Matching 2 Apple Cinema Displays - Help!

Colin Cadle , Aug 29, 2008; 05:32 a.m.

I have just bought a new 23 inch Cinema Display in addition to my original which is only 8 months old. Using Xrite (GretagMacbeth)Eye One profiler the screens still do not match. The new screen appears much brighter and the 'old' screen much duller. Placing a blank white box created in Photoshop CS3 over the two screens shows a marked difference. Am I to expect this with a screen only 8 months old? How can I get them to match without 'cheating' with the white point? Serious help needed. Many thanks.

Answers

Ellis Vener , Aug 29, 2008; 07:33 a.m.

Are you using both displays on the same computer? If so there is something you are missing: a separate video processor for the second display. Each display setup (meaning display and video signal processor combination) needs to be independently calibrated and profiled.

Christina Wiley , Aug 29, 2008; 11:56 a.m.

You don't need a separate video card for the other monitor if you have a dual head card. Mac OS is capable is profiling them independently just fine.

I haven't used an Xrite in a while, but there should be a way to set the white point independently of creating a profile. Make sure that you are using Native Gamma on both monitors. Also, keep in mind that new monitors will take a bit of use to warm up to stability, so leave the new one on for a couple of days to season it. Set the brightness for both monitors all the way up when you calibrate, too.

Colin Mattson , Aug 29, 2008; 12:26 p.m.

Starting with the obvious, have you made sure they're both at the same measured backlight brightness?

Barry Fisher , Aug 30, 2008; 04:29 p.m.

I got separate and closely matched monitors with an iMac and a CRT. The card is the old nivdia 7600. Two separate monitor profiles, working simultaneously.

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