The Spyder4 Express by Datacolor is the entry level product in the Spyder color calibration line. Results are not what a professional photographer would need and professional photographers would be better off moving up to one of the higher end offerings in the Spyder line. However, for photography enthusiasts looking to have consistent color, the Spyder4 Express is certainly worth considering for the price.
Why Color Calibration?
I use a dual-monitor setup on my desktop and was editing some photos in Photoshop when I nonchalantly grabbed one of the images and slid it over to a different monitor to set it aside while working on something else. When I did, something caught my eye: The colors on the other monitor seemed muted and washed out. I’m sure I’d moved images over to that monitor on numerous occasions and why this particular time made me take notice is still a mystery. But, as I sat there for about five minutes sliding the image back and forth between the two monitors I had an “Aha!” moment: how can you accurately edit your pictures if your monitor isn’t calibrated at least to some extent? The answer: you really can’t. It’s almost like trying to edit while wearing rose-colored glasses. It’s similar to using the eyedropper tool in ightroom to set the white balance. If you don’t choose a neutral target, the software will overcompensate accordingly. Choose an area that’s too “cool” and you’re going to wind up with an image that’s too "warm" and vice-versa.
So we determined to test color calibration methods and the Spyder4 looked promising after some research into the available options. I am a self-diagnosed technophile. The more blinky lights and processors it has, the more I want to play with it. So, I immediately tore into the packaging like a kid on Christmas and started calibrating. I chose not to read the instructions in an attempt to determine the out-of-the-box usability of the Spyder4 Express. For the most part, everything was pretty straight-forward and I think that most folks that have ever installed any hardware on their computer could tear into it like I did.
So we determined to test color calibration methods and the Spyder4 looked promising after some research into the available options. I am a self-diagnosed technophile. The more blinky lights and processors it has, the more I want to play with it. So, I immediately tore into the packaging like a kid on Christmas and started calibrating. I chose not to read the instructions in an attempt to determine the out-of-the-box usability of the Spyder4 Express. For the most part, everything was pretty straight-forward and I think that most folks that have ever installed any hardware on their computer could tear into it like I did.
The Tests
First up was my Asus Netbook. I installed the necessary software from the manufacturer’s website (turns out that it’s more recent than the CD that comes with the device and you’ll be prompted to download it anyway). After successfully installing and running the software it will attempt to find the Spyder4. I had to plug and unplug the device a couple of time before everything was synced and copacetic. Once that was done I attempted to answer a graphic checklist of questions and requirements before I could calibrate. However, I noticed that the screen was cut off due to the Netbook’s native resolution of 1024x600. I couldn’t finish the setup. So, I closed out the program and started over. On the second pass I noticed a check box for, "Show Netbook Controls". I enabled this and a small ancillary window pops up that has two options: "back" and "next". Problem solved.
After answering the questions and giving the software a general understanding of your hardware you are prompted to align the Spyder4 Express on the screen within an outline of the device. The device is held into place by a small, oblong weight that slides up and down the hardwired USB cable with just enough resistance to stay put once you adjust it. The weight counterbalances the Spyder4 Express and allows it to hover over your screen. Once the process is started, the screen will display an array of colors. Each color stays on the screen until the blue LED on the back of the Spyder 4 Express blinks. Then, on to the next color. It took approximately five minutes to finish the calibration. Afterwards, you’re presented with a pane that displays a bunch of images with a toggle switch to see the "before and after." At this point, the calibration is being run as a process on your computer that overrides the settings in your operating system or set up by your graphics card. There is an icon in your Windows system tray (bottom right-hand corner) that looks like a small black Spyder4 Express device. If you hover over it with your mouse, it will display "SypderUtility." You can right-click it to access some features like toggling the utility on and off, loading calibrations, preferences and more. I did notice that as the Netbook came in and out of "sleep" mode that the utility could take as much as a minute before the calibration setting would take effect. In other words, the screen would suddenly flash after about a minute and all of the colors would change in accordance to the settings provided by the calibration setup that was completed.
The next day I completed the setup on my desktop. The setup was slightly quicker and the utility seems to be running a little more consistently as the machine come out of "sleep" mode. I did notice, however, that after my Nvidia GeForce driver was updated, the utility was nowhere to be found. I wound up restarting the machine (which you should do after any updates) and the SpyderUtility was back at work in no time. As mentioned before, I use a dual-monitor setup and the Spyder4 Express does not support running multiple calibration profiles at the same time. You could calibrate each monitor and create profiles for each one, but only one will run at the time. This wasn’t an issue for me as I do all of my editing on my "left" monitor. So, I calibrated it and then used the manual settings on my "right" monitor to try and get it as close as possible.
