Dell UP2715K 5K Display: Calibration

Get Dell UP2715K at B&H Photo.

The Dell UP2715K can be set to various display modes. For photographers like your author, a wide gamut approaching the AdobeRGB color space is mandatory, as is true calibration, not faux calibration.

The Dell UP2715K can be set Color Space = AdobeRGB, but then a basic problem comes up: what exactly is the color profile Dell UP2715K? It cannot be two things (or can it?*); therefore it is presumably sRGB and using it with the display set to AdobeRGB mode is thus inaccurate. MPG cannot find any documentation that explains this. Moreover, colors and black point definitely look WRONG when images are viewed with the display set to AdobeRGB.

* If the profile were delivered dynamically over the Mini DisplayPort cable for whatever the current calibration is, then this whole problem goes away. MPG does not know if the profile is dynamic or fixed, but is looking into it.

As far true calibration, the DELL-supplied CD has no OS X software on it. It’s not clear if true calibration is even possible (it’s not possible on the iMac 5K either, or any Mac with a built-in display).

Given these two calibration issues, the display is certainly lovely for casual use: gaming, big spreadsheets, etc, but it is entirely useless for serious photography if color accuracy is required.

Dell UP2715K: which display mode is the color profile for exactly?

Factory calibration worksheet

As delivered in the box with the display.

Dell UP2715K factory calibration sheet as supplied in box