NEC Spectraview 1990 Users Manual

							
	SPEC TRAVIEW	II 	- 	USER’S 	GUIDE 	|	1

Ambient Light Measurement window
The Ambient  Light  Measurement  tool  allows  measurements  to  be  taken  of  the  ambient  light  of  the  viewing 
environment around the display monitor. This feature is only available when using a supported color sensor. 
Currently supported color sensors are:
X-Rite/GretagMacbeth Eye-One Display V2
X-Rite/GretagMacbeth Eye-One Pro 
X-Rite ColorMunki
Datacolor Spyder3
These  measurements  are  useful  in  determining  the  optimal  viewing  conditions  for  the  area  surrounding  the 
display monitor. Ideally the ambient light level and color temperature should not influence the viewing of images 
on the display screen.
Follow  the  instructions  on-screen  for  configuring  the  color  sensor  for  Ambient  Light  measurement  mode. 
Measurements  are  taken  every  few  seconds  and  updated  on  the  display  as  both  a  Luminance  value  and 
approximate color temperature value. 
Note: The Datacolor Spyder3 ambient light sensor measures luminance only and not color temperature.
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Monitor Settings window
The Monitor Settings window provides access to some of the display monitor control settings, if supported by 
the display.
The Power LED Indicator controls can be used to change the color of the LED, and also adjust the brightness. 
The brightness can be reduced as necessary in dim environments if the LE\
D is distracting.
The ColorComp control adjusts the screen uniformity correction applied to the display in order to improve the 
screen luminance and color uniformity. This compensation is done at the expense of some screen brightness. 
A higher level of correction will give a more uniform screen, but the maximum Intensity (brightness) that can be 
achieved will be lower.
It is recommended to recalibrate if the ColorComp setting is changed.
 
						

							
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Menus
File menu
Open Target... - opens a Target file. This is the same as clicking the Target Settings: Open button.
Save Target As... - saves the current Target Settings to a file. This is the same as clicking the Target Settings: 
Save button.
Calibrate...  - starts the display monitor calibration routine for the currently selected display using the currently 
selected Target Settings. This is the same as clicking the Calibrate button.
Generate  ICC  Profile...  -  starts  the  process  of  creating  an  ICC/ColorSync  monitor  profile  for  the  currently 
selected display in its current state without calibrating.
Validate  Calibration...  -  measures  the  current  state  of  the  display  monitor  and  compares  to  the  currently 
selected Target in order to quickly determine if the current calibration is still accurate, or if the display should be 
recalibrated.
Open previous calibration.. -Opens a previous Monitor Calibration Settings file. This is the same as clicking 
the Calibration: Open button.
Edit menu
Preferences... - opens the Preferences dialog. ( shown on the Application menu on Mac OS)
Display Configuration... - (ÿ Windows only) opens the Display Configuration dialog. This is the same as 
clicking the Display: Configure button.
Target... - opens the Edit Calibration Target dialog.
Tools menu
Information Window... - opens the Information window. 
Colorimeter Window... - opens the Colorimeter window.
Test Pattern - displays a variety of test patterns on the screen that can be used to evaluate the status of the 
monitor calibration and performance. Click the left and right arrow buttons to select different test patterns, or use 
the [ and ] keyboard keys. Select this menu again to turn off the test pattern, or click the X button.
Ambient Light Measurement... - opens the Ambient Light Measurement window and is used to measure the 
ambient light of the viewing environment around the display monitor. This feature is only available when using 
sensors that support this measuring ambient light.
Monitor Settings... - opens the Monitor Settings window and is used to access some settings on the display 
monitor.
Help menu
About... - displays the About dialog box which shows the software version number. ( shown on the Application 
menu on Mac OS) 
Check  for  updates...  -  contacts  the  NEC  Display  Solutions  website  and  checks  to  see  if  a  newer  version  of 
SpectraView is available. If a newer version is available, information about the version and download links will 
be shown. An Internet connection is required for this feature to operate.
 
