color calibration question

I'm an artist and have recently begun using Photoshop to adjust and manipulate images for future projects. The end result is used as a reference for acrylic painting or mixed media of some type on canvas. The photos that I'm working with in Photoshop are then initially printed in a 4x6 size at the local Costo or Wal-Mart for further contemplation and comparision. (Hey, it's less than $.20 a copy and takes about an hour) I'm a newbie and was wondering about calibrating variables to obtain better color accuracy. I've read the software's basic "help" files as a start. Any tips or suggestions? I eventually want to select certain images for development in a 8x10 format but, the images in my 4x6's are lacking the color range displayed by my monitor. Some colors are pretty accurate while others are off by quite a bit or absent altogether. There will undoubtedly be many adjustments and changes made in the painting stage but, I'd like to get closer to what I'm seeing on the screen before that process begins.

Thank you for your assistance,
Lulu : )

In his posting of Thu, 17 Nov 2005, LULU writes

I'm an artist and have recently begun using Photoshop to adjust and manipulate images for future projects. The end result is used as a reference for acrylic painting or mixed media of some type on canvas. The photos that I'm working with in Photoshop are then initially printed in a 4x6 size at the local Costo or Wal-Mart for further contemplation and comparision. (Hey, it's less than $.20 a copy and takes about an hour) I'm a newbie and was wondering about calibrating variables to obtain better color accuracy. I've read the software's basic "help" files as a start. Any tips or suggestions? I eventually want to select certain images for development in a 8x10 format but, the images in my 4x6's are lacking the color range displayed by my monitor. Some colors are pretty accurate while others are off by quite a bit or absent altogether. There will undoubtedly be many adjustments and changes made in the painting stage but, I'd like to get closer to what I'm seeing on the screen before that process begins.
Thank you for your assistance,
Lulu : )

Dear Lulu

Where to begin is the question! The better the monitor the easier the task, then you really do need a reliable monitor calibrator suitable for your choice of screen. Most these days will work with LCD and CRT screens....make sure yours has not had more than three years use....if so get a replacement. Get your surrounding under control, no distracting colours to upset your colour decisions and a low and stable lighting situation without any glare on the screen. Change your screen desktop to a neutral grey. A monitor hood can greatly assist.

Get a decent book that deals with colour management. Real World Photoshop or Photoshop for Photographers are tow useful titles. As for your screen to print images changing it could be almost anything. Get the above right and you are on your way to at least predictable working. If you were up to speed with this and working an ARGB colour space and handing over your files to a high street outlet then I would suggest changing them to sRGB for delivery as these folk default to this colour space normally and have no conception of colour management and profiles.

Hope this helps to get you started.

Richard
--
Richard K

In your case, get a good colorimeter to calibrate your monitor to display colors that conforms to CIELab standard. It means your monitor must display the genuine colors of your images before you do any adjustment to it. Then try to get the photographic paper profile from your photo printing lab or download from Internet and copy to your system color profiles folder. In Photoshop color setting, choose Adobe RGB 1998 color space for more saturated color or if you don't understand this, choose the default setting (sRGB). After adjusting your image color, go to View>Proof Setup>Custom... and from the window "Profile or if it is CS 2 in Device to Simulate", choose the profile of the photographic paper and the rest to default. By doing this, you will be able to know approximately the color production and fine tune the adjustment a bit. If everything is done correctly, your color output from the lab will match closely to your monitor. Bear in mind that your lab chemical management must under control and your monitor too to avoid color fluctuation. Also always use "Embedded profile" whenever Photoshop asked.

http://web.singnet.com.sg/~kcpps

"LULU" wrote in message

I'm an artist and have recently begun using Photoshop to adjust and manipulate images for future projects. The end result is used as a reference for acrylic painting or mixed media of some type on canvas. The photos that I'm working with in Photoshop are then initially printed in a 4x6 size at the local Costo or Wal-Mart for further contemplation and comparision. (Hey, it's less than $.20 a copy and takes about an hour) I'm a newbie and was wondering about calibrating variables to obtain better color accuracy. I've read the software's basic "help" files as a start. Any tips or suggestions? I eventually want to select certain images for development in a 8x10 format but, the images in my 4x6's are lacking the color range displayed by my monitor. Some colors are pretty accurate while others are off by quite a bit or absent altogether. There will undoubtedly be many adjustments and changes made in the painting stage but, I'd like to get closer to what I'm seeing on the screen before that process begins.

Thank you for your assistance,
Lulu : )

"LULU" wrote in message news:Fc3ff.64767>

I'm an artist and have recently begun using Photoshop to adjust and manipulate images for future projects. The end result is used as a reference for acrylic painting or mixed media of some type on canvas. The photos that I'm working with in Photoshop are then initially printed in a 4x6 size at the local Costo or Wal-Mart for further contemplation and comparision. (Hey, it's less than $.20 a copy and takes about an hour) I'm a newbie and was wondering about calibrating variables to obtain better color accuracy. I've read the software's basic "help" files as a start. Any tips or suggestions? I eventually want to select certain images for development in a 8x10 format but, the images in my 4x6's are lacking the color range displayed by my monitor. Some colors are pretty accurate while others are off by quite a bit or absent altogether. There will undoubtedly be many adjustments and changes made in the painting stage but, I'd like to get closer to what I'm seeing on the screen before that process begins.

Hi Lulu,

1) Hopefully you are using a CRT and not an LCD - if you are using an LCD I do have suggestions, but let's assume you have a CRT for now.

2) Run Adobe Gamma very carefully, and pay particular attention to the color temperature (keep it on the low side if possible, 5000 or 5500. This will mean getting used to a fairly yellow looking image at first, but it's worth it.

3) Make sure you can just barely distinguish the dark squares in the Adobe Gamma test pattern.

4) In Photoshop's Edit>Color Settings, set your RGB working space to sRGB. Other color spaces may give you darker or more drab colors when you send your image to CostCo.

5) Paint a test image, with a variety of colors on it, and have it printed at CostCo. Use the colors from Photoshop's color swatches, a range of colors from pure black to white, plus any other colors you commonly use. Save this image to your hard drive for later reference

6) When you get your print back, keep it near your monitor for future reference. You may want to use Adobe Gamma to adjust your display a slightly to make your display match the print better. Pure blues, reds, and green will never look as good on the print as they do on your monitor. OTOH, pure cyan, magenta, and especially yellow may look better. Keep the print near your monitor as a reference.

What you want is to avoid surprises. This means you need to have the overall brightness, shadow detail, and neutral colors to match so that you don't have any surprises when you print your work. Pursuing the perfect match is expensive, time consuming, and in the end, impossible. --

Mike Russell
www.curvemeister.com

A big thank you to everyone who offered suggestions! There's some really nice and helpful people that frequent this newsgroup. I'm still fumbling along but, I'm learning a bit more each and everyday. Thanks again!

Happy Thanksgiving to all,
Lulu : )

In message <Vovff.125820$>,
LULU writes

A big thank you to everyone who offered suggestions! There's some really nice and helpful people that frequent this newsgroup. I'm still fumbling along but, I'm learning a bit more each and everyday. Thanks again!

You also need to check that the lab machine in the shop is set to the same setting each time. There was a thing either here or in comp.periphs.printers someone took the same image to two different branches of the same chain and had rather varying results. If you reach the stage of the colour accuracy of the printed output becoming that important then it will be time to look at getting your own printer so you can exercise more control over it.

--
Timothy