Macbook Color Calibration Profiles (Late 2008, Aluminum Unibody)

[rezonat0r]

I did this for the Macbook Pro's a while back, but I'm a Macbook guy now. There are a few other threads with profiles but it's no good if you use a profile made from a different panel than what you have. I'm just trying to consolidate things here.

I will try to keep this post current; please only submit profiles created from hardware, not those done by human eye (meatware?) And be sure to say which panel the profile is for. Thanks to everyone for contributing and improving the Macbook experience!

How to determine your panel type/code
How to install and use color profiles

Basic tests to determine if a profile is a good fit:

Black level
White level
Gamma


9C89 (LG)

See attachment (rezonat0r-9c89.zip)

Spyder3 Pro. 2.2 Gamma, Native and 6500K whitepoint. I recommend using the Native whitepoint.​

See attachment (rezonat0r-9c89-alt.zip)

Spyder3 Pro. 2.2 Gamma, Native whitepoint. This is an alternate profile made from another Macbook with the LG panel. It is similar to the previous but slightly darker​

jessica's profile

Spyder2 Pro. 2.2 Gamma. Native whitepoint (I think - not confirmed)​

9C8C (AU Optronics)

See attachment (rezonat0r-9c8c.zip)

Spyder3 Pro. 2.2 Gamma. I only did a calibration at native whitepoint (honestly, if you really need 6500K then you won't be using a Macbook screen, or any laptop screen for that matter) ​

9C8A

See attachment (rezonat0r-9c8a.zip)

Spyder3 Pro. 2.2 Gamma. Native whitepoint.​

 

[iMac430]

I have tried many different times with SuperCal and the built-in tool, but I cannot get a good calibration. I have the 9C5E screen. I hope that you can get a profile soon. Thanks!

 

[oli84]

Pick up kis's color profile that was put up on the other thread you were referencing. Created with spyder3 in dark room but not sure what panel he had.

 

[iMac430]

The thread that I created or which one?

 

[oli84]

The thread that I created or which one?

Page 3 of this one:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/588431/

 

[rezonat0r]

Pick up kis's color profile that was put up on the other thread you were referencing. Created with spyder3 in dark room but not sure what panel he had.

Thanks, I have read through that thread but no one has indicated which panel they have yet. We'll get it sorted soon enough.

 

[iMac430]

I tried that profile and it looks alright, but it is still somewhat washed out. I clicked "open profile" in System Preferences, but since it was made with the Spyder and not ColorSync, I cannot find the actual model. I have the 9C5E. Thanks for the help thus far.

 

[panzaman]

On my 8c9c I am using this profile, it was made by somebody else but it works great on my MB.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/588431/

post #69

 

[RUnited]

1. I use Bootcamp to go into Windows XP. Will this display profile change also affects the XP display? If not, can someone please post on how to apply these calibrations to Windows XP?

2. I use 9C89 screen, which one is the best profile? I see one here from the thread started, but many people have said the "JC Display" profile is also very good. If anyone has tried both please confirm which is the good one to use.

Thank you!

 

[staccato83]

1. I use Bootcamp to go into Windows XP. Will this display profile change also affects the XP display? If not, can someone please post on how to apply these calibrations to Windows XP?

2. I use 9C89 screen, which one is the best profile? I see one here from the thread started, but many people have said the "JC Display" profile is also very good. If anyone has tried both please confirm which is the good one to use.

Thank you!

Not sure about your first question, but I would definitely recommend the "JC display" profile. The other profiles seem to have a green tint to them... atleast to my eyes.

 

[RUnited]

Not sure about your first question, but I would definitely recommend the "JC display" profile. The other profiles seem to have a green tint to them... atleast to my eyes.

Thanks for that.

I'm usually just playing games on my new MB so if anyone has a clue about changing the calibration for Windows that would be great.

 

[Philflow]

Not sure about your first question, but I would definitely recommend the "JC display" profile. The other profiles seem to have a green tint to them... atleast to my eyes.

Same here. That was the best one I tried because it enhanced contrast. It was a bit dark though.

 

[watergun]

On my 8c9c I am using this profile, it was made by somebody else but it works great on my MB.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/588431/

post #69

+1 --> I like that profile the best on my 8c9c too.

