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Doing maintenance updates & calibration on a HP DreamColor LP2480zx.  Renowned great display - once it’s up and running…  Not user-friendly to me though (and from forums I am not the only one), having spent hours on attempts to upgrade its firmware and perform calibration using the Advanced Profiling Solution (APS).  Finally got it to work -by upgrading to a non-latest version of firmware and associated calibrator (APS)  etc, - but unable to update further than this (firmware updater failed to recognize monitor USB, despite connection as earlier and reboots etc.).  And it was a real pain (many hours) to get just that far.   The working-fix was simply to keep trying different USB ports to find one that one worked (with this system - they all worked fine on other kinds of device).  Without understanding what’s going on, it feels like there are some flaky issues around the driver for the USB-based connection to the DreamColor (when updating firmware or calibrating).  However, at least having got that far, I was glad it (DreamColor system) wasn’t broken and even worked.  And the colours certainly looked better by eye. (more…)

Experiences:

• Googled for instructions: http://forums.creativecow.net/thread/223/7928
• Noted the display must be the only one connected.
  • I assume then this precludes the use of a laptop (whose screen cannot be disconnected).
• Also must be connected by USB
  • Display was indeed connected by correct USB (to underside of monitor)
• Tried it from a Mac Pro > Boot Camp > Windows XP Pro (32)
  • Failed - no USB connection recognized.
• I assume then it needs to be run from an actual PC (Desktop).
  • In which case will have to arrange one…
• But then googled on [dreamcolor firmware update mac]
  • Found some people who had succeeded with updating it from a Mac > BootCamp > Windows
    • http://provideocoalition.com/index.php/atepper/story/dreamcolor_from_hp_an_ideal_tool_for_critical_image_evaluation/
    • http://reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?56928-FS-HP-Dreamcolor-LP2480zx
  • Found someone with problems with DreamColor used with a Mac
    • http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=771613
  • Sounds like it’s important the Mac runs Snow Leopard, not Leopard, in order to avoid the issue where Apple Color uses gamma 2.2 whereas other apps (e.g. Final Cut etc.) use that older OS’s default gamma of 1.8.]
• Thinks: Maybe it’s the USB lead that’s the problem?
• DreamColor Developer’s white paper on using the monitor with a Mac
  • http://h20331.www2.hp.com/hpsub/downloads/Using_LP2480zx_with_AppleMac_systems.pdf

Experiences:

• Mac Pro (2009) running Boot Camp / Windows XP, DreamColor connected by single DisplayPort.
• Install software from CD, system reboots.
• Plug-in the i1 “showerhead” device to USB on Mac Pro
• Device not recognised.
• Search for driver.  Found.  Installed.
• Reboot (just in case…)
• Run the DreamColor application (from Start/Programs)
• Select the monitor
• Says “ensure USB is connected between the display and the computer”
• There is.  But it complains: “Please verify that a USB cable is connected between the HP DreamColor LP2480zx Professional LCD Display and your computer, then try again”.
• Tried various ports and reboots -no difference.

Google Search [dreamcolor forum]:

