Gretag Macbeth Eye-One Display 2 - Instructions
Introduction
I recently purchased a Gretag Macbeth Eye-One Display 2 from Amazon. Amazon actually calls this an X-Rite Eye-One Display 2 but with some research, I discovered that X-Rite is the American subsidiary of Gretag Macbeth. Gretag Macbeth has a long history of color calibration, the Amazon reviews were all stellar and the price fit my budget, about $205 with shipping. There are less expensive tools, but they are also reported to be very slow. The device shipped from 17th Street Photo and arrived in a couple of days. The box is indeed flimsy - you can't use it to store your device later. But that's a minor issue.
The written instructions that come with this device are almost useless. Basically, all it tells you to do is load the software and clean your monitor first. Well, I can do that. I assumed the control panel that came up would be intuitive. It certainly wasn't. Thus, I am writing a guide here for your benefit. Some of these instructions are for XP only - sorry, I'm not familiar with the Mac OS or Vista. But you can probably extrapolate successfully to your operating system.
Why buy this product?
I regularly and repeatedly use Photoshop for photographs and websites, and I have never been fully confident that what I was seeing on my monitor was accurate. Other monitors often changed the colors of my images, especially laptops. Was their monitor at fault? Or mine? I have repeatedly tried to use Adobe Gamma to calibrate my monitor, as well as various helpful websites, such as epaperpress.com. But I have never been totally confident with the results. And none of these methods adjusted the color precisely.
Steps to take before using this device
1. Do not plug the device in right away. Wait until after the software has been installed. Read on - this a multi-step process that can take awhile.
2. Clean the dust off your monitor. A lightly damped kleenex should do the job. Then dry it with a dry kleenex.
3. Note that your monitor should have been on for 30 minutes before running the calibration.
4. If you will be calibrating an LCD or Laptop screen, tilt your monitor back, about 20 - 30 degrees.
5. Turn off your screen saver and power saver modes. (C\Control Panel\Display\Screen Saver)
6. If you are using this calibration device, you are probably using Photoshop. Go to C\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup and check if Adobe Gamma is loading with startup. If yes, drag it out of the Start Menu and drop it on your Desktop. You'll need to be able to find it easily later.
7. Turn off your ambient lighting and/or block any window that is casting light on your screen.
8. Find a matte black surface to use to calibrate the device. I found a small piece of black mat board.
Steps to install the software
1. Put the CD in your CD reader - the software opens slowly.
2. Click on the top left icon, "Match" - then choose your language. This will load the main display calibration software. Go through the installation steps, then restart your computer.
3. There are three other icons up there at the top - what are they for? Let's find out.
4. Go to My computer\D drive\Eye One - right click, select open. Then select 'Auto Run'. This will bring the control panel back up. Alternately, you can click on iShare - English.
5. Click "Share" or "iShare"- by the way, this is a Graphic Design Tool. You won't need it for calibrating your monitor, but it may be useful to you someday. Install Share. No restart needed.
6. Click "Diagnostics" or "iDiagnostics" and go through the installation steps - this is useful, because it checks to make sure your calibration tool is working properly. If it passes, you are fine. If it doesn't, try it two more times, then call X-Rite for help. No restart needed after this installation.
7. Select "ColorPoint or "iPoint" - this is a plug-in for PowerPoint. If you don't have PowerPoint, you may not be able to use this. I don't have PowerPoint, but I installed it anyway. Maybe I will figure it out later.
8. Three more buttons to try - "Register" and "Color Knowledge" both bring up the X-Rite Product Overview web page - not very useful. No useful tutorials here.
9. Last button to try - Training Modules. Hey! This is what you've been looking for all along! Be sure to go through it carefully, with the sound on. Take notes.
10. Attach the weight to the cord of your USB device, then plug it in to the main computer body (not the monitor or keyboard).
11. Open the Diagnostics software and check out your device. It it passes, continue to the next step.
12. Open the Match software and follow the directions for 'Easy'. Be sure to get the photo cell as centered as possible on your screen. When you get to the final step, don't click on the lower right arrow. Instead click on "Before and After". Only then will you know if something has been achieved. Then save your profile.
13. Try the Advanced method? If you are curious, or a graphics design professional, or if you have the necessary monitor control tools, such as R-G-B, brightness and contrast. My Dell monitor has very limited controls. I skipped this step. I'll play with it later when I have time.
Steps to take after you are finished
1. Go to C\Control Panel\Display\Settings\Advanced\Color Management - make sure your new color profile is loaded. If it isn't, load it in.
2. Click on Adobe Gamma - select Control Panel - check to see if your new profile (Monitor_today's date) is listed. If it isn't, load it in. Then, when Photoshop loads next, it will use this profile.
3. Turn back on your screen saver and power saver modes.