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Ebook 2013 EN Update1013-V05 PDF
Ebook 2013 EN Update1013-V05 PDF
Datacolor
C. David Tobie Global Product Technology Manager
Preface
High quality digital photography with if color accuracy was required it could era chip captures an image using an Anyone who has ever tried using an
RAW files is no longer a complex sci- only be achieved using specialty labs RGB color model. RGB stands for artists paint kit to mix an exact color,
ence, but can now be quite easy to at premium prices. red, green, blue, and refers to an ad- has a rough idea of how difficult it is to
achieve, a photo is reviewed on the Working in the current digital dark- ditive color space, similar to the red, reproduce colors as seen by the eye,
cameras LCD screen and downloaded room on your desktop has many ad- green, blue color cone system in the using dyes or pigments. Many ama-
to a computer for editing. There you vantages. But the photographer or human eye. teurs can live with the color differences
can adjust, retouch, and print. Even for designer is now responsible for the After copying the images to the com- of an uncalibrated system. But seri-
the non-technical person these pro- technical problems that can occur be- puter, we see the pictures on a moni- ous photographers and professionals
cesses work well today, after a short tween capture and print, and the final tor, using the RGB colors the camera cannot.
and painless learning curve. image color. produced. Already we are dealing with The goal of this series is to teach you
But the professional photographer Colors do not automatically show on two devices that have different color what you need to know to control your
was not always responsible for color the computer monitor exactly as they capabilities, and which define color dif- digital color.
management. Previously they shot a are defined in the image file. Techni- ferently. If the image is then sent to a
photo, had the film developed, and cally, this is not surprising: working printer, the printer driver converts the
received chromes or proof prints from with three different devices that do data again; moving us from the colors
the lab. If the colors were not accurate, not share a common denominator is of the light the camera saw, to inks -
no one blamed the photographer. But bound to cause problems. The cam- using anywhere from 4 to 12 ink colors.
Anyone who has worked with slide a scene lit with a cold light, a warm in- Unfortunately this could mean that These systems were not only expen-
film knows the difference between candescent bulb, or a fluorescent light. photographers shooting in JPEG format sive but also very inflexible. Some-
daylight and artificial light film. The To adjust to any light condition, digital would need different profiles or camera times they did not even offer any
two types reproduce the color of a sub- cameras meter the exposure before a corrections for every light condition. form of data-communication to the
ject in different ways, so the colors in white balance. They measure the lu- This is solved when shooting in RAW outside. The first ICC standard was
mismatched lighting conditions, with minance, then adjust the Kelvin scale mode by the flexibility to adjust these published in 1993. It provided a de-
such film, are wrong. This is necessary color temperature. settings in post-production. scription of the color rendering be-
because, unlike the adjustable human havior of each component in a device-
eye, film does not change in response Anyone who has worked with RAW independent specification language.
to various intensities and colors of light. files is familiar with these settings. In
With digital photography, the situation actual use, further complicating fac-
ICC Background
is a bit more complicated; the sensors tors may occur. This results in a mix of Today, the ICC standard cur-
are so sensitive, and so literal, that ad- automatic camera settings, and manual The acronym ICC refers to the Interna- rently stands at version 4.3. There
justments for each lighting situation settings carefully selected by the pho- tional Color Consortium, an organiza- is more information about the ICC
are required. In contrast to the eye, the tographer. tion composed of representatives from and its standards on the Internet at
sensor sees a huge difference between hardware and software manufacturers. www.color.org.
If photos are
taken in RAW 3. Color Profiles
Mode, it does not
The third area of color management is cus-
matter which tom measured color profiles. Their task is
color profile you to correct the characteristics of an input
set in the camera. or output device, to make it compatible
The application with the standards in the color managed
of this profile workflow.
only occurs
when rendering For example, a monitor profile is simply a
table of measurement points in which the
out of the RAW
detected values of the device are recorded.
converter The color management of the operating
system and the application provides the
necessary correction for each color based
on these measurements. These color pro-
files are used by the operating system and
by color managed applications. Individu-
al programs access display profiles from
the operating system. This was discussed in
the Color Model section. While printers are
technically reflective devices using CMYK
inks (and often other inks as well) the files
2. Color Spaces sent to them are left in RGB. Individual pro-
or space of your camera. Those using files are created for each printer. Not just a
The RGB color model includes most RGB. sRGB is the default for basic camer- more advanced cameras or working single profile for each printer, but one for
of the colors visible to the human eye. as and applications which offer no choic- with people who do so, tend to use the each combination of printer, ink, and pa-
However, cameras, monitors, ink print- es. For those editing images on the com- Adobe RGB working space. However, it per. Those who use multiple papers or ink
ers or imagesetters can never show all puter, but sending to a low cost photo is recommended that data that is not sets must make corresponding profiles for
the colors visible to the human eye, but lab or publishing on the internet, the in Adobe RGB on-delivery not be au- each printer, ink and paper combination.
only some subset. The RGB model begins sRGB color space is appropriate. Owners tomatically converted on opening, but The profiles are stored in a designated lo-
with a RGB working space in Photoshop of more advanced cameras can choose initially left in their original color space cation known to the operating system and
which determines what colors will be whether they wish to take their pic- (change Convert when Opening in the applications. RGB data is transmitted to the
available. RGB working space choices are tures in the (slightly smaller) sRGB color color settings to Ask when Opening. printer driver, which uses the custom pro-
based on those installed in the operat- space or Adobe RGB. If they choose Ado- The conversion, if it proves necessary file to optimize color and output for all the
ing system or your imaging applications. be RGB, they should set this color space later, be made using the Convert to ink colors in the printer. Users of Photo-
There could be many, but for photo- as their working space in Photoshop. Ba- Profile command in Photoshop while shop, Lightroom, and Aperture can also use
graphic purposes, only two color spaces sically your guide for the choice of Pho- keeping an eye on the image during these printer profiles for previewing output
need to be considered: sRGB and Adobe toshop working space is the source col- conversion to look for changes. in Soft Proof mode.
1. Exposure in RAW format 2. Developed in the RAW converter 3. Finalized in Photoshop 4. Output on an Inkjet Printer
Benefits for
small text file. For other recording sys- chemical darkroom, all without work- image, while never changing the orig- Photographers
tems without CMOS technology, such ing in the dark, or using chemicals. In- inal data. The result is image versions
as the SuperCCDs from Fuji or the Fo- stead, the photographer can now sit in for different print sizes or papers, dif- Photographers with a high volume of
veon chips that are built into the Sig- a dimly lit room and develop images ferent uses such as press output, or the images benefit from such workflows
ma DSLRs, the memory requirement of with simple-to-use sliders adjusting dif- internet, all from a single master file. in several respects. They retain maxi-
mum control over the way the image
raw photos is less favorable, as more ferent aspects of the digital image. This
is matched. This can be compared
initial data is captured per sensor. applies, in principle, to the other im- Many RAW converters including Cap-
most closely to a specialized photo lab,
age file formats. However, RAW offers ture One, Aperture, and Lightroom
where you work with a highly skilled
From Image to Workflow old-school photographers the wonder- connect these photo-development lab technician - only without the cost,
ful opportunity to make settings adjust- functions with a Image Management time, and communication problems.