						

							
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3	
Calibration	Overview
Introduction to display monitor calibration
Computer  display  monitors  display  images  by  giving  off  light  from  the  screen.  On  LCD  display  monitors,  light  is 
emitted  from  a  backlight  source  such  as  fluorescent  lamps  or  array  of  LEDs  (Light  Emitting  Diodes)  and  passes 
through individual red, green and blue filters for each pixel on the screen.
Combining red, green, and blue light, known as additive primary colors, creates the color that appears as an image 
on the screen. Different colors are displayed by varying the relative brightness of the three additive primary colors. 
The range of colors that can be represented on a display is known as the\
 color gamut. 
Printers create images by applying inks or dyes known as colorants to paper. These colorants absorb or subtract 
light  of  certain  wavelengths,  stopping  it  from  being  reflected.  Cyan,  magenta,  and  yellow  colorants,  known  as 
subtractive  primary  colors,  are  used  to  create  color  prints.  Each  colorant  absorbs  light  of  its  color  complement. 
For example, magenta ink absorbs green light, while cyan ink absorbs red light, and yellow ink absorbs blue light. 
Sometimes an additional black colorant is used to improve the overall co\
lor gamut possible with a printer. 
It  is  because  of  these  fundamental  differences  between  displaying  an  image  on  a  computer  display  monitor  and 
printed media that a Color Management System such as Apple ColorSync or Microsoft Image Color Management 
and a color calibrated display monitor are necessary. The Color Management System ensures that what is displayed 
on a monitor, is representative of what will be printed.
In order to accurately view and exchange images with others with confidence that the images look identical when 
displayed on different systems and at different locations, the display monitors used should be calibrated to a known 
state.  The  Color  Management  System  being  used  must  also  know  the  current  state  of  the  monitor  so  that  it  can 
determine how to accurately display images on that particular monitor. 
Once the display has been calibrated and the Color Management System knows the color characteristics (via the 
use of the ICC/ColorSync monitor profile), the display can be used to preview or soft proof what images will look like 
when printed. In order to do this, the Color Management System must also know the color printing characteristics 
of the printer being used. This is usually done by an ICC printer profile or Printer Color Separation Tables supplied 
by either the printer manufacturer or a third party. Various desktop publishing and image editing software packages, 
such as Adobe Photoshop, have CMYK preview modes to soft proof images. 
It is important to be aware of the limitations of soft proofing. Many factors will limit the accuracy to which prints will 
match what is displayed on the screen. The accuracy of the printer profile or color separation tables as well as the 
type of inks and paper used all affect how accurate the final prints will be. The lighting conditions used when viewing 
the final print is also absolutely critical and the use of a calibrated lightbox is highly recommended. Be aware that 
it is almost impossible to get an absolute perfect match under all conditions on any color management system or 
display.
Before  calibrating  the  SpectraView  display,  the  desired  color  characteristics  of  the  calibrated  monitor  must  be 
selected.  In  SpectraView,  these  characteristics  are  called  Targets.  SpectraView  then  adjusts  the  monitor  to  the 
color  characteristics  in  the  selected  Target.  Once  the  calibration  is  complete,  SpectraView  can  then  re-measure 
the  display  and  create  an  ICC/ColorSync  profile  of  the  monitor,  which  contains  information  used  by  the  Color 
Management System to retain the various color characteristics of the calibrated monitor. The calibration target used 
will depend on the application. 
 
						

