this lets you aim the lens at a projected image. Sitting on or near your projector, the i1 can calibrate the combination of digital projector and screen. This only works when it’s connected to a suitable image source. My projector is not connected to my iMac 27 inch machine, more usually to one of two or three different laptops; it’s often run from an HDMI box which plays JPEGs from a USB memory stick; and I also play media from a Sony Playsta- tion 3. This might seem like a strange business purchase, but it has the Blu-Ray, HDMI, USB, video, JPEG, DVD and related playback abilities which may it superior to most laptops for public presentations. However, the PS3 does not offer me the chance to use the i1 Display and does not store ICC profiles for projectors. That’s the only downside, I can not store a profile in the projector itself. I must use a laptop or computer with colour management. Connected via an HDMI adaptor cable to my MacBook (this can be done using a mini- DVI connector then a DVI to HDMI lead) I was pleased to find that the Mac OSX System Preferences identified my Sony VPL-EW5 projector and set the correct 1280 x 800 resolution. The X-Rite iProfiler software then led me through the steps of creating new profiles for both the laptop screen and the pro- jected image, but left me having to ensure these were set to apply to each device after both had been installed. This was not difficult but it was possible to use a single profile in error. While the difference made to the MacBook screen was not great, the neutrality of the greys and the general level of contrast and colour accuracy on the pro- jected image was a transforma- tion. I have always thought that no projector can really manage an image quality approaching a screen, but I’ve never used an ICC colour profiled projector before.
The readings were taken with the i1 Display device mounted on a small tripod, on top of the projector. It took three adjust- ments until it agreed I was aiming the optics properly at
the centre of the screen. Then it created a profile using just the same depth of different colour samples as for a screen. The room filled with saturated hues, sunsets, shadows, glows of every shade – an impressive experience and it just needed a soundtrack!
Above, resting on a screen during profile creation. Below, standing on top of a projector reading from the screen. Right, laptop and screen seen before calibration (afterwards they matched visually). Below pair, before and after projector calibration, left and right. Bottom, QA confirmation of profiled performance.
Switching between Before and After was dramatic for the projector, which seemed soft and yellowish-green in its native state but crisp and neutral with the profile applied. Skin tones, critical for portrait or wedding viewing, were most significantly improved.
Even though the laptop screen and the projection screen now appeared a decent match to the eye, when I photographed them together the laptop was very magenta. I guess this is down to the halogen light of the projector versus the fluoresecent panel of the Mac. It certainly was not like that to the naked eye.
What is most surprising is the price of this neat small device – £199 inc VAT. Given that it can profile LCD, LED, projected and pretty much any other kind of display you may feed from your Mac or PC that is a bargain. It is not limited to a single device. The software also optimises print and Pantone spot colour display.
X-Rite also offers an even lower cost new ColorMunki based on similar hardware to the i1 Display Pro, which can do nearly all of the same functions in a slightly simplified way. Printer profiling looks to be a future upgrade possibility as the registration process includes provision for this (no upgrade available yet).
Unlike most screen calibra- tors other than the tiny Pantone Huey, this new device is small and light. It can easily travel with your laptop and projector, and be used to create a new profile for a different type of projection screen or room condi- tions. It's so small and neat that when sitting on your worktop measuring ambient light, it will not be in the way. – David Kilpatrick
Á
For further information:
www.colourconfidence.com
MASTER PHOTOGRAPHY 11
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44