User Review of GretagMacbeth

Eye-One Display 2

by Ian Lyons

A Computer Darkroom Review

6 May 2006

Colour management starts with your monitor, and if it isn't correctly calibrated there is little if any chance of colour being displayed accurately. Therefore, the key to obtaining colour accuracy and consistency across applications and systems is to use a good quality hardware device to measure the light emitted from the display. This review discusses the latest revision to GretagMacbeth's Eye-One Display colorimeter along with the supporting Eye-One Match software.

Eye-One Display 2 Hardware

Eye-One Display, which I reviewed in 2004 included a pretty good colorimeter along with a slightly limited software application. In general, it lacked many of the elements users now demand from display calibration and profiling packages (i.e. speed, DDC compliance, and ambient light measurement). However, with the introduction of the Eye-One Display 2 colorimeter GretagMacbeth (GMB) have significantly increased the speed of the calibration process without compromising quality, and they've also managed to include the ability to measure both ambient light luminosity and colour temperature. The hardware is essentially the same in appearance, but an enhanced sensor provides much better repeatability, which translates into more consistent calibration. The sensor is also much more sensitive, which makes for better control of shadow detail and thus more neutral greyscales will be obtained across a wider range of tones.

As mentioned above, the Eye-One Display 2 colorimeter is virtually identical in appearance to the original. It's still a low powered USB device, which means that Apple computer users can connect it directly to the keyboard or display USB ports. The same slim counterweight, which is clipped onto the cable has been retained. The device itself is easy use with any LCD panel or CRT displays, but the counterweight tends to fall off far too often for my liking. A detachable ambient light head is provided that will enable the user to capture ambient light measurements. The ambient light head also serves as a dust protector for the Eye-One Display 2.

When you need to profile a display with a hood it's simply a matter of using the built-in suction cups to attach the device directly to the monitor. When I first saw the original Eye-One device I was immediately wary of these suction cups, especially when attaching it to my original Apple Cinema HD Display. However, my concerns were ill-founded. This latest version uses a virtually identical arrangement, so I don't expect any problems with the older Apple display.

Eye-One Match 3 Software

With the introduction of Eye-One Match 3.6 GMB has made further improvements to user interface (UI) and feature set. The UI was designed to simple and it certainly seems to have produced less critical feedback than earlier versions. The easy to follow on-screen help (called strings) is designed to guide the user through the process of calibrating and profiling your display. Eye-One 3.6 also expands on the number of display supported by  "One Push Button Monitor Calibration" (PBC) support. Typically, these are DDC enabled LCD's whereby the software can automatically control the calibration. The following is a summary of summary of new features along with a comprehensive list of supported displays.

What’s new in Eye-One Match 3.6?

General
You can create profiles according to the ICC 2 (default) or ICC 4 specification. This feature is only accessible via the options menu in the application.

Monitor module in general.
Before and after calibration step added. User feedback during the recognition phase of the Push Button Calibration check. After your calibration you can check how the monitor looked before the calibration. Updated list of supported monitors for the Push Button Calibration:

• Mitsubishi Diamond Pro 2070SB
• LaCie Electron 19b3
• LaCie Electron 19b4
• LaCie Electron 22b3
• LaCie 321
• HP p1230
• IBM P275
• NEC MultiSync2060NX
• NEC FP955
• Eizo CG220
• NEC LCD2180WGLED
• Sony SDM S205F/K

Other new features:

• Updated gamma selection
• Choose a gamma from 1.0 – 3.0
• Choose native gamma
  Updated target luminance dialog
• Measure your target luminance on a white patch on a different monitor

Note: the screenshot below shows that Eye-One Match also includes modules for profiling electronic projectors, scanners, digital cameras and printers. It also shows the new module for editing printer profiles. These modules will only be activated when the user purchases the upgrade codes and the Eye-One Pro spectrophotometer.

 

 

The  "Easy" mode provides predefined settings and automated processes for users who are new to colour management or who don’t want to develop customised settings. The "Easy" mode also removes the need for the user to select the target White Point and Gamma values by using preset values common to the Mac and PC platforms. Personally I think it produces lower quality profiles and an over bright display.

 

 

Like its predecessor Eye-One Display 2  can only  is used for calibration and profiling of CRT and LCD monitors. However, not before time, GMB have also included the option for native gamma. This is a welcome and very necessary addition to Eye-One Match, which will come in particularly useful for users who specialise in Black & White images.

 

 

"Advanced" mode gives experienced users access to customised settings for the best possible results. These include alternative white point and gamma values. The "native white point" option leaves the white point of the display as is which is an essential perquisite when profiling LCD type displays. It's also possible to set your preferred luminance value. The default value for LCDs is now 120cd/m², which is a lot more useable than 140 (previous default).

Contd.