Why not buy it after you have enough from us? I know paypal overcharges a percentage, but it would seem the easiest way, as all the money deposited in your paypal account you could go around and purchase one via newegg or other since most take paypal. That way there is no cost at your end hoping enough people chip in.
The issue that I was concerned about is someone paying the $10-$20 and then never sending it to the next person once they are done. Whether from malice or laziness.
But if you deal with only known peeps it should be ok? Hopefully? If not my faith in humanity will take a serious blow. I guess the worst anyone is out is $10 or so. We are not talking about sharing a Cinque or anything.
If this experiment is successful I would be interested in seeing what else we could do this with. Underwear? Toothbrushes? Endless possibilities!
I think most known polycounters would be afraid to get a bad reputation from stealing something from the community, maybe only allow known members that A: Have a decent number of posts B: Have their real name posted and a website C: Have been an active member for at least a year.
I was looking for an excuse to buy one anyway, and they aren't too expensive for me to really worry about the cost. I'm sure enough people will be interested.
I sell a lot of stuff on eBay so I'm always shipping things anyway, its not a big deal. I will just have people send it back to me and then I will send it off to the next person.
I think being choosey about who I send it to should negate the risk, I don't think any established members here want to have a reputation for petty theft.
ZacD: Yeah something like that, I think I'll start with people I know on a little more personal level first just to see how it goes. I was also thinking of like a "deposit" or something for members that aren't so established, maybe down the road.
So I say again, anyone know the difference between the Pro and Elite version? Will there be any issues with installing the software on multiple machines? Does the Elite support multiple monitors better or something?
i'd love to rent it from you EQ, but i don't know how you feel about international postage etc.
International shipping isn't a problem to me, especially to the UK etc. Its going to cost about $35-40 USD to get there, then you'll have to pay to send it back as well, at that point you'll have to look at that cost vs buying a new one locally. It might not make a whole lot of sense economically.
I dug up this thread to see if anyone has been happy with their use of the Spyder?
I've got the spyder 4 elite, works quite well for me. I think the biggest difference in the software, the elite can handle multiple monitors, not sure about pro vs elite but you should look into that if you have more than one monitor.
That's actually an interesting subject: is it really necessary to calibrate all monitors? A very large portion of the work that I do is done on 1 monitor. My extra monitors are only "support," for things such as extra software windows.
If one monitor is calibrated, it seems that should suffice.
I have the pro as well and calibrate two monitors at home and three monitors at work. The calibration does vary slightly. I believe this is because of the ambient light reading (have not experimented with turning it off) and because the brightness of even the same make and model of monitors varies quite a bit. I have two of the exact same monitors and on one of them I cant get the brightness high enough for the calibration. For me, having it in the "close enough" range is fine. You can't control how your viewers see your work anyways.
I'll tell you a few questions I had before I bought it. I don't leave mine plugged in and I uninstall the software after I calibrate and it keeps the calibration. I take it to work and do mine and my co-workers monitors no problem. It keeps the license on the device itself. IMO the elite is not worth the extra cost.
ok folks 2 questions
1. will you need one if you've got a crappy monitor (those TN panels)?
2. wouldn't use the icc file from http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/articles/icc_profiles.htm save you $$$ instead of buying one yourself?
1. A bit, but a TN panel will still have color accuracy limitations compared to an IPS. It'll be an improvement, but it wont be as good of a result as you would get with a better monitor.
2. Display panels are a lot like processors, in producing processors, some will overclock better, some will need features disabled to work, some will have less cores that work, some will need a lower voltage to be stable, etc. Same thing happens with monitors, those with better color accuracy will be put into better monitors, and worse panels will be sold of to cheap off brand monitor manufactures. Of course there will be general traits that are common in one series of panels, like the color is colder, but each monitor is going to have it's own variations and traits. Depending on the variation between panels in a series, those icc files might be perfect, or they might be the complete opposite of what need to be tweaked.
ok folks 2 questions
1. will you need one if you've got a crappy monitor (those TN panels)?
2. wouldn't use the icc file from http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/articles/icc_profiles.htm save you $$$ instead of buying one yourself?
The big problem with TN panels is that moving your head a couple inches in any direction can cause drastic color shifts, simply put, never trust a TN panel if color accuracy is important, even if calibrated.
However, you still might see an improvement when calibrating one. If you're considering buying a calibrator for your TN panel, put that money into an IPS or VA panel monitor instead.
That's actually an interesting subject: is it really necessary to calibrate all monitors? A very large portion of the work that I do is done on 1 monitor. My extra monitors are only "support," for things such as extra software windows.
If one monitor is calibrated, it seems that should suffice.
