This solution lets you get the best, most accurate, color possible with your Dell UltraSharp display.
Q: I have turned my DELL on. It does not look like I expected?
A: Keep in mind that your DELL requires approximately 60 minutes to stabilize for best color results. The DELL has both DisplayPort (DP) and High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) inputs. Keep in mind that you may see different results due to cabling and input method.
Q: What operating systems are supported?
A: DUCCS is supported and fully tested on Windows 7, 8, and 10. DUCCS is supported and fully tested on MacOS 10.8, 10.9, 10.10, 10.11, and 10.12. There is no current ETA for support on newer versions of MacOS.
Can I profile multiple displays on one computer?
A: Yes. Most computers have video cards that can support two displays with separate International Color Consortium (ICC) profiles. Four profiled displays per computer is the maximum with this software.
Q: Do all my displays need to be DELL branded?
A: Although we would like it if you owned more than one DELL branded display, you can use the DUCCS software with a non-DELL display.
Q: Where will I find additional technical support?
A: There are links to technical support on the bottom right corner of the home page of the software program. Also, there is context sensitive help in the program by choosing the Help screen, and hovering over an option with your pointing device.
Q: I already own an X-Rite device. Can I use it with DUCCS software?
A: Yes. Owners of X-Rite i1PRO2 and i1Pro spectrophotometers can also use this program for display calibration.
Q: The DUCCS software looks similar to i1Profiler software from X-Rite. Can I use i1Profiler software instead?
A: The DUCCS software is based on i1Profiler technology. But please use the DUCCS software to access the hardware color controls to achieve best results. Use of i1Profiler is possible, but not optimal.
Q: Is there a Users Manual?
A: There is no PDF or physical manual for the DUCCS software. You find links to technical resources on the home page of the program, and a context sensitive help menu option in the program.
Q: When I launch the DUCCS program, it says "Powered by X-Rite." Who do I contact for assistance?
A: DUCCS software is fully supported by DELL. X-Rite color technology is used by this program, and your measurement device was manufactured by X-Rite. But please contact DELL support for all questions or concerns.
Q: Every profiling mode in the program is labeled "DEMO." Why is that?
A: Until you connect the X-Rite i1Display PRO to a USB port, the software shows a DEMO for all functions. Once you connect the X-Rite i1Display PRO device, the Display and Projector icons become active. You could also connect an X-Rite i1Pro or i1PRO2 spectrophotometer to enable display profiling.
Q: Printer profiling and scanner profiling are labeled "DEMO." Why is that?
A: The software does have the ability to be used for printer and scanner profiling, but you must have an X-Rite spectrophotometer that is connected to use those features. You can connect an i1Pro, i1PRO2, i1 iO table, i1 iSis or i1 iSis2 model to enable printer profiling.
Q: What is the difference between choosing Basic or Advanced mode on the home screen?
A: The Basic mode sets correct settings for color temperature, luminance, and contrast, then display the colors that are needed to create the International Color Consortium (ICC) profile. This quick procedure gives a good result on the DELL display.
The Advanced mode uses the Automatic Display Calibration feature and do an in-depth setting of the hardware color controls in the display before displaying the colors needed to create a profile. Using the Advanced mode gives an excellent result, but will take a longer time. Graphics professionals and color critical users find many industry specific option choices available in this mode.
Q: Will Advanced mode build a better profile than Basic mode?
A: Yes, the Advanced mode offers direct control of the color control hardware that is built into the DELL UltraSharp, and can produce a better result.
Q: In the Licensing area on the home screen, the last four icons have a red question mark. What is wrong?
A: Those red question marks refer to licenses for printer and scanner profiling. You would need to use an X-Rite i1 family spectrophotometer for those question marks to change to green checkmarks.
Q: In Application Info on the home screen, what is XRD?
A: XRD refers to X-Rite Device Services. This is software that automatically loads when you launch DUCCS, and then handles device communication with the software. This allows us to update device communication features separately to updating the entire software program.
Q: How long does my UltraSharp need to warm up?
A: Dell recommends at least 60 minutes before creating a color profile.
Q: What UltraSharp menu settings do I need to choose?
A: When you use the DUCCS software, the on-screen display (OSD) will be locked. Conversely, when you have the OSD open, the DUCCS software will not see the USB communication from the display to the computer. The Universal Serial Bus (USB) communication is the restriction, and it will be controlled by the OSD’s state.
Q: Should I mirror my UltraSharp if I have two displays?
A: When creating a monitor profile, you do not want to mirror your displays. Either uncheck Mirror option or choose Extended Displays depending on your operating system.
Q: Why would I choose Native vs. the other options?
A: Many design creative users want to use the full color gamut possible on the UltraSharp, and do not require that the display correspond to any industry specification. Alternately, the UltraSharp offers the ability to be set for use with industry color space descriptions such as AdobeRGB and Rec. 709. Your specific choice varies depending on your needs.
Q: In Measurement Instrument, it says "i1PRO not found."
A: On the home screen of the program, you choose if you are using a X-Rite i1Display PRO, or a different device, such as an i1Pro/i1PRO2. Go back to the home screen and change to i1Display. You see the image change to match your measurement device’s appearance.
Q: In Calibration Setup, What is Calibration Preset – Calibration 1?
A: DUCCS can save the color calibration settings to one of two settings stored in the display. This allows you to have two different color settings that are easily selected by the display’s menu. Someone who worked in both print and video mediums could choose to use AdobeRGB and save to Calibration 1 setting for print work, and then choose Rec. 709, saving to Calibration 2 settings for video projects.
Q: Can I change the file name that is used to save my profile?
A: Once you have saved an ICC profile, you do not want to change the file name. ICC (also called ICM) profiles have external names and internal names. When you change the external name, you change what you see in a file listing. However, the software programs that need to use that profile look to the internal names. So changing an external name causes the profile to not be found if you were to look for it, in an application program.
