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I have no connection to ColorVision, other than being an end user of OptiCAL for Windows.
I recently discovered that ColorVision now has a beta version of OptiCAL that supports dual monitor calibration and profiling. I have tried it and it works perfectly.
Unfortunately, one must use two video cards in order for dual monitor calibration and profiling to work. This is not a shortcoming of OptiCAL. Rather, it is a function of Windows and how the video card and video drivers work. (I’m not an expert on this, but am just repeating what ColorVision told me.) So, in spite of having a Matrox G450 (dual monitor card), I had to purchase a second card in order to use the new software. I found a Matrox Millenium (old version) PCI card on eBay for less than $15 (including shipping). It works like a charm to run my second monitor, which I only use for PS palettes.
In addition, I discovered that not all video cards will work with Windows in dual monitor configuration. Please refer to this MS KB article:
<http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307397&Product=winxp>
The ColorVision web site does not refer to the new version since it is still in beta testing. However, it is available for anyone (registered user, I assume) who wants to try it.
Here is the information I received from ColorVision:
——————————————-
The multiple monitor version is available here:
ftp://software:5067ware@ftp.colorvision.com/special/WinMM/Op tiCAL_3.7.6-8x_Setup.exe
There is also a test program that can be used to see if the video card for each monitor can be accessed correctly:
ftp://software:5067ware@ftp.colorvision.com/special/WinMM/Ga mmaTest.exe
The way GammaTest works is you drag it’s window to the monitor in question and click the Magenta button. If that monitor (and only that monitor) turns magenta then access to the video card LUT is OK as far as OptiCAL is concerned. Test each monitor in a multiple monitor setup.
You can click the Reset button to clear the magenta cast however that sets the LUT to linear so you should run the Startup program (e.g. OptiCAL Startup) to restore the current calibration to the video card LUT after quitting GammaTest.
——————————————-
I am using Windows XP Home. I continue to use my original ColorVision Sypder.
Since I struggled for so long trying to get the current (non-beta) version of OptiCAL working with my dual monitor setup (Matrox G450), and never did get it to work, I thought I’d pass this along in the hopes that others here might be interested and benefit from the new software. Even though it’s a beta version, it seems very stable to me.
John
I recently discovered that ColorVision now has a beta version of OptiCAL that supports dual monitor calibration and profiling. I have tried it and it works perfectly.
Unfortunately, one must use two video cards in order for dual monitor calibration and profiling to work. This is not a shortcoming of OptiCAL. Rather, it is a function of Windows and how the video card and video drivers work. (I’m not an expert on this, but am just repeating what ColorVision told me.) So, in spite of having a Matrox G450 (dual monitor card), I had to purchase a second card in order to use the new software. I found a Matrox Millenium (old version) PCI card on eBay for less than $15 (including shipping). It works like a charm to run my second monitor, which I only use for PS palettes.
In addition, I discovered that not all video cards will work with Windows in dual monitor configuration. Please refer to this MS KB article:
<http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307397&Product=winxp>
The ColorVision web site does not refer to the new version since it is still in beta testing. However, it is available for anyone (registered user, I assume) who wants to try it.
Here is the information I received from ColorVision:
——————————————-
The multiple monitor version is available here:
ftp://software:5067ware@ftp.colorvision.com/special/WinMM/Op tiCAL_3.7.6-8x_Setup.exe
There is also a test program that can be used to see if the video card for each monitor can be accessed correctly:
ftp://software:5067ware@ftp.colorvision.com/special/WinMM/Ga mmaTest.exe
The way GammaTest works is you drag it’s window to the monitor in question and click the Magenta button. If that monitor (and only that monitor) turns magenta then access to the video card LUT is OK as far as OptiCAL is concerned. Test each monitor in a multiple monitor setup.
You can click the Reset button to clear the magenta cast however that sets the LUT to linear so you should run the Startup program (e.g. OptiCAL Startup) to restore the current calibration to the video card LUT after quitting GammaTest.
——————————————-
I am using Windows XP Home. I continue to use my original ColorVision Sypder.
Since I struggled for so long trying to get the current (non-beta) version of OptiCAL working with my dual monitor setup (Matrox G450), and never did get it to work, I thought I’d pass this along in the hopes that others here might be interested and benefit from the new software. Even though it’s a beta version, it seems very stable to me.
John
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