Hi. I am a student in Argentina trying to build my color editing suite, aiming to an indie/cheap target.
I calibrate my displays to D65 white, 100cd/m2 for projection and 120cd/m2, minimum black.
Gamma 2.2
I remember that when I was searching info about FCS3 before it was released, I read somewhere that Color used “another gamma” and read a case about a guy having to change the profile when going back and forth between Color and FCP (and it was related to the topic because the guy wanted that fixed). I think he mentioned Color was working on 1.8. But I cannot find where that post was to ask the guy if this was resolved. Does anyone here know about it?

Any recommendations on the calibration details?
Thanks,
Rodrigo

My suite consists of:
Intel Q6600, 8GB RAM, HD4870.
Dell 2009W 20” 16:9
Dell 2007FP 20” 4:3 (S-IPS panel, I use this for monitoring)
Wacom Bamboo Pen&Touch (Currently using the touch part for grading)
Logitech G13 control panel
Eye One Display 2 calibrator.

What’s your target output? If it’s anything broadcast (TV/DVD, etc.) then you really need to use a broadcast monitor for critical color correction. Then it won’t matter how your actual computer screen is calibrated. WIthout a broadcast monitor, you can only vaguely try to approximate a TV with screen calibration, but it’ll never be entirely the same. I believe for HD, you can do a pretty decent job by using a Matrox box to turn a computer LCD into a broadcast monitor. I never tried it myself since I don’t do much HD.

If your destination is web, then your best bet is to go with 2.2 (since that’s what Windows uses) and test your final videos on as many different target computers as possible and using whatever target player and codec you intend on using. There are just too many variations between computers (remember most people never bother to calibrate their monitors). Even H.264 videos in Apple’s own Quicktime will not look identical on different computers (Mac or Windows).

Having said that, it used to be recommended that you stick to 1.8 for Final Cut Studio because Mac OS X was 1.8 default, but with Snow Leopard, 2.2 is now the default gamma for Mac. Personally, I’ve always used 2.2 and never had major problems or at least nothing that couldn’t get solved by changing a setting (usually problems only happen with RGB codecs – like Animation when going from Motion since they defaulted to 1.8 gamma and would get shifted when you brought them to Final Cut Pro – which you can deal with now by changing the clip gamma in Final Cut Pro for the clip).

The whole thing is a bit of a mess and not well documented by Apple. I’ve pretty much stopped trying to understand all the details and resort to doing regular testing to make sure that my workflow stays sounds and that I don’t see any unexpected shifts when going between applications and making sure the final result looks appropriate on the target destination.

Hope this helps.