Calibration instructions | The Volume Photo Lab

THE VOLUME PHOTO LAB

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Calibrate your monitor before you send test prints

There are different processes to go through depending on what type of monitor you're viewing your images with. Choose from one of the options below and follow the steps outlined.

Choose this option if you're editing and viewing on one of the following types of screens:

Laptop
iMac
All-in-one computer
Mac / PC screen without a calibration device inside.

Software Calibration

Choose this option if you're editing and viewing on one of the following types of screens:

EIZO ColorEdge CG with ColorNavigator
BenQ with BenQ Palette Master Software

Hardware Calibration

Software Calibration - Spyder
(For monitors such as Apple, Lenovo and Dell etc.)

For monitors without built-in hardware calibration

This guide is suitable for most standard monitors, including many Apple, Lenovo and Dell displays. To calibrate your monitor, you will need to purchase your own external monitor-calibration device, known as a colorimeter. Common brands include Datacolor Spyder and Calibrite.

The Volume Photo Lab does not supply the colorimeter. Our Calibration Kit includes an Evaluation Print and test-print voucher to help you check your calibration and print results.

Before you begin, ensure your room is suitable for colour-critical work. Your lighting should remain consistent and should not be overly bright or dark.

[Read our guide to setting up your working environment]

Step 1

Purchase a monitor-calibration device

Purchase a suitable colorimeter from a photography, computer or colour-management equipment retailer.

Install the calibration software supplied with the device and follow the manufacturer’s setup instructions.

Step 2

Request your Calibration Kit

Your Calibration Kit includes a professionally printed copy of our Print Evaluation File.

Request our 'Evaluation Print - Request here
Download the Print Evaluation File - Click to Download Evaluation File

Keep the downloaded file unchanged. You will compare it with the printed version after calibrating your monitor.

Step 3

Calibrate your monitor

Using your purchased colorimeter, follow the manufacturer’s instructions to calibrate your monitor.

Use these 'Target' settings as a starting point:

Brightness: 90–120 cd/m²

The Volume Photo Lab uses 100 cd/m².

This setting controls the overall brightness of your monitor. The aim is to make the screen brightness closely match the brightness of the printed photograph.

If your room is too bright or too dark, achieving consistent screen-to-print results will be difficult. Keep your room lighting consistent and refer to our Working Environment guide for more information.

White point: 5000K (D50)

The Volume Photo Lab uses 5000K.

A white point of 5000K, also known as D50, is the standard starting point for a colour-managed print workflow.

Gamma: 2.2

The Volume Photo Lab uses Gamma 2.2.

This is the standard gamma setting used for photographic work.

Step 4

Compare your screen with the Evaluation Print

Once your Calibration Kit arrives:

Ensure your viewing environment is standardised at 5000k - 'White Balance Kelvin Meter' app works well to ascertain your viewing conditions - See 'Working Environment'

Open the downloaded Print Evaluation File in a colour-managed application such as Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom.
Hold the Evaluation Print near the screen.
Make sure the print is not illuminated by the monitor and that no shadows are falling across it.
Compare the white areas of the paper with the white areas displayed on your screen.
The whites should appear similar in brightness and colour.

If they do not match, adjust your monitor’s brightness and white point, recalibrate it and compare them again.

The goal is to achieve the closest practical match between the image displayed on your monitor and the Evaluation Print.

Step 5

Order your test prints

Proceed to order your test prints through our online ordering portal using the voucher code supplied with your calibration kit.

https://order.thevolumephotolab.com.au

Once you receive your test prints and you are happy with the outcome, you are then ready to make you first print order with The Volume Photo Lab.

If you need assistance, please contact us at support@hvpsolutions.com.

Hardware Calibration
(For professional monitors such as Eizo)

For professional monitors with hardware calibration

This guide is designed for professional monitors with hardware colour-calibration capabilities, such as the EIZO ColorEdge range.

Hardware calibration adjusts the monitor’s internal colour settings rather than relying solely on your computer’s graphics card. This provides the highest level of colour accuracy and consistency.

Some professional monitors, including selected EIZO ColorEdge CG models, have a calibration sensor built into the monitor. Other models support hardware calibration but require you to purchase your own external colorimeter.

Before you begin, ensure your room is suitable for colour-critical work. The lighting should remain consistent and should not be overly bright or dark.

[Read our guide to setting up your working environment]

Step 1

Request your Calibration Kit

Your Calibration Kit includes a professionally printed copy of our Print Evaluation File.

Request our 'Evaluation Print - Request here
Download the Print Evaluation File - Click to Download Evaluation File

Keep the downloaded file unchanged. You will compare it with the printed version after calibrating your monitor.

Step 2

Calibrate your monitor

Use your monitor’s hardware-calibration software, such as EIZO ColorNavigator.

If your monitor has a built-in calibration sensor, follow the manufacturer’s instructions to begin the calibration.
If your monitor does not have a built-in sensor, you will need to purchase your own compatible colorimeter.

View the Calibrite Display Pro HL

Use these 'Target' settings as a starting point:

Brightness: 90–120 cd/m²

The Volume Photo Lab uses 100 cd/m².

This controls the overall brightness of your monitor. The aim is to closely match the brightness of the screen with the reflected brightness of the printed photograph.

If your room is too bright or too dark, achieving consistent screen-to-print results will be difficult. Keep the room lighting consistent and refer to our Working Environment guide for more information.

We find that using the 'White Balance Kelvin Meter' app

White point: 5000K (D50)

The Volume Photo Lab uses 5000K.

A white point of 5000K, also known as D50, is the standard starting point for a colour-managed print workflow.

Gamma: 2.2

The Volume Photo Lab uses Gamma 2.2.

This is the standard gamma setting used for photographic work.

Step 3

Compare your monitor with the Evaluation Print

Once your Calibration Kit arrives, compare the downloaded Print Evaluation File with the professionally printed version.

Always open the file in a colour-managed application such as Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom. For the most consistent results, avoid using basic image-viewing applications

3.1 Check the lighting environment

Once your Calibration Kit arrives:

Ensure your viewing environment is standardised at 5000k - 'White Balance Kelvin Meter' app works well to ascertain your viewing conditions - See 'Working Environment'

3.2 Check the white point and brightness

Open the Print Evaluation File in Photoshop or Lightroom.
Hold the Evaluation Print near your monitor.
Make sure the print is not being illuminated by the monitor.
Make sure no shadows are falling across the print.
Compare the white areas of the paper with the white areas displayed on your screen.

The whites should appear similar in both brightness and colour.

If they do not match, adjust the brightness and white-point targets in your calibration software, recalibrate the monitor and compare them again.

3.3 Check the individual colour

Open the Colour Checker file in Photoshop or Lightroom and compare the printed colour patches with those displayed on your monitor.

If your calibration software provides advanced colour-adjustment controls, use them to improve the overall match. With EIZO monitors, these adjustments may be available through ColorNavigator.

DO NOT adjust the image file itself. Any changes should be made through the monitor’s calibration software.

3.4 Check the test image

Once you are satisfied with the Colour Checker comparison, open the Test Image.

Compare the screen image with the printed version, paying particular attention to:

Skin tones
Neutral greys and whites
Shadow detail
Highlight detail
Overall colour balance
Brightness

3.5 Fine-tune the calibration

Repeat the colour and test-image comparisons as required.

If the screen and print do not match closely enough, update your calibration settings, recalibrate the monitor and check them again.

The aim is to achieve the closest practical match between the image displayed on your monitor and the Evaluation Print.