Monitor Calibration... I'm doing something wrong somewhere!

[ReelSteel]

Well apparently it's be a hot minute since I've posted on DPReview... Enough time to forget my old login and have to make a new account!

I hope the Mac Forum is appropriate for this, but if this would do better somewhere else, please point me in the right direction.

Here's the situation:

- M1 Ultra Mac Studio (Tahoe 26.0.1)

- Apple Studio Display 5K (via TB) and BenQ PD2700U (via HDMI to mini DP)

- ColorChecker Display Plus

I know that even getting two identical monitors to match can be a PITA, but I feel like I'm still missing something in the chain here that is throwing these two off much more than need be.

I'm using the Calibrite software and I follow ArtIsRight's method for calibrating both monitors, the Studio Display here:

, and the BenQ here:

.

BenQ: RGB LED, D65, L120 / Studio Display: GB LED, WB fine-tune calibration then D65, L120

I use the BenQ for video, set to sRGB 2.2 since it only covers the sRBG/rec. 709 colour space and I edit and grade video in a non light-controlled room (although for some projects I do wait until it's darker out.) I only set the luminance, leaving the monitor in sRGB mode. For the Studio Display I choose P3, to take advantage of the larger gamut for photo editing.

While both monitors say they've got average Delta E's of less than 1 and no more than about 2.4/2.5 for their max 10% patches, the BenQ comes out looking vastly bluer than the Studio Display. I checked the two via the 'Measured K - Measure second screen luminance' in the Calibrite software.

The Studio Display gave me: 116.194 cd/m2, 6495 K, x: 0.313, y:0.329

The BenQ: 111.498 cd/m2, 7082 K, x: 0.300, y: 0.338

The I ran the BenQ again, this time putting the monitor into User mode and setting the RGB values myself: 112.078 cd/m2, 6540 K, x: 0.312, y: 0.329

I understand monitor variation, but I don't understand how both could pass calibration with flying colours and still look this different.

I've attached two images below, the first is the sRGB BenQ calibation, the second is the User setting. (Both are just the white background from a Google Docs file.) What am I doing wrong? Am I doing something wrong? What can be done about it? Thanks!

 

[Mathew Anderson]

Hi ReelSteel! About the place, the post is just fine here, though it may be a while before you get an answer from someone who knows about your calibration need.

Unfortunately, we don't have a general tech forum (yet). I'll move this later to a more open forum if it looks like no one is helping you. Ping me when you feel you need the move.

Cheers,
Mathew

 

[Zeee]

I thought I read somewhere that the iMac is not accepting ICC profiles? I'm not an expert but I'm using a Mac Mini M4 and my old 2019 iMac 27" intel 5K as a monitor. I'm using Calibrite with a pretty old I1 Display pro and it's working good.

I struggled at first but then I came him. He as a lot of calibration videos. I learned I had to select the correct backlight. Both my iMac and MacBook Air are different.

Just a random search and the first hit. He has lots of videos.

 

[Kenneth Morris Lee]

Its important to do what you have done: use only one spectro unit for both monitors.

That being said, were the monitors closer in appearance before you calibrated ? Is the calibration device significantly older than the monitors ?

If I remember correctly, consumer-grade calibration tools use filters to measure R,G and B, and those filters are prone to fading and color-shift over time. At the same time, high-end monitor manufacturers like Apple use high-end calibration tools at the factory.

 

[ReelSteel]

Thanks, Zeee

That's the same person I've been using, too, ever since I made the switch to Mac a few years ago.

If I was only profiling a single monitor then I would have thought it was fine, too, but since I've got the two of them right beside one another the difference is pretty wild.

The thing I don't understand is how they can be so different and still pass calibration with flying colours. In a vacuum they'd apparently both be considered fine for pro work (depending on the level of 'pro' requirerd, of course!)

 

[ReelSteel]

So what I ended up doing (this has been a problem for about two years now) is just switching the BenQ back to its default factory profile in sRGB mode. It matches better (much less green), but is still different.

The ColorChecker Display Plus is only a few years old, purchased after I bought the Studio Display (also purchased used). The BenQ is the oldest of the bunch, at probably 6 or 7 years old.

I might try running a validation check on the BenQ as it stands now (with everything reset) just to see what it says.

 

[Kenneth Morris Lee]

I have the Apple Studio and an older self-calibrating EIZO monitor. The EIZO, despite its high reputation, is quite warm after self-calibration. I ended up using my Calibrite spectro to correct the EIZO.

