Dell 2209WA Monitor calibration help

[shabba]

Hi all,

Going on recomendations from here I got myself a Dell 2209WA to use with my laptop for photo editing, as my my laptop screen is both small and starting to go faulty.

Problem is it was way too bright, too contrasty and the colours are massively saturated. I turned the brightness down to around 18% and the contrast down too but how do I get the colours to be set more realistic?

I did find a saturation setting on the PC's graphic card control panel (Win 7, Dell XPS M1330) but it was already set low.

Is there anyway I can get the monitor properly calibrated without a hardware item? I tried the Windows calibration a couple of times and it still ends up being out.

It is annoying as photos I edit on the monitor look quite different when viewed on my laptops and desktops (which have less high end screens).

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[-Rob-]

Is there anyway I can get the monitor properly calibrated without a hardware item?

Unless you eyes are as accurate as the 'hardware item' then no, you can't do it properly.

I'd suggesting buying or borrowing a Spyder (or similar) and doing the job properly. If you can't borrow on then buy one off ebay and resell once you've used it.

 

[shabba]

Not a bad idea Rob re buying and selling one. Thanks.