View Full Version : Color management with COLOR CHECKER and GREY CARD


zakd
04-21-2008, 04:03 AM
Hi,
This is my first post here and I'm not sure if I post this thread on right place...
I'm amateur photographer and have one big issue in PSD work.
Below I show one sample of photo with what kind of color checker card I work with to have real natural and the best possible colors on my photos. Specially I have a problem for studio portrait and outdoor portrait images.
That is my question.
How to use COLOR checker card in PSD CS2. Should I use it with RGB or CMYK and is there a differance. I also make preparation for Ofset printing where CMYK is required.
Can someone explain my how should I use it.
For axample if I take a sample of the card from MAGENTA I see that is it a mix of Cyan, Yellow and Magenta... but it should be only 100% magenta for CMYK working space. What should I do then...
Untill now, I use only grey card for color balance but I would like to go further and to learn hot to use this COLOR CHECKER for color improvement.
Thanks in advance,
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i53/zakDigital/2008/stock/colorchecker.jpg

pixelzombie
04-21-2008, 04:17 PM
these links might help you:

http://www.outbackphoto.com/workflow/wf_76/essay.html

http://www.outbackphoto.com/workflow/wf_65/essay.html

zakd
04-22-2008, 10:28 AM
Thanks for comment...
and Yes it is excellent example of using grey card...
but more of it I realy need a full explanation fow to use color card. How do I balance the colors separately with this color card...
Would appreciate your input over this subject...
regards Zak

DiamondsDr47
04-22-2008, 04:11 PM
You need reference number for those colors in color space, let say if you had a file in LAB mode....But i think the better tool for the job is ColorChecker by X-RITE(Gretag MacBeth)
and comes with those numbers(LAB, AdobeRGB).
Also you grayscale should be very helpful (zone metering), once you can fix your neutral
midtones the color should fall in place. The 18% gray card will help you a lot. Check if you have a color cast....
Best regards,
Edgar
..........................................
www.edgarmaivel.com