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Rangefinder Magazine
August 2003

Learning Curve by Bob Rose
A Simplified Guide to Color Management, Part II

Last month, we introduced you to some of the fundamentals of color management and some of the tools required to precisely and consistently predict the color of your output devices. Here is part two of the article.

As far as color temperature selection, with only some specialized exceptions, most CRT’s seem to give best results at the cooler 6500K. It’s an issue of brightness and how the eye sees the image. Even though you’ve probably set your main illumination and viewing boxes to 5000K, the way 5000K appears on a computer Display is so dim that the eye and brain don’t see the match. Displays are, by design, going to change in brightness and color over time and should be recalibrated and profiled with some frequency (once a month or more if you’re a heavy user).

When you measure and characterize a device’s color rendering capabilities (for capture or output) the process of recording this information is called profiling. In fact, this record of the results is automatically placed into a spreadsheet which is called a profile. The only variable is whether you are using a Mac (which generates ICC Profiles) or a PC (which generates ICM Profiles). Both work equally well.

Once profiles for each of your devices are input into the computer, the color management software takes over and finds a way to make every device communicate in a common language. So displays use colorimeters, but printers are profiled using spectrocolorimeters and spectrophotometers. They measure dozens or even hundreds of specially generated color patches on your prints and take into the account the specifics of your hardware, your paper and your inks (or pigment or dyes). Instead of looking at just the red, green and blue phosphors of a display, these instruments typically break the visible spectrum down into 36 wavelengths for greater accuracy. Because of this, they are pricier than a “simple” colorimeter and the process of profiling is more time consuming. However, you do have other profiling options when it comes to output devices.

There are plenty of consultants and companies that will create a custom profile based on the sample print that you send them (but you will need a separate profile for each ink and paper combination and a new one each time ink and paper batches change). Also, if you don’t have a printer and/or you use an outside lab for digital prints and enlargements, the lab will typically supply you with their own profiles plus instructions on how to set up your system to work best with their printers.
Scanners work under very specific operating conditions and require either industry standard IT8.7/1 film targets or IT8.7/2 print targets, but they are often included with the profiling software.

Digital cameras are best profiled with targets created with color patches of a different nature (they’re more highly saturated to simulate real world extremes). So plan to use a ColorChecker® with your camera. Most of the settings and installation of color management-related files are automatic. However, if you want to see what’s available to you in the way of controls, click on the “Edit” tab in Photoshop and then go to “Color Settings.”

For general photographic work you can check the “Advanced Mode” box and also select “U.S. Prepress Defaults.” While you’re there you should also look at the “Intent” choices under “Conversion Options.” This is Adobe’s control to help you deal with how it positions colors that are outside the range (Gamut) of what the printer can handle. There are many technical explanations of exactly how each of these four “Conversion Options” manages this, but a simple way of deciding what to test first is based on your work. If you’re dealing with photos select “Perceptual; for graphics try “Saturated;” on logos choose “Relative Colorimetric;” and if you need the most Strict Conversion (including simulation of the color of the paper base) use “Absolute Colorimetric.”

Photoshop also offers the absolute best way to preview how something will print with Proof Setup (available under “View”). By making the display simulate the printer, you get as close as possible to the final result. And, for the very advanced, there are powerful editing software tools that allow you to actually modify color profiles. It’s a way to fine tune how colors in general are reproduced to make the palette more customized (sort of the equivalent of giving your images a Fujichrome look or an Ektachrome look, or almost any-thing you like). But be careful and use this power wisely! Many decisions will be required as you work your way through this process and you’re probably going to feel much more comfortable if there’s someone to help you along when the questions come. I recommend you select a vendor who knows the products and can support you before, during and after the sale.

ColorVision
One of the most popular devices for Profiling Displays is the Spyder. The entry level model is $329 but for greater flexibility and control, consider the $429 PRO package which includes PhotoCAL. For $169 ProfilerPLUS software adds the limited ability to use your scanner to profile your printer, but if you don’t have a scanner or you want an easier way, ColorVision just introduced the new PrintFIX. PrintFIX is a print profiling system which consists of a portable print patch scanner and software, which works with a small but growing number of inkjet printers providing automatic operation for $339 by itself, or in a bundle with SpyderPRO for $559. For the greatest level of sophistication and support for virtually all printers, you’ll want the Spyder Master Suite Spectro. This $1129 suite includes the Spectro with ProfilerPRO software, the SpyderPRO package and the sophisticated Profile editing capabilities of DoctorPRO.

GretagMacbeth
From the precise land of Switzerland comes the Eye-One family. Start calibrating and profiling your display with the new Eye-One Display for $249. Or step up to the full-fledged Eye-One Photo all-in-one device that lets you calibrate and profile displays and RGB Printers for $1495 (and includes the scan target, scanning ruler, ambient light measurement head, flat panel and CRT holders, and positioning target shown here). If you want to profile scanners or CMYK devices, you can purchase a software upgrade or go straight to the Eye-One Publish for $2695. There’s also an Eye-One Beamer solution for $1655 that will profile your digital projectors, or upgrade your Eye-One to add this feature for $595. A wide assortment of other hardware and software is also available but when it comes time to take real command, consider the ProfileMaker family. Individual software modules provide sophisticated controls and range in price from $400 to $2000 but you can get them all in the Pro version for $2995.

Monaco & X-Rite
Supporting a wide range of hardware from a variety of manufacturers, Monaco offers a product for just about everyone. Profile your display with MonacoOPTIX for $299 or go straight to the bundle with MonacoEZColor for $548. MonacoEZColor provides profile editing and offers a unique print-profiling solution that uses a flatbed scanner in combination with a factory calibrated target. Monaco-PROOF gives you more input, output and editing options for $1650 and MonacoPROFILER Gold adds sophisticated press output for $2950. They’re both available as upgrades too. Monaco has specially priced packages with Eye-One hardware. They’ve also teamed up with X-Rite and can offer a complete system solution with the Monaco-PROOF/ MonacoOPTIX/X-Rite DTP-22 bundle for $2500 (the print Profiling X-Rite DTP-22 is available separately for $1450).

Pictographics
Pictographics produces some very sophisticated color management products under license for special applications. We’re fortunate that the offshoot of that technology can be made available to us for as little as $79.95. Actually that’s the price of iCorrect Professional, which offers some unique features like auto correction and “memory” colors to help, as they say, Make the Color Right!™. For $99.95 you can get iCorrect Edit which adds saturation/hue adjustments and input Profile editing. There’s also a special combination price of $199.95 for iCorrectEdit and inCamera (a Digital Camera/Scanner Profiling plug-in).

Profile your Printer
From left to right are a selection of handheld measuring devices. A Spectrocolorimeter from Color-Vision is shown along with Spectrophotometers from Gretag-Macbeth and X-Rite. They support a wide range of different printer calibration targets which allow you to fine tune virtually any output device.

Profile your Printer Hands Free (Almost)
Measuring all those color patches on the prints can take a lot of time (especially if you print out the target with 1728 patches) so if you’re going to do it a lot, you might want to consider getting an automatic measuring device. Two of the more popular models are shown here. The X-Rite DTP-41 goes for $2595 and the GretagMacbeth iCColor 210 sells for $3250. Other versions and upgrades offer transmission capability and make the investment work for photographic process control too.

Bob Rose started in the photo industry in 1978 after graduating from RIT. He taught at Parsons School of Design until 1982 and started working with digital products in 1990. Rose has been a contributor to the Focal Press Encyclopedia of Photography. He formed his own company, VMI, in 1999. He can be reached at: vmi-inc@earthlink.net.