This article describes steps to control your color profiles from input to output. For more detailed information and custom profiles, please contact Scott Martin at http://www.on-sight.com*

Symptom
Inconsistent color

Requirements

Monitor: Monitor calibration tool (ColorVision Spyder, Monaco, GretagMacbeth, etc.) or a custom profile for your monitor brand/type (created by a third party).
Printer: Printer calibration tool or a custom profile from the printer manufacturer.
Computer: Running Darkroom software.

Procedure

Each digital device uses a color profile. When you take a picture with your camera, it applies a color profile (usually sRGB) to your image. Your monitor should have the correct color profile for that make and model to ensure consistency. You can set the color space per catalog in ExpressDigital software (default is to use the color space embedded in the image). When printing, you should apply a color profile specific to your printer and paper you’re using. The following text describes each stage of your color space environment.

Camera
Most cameras capture images in the sRGB color space. Some models are able to choose Adobe RGB 1998. Please refer to your camera’s literature for this feature availability/configuration.

Display – Monitor
Monitor profiles can be set in Windows by right-clicking on your desktop and selecting Properties -> Settings -> Advanced -> Color Management. Monitor calibration tools can be purchased
and used to create a profile specific to your monitor.

Color Space – Importing
After importing images into a catalog, users can go to the PhotoWorkshop and select the Color Balance tab. Here, click on the Color Profile tool and select your desired colorspace profile. The choices are Automatic (retains the image’s current color profile), None (ignores the image’s current color profile), Adobe RGB (applies Adobe RGB.icc profile), and Custom (user defined profile).
You can apply this setting to all images in the current catalog by clicking Attributes -> Save to -> Catalog Default.

Printer
Color profiles should be applied to printers as well. Some printer manufacturers have created profiles to match specific models and paper characteristics. Color profile companies can create a printer color profile for you. Most will request that you print a certain image (configuration image supplied by the profile company) and mail it to them. They will scan the print and create a profile to your exact circumstances.

It is also possible to purchase the necessary configuration tools and create profiles yourself. This may be cost effective if you have several different printers using a dozen different paper surfaces.

For more detailed information please contact Scott Martin at on-sight.com