Calibrating your monitor

To get predictable, consistent print results, you need to control three main variables: monitor quality, monitor calibration, and workspace lighting.

Your monitor should have a wide viewing angle (laptops generally don’t so it’s better not to use them). Here’s a quick test. Bring your image up on screen. Move your head around. If you see the colour, density or contrast change, it means your screen has a narrow viewing angle — not ideal.

Position your monitor in an area with consistent, subdued ambient lighting. Make sure there are no bright colours or lights in the surrounding area. Glare reduces contrast, so use a monitor hood and solid grey desktop/wallpaper.

You can’t calibrate a monitor accurately without a hardware monitor calibration device. Visit Colour Confidence for more advice.

To check calibration, get a test print that includes a white area, so you can judge your white balance and luminance correctly. Download our test print here.