Hi I need to calibrate these monitors: -Dell SE2426HG -AOC 24G4XED -AOC 24G4X They are all IPS sRGB. The calibration devices to choose from are: -X‑Rite i1 Display Pro / or Studio? I think I saw that it’s discontinued. You can find it used for around €100. -Calibrite Display Pro HL: new on Amazon €200 https://www.amazon.it/Calibrite-Display-Pro-professionale-calibrazione/dp/B0C836NB5X/ -Datacolor SpyderExpress €120 new on Amazon. https://www.amazon.it/Datacolor-SpyderExpress-calibrazione-installazione-aggiornabile/dp/B0FMJFPTVG/ Right now I have zero knowledge about these devices, but according to ChatGPT the SpyderExpress works with its own software, and compatibility with DisplayCAL (the open‑source software) is possible but requires manually installing drivers so that it’s recognized. Also, the version sold on Amazon — which version is it? ChatGPT says it’s the basic version, but you can upgrade the software to a higher version, so what changes is the software you use? In the end it generates an ICC profile, but these ICC profiles are loaded into the GPU at startup by Windows. However, I read that some applications still don’t take them into account. Then chatgpt it also says: i need an advice about what product i have to buy.
My 2 cents on products above for calibration. .... you are paying to make your monitor be pretty darn color accurate, nothing more. Windows and cheaper monitors definitely have a wide range inaccuracy in the way they display color so this is something I would recommend given you are sing windows. I own a much older version of the Spyder hardware. The express works with most monitors but i believe the regular spyder is better if you have an OLED display, upgrading to models beyond that is just for a few bells and whistles which unless they apply to your needs I would not recommend. Both are good products both essentially create a profile that your monitor will use to display brightness/gama/color tones. etc.. Every monitor needs its own profile. Now here is where it gets interesting... lets just say whatever you pick and use is 98% accurate in calibration. Your printer itself may have some tenancies to print a little green or yellow or warm or cool. Soooooo don't over think this that much.as you dont need to worry about buying a 100$ more expensive device for a 1-2% better accuracy, if you still may have to fine tune prints based on your printers tendency. Buy one but don't worry about one being more perfect than the other ... it does 99% of the work on the viewing side, you will still need to know your printer and know if you need to do any slight adjustment before hitting print in lightroom or photoshop... You can create printing profiles, or buy hardware for doing that on high end printers if your really concerned with accuracy across high volume printing but it is largely not necessary if your monitor is balanced well. Usually you just learn that you may need to bump a specific slider or two before hitting print on your specific printer. Canon and Epson have slightly different preferences to color just like different monitors have tenancies. If you want a real monkey wrench here, I have a spyder for my pc's in case i use them, but have bought macbooks over the last 20 years for my photography because I get balanced color out of them from the factory, that's why so many people choose them in this field. Windows and the 100s of devices you can use them with are the real reason they sell these products.