• http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&swItem=vc-82505-1&jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN
  • NOTE: To calibrate an HP DreamColor LP2480zx Monitor, the USB cable must be connected from the monitor to the computer.
  • The DisplayPort interface is supported for HP DreamColor LP2480zx Monitors only (the video card must support DisplayPort).
  • NOTE: To calibrate an HP DreamColor LP2480zx Monitor using DisplayPort on a Microsoft Windows based system, the following two requirements must be met:
    • 1. HP DreamColor LP2480zx Monitor firmware version TR:137, SL:071, BL:167, or later, is required.
    • 2. Systems with NVIDIA Quadro Graphics must use NVIDIA Quadro Driver version 191.66 or later.
• http://forums.creativecow.net/thread/223/7928
  • The most useful white paper for broadcast methodology seems to be the one titled: ”Using the HP DreamColor LP2480zx Monitor for Professional Video Applications”
  • “I believe that the APS color calibration profile is only used when connected via DVI and the Dreamcolor is functioning as a second (or third) computer monitor. As far as I know, as long as your Blackmagic HD is feeding the proper, progressive, RGB signal to the monitor, and your monitor is in the proper color space preset, you will have a correctly calibrated picture. The ICC color profile only comes into effect when the Dreamcolor is connected as a computer display.”
• http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Desktop-Monitors-and-video/LP2480zx-Dreamcolor-calibration/td-p/172104
  • http://bizsupport2.austin.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c01695201/c01695201.pdf
• http://forums.creativecow.net/thread/223/7928
  • Calibrating the Dreamcolor attached to a 2010 MacPro,
    • To follow up on my posts about problems calibrating the Dreamcolor attached to a 2010 MacPro, I finally got it working properly last weekend.  I was inspired by finding a new version of the Advanced Profiling Solution on X-Rite’s website, version 1.1.0.1 dated 06 Dec 2010.  Upon installation, it was having the same problem, complaining that the monitor was not connected to the USB port.  I did a “Reset to Factory Settings” in the Dreamcolor’s menus. After that, the monitor was recognized, and the calibration would start. However, it hung up after turning the monitor down to a very dark setting.  I checked HP’s website, and saw that a newer firmware is available: TR137.SL071.BL167 Rev. A 3 Feb 2010.  Using Bootcamp, I booted to Windows7 and successfully updated the firmware.  I then shutdown the computer, and turned off the monitor using the rocker switch on the back (next to the USB port).  Booting into Snow Leopard, I was able to run the full calibration of the Dreamcolor.
    • I hope this helps anyone else who is stuck like I was. I advise:
      • Update to the latest monitor firmware.
      • Reset to factory defaults.
      • Turn off the power using the rocker switch.
      • Get the latest APS from X-Rite.
  • How to update LP2480zx firmware
    • Check the current firmware versions
    • On the monitor, press any menu button
    • Select “Open OSD”
    • Select “Information”
    • Look at “Version”
  • The original firmware version is TR: 107 SL: 054.
  • Remember, (firmware update of monitor) needs to be done from a Windows computer.
  • To install the firmware:
    • Connect the display to the Windows computer that you’re updating from. DVI or VGA connection is likely to be the most reliable for the firmware update (DisplayPort or HDMI may not work so smoothly).
    • Connect the USB cable (provided in the LP2480zx box) from the computer to the LP2480zx’s “upstream” connector (near the where the power cable connects on the underside of the display).
    • Power-cycle the display by switching off the hard power switch (right next to the USB cable) on the underside of the display, and then on again after, say, 10 seconds.
    • Open the firmware updater installer (the “sp.exe” file), and follow instructions. This installs the firmware updater.
    • Run the firmware updater: Start Menu -> All Programs -> HP -> HP DA Firmware Updater -> HP DA Firmware Updater (or look for the icon on your desktop). Follow instructions.
    • You should see the monitor go black, with a flashing green power LED. The LED flashes slowly for the upload phase, and faster for the flash update phase. The monitor will go through this process three times, once for each firmware module being updated.
    • When done, the monitor should return to normal display, and you can verify that the revisions have been updated (see above for how to do that). If, however, it remains black for more than 10 minutes, or if the monitor is dark and the power light is glowing amber, you can power-cycle it with the hard power switch to restore normal operation, and try again.
  • Follow the steps listed earlier to use the OSD to verify that the firmware has indeed been updated to “TR133:SL063:BL167” (or whatever is the latest).

Article:

