profiling monitors & workflow
profiling monitors & workflow
- Subject: profiling monitors & workflow
- From: email@hidden (Eric Ferguson)
- Date: Thu, 07 Dec 2000 12:33:14 -0500
- Organization: The LTC Group
I hope there's a 'there are no stupid questions' policy on this list...
Stupid Question, part One:
I was wondering about the differences between 'profiling' and
'calibrating' monitors. For example, I use a Gretag Spectrolino and
ColorBlind to create a monitor profile, but at no point do I adjust the
RGB guns in my monitor (me, personally--maybe the software does by
magic, somehow). Have I calibrated my monitor, or has it merely been
profiled?
I also have Gretag's ICSync, which is similar to Adobe Gamma & the old
Monitors calibrator. It uses 'sliders' to adjust red, green, & blue
patches (no Spectrolino required), then builds a profile & loads into
ColorSync. Is my monitor now calibrated?
I also have X-Rite's monitor optimizer, for good measure. Same question.
Stupid Question, part Two:
Then, in my Photoshop color-retouching workflow, I need to open and
adjust an image I scanned earlier. Do I open the image, convert from the
scanner's profile (RGB) to my monitor profile (RGB), then from my
monitor profile to a working space (RGB) and set my color settings to
the appropriate output CMYK profile and monitor profile? Because I need
to have some clue as to the CMYK values while retouching, should I now
convert and retouch in RGB, while previewing CMYK values (using the
option-Y command), or should I just convert to CMYK up-front and retouch
in CMYK?
And, in this scenario, do I need an RGB working space at all?
Sorry in advance if I've been unclear or made this confusing--I suppose
I'm venting profile frustrations as well as trying solve problems (not a
good mix).
Thanks kindly,
Eric Ferguson