When processing RAW images, the ments that once needed to happen on System, which further helps in the man- There are also features that allow the
photographer can adjust virtually all the camera, after the fact in post-pro- agement of the files and versions. It reduction of color noise, chromatic ab-
parameters. Except, of course, ba- cessing. RAW files also have the ben- is now possible, in a single operation, erration, and lens vignetting. In addi-
sic factors such as over-exposure, fo- efit of never actually changing or los- for images to be downloaded from tion, automations can be configured to
cal length, aperture and shutter speed. ing your original data, any adjustments the camera or from a memory card, re- create various TIFF versions, as well as
Correction capabilities go far beyond are reversible, not permanent. Adjust- named as desired, or according to IPTC automatically creating JPEG previews
what was previously possible in the ments create different versions of the labeling conventions, scaled, convert- for direct emailing or web uploading.
Problem Areas
RAW is not a single format, but a
generic description. It has nothing to
do with the Photoshop Raw format.
Since the early days of RAW, camera
manufacturers have each used their
If you investigate these processes Benefits for Digital images or photographs, a time-saving own proprietary format, adjusted for
with an open mind, its possible to cre- workflow is not the key to this type of each camera model, to meet their own
ate a RAW workflow custom tuned to Artists and Designers work. Their first need is a good content- needs; and only more recently have
your individual needs. It is also pos- tagged image database to find the de-
provided access to these RAW formats
sible to save similar workflows for spe- Creative Image Editors relocate the sired images quickly. The selected imag-
for outside applications. In the long
cific types of work or clients. A color design aspect of shooting to the post- es are then easily managed in a project
workflow for studio photography might processing stage. One result of this is run, the Adobe DNG format may be-
folder at the system level, outside of
include a color conversion for uniformly that they photograph more items for come a standard, at least for the small-
any Image Management Workflow.
warm skintones or to enhance the color later composing or compositing. Be- er camera companies, but until then,
of product shots made in a particular cause of the lower resolution and qual- But the creative designer should not you still have to convert most RAW
type of studio set. Another workflow ity of their final output, they often work underestimate the value of a RAW file formats with the Adobe DNG Con-
configuration can be for pure image with JPEG files. With a few technical workflow. It can produce better qual- verter. For the RAW user that has con-
optimization. Such corrections can in- tricks they can hide weaknesses in im- ity results by allowing adjustments in sequences. As long as the photogra-
clude timesaving automations of ad- ages in the background where they go exposure and gradients while avoiding pher works with the manufacturers
justments to tonal values, sharpness, unnoticed. Since they spend much more the type of visual artifacts that occur proprietary formats, and with the cam-
and image color. time with the processing of individual from JPEG compression. Since the com- era manufacturer supplied software,
RAW processing
its only possible to access the intend-
is the only
ed, often very modest, correction pa-
rameters. Working in Photoshop, one effective way
will have more powerful capabilities, to control orange
but not directly related to what was in- peel skin textures
tended by the manufacturer. Export- in Photoshop or
ing images into DNG, the manufactur- Lightroom. With
ers applications can no longer process this option you
the images. Also, third-party software,
have a powerful
particularly the image databases, offer
but seldom
support for DNG, but some databas-
es are still incompatible. The IPTC cap- appreciated form
tions of RAW files is currently problem- of digital makeup.
atic. Some editors may insert data into
RAW files, but without much care, re-
sulting in files that can only be read by
the specific program that processed it.
When RAW files are processed in Pho-
toshop, the program stores the ad-
justments in an external XML sidecar
file. Unless a proprietary RAW solution
also works with special THM files, then
you may now need to manage three between manufacturers, but between using a fast, comfortable and option- Since then one of the driving forces
files per photo: RAW, XML, and THM. If camera models. Such device-specific rich application. But this limited foray assuring photographers will update
DNG is widely recognized and is sup- uncontrolled growth has had annoy- into RAW processing by Photoshop their copy of Photoshop is the need to
ported by Photoshop and all the other ing side effects for the user. Although 7 showed the disarray of the market. do so, in order to have RAW support
RAW editors, these problems could be the individual RAW files are supported Many recent camera models did not for the most recent camera models.
eliminated. by the latest versions of the manu- have support. In practice, maintaining
facturers software, only these with and adding support for RAW in ACR DNG has been functioning in Photo-
DNG long-time experience with a manu- became a drain on Adobes resources. shop Camera Raw from the CS 1 version
facturer and its software wish to use Those who exported files directly to and in Lightroom from version 1. We
(Adobe Digital Negative) these proprietary applications. Some Photoshop 7, for example, from the can access all newer RAW files, convert-
offer very few controls. Others offer supported Canon D60, found no RAW ed with the frequently updated, and
So far, each camera manufacturer has an impressive range of functions, but support for the EOS 10. Frustratingly, free, Adobe DNG Converter into the
created proprietary RAW formats for are so processor intensive they bring the only missing component was a DNG format. After this step they can be
each camera model. All these formats even a powerful computer to a halt. small change to the header data in the edited in the older versions of Photo-
contain more or less the same infor- EOS 10 files. Full support for this and shop, which otherwise do not support
mation and metadata, but the small In late 2003 Adobe introduced the ACR other models from Pentax, Olympus, newer camera models.
differences have led us to expect a plu- plug-in for Photoshop 7. It allows us to and Sigma, were only available months
rality of formats. Formats differ not just process many common RAW formats later, in a later version of Photoshop.
Conclusion
Photoshop users will benefit from the
research and standardization of the
DNG format. Adobes position in the in-
dustry should provide continuity, al-
lowing users to convert their raw files
to DNG and thus have a high chance of
being able to use the images in the dis-
tant future. An additional advantage is
the reduction of the raw data to a sin-
gle file, if users are willing to delete the
RAW versions after DNG conversion.
Camera Calibration
Color management should start when the camera profiles for each illuminant the
image is captured. This is heard in each dis- unique light of the scene being captured.
cussion about digital color. However, not all With ICC camera profiles, calibration for
photographers use custom camera calibra- each lighting condition is a basic require-
tion, as this requires creation time and ad- ment. With non-ICC processes, such as
ditional hardware. Datacolors SpyderCHECKR, it is possible to
This basic fact is true, every digital cam- create a single calibration preset that com-
era model suffers from its own unique color pensates reasonably well for almost all situ-
deficiencies. ations.
This has good and bad sides. When the You may still choose to create several
colors in an image are displayed more satu- calibrations for standard situations or for
rated than in reality, many amateurs are best results, create calibrations for specific,
pleased since the enhanced color is pleas- color-critical jobs.
ing to their eye. Many experts, however, The use of factory profiles is only reluc-
turn away in horror from such oversatu- tantly recommended, because the manu-
rated pictures. Its their goal that the color facturing tolerances for the production
should be as neutral and faithful to the of camera image sensors can vary widely.
original as possible. If the image is to be Thus, standard calibrations do not account
made more colorful than reality, the expert for the individual camera sensors specific
should do it with full control on the com- behavior, nor do they account for different,
puter display using Photoshop. unique lighting conditions.
Thus, camera calibration is not a first To create custom calibrations, one needs
priority for digital artists, photojournalists special profiling software and a compatible
working under time pressure, or other pho- color target with an integrated light trap, if
tographers who have great color freedom possible.
in their work. Custom calibrations value The extra effort required to create these
delivers where accuracy is paramount, custom calibrations results in a high degree
such as art reproduction and product pho- of color reliability and accuracy. This applies
tography, but also facilitates the work of not only to photography for fine art repro-
portrait photographers, helping to deliver duction and product photography, but also
Photo: Oliwer Mews
Neutral Gray Value Even gray garments such as the one shown above are far from neutral, due to opti-
cal brighteners in the detergent. A truly neutral gray can only be ensured by using a
reference object, which is designed to be neutral gray under any light source. So, ad-
The eyedroppers tools in Photoshop, Lightroom and other applications work quite vanced photographers work with gray cards or other tools, such as the SpyderCUBE
well. You use the eyedropper to click on a neutral gray tone to color balance the im- from Datacolor. For a series of similarly lit images, you can shoot the gray reference
age. The problem is finding an area of the image that contains a neutral tone. Metal once and use Adobe Camera Raw or Lightroom to apply the same correction to all the
surfaces are fairly good for this, but often contain a bluish cast causing a cool tint. images shot in the series simultaneously.
Balancing Contrast
From a technical standpoint, a good The top-mounted chrome ball reflects
image has a balanced relationship light sources, providing specular
between contrast values. Not only highlight samples. You use this to set
must the camera record many color absolute white, in comparison to
values correctly, but it must also deter- the highlights, which are measured
mine the correct exposure, find the from the primary and secondary light
optimal black and white points, and source white surfaces. You can use the
determine the neutral gray of the SpyderCUBE with both JPEG and RAW
image. Since almost all cameras show images. To get the best quality from
deficiencies in these functions, there the workflow, we show the work being
are tools to help find an accurate neu- done with RAW images.
tral value, and set the optimal contrast
values.
Brightness TIP:
Black Level
Now, look at the histogram and adjust the exposure Use the chrome ball for a reference for If your software has a tool to set the black level, click in the light trap with it. If, as in
slider so that no color channel is clipped at either the specular highlight areas and blown-out Lightroom, there is no such tool, set black levels using available tools so that you can
highlight or shadow end. Keep an eye on the CUBE. If whites. The flat white faces on the CUBE perceive a clear difference between the black surface on the CUBE and the black hole
your exposure correction causes highlights to blow must always show detail. Optimal of the light trap. If you have the black clipping warning turned on, this will show as
settings are white 90% exposure,
out or shadows to block up, correct these using the filling most of the trap with the warning color. The resulting exposure value of the
black face (directly illuminated) 10%,
Highlights or Shadows sliders, circled in red. otherwise: black 5%.
light trap should be 0%.
Transferring Settings In the second method in Adobe Bridge, select all the images to adjust, including the
CUBE image, and open these images in Adobe Camera Raw. Click on the CUBE image
In order to apply the settings you just created to all the other images you captured first, make the adjustments you want if you have not already, and then select all the
under the same lighting conditions there are different methods depending on the other images. Click on the Synchronize button. All the other images will be adjusted to
software and user preference. Photoshop Camera Raw has two approaches. In the first, match the adjustments made to the image with the SpyderCUBE. The first method is
make all the adjustments to the image with the CUBE and then close the image. Next, in recommended for a large number of images, the second will depend on the number of
Adobe Bridge, select all the images shot with the same lighting conditions. Right-click images and the amount of memory you have assigned to Adobe Camera Raw.
on the images and select Previous Conversion. Adobe Bridge will apply all the settings In Lightroom, similar results can be achieved by either moving to the next image and
you made to the image of the SpyderCUBE to all of the images selected. You will be choosing the Apply Previous button at the bottom right column of the Develop Mod-
offered the option to apply all settings or various subsets. Be sure to include the adjust- ule, or saving as a User Preset in the Left column and applying that preset to all images
ments made to the SpyderCUBE image. shot under similar conditions.
SpyderCHECKR Measuring
Install and activate the SpyderCHECKR software first. Then, open the image you cre- slider to adjust the brightness so that the field E1 shows RGB values of approximately
ated of the SpyderCHECKR in your usual application, as it needs to be balanced there 90% (90/90/90). Then, use the black slider to read a value for square E6 (4). Adjust the
first. Here we use Lightroom 4. Crop the image to the four white corner dots to in- slider so that the black value of square E6 is about 4% (4/4/4). Its not always possible to
clude only the target. (1). Next, use the Custom White Balance tool on field E3 of the match the exact values. In such cases you should try to get close, achieving an average
CHECKR, to measure and balance the color temperature (2). Next, move the mouse as shown in the bottom histogram. These adjustments to color-balance and exposure-
over the field E1 and read the RGB values under the histogram (3). Use the Whites compensate the target shot, to allow the most accurate calibration results.
SpyderCHECKR Software CHECKR software window. The software will display your cropped target image with an
overlay. Adjust the overlay by rotating and scaling it until the squares of the overlay are
roughly centered in the squares of the target, as shown.
Next, in Lightroom, launch the SpyderCHECKR software to read the target values and Next, choose a mode for your color profile. For literal color, choose Colorimetric.
build a color profile. First, right-click on the image of the target to show a contextu- Choosing Saturation bumps the color intensity of images slightly. Using Portrait reduc-
al menu, and select SpyderCHECKR under Edit In (assuming that you have set up es the saturation of red and orange tones in order to make skin tones look more pleasing.
SpyderCHECKR as your optional external editor). If you are using Adobe Camera Raw Finally, save the profile for the application in which you wish to use it later. To use the new-
instead of Lightroom, you must launch the SpyderCHECKR application externally, by ly created preset, relaunch Lightroom, Adobe Camera Raw or Phocus so that the new pre-
clicking on its icon in the Applications folder. You will need to save the image of the set will be recognized. To see how the correction affects an image, look in the field HSL.
CHECKR youve just adjusted as a 16-bit TIF file in AdobeRGB. Drag this saved file into the There, the channels change after applying one of the presets.
Auto-Focus Calibration
First, mount your camera on a tripod. aimed perpendicular to LENSCALs tar-
If you have a second tripod, mount get. Set the camera to use a low ISO value,
SpyderLENSCAL at the same height as such as ISO 100 or 200, and a short shut-
your lens. Alternately, set the LENSCAL ter speed. This combination will have low-
on a firm, level surface, such as a desk or er noise and higher levels of sharpness as
table. Adjust your tripod until your cam- a result. (You may need to use addition-
era lens is level with the LENSCAL and is al lighting to achieve these settings).
Focus the camera squarely on the center of the measurement field as shown, outlined If the target and the number zero are not as sharp as sections further forward or back
in red, with the lens set wide open to the maximum aperture and release the camera on the sloped ruler, use the ruled scale to find the sharpest point. If your camera sup-
shutter. View the image on your cameras display, zooming in to check the picture of ports Auto-Focus Micro-Adjustment, you can use this feature to adjust your camera
the LENSCAL on the screen of your camera. The area outlined in red should be sharp, focus until it aligns with zero.
as should the number zero (0) on the scale at the right of the target. If the small target Once you are satisfied with the result, repeat the test routine with your other lens-
and the number zero are sharp, your lens is working properly and you need to look else- es. To see a selection of cameras that allow focus fine-tuning, see the Requirements
where for the solution to any remaining sharpness issues. section at http://spyder.datacolor.com/portfolio-view/spyderLENSCAL/
Color Gamuts
These pages show the colors that can be captured/displayed/printed by various the amount of cyan and green tones compared to TIP:
sample devices. This color range, or gamut, differs from camera to camera, display the sRGB color space. There are tools to display color
to display, and print paper to print paper. Inexpensive displays can show a range of color ad- gamuts from ICC profiles under
Comparing differences between displays and color spaces is revealing, espe- equate for standard office work, but a larger gamut Mac OS X: the ColorSync Utility.
cially when comparing them to AdobeRGB (1998), a color space used widely for has advantages for image editing. Some types of LCD Windows users can download
photo capture and editing. The goal in developing AdobeRGB was to represent displays now offer a significantly larger color range this a profile-viewing tool here:
the range of colors possible from most color printers. The AdobeRGB color space (gamut) approximating AdobeRGB. http://www.color.org/profilein-
includes about half of the colors defined in the L*a*b* color space and expands spector.xalter.
User-friendly programs now do things However, you still need to manage the
differently. They distinguish between hardware adjustment options.
a first calibration, subsequent calibra-
tions, and changes in measurement Modern LCDs offer few controls when
parameters necessary only because of used as a computer display. In many
wear and aging of the display over time. cases, the only control is a backlight
adjustment called Brightness. However,
The first calibration has a special sta- LCDs sometimes offer multiple modes
tus here. It is the first time the device to chose between and even dynamic
is measured, so, to be sure the soft- modes, where the displays brightness is
Photo: Jens Rufenach
ware works effectively, the user must constantly changing based on ambient
provide some information. For exam- conditions. Combining this automatic
ple, what type of device you would like behavior with a custom color profile
to calibrate? CRT displays, LCD displays, leads to suboptimal results, so it should
video projectors and notebook displays be disabled.
Measuring Colors
This is the point where you use the Once the profiling is finished, there are
instrument. After youve been guided also interesting features that will show
through the initial steps by the soft- you what the calibration and profil-
ware, the Spyder handles communica- ing process has changed compared to
tion with the display. Ideally, this will the default device settings. In a select-
take only a few minutes, and will end able matrix, the Spyder 4 software
with a fresh calibration and display shows a variety of photos of different
profile. types. Viewed together, or zoomed-in
on individually, they give a much more
Unfortunately, conditions are not accurate idea of how colors and photo
always ideal. To guide the process, the content will appear after calibration
software uses a step-by-step wizard and profiling. Dont be surprisedthe
to help you address items that could images dont always look prettier.
reduce the quality of your calibration. However, almost always, youll see bet-
The software will tell you, for exam- ter neutrality and enhanced detail.
ple, if the sensor detects that your
work area is too bright, or if the cho-
Photo: Jens Rufenach
SpyderProof
In the before/after view in SpyderProof, you can compare the reference images Typically the largest differences will be in densities, noticeable in highlights and
appearance before and after calibration. The After view is displayed initially, shadow details and in white balance. Wait a moment after switching, and your
to show the results of your calibration. A click on the button Switch shows the eye will adapt to the new white balance. Switch back, and it will adapt to the oth-
image in the Before view. Please note that Before does not refer to the previ- er. This is why a device should be used to define white balance, instead of doing
ously loaded profile, but an uncalibrated state, showing the original appearance it by eye.
of the display with no video card adjustments.
In the SpyderProof view, the sixteen images displayed are divided into four quad- Two of the 16 images will be shown, with two copies of each image side by side. In
rants: saturated colors, skin tones, landscape, and black & white. Each of the 16 imag- the sample shown here, the top image contains a synthetic gradient of magenta, blue,
es shows certain characteristics, which are explained in detail in the online help of cyan, red, yellow, green and black. These can be used to verify any out-of-gamut col-
the program. You can click on a quadrant to zoom in on the four images in the quad- ors, to learn which shades can be shown by your display. The Datacolor B&W Test Image
rant, and click to zoom again to an individual image. For analyzing gray balance, use shown below the color image contains a wide range of pictorial and graphic elements.
the B&W quadrant, so that bright colors do not distract your eye. The Switch button View the enlarged section, above each image, to check highlights and shadows.
switches the calibration state, so that you can compare the Calibrated and Uncalibrat-
ed views.
Profile Overview
At the end of the calibration process, a graph of the display profile is shown. This Some displays may not meet the standard chosen for studio, and these displays
allows you to compare the color range of your display with the photographic col- should be moved to supporting uses where color is not critical. Otherwise, in order
or spaces sRGB and AdobeRGB, as well as with the video color space NTSC. You to match all displays, the best displays would have to be brought down to match the
can also load other display profiles, and compare their respective color gamuts. least capable display. If you are considering such actions, be sure to read the next
This helps in comparing displays when making purchase decisions, and also section, Fine-Tuning Displays.
in deciding how to color manage multiple displays in one environment.
Calibration Requirements
A display is not simply calibrated; it is The reason for the use of two different
calibrated to a standard. The standard display profiles is that different work-
is chosen during the calibration pro- flows have different standards, and our
cess, according to the needs of the users goal in evaluating images is not only to
specific workflow. Someone who uses see them correctly on our own displays
the display for editing photographs to but to prepare them correctly for send-
be printed later on an inkjet, dye subli- ing to various service and output provid-
mation printer or at a photo lab has an ers. These other providers may use differ-
easy job of selecting the target for the ent standards.
displays calibration, because the color
space of the workflow defines an obvious If you want to edit video, you might even
choice for the display calibration target. choose a third display profile that match-
The standard calibration is then done for es one of the standards for video. There
a typical photographic workflow: gamma are also a few specialty applications, such
of 2.2 and a white point of 6500 Kelvin. as output to film writers, who use their
own special workflows and standards.
The same applies to photos being pre-
pared for the Web or mobile uses; for
example, to present as an online gallery
or PDF.
zines, books or newspapers. In some cas- To learn about the advanced settings
es, this complex workflow might work mentioned above, go to Advanced
best using two different display profiles; Settings from the Calibration Settings
screen, then select the Help button,
one for the photographic workflow and a
and see the section Help that
second to use for evaluating images for discusses display calibration settings
prepress. in detail.
Pro Feature: Gray Balanced Calibration Pro Feature: Ambient Light Compensation
Color representation, especially for neutral tones, improves considerably when Compensation for changes in ambient lighting is particularly important for people
using the Gray Balance Calibration option in the Spyder software. There is also an working long shifts, because ambient lighting can change significantly, affecting
advanced Iterative Gray Balance option, which offers even smoother, more neutral correct perception of the display. If you enable the option, the program uses the
grays, at the cost of a slower calibration process. For projectors with LCD technology, Spyder to measure the ambient light in the room, and warn you when it changes
optimizing gray balance improves the image quality. However, DLP technology does significantly. It is possible to make different profiles for different lighting conditions
not work with this option, so it should be deselected when profiling DLP projectors. as you need them, but controlling the ambient light is the ideal solution.
Colorimeter History
The colorimeter measures any color which is entered as an RGB value or sampled The chart shows the changes in the display over time. It shows a loss of quality as
onscreen using the color picker. You can use this capability to check color range and the display is used. Some variations in the timeline may be caused by measuring the
uniformity of a display yourself. Type in a maximum RGB value (such as 255, 0, 0 for red) display before it is adequately warmed-up.
and measure the result to see the displays color range, or use white (255, 255, 255) and
measure first in the center of the display, then at the edges and corners, moving the
sample window to different locations. You will see that the Kelvin value varies on a low
quality display, up to 1,000 Kelvin. There are automated tests for these characteristics
and more in the Advanced Analysis tests accessed from the final screen.
Advanced Analysis
To calibrate displays within the context Also keep in mind that displays age.
of their individual capabilities, with or Over time screens lose brilliance, color
without fine-tuning, is the main goal. fidelity, brightness and contrast. This is
We should calibrate each display so it not welcome news, but accepting it and
will show everything its able to show. tracking these changes allows a reason-
able schedule for display replacement
Yet, even with the best calibration of to be planned.
the display, what the display is phys-
ically incapable of showing is not Those who are seriously concerned
revealed. Typically, this does not affect about color accuracy should exam-
users because they dont see what the ine their displays quality. The tools the
display cant show. Spyder provides for this examination
will be shown in the next pages. Find
Photo: svedoliver - Fotolia.com
Advanced users already have a sense these functions at the end of the cali-
of what can and cannot be viewed on bration cycle after SpyderProof under
a display of a certain quality. They will the heading Advanced Analysis.
also be aware that variations occur with
different locations on the screen and
that this occurs, to larger degrees, with
lower cost displays.
Tone Response, Brightness & Contrast, displays, you can select factory presets for video games, office work, photo editing
or other applications. Although these presets are often targeted to the consumer,
and are not calibrated to the specific display, they also provide an important aid to
and OSD Settings the advanced user. This analysis function can be used to determine which preset
is closest to the desired calibration goal. Choosing this setting means the custom
calibration and profiling have to do less work and can bring out the maximum tonal
In a nutshell, the following three tests for tonal brightness, contrast, and OSD (on-
gradation from the display hardware. The result is a better quality display profile, and
screen display) settings are best done together, because they give a good sense of
better image-display on screen.
how your display has been affected by the aging process. Special attention should be
given to measuring the white point using various display presets, accessed through
the OSD, on initial calibration. These presets adjust the display firmware. In many
Screen Uniformity
To properly judge the color and densities of an image you should know your display
from the center out to the edges. This way, if necessary, you can move the edges of TIP:
an image to a more central location to be certain youre making good judgments By being aware of your displays brightness and color
and appropriate adjustments. uniformity, you will know if you need to shift images
The uniformity of the screen refers to the evenness of the color and brightness on-screen to evaluate image color and densities in
from the center to the edges and corners. Displays vary considerably in how evenly areas displaying in corners of the screen.
backlit they are. One of the justifications for the higher cost of advanced imaging
displays is improved uniformity.
Color Accuracy
This test will show how accurately specific colors are reproduced on the The Monitor Rating screen shows an evaluation of display quality
screen. It includes three sequences of 12, 24, or 48 colors, derived from the in various categories, complete with visual ratings. It offers a
Datacolor ColorCHECKR target. The selected set of colors are displayed and convenient tool to compare different displays to determine which
measured, then analyzed to show the deviations for each color. Results are offers more accurate color.
numerical as well as visible; the longer the bar, the worse the deviation from
the desired color.
Zwei Monitore
Calibrating twokalibrieren
displays
Many Bildbearbeiter
Viele photo editors und Grafiker
and graphicarbei- with mehreren,
von a few issues noted Moni
profilierbaren above,torenis
ten mit zwei
designers work with twoEiner
Monitoren: displays.
zeigt Itdasis supported
ist, abgeseheninvonWindowsden erwhnten operating
Hard-
not uncommon
Foto to use der
oder das Layout, bothzweite
screens for
dient systems since Windows
wareproblemen, in der XP. Apple has
Windows-Welt
color critical
dazu, work, instead
alle Paletten moderner of reserving
Bildbear- supported
seit multiple vorgesehen.
XP systemseitig displays for In much
der
one just forund
beitungs- palettes.
Grafikprogramme zum longer.
Welt der There are new gab
Apple-Computer challenges
es diesbe-in
Direktzugriff bereitzuhalten. multiple-display
zglich frher keineprofiling in recent
Schwierigkeiten, erst
Even
Selbsttwobeiidentical displays may Bild-
zwei bauidentischen not OS XSnow
seit versions. Using
Leoprad thebeeinflusst
(10.6) latest Spyder die
match visually, stimmen
schirm-Modellen without calibrating
Linearisie- softwareFarboptimierung
interne helps assure thatdie these issues
Ergebnis-
and profiling
rung, Luminanzboth displays. However,
und Weipunkt ohne Ka- do not affect
qualitt your results.
negativ.
in order tonicht
librierung use berein.
two displays with zwei
Um aber two Wichtig ist es, darauf zu achten, dass
different ICC
Monitore mitprofiles, you will need a
zwei unterschiedlichen It is important
beide Monitore to mit check that both
denselben Ziel-
video card designed
ICC-Profilen konfigurierento work with two
zu knnen, ist displays also
werten, are derselben
set to theFarbtemperatur
same target
displays
eine and to erforderlich,
Grafikkarte manage two diedifferent
fr den values,
und so the same
demselben Gamma color temperature,
eingestellt wer-
color profiles.
Betrieb mit zwei Monitoren ausgelegt ist, gamma,
den. Sollteand
das brightness
System oderwill be used.
die Hardware
und die zwei unterschiedliche Farbpro- If thewillens
nicht systemsein,or zwei
the hardware is not
unterschiedliche
Alternatively,
file verwalten kann.one can also work with willing zu
Profile to akzeptieren,
accept two gibt different profiles,
es einen ein-
two graphicskann
Alternativ cards.man
When usedmit
auch in older
zwei then the
fachen compromise
Trick, um dennochisfarbverlsslich
to calibrate
Windows systems,
Grafikkarten arbeiten, these cards zumin-
die aber should onlyarbeiten:
zu the main screen.SieHowever,
Kalibrieren einfach nur to
be identical.
dest beim Einsatz Unfortunately,
in lteren Windows-under assure
den that the auf
Bildschirm, palette
dem Siedisplay does
in Zukunft
Windows, many
Systemen baugleichvideoseincards support
sollten. Leider not Bilder
die bias your color perception,
abstimmen mchten, set meistit
attaching two
untersttzen displays,
viele but only one
Dualhead-Modelle to a das
also lower brightness
grere und/oder thandastheneuere
main
color
so calibration.
werden KartenTechnically,
genannt, anthey only
die man display.Die Werkzeugpaletten verlieren
Gert.
hold one
zwei coloranschlieen
Monitore lookup table (C-LUT)
kann aberto ihre Funktion auch dann nicht, wenn sie
giveein
nur to Farbprofil.
the operating systembetrachtet,
Technisch for both The Farbstichen
mit SpyderTunedargestellt
feature canwerden.be used
displays,
halten siewhich can be overwritten
zur Kommunikation mit dem by forDievisual fine-tuning of two displays.
SpyderTune-Funktion hilft Ih-
calibrating eithernur
Betriebssystem of the
einendisplays. There
Lookup-Ta- Evenbei though
nen der manuellenboth Angleichung
displays von are
are cards
ble thatder
(LUT) vor, operate with
bei einer two LUTs,
zweiten Mo- calibrated,
zwei Monitoren,yourdieeyes may kalibriert
zwar schon perceive
and you should
nitormessung check to berschrieben
kurzerhand see that your themdie
sind, differently, due wegen
aber Ihr Auge to theder different
unter-
card is
wird. Es one
gibt of them.
jedoch When
auch testing,
Karten, die mitbe technologies Lichtquellenart
schiedlichen used in different(beispiels-
displays.
sure LUT
zwei you arbeiten.
have theWenn latestesversion
Probleme of the
ge- In someRetina-Display,
weise cases even displays of the same
Backlit-LCD und
driversollte,
ben for your graphics
prfen card.
Sie zunchst, ob Sie make and model maybe
CCFL-Hintergrund-Display) als perceived
leicht un-
mit der aktuellsten Version des Treibers differently, as
terschiedlich parts may come from
wahrnimmt.
TheIhre
fr useGrafikkarte
of multiple, profiled
arbeiten. Derdisplays,
Betrieb multiple suppliers.
Color Management fr
Farbmanagement for Fotografen
Photographers | and
| ... aber now!
dann! Fine-Tuning
Monitor Displays| |30
feinjustieren 63
32 Calibrating
Exkurs: Ein a Studio
Studio kalibrieren 33
Calibrating a Studio
Wer ein Studio betreibt, hat oft ber
die Jahre eine Vielzahl von Rechnern
und Monitoren angehuft, die alle noch
er anschlieend die Farben neutral dar,
aber eben nicht besser als es die Hard-
ware-Voraussetzungen erlauben. Daher
mehr oder minder wertvolle Dienste lei- weichen die Darstellungen auf mehreren
sten.
Most In einemhave
studios typischen Szenario
a series of older finden
and qualitativ
All displays unterschiedlichen
can be adjusted Monitoren
to the
sich
newer drei Grundmodule:
displays. In a typicalEinestudio
oder there
meh- auch
same nach der Neutralisierung
brightness and contrast, hinsicht-
but
rere relativ
are three neue,
basic schnellesetups:
computer Workstations
One or lich
this der Brillanz
requires und der farblichen
matching them all toDiffe-
the
mit
morehochwertigen
relatively new, Monitoren, ein oder
fast workstations renzierungsfhigkeit
lowest quality display voneinander ab.
in the group.
mehrere
with higher ausgemusterte Computer
quality displays, one mitor Sollen
After suchnun alle Monitore
calibration, die Bilder
the displays will
alten
more Bildschirmen,
decommissioned die hauptschlich
computers with als identisch
look similar,anzeigen,
but theistbetter
das natrlich
displays
Rechenknechte
older displays, zum whichAbarbeiten
run mainlyvon Sta-as mglich. Die Voraussetzung
will be limited bleibt aber,
to the brightness and
pelverarbeitungsjobs
office computers or batch laufen,servers,
sowie and ein dass
dynamic manrange
sich am schwchsten
of the Glied
least common
oder
one or mehrere Notebooks,used
more notebooks die unterwegs
for travel der Kette orientiert.
denominator. Damit wisely
Choose alle Monitore
when
als Bildbetrachter oder
or presentations, as well alsas
Prsentations-
office work. gleich
deciding aussehen, begrenzttoman
what displays die Lu-
include in
displays
On eachund im Studio
of these vornehmlich
devices, the photos als minanzen der besseren
a Studio Standard to Monitore, indem
avoid excessive
Broarbeitspltze
will appear differently,dienen. Alleifdiese
even they Ge-are man ihre Schwarz-
reductions in theundbetterWeiwerte den
displays.
rte zeigenand
calibrated dieprofiled.
Fotos sehr unterschied- schlechteren
Laptops are best angleicht.
calibrated separately.
lich an auch wenn sie kalibriert wur- Praktisch funktioniert das folgender-
den.
Higher Dasquality,
hat technische Grnde. often
newer displays Jeder maen: Man startet
The function useddirekt
for mit
this dem Mo-
process
Monitor kanncolor
have a wider eine gamut
bestimmte and Anzahl
smoother an dul
is StudioMatch
StudioMatch. der It Spyder-Software.
measures the
gesttigten FarbtnenCalibration
color transitions. darstellen. Jedoesbes- Sie misst selbstndig
luminances nacheinander
of each display you wishdieto
ser
not und je neuer
improve der factors,
these Monitor itist,simply
desto Luminanzen der anzugleichenden
match, then brings them to a common Mo-
mehr Farbnuancen
standardizes umfasst sein
the presentation of indivi-
color. nitore, um sie dann
denominator. auf einen Nenner
All monitors will thenzu
dueller
When aGamut. Die Kalibrierung
poor display is calibrated,verbes-
it is bringen.
show colors uniformly, but with the
sert
now nicht diebut
neutral, Hardware, sondern
it still has gamut neu- and Anschlieend
brightness zeigen alle
and contrast of Monitore
the weakestdie
tralisiert
smoothness die limitations.
Darstellung. Wenn jetzt ein Farben
display. einheitlich wie der mit dem ge-
schlechter Monitor kalibriert wird, stellt ringsten Dynamikumfang an.
Color Management fr
Farbmanagement for Fotografen
Photographers | and
| ... aber now!
dann! Fine-Tuning
Monitor Displays| |32
feinjustieren 64
Projector Calibration
Projector Calibration
Calibrating a projector functions take into account the screens color
similarly to calibrating a monitor. Ideally, properties. When calibrating a projector,
when you connect a calibrated projector the software throws a cross hair on the
to another computer, you should screen, for aligning the Spyder. The
recalibrate and reprofile; but moving the Spyder will cast a shadow on the screen.
ICC profile from one laptop to another The sensor measures a large screen area,
using a USB stick can be done, especially so the shadow is not a problem.
with Mac laptops, where the video
standards are more consistent.
Making Custom
Printer Profiles
Unlike displays, which require frequent often changed frequently, from one to
recalibration, most printing devices are another and back again.
consistent over time and their profiles Working with different papers on a
can be used indefinitely. Changes due high quality photo printer requires
to head wear or ink settling may require custom profiles for each paper type.
eventual reprofiling, but in the short Unfortunately, generic profiles for
run, printer profiles are valid as long general paper types are insufficient.
as the paper and ink dont change. The Unique profiles are needed for the
exception to this rule is laser printers, slightest differences in paper type,
where toner density can vary with quality, and coating. At first glance
humidity. this may sound extreme but think
how differently an ink drop behaves
Depending on the needs of the on an open porous newsprint paper,
job and the aesthetic preferences compared to a smooth photographic
of the photographer, resin-coated paper. When the drop hits the photo
Photo: Oliwer Mews
photographic papers, matte fine paper, it keeps its shape and dries. On
art papers, coated canvas, or offset newsprint, the drop soaks in, spreads,
press-proofing papers can be used and becomes less intense.
in inkjet printers. These media are
gar acht Farben ausgedehnt, vermittelt nisse mit den selbst angelegten Profilen,
eine Idee davon, was sich auf einem Qua- da diese auch von Hand nachgebessert
dratzentimeter Papier beim Druckvor- werden knnen, und die die ganz indivi-
gang abspielt und warum schon feinste duellen Eigenheiten des jeweiligen Dru-
Qualittsunterschiede
Using different inks beim mustPapieralso sich
be ckers
to thebercksichtigen.
printer, using special software,
erheblich
considered. auf die Farbdarstellung
Original auswir-
manufacturers Deratechnische
and profile isAblauf generatedbei derfromDrucker-
the
ken
inksknnen.
may or may not produce better abstimmung
comparison. ist In theoretisch
practice,denkbar ein-
printer
Hinzu
color kommt
than less der Einfluss replacement
expensive der Tinte auf fach: Manhas
profiling druckt ein spezielles
a number of detailsTestbild
that
die
inksFarbgebung.
or popular Originaltinten
refill systems. erzeugen,
But aus
make undit liest
more diecomplex
gedruckten thanFarben an-
display
wenn
there auch
is nonicht zwingend
question bessere, inink
that changing je- schlieend
calibration.wieder ein. Dann werden mit
dem
brandsFallwill
aber anderenew
require Farben als die gns-
profiles. einer Spezialsoftware die Soll-Werte mit
tigeren Marken-Tinten oder die noch den
WithIst-Werten
the approach verglichen und am here,
described Ende
gnstigeren
At first itsRefillsysteme.
best to work with the ergibt
printersich daraus
charts ein Profil.
with 225 or 729 color
BrandonRechten
Rechten
Wer dann
original mit papers
inks, vier verschiedenen
and profiles Pa- In der Praxis
patches, witherweistan optionsich die Drucker-
of 238
piersorten
provided by undthejeweils
printerszwei Tintentypen
manufacturer. profilierung
additional als grayein patches,
etwas umfangreicher
are used,
Photo:Brandn
an
Thesezweiareunterschiedlichen
well coordinated Druckern
with und zeitaufwndiger
depending on the type Vorgang. Wer pro-
of printer, and
Foto:
arbeitet,
each other, braucht
and also produce insgesamt 16
relatively fessionelle Ansprche
type of printing to be an dieBe
done. Exaktheit
sure to
Druckerprofile.
reliable results in combination with a der
use Profilierung
the EZ targets, stelltif oder stellen
you are goingmuss,
to Beim Erstellen
When creating individueller Druckerprofile
custom profiles, ist Handarbeit
each strip must be read byangesagt: Jedesa bit
hand. It takes Farbfeld muss to
of practice einzeln erfasst
acquire werden.
the technique.
Fr den Einsteiger
calibrated display. When ist es zunchst
there arentam arbeitet
read them beia der
stripDrucker
at a time,profilierung
instead of mita
gnstigsten,
any available mitprofiles
den Original-Tinten,
for a particular den einem
patch atteureren
a time.Spektrokolorimeter. quickly as possible to the real work
Original-Papieren
paper, such as when sowieyou den mitgelie-
buy different Bei dieser Vorgehensweise, die wir auf photography.
Schlielich erlauben die modernen Difficult comparisons
Schwieriger Vergleich
ferten
inks orProfilen
choose destoDruckerherstellers
print on special zu den
Afternchsten
printingSeiten im Detailchart,
the desired beschrei-
its Farbmanagement-Lsungen dank ihres
arbeiten.
papers, its necessary to make custom ben, lassenwith
measured sich jethenach Qualittsanforde-
spectrocolorimeter. After installation,
Komforts vor allem, the
dass new Appmg-
man sich will If your
Falls Ihrprint
Druckdoesnt match yourDrucker-
trotz sorgsamer display
Diese sind
profiles for weitestgehend
every paperaufeinander and ink rungen
A spectroMesscharts mit 150,
and profiling 225 odersuch
software, 729 appear
lichst baldinwieder
your seiner
Applications folder.
eigentlichen Ar- despite
profilierungcareful
im printing
direkten after profiling,
Vergleich mit
abgestimmt
combination. undWhile
bringen itsin Kombination
possible to Patchfeldern
as Datacolors plus 238 Grauverlaufsfelder
SpyderPRINT, costs Checks
beit for software
zuwenden kann: Derupdates
Fotografie.occur there can beAbweichnungen
dem Monitor various reasons. zeigt,Ifkann
the
mit
find einem
profileskalibrierten
on the Internet Monitor for relativ
many ausdrucken,
more than um die Messdichte
a display calibrator;um but
die automatically, if youdes
Vor der Installation allow that Spyder-
mit dem option display is too bright,
das verschiedene Grndeshadows
haben. willZumbe
verlssliche
printer and Ergebnisse.
ink combinations, the Grauachse
a combined zu erhhen.
display/print profiling on installation,
Print geliefertenorSoftwarepakets
from the application
sollten artificially open.viele
Beispiel zeigen YouMonitore,
should lowerwenn the sie
Gibt exact
most es keine
resultsmitgelieferten
are achievedProfile with Mit demcan
bundle Spektrokolorimeter
reduce the individual misst man preferences
Sie prfen, ob Ihr Betriebssystem die not- displays
eine hohebrightness
Leuchtkrafttobesitzen,
a recommended
Schatten
oder
custom werden ausassthetischen
profiles, these can be Grnden
edited nach
costs.dem Druck die Felder aus. Prziser wendigen Vorausetzungen erfllt. Am PC 100-120
zu hell an.candelas
Sie knnen when calibrating. bei
die Leuchtkraft In
beziehungsweise
by hand and take uminto Geldaccount
zu sparen,
the geht es kaum. Ein Spektrokolorimeter muss mindestens die Version Windows XP the
der end, displays auf
Kalibrierung still ein
have different visual
vernftiges Ma
Fremdtinten
very individual und/oder
characteristicsSpezialpapiere
of each mitsamt
This is Profi lierungssoftware
certainly not for wie der
casual installiert sein, bei einem Apple-Computer qualities
(100 120than paper. Insenken.
Candela) order to make your
Trotzdem
eingesetzt,
printer. muss man selbst Hand anle- SpyderPrint
photographers, von butDatacolor,
will pay an fordemitself
wir ist das Mac OS 10.4 Voraussetzung. displays
bleibt einrepresentation
Monitor aber of einthe print more
Monitor und
gen und fr jedes Papier in Kombination das Vorgehen
quickly when zeigen,
used byliegt in der Preis-
advanced users Sie finden nach der Installation eine faithful
hat vlligto andere
the original, you should use
Reflexionseigenschaf-
mit jedem aTintentyp
Profiling printer ein is eigenes Profil an-
very simple in klasse um 340
or anyone Euro. large images.
printing Standalone-Applikation in Ihrem Pro- the softPapier.
ten als proofing
Damitoption in your editing
Ihre Monitordarstel-
legen.
theory:Zwar finden test
a special sich chart
auch im is Internet
printed Das ist sicher nichts fr Gelegenheits- grammverzeichnis. Prfen Sie zur Sicher- applications. Using annher
lung dem Papieroriginal appropriate
kommt,
kostenlos
and the ladbarecolors on Profilethe frchart
mancheare fotografen, doch macht
Best of all, modern color sich die Aus-
management heit regelmig, ob es auf der Webseite proofing
aktivierenlight will also
Sie beim improve
Softproof results
in Photo-
Drucker-Tinten-Papier-Kombination,
measured. The measured values are gabe fr Enthusiasten
solutions make it easy und to Profis schnell
return as des Herstellers (www.datacolor.com) eine and
shopconsistency.
Papierfarbe simulieren.
doch erzielttoman
compared thedie genauesten
original valuesErgeb-
sent bezahlt. neuere Programmversion gibt.
Color Management fr
Farbmanagement for Fotografen
Photographers | Viewing
| vorzeigen the colorausdrucken
Farbecht print | 68 | 6
Page Setup Printer Specifications
SpyderProof TIP:
To get Saturation Intent
Profile Setup
in Lightroom, use the
Print the SpyderProof test images with different checkbox in the Apps You can choose Advanced Editing to modify the color profile. These adjustments
Rendering Intents to learn what each offers. Rendering Preferences to switch support different purposes. For example, special profiles can be created for
intents provide different methods of bringing unprintable Saturation and Perceptual different types of photography or special printing effects, such as cross-tinted B &
colors into the printers gamut. The choices are relative when building a profile, W images. These tools also allow you to tune profiles to optimize shadow detail,
colorimetric, absolute colorimetric, perceptual and and choose Perceptual and other factors. Be sure to check the online help, for information on the many
saturation. All four are also available in Photoshop, when printing from tuning functions.
but Lightroom is limited to relative colorimetric Lightroom, to get
and perceptual. Saturation.
simple language game: One sees a pipe, this is called soft proofing, since its
but materially it is a piece of canvas. Just done by software, on screen.
as the picture of a pipe is not a pipe, but
a figure that represents a pipe, an image
Softproofing in Lightroom You can also select either Perceptual or Relative Colorimetric rendering intents. (see
Tip in previous chapter) Then, check the Simulate Ink and Paper box to show the full
Starting with version 4, Lightroom also has a softproofing function. While not offering effect of the profile selection.
some functions of the Photoshop version, it makes up in convenience what it lacks
in controls. To activate the soft-proof view, go to the Develop mode and select the Lightroom offers a Create Proof Copy option, making a virtual copy without taking
Soft Proofing checkbox located below the image area. Subsequently, the title of the up disk space, as a Photoshop output-tuned image version does. Lightroom also
area at top right displaying the word Histogram will change to Soft Proofing. The offers two gamut warnings, one with a tiny display icon, to show you where areas of
histogram changes to reflect the output, instead of the image file. Output profiles are the original image cant be shown correctly on your display; and another with a page
selected for soft proofing in the pulldown menu directly below the histogram window. icon, to show areas of your original image that cant be printed.
The Quality
of Custom Prints
For a long time, inkjet prints were Unfortunately, not all that can be
visually inferior to photo lab prints. photographed, or viewed on screen,
Only in recent years did the six to can be printed. This was also true with
twelve color inkjet printers produce analog photography. However, it was
prints that were beautiful at close far more difficult to predict exactly
viewing distances. Now there are new what colors and details would appear
papers which deliver the appearance of on the paper in the photo lab.
baryta prints, the most desirable type
of photo lab prints. Those who work on the computer
with careful color management,
This makes custom printing exciting using quality paper, correcting their
for advanced photographers without color images in soft proof mode, and
sleepless nights in the darkroom, sharpening appropriately before
and making excellent output much printing, can produce lab quality
faster and easier. Those without space custom prints. The techniques
Photo: Jens Rufenach
for a darkroom still have space for a discussed on the following pages
digital darkroom. Its even possible to will help your progress towards that
make adjustments live, in front of the perfect print.
customer. Digital printing saves much
time and effort.
RGB Printing
IMPORTANT TIP:
If you print your images on an ink-jet printer, make sure the photos are in RGB mode. Color handling Photoshop determines the colors;
Be sure to disable
These are not the colors of the inks in the printer; they are the color format that the Printer profile - choose either the manufacturers profile for your
color correction in
computer knows how to communicate. CMYK files cannot be processed by computer paper or ideally your own custom profile the printer driver,
operating systems, and are silently converted to RGB with no color management. This to avoid a second,
is avoided by working in RGB. Rendering intent - the same that you chose in the Proof Setup. incorrect, color
conversion.
You need only set up the print parameters in the Print dialog and make sure that the
correct options are set. For Photoshop use:
High Gloss
Glossy paper is available in several
gradations between high gloss and
satin finish. High gloss is most common
in photo labs and in packs of paper
labeled glossy. The images produced
on this paper look and feel like
traditional photo prints.
Matte
Matte paper looks considerably more
subtle than high-gloss and makes a
somewhat more elegant impression.
This paper finish plays to its strengths
when displaying delicate details. Because
of its large printable color space and
its excellent light and shadow detail,
matte finishes are preferred by many
expert photographers. Matte papers
are suited for printing images captured
with high ISO settings, so that the noise
in the image will integrate into the
paper texture, giving a soft, film-like
appearance of graininess.
Canvas
There were many attempts to establish Canvas is available in individual sheets
textiles as a medium thoughout the in small formats, but more often is
history of photography. However, printed from rolls and then gently
photographs printed on textiles stretched on a wooden stretcher frame.
remained a niche market until inkjet Stretched canvas is pleasing, as well as
technology arrived. Classic canvas being lighter than traditional framing,
is 100% cotton; polyester-blend and smaller, due to the lack of matting.
canvas is more common than 100% In addition, it eliminates the glass,
cotton canvas. lowering costs and allowing for easier
shipping, but making spraying of prints
Plain weave canvas has warp threads important.
and weft threads woven together,
to make the typical surface. In twill Inkjet canvas is often used for
weave, weft threads are woven over the reproduction of paintings.
two or more warp threads to create a Reproductions of classic, as well as
herringbone pattern. contemporary, paintings on inkjet
canvas are becoming popular, but
Photo: Oliwer Mews
Inkjet canvas comes in both gloss and it is also an excellent medium for
matte finishes and with or without a photo prints.
gesso layer, which covers much of the
canvas texture, resembling the canvas
in oil paintings.
Inkjet Film
Backlit Film is the most common type of With special treatment, outdoor
inkjet film. films can be made colorfast for up
to three years, but will have a lower
Transparent polyester films printed with scratch resistance. A special type of
inkjets get their color saturation from transparency film is self-adhesive, clear
backlighting. Without a light source, film, which already looks brilliant on
the colors are dull and washed out. The its own when adhered to white acrylic.
level of detail is similar to photo paper, Backlighting enhances the effect, but
and the color often surpasses paper, so is not required. Such films are used
its clear why backlit films are becoming primarily in bright rooms, such as the
increasingly popular for both business workplace, which can also be used
and private display. at night. Another special form is self-
adhesive window film, like we remember
The problem is the color fidelity. A from holiday decorations. These allow
color shift occurs in the black and unpleasant views to become colorful
magenta channels caused by the stained glass. Some adhesive films
different thickness of the inks. You can be used multiple times so you can
should be sure to work with the specific change them periodically, perhaps
ICC profiles made for the backlit film seasonally.
material. Backlit film is usually printed
on its rear side, providing scratch- There are also technical films such as
resistant surfaces suitable for the metal foil, for example, which produce a
outer and inner liner. Indoor materials visual effect emulating old, or very high
remain colorfast for about a year. quality photographic processes.
Handmade Paper
Fine-Art-Papiere
Most people think of handmade paper
for fine letter writing, rather than
photographic prints. Its less bright
than many other papers, and usually
has a textured surface. Originally this
paper was made with fiber pulp in
a vat by hand. Now it can be made
by machine as well and has become
more affordable. The structure of the
Wer keine typischen
handmade paper types Glossy-Prints
gives prints mag aus einem Abzug ein Original. Und zwar
und eher
made on mit
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papersPapierqualitten
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and a unique
liebugelt, fr color aesthetic.
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ne-Art from cotton
Papiere rag, is acid-free,
interessant sein. Hierbeiand haptische Qualitten besitzt. Zentral ist
ideal
handelt fores artwork. There are
sich vornehmlich um multiple
schwere bei einem guten Fine-Art-Papier jedoch
different
Qualitten, surface textures sich
deren Oberflche available,
oft in die Haltbarkeitsdauer. Wie hochwertige
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prsentiert und ohne for knst-
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Color Management fr
Farbmanagement for Fotografen
Photographers | Softproofing
| echt? Softproof and Media| |32
& Medien 90
Spyder eBook
All About Color Management
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