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Monitor calibration is not a heavily sought after practice and is generally geared towards the enthusiast, rather than the mainstream user. Many laptop suppliers and resellers, however, are offering the service for a reasonable fee. But is it worth it? What exactly are you buying when opting for the service?
A word on calibration
There are two methods of calibrating a monitor: the less accurate, less involved way via software, and the more expensive, more accurate route via hardware. Both methods have pros and cons, but the latter certainly provides a level of calibration that software alone cannot match. Many external monitors have built in controls for adjusting things such as brightness, contrast, and gamma via an OSD (on-screen display) menu as well, though these adjustments pale in comparison to either professional software or hardware calibration.
Professional calibration, however, is (or is suppose to be) performed under a standardized lighting setup, known as reference lighting.
Ambient light plays a critical role in how accurately the colors are represented – both on print, as well as on screen. What does this mean to the end-user? If you have a screen calibrated in one environment, then move it to another environment with different lighting, the calibration will not be accurate until the display is calibrated again due to the affect the light source(s) have on the color accuracy. Accurate whites are crucial for professionals, so it’s important that the color profiling is in line with the surroundings. Essentially, if someone offers calibration from their facility prior to shipping the computer to the end user, then the calibration won’t be as appreciated or accurate to the end user (unless, of course, the customer has similar or identical lighting).
So is it worth it?
Whether you’re an enthusiast, perfectionist, or a professional, monitor calibration can provide a level of color accuracy that is very much appreciated – and if you’re a professional, very much required. But the question raised today is: is it worth the service fee to have someone calibrate my laptop monitor? From a retailer/supplier: no. If the service is included in the price, then fine. Or, if you’re thinking of having a professional calibrate things for you on-site, then that’s something to consider. Since hardware calibration devices can be purchased for less than $100 however, paying for either service is less viable and less cost effective, especially when recalibration time rolls around.
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