Tuesday 11 December 2012

Colormetric Analysis Can Prove Invaluable

By Celia Hall


For those who work in the imaging or graphics world, even as amateurs or hobbyists, having colors represented accurately from capture to screen to print is crucial and may require colormetric analysis. What is seen on the computer monitor is not always what is seen on printed photos. In order to ensure monitors are accurately reflecting true colors and those which will end up on the final print, they must be properly calibrated.

Users can calibrate their computer screens in a few different ways. The most accurate results are achieved by using one of the many different software programs on the market. Most software programs come with a device known as a colorimeter that helps to read on screen colors and works with the software to make them as accurate as possible.

The devices themselves look very much like a computer mouse and include a USB cable to connect them to the computer. After the device is plugged in and the software properly installed, users can simply place them on the screen and follow the on screen prompts to complete the calibration process, including adjusting contrast, color, and brightness. Laptop, LCD, and CRT screens can all be calibrated with these software and device products.

Scanners, projectors, and printers can also be calibrated using many of the devices, depending on the actual model. The devices and software systems are not cheap and often cost over $150 dollars. However, the results and accuracy they provide to designers and photographers makes them well worth the monetary investment over the long term, especially for those who sell their prints.

While it is possible to semi-calibrate a monitor without any software or devices, it often involves many different steps. One of the most important steps is printing a high quality photo on a photo printer, which not everyone has access to. Calibrating in this manner is not nearly as accurate as the calibration achieved when using some of the excellent products available on the market.

As most computer screens have color changes depending on the lighting or temperature in their surround environment, most have to be calibrated regularly. Colors which are accurately and truly represented on screen make for a better viewing experience and better quality prints. It also helps to eliminate wasted paper and ink by eliminating incorrect prints.

Calibration of screens is a part of the large process called color management. This process covers many different factors within the imaging world. Photographers of all types want to ensure that they image the initially capture is the same one that is printed in the end and the color management process is the way to ensure that this is what happens each and every time.

The colormetric analysis process also involves the calibration of printers, scanners, and projectors. The process is one that all photographers should understand and try to follow, whether they are professionals or not. The results that can be had are well worth the efforts and help to ensure that colors are true, rich, and representative of the original scene.




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