episode 28, intro to color management
video episode 28
I’m often asked, “how do I calibrate my monitor”? What exactly is color management and what are the benefits? The implementation of a good color management system will help you get consistent results when viewing your photos on-screen and when printing them. While implementing color management isn’t critical for the hobbyist, it sure can be nice to make prints that look the image on your monitor.
I’ll be honest, color management was a difficult concept for me to grasp in the beginning. In this video I’d like to share the very non-technical explanation I’ve used to personally understand it. Hopefully it will remove a little of the mystery and encourage you to explore the further, more technical details. With a little understanding and the right tools (like the Eye-One Display 2 Monitor Calibrator) you can become your own professional monitor calibration service.
As mentioned in the video, the place to find technical specifications is UPDIG.ORG (Universal Photographic Digital Imaging Guidelines). You will also find more information in my earlier post: studio color management system.
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Thanks for the tip about the background color. I had been ignoring that influence on color perception.
Hi Jim. The video and audio quality was incredible.Great improvement.
Regards,
MS
But, but, but … I like my lunar eclipse wallpaper
I stayed up through the night to get the shots.
Of all of the threads I have read about color management, the neutral gray background, clothing, and window lights were new to me. Those don’t usually get mentioned for some reason.
There was a discussion in the Luminous Landscape Video Journal, volume 15, about color management. I thought it was interesting and (for me at least) was still accessible.
As a hobbyist I fretted over the cost of the system. But, I print several of my pictures myself and was getting extremely frustrated with the monitor / printer mismatch. So, I compromised. I did get the monitor calibrating equipment (the Spyder brand) and use the pre-packaged ICC printer profiles from my paper manufacturers. It’s not perfect, but it’s *really* close. I can usually accept the small differences. If not, it’s only one more pass through (not the several that had existed before).
Eventually I’ll get the printer calibration equipment too as I’d like to generate custom black and white profiles. It’s just a matter of time and resources like every other decision.
The video is very jittery for some reason.
Thanks for touching on color management, Jim. What are your thoughts on working in Adobe RGB versus sRGB?
Hi Jim and welcome back!!!!
Hopefully its my work PC but I can’t get the video to work. If so, I’ll just have to get my prophotolife video fix when I get home. That was the longest week ever and now this. (Grin) can’t wait to read and veiw the new things we gonna learn this week. Later jim.
Woha - did you just switch to stereo sound? The sound was different!
Thanks for the video - I know what you’re talking about but I still have a closed-loop system for myself only. Someday I’ll need more than that, but for now what I have works because what I do is so amateur
Yep…STEREO sound (no extra charge).
Mike, have you tried pausing the video and letting it load for a bit before trying to play all the way through? Sometimes (if you’re having problems) that helps it preload and play smoothly.
Hmmm, Craig, the diplomat in me says make neutral gray your desktop wallpaper but make the lunar eclipse your screensaver. Best of both worlds?
Matthew, I personally always work in AdobeRGB because it is a larger color space that holds up better under adjustments and tweaks. Then, as a last step, I convert image files to whatever space is recommended for a specific use. Web images and files sent to a color lab get converted “down” to sRGB. Make sense?
It sounds like you have a really smart approach, Nick. It takes another level of investment (money) to create printer profiles. Just getting the monitor dialed in and using supplied printer profiles is a huge improvement, huh?
Once again, another great video! Looking to viewing parts 2, 3 and perhaps 4 dealing with Color Management.
Keep up the excellent videos!
Action!
thank you jim, i need it wow is nice video.. we can be a good photographer with your information, ya sometime is difficult to have good result between image from our camera and image in our monitor jim…
thanks a lot
so what screen calibrator system do people recommend for the hobbyist/advanced amatuer/. im using photoshop cs3/imac with leopard/ and printing with my epson stylus r1800/and shooting canon eos 40d/ and are there any hints/advice you can give on workflow organization topics. My shooting jobs are commercial/ corporate events/portraits/ and
Fine Art.
My only experience is with Eye-One products (formerly Gretag-Macbeth) and I highly recommend them. Their lowest priced unit is the Eye-One Display LT Calibrator
that sells for $169.99. A great thing about it is that it can be upgraded to calibrate printers, also, if you choose to do that down the road. Since you’re doing fine art prints that’s a bonus. Monaco also makes their Spyder unit but I have no personal experience with it. Anyone…?
I used the Spyder to calibrate a laptop and external LCD and was pleased with the results. I haven’t tried their printer calibration, though.
Nice post, I always tried to configure the right color management of my monitor. But i never tried this ICC profile, is very cool.
Let me ask you something, do you have any tip for those who wanna take decent photos of animals? Specially DOGS, they just dont stop for a second…
Congratulations for you website, i learned a lot here.
Ps. sorry my english, im Brazilian, so my mother language is portuguese.
Hello Jim,
This a great info..thanks a ton…
Thanks,
Santosh
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