Have you
ever taken a photograph, viewed it on screen and
then printed it and wondered why the colours did
not quite look as you remembered them? This could
be due to a number of reasons, including not
setting the white balance properly on your camera
or the automatic white balance being fooled which
is surprisingly easy to do. Most professionals use
a specially calibrated ‘grey’ card to determine the
correct colour balance.
However, another reason why your reds may look pink is that your monitor may not accurately reflect the correct colours. In all commercial printing companies, they calibrate their equipment from camera to print. This includes setting custom profiles for items such as ink and paper. Change the ink or paper requires entering a new profile for colour accuracy.
For the advanced home user, a simple and inexpensive way to ensure your Coke cans are the correct red is to use Huey Pro. This is a small sensor that attaches to your monitor while you run a calibration process.
Pantone have a good eye for detail. Out of the box you get a CD containing the software, a Pantone colour swatch set and a device that looks like a stretched MP3 player. You even get a set of screen wipes to make sure that dust and grease marks on the screen do not get in the way. After installing the software you are then prompted to run through a series of idiot-proof steps which allow the sensor to compensate for ambient light and also the type of monitor you use. It is so simple to use, even a traffic warden could use it. Within 10 minutes you will be up and running, although it is recommended you run your monitor for at least 30 minutes before you run the calibration routine.
I tried a number of photographs using the before and after look and found quite a range of differences. Sometimes it was hard to detect, but in other cases it was quite profound. I particularly found skin tones and skies came out much more accurately. If you want to ensure consistency of colour and to move ahead in the digital colour world, this is one of the most inexpensive steps you can take. Highly recommended.
However, another reason why your reds may look pink is that your monitor may not accurately reflect the correct colours. In all commercial printing companies, they calibrate their equipment from camera to print. This includes setting custom profiles for items such as ink and paper. Change the ink or paper requires entering a new profile for colour accuracy.
For the advanced home user, a simple and inexpensive way to ensure your Coke cans are the correct red is to use Huey Pro. This is a small sensor that attaches to your monitor while you run a calibration process.
Pantone have a good eye for detail. Out of the box you get a CD containing the software, a Pantone colour swatch set and a device that looks like a stretched MP3 player. You even get a set of screen wipes to make sure that dust and grease marks on the screen do not get in the way. After installing the software you are then prompted to run through a series of idiot-proof steps which allow the sensor to compensate for ambient light and also the type of monitor you use. It is so simple to use, even a traffic warden could use it. Within 10 minutes you will be up and running, although it is recommended you run your monitor for at least 30 minutes before you run the calibration routine.
I tried a number of photographs using the before and after look and found quite a range of differences. Sometimes it was hard to detect, but in other cases it was quite profound. I particularly found skin tones and skies came out much more accurately. If you want to ensure consistency of colour and to move ahead in the digital colour world, this is one of the most inexpensive steps you can take. Highly recommended.
Pantone Huey Pro Review