A colour-management workflow with Calibrite
What is colour management?
For photographers and videographers, it's often hard to produce prints that match what you see on screen and images that match what you captured with your camera. With colour management you make sure colours are displayed consistently across all your devices, that you're using the correct colours, and that they look the same on your monitor as they do on the final print.
Why do I need colour-management gear?
Simply put, to make sure your photos and videos have the right colours and that the colours stay consistent throughout your workflow. With Calibrite's colour-management solutions you take control of your colour workflow, with colours exactly as you want them everywhere.
Quick links: Capture | Edit | Print
How do I get the right colours in my work?
CAPTURE - COLOUR MANAGEMENT STARTS WITH THE VERY FIRST SHOT
Make sure your camera captures colours accurately from the very first click. The Calibrite ColorChecker card series provides the right tools for every situation. Whether you're shooting indoors or outdoors, once you've set up your shot and exposure, place the ColorChecker card in the frame for the first exposure. When you process the series later, use the free ColorChecker Camera Calibration software to create a colour profile based on that first shot with the ColorChecker card. You can then sync the colour settings across the whole series (provided the shots were taken under exactly the same conditions and the same lighting). The software uses the ColorChecker swatches to calculate a neutral, accurate colour profile that you can use in your editing software.
What are the benefits of using a ColorChecker?
Here's a side-by-side comparison of an image with and without using the ColorChecker card.
On the left, no colour correction has been applied; on the right, the colours have been corrected using a ColorChecker card. This saves you a lot of time during editing so you can focus on the fun side of your work.
How does colour management work on a monitor?
EDIT - THE MONITOR IS THE HEART OF THE COLOUR WORKFLOW
If a monitor isn't properly calibrated, you can't trust what you see. The colours won't match what you saw during the shoot, and the prints won't match what's on your monitor. Did you know that the lighting conditions in your workspace, bright colours within your field of view (such as the colour of the wall and your desk) and the tilt angle of your monitor also affect how you perceive colours on the screen? That's why it's important to set up your monitor properly.
How does a monitor calibration device work?
If you want consistent colours on your screen, you can use a monitor calibration device (a colorimeter like the Calibrite ColorChecker calibration devices) to create a colour profile and save it in your monitor's display settings. That way you can be sure your photos display correctly during post-processing and you won't get any nasty surprises at print time. Calibrite's calibration solutions feature technologically advanced filters and optical systems, fast measurement speeds and perfect colour accuracy. So you can be confident you're really seeing what the final result will look like.
TIP: All monitors need regular calibration to create a correct colour profile based on ambient light, brightness and the contrast of the screen. Monitor parameters change all the time: the monitor is switched on and off, warms up and cools down, and laptop screens lose their original colour because they get carried around. That's why it's important to recalibrate your monitor every 4 to 6 weeks.
How do I get the right colours in my prints?
PRINT - FROM DIGITAL FILES TO PAPER
Photographers can also create custom colour profiles for their printers, so you no longer have to make endless unnecessary test prints. That saves you valuable time and prevents wasted materials. The Calibrite ColorChecker Studio is a spectrophotometer that lets you create custom print colour profiles which are saved in your printer driver. It uses intelligent iterative profiling technology to ensure your output always has the right colours, with perfect tones, highlights and shadows. Save the profiles to your printer software and select the right profile for the print. With custom printer profiles for different paper types (such as glossy and matte) and paper thicknesses you'll get the best possible results.
A well-calibrated colour workflow ensures that colours appear the same on your camera, scanner, monitor and prints.
Calibrite powered by X-Rite is the international market leader in colour trends, colour science and colour technology. Reliable, true colours on every device and at every step of the process - thanks to Calibrite.
