ambassador who has IMO good insights into its finer settings and potential differences when used on a Mac vs a PC.

HTH

 

[ppage]

FWIW

I have the BenQ SW270C and the Xrite i1 Display.

However, I use the BenQ Pallette Master calibration software (AFAIK it is based on the Xrite software) and it allows for hardware calibration where up to 3 calibration profiles can be set in the the monitor. Using Xrite software you can only do software calibration, the LUT is loaded into the graphics card when the computer is booted up.

As for ambient light adjustments, IMO and practice I edit in very subdued light and do not use any ambient light adjustment function. My monitor brightness is set within Pallette Master at 90cd/m2

Hope that is of some help

Thank you for your reply.

I made a first profile in the monitor and the luminance was set to the default 120. When you say "monitor brightness", do you mean luminance? I ask because I can'y find that exact option in Palette Master...

Thank you

Box Brownie is absolutely right about using BenQ's Palette Master Element; calibrating the monitor's hardware is preferable to merely profiling it with some other software.

The luminance setting in PME refers to the monitor's brightness. If you are considering doing prints, then a very low luminance is recommended; a higher one will mislead you into thinking your image is brighter than it is and you will produce prints that are too dark. I set my luminance at 70. (For the same reason, I use the light interface in Photoshop; I wish Lightroom's interface could be set up the same way. Black interfaces may look nice but for photographers they're not really desirable in my opinion.)

 

[CarlosNino]

Box and ppage thank you very much for your replies.

 

[CarlosNino]

Ok, so I calibrated the monitor and the result is that I am lost with colors and lights. Everything looks dull and neutral. I opened an image both in my calibrated monitor (using photoshop) and my non calibrated monitor (vía Lightroom) Then I took a picture of both with my Nikon Z6ii and joined them to bring you THIS image as a sample of what I mean.





Here you can see the calibrated version shows different colors. The uncalibrated version's colors mathes what I see in real life. Is this normal or am I doing something wrong?



Thanx again.

 

[Box Brownie]

Ok, so I calibrated the monitor and the result is that I am lost with colors and lights. Everything looks dull and neutral. I opened an image both in my calibrated monitor (using photoshop) and my non calibrated monitor (vía Lightroom) Then I took a picture of both with my Nikon Z6ii and joined them to bring you THIS image as a sample of what I mean.



Here you can see the calibrated version shows different colors. The uncalibrated version's colors mathes what I see in real life. Is this normal or am I doing something wrong?

Thanx again.

Firstly, IIRC Lightroom applies a default preset so by having Photoshop on one screen and Lightroom on the other you are not comparing like for like!

As for calibration:-

The process creates a profile based on a specific set set of known parameters but an uncalibrated screen will be showing what the screenmaker and your default graphics/OS system profile is giving you.

Therefore, what I see in the uncalibrated half is too high a luminance, oversaturated and lower contrast image!

Lastly, the primary reason for calibration is to IMO ensure that what you see on the screen will be as accurately as possible be printed. Afteral, editing is not called post processing for nothing......what you call 'lost colours and lights' is your starting point to edit your picture to your taste and then print it to enjoy as a representation of what you saw and why you took the photograph

--
Living life a slice at a time
http://www.1stdesignit.co.uk/350d/burnup2.gif

 

[CarlosNino]

I do understand what you say but the un-calibrated monitor shows colors and lights much more accurate and closer to real life (i do remember my visit to that place perfectly)

So about calibration, if printing is not a goal for me, is it of any use?

 

[Box Brownie]

I do understand what you say but the un-calibrated monitor shows colors and lights much more accurate and closer to real life (i do remember my visit to that place perfectly)

So about calibration, if printing is not a goal for me, is it of any use?

IMO yes, although we have no control over what others will see as they view your images online I prefer my images to look "right" for me and do both online sharing & printing, so as in all things YMMV