Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

*** UPDATE 4/29/2015 *** I returned the Spyder 5 Express, received the Spyder 4 Express, setup up Argyll + dispcalGUI (Datacolor software went straight into the trash), and a calibrated, and THERE WAS A CLEAR DIFFERENCE!! Calibrating your monitor does matter, using a calibration device matters, but MOST IMPORTANTLY the calibration software matters, and the Argyll + dispcalGUI is FAR SUPERIOR to the OEM Datacolor software provided for the Spyder 4 Express and Spyder 5 Express. I'm excited to see how much my prints might improve since I already thought they were great using the steps in my original review. Here's how to setup and calibrate using Argyll + dispcalGUI. 1) Do not install OEM software 2) Download Argyll (http://www.argyllcms.com/) and dispcalGUI standalone version (http://dispcalgui.hoech.net/#download) 3) Set C:/ path for Argyll folder 4) Install Sypder4 usb driver (http://www.argyllcms.com/doc/Installing_MSWindows.html#WIN8) 5) Run dispcalGUI then Menu > File > Locate Argyll CMS executables > point to c:/Argyll/bin 6) Menu > Options > enable Show advanced calibration options 7) Configure Advance options like this (http://www.modelmayhem.com/forums/post/870355/1#post17806610) 8) Run measurement tests and adjustment settings 9) Run calibration (in High speed since Medium speed took 1.5 hrs) then save and apply profile *** ORIGINAL REVIEW 4/16/2015*** I have never calibrated my laptop's monitor in the approximately 2 years I've had it. My commercial prints were coming out too dark, so I purchased this product. The improvement it provided was negligible, much to my surprise and disappointment. The process of getting photos printed with accurate colors involves more than just calibrating your monitor. This is what I have learned: 1) Reduce the brightness of your monitor to approximately 50% then use "Calibrate color" (just search for it), the built-in Windows utility. 2) Download & Install your commercial printer's ICC profile. Sometimes it might be available on their website but you'll probably have to call them and ask what brand & model their photo lab machine is then use Google to find the appropriate ICC profile file (local stores of the same chain seem to have the same models, ex: Walmarts close to where I live all use Fuji Frontier DL 600's) 3) Soft proof your photos in Photoshop using that ICC profile (View > Proof Setup > Custom). 4) Save your photos in the sRGB color space (check with your printer to confirm this). 5) Lastly, but not as important as the previous steps, you can try to print a hard proof on your home printer that will attempt to simulate the final product from your commercial printer, (File > Print > Color Management: Photoshop manages colors; Printer profile = your home printer > Change Normal Printing to Hard Proofing: Proof Setup = appropriate ICC profile) If you'd still like to get a calibration device then I'd say go for the Spyder 4 since it's less than half the price and the results probably won't be much different. I'm returning this. Argyll + dispcalGUI is widely said to better than any OEM software, but it currently only supports the Spyder 4, so I can't tell if just changing software would give me better calibration results. If it's superior hardware that you desire then get a calibrator from X-Rite which are said to be more accurate, longer-lasting, and have native support from Argyll + dispcalGUI. After following the steps above my prints came out perfectly at Walmart. Save files for viewing on the web as sRGB which is ideal for most monitors. Others can even download your photo and get prints that are fairly close in color accuracy as well. Hope this helps! *** Resources *** Download Argyll http://www.argyllcms.com/ Download dispcalGUI http://dispcalgui.hoech.net/ Setup Argyll + dispcalGUI http://www.modelmayhem.com/forums/post/870355/1#post17806610 ICC Profiles http://www.drycreekphoto.com/icc/ http://forums.adoramapix.com/entries/228224-Color-calibration-and-custom-correction