Using a MacBeth Color Checker test chart
Using a MacBeth Color Checker test chart
- Subject: Using a MacBeth Color Checker test chart
- From: email@hidden
- Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2001 16:50:38 EST
Having read everyone else's responses and posts, let me see if I can throw
out another viewpoint and idea for you.
I photograph digitally quite a lot. Here's a sense of my workflow based on
the economic side (unlike many on this list in the corporate world who can
afford whatever they need -- yes, I'm envious).
I set up my situation and include a ColorChecker. I photograph it and white
balance on the white or one of the light grey squares (usually the white). I
check the reading of the exposure to make certain that I'm getting neutral
patches on all greys or within a couple of points on any of the RGB readings.
Continue photographing in that situation. Most of my photography is of people.
Download the images to the computer. Open the file with the ColorChecker.
Using curves, I will set points for the white at 220, black at 40 and the 3rd
square, light grey, just under the red, at 160 on each of the RGB channels.
Save this as an adjustment file. Now, simply apply it to all images needed
and things look really good for my output. The only calibration/profiling
device I have is OptiCal and the X-Rite DTP91 tube sucker. Monitors look
great. Output looks great. And I only invested less than $600 -- and weeks
figuring it out. Could have been cheaper to buy the equipment to do it for
me, huh?
If that ColorChecker was in an image that I'm scanning, I'd treat it the same
way.
Hope this helps.
Any ideas and improvements are greatly appreciated.
Joe Butts
<A HREF="www.joebutts.com">Joe Butts Photography</A>
In a message dated 12/16/01 10:06:01 PM Pacific Standard Time,
email@hidden writes:
We have a Heidelburg Topaz scanner with LinoColor 5.1 software and wish to
be advised by this group on what is the best procedure to follow when using
a MacBeth Color Chart that is in the photo to be scanned. Also, if this is
not the best chart to use, what are your recommendations? Thank you for your
advise. S. Schiller