The EIZO display gives a beautiful image, gentler on the eyes so to speak. However, the built-in calibrator on that model is useless.

The Apple is so well made, right out of the factory, that there is no discernible difference, before and after calibration. That's probably one of several reasons we pay more for it than similar models.

 

[mujana]

I have the Apple Studio and an older self-calibrating EIZO monitor. The EIZO, despite its high reputation, is quite warm after self-calibration. I ended up using my Calibrite spectro to correct the EIZO.

The EIZO display gives a beautiful image, gentler on the eyes so to speak. However, the built-in calibrator on that model is useless.

Just curious. Which Eizo do you use and why is it useless? My Eizo is about as good as it can be (think perfect), and definitely way better than my Studio Display.

The Apple is so well made, right out of the factory, that there is no discernible difference, before and after calibration. That's probably one of several reasons we pay more for it than similar models.

 

[ColourPhil]

I have the Apple Studio and an older self-calibrating EIZO monitor. The EIZO, despite its high reputation, is quite warm after self-calibration. I ended up using my Calibrite spectro to correct the EIZO.

The EIZO display gives a beautiful image, gentler on the eyes so to speak. However, the built-in calibrator on that model is useless.

Just curious. Which Eizo do you use and why is it useless? My Eizo is about as good as it can be (think perfect), and definitely way better than my Studio Display.

The Apple is so well made, right out of the factory, that there is no discernible difference, before and after calibration. That's probably one of several reasons we pay more for it than similar models.

My Eizo (CG2730) is also excellent. When checked against my i1Pro 3 spectro the Eizo's built in colorimeter correlates extremely closely. I've made several settings for different papers etc., and it self-calibrates once per month.

The Apple Displays, later models at least, are also pretty good out of the box.

All displays (and calibration kit) need to be told what settings YOU want them to use!

They're normally set way too bright and with too high a Colour Temperature for photography, especially printing.

Would probably be best to use the Studio Display as the 'master' and get it set to how you like it (the Artisright videos are very good) and then tweak the BenQ as best you can to try to match it. No need for sRGB mode.

Why My Prints Appear Too Dark, Or Is It My Display?

Why images printed on inkjet printers sometimes don't match the image on the monitor in Photoshop and Lightroom.

www.colourphil.co.uk

 

[Kenneth Morris Lee]

Just curious. Which Eizo do you use and why is it useless? My Eizo is about as good as it can be (think perfect), and definitely way better than my Studio Display

My EIZO is the CG2420, introduced in 2016: https://www.eizocolour.com/products/coloredge-cg/cg2420/

Sorry if I was unclear: While the display is great, the built-in calibrator is useless: after self-calibration, the monitor has an easily noticeable magenta color-cast. Another forum member contacted me offline and told me his CG240 had the same issue.

 

[mujana]

Just curious. Which Eizo do you use and why is it useless? My Eizo is about as good as it can be (think perfect), and definitely way better than my Studio Display

My EIZO is the CG2420, introduced in 2016: https://www.eizocolour.com/products/coloredge-cg/cg2420/

Sorry if I was unclear: While the display is great, the built-in calibrator is useless: after self-calibration, the monitor has an easily noticeable magenta color-cast. Another forum member contacted me offline and told me his CG240 had the same issue.

Thnxs Kenneth. Did that noticeable magenta colour-cast develop over the years? Of has it been like that since you bought this Eizo? You bought it new?

(still just curious)

 

[Mike Boreham]

I thought I read somewhere that the iMac is not accepting ICC profiles? I'm not an expert but I'm using a Mac Mini M4 and my old 2019 iMac 27" intel 5K as a monitor. I'm using Calibrite with a pretty old I1 Display pro and it's working good.

I thought only older (2014) 27" iMacs could be used as a monitor in Target Disk Mode. (eg this thread.) Are you using Luna Display dongle? How is it?

 

[Zeee]

I thought I read somewhere that the iMac is not accepting ICC profiles? I'm not an expert but I'm using a Mac Mini M4 and my old 2019 iMac 27" intel 5K as a monitor. I'm using Calibrite with a pretty old I1 Display pro and it's working good.

I thought only older (2014) 27" iMacs could be used as a monitor in Target Disk Mode. (eg this thread.) Are you using Luna Display dongle? How is it?

I have to step out. I'll give a summary when I get I get back.

