Datacolor SpyderSTUDIO Color Calibration Bundle

Comments about Datacolor SpyderSTUDIO Color Calibration Bundle:

Spyder 4 is good. But SpyderSTUDIO is a waste of money.

Spyder Print is an unmitigated disaster. DataColor support is dismal. Not once was were my questions answered. I got what appeared to be form letter responses.

RMA's the Spyder$STUDIO and going with X-Rite X-Rite i1Display Pro and abandoning print profiling altogether.

We shall see...

Comments about Datacolor SpyderSTUDIO Color Calibration Bundle:

You've spent the money. Get what you've paid for.

If you send your work our for printing you need at least the Spyder. If you produce your own print you really also need Spyder Print. SpyderSTUDIO is a flawless way to see, accurately what you have and what you'll get. Period.

Comments about Datacolor SpyderSTUDIO Color Calibration Bundle:

finally the pictures are realistic, and print as the original

Comments about Datacolor SpyderSTUDIO Color Calibration Bundle:

This kit is what I have needed for so long but didn't want to lay the cash out for it. Boy am I glad I did now. I am able to get accurate color management from capture to print without having to give it a second thought. The only negative comment I have is that Datacolor should include a in depth set of instructions for those who might not understand color management. The complete lack of any easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions may have some customers returning this product. I am bewildered by their lack of support on this issue. The CD's are supposed to have instructional material, but even that is a FAIL! Two videos and they don't even address calibrating your monitor. Datacolor really dropped the ball on this one issue.

Comments about Datacolor SpyderSTUDIO Color Calibration Bundle:

Made a tremendous difference in the quality of the monitors and printers that I have used it on!

Spyder4Elite
I received the best, most consistant results after I went to File -> Preferences... -> "Advanced Settings" button -> enable: "Show RGB Sliders option in Identify Controls screen"

SpyderPrint
The first go around I used the quick 2 page calibration. The prints were very dark on my Konica Color Copier.

I reran the calibration using the highest number of color swatches (it was 9 pages long); the results were significantly better!

I really like this package! It is easy to use.

Comments about Datacolor SpyderSTUDIO Color Calibration Bundle:

I purchase the product with the rebate in mind. I sent in the required form, UPC, receipt within the the dates indicated. I received a confirmation that the rebate in being process. I received in the mail what looked like a rebate check only to be surprised that it indicated invalid addresss and no further explanation. I've called the number indicated, left messages several times but no response. Is this the kind of service Data Color gives to its customers when offerring rebates for its products.

Comments about Datacolor SpyderSTUDIO Color Calibration Bundle:

I mainly choose the SpyderStudio because of the price ... Looking toward a complete solution from Camera -edition-print
The SpyderElite seen good (monitor) but the SpyderPrint is not that good!
Hard to print Un color managed Print target
The Scanning is all but unreliable... because of the poorly design plastic rule that come with the package.
You must use the "fast-drag and Stop" scanning method to obtain reliable results (learned that after more than 4000 swatches scan)
-The WebSite from Datacolor have jsut kill the last bit of love left....
1-They advertise more than 950 Expert-swatches and it's "only" 769
2-Dead-endd, missing link, 404 Error and "Wooops the pages requested cannot be found" Their Site is like a Swiss Cheese... Awesomely weird and unbelievable !!!
3-They state Fast 24/7 Support and never been replied !

But the final blow was the yellow cast i see on almost all my print ... and ist not only me.
Ink and Paper cost a lot of money and i have ordered the $$$$ i1Photo Pro 2 from X-Rite...

Comments about Datacolor SpyderSTUDIO Color Calibration Bundle:

For years I have attempted to print photographs from my computer/monitor/printer system which had never been properly calibrated. I have always wasted countless sheets of expensive printer paper as well as printer ink attempting to zero in on the ideal color/lightness/contrast balances. Now, after loading in and using SpyderSTUDIO to calibrate my display as well as my printer I am now able to print ideally balanced prints virtually every time! I never new what I was missing until now. The cost of the system is not low but it certainly earns it's worth in near perfect results just about every time! I find that only a little tweaking is necessary now for that ideal print.

Comments about Datacolor SpyderSTUDIO Color Calibration Bundle:

I use Spyder Studio to calibrate by digital workflow from capture to final printing. The Spyder Studio has saved hours of work and lots of ink! The system was easy to install, and guides you through the calibration process with easy to follow menus. After using the Sypder Studio, what I see in my camera, matches what I see on my monitor, and what comes out of my printer!

Comments about Datacolor SpyderSTUDIO Color Calibration Bundle:

I provided an earlier review of this system, and I'd like to add some additional information, advice actually, specifically on producing printer profiles.

First, it is quite helpful to carefully read the comments in-line on color management in general.

Second, it is very important to read the comments on how to read the color strips on the charts you print. It takes some practice to do this successfully.

In the few weeks that I've been using this system, I can by now pretty reliably read the color strips, but there are always a few to several patches that need to be re-read.