I attempted to use the iPad/iPhone app but was never able to connect either my iPad or my iPhone to the software (which is downloaded to your computer via a link provided by Datacolor after installing the app from the Apple App Store). I kept getting a "time out" error even after manually opening ports and double-checking my settings. I finally gave up.
After answering the questions and giving the software a general understanding of your hardware you are prompted to align the Spyder4 Express on the screen within an outline of the device. The device is held into place by a small, oblong weight that slides up and down the hardwired USB cable with just enough resistance to stay put once you adjust it. The weight counterbalances the Spyder4 Express and allows it to hover over your screen. Once the process is started, the screen will display an array of colors. Each color stays on the screen until the blue LED on the back of the Spyder 4 Express blinks. Then, on to the next color. It took approximately five minutes to finish the calibration. Afterwards, you’re presented with a pane that displays a bunch of images with a toggle switch to see the "before and after." At this point, the calibration is being run as a process on your computer that overrides the settings in your operating system or set up by your graphics card. There is an icon in your Windows system tray (bottom right-hand corner) that looks like a small black Spyder4 Express device. If you hover over it with your mouse, it will display "SypderUtility." You can right-click it to access some features like toggling the utility on and off, loading calibrations, preferences and more. I did notice that as the Netbook came in and out of "sleep" mode that the utility could take as much as a minute before the calibration setting would take effect. In other words, the screen would suddenly flash after about a minute and all of the colors would change in accordance to the settings provided by the calibration setup that was completed.
The next day I completed the setup on my desktop. The setup was slightly quicker and the utility seems to be running a little more consistently as the machine come out of "sleep" mode. I did notice, however, that after my Nvidia GeForce driver was updated, the utility was nowhere to be found. I wound up restarting the machine (which you should do after any updates) and the SpyderUtility was back at work in no time. As mentioned before, I use a dual-monitor setup and the Spyder4 Express does not support running multiple calibration profiles at the same time. You could calibrate each monitor and create profiles for each one, but only one will run at the time. This wasn’t an issue for me as I do all of my editing on my "left" monitor. So, I calibrated it and then used the manual settings on my "right" monitor to try and get it as close as possible.
I attempted to use the iPad/iPhone app but was never able to connect either my iPad or my iPhone to the software (which is downloaded to your computer via a link provided by Datacolor after installing the app from the Apple App Store). I kept getting a "time out" error even after manually opening ports and double-checking my settings. I finally gave up.
The Results
At first, after the calibration had been ran on my desktop, I was not impressed. I actually thought the device had malfunctioned or that something was wrong with the software. Everything just looked wrong to me. Then, as I settled in and started looking at some pictures and comparing them to my other monitor, I realized I had initially had the contrast on my monitor set way too low and the colors all had a "bluish" tint to them. It still looks a little weird to me, but I think it’s just because I’m not used to the corrected colors.
In the end, your images will probably wind up looking different on every computer, tablet, phone and printer that it comes across. So, why invest the money in a Spyder4 Express? Why calibrate? Because as in any vocation, you have to control the variables that you can and attempt to produce the most consistent product that you can. By calibrating your screen, you know that all of your reds, blues, greens, etc. are always going to go out into the wild with that consistency. You can’t control every medium that your images are displayed on, but you should try to maintain some kind of control over the variables that you can.
In the end, your images will probably wind up looking different on every computer, tablet, phone and printer that it comes across. So, why invest the money in a Spyder4 Express? Why calibrate? Because as in any vocation, you have to control the variables that you can and attempt to produce the most consistent product that you can. By calibrating your screen, you know that all of your reds, blues, greens, etc. are always going to go out into the wild with that consistency. You can’t control every medium that your images are displayed on, but you should try to maintain some kind of control over the variables that you can.
System Requirements and Technical Details
- Windows XP 32/64, Windows Vista 32/64, Windows 7 32/64
- MacOS X Panther (10.4), Leopard (10.5), Snow Leopard (10.6) and Lion (10.7)
- Color monitor with at least 1024×768 resolution (1024 x 600 netbook option)
- 24-bit video card
- Powered USB port
The Spyder4 Express is the entry level offering in the Spyder line so it is not as flexible as higher end models.
- Gamma - 2.2
- Color Temperature Setting - 6500K
- ICC Profile - ICC4
- Multiple Display - Not supported
- Ambient Light Measurement - Not supported
- Color Sensor - 7 filter based
- Aperture - 27mm
Disclosure: Review samples were provided by the manufacturer. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.