--
Funny how millions of people on an internet platform where they can communicate instantaneously with people on the other side of the world using incredibly powerful handheld computers linked to orbiting the satellites hundreds of miles in space don’t believe in science. Neil deGrasse Tyson

 

[Zeee]

I thought I read somewhere that the iMac is not accepting ICC profiles? I'm not an expert but I'm using a Mac Mini M4 and my old 2019 iMac 27" intel 5K as a monitor. I'm using Calibrite with a pretty old I1 Display pro and it's working good.

I thought only older (2014) 27" iMacs could be used as a monitor in Target Disk Mode. (eg this thread.) Are you using Luna Display dongle? How is it?

I have to step out. I'll give a summary when I get I get back.

I forgot about this. I'll read it later and get back to you. Since installing Tahoe it's a little smoother. Less jitters which I explain in this link. Jitters do not affect actual app usage.

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/68292734

 

[lightandaprayer]

My EIZO is the CG2420, introduced in 2016: https://www.eizocolour.com/products/coloredge-cg/cg2420/

Sorry if I was unclear: While the display is great, the built-in calibrator is useless: after self-calibration, the monitor has an easily noticeable magenta color-cast. Another forum member contacted me offline and told me his CG240 had the same issue.

Did you ever contact Eizo tech support regarding this issue?

 

[Mike Boreham]

I thought I read somewhere that the iMac is not accepting ICC profiles? I'm not an expert but I'm using a Mac Mini M4 and my old 2019 iMac 27" intel 5K as a monitor. I'm using Calibrite with a pretty old I1 Display pro and it's working good.

I thought only older (2014) 27" iMacs could be used as a monitor in Target Disk Mode. (eg this thread.) Are you using Luna Display dongle? How is it?

I have to step out. I'll give a summary when I get I get back.

I forgot about this. I'll read it later and get back to you. Since installing Tahoe it's a little smoother. Less jitters which I explain in this link. Jitters do not affect actual app usage.

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/68292734

Thanks for that great review!

 

[Zeee]

I thought I read somewhere that the iMac is not accepting ICC profiles? I'm not an expert but I'm using a Mac Mini M4 and my old 2019 iMac 27" intel 5K as a monitor. I'm using Calibrite with a pretty old I1 Display pro and it's working good.

I thought only older (2014) 27" iMacs could be used as a monitor in Target Disk Mode. (eg this thread.) Are you using Luna Display dongle? How is it?

I have to step out. I'll give a summary when I get I get back.

I forgot about this. I'll read it later and get back to you. Since installing Tahoe it's a little smoother. Less jitters which I explain in this link. Jitters do not affect actual app usage.

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/68292734

Thanks for that great review!

Thanks. I really can't judge how fast Adobe Denoise AI would be with a dedicated Studio Display, if at all. It uses Thunderbolt to connect and a cable is supplied. I may look into one next year. I'm not in any hurry.

 

[Kenneth Morris Lee]

Thnxs Kenneth. Did that noticeable magenta colour-cast develop over the years? Of has it been like that since you bought this Eizo? You bought it new?

(still just curious)

I noticed it when I got the Apple Studio Display. Prior to that, it was close enough for what I was doing. The eye adapts to color casts very quickly.

 

[Kenneth Morris Lee]

Did you ever contact Eizo tech support regarding this issue?

No. I didn't want to bother with the inevitable shipping charges etc. Had the monitor been paying the bills, so to speak, I would have addressed it, but the faulty calibrator was actually my second disappointment.

I bought the monitor back when it was suggested that self-calibrating EIZO and NEC monitors were designed for use at paper brightness, and could fully separate values at the extremes of the tonal scale, even at low luminance levels. I did not find that to be the case to a compelling degree.

 

[mujana]

Thnxs Kenneth. Did that noticeable magenta colour-cast develop over the years? Of has it been like that since you bought this Eizo? You bought it new?

(still just curious)

I noticed it when I got the Apple Studio Display. Prior to that, it was close enough for what I was doing. The eye adapts to color casts very quickly.

I never noticed any color cast on my Eizo and print to screen is perfect. Much more so than with my Studio Display. I think you might have a faulty monitor. Maybe even since you bought it (?). There shouldn’t be any colour cast on any Eizo screen (especially not their CG series). It’s a first time I read about a colorcast on an Eizo monitor.

So, like poster lightandaprayer suggested: report to Eizo/ contact tech support. .