Mac color callibration good enough?

[casimir_artmann]

Is the default color calibration for iMac G5 20" good enough? What

type of output demands better calibration?

 

Also

 

How good is default calibration for Epson printer / Epson papers. Do I

have to download ICC-profiles to get a decent output?

 

How big improment can I get by tweeking calibration?

Are we talkin 2% - 20% or 200% - how to measure improvment?

 

Regards Casi

[ellis_vener_photography]

it isn't a matter of output per se, it is a matter of being able to accurately see what your

digital iamges look like. The reviews I've read give the G5 iMac pretty good marks in terms

straight-out-of-the-box accuracy. Whether that holds over time or , if like CRT monitors

there is a shift in the perfomance as an LCD (any LCD) ages, someone else will have to

answer.

[._._z]

ColorSync is Apple's implementation of the ICC standard. More info here:

 

http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/colorsync/

 

There are limitations. See:

 

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=008osm

 

I've seen good results from it, but a good ($200+) colorimeter will likely give you more

consistent matches.

[digidurst]

To get consistent color, you REALLY ought to consider calibrating your monitor with some

sort of puck. On another forum, I learned of this deal but you gotta hurry because the

special prices go away on the 23rd.

 

Take advantage of B&H's Macworld specials:

http://dealnews.com/articles/78871.html

 

I just ordered the Gretag Macbeth option but they also have the Spyder2 version available

for the cheapest I've seen on the net.

 

Good luck!

[paulstenquist]

I get a near perfect match between my Epson 2200 and my 20-inch Apple Cinema Display.

I just ran the OSX 10.3.7 monitor calibration (system preferences/display/color. I made

sure all my devices were listed in the ColorSynch utility, then I selected ColorSynch

Workflow in the PhotoShop color preferences. I can't imagine that any calibration devices

could get me closer to a perfect match.

Paul

[nicholas_bellamy]

Sorry to hijack, but whilst were on the subject, OSX calibration includes the

prerequisite of turning up the contrast to full. I have a formac platinum which has no

contrast settings, hence I can't see the little oval in the centre of the black square, hence I

can't get very far with the calibration.

 

Does this mean I have to get a spidey to calibrate ?

[sunapeephoto]

Until you callibrate monitor and printer you get used to compensating for the difference between what your eye sees on the monitor and the results from your printer. Long term you will be happier if you callibrate monitor and printer. You will also be happier if you download printer profiles for specific papers. If you do all this then don't use the "colorsync" option in color management. Use "no color adjustment" and trust that the profiles and callibration will give you the right results. John.

[paulstenquist]

On a Mac the printer profiles for Epson papers are installed with the Epson

driver.If you're using a Mac Cinema Display or the G5 imac led display your

monitor calibration is going to be very accurate and well defined by the

ColorSynch device profile. If your device profiles for the monitor and

printerare installed in Colorsynch, you can't go wrong using the Colorsynch

workflow. Try it before you complicate your life. It works beautifully.

OPaul

[dave_terry1]

So Paul,

 

How do you add a device to colorsync? I see my monitor and my printer listed, but

nothing for my scanner or my digital camera.

[paulstenquist]

My device profiles came with the scanner and printer and were installed when the drivers

were installed. You can probably find a profile on the web site of the scanner

manufacturer. I don't know about camera profiles. I haven't installed any. I shoot RAW with

a Pentax *istD and import the files with PhotoShop CS RAW converter. So they enter the

system unprocessed and without colorspace. I work them over in PS CS to my satisfaction.

Once they look good on my screen, I know they'll print correctly on my Epson 2200

printer. That's where ColorSynch comes in. I would probably work the same way if I were

shooting jpegs.

[._._z]

<i><blockquote> How do you add a device to colorsync? </blockquote> </i><p>

 

Start here: <p>

 

<u><A href =

http://www.apple.com/pro/training/colorsync/segment102866b.html>

http://www.apple.com/pro/training/colorsync/segment102866b.html</a></u> <p>

 

<u><A href = http://snipurl.com/c8mp>http://searchcgi.apple.com/cgi-bin/sp/nph-

searchpre1.pl?q=colorsync%2Bdevice%2Bsite:www.apple.com%2Fpro%2Ftraining%2Fcolo

rsync&restrict=us_only&client=www_collection&site=www_collection&lr=lang_en&outp

ut=xml&sort=&filter=0&access=p</a></u>