 

[scienide09]

Thanks for your efforts.

I'd be interested in seeing what you've got for the 9C8C, since that's what's in my MacBook.

 

[PresentACat]

I got the 9C8C screen and got a calibration that worked eventually.

Set the Macbook in its box, and adjust some selotape until it seals the box up. Then, ring Apple to send TNT to remove the damned thing from your house. Contrast improves dramatically when you do this. Finish the calibration off by buying the cheapest laptop you can find and wondering why it has better blacks.

 

[phobic99]

I got the 9C8C screen and got a calibration that worked eventually.

Set the Macbook in its box, and adjust some selotape until it seals the box up. Then, ring Apple to send TNT to remove the damned thing from your house. Contrast improves dramatically when you do this. Finish the calibration off by buying the cheapest laptop you can find and wondering why it has better blacks.

Very informative. Will read again.

 

[RUnited]

On my 8c9c I am using this profile, it was made by somebody else but it works great on my MB.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/588431/

post #69

Gets a +1 from me too this profile. I'm using 9C89 but my wife and I agree this looks the best when going through our photos.

Thanks a bunch.

 

[silverblack]

I got the 9C8C screen and got a calibration that worked eventually.

Set the Macbook in its box, and adjust some selotape until it seals the box up. Then, ring Apple to send TNT to remove the damned thing from your house. Contrast improves dramatically when you do this. Finish the calibration off by buying the cheapest laptop you can find and wondering why it has better blacks.

Buying the cheapest laptop that I can find? No, thanks. I'd rather have a monochrome display on my Macbook than a Sony LCD-quality display on a Vista laptop.

 

[Ryan T.]

+1 --> I like that profile the best on my 8c9c too.

+1 another vote for this on the 9c8c display!

 

[rezonat0r]

On my 8c9c I am using this profile, it was made by somebody else but it works great on my MB.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/588431/

post #69

You mean 9C8C, correct?

kis's profile is actually very similar to my profile for 9C89 (LG), only ever so slightly darker... Perhaps these screens are surprisingly similar.

I'm still waiting to hear from kis to be sure of the panel type and whitepoint settings.

 

[everlast77]

Same here. That was the best one I tried because it enhanced contrast. It was a bit dark though.

Can someone do a profile like the (JC screen profile), only a little bit brighter ?

//everlast

 

[Bengt77]

Can someone do a profile like the (JC screen profile), only a little bit brighter ?

//everlast

You can do that yourself. Open the profile, turn the Gamma a wee bit down, save the profile and you're set.

 

[oli84]

You mean 9C8C, correct?

kis's profile is actually very similar to my profile for 9C89 (LG), only ever so slightly darker... Perhaps these screens are surprisingly similar.

I'm still waiting to hear from kis to be sure of the panel type and whitepoint settings.

kis's profile has a cooler overall tint to it. The profile you posted on the top of the thread is much closer to the factory settings, like you said. In general though, have you noticed if it's a warmer or cooler tint that comes with other Macs?

Also, what conditions did you calibrate the screen under?

 

[rezonat0r]

You can do that yourself. Open the profile, turn the Gamma a wee bit down, save the profile and you're set.

Be sure to check if the displayed gamma is correct (at 2.2) using the link I provided. The 48% test is the most important. The other ones won't be perfect due to limitations of the screen.

kis's profile has a cooler overall tint to it. The profile you posted on the top of the thread is much closer to the factory settings, like you said. In general though, have you noticed if it's a warmer or cooler tint that comes with other Macs?

With LED backlighting the LEDs emit a blueish hue. Obviously there is correction built into the screen to compensate but my feeling was that there was still a slight blue tint out of the box. The Spyder3 confirms this (calibrated in a dark room at full backlight) as the profiles it made me are warmer. Now greys look very neutral to my eye.

Every screen is different, and no two Spyders will produce the exact same results either. But I will say that if you put on a profile and there is a huge change, that is probably not correct, unless you are going from native white point to 6500K.

 

[marsbaby]

type of monitor

I just got MB today, calibrated my screen with spider. Wiith a tat of extra contrast I have very decent result indeed. Difference with default color profile is big. Thought of posting color profile with appropriate info but strangely do not seem to have display indication?