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Difference between revisions of "Colour Profiles"
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<code>''All displays conform to at least a minimum colour profile, such as sRGB, the standard that is central to the PC and web development for a long time. Note that conformation does not translate into the accuracy that you may expect and this is the flaw that you may spot most frequently, such as colours not looking right, in spite of any configuration.''</code> | <code>''All displays conform to at least a minimum colour profile, such as sRGB, the standard that is central to the PC and web development for a long time. Note that conformation does not translate into the accuracy that you may expect and this is the flaw that you may spot most frequently, such as colours not looking right, in spite of any configuration.''</code> | ||
sRGB | ====sRGB==== | ||
The most common colour profile and the one you should aim for in most situations is the sRGB one. Standardized in 1999, it is the format to which all manufacturers of displays and software cater to. Basically everything that is published on the internet is aimed at this standard. Although it is slightly older, the colour profile is reasonably expected to be reached and even superseeded by most manufacturers, creating a common platform expectation that should be targeted by any graphical creation. | The most common colour profile and the one you should aim for in most situations is the sRGB one. Standardized in 1999, it is the format to which all manufacturers of displays and software cater to. Basically everything that is published on the internet is aimed at this standard. Although it is slightly older, the colour profile is reasonably expected to be reached and even superseeded by most manufacturers, creating a common platform expectation that should be targeted by any graphical creation. | ||
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<code>''The sRGB profile is a minimum standard that is always respected. Results may not be satisfactory in how it is implemented and, unfortunately, no display on turn-on can display images with good accuracy, as there are many settings that are wrongly made to reach what the manufacturer thought as being desirable to the public''</code> | <code>''The sRGB profile is a minimum standard that is always respected. Results may not be satisfactory in how it is implemented and, unfortunately, no display on turn-on can display images with good accuracy, as there are many settings that are wrongly made to reach what the manufacturer thought as being desirable to the public''</code> | ||
====Adobe RGB and other standards==== | |||
Adobe RGB and other standards | |||
Adobe, a well-known American company, has been highly active in promoting their own standards that attempted to reach consistency in software they were promoting and to achieve high market penetrations. Unless specifically directed to use such a profile, you should use the sRGB one to achieve results that are easily predictable on most displays and software. | Adobe, a well-known American company, has been highly active in promoting their own standards that attempted to reach consistency in software they were promoting and to achieve high market penetrations. Unless specifically directed to use such a profile, you should use the sRGB one to achieve results that are easily predictable on most displays and software. | ||
DCI-P3 | ====DCI-P3==== | ||
This very high specification is reserved for very high quality displays. Due to current technology abilities, the only highly-available mass market product to incorporate it is OLED screen, with few LCD displays also available to reach these high specifications. Note that such a colour profile does not translate in any special ability to edit or see the images in a revolutionary way, it just means that the display could potentially display images requiring such colour profiles with good accuracy. As very few images and software actually require such capabilities, the DCI-P3 certification is important mostly to ensure that images can be always shown with accurate colours when required for less demanding editing, such as the ones that cater to sRGB and lower demand colour profiles. | This very high specification is reserved for very high quality displays. Due to current technology abilities, the only highly-available mass market product to incorporate it is OLED screen, with few LCD displays also available to reach these high specifications. Note that such a colour profile does not translate in any special ability to edit or see the images in a revolutionary way, it just means that the display could potentially display images requiring such colour profiles with good accuracy. As very few images and software actually require such capabilities, the DCI-P3 certification is important mostly to ensure that images can be always shown with accurate colours when required for less demanding editing, such as the ones that cater to sRGB and lower demand colour profiles. | ||
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<code>''DCI-P3 standard conformance on displays and specialized equipment is a good indication of high accuracy. While professional equipment is delivered with standard settings, consumer one has to frequently be reconfigured by disabling various features that alter the image to be more appealing to the public, but both can reach similar results.''</code> | <code>''DCI-P3 standard conformance on displays and specialized equipment is a good indication of high accuracy. While professional equipment is delivered with standard settings, consumer one has to frequently be reconfigured by disabling various features that alter the image to be more appealing to the public, but both can reach similar results.''</code> | ||
