The rainbow maker - with little quirks

Since I often times by editing photos as well as generally have a certain claim to a good color representation needed a colorimeter. That I'm stuck with the i1 Display Pro depends mainly on the current hardware. While classical colorimeter work with organic filters, the aging over time and influence the results, the sensor from X-Rite had a modern look with durable glass filters.

Current monitors can no longer be pigeonholed. Tube and TFT are already in their representation differently and the TFT, there are various backlights: CCFLs, white LEDs, RGB LEDs and in future OLED etc. Here the sensor has to be flexible and that is X-Rite succeeded because the software takes into account the respective hardware and offers to update the colorimeter using firmware for the future the possibility.

For the software or driver you go off the most directly to the site of X-Rite, so that the latest version (1.2.0 here) used. The installation is straightforward and after rebooting the device is ready for operation. This is also evident by now that a white LED every few seconds gently lit and has incorporated a small tool in the taskbar.

When you start the software supplied i1 Profiler still clicks you briefly through the License Management because the colorimeter also serves simultaneously as a dongle. The software makes from each connected device depends what features are enabled. In the present case this is the profiling of monitors and projectors. The latter is possible because the overall well-processing colorimeter has a tripod thread, so you can align (tripod provided) on the image surface.

The software is overall very tidy and easy to use. Since I do not own a projector I deal only with the monitor profiling. The program first asks the official data from: which monitor, used type of backlight, white point (specifications, freely selectable value or measured by the colorimeter), desired luminance (such as white point) and contrast ratio. Two additional options, it also allow to take into account reflections of ambient light and color temperature of ambient light in general. For this purpose one uses known in the diffuser device that can be pushed through rotation in front of the lens.

In the next step you end up in the profile settings. Here you can influence the chromatic adaptation, the ICC profile version, take the tone curve (gamma) and the profile type. Who understands only station here should have no Angast. The program is already in front of normal values. Only in the case of profile version should be selected for compatibility rather Version 2 instead of 4.

The next window is used to define the number of measurement fields. In addition to general measurements the colorimeter evaluates here, a color palette with reference colors. The small range includes 119 color, the middle 220 and the Great 478. The color palette is also displayed on the monitor. Who needs it may attach specific Pantone colors or refine its own image (JPG, TIF, PNG), the measurements also on the Pantone Color Manager. Theoretically speaking, the more the better, but this is not necessarily so. A wider range also requires more time for the measurements.

After the basic settings have been made to begin the measurement. The program has still the option to monitor independently via DDC / CI protocol on the normal monitor cable to calibrate. Those who prefer to lend a hand this can of course also choose. The Colirmeter is now placed centrally on the monitor and a further Clicking takes the rest of its course alone. Contrast, brightness and RGB values ​​were changed in the monitor - this I have had me listed separately the previous values. The measurement itself takes the small color palette just 3 minutes.

Well, now we come to a very massive criticism, which is also a star deduction is worth more to me. Is the monitor for automatic adjustment or not, this is only partially compatible with the software simply ignores (this've tried it myself). It is not an indication that you should please make the settings manually. On the contrary, the program draws its measurements simply undeterred by the result that severely restricted depending on your monitor setting the color gamut is because the RGB-curves of the graphics card will be much stronger bent. Less experienced users will not even notice this. Who is here so unsure should rather compare the values ​​of the monitor before and after. Nothing has changed, then select necessarily mean that you making the settings manually by hand. The software conducts a then step by step through the calibration for contrast, brightness and RGB values.

In the last step you give the profile then a name, determines whether it should be installed at the system level and when you want to be reminded about the tool in the taskbar to a recalibration (1, 2, 3 or 4 weeks and never) , After the profile is generated and you can display a freely rotatable 3D model of ICC profile, which compares the target color space and the monitor's color space. In a 2D representation of the white point will be displayed and values ​​provide information on target and measured values ​​for white point, luminance and contrast. In another rider you can still see the RGB-curves of the graphics card, do not depart ideally too far from an imaginary 45 ° curve. In the fourth and last tab you can select various sample images and see the difference by Before / After switcher.

A little hidden features further down in the menu bar now have the option to undergo a calibration check. Here some reference colors are measured and obtained various delta values ​​indicate the deviations. Ideally, though they were in the range 0, X move.

To ensure compatibility with third Software A certain confusion exists because it's very contradictory information on the Internet - sometimes even by X-Rite itself - finds. For my part I use the normal retail version of the colorimeter from X-Rite. She also works with the free programs Argyll + dispcalGUI. These tools are a little more complicated in its setup and operation, provide for but more control over the calibration. Even the end of the measurement seems more mature and coherent. The grays are recorded in detail and there are several runs in which the curves are adapted directly to so to approach the optimum value. The X-Rite software seems to work only with one pass. Integrated in the freeware quality inspection also confirmed the improvement. Do I get the calibration via software from X-Rite there is generally very good values, the freeware can bring out a corner more here, though. In particular, the grays come actually much closer to the reference values. If you are interested I go in the comment like a closer look at the set up and use.

My conclusion: X-Rite has created with the i1 Display Pro colorimeter a modern and future-proof. The software will be tidy and clearly structured. The results speak for themselves - both on the monitor and in the evaluation of the program.
Negative falls on the mentioned Schnitzer with automatic calibration. Who does not nachprüft here messed up possibly the result. Inexperienced users may never find out that their calibration could be significantly better. Also less than optimal is the fact that a freeware with the colorimeter achieved slightly better results.

Another decision aid: i1 Display Pro and ColorMunki Display are technically identical. The ColorMunki is however artificially throttled in his work speed and working 5x slower in the measurements. The software at the ColorMunki is not quite as freely adjustable as the i1 Display Pro. Thus, for example, the white point can not be selected freely or there is less choice of targets while gamma etc. Who common settings can range actually the little brother grab -. Especially when it comes to just going to quickly adjust the local monitor , Who wants however use the colorimeter professionally or professionally is consult with the i1 Display Pro better.