Monitors: Uncalibrated, Unnoticed, And The Reasons Why

Calibration is a necessity for monitors to ensure colour accuracy. However, it is not always done for a variety of reasons. Firstly, it is a time-consuming process that adds to the overall cost of production. Manufacturers would have to calibrate each unit individually as colour reproduction varies even between batches of the same panel model. Secondly, most users are not sensitive to colour accuracy, so manufacturers prioritise making monitors with brighter and more saturated colours to appeal to the majority of consumers. Finally, monitor calibration is dependent on the lighting conditions in the room, and even then, it may not be accurate for all users as everyone has different monitors with different settings.

Calibration is expensive and time-consuming

For example, a professional colour calibration for a single monitor can take up to two hours and should be done at least twice a year. That's a significant investment of time and money, even for a single monitor.

In addition, colour reproduction can vary between batches of the same panel model, so a unique calibration is needed for each unit. This further increases the time and cost required for calibration.

As a result, many companies choose not to calibrate their monitors, especially if they have a large number of units or are working with tight budgets.

Most people don't care about colour accuracy

Furthermore, people's perception of colours on a screen is influenced by factors such as the lighting in the room and the time of day. Even a well-calibrated, high-budget monitor won't compensate for variations in lighting conditions. Thus, it is challenging to achieve consistent colour accuracy across different viewing environments.

In the context of monitor manufacturing, calibrating every device to a standard like sRGB would increase costs for producers. It involves additional time and resources, and given that most users are not particularly concerned about colour accuracy, it may not provide a significant return on investment for manufacturers.

Additionally, colour reproduction varies even between batches of the same panel model, necessitating unit-by-unit calibration, which further increases costs. Manufacturers opt to determine the colour reproduction curves of the "average" panel and use that for an acceptable but inconsistent result.

Calibration is not a guarantee of quality

Even if your monitor is calibrated, it doesn't mean that the colours on your screen will always be accurate. There are a number of factors that can affect the colour accuracy of your display, and calibration is just one piece of the puzzle.

For example, the type of display panel used in your monitor can have a significant impact on colour accuracy. Different panel technologies, such as IPS, VA, and TN, can produce varying levels of colour accuracy, with some offering better colour accuracy and consistency than others. The quality of the display can also vary significantly between different manufacturers and models, even if they use the same panel technology.

The graphics card and its drivers can also play a role in colour accuracy. Outdated or improperly calibrated graphics card drivers can cause colours to be displayed inaccurately. This is especially true for older graphics cards that may not have the same colour accuracy capabilities as newer models.

Even the operating system and its colour management settings can affect colour accuracy. Different operating systems may handle colour profiles differently, which can impact the accuracy of colours on your display. Improperly configured colour management settings can also lead to colour accuracy issues.

Additionally, your viewing environment and lighting conditions can influence colour accuracy. Working in a room with bright sunlight or fluorescent lighting can alter the appearance of colours on your screen. Controlled and consistent lighting conditions are important when colour accuracy is critical.

In conclusion, while calibration is an important step towards achieving accurate colours on your display, it is not the sole determinant of colour accuracy. There are various factors and variables that can impact the colour accuracy of your display, and it's important to consider all of these aspects when working with colour-critical applications.

It's hard to show the benefits of calibration

Additionally, the benefits of calibration can only truly be seen when comparing the same image side by side on calibrated and uncalibrated monitors. However, this is not an accurate representation as the human eye naturally adjusts to what it sees, making it difficult to truly compare the two images.

Furthermore, the benefits of calibration are diminished by the fact that most people do not have calibrated monitors. This means that even if an image looks great on a calibrated monitor, it may not look the same on an uncalibrated one, which is what most people use.

Moreover, the process of monitor calibration can be time-consuming and costly, with specialised equipment often being required. This makes it difficult for people to experience the benefits of calibration, as they may not have the necessary resources or knowledge to perform the process correctly.

Finally, even if an image is calibrated perfectly on one monitor, it may still look different on another calibrated monitor due to differences in make, model, and settings. This means that the benefits of calibration are not always consistent, and can vary depending on the specific monitor being used.

Lighting and other factors affect colour perception

The lighting in the room where the monitor is set up will also affect colour perception. If the lighting changes, the monitor will need to be recalibrated. This is why monitor calibration is not a one-time fix.

Additionally, the colours displayed on a monitor will look different depending on the device being used. Mobile phones, for instance, tend to have OLED screens designed to be vivid, bright, and exciting. In contrast, computer monitors are designed for speed and high-resolution viewing at all angles. As a result, some mobile phones will show images with much more vivid colours than what was intended or edited on a computer monitor.

Other factors, such as the age and operating temperature of the monitor, will also affect colour reproduction.

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