							
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SpectraView includes several industry standard targets for a variety of applicat\
ions:
Target NameApplicationWhite Point 
CIE (x,y)
Tone Response Curve 
(Gamma)
Print StandardCommonly referred to as Proofing 
Standard.  Used  widely  for  the 
proofing  of  color  transparencies 
or press output.
D50 (0.346, 0.359)1.8
Photo EditingUsed  for  editing  and  previewing 
images  in  a  controlled  lighting 
environment. An Intensity of 140 
candelas (cd/m²) is used.
D65 (0.313, 0.329)2.2
Broadcast VideoUsed  for  editing  images  and 
video  intended  to  be  displayed 
on  televisions  using  the  NTSC, 
PAL, or SECAM standards.
D65 (0.313, 0.329)2.2
sRGB EmulationThis  is  a  special  target  that  is 
only  available  when  using  a 
supported  wide  color  gamut 
display. This target will switch the 
display into the sRGB Emulation 
mode  which  reduces  the  color 
gamut  to  approximate  that  of 
sRGB.
D65 (Factory Preset)
Note:  LCD2690WUXi2  will 
calibrate  the  white  point  to 
D65  instead  of  using  the 
factory preset.
2.2 (Factory Preset)
DICOM BlueMedical  Imaging  using  blue-
base film.
(0.265, 0.320)DICOM Curve
DICOM WhiteMedical Imaging.(0.292, 0.321)DICOM Curve
Digital CinemaImages  and  video  intended  for 
cinematic projection.
(0.314, 0.351)2.6
Note: When using the sRGB Emulation target 
The Factory Preset white point is used on the following models: LCD2690WUXi, LCD3090WQXi and 
P221W. It is not possible to adjust the white point of the sRGB Emulation mode on these models. The 
calibration will only adjust the Intensity and generate an ICC/ColorSync profile of the display on these 
models. The resulting Delta-E values may be higher than normal because the white point is not adjusted 
using the calibration sensor. 
The range of Intensity values that the display can be calibrated to using the sRGB Emulation target is 
limited on the LCD2690WUXi. It may not be possible to achieve low Intensity values (below roughly 120-150 
cd/m²). 
The LCD2690WUXi2 will adjust the white point as well as the Intensity .
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About Targets
SpectraView can also create custom Targets, which can then be exchanged with other SpectraView display users, 
providing identical calibrated displays.
A Target consists of up to four specifications that describe the color characteristics of the display:
Gamma or Tone Response Curve (TRC)
White Point
Intensity
Contrast Ratio
Gamma and Tone Response Curves (TRC)
The Gamma or Tone Response Curve of a display is the relationship between the video input signal level and the 
light  output  (“brightness”)  displayed  on  the  monitor.  The  display  monitor  is  a  nonlinear  display  device.  In  simple 
terms, this means that doubling the level of the video input signal to the display does not double the light output. For 
CRT  based  displays,  the  light  output  follows  a  mathematical  power  function  of  the  input  video  signal. This  power 
function has an exponent called gamma, which is commonly used to describe the relationship between the video 
input signal and light output of the screen. 
A  gamma  value  of  1  would  result  in  a  perfectly  linear  display  (doubling  the  signal  level  doubles  the  light  output) 
and  the  Tone  Response  Curves  would  be  straight  lines.  The  particular  Tone  Response  Curves  of  a  display  will 
change with the display color settings and may vary from one display to the next. If accurate color matching is to be 
performed, the display’s Tone Response Curves must be accurately measured and compensated for. SpectraView 
uses the color sensor to automatically measure the Tone Response Curves of the display. 
Note: If you are unsure what gamma value to use for a Target, try 2.2 which is the most popular on Windows, and 
on Macs for most applications. A value of 1.8 is popular for some printing applications on Macs. 
Normally, a standard Gamma value is required when working with images. For example, the sRGB standard color 