You need to carefully check the displayed charts on the monitor, switching repeatedly between the expected and measured results. You do this by pressing "1" and "3" alternately as explained in the software. This will allow you to compare and see which patches have been misread. Re-reading those patches is simply a matter of using your mouse to select that patch on the monitor, placing the spectrophotometer directly on that printed patch, and pressing the button on the spectrophotometer to obtain an additional reading.

You don't need to re-read the whole strip, just the patch that is wrong. Also, since the software expects you to go on immediately to the next patch (as if you're reading the whole strip), you need to wait at that point for the cursor to return by itself to the beginning of that row, and then use your mouse to select the next patch that you need to re-read. Once you are sure you've captured all the correct patches, you can save and close the measurement file.

Doing it carefully this way, I have produced profiles that exceed the accuracy of Epson's profiles for their paper. If you have some misread patches that are not corrected, you'll get unpredictable results. Getting it right gives you a very accurate profile matched to your specific printer and paper.

As I said in my earlier review, this is a good system when used carefully.

Comments about Datacolor SpyderSTUDIO Color Calibration Bundle:

I just use the spyder system for monitor calibration from that bag. It is ok.easy to use.
I use it with my two laptops macbook pro 17 and Toshiba. the results look like the same but I need help to now if the monitor color now is accurate. because the screen turn to be a kind of soft yellow and the portrait photo like we use filter warm 812 with it.

Comments about Datacolor SpyderSTUDIO Color Calibration Bundle:

This is a good product, or rather set of products. It is a complete solution for color management workflow. It starts with the little cube for exposure and white balance, which is an elegant little tool.

The monitor calibration is quite good, and it helps set the monitor brightness, which can be the source of print errors ("my prints are too dark"), so this is important. The color matching is excellent - I have used it to match two large monitors (a 27" iMac and 30" Apple Cinema Display) and the color and brightness match is very good.

Print calibration can be a bit problematic initially in the sense that it can be difficult to reliably read the strips of color patches until you get the technique down. However, the software tells you when you've missed a patch, and you can also review the readings (visually) and tell if you need to re-scan a row. This all gets easier with practice.

I've found the print profiles as good as or better than Epson's profiles (I use an Epson 3880 printer with various papers). I relish the freedom not to have to worry much any more about correcting color or brightness mismatches between my monitor and the printer output, so now I just worry about my photographic technique and aesthetic judgment.

The guy who said the packaging is a cardboard box covered in aluminum foil must have another problem, because the case that the instruments come in is very good quality.

Comments about Datacolor SpyderSTUDIO Color Calibration Bundle:

Spyder 4 is good. But SpyderSTUDIO is a waste of money.

Spyder Print is an unmitigated disaster. DataColor support is dismal. Not once was were my questions answered. I got what appeared to be form letter responses.

RMA's the Spyder$STUDIO and going with X-Rite X-Rite i1Display Pro and abandoning print profiling altogether.

We shall see...

Comments about Datacolor SpyderSTUDIO Color Calibration Bundle:

You've spent the money. Get what you've paid for.

If you send your work our for printing you need at least the Spyder. If you produce your own print you really also need Spyder Print. SpyderSTUDIO is a flawless way to see, accurately what you have and what you'll get. Period.

Comments about Datacolor SpyderSTUDIO Color Calibration Bundle:

finally the pictures are realistic, and print as the original

Comments about Datacolor SpyderSTUDIO Color Calibration Bundle:

This kit is what I have needed for so long but didn't want to lay the cash out for it. Boy am I glad I did now. I am able to get accurate color management from capture to print without having to give it a second thought. The only negative comment I have is that Datacolor should include a in depth set of instructions for those who might not understand color management. The complete lack of any easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions may have some customers returning this product. I am bewildered by their lack of support on this issue. The CD's are supposed to have instructional material, but even that is a FAIL! Two videos and they don't even address calibrating your monitor. Datacolor really dropped the ball on this one issue.

Comments about Datacolor SpyderSTUDIO Color Calibration Bundle:

Made a tremendous difference in the quality of the monitors and printers that I have used it on!

Spyder4Elite
I received the best, most consistant results after I went to File -> Preferences... -> "Advanced Settings" button -> enable: "Show RGB Sliders option in Identify Controls screen"

SpyderPrint
The first go around I used the quick 2 page calibration. The prints were very dark on my Konica Color Copier.

I reran the calibration using the highest number of color swatches (it was 9 pages long); the results were significantly better!

I really like this package! It is easy to use.

Comments about Datacolor SpyderSTUDIO Color Calibration Bundle:

I purchase the product with the rebate in mind. I sent in the required form, UPC, receipt within the the dates indicated. I received a confirmation that the rebate in being process. I received in the mail what looked like a rebate check only to be surprised that it indicated invalid addresss and no further explanation. I've called the number indicated, left messages several times but no response. Is this the kind of service Data Color gives to its customers when offerring rebates for its products.