HDR | ====HDR==== | ||
There is no such colour profile as HDR or High Dynamic Range. There are, however, colour profiles that are suited to achieve the desired results of HDR, such as the BT.2020 standard. All HDR capable devices such as cameras and displays, must be able to conform to specific requirements to be able to generate and display accurately the high dynamic range required for such images. As you will clearly note, however, cameras do not conform to specific colour profiles which means that only displays have to abide such rules. | There is no such colour profile as HDR or High Dynamic Range. There are, however, colour profiles that are suited to achieve the desired results of HDR, such as the BT.2020 standard. All HDR capable devices such as cameras and displays, must be able to conform to specific requirements to be able to generate and display accurately the high dynamic range required for such images. As you will clearly note, however, cameras do not conform to specific colour profiles which means that only displays have to abide such rules. | ||
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<code>''For most intents and purposes, HDR does not act as a standard but more as a marketing desire to promote better technology. As there are no strict requirements to follow, HDR images are frequently above or below expectations, depending on creativity and products performance. No camera conforms to a specific display to produce consistent results.''</code> | <code>''For most intents and purposes, HDR does not act as a standard but more as a marketing desire to promote better technology. As there are no strict requirements to follow, HDR images are frequently above or below expectations, depending on creativity and products performance. No camera conforms to a specific display to produce consistent results.''</code> | ||
===Colour temperature=== | |||
All colour profiles specify a colour temperature. The notion is centered around the concept of an ideal black-body or thermal radiator radiating light at a specific temperatures, with the lower temperature casting an orange glow while the higher ones showing a blue or violet appearance. In practical terms, this approximation is used to express how yellow or blue white objects look when under this light. The appearance of colour objects is also shifted towards a yellow or blue appearance. The most common colour temperature is 6500 Kelvin, which is described as Daylight, and abbreviated D65. Warmer appearances such as warm white can be reached at around 3000Kelvin while cold appearances are reached over 7000 Kelvin colour temperature. Modern LED light sources can easily create these conditions indoors, as required, and some light sources can even generated custom white light tints or colour light, which does not conform to this white light and colour temperature standard. | |||
Colour temperature is important as artificial light and natural light behave in completely different ways. Natural light colour temperature varies throughout the day, being "warmer" at sunset and sunrise, colder at midday and relatively balanced in the rest of the time. Note that the presence of clouds, fog or clear sky also alters the colour temperature, clouds and fog making the colour temperature rise while a clear sky lowers slightly the colour temperature. | |||
You may wonder why colour temperature is important. The reason is very simple: ideally, you should be able to see your image in the same condition it was taken in, and edit it while you experience the same conditions. Our eyes adapt well to different conditions while cameras, displays and any device does not do so by default or does not act as seamlessly. It is obvious that this is not possible to fully reproduce. In most circumstances, you have to consider a typical editing and image viewing condition that considers a daylight setting, at a colour temperature of around 65000 Kelvin. This means that your display must not be overly dim, have altered colour saturation or major distortions that influence the end results. For a good measure the picture has to be still visible and look reasonably well in intense and dim light situations. | |||
<code>''The 6500 Kelvin colour temperature is a standard that has to be remembered, a reference for your creations. While many devices may not have, be configured for or allow such conditions, it is expected that in places that matter, such as exhibitions, on professional equipment, you have to be experienced in reaching it.''</code> | |||
Colour profile use | ===Colour profile use=== | ||
====Microsoft Windows==== | |||
It is essential to use a specific colour profile not only in windows but also in Windows applications. The first requirement is to properly set the default colour profile, while for other software there are individual settings that must be found in the documentation that comes with the program or that can be found on the internet. | It is essential to use a specific colour profile not only in windows but also in Windows applications. The first requirement is to properly set the default colour profile, while for other software there are individual settings that must be found in the documentation that comes with the program or that can be found on the internet. | ||
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====Apple MacOS==== | |||