space target specifies a display Gamma value of 2.2. Since the Gamma value of the display may be different than 
the  required  Gamma  value,  a  correction  needs  to  be  applied  so  that  the  apparent  display  Gamma  matches  that 
of the required Target. In SpectraView, this correction is applied to the LUTs (Look Up Tables) inside the monitor. 
SpectraView also uses the monitor’s LUTs for targets that have Tone Response Curves which do not follow a normal 
Gamma curve. An example is DICOM, which uses a curve that changes shape based on how \
bright the display is.
White Point
The  White  Point  specifies  the  color  of  pure  “white”  on  a  display.  Since  there  is  no  unique  perceptual  or  physical 
definition  of  what  “white”  is,  it  must  be  defined  in  terms  of  a  standard  or  device-independent  color  space  to  be 
measured and reproduced.
There are several methods of specifying a white point, including using a blackbody radiator color temperature or as 
a location in a device-independent color space. SpectraView allows the white point to be specified either as a black 
body radiator color temperature in Kelvin, as a CIE standard illuminant,\
 or as CIE xy chromaticity coordinates.
 A White Point expressed as a black body radiator color temperature in Kelvin represents the light given off by an 
object, known as a blackbody, as it is heated to a given temperature. Low color temperatures, such as 5000K, are 
reddish, while higher color temperatures, such as 9300K, are bluish. A color temperature of 6500K is considered to 
be “neutral” white.
A CIE Standard Illuminant is a defined white color based on a known light source. In SpectraView the D or Daylight 
Illuminant series can be used to specify a white point. Daylight Illuminants are named according to their corresponding 
correlated color temperature. For example, D50 is very close in color to\
 a 5000K blackbody radiator.
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Intensity
Intensity  specifies  the  luminance  or  “brightness”  of  white  when  displayed  on  the  screen.  The  maximum  Intensity 
value  of  the  display  will  depend  on  the  color  temperature  of  the  White  Point  selected,  the  type  of  monitor  and  its 
age. 
The choice of Intensity value will depend on the application and viewing environment. If the display is being used in 
a very bright environment and there is no visual reference (such as a proof in a lightbox), then the Intensity generally 
can be selected to the maximum possible setting. 
However if the display is being used in controlled lighting environment and there is a visual reference being used, 
then normally a lower specific Intensity value is used. Using a specific value will allow the display to be calibrated 
to the same value each time, provided it is within the capable range of \
the display.
Contrast Ratio
The  Contrast  Ratio  of  the  display  is  the  ratio  of  the  measured  Intensity  to  the  measured  Black  Level.  The  Black 
Level  is  the  luminance  or  “brightness”  of  black  when  displayed  on  the  screen.  For  LCD  monitors  the  minimum  or 
native Black Level is typically fixed in ratio to the Intensity value due to the display technology . 
SpectraView allows the Contrast Ratio to be selected for applications that require a specific contrast ratio. However 
the calibrated contrast ratio can not be higher than the native contrast ratio, since the minimum Black Level that the 
display can achieve is limited by the display technology. 
For most applications the highest possible Contrast Ratio is most suitable and can be achieved by selecting Monitor 
Default as the Contrast Ratio. 
Specific Contrast Ratios in the range 50:1 to 500:1 can be selected. 
Note: If the selected contrast ratio is higher than what the display is actually capable of achieving, then the display 
will calibrate to the highest possible contrast ratio. For example if you select 500:1, but the display only capable of 
say 320:1 with the current Target settings, then the resulting calibration will have a contrast ratio of 320:1.
 
