Re: Setting up HP DreamColor LP2480zx monitor for work in Color

Hi Dan,

I own one of these monitors. The first that I obtained suffered from display non-uniformity and had to be returned for a replacement panel, as it was not suitable for color-critical work. I know of two others who also had to request replacements for the same reason. While it is an excellent monitor, buyer beware, as this appears to be a widespread problem. HP's service, though, was fantastic.

The display ships without calibration software or a colorimeter, and standard software (and hardware) from X-Rite (Match, ProfileMaker Pro, PROFILER) and others (BasICColor Display, ColorEyes Display) will not work with this monitor. A developer from one of these companies (BasICColor) told me that HP has not been forthcoming with a SDK, so they have no immediate plans to add compatibility. Although standard colorimeters like the X-Rite i1 Display are not matched to this wide-gamut monitor, there is no reason that a spectro like the i1 Pro would not work - if only companies had the info they needed from HP to tune their software and communicate with the display.

To calibrate and profile the monitor, which is essential before any professional work can be performed, it is necessary to purchase HP’s custom, matched X-Rite colorimeter and HP’s software, which was developed by X-Rite, to the tune of another $350. Unfortunately, the software is the absolute bare minimum needed to calibrate and profile the display. It absolutely sucks compared to BasICColor Display and ColorEyes Pro or even X-Rite’s Eye-One Match. There is not even feedback to confirm the actual measured values reached after calibration and profiling, and there’s certainly nothing like CIECAM02 available, or trending.

The color of the display is magnificent. This model appears well-made, although even the hood is optional and seriously overpriced. The software nearly neuters the display, though, and HP really needs to allow competing software products access to the information that they need (through a SDK or specs) to allow those products to work with this display. Even if I have to use the custom colorimeter, I want my choice of software, and HP isn't even on the list long list.

As far as the 30-bit business goes, my understanding is that there is a 10-bit per channel LUT in the monitor, similar to other high-end monitors, that is accessed through calibration. This is certainly a big improvement over low-end monitors that do their “calibration” via the LUT on the 8-bit video board, resulting in a loss of levels from the 256/channel available on the video board.

Excellent monitor, absolutely lousy calibration software.

Please put in a word to the engineers to rectify this problem!

Thanks,

--Rich Wagner