To compound this problem, when changing color spaces between different devices there is so much that can be lost in translation. More often than not, those translations are inaccurate – that is just a given. Your image contains data and this data is translated internally to display color using combinations of Red, Green and Blue light. Try to reframe the way you see your monitor and think of it as a living piece of paper instead. This is part of the reason we tend to use so many help layers – “visual aid” – when retouching.Ī monitor is simply an output medium, just like any other media device. Our perception of color can vary greatly depending on our environment or even our mood. Our eyes and brain are brilliant at tricking us as they adapt to situations around us. Without proper color management, it’s impossible to answer that question. Pause for a moment, and ask yourself: “Is the color I’m seeing on my display accurate? Can I trust it? Will my client and viewers see what I want them to see?”
What you see on your display is the only link that you have to what you’re creating. Why Calibrate Your Monitor?Īs a Retoucher your monitor is your entryway into a world of color and digital data. But if you’re ready to make the investment in yourself, join us as we go down the rabbit hole.
Be warned, there are hard costs involved here. Our hope is to lead you on the path to color Nirvana in a few easy steps. In today’s digital world, color management is more important than ever. I was looking for a trustworthy source to highlight what I needed to know, but also spare me from the pitfalls that could cost me time and money. I often wished that there was a place to go that would simply tell me what to do without explaining every single aspect of the process. There are buckets of information available on this topic, and as you dig into it, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the technical terminology and even conflicting opinions on ways to go about managing color. We’ll also include links to other sources if this gets you excited to dive deeper into the world of color management. They’ve spent all the time researching and trying out different approaches and you are just fortunate to get the benefit of that time.
Imagine a trusted friend coming along your side and offering their best advice on how to go about calibrating your monitor, why it’s so important and without explaining every detail to you. Rather, you’re getting the benefit of hard-won experience over the course of many years in the advertising and print industry. This is not an exhaustive walk-through of color theory or management by any means. We sat down to write a practical, hands-on guide to tame color in your digital world. Ultimate Guide To Accurate Monitor Color And Color Management