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Colour variation between TB displays

B

Barendby

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Apr 1, 2013
22
0
South Africa
I have bought a thunderbolt display 5 months ago.
I bought another earlier this week but when I add the 2 next to each other the old screen is nice crips white, while the new monitor have this warm sepia undertone.
I took the monitor back and it was swopped for a new, but it is exactly the same. I really need the screens to be the same colours as we do graphic work.
I assume different batches will have slight variation?

I decided to return the monitor and rather wait for Apple to release a new monitor before I try again. Just before I do return it, is there a way to calibrate the 2 to look the same?

So, now I am curious, those of you who have more than one thunderbolt display, are the colours the same on all of them or do they vary a lot?

PS. both are connected to a nmp, 6c D500. I did swop the ports but no difference
 

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Don't have my nMP but will test when they come in. That is a huge difference. Looking at like 3400k and 6400k or something along those lines in the color variation.
 
Barendby said:
I have bought a thunderbolt display 5 months ago.
I bought another earlier this week but when I add the 2 next to each other the old screen is nice crips white, while the new monitor have this warm sepia undertone.
I took the monitor back and it was swopped for a new, but it is exactly the same. I really need the screens to be the same colours as we do graphic work.
I assume different batches will have slight variation?

I decided to return the monitor and rather wait for Apple to release a new monitor before I try again. Just before I do return it, is there a way to calibrate the 2 to look the same?

So, now I am curious, those of you who have more than one thunderbolt display, are the colours the same on all of them or do they vary a lot?

PS. both are connected to a nmp, 6c D500. I did swop the ports but no difference
Click to expand...

Do you own a calibrator? There are a number of good ones out there Datacolor and Colormunki are two of the main brands. Find a version that has a screen match option and that should fix the problem.
 
I'd say something is WRONG here. You've say you've swapped ports; presumably you've also tried cables. Do the monitors remain 'constant' regardless of port/cable/desktop location? Have you tried each monitor singly?

There shouldn't be that much difference between the two, and I don't think it's something you should have to try and address through calibration.
 
I had the same issue but on 3 monitors 2tb and 1 27 cinema. I calibrated them all with a color munki with multiple display support and it fixed everything.. Didnt know how better the displays could look when calibrated
 
Maybe one is running without it's color profile and one is running with?

I dunno. This is strange.
 
System Preferences > Displays > Color > Select the same color profile to match each monitor.
 
Barendby said:
So, now I am curious, those of you who have more than one thunderbolt display, are the colours the same on all of them or do they vary a lot?
Click to expand...

I bought my TB monitors about six months apart a few years ago. I haven't noticed color differences, but annoyingly they are a few millimeters different in height. Apple makes small tweaks like this. I have to hand it to them to continue to refine their products, but this is annoying.

You must have gotten two different panels.
 
The colour profiles and all are the same.

I got myself a datacolor Spyder calibrator. Funny enough, the new screen is right, the older screen is way off. The calibrator fixed the issue, both are exactly the same now one calibrated.

Thanks for the help, any way :)
 
Cubemmal said:
I bought my TB monitors about six months apart a few years ago. I haven't noticed color differences, but annoyingly they are a few millimeters different in height. Apple makes small tweaks like this. I have to hand it to them to continue to refine their products, but this is annoying.

You must have gotten two different panels.
Click to expand...

mine is also 4 or 5 mm different, I didn't pick it up till you mentioned it :)
 
Barendby said:
mine is also 4 or 5 mm different, I didn't pick it up till you mentioned it :)
Click to expand...

Wups, sorry :D

It might be a manufacturing variability, but given the engineered nature of these, the cost, and the lack of adjustability it's too bad.

I have three 27" monitors with the TB's separated by a center Cinema, so that hides the defect. When they're next to each other it's obvious and I have to shim one with a stack of paper.
 
Barendby said:
The colour profiles and all are the same.

I got myself a datacolor Spyder calibrator. Funny enough, the new screen is right, the older screen is way off. The calibrator fixed the issue, both are exactly the same now one calibrated.

Thanks for the help, any way :)
Click to expand...

Screens shift over time. That is part of the reason why they don't always match. It's a very long topic.


Cubemmal said:
Wups, sorry :D

It might be a manufacturing variability, but given the engineered nature of these, the cost, and the lack of adjustability it's too bad.

I have three 27" monitors with the TB's separated by a center Cinema, so that hides the defect. When they're next to each other it's obvious and I have to shim one with a stack of paper.
Click to expand...

There is that, but age plays a big role. They all shift over time by their nature.
 
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