Depends how you like to work really, I like to use both my monitors for various art stuff, like having photoshop open on one screen and toolbag open on another setting up a scene, when they're way off its annoying.
Flux shifts all your colors to warmer tones. There have a been a few times when I have been working on color stuff and forgot it was on, only to notice all my colors are completely fuxxored the next morning.
I just really hate the idea of using a $200 device maybe once a year. I'd gladly pay $40 to rent one for a day or take my monitor to a techstore (I know they calibrate to the lighting enviroment but it'd be better than nothing, I want my 2 monitors to match)
You should be calibrating your monitor once a month to account for the shifting in output of colors as your monitor ages as well as changing lighting conditions. So you'll def get your moneys worth if you buy one
Replies
Ok cool, I think I'm going to go ahead and do this then. Just have to decide which model to buy.
Can someone tell me the difference between the Spyder Pro and Spyder Elite?
I'd chip in as well. Although I am not sure how it's going to be regulated. I trust Polycount peeps an awful lot but it's still the internet.
Yeah I'll just have to regulate it in some sort of subjective way, only sending it to known polycounters and what not.
But if you deal with only known peeps it should be ok? Hopefully? If not my faith in humanity will take a serious blow. I guess the worst anyone is out is $10 or so. We are not talking about sharing a Cinque or anything.
If this experiment is successful I would be interested in seeing what else we could do this with. Underwear? Toothbrushes? Endless possibilities!
I sell a lot of stuff on eBay so I'm always shipping things anyway, its not a big deal. I will just have people send it back to me and then I will send it off to the next person.
I think being choosey about who I send it to should negate the risk, I don't think any established members here want to have a reputation for petty theft.
ZacD: Yeah something like that, I think I'll start with people I know on a little more personal level first just to see how it goes. I was also thinking of like a "deposit" or something for members that aren't so established, maybe down the road.
So I say again, anyone know the difference between the Pro and Elite version? Will there be any issues with installing the software on multiple machines? Does the Elite support multiple monitors better or something?
http://uk.asus.com/Display/IPS_Monitors/PA238Q/
http://uk.asus.com/Display/IPS_Monitors/PA246Q/
International shipping isn't a problem to me, especially to the UK etc. Its going to cost about $35-40 USD to get there, then you'll have to pay to send it back as well, at that point you'll have to look at that cost vs buying a new one locally. It might not make a whole lot of sense economically.
Yeah, not calibrating your monitor is hardly something to brag about....
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Datacolor-Spyder4Pro-S4P100-Colorimeter-Calibration/dp/B006TF37H8/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8"]Amazon.com : Datacolor Spyder4Pro S4P100 Colorimeter for Display Calibration : Photographic Light Meters : Camera & Photo[/ame]
It's the Spyder Pro.
I dug up this thread to see if anyone has been happy with their use of the Spyder?
I've got the spyder 4 elite, works quite well for me. I think the biggest difference in the software, the elite can handle multiple monitors, not sure about pro vs elite but you should look into that if you have more than one monitor.
If one monitor is calibrated, it seems that should suffice.
I'll tell you a few questions I had before I bought it. I don't leave mine plugged in and I uninstall the software after I calibrate and it keeps the calibration. I take it to work and do mine and my co-workers monitors no problem. It keeps the license on the device itself. IMO the elite is not worth the extra cost.
1. will you need one if you've got a crappy monitor (those TN panels)?
2. wouldn't use the icc file from http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/articles/icc_profiles.htm save you $$$ instead of buying one yourself?
2. Display panels are a lot like processors, in producing processors, some will overclock better, some will need features disabled to work, some will have less cores that work, some will need a lower voltage to be stable, etc. Same thing happens with monitors, those with better color accuracy will be put into better monitors, and worse panels will be sold of to cheap off brand monitor manufactures. Of course there will be general traits that are common in one series of panels, like the color is colder, but each monitor is going to have it's own variations and traits. Depending on the variation between panels in a series, those icc files might be perfect, or they might be the complete opposite of what need to be tweaked.
The big problem with TN panels is that moving your head a couple inches in any direction can cause drastic color shifts, simply put, never trust a TN panel if color accuracy is important, even if calibrated.
However, you still might see an improvement when calibrating one. If you're considering buying a calibrator for your TN panel, put that money into an IPS or VA panel monitor instead.
Depends how you like to work really, I like to use both my monitors for various art stuff, like having photoshop open on one screen and toolbag open on another setting up a scene, when they're way off its annoying.
Yeah, I was just wrong, its been a while since I bought mine.
Yes.
Don't work on anything color sensitive with f.lux on. You can model, uv, sculpt fine with f.lux, but once you are texturing and light, disable it.
Here is the difference:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qen3mvOM5Os
:poly122: