TV and Photos in Windows Vista - Get Accurate Color Output
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Ever notice that the colors in digital photos you view on your PC don’t quite match the real thing, or even the colors on the little screen on the back of your digital camera? Or, have you noticed that the colors your printer reproduces don’t match those on your monitor?
This is a common problem, and one, unfortunately, without a clear-cut, foolproof solution. The problem is that your monitor, printer, scanner, and digital camera all handle color a little differently. It’s up to you to calibrate Windows so that all of these devices know what subtle adjustments they need to make to preserve your colors without botching your photos too badly.
Before you do anything, make sure your display adapter (video card) is set to the highest color depth it supports. Right-click an empty portion of the desktop, select Personalize, and then click Display Settings. From the Colors drop-down list, select Highest (32 bit). If the Resolution slider to the left drops when you do this, see Chapter 5.
First, you’ll need to gamma-correct your monitor, which helps ensure that its brightness and color balance are optimized for your setup. Many higherend monitors have gamma adjustment features, but barring that, you can use the free QuickGamma utility (Figure 4-16), available at http://quickgamma.de/indexen.html. (A similar utility also comes with Adobe Photo-shop, although the author of QuickGamma claims that it’s more accurate.) The process essentially involves adjusting a few controls until two different grayish regions appear indistinguishable when you squint. If you’re a perfectionist, you should elect to adjust red, green, and blue values independently.
Next, open Control Panel and then Color Management. Each imaging device on your system should be accompanied by a matching International Color Consortium (ICC) profile, and the Color Management window, shown in Figure 4-17, is where you manage these files.
Start with your monitor; select it from the Device list, and then click Add. If you’re lucky, you’ll see a matching profile in the list (having been installed with your driver); otherwise, you’ll have to dig up the correct ICC profile from the manufacturer of your monitor and then install it by clicking the Browse button here.
If you have trouble finding ICC profiles from the manufacturers of your monitor, scanner, printer, or camera, try a site like Chromix (http://www.chromix.com) or IPhotoICC
(http://www.littlecms.com/iphoto/profiles.htm). Of course, you can also search Google for your specific product and model, like this:Epson 1520 ICC.
Figure 4-16. Use QuickGamma to adjust your monitor so colors are displayed more accurately
In some cases, you may find more than one ICC profile for your device, each differentiated with a numeric code likeD93or6500K. These numbers indicate the color temperature, a number that describes the color of light emitted by the light source, specifically a theoretical object called a blackbody radiator. (In the real world, the closest analog is the sun.) TheKnumbers indicate temperatures in degrees Kelvin (e.g.,5000K,6500K,9300K) while theDnumbers indicate standard illuminants (colors of light) corresponding to
Figure 4-17. The Color Management window is a new, central interface for installing and configuring ICC profiles in Windows Vista
specific correlated color temperatures (CCT). If in doubt, choose5000KorD50, both of which correspond to “soft daylight.”
When the new ICC profile shows up in the Profiles associated with this device list, highlight it and click Set as Default Profile.
When you’re done with your monitor, repeat the process for your printer(s) and scanner(s). In most cases, you’ll want to use the same color temperature
(D orK value) for each ICC profile you use.
Now, your digital camera does things a little differently. If it’s like most cameras, it should store the appropriate ICC information in the EXIF data (discussed in the next section) embedded into each photo file you shoot. And most high-end applications, such as modern versions of Adobe Photoshop, should be capable of reading these tags and putting them to use. But in the unlikely event that your camera is included in the Device list, and you have an ICC profile provided by your camera’s manufacturer, then you can go ahead and install it just like the others.
Now, playing with gamma correction and color profiles will only take you so far. Variations in ink or toner, as well as paper, can all affect color reproduction on a printer, and the lighting in your room can affect how color looks on your monitor, so you’ll have to employ a little trial and error to get the desired results. Professionals use more sophisticated tools, such as colorimeters, to get better color matching, not to mention higher-quality monitors, printers, and scanners. So, don’t be surprised if you don’t get perfect color every time.
Next: Sort Photos Chronologically >>
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 This article is excerpted from chapter four of the book Windows Vista Annoyances: Tips, Secrets, and Hacks for the Cranky Consumer, written by David A. Karp (O'Reilly, 2008; ISBN: 0596527624). Check it out today at your favorite bookstore. Buy this book now.
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