Pavel Offline Upload & Sell: Off
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I'm now looking for a new Monitor profiling, or perhaps way of making custom ICC profiles if I can find a less expensive way than most of the solutions aimed at pre-press or business' that have deeper pockets than most photographers are willing to spend.
As far as background, I've not had need of highly accurate monitors for several years. The last hardware device was the X-rite i1 LT and it hardly gave me confidence as the sofware was so limited and the results slightly variable. Furthermore, I found X-rite to be a company that offers terrible support for their hardware. I bought that puck, in 2008, and the software was NEVER updated since the day I bought it. It seems that X-rite is one of those companies that once a new product is out, the old one is forgotten and one is expected to pay all over again.
Now I'd like to stress the word "seems" in the above paragraph. I'd be happy, relieved really, if my impression was a one off, and that my viewpoint is not valid. That would be a good thing, and I guess that is the first question then, for owners of their products. Is it a company and set of products you are happy with?
I now want to shoot different subject matter and perhaps print again. So I want to gather information and opinions here as far as the best way forward, with bang for the buck a consideration.
I still have the abandoned X-rite i1 LT, but suspect that the hardware has evolved enough that I should move on and get something new rather than use it with the Open source and free Display Cal, which is very feature full, but very slow (35 minutes with the i1 lt) or with the German BasicColor Display which is a reasonable 100 Euro for a seat. I have not tried the Basic Color Display - has anyone here used it, and if so, what are your thoughts? What sort of hardware have you run it with?
So the choices are X-rite's Color Munki or i1Display pro versus the Spyder 5 Pro, or Elite Model. For owners of these products, are you satisfied with the provided software of are there any frustrations that have you wishing you used something else, or to use the hardware with an aftermarket software product?
In reading days of reviews I have the first impression that at the lower price points it does not seem to make much difference, the software works for most uses but is limiting for more advanced users or for unusual challenges. Is that about the sum of it?
As one pays for the premium products and gets the more advanced software options, I'm not yet with any sort of opinions as to if any hardware/software combo is more effective or not, but do find it interesting that companies that seem to be serious in supplying the higher end software tend to lean a bit towards the X-rite stuff. I wonder why, or if that is in fact a small clue that the X-rite hardware may be superior?
So, for those of you that have gotten into Hardware based profiling in the last year or two, what advice would you give? So many options and combinations, claims and features - that it can make one's head spin.
Oh .... and I need some sort of solution for both Mac and PC, but PC only up to windows 7 or 8. Thanks.
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