Monitor Calibration & Color Management. HELP!!!

[LesPaul]

Ok, I've been using PSE for a couple of weeks now but there is a basic thing that I'm really confused: Monitor Calibration & Color Management (OSX with LCD monitor)

First let me tell you that I'm planning to use my images on the Web and also print them. I understand that there are unique color management settings for each work mode at different levels:

- At the OSX level you can set your display for print or display (AdobeRGB 1998 or sRGB).

- At the application level you can set preferences for PSE to adjust for video or printing.

- At the file level you can also save it with either profile mentioned above.

My confusion with all this is when I switch work modes. If I was only working one way (print or web) I'd adjust the settings in all 3 places and leave it but I'm always going back and forth. So, when I switch work modes do I have to change settings in all these 3 different places every time? How should my workflow be? I know there's something big I'm missing here...

Thanks.

[chas3stix]

Les,
Looks like you may have to do some experimenting with sRGB and AdobeRGB1998. Some printers print sRGB quite well. The usual rule of thumb is to use sRGB for internet photos and Adobe RGB1998 for prints. Since rules are meant to be broken......give each a try and see which one works for you.....:)
Chas

[LesPaul]

Thank you, that's the rule of thumb I was planning to follow when I save the files but what about while I'm working with the images?

Do I have to change PSE to Optimize for Printing while working on prints or Optimize for Computer Screens while working web pics?

Also, what about my OS system preferences? Do I also have to change to Adobe RGB or sRGB as work on the images?

So, basically, the question is : Do I have to do these steps below for every project I work on?

WEB Mode: Change OSX to sRGB display -> Change PSE to Optimize for Screens -> Work on Image -> Save as AdobeRGB 1998

PRINT Mode: Change OSX to AdobeRGB 1998 display -> Change PSE to Optimize for Print -> Work on Image -> Save as sRGB

I don't mind doing the steps I just want to know if they're necessary...

Thanks

[chas3stix]

Les,
Seems there are a few more steps with a Mac. I'm on a WinPC. Perhaps a Mac user can steer you in the right direction.
Chas

[Codebreaker]

Les....

I'm not a Mac user but I can give you some basics about Colour Mangement as far as PSE goes and in general....but its bit of a saga as this is a deep subject :-)

The Colour Settings in Elements are only relevant for images that are either created in Elements from scratch or for those images opened in Elements that have no colour space profile attached or tagged.

So for instance a digital camera will deliver and image which is tagged as either sRGB or AdobeRGB ( assuming your not using RAW). This profile will be picked up by Elements (providing you do not have 'No Colour Management' set) and will be the working space used in editing. So setting Elements for Screen or Printing makes no difference.

Your screen works in neither sRGB or AdobeRGB as it has its own profile. Printers likewise have their own specific profiles depending on inks and paper types.

The Colour Management process, which is only applicable to programs that have Colour Management e.g Photoshop ( but not programs like Internet Explorer on a PC for instance), translates the cololur data from one profile to another. So for instance you camera sRGB image gets translated to your Monitor Profile for correct rendering on screen or to your Printer Profile for correct colour printing.

So whats the difference between sRGB and AdobeRGB? sRGB is a colour space thats supposed to approximate a display without any Colour Management process involved - a sort of native colour space. Therefore when sending images to the Web, which can be viewed by programs that are not Colour Managed, this is the best choice.

AdobeRGB is a wider colour space than sRGB. Not more colours but just spread over a wider range. Its supposed to be better for printing but in my opinion this is a dubious statement as most printers cannot render the range of colours in AdobeRGB anyway. Use of Colour Management when printing is absolutely essential.

In summary...

1. If you're creating images from scratch for the Web, set Elements to Optimise for Screen i.e sRGB.

2. If you're using images from a Camera that are to go on the Web make sure they come from the Camera as sRGB or convert them later and choose any other Elements Colour Setting bar 'No Colour Management'

3. If you want to print your images then you must ensure that your image has a Colour Profile embedded, either sRGB or AdobeRGB and you must ensure that Elements manages the colours when printing and NOT your printer. You must ensure that you choose the right profile for the paper and inks.

Note: if you have version 4 then you can at least convert from one to the other

Come back with more questions any time.

Colin

[Cmcburnett]

Thanks Colin for the info. Should be helpful to a lot of folks, especially me.

[LesPaul]

Thanks for all the info!!

I still have a question on the display profiles at the OS level. In the Mac OSX, if I go to the System Preferences (similar to Control Panel in Windows) I can set my LCD display to a couple of different color profiles (like AdobeRGB 1998 and sRGB). and doing that affects how I see the image inside PSE inspite of whatever color management I have tagged on the picture. So, I think it does matter what the display is set to, right?

Thanks.

[Wendy]

Hi ...

Usually you would set your display to the particular monitor type ... but I just don't like the Cinema one on mine so I have it set to srgb instead :)

As long as what I see on screen and what I print out match then I'm happy with that.

Wendy

[Codebreaker]

Les....

As I said I know nothing about Macs but monitors are neither sRGb or AdobeRGB (except some really expensive professional models) they have there own unique colour space and on a PC this is what is used for the colour management process.

We need a Mac expert here :-)

Colin

[Soileauj]

you can alos view this link;
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/colin_w...ay%20Setup.htm
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/colin_w...ay%20Setup.htm

[LesPaul]

Thanks but I think the link above is invalid...

Ok, I did some more research and I think I found the equivalent Mac setting in a Windows XP machine. It would be in

Control Panel/Display/Settings/Advanced/Color Management

What's this setting for? This machine at work is set to sRGB. In my Mac at home I have color profiles options of AdobeRGB 1998 as well as sRGB. It affects what I see in PSE depending on which one is set .

Thanks.

[Wendy]

OK ...

Which monitor have you got .. ?

Wendy

[Codebreaker]

Joe....

Thanks for posting the link to my website but it contains a slight typo and should be...


http://homepage.ntlworld.com/colin_w/Colour%20Settings.htm

Thxs
Colin

[Soileauj]

You are welcome..I'm sitting here now trying tofigure what happened and then I see your post. I just went back to the original post and it worked...Couldn't understand...that's for helping one confused individual..