Many times we have heard the word calibration and perhaps many of you may not have fully understood the meaning of. In this article we will try to give a simple other simultaneously detailed explanation of what a calibration in question-and-answer format. Thereby we believe will become fully understood the concept of calibration even less initiated in image issues.
What is calibration?
The calibration is the process of adjusting our optics device to render the image in accordance with the standards adopted by international organizations (ISF, THX).
“Supposed” (the supposed goes to that important end result is and our staff eventually taste) that after calibration we get picture from our perspective device, which draws as much as possible in the image he Director of the film to see (details, colors, etc.).
Absolutely need our optical instrument calibration;
Here the answer is ambiguous. If we’re happy with what we see and we are showcasing our tainioyles at our projective instrument, then the answer is no.
If on the other hand, we are not happy, something our “kills” in the image, we want to “play” and to explore the boundaries of our projector or we are professionals and we want o projector or our optical instrument to reproduce the image as close as possible to the reference, then the answer is unequivocally Yes.
How is the calibration;
To carry out our projector calibration or any optical instrument, you must have the following:
1) A colorimeter or a spectrometer.
2) A software that we can use for our measurements (free and very good indeed are the HCFR).
3) Paterns out us to regulate all aspects of our visual media.
4) knowledge of theory of calibration (drivers can be found in our previous articles).
How hard is it to do calibration?
The calibration is not something completely simple nor something extremely difficult. Of course we need to be “guru” of the image to achieve a and the role that takes our measuring instrument.
Definitely needs an appetite, interest and mood in order to deal someone (and some initial expenses for the purchase of equipment).
Where can I learn the art of calibration;
The calibration is not science, not taught in special schools and universities, nor of course graduates and final year there. His theory is one, simple, limited and can be understood with some hours of study by everyone, even by non-insiders on image issues.
Drivers of this theory we can find posted on about the site image, but also in projectorjunkies.com in previous articles.
On the other hand, if you want to practice the calibration as a career or just want to somehow authenticate our knowledge, we can buy a certified equipment (to certify our own) and to get the relevant certificate from the international organization ISF watching some oligowra or short seminars (for further information www.imagingscience.com). Of course you will need some extra money a the ISF is not a disinterested agency organization character.
Will accomplish a similar result a professional calibrator;
It is quite difficult to achieve the result of a professional, at least in principle, because the experience and expensive equipment, will make the difference. How long will this difference is we can’t tell you for sure, depends on many factors. The truth however is that there will be huge and over time will tend towards zero (after we acquire greater experience in calibration issue) and why not to the past.
Worth deal myself or better to pay someone professional to do calibration?
Here we cannot give a specific answer, the decision is purely personal. We will confine ourselves only to the pros and cons.
The pros of a professional calibration are:
1) the result is guaranteed beyond any doubt successful, within the limits of the optical device allows us (sliders).
2) you don’t need to buy equipment, nor to engage in study of theory.
3) during calibration we can enjoy watching our mpyritses at our iPad.
Cons:
1) will cost us.
2) The calibration should be repeated at regular intervals with that this entails (due to change of chromatic optical device behavior of our time, our space change, especially in projectors that their behavior is changing hour by hour because the spectral change of lamp, etc.).
Our own pro calibration
1) Hara of knowledge and creation.
2) accomplished whenever and as often as we want or need without extra cost in all our optics media (TV, projector, monitor, etc.)
3) we get a new hobby! (we invite friends and make friends … When there is no “ball” of course ..)
4) Kalimpraroyme and the neighbor’s projector (or geitonissas) and obtain new friendships! (let you feel like nuclear physicists of NASA)
5) Amazing excuse “Oh my darling, my friend Niko was last night and I did calibration”
Cons
1) Original cost for purchase of equipment.
2) Study, experimentation and dedicating time to understand the theory and to implement it.
Is there anything else I should know terms of the calibration;
No there is not. The theory is that a read to drivers and by the time they understand we’ve “conquered” the methodology of totalitarian and calibration will only lacking is experience (which would get and she over time).
There is something important and less important in calibration;
To important piece in a calibration is the setting of the brightness-contrast, gamma and RGB levels. These affect the greater percentage of our image. If you bring them to benchmarks, then our projector will play extremely (in the context of capabilities).
The CMS and more generally, colors are less important piece and may not become at all or to become quite later, after first understanding and consolidate their theory. The colors are coming on well configured from factory with discrepancies in many cases not be noticed in viewing the film only to the measuring instrument (the so-called us “confirm” and big companies in the field of video such as JVC produced models that do not have sliders CMS).
Whether it affects my space the calibration;
When I say. The right thing is to do calibration in optical device to our viewing area.
I did my projector calibration others have spent 300 hours since then, having again?
Make it clear that our behavior changing headlight hour by hour because the lamp. If we make our projector calibration, image according to the measurements you took will see only for a few hours. Then the numbers will begin to diverge, to what extent, depends on many factors (model, technology, space, lamp, etc.). Not start to do calibration every 10 hours. H deviation is small and incremental and do not need to perform calibration so often. Just be aware that either make perfect calibration, measuring your “loses” slightly, the result will be one and the same. Our projector will begin to deviate the original measurements by the hour, so in essence and as conclusion I will always see with a slight to significant deviation of the ideal as to have (here we can understand and why we don’t need such expensive equipment as regards the projector calibration after so the otherwise you will see with some deviation of the ideal that always do). So the answer to the original question is YES and of course we need calibration again, if we want to see a picture that is very close to that of the reference after 300 hours of use.
What instrument do I need to buy to make calibration;
Here it must be said that now the market of measuring has reached a high enough level of quality to even the “cheap” models. Below I include some models of meters that we believe deserve our attention and with prices starting at a little over 100 euros.
Spyder 4
colormunki display
Colormunki spectro
and the top pro2 i1 spectro display
I want to verify my equipment to be sure that counts as well. That will do it?
There are companies in Europe and in America we can send our equipment and us certify by comparing the measuring laboratory. The cost is not exorbitant (from 30-40 euros starts) and we can easily find such a company by searching on google.
Of course if you have some extra questions and “scarce” knowledge, seem helpful, happy to contact us and to share with you.