Q: In Profile Distribution, my Mac’s System Level is "Not Writable." Why?
A: The recent versions of the MacOS have restricted the access to the System Level Library folder. Saving your profile to the User Level is correct. An expert user could change this setting, but we advise against it.
Q: Can I make changes in my menu settings after creating and saving my profile?
A: If, after you create and save a monitor profile in DUCCS, you then make physical changes to the OSD settings for brightness, contrast or color cast, you will be invalidating the profile that you created. If you do make any such changes, please note them, so you can change them back when you wish to restore the color result from the profile that is most recently created or chosen.
Q: Where did the Help Screen go? It was there when I used Basic mode.
A: When you open the Advanced mode, the Help screen will now change to an Asset View. You can choose the Help screen vs. the Asset view, by clicking the Help icon in the lower left area of the program.
Q: I measured my Ambient Light levels. Why do I get two measurements? (lx and cd/m2)
A: Ambient light levels can be expressed in different units of measurement. Lx refers to Lux, and would be a unit of measurement that is used in video or scientific environments. Cd/m2 refers to Candela per square meter, and is a more commonly used unit of measurement in the photographic and printing industries.
Q: I measured my other display’s luminance. Now what?
A: If you are using two displays, setting them to the same luminance level is critical if you wish to see similar color results. Display color temperature changes with the luminance level set, so establishing a common luminance setting is an important step in making displays look more similar.
Q: What is the difference between Small, Medium and Large patch sets?
A: By using a larger number of color values for measurement, the software has the ability to make a more accurate profile. However not all images may show a visual difference or improvement by choosing a larger number of patch values. We would recommend that you start with the Small patch set, to have a baseline for evaluation, should you choose to try the other larger patch sets. Yes, a larger patch set takes more time to measure.
Q: I am clicking "Patches from Spot Colors," or "Patches from Image," but nothing’s happening. Why?
A: You can import specific colors from images (TIFF or JPEG) or from spot color files that are saved from other X-Rite software (CxF file format). Clicking the icon to import those values is not sufficient. You would need to select those image or spot color files by file name. This is not a requirement, but an option for a customized display profile.
Q: What do the Page Data "Load" and "Save" buttons do? Do I need to use them?
A: One benefit of the Advanced mode is the ability to save information at any point in the workflow. Many people would choose to save their measurement file prior to moving to the final stage of creating the display profile. Being able to review a measurement file can be helpful if you encounter an error in creating a profile. You can then reload that saved measurement file and see if a change in profile creation settings allows you to complete the profile. This saves considerable time vs. having to redo the entire measurement process.
Q: What does "Selected Calibration Matrix, GB LED" mean?
A: GB LED is the specific illumination hardware that is used by the UltraSharp. This is automatically selected when the software recognizes the UltraSharp is in use. Many other displays use other lighting technologies, such as White LED. GB LED illumination offers many technical advantages in rendering more accurate color on-screen.
Q: The Display Hardware Setup choices are grayed out? Why?
A: When you select the UltraSharp to be the display to be calibrated, the software automatically recognizes the required settings, so you do not need to select them.
Q: Do I always need to choose a Calibration Preset?
A: Yes, when using DUCCS software with the UltraSharp, you will always want to determine if you wish to save to the Calibration 1 or Calibration 2 preset.
Q: I have entered the Automatic Display Control mode, but need to stop the process. Where’s the Stop or Cancel button?
A: The Automatic Display Control (ADC) feature can take a number of minutes with the UltraSharp, due to the complete control of the hardware offered. The current version of the software does not have a cancel button available until the ADC feature completes. We would recommend that you allow the ADC process to complete to avoid having the display end up in an unstable color condition.
Q: I am clicking "Create and Save Profile" but nothing’s happening. Why?
A: In the workflow selector across the bottom of the DUCCS software, you can jump between any of the steps in the workflow as required. The most common cause of not being able to save a profile would be accidentally selecting the profile icon before you completed the Measurement step. Click the Measurement icon and after the measurements have been completed, you can save the profile.
Q: Why do not my displays match?
A: This is caused by comparing two displays of different manufacturers, often with different display quality levels.
When comparing two different displays, you need to ensure both use the same color temperature, luminance, gamma, and contrast settings at a minimum.
Also consider is the viewing angle each display is using. LCD displays do not have the same color response off-angle, and it is likely that when using two screens you will sit in front of one, or between the two resulting in a different viewing angle for each display.
You need to be familiar with the basic menu settings of your display and special features that you might need to disable. Knowledge of the ability to adjust the display features of your display (brightness, color temperature, contrast etc.) and the limitations of connections that are used can have a dramatic effect on the appearance on your display. Configurations using Dell UltraSharp displays and other displays with different characteristics can be challenging, and if you are not fully aware of the configuration capabilities of all displays in use the results can be misleading and unsatisfactory.
When investigating a "difference" in UltraSharp vs. another display, you should obtain the ICC profile that the DUCCS software saves. You can simply drag and drop that profile onto the ICC profile icon in the workflow, and that loads all the settings that are used for that other display’s profile. This gives you a demonstration of how the settings appear and if these settings for the two displays make them look similar.
When a device is first used, it is a normal reaction to use that configuration as a reference standard. (Like the first time you hear a song sung, you compare all versions to that version.) It is impossible to avoid some degree of comparison between two examples of an image on two separate displays, and due to the factors already mentioned. It can be challenging to make two dissimilar displays look "identical." The best option is to use displays that are as close to identical as possible to result in nearly identical visual appearance.
Q: What amount of time is needed to create a display profile?
A: Each computer configuration can differ in terms of how long the measurement and computation of a display profile will require.