One of the major advantages of using the Apple platform is that many settings are, by default, chosen for you, the user. Apple devices may not have the best displays but they are certainly set in a consistent manner that leads to predictable and consistent results across a lot of products. Such a seamless integration is part of the reason why many photographers, content creators and visual artists use the Apple platform. It is possible to reach the same results in Windows or Linux, although it is certain that you need to make particular settings active instead of the default one. | One of the major advantages of using the Apple platform is that many settings are, by default, chosen for you, the user. Apple devices may not have the best displays but they are certainly set in a consistent manner that leads to predictable and consistent results across a lot of products. Such a seamless integration is part of the reason why many photographers, content creators and visual artists use the Apple platform. It is possible to reach the same results in Windows or Linux, although it is certain that you need to make particular settings active instead of the default one. | ||
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<code>''The out of box or standard user experience on an Apple Mac and other Apple devices is more consistent as the user has nothing else to do but just use the equipment and it is already well-enough configured. Windows or other operating system users have to extensively configure their system to reach same results but the potential is similar.''</code> | <code>''The out of box or standard user experience on an Apple Mac and other Apple devices is more consistent as the user has nothing else to do but just use the equipment and it is already well-enough configured. Windows or other operating system users have to extensively configure their system to reach same results but the potential is similar.''</code> | ||
Graphics and Image Editors | ===Graphics and Image Editors=== | ||
Krita | ====Krita==== | ||
In many ways, Krita is an extremely popular image editor, the best open-source software for creative photo editing. It is much easier to use than GIMP, free compared with the traditional software for Image Editing, and it is available both for Windows and Linux. While not offering the same capabilities and extensions or plugins as Adobe Photoshop, the most versatile image editor, Krita fares favourably well for more experienced users, while it may be somewhat more difficult to work with for first users. However, ease of use depends on features and Krita frequently makes learning about such capabilities worthwhile. It is also possible to use Krita for basic image editing as well. | In many ways, Krita is an extremely popular image editor, the best open-source software for creative photo editing. It is much easier to use than GIMP, free compared with the traditional software for Image Editing, and it is available both for Windows and Linux. While not offering the same capabilities and extensions or plugins as Adobe Photoshop, the most versatile image editor, Krita fares favourably well for more experienced users, while it may be somewhat more difficult to work with for first users. However, ease of use depends on features and Krita frequently makes learning about such capabilities worthwhile. It is also possible to use Krita for basic image editing as well. | ||
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<code>''Krita is, perhaps, the most versatile open-source, free image editing application you will encounter. While not as feature full as commercial software, getting familiar with Krita is simple and learned techniques will be valuable on any software.''</code> | <code>''Krita is, perhaps, the most versatile open-source, free image editing application you will encounter. While not as feature full as commercial software, getting familiar with Krita is simple and learned techniques will be valuable on any software.''</code> | ||
GIMP | ====GIMP==== | ||
GIMP was, until recently, the only open-source software that may come close enough to the capabilities of Adobe Photoshop, before Krita evolved. The software was first developed for Linux and later expanded to also cover Windows. While powerful in itself, GIMP does not adhere to the standard menu-driven operation as other programs, making it slightly more difficult to use than well-known image editors such as Adobe Photoshop. Due to its long presence on the market, there is a very large variety of tutorials that are help to get you accustomed to GIMP. | GIMP was, until recently, the only open-source software that may come close enough to the capabilities of Adobe Photoshop, before Krita evolved. The software was first developed for Linux and later expanded to also cover Windows. While powerful in itself, GIMP does not adhere to the standard menu-driven operation as other programs, making it slightly more difficult to use than well-known image editors such as Adobe Photoshop. Due to its long presence on the market, there is a very large variety of tutorials that are help to get you accustomed to GIMP. | ||
Adobe Photoshop | ====Adobe Photoshop==== | ||
