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Message: [QUOTE="highdefjeff, post: 42270, member: 4428"]Calibration MethodRick,The short answer is: by eye. To understand why I calibrate by eye, here's how I got there.When I first began writing the WOWVision website, I had found that many things that affected picture quality and system performance could be fixed at home (Things such as TV or receiver settings, cables, etc.). As I looked to find other things that might affect PQ, I began to research calibration as to its value in the PQ equation. Every website that I researched had the same explanation of "seeing the movie as the director intended" and the same incorrect advice to use the warm setting. They also claimed that a properly calibrated television would take a week to a month to get used to!?! While I was convinced that calibration would affect the picture quality, I was still unconvinced as to why. I researched becoming an ISF Certified Calibrationist and decided that the cost of training and equipment was too much for me, so I looked to find alternatives. In my research I came across the Spyder Pro Colorimeter. All reviews said Spyder Pro was good, except for one guy who said that the Spyder Pro was pretty good except that it left the picture too red. With all the good reports and only one dissenter, I decided to purchase the Spyder Pro system (Colorimeter, software, test pattern DVD). I began practicing with the system by calibrating SD televisions, not willing to take any chance on possibly damaging someone's new flat panel TV. The more TV's I calibrated, the less satisfied I became with the result. I began to notice that the picture, though improved, was still too red. I recalled the dissenter's comment and decided that he was the one that was correct. By this time, I was no longer afraid to experiment with the settings so that's what I did, experiment. Each time I finished with the Spyder, I would end up going back to the settings and attempt to "finish" the calibration. Tweak after tweak, I'd check the picture and find that I couldn't get the red out. Getting the red out took going all the way back to the temperature setting and changing it from warm to cool and starting over. (Spyder always picked warm. Use Cool or 6500K) It only took a few more times of using the Spyder before I was ready to ditch it because I had to redo the calibration from top to bottom anyway!Since then, I can recognize a Geek Squad calibration (here in STL anyway - Geek Squad uses Spyder) because of the end result - markedly improved but still too red. I've found after much practice, that calibrating by eye is much quicker for me and more accurate than the machines out there. Further research revealed that even within the industry of calibration, the eyes of those who see (referred to as having "Golden Eyes") are considered the final word on calibration - not technology and I completely agree. If you are considering paying for a calibration, I suggest CAUTION! Even an ISF Certified Calibrationist is only as good as his equipment if he doesn't have "Golden Eyes". I've witnessed this in up-scale showrooms that have been "professionally" calibrated. Might as well get Geek Squad and save a hundred bucks. Color calibration is not about whether or not the actors tie is the correct color of red as the director intended. It is about detail and picture quality. Details come from small and subtle differences in COLOR and SHADE (gray scale). If your color is not adjusted, you will not get the subtle differences that give TEXTURE and reality. These subtle differences in color and shade reveal the wrinkles or age spots of reality in skin tone and texture. It is these smaller variations of a color that can not be produced when the color mixing is not correct. (Or the contrast is set too high.)Color calibration will also lessen the appearance of mosquito noise and motion blur. Finally, and contrary to popular belief, a correctly calibrated television immediately looks "WOW!". It doesn't take any "getting used to" a great picture. It is only an improper calibration that will take time to get adjusted to. We don't have to get adjusted to reality, right? God bless,Jeff[/QUOTE]

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