Reddit mentions of X-Rite ColorMunki Smile (CMUNSML)

I'm looking for a monitor calibration tool. Amazon and B&H Photo both list several devices anywhere from $40 to $400. Any opinions on what makes the more expensive ones better? I'm just going to be using it so that I can soft proof my photos; they've been turning out very badly when I have them printed.

Edit: The one I'm specifically looking at now is the entry level Munki Smile. The reviews are all over the place, from "works perfectly" to "turned my screen green." Anyone used this?

It's actually fairly simple. You need a calibration device (i've heard good things about this or this , I personally use one of a firm that no longer exists on monitors which probably don't even deserve calibration) and software which can talk to it. Most software is pretty self-explanatory and generates a color profile for your monitor, usually in an .icc file. You can then hand this .icc file to your operating system configuration. If your postprocess stack is color managed, you should then get reproducable colors. There are a lot more subtilities like colorimeter ($) vs spectrometer ($$$) and such.

I thing your best bet would be to change the color temprature, the right one looks to be set to cool and the left one appears warmer(in the picture atleast). Also try messing with color management in windows. Otherwise you need to get something fancy like this (X-Rite CMUNSML ColorMunki Smile https://www.amazon.in/dp/B009APMNB0) which i am assuming you're not gonna.

Color calibration, bro. Get yourself a cheap calibrator like this one and use dispcalGUI to calibrate and profile your monitors. Works a charm.

If you need accurate colours, you should be calibrating your displays (which should be IPS or similar technology panels) with hardware like this.

If you can't afford that, Windows has inbuilt colour calibration but you'll just be doing it by eye so it won't be properly accurate. If you have a decent smartphone (newer iPhone or Samsung high end device in "Basic" picture mode especially) that should be a reasonably accurate comparison point.

Although older the X-Rite ColorMunki Smile (CMUNSML) is an inexpensive option depending on your region:

• $75 CDN - Amazon.ca - X-Rite ColorMunki Smile (CMUNSML)
  
• $99 USD - Amazon.com - X-Rite ColorMunki Smile (CMUNSML)
  
  If you're in the UK/Europe, the Datacolor Spyder5EXPRESS (S5X100) might be cheaper though:
  
  
• £89 - Amazon.co.uk - Datacolor Spyder5EXPRESS (S5X100)
  
• $110 Euro - Amazon.de - Datacolor Spyder5EXPRESS (S5X100)
  
  Note some of those are/might be sale prices due to Cyber Monday!
  
  Failing that, just search your local Amazon and check out reviews of the cheaper options. They all work about the same for non-pro users.
  
  Edit: I just purchased the X-Rite ColorMunki Smile (CMUNSML) as I couldn't pass up the Canadian sale price today. If you want to use newer, open source software with more options look into DisplayCAL, but check the Supported Instruments for colorimeter support.

If anyone is looking for a monitor calibration device. The colormonki smile is at its lowest price ever on Amazon. Currently $35 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009APMNB0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00

I picked up a calibrator for my monitor, the ColorMunki Smile (https://www.amazon.com/X-Rite-CMUNSML-ColorMunki-Smile/dp/B009APMNB0) and have already calibrated it using the X-rite software, however would like to calibrate using DisplayCAL.
When I load up DisplayCal I cannot get the calibrator itself to show up under the devices tab in DisplayCAL. I know the computer recognizes it because I was able to use the X-rite software but for some reason it's not showing up in DisplayCAL. Any advice or opinions are appreciated!

Less related to the build itself, but in a budget like this, I thought I'd point it out. For photo editing, you're gonna want a monitor with good color gamut. The previously advised PG279Q will work pretty good.

More importantly than having a good monitor is having an accurate monitor. With a $3000 budget, please at the very least spare the $90 for this colorimeter to make sure the colors are accurate. Your wife may or may not already be aware of this, but regardless, make sure this gets done!

It could be your monitor. I recommend getting one of these if you're serious about digital photography or design of any kind.

They make budget options that when paired with an open source software do a pretty solid job.

Exactly.

http://www.amazon.com/X-Rite-CMUNSML-ColorMunki-Smile/dp/B009APMNB0

That's a cheap monitor calibration tool. I ran my ROG Swift through it and have been shocked at how much better the color is on it than my BenQ XL2411z, which also has fairly good colors for TN.

Dell's UltraSharps tend to be pretty good, especially their 1920x1200 ones; I have two U2410s that I use for Lightroom and even without calibration they're much more accurate than other screens. The Dells would probably be more accurate than a Korean panel, and for that extra $50-60 you could find a monitor calibrator and software (like this ColorMunki calibrator) and make your screens even more accurate.

If you want to do it for real:

https://www.amazon.com/X-Rite-CMUNSML-ColorMunki-Smile/dp/B009APMNB0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1468959372&sr=8-2&keywords=ColorMunki

http://displaycal.net/

If you don't want to invest, go to http://www.lagom.nl/lcd-test/black.php and calibrate your black and white levels.

I've got this one here. It was super easy to use and the monitors are very close. My only issue I believe is that one is IPS and the other is a much older LCD panel that has a terrible viewing angle.