Comments about Datacolor SpyderSTUDIO Color Calibration Bundle:

I mainly choose the SpyderStudio because of the price ... Looking toward a complete solution from Camera -edition-print
The SpyderElite seen good (monitor) but the SpyderPrint is not that good!
Hard to print Un color managed Print target
The Scanning is all but unreliable... because of the poorly design plastic rule that come with the package.
You must use the "fast-drag and Stop" scanning method to obtain reliable results (learned that after more than 4000 swatches scan)
-The WebSite from Datacolor have jsut kill the last bit of love left....
1-They advertise more than 950 Expert-swatches and it's "only" 769
2-Dead-endd, missing link, 404 Error and "Wooops the pages requested cannot be found" Their Site is like a Swiss Cheese... Awesomely weird and unbelievable !!!
3-They state Fast 24/7 Support and never been replied !

But the final blow was the yellow cast i see on almost all my print ... and ist not only me.
Ink and Paper cost a lot of money and i have ordered the $$$$ i1Photo Pro 2 from X-Rite...

Comments about Datacolor SpyderSTUDIO Color Calibration Bundle:

For years I have attempted to print photographs from my computer/monitor/printer system which had never been properly calibrated. I have always wasted countless sheets of expensive printer paper as well as printer ink attempting to zero in on the ideal color/lightness/contrast balances. Now, after loading in and using SpyderSTUDIO to calibrate my display as well as my printer I am now able to print ideally balanced prints virtually every time! I never new what I was missing until now. The cost of the system is not low but it certainly earns it's worth in near perfect results just about every time! I find that only a little tweaking is necessary now for that ideal print.

Comments about Datacolor SpyderSTUDIO Color Calibration Bundle:

I use Spyder Studio to calibrate by digital workflow from capture to final printing. The Spyder Studio has saved hours of work and lots of ink! The system was easy to install, and guides you through the calibration process with easy to follow menus. After using the Sypder Studio, what I see in my camera, matches what I see on my monitor, and what comes out of my printer!

Comments about Datacolor SpyderSTUDIO Color Calibration Bundle:

I provided an earlier review of this system, and I'd like to add some additional information, advice actually, specifically on producing printer profiles.

First, it is quite helpful to carefully read the comments in-line on color management in general.

Second, it is very important to read the comments on how to read the color strips on the charts you print. It takes some practice to do this successfully.

In the few weeks that I've been using this system, I can by now pretty reliably read the color strips, but there are always a few to several patches that need to be re-read.

You need to carefully check the displayed charts on the monitor, switching repeatedly between the expected and measured results. You do this by pressing "1" and "3" alternately as explained in the software. This will allow you to compare and see which patches have been misread. Re-reading those patches is simply a matter of using your mouse to select that patch on the monitor, placing the spectrophotometer directly on that printed patch, and pressing the button on the spectrophotometer to obtain an additional reading.

You don't need to re-read the whole strip, just the patch that is wrong. Also, since the software expects you to go on immediately to the next patch (as if you're reading the whole strip), you need to wait at that point for the cursor to return by itself to the beginning of that row, and then use your mouse to select the next patch that you need to re-read. Once you are sure you've captured all the correct patches, you can save and close the measurement file.

Doing it carefully this way, I have produced profiles that exceed the accuracy of Epson's profiles for their paper. If you have some misread patches that are not corrected, you'll get unpredictable results. Getting it right gives you a very accurate profile matched to your specific printer and paper.

As I said in my earlier review, this is a good system when used carefully.

Comments about Datacolor SpyderSTUDIO Color Calibration Bundle:

I just use the spyder system for monitor calibration from that bag. It is ok.easy to use.
I use it with my two laptops macbook pro 17 and Toshiba. the results look like the same but I need help to now if the monitor color now is accurate. because the screen turn to be a kind of soft yellow and the portrait photo like we use filter warm 812 with it.

Comments about Datacolor SpyderSTUDIO Color Calibration Bundle:

This is a good product, or rather set of products. It is a complete solution for color management workflow. It starts with the little cube for exposure and white balance, which is an elegant little tool.

The monitor calibration is quite good, and it helps set the monitor brightness, which can be the source of print errors ("my prints are too dark"), so this is important. The color matching is excellent - I have used it to match two large monitors (a 27" iMac and 30" Apple Cinema Display) and the color and brightness match is very good.

Print calibration can be a bit problematic initially in the sense that it can be difficult to reliably read the strips of color patches until you get the technique down. However, the software tells you when you've missed a patch, and you can also review the readings (visually) and tell if you need to re-scan a row. This all gets easier with practice.

I've found the print profiles as good as or better than Epson's profiles (I use an Epson 3880 printer with various papers). I relish the freedom not to have to worry much any more about correcting color or brightness mismatches between my monitor and the printer output, so now I just worry about my photographic technique and aesthetic judgment.

The guy who said the packaging is a cardboard box covered in aluminum foil must have another problem, because the case that the instruments come in is very good quality.