Adobe Photoshop is the golden or most popular image editor software. While it is a commercial application and is relatively expensive, counting at more than 200 Euros or USD per year for a single license, Photoshop is the widest use software for image editors. It is much more powerful than what most individuals need, being useful particularly for advanced users or the ones that require specific functionality, features, effects or the ones that require particular plugins to work with. As a rule of thumb, you may not need such a software application, although understanding the logic and operation of Adobe Photoshop creates expectations and improve your chances of adapting to concepts used in just about any image editor. | Adobe Photoshop is the golden or most popular image editor software. While it is a commercial application and is relatively expensive, counting at more than 200 Euros or USD per year for a single license, Photoshop is the widest use software for image editors. It is much more powerful than what most individuals need, being useful particularly for advanced users or the ones that require specific functionality, features, effects or the ones that require particular plugins to work with. As a rule of thumb, you may not need such a software application, although understanding the logic and operation of Adobe Photoshop creates expectations and improve your chances of adapting to concepts used in just about any image editor. | ||
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<code>''Adobe Photoshop is a highly expensive commercial image editor. As it is used by professionals for decades, there is extensive documentation and tutorials to achieve just about any result. However, most editing can be done reasonably well by ambitious users in software such as Krita, that is free of charge.''</code> | <code>''Adobe Photoshop is a highly expensive commercial image editor. As it is used by professionals for decades, there is extensive documentation and tutorials to achieve just about any result. However, most editing can be done reasonably well by ambitious users in software such as Krita, that is free of charge.''</code> | ||
Web | ===Web browsers=== | ||
We may not be aware that most web browsers do not respect the same colour profiles as expected, by default, showing any image with slightly more muted colours than it may be expected. This is a common occurence, caused due the insufficient interest in developing consistently the application support for colour profiles and enforcing them by default. | We may not be aware that most web browsers do not respect the same colour profiles as expected, by default, showing any image with slightly more muted colours than it may be expected. This is a common occurence, caused due the insufficient interest in developing consistently the application support for colour profiles and enforcing them by default. | ||
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<code>''While not obvious, web browsers, particularly on personal computers and laptops, are extremely complex programs that are poorly optimised out of the box to handle colour information well. While they operate decently in most circumstances, configuration is required for best results.''</code> | <code>''While not obvious, web browsers, particularly on personal computers and laptops, are extremely complex programs that are poorly optimised out of the box to handle colour information well. While they operate decently in most circumstances, configuration is required for best results.''</code> | ||
Mozilla Firefox | ====Mozilla Firefox==== | ||
Type in the address bar about:config, then, after agreeing to the prompt regarding the risk of modifying settings, enter in the search bar that appears in the page section, the following keyword, gfx.color_management | Type in the address bar about:config, then, after agreeing to the prompt regarding the risk of modifying settings, enter in the search bar that appears in the page section, the following keyword, gfx.color_management | ||
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Note that there are two settings that have to be flipped from the "false" value to "true", by clicking the double arrow button in the right side of the row, for the following parameters, gfx.color_management.force_srgb and gfx.color_management.native_srgb. A succesful modification changes the parameter name to be written in bold. There is no need to save the settings, they are immediately applied. You can close the tab and the settings will be always applied. | Note that there are two settings that have to be flipped from the "false" value to "true", by clicking the double arrow button in the right side of the row, for the following parameters, gfx.color_management.force_srgb and gfx.color_management.native_srgb. A succesful modification changes the parameter name to be written in bold. There is no need to save the settings, they are immediately applied. You can close the tab and the settings will be always applied. | ||
Google Chrome | ====Google Chrome==== | ||
Type in the address bar chrome://flags/, then, after agreeing to the prompt regarding the risk of modifying settings, enter in the search bar that appears in the page section, the following flag, Force color profile | Type in the address bar chrome://flags/, then, after agreeing to the prompt regarding the risk of modifying settings, enter in the search bar that appears in the page section, the following flag, Force color profile | ||
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Microsoft Edge | ====Microsoft Edge==== | ||
Type in the address bar chrome://flags/, then, after agreeing to the prompt regarding the risk of modifying settings, enter in the search bar that appears in the page section, the following flag, Force color profile | Type in the address bar chrome://flags/, then, after agreeing to the prompt regarding the risk of modifying settings, enter in the search bar that appears in the page section, the following flag, Force color profile | ||