Color management work flow questions…

wrote in message

Color profiles confuse me. Here is what I think I should be doing, but please help me understand things if I’m mixed up.

I have 3 devices: Scanner, Monitor, Printer.
I’ve made profiles for all three. Tell me if this the correct work flow:

Scan Image with setting used when profile was created.
Assign Scanner profile (if scanner doesn’t already assign it) Convert to adobe RGB profile
Make any adjustments/changes and save.
Before printing convert to printer’s profile (after which time the on screen proof should be fairly close to what will print)
Print with the same settings I used when the profile was created.
Am I missing anything here?

Hi.

Yes, you are missing quite a bit. You need to do a little bit of reading on the princilpes of colour management.

Have a look at the help files in Photoshop, or look at
www.digital-darkroom.com.

Roy G.

Hi

How did you make these profiles ?

Jon

monacoEZcolor. for the printer and scanner, and greytag macbeths EyeMatch for the monitor.

I’m not expecting EXACT color correctness across my work flow, but I’d like it as tight as I can get it. Mostly for on screen previewing of the print before I print.

Could be more specific on which parts I’m missing? Or are you saying that I am completely doing everything wrong with the above workflow?

wrote in message

monacoEZcolor. for the printer and scanner, and greytag macbeths EyeMatch for the monitor.

I’m not expecting EXACT color correctness across my work flow, but I’d like it as tight as I can get it. Mostly for on screen previewing of the print before I print.

Could be more specific on which parts I’m missing? Or are you saying that I am completely doing everything wrong with the above workflow?

The weak link is that EZ Color uses your scanner to calibrate your printer. You may luck out. In general the profiles resulting from such software are of poor quality, and there is no particular way to fine tune the profile if you see color problems.

I don’t advocate spending the hundreds of dollars for a single person operation. See if you can use your manufacturer’s canned profiles. If you are using an Epson, try the PhotoEnhance4 or sRGB settings. Another alternative is to have a profile created by a third party such as drycreekphoto.com – this procedure is not inexpensive – it may cost the same as your printer – but the resulting profile is reasonably accurate. —
Mike Russell
www.curvemeister.com

Yes, EZ color calibrates both your scanner and printer at the same time by compairing the colors with the supplied kodak color swatch chart. So basically, I’m only going to get profiles as accurate as my scanner. Most scanners suck, and even though I have a higher end scanner ($1000) it’s still got it’s limitations and will never be as good as a dedicated eye. But assuming that my profles are accurate is my workflow, as originally outlined, correct?

In article ,
says…

Color profiles confuse me. Here is what I think I should be doing, but please help me understand things if I’m mixed up.

I have 3 devices: Scanner, Monitor, Printer.
I’ve made profiles for all three. Tell me if this the correct work flow:

Scan Image with setting used when profile was created.
Assign Scanner profile (if scanner doesn’t already assign it) Convert to adobe RGB profile
Make any adjustments/changes and save.
Before printing convert to printer’s profile (after which time the on screen proof should be fairly close to what will print)
Print with the same settings I used when the profile was created.
Am I missing anything here?

Instead of your workflow, I do the following.
Before printing a preview with the paper/printer profile that I’m planning to use.
I then make final adjustments (you can use adjustment layers for this is you wish) so that the preview looks the way I want the print to appear. Then I print with no color adjustments turned on in the driver. You also have to have made the printer/paper profile with the same driver settings.

If your aim is to produce the "best" print possible then that should be your focus.
If you need to output later for another purpose you disable the adjustment layers you added and repeat with the new profile. I have a couple of discussions on optimizing for inkjet prints in the tips section of my web site. Just follow the link on the home page.

—
Robert D Feinman
Landscapes, Cityscapes and Panoramic Photographs
http://robertdfeinman.com
mail:

Here’s something to read.

http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/device/display/color/icmwp.msp x

http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/device/display/color/default.m spx

dont be a usenet spelchecker

Better color management for Windows XP
New Microsoft Color Control Panel Applet for Windows XP helps you manage Windows color settings in one place

Published: November 1, 2005

Professional-level photographers and designers know that getting consistent, accurate color from file to screen to print and beyond is a requirement for great results. On Microsoft Windows XP, the means to obtain great color is built right into the operating system via Image Color Management (ICM) 2.0. ICM 2.0 is an International Color Consortium (ICC)-compliant color management system exposed through Win32 API functions, so it is readily available to any application, device driver, device calibration tool, or Color Management Module (CMM). Windows itself and many Windows-based software applications use ICM 2.0 "under the covers" to improve the appearance of pictures and graphics.

However, until now Windows has lacked a central Control Panel interface for managing ICC color profiles and ICM 2.0 color settings across the system. The new Microsoft Color Control Panel Applet for Windows XP addresses this by adding a Color tool to the Windows Control Panel, making it easier for you to manage Windows color settings.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/digitalphotography/ prophoto/colorcontrol.mspx dont be a usenet spelchecker

1. Don’t use a profile for your scanner. There is a better way. Scan
a Macbeth color match on your scanner, throw it in Photoshop and set your Highlights, midtones and levels with an adjustement layer. Save your Levels and Curves adjustemends to your desktop. Now whenever you scan images, put them in photoshop and load the levels and curves, knowing you’ve got the perfect settings. You can even set it up as an action. Also scan with low contrast and 16-bit if possible if not 8-bit
o.k. Just keep the contrast down cause if you blow-out the highlight
detail you’ll never get it back in photoshop. Best to keep highlight dark when scanning. Don’t play with any other setting with your scanner.

2. You’re monitor should be set fairly close but use the numbers ( info palette) in photoshop to tell the truth. It’s called neutralization of your midtones, highlights and shadows. Learn this because if you go by your monitor… you’re in trouble. You should calibrate your monitor weekly. Any monitor over two years old is untrustworthy, also room lighing is a factor. Again, go with the numbers in your info palette. Always set your highlight under 242, and shadow above 20 for your RGB channels, because that’s the best a comercial printer will get without losing detail.

3. Printer. Always , always use the profiles supplied with your inkjet printer. If the printer is too cheap and none are available, you will have to test sample a lot. too bad Buy a printer with a color profile and use it. Make sure you tell photoshop to use the Printer’s color management or shop will kick in and trully mess things up.

cheers
PacMan

On Fri, 6 Jan 2006 21:36:57 -0400, PacMan wrote:

1. Don’t use a profile for your scanner. There is a better way. Scan a Macbeth color match on your scanner, throw it in Photoshop and set your Highlights, midtones and levels with an adjustement layer. Save

How do you do adjustments for color, etc? I presume you’re talking about the MacBeth Color Checker. Is there an electronic equivalent that you can use as a reference?

your Levels and Curves adjustemends to your desktop. Now whenever you scan images, put them in photoshop and load the levels and curves, knowing you’ve got the perfect settings. You can even set it up as an action. Also scan with low contrast and 16-bit if possible if not 8-bit
o.k. Just keep the contrast down cause if you blow-out the highlight
detail you’ll never get it back in photoshop. Best to keep highlight dark when scanning. Don’t play with any other setting with your scanner.
2. You’re monitor should be set fairly close but use the numbers ( info palette) in photoshop to tell the truth. It’s called neutralization of your midtones, highlights and shadows. Learn this because if you go by your monitor… you’re in trouble. You should calibrate your monitor

Do you mean " … if you go buy …"?

weekly. Any monitor over two years old is untrustworthy, also room lighing is a factor. Again, go with the numbers in your info palette. Always set your highlight under 242, and shadow above 20 for your RGB channels, because that’s the best a comercial printer will get without losing detail.

3. Printer. Always , always use the profiles supplied with your inkjet printer. If the printer is too cheap and none are available, you will have to test sample a lot. too bad Buy a printer with a color profile and use it. Make sure you tell photoshop to use the Printer’s color management or shop will kick in and trully mess things up.
cheers
PacMan

Do you think the above is superior to color management hardware and software applied to your scanner or printer?

Father Kodak