Datacolor has added a new Deep Calibration mode to its SpyderPro display calibrator. The company says it lifts the accuracy of SpyderPro calibrations to a level normally associated with high-end reference monitors and print proofing workflows.

The numbers are what matter here. Datacolor says SpyderPro’s existing Standard Calibration achieves an average Delta E00 of 1.26. Deep Calibration brings that down to an average of 0.83.

That puts it below the Delta E 1.0 mark, which is generally accepted as the point where colour differences become practically invisible to the eye. Values between 1 and 2 are already considered good enough for colour-critical photo and design work, so this is about taking an already accurate result and tightening it further.

How Deep Calibration works

According to Datacolor, the new engine measures more grey levels than the standard routine and corrects colour casts at each point, rather than relying on fewer measurements. The trade-off is time: Standard Calibration takes around 90 seconds, and Deep Calibration takes longer because it is doing more work. Datacolor says users get a detailed calibration report at the end.

It builds on the big SpyderPro software update from last November, which added 3D LUT export for calibrating external video monitors, support for OLED, QD-OLED, Mini-LED and Apple XDR displays, Device Preview Plus for simulating how images will look on phones, tablets and in print, and Content Credentials support.

For photographers who print, or who deliver work to clients who will judge colour on a calibrated screen, this is a welcome upgrade. We’ll be running Deep Calibration on our own editing monitors and reporting back on how the results compare.

Datacolor SpyderPro key features

Datacolor SpyderPro price and availability

Deep Calibration arrives as part of the SpyderPro software. Datacolor hasn’t yet confirmed whether it is a free update for existing owners, and we’ll update this story when it does. SpyderPro is also offered as a software upgrade for owners of SpyderExpress, Spyder, Spyder X2 and SpyderX hardware. Details are on the Datacolor SpyderPro product page.