HP Pavillion 27xi IPS LED Backlit Monitor Calibration

[CarolynMarshall]

I am trying to calibrate my monitor for the first time using Datacolor Spyder4 Pro. It tells me to set brightness and contrast, etc. settings back to factory. I reset them to factory defaults, then went through the calibration process step by step. It finished the profile giving me a gamma of 2.2, whitepoint 6500 K and brightness at 180. At the end it shows that I have about 98% sRGB colors but only 76% RGB. I am a professional photographer and edit in the RBG 1998 color space all the time. The profile that Spyder set for me makes the left (white) end of the spectrum look very dull, nowhere near white. I looked up a color chart to see if I could see the range of colors (black/white) okay. I can distinguish all the different boxes of shades from one end to the other with the exception of the pure white and pure black ends. The last two squares on each end are almost indistinguishable. I am concerned also about the 76% RGB not being enough for my color photo editing.

Is this something that is standard with this monitor and I am stuck with the 76% range, or is there something I am missing in the calibration process?

Any help you can give me will be greatly appreciated.

[Photoray002]

Hello Carolyn,

I never thought I would see a question about color gamut here on the HP forum but it’s a good question.

I won’t get into the controversial debate on using sRGB vs Adobe RGB in photography, but perhaps I can help you with regard to that monitor.

To put it into simple terms, you’re trying to get chocolate milk from a plain milk cow.

That monitor’s color gamut has the typical 70% NTSC rating. Not any different than a typical TN panel as it is sold in the same low price range. The only advantage to having it IPS is that is gives you a little better viewing angle than TN. Also at that price range, the LED’s used are not going to be ideal. There are other types of LED that produce different results in the more expensive monitors.

While 70% NTSC will give you full sRGB accuracy, it will not totally fill the larger Adobe balloon.

Now I cannot comment about the results from a Spyder since I don’t use that brand and the HP forums only support HP products. You would have to contact Spyder for that.

But guessing from the results you mentioned, it sounds like you are getting exactly what the monitor will produce.

BTW- No two monitors of the same model number will produce the same result either. If you do find a pair, it’s not common.

Bottom line, if you want to work in the Adobe RGB color gamut with TRUE color accuracy, you need to spend a lot more money on a “professional” monitor. In US dollars, that means over $1000 on one monitor. That’s my personal opinion but I was a professional photographer myself and this was the big debate back in the day.

I’m sorry if this is not what you wanted to hear, but I hope it helped clear up the question.

I would Google - Will Crockett monitor reviews. He has been the Guru on color accuracy for photographers in the past and may have current reviews still for monitors. If his reviews are a few years old, most models of monitors built then are still being produced and sold today. At least it would give you a guide as to what to look for in a higher end monitor.

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[ruben_c]

An additional hint from my side:

If you can't see the whole gradient, this means your room light is too bright. Your Spyder4Pro offers you an ambient light compensation. Use it and try to have a dark and consistent room light when doing color-reliable work.