Color Correcting with computer monitor

[Neal Slimick]

Once again I start with a semi-easy question and the more I read the more I get confused.

I am building a FCP setup with dual 30" Dell's. One for Final Cut to run on and one to preview my work (did a project for them, I could never justify buying 2 30" monitors) I have a Color Spyder 2 Pro to calibrate the monitors with.

Will the monitors produce accurate colors after calibrated, or will the gamma of the monitors screw with the contrast that I see on screen?

How would you go about setting up a monitor to color correct on?

Is it possible?

Or would it be a better idea to get an Intensity Card and a cheap LCD, run HDMI to it to monitor HDV and color correction on?

Is an LCD tv more accurate than a calibrated computer monitor? I know the gammas are different but my experience with ANY TV is that colors differ from each one.

I don't have the budget for a production monitor and I'll be doing mostly HD/HDV material.

What would you do?

Thanks for your time!

[Daniel Browning]

Originally Posted by Neal Slimick

Will the monitors produce accurate colors after calibrated?

No. Dell is all IPV and TN. For accurate colors, you need an S-IPS or derivitive display technology.

Originally Posted by Neal Slimick

Or would it be a better idea to get an Intensity Card and a cheap LCD, run HDMI to it to monitor HDV and color correction on?

A cheap, consumer LCD TV is not any better than a cheap, LCD computer monitor. In fact, the reverse is often true. The connection, HDMI or DVI, has nothing to do with it.

Originally Posted by Neal Slimick

I don't have the budget for a production monitor

Then you don't have the budget for accurate color. If you can live with sub-HDTV resolution (1600x1200 or less), you can find a color accurate model for $400 - $1000.

I got my S-IPS HP LP2065 for $390. Here's my information about it:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/re...ssage=20192314