						

							
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Launching
As SpectraView launches, it will automatically search for any supported displays, a\
nd a supported color sensor.
If SpectraView is unable to detect either a supported display or the last selected color sensor, an error message will 
be displayed and the Calibrate button will be disabled. Refer to the Troubleshooting section of this manual.
Selecting a calibration Target
A Target specifies the color characteristics of the display for the calibration process. A Target can be either predefined, 
or custom defined. 
Existing Targets can be selected in the main SpectraView II window from the Target listbox.
Selecting a Target will automatically configure the White Point, Tone Response Curves, Intensity and Black Level 
(if applicable).
The choice of Target depends on the particular application and viewing conditions such \
as the ambient light level. 
Modifying Targets
The parameters of Targets can be modified using the Edit Target button which will display the Edit Target dialog. 
Note that modifying a Target will require the display monitor to be recalibrated to the new Target parameters.
4	
Using	SpectraView
(Mac OS) 
Double click the SpectraView II application 
icon in the Applications folder.
(Windows) 
Select SpectraView  II  from  the NEC  Display 
Solutions  program  group  on  the  Windows 
Start menu.
   
						

							
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Calibrating and Profiling the Display
If  more  than  one  supported  display  monitor  is  connected,  select  the  display  to  be  calibrated  from  the Display 
listbox. Note that each display has an independent Target.
Click  the Calibrate  button  to  start  the  calibration  process.  The  software  will  provide  instructions  for  placing  the 
calibration sensor on the screen and provide updates as the calibration \
progresses.
Once  the  calibration  process  has  been  completed,  an  ICC/ColorSync  profile  will  be  generated  if  the Generate 
profile after calibration option in the Preferences dialog is selected. The profile will automatically be associated 
with the system’s Color Management System. 
The results of the calibration process will then be displayed in the Information window. 
It is also good practice to use the Test Patterns to quickly visually verify the integrity of the calibration\
.
Profiling the Display
An ICC/ColorSync monitor profile of the display can be generated without calibrating the display by selecting Generate 
ICC Profile.. from the File menu. Non-SpectraView displays can be profiled but not calibrated by SpectraView.
Validating the current  Calibration
The current state of the display monitor can be measured and compared to the currently selected Target in order 
to  quickly  determine  if  the  current  calibration  is  still  accurate,  or  if  the  display  should  be  recalibrated. A  series  of 
measurements will be taken on the display and a brief report will be shown of the results. The Information window 
will also be updated with a more detailed analysis of the results. 
Note: Several factors can influence the results of the validation process and a Delta-E values of 3-5 do not always 
indicate that the display needs to be recalibrated. Even very slight differences in the positioning of the sensor from 
when  it  was  calibrated,  and  the  length  of  time  the  monitor  has  been  powered  on,  and  the  basic  measurement 
repeatability  accuracy  of  the  sensor  itself,  all  impact  the  results.  Also  keep  in  mind  that  the  Delta-E  value  is 
comprised  of  the  luminance  and  color  difference.  Differences  in  color  are  much  more  critical  than  a  difference  in 
relative luminance. 
 
						

							
0	 |	SPEC TRAVIEW	II 	- 	USER’S 	GUIDE

Using ICC/ColorSync Monitor Profiles
The ICC/ColorSync monitor profiles generated by SpectraView are used to inform the Color Management System 
of the color characteristics of the display monitor.
Color  Management  Systems  use  this  information  to  determine  how  to  display  images  on-screen.  Depending  on 
the  image  editing  software  package  being  used,  profiles  for  printers  and  scanners  can  also  be  utilized  to  create 
accurate image prints and scans.
The exact method of loading ICC monitor profiles into the Color Management System will depend on the software 
application being used. Most software applications rely on the operating system (Mac OS or Microsoft Windows) to 
provide the current profile information. However some applications may have a color management setup where the 
display monitor profile can be selected.
SpectraView will automatically select and associate the generated ICC/ColorSync monitor profiles with the system’s 
Color Management System.
Refer to the instructions for the particular software package being used to determine how to correctly load and use 
the ICC/ColorSync monitor profiles generated by SpectraView.
Adobe Photoshop Overview
When combined with accurate printer profiles, Photoshop can perform accurate CMYK previews or soft proofs of 
what an image will look like when printed.
The  hardware  based  calibration  of  the  SpectraView  display  monitor  will  provide  superior  results  compared  to  the 
basic visual calibration offered by the Photoshop or ColorSync Control Panels.
Note that it is not necessary to perform any of the monitor settings in the Adobe Gamma Control Panel since all of 
the necessary monitor calibration and measurements will be done by Spect\
raView.
In  Photoshop,  images  are  manipulated  in  what  is  known  as  an  image  color  workspace.  This  color  workspace 
is  independent  of  the  display  monitor  color  characteristics,  allowing  images  to  be  transferred  between  systems 
with  different  monitor  settings  without  loosing  any  color  information  or  restricting  the  color  gamut  of  the  image. 
Photoshop will convert colors on the fly when it displays the image on the SpectraView monitor, so the colors you 
see accurately reflect the file’s working color space.
The selection of an RGB color workspace will depend on the application. For details of the standard color workspaces 
included in Photoshop, consult the online help in Photoshop. Note that typically the color workspace will be different 
to that of the display monitor. Do not attempt to load the ICC/ColorSync monitor profile as the color workspace in 
Photoshop.
When editing an image in CMYK format, Photoshop uses the monitor color characteristics to perform the CMYK-
to-RGB  conversion  necessary  to  display  the  image  accurately  on  the  display  monitor,  which  uses  a  RGB  device 
dependent color space.
When  editing  or  viewing  an  image  in  RGB  format,  Photoshop  also  uses  the  display  monitor  color  characteristics, 
together  with  a  set  of  printer  separation  tables  or  printer  ICC/ColorSync  profile  to  perform  the  RGB-to-CMYK 
conversion necessary to preview or soft proof a print the image. Printer separation tables are usually provided by 
the printer manufacturer or other third party, or can be generated using a 3rd party printer profiling application.
5	
Outside	of	SpectraView
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