• HP
  • DreamColor and HP DreamColor LP2480zx Professional Display: Frequently Asked Questions at this link: http://h20202.www2.hp.com/Hpsub/downloads/DreamColor_and_LP2480zx_FAQ_June0…
  • White Paper: Using the HP DreamColor LP2480zx Professional Display Monitor in professional video applications http://h71028.www7.hp.com/hpsub/downloads/LP2480zx_videoapps_WP_Oct08.pdf
    • This white paper specifically focuses on using the monitor with HD-SDI/SDI video sources and provides techniques and approaches to feeding these sources to the monitor via an HD-SDI to HDMI converter
• Creative Cow
  • Article: http://library.creativecow.net/articles/garchow_jeremy/HP_DreamColor_CRT_Replacement.php
    • {Great article, including simple block diagrams of its internal processing-chain}
    • The HP DreamColor LP2480xz Professional Display was released in 2008, which raises the question, why do a new review in 2010? The answer is simple: even two years after it hit the streets, no oher 10-bit monitor looks this good, at this price.
    • …along with the monitor, HP offers the DreamColor Advanced Profiling Solution, which includes Windows and Mac software, and an HP-branded colorimeter licensed from X-Rite, the industry leaders in color science who are HP’s “Color Technology Partner.”
    • …this monitor has a few caveats.
      • You must use the $300 calibrator to truly color calibrate the monitor, and for the “DreamColor Engine” to work. In other words, in order for the monitor to display the proper Rec. 709 (or another user defined video color space/gamma) the monitor must get a true progressive signal, and it must be RGB.
      • The monitor is equipped with HDMI 1.3a, which supports 10bit per channel depth, but HDMI can be interlaced or progressive. Many capture cards and even stand alone converters might be HDMI 1.3a capable, but most of them will simply pass through the given SDI signal.  So, I now needed to track down the AJA HDP2 which will output both an HDMI 1.3a signal (via an inexpensive DVI to HDMI cable) and it will also output progressive images all the time as RGB (as opposed to Rec. 709 YUV).
    • …the HP LCD calibration kit … measures (among other things) the actual Red, Green and Blue values that are being projected off of your monitor. Then, after the calibration process is complete, the full range of RGB is then mapped to the Rec. 709 (or 601 or whatever you want) color specification and the monitor’s gamma is set to 2.4.
      • Why 2.4 you ask, when Rec. 709 HD has a specified gamma of 2.2?  Well … since this monitor was meant as a true CRT replacement, they measured some of the most well regarded CRT production monitors on the market, the Sony BVM series – and the gamma level coming off of those displays is 2.4, which is why they recommend setting the DreamColor’s gamma to 2.4.  If you don’t like this, you can select any gamma when creating a color profile, along with adjusting the color of the monitor based on the CIE color space. This, then makes the monitor infinitely flexible to your needs.
      • { Esp: I am confused still … is it the case that these monitors, including BVM, do not adhere to 709? }
      • Greg, one of the developers:
        • Regarding the 2.2 gamma. Certainly that’s the recommended gamma for Windows XP, but there’s no reason you can’t use another if you prefer. The key is to make sure you match what your target is. For example, after the initial release we tweaked the factory calibration for Rec.709 to raise the gamma slightly from the standard 2.2. The reason we did this is that we placed the monitor side by side with Sony BVM tube monitors and worked to match the actual response of the monitor. That resulted in a slightly higher gamma than 2.2
    • The only downsides are that any firmware updates have to be done by a computer running Windows, you can’t tweak sharpness, and calibration requires a computer with either DVI or DisplayPort, and a separate USB cable to attach to the monitor — but as a package and value, there’s nothing out there that offers what the DreamColor can do for this price.
  • Forum: http://forums.creativecow.net/thread/223/7928
    • {Esp: This is a huge thread, many posts and pertinent points and useful answers.  Mandatory reading!}
    • Key HP guys there:
      • Greg Staten
      • Dan Bennett
    • What Input Signals it will Accept:
      • you can’t enable the LP2480zx’s internal color engine when the video content is interlaced. This is also true for YUV content. In other words, the HP DreamColor Engine is available ONLY for progressive RGB content. This is due to the architecture of the display, and the re-tasking of its electronics when content needs to be deinterlaced or converted to RGB.
        • Workaround: HP has seen good results with Gefen’s HDSDI to HDMI converter, which can deinterlace and convert to RGB in the box, thereby delivering progressive RGB to the LP2480zx display, whatever the format of the content.
      • …the DreamColor LP2480zx can accept a 2048×1200 signal … It will display a 1920-wide “center cut” of the source.
    • How to Update Firmware
      • (Full stepwise instructions are give, they are too lengthy to sensibly paste here, so will make it a fresh blog item)
      • it needs to be done from a Windows computer.
    • Red Tint:
      • …my Dreamcolor seems too red. Seems a very common complaint. Is this something the probe can deal with, or is it a manufacturing defect that necessitates repair or replacement?
        • Regarding the Red color, that isn’t a common characteristic of the monitor and it is possible that your monitor requires recalibration. You should be able to correct this with the DreamColor calibration probe.
        • And … the calibration probe and software can create a profile (software calibration) of a non-DreamColor monitor.
    • Profiles (ICC etc.)
      • If your system employs a dual link DVI video card it is capable of utilizing two separate icc profiles, one for each monitor
    • Advanced Profiling Solution (Calibrator)
      • Greg (HP:
        • The HP DreamColor calibration kit comes with a modified X-Rite i1D2 calibrator. Due to the very wide gamut of the monitor, we had to modify the calibrator’s firmware so that it could properly read the monitor’s wide gamut color primaries. (Essentially it had to be re-programmed to read a different base wavelength for each R,G,B primary.) Using a standard i1D2 will give incorrect results and wrong calibration.
        • The HP DreamColor probe can be used to calibrate other monitors. Since they have a narrower gamut, it is easy for the probe to operate as a “standard” i1D2 and calibrate other monitors. The HP Advanced Profiling software provides you with that option.
        • At this point the calibration software for Mac and Windows (developed for us by X-Rite) does not support any other calibrators. That said, we and our studio partners have developed an open source calibration tool for Linux called Ookala (http://sourceforge.net/projects/ookala-mcf/) that can be used with either the DreamColor i1D2 or an X-Rite Chroma5. In addition, the hooks are provided to write a driver for different calibration hardware.
      • …how do you calibrate from a mac? i didn´t get mac software with the APS (Advanced Profiling Solution).
        •  APS software for Mac is on the CD that is shipped with the device.
        • http://www.xrite.com/product_overview.aspx?ID=1144&Action=support&SoftwareI…
          • Goes to http://www.xrite.com/product_overview.aspx?ID=1144&action=support
          • Just click the “Mac version” link
      • The APS calibration software will allow you to perform a calibration of non-DreamColor monitors. If you launch the software with multiple monitors connected or with a monitor other than the DreamColor connected it will allow you to select it for calibration.
        • That said, this capability does introduce a risk. It is possible to tell the software to do a standard software calibration of the DreamColor LP2480zx which I emphatically don’t recommend doing. When you are calibrating the DreamColor be sure to select it in the software - which you may have to do twice if you have multiple monitors connected (or have connected the monitor to a laptop) - otherwise you will not perform a hardware calibration of the monitor.
    • HP support is severely lacking.  The HP DreamColor Advanced Profiling Solution as well as the DreamColor Monitor are especially difficult to get tech support information about.
    • There are two specific format converters. Gefen’s, which is only an announcement on their news page at this point (http://www.gefen.com/kvm/news/view-news-item.jsp?news_item_id=171) and Aja’s (http://www.aja.com/products/converters/converters-hd-hi53g.php). Which of these are recommended for sending an HDSDI signal into the DreamColor ?
      • The new Aja Hi5-3G converter sounds like it may work as well as the Gefen …
    • For HP’s tech info:
      • 1. Go to http://www.hp.com
      • 2. Search for “dreamcolor” in the upper right search box, click on the first link.
      • 3. On the HP Dreamcolor product page, in the grey box on the Right Side, click on “HP Support & Drivers”
      • 4. On the Support Page in the bottom section “Resources for HP DreamColor…” Select Manuals
      • 5. The Bottom of the manuals page has 5 white papers which have tons of great info about this monitor.
    • Q: I’ve got HP Dreamcolor monitor connected to MacPro via BlackMagic HD LinkPro (display port) to monitor FCP footage. I managed to calibrate the monitor using APS soft and the Xrite/HP calibrator. During the calibration the monitor is connected to MacPro via DVI cable and works as a computer monitor. Then I disconnect one and use BlackMagic to feed the signal. Is the calibrated profile stored in the monitor regardless of the signal source?
      • A: I believe that the APS color calibration profile is only used when connected via DVI and the Dreamcolor is functioning as a second (or third) computer monitor. As far as I know, as long as your Blackmagic HD is feeding the proper, progressive, RGB signal to the monitor, and your monitor is in the proper color space preset, you will have a correctly calibrated picture. The ICC color profile only comes into effect when the Dreamcolor is connected as a computer display.
    • ???
• DvInfo (Forum)
  • http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/view-video-display-hardware-software/481665-hp-dreamcolor-inquiries-2.html
    • How to output to it, the dithering issue, …
• Sony Vegas (Forum)
  • http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?MessageID=720576&Replies=5
    • Thread (about the DreamColor) started by Serena.
    • …need to acquire the KZ300AA to get serious about calibration.
    • Bill Ravens’ info:
      • http://provideocoalition.com/index.php/atepper/story/dreamcolor_direct_interfaces/
      • http://provideocoalition.com/index.php/atepper/story/dreamcolor_from_hp_an_ideal_tool_for_critical_image_evaluation/
      • Bottom line: unless you feed it RGB progressive, the dreamcolor engine will default to full range RGB. Without the dreamcolor engine, you lose the 10 bit capability.
• RedUser Forum (for users of the RED Camera)
  • http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?p=337581#post337581
    • Another forum: http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?p=1033337918
• ?

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/view-video-display-hardware-software/479831-hp-dreamcolor-calibration.html

•  Q: “‘ve got HP Dreamcolor monitor connected to MacPro via BlackMagic HD LinkPro (display port) to monitor FCP footage. I managed to calibrate the monitor using APS soft and the Xrite/HP calibrator. During the calibration the monitor is connected to MacPro via DVI cable and works as a computer monitor. Then I disconnect one and use BlackMagic to feed the signal. Is the calibrated profile stored in the monitor regardless of the signal source”
• A: “I’ve done some testing and it looks like the calibrated profile stays regardless the connection. “