René, How about the suggestion to treat the iPad as an "sRGB" devices and move on with life? Workable? Acceptable? Oversimplification? "Pleasing" solution? Why not? What do you think? Playing the devil's advocate... Roger -----Original Message----- From: colorsync-users-bounces+graxx=videotron.ca@lists.apple.com [mailto:colorsync-users-bounces+graxx=videotron.ca@lists.apple.com] On Behalf Of Rene Damkot Sent: August-10-11 8:05 PM To: undisclosed-recipients: Cc: colorsync-users@lists.apple.com Subject: Re: Color Management for iPad? / Corporate colors? I'd say that on a small gamut device, such as an iPad, color management does more harm then good: unless there's a perceptual rendering available, out of gamut colors will be clipped. I'd rather see an image "about correct" without clipping (not a big deal) then an image that's color correct while in gamut, but with out of gamut parts clipping (very visible). It's not like anyone would be using an iPad to proof colors. Aim for "pleasing" rather then "accurate" in this case. Then again, the only reason for my opinion in this is the limited gamut of the screen: were the iPad closer to sRGB, or perceptual rendering would be available, Color management would be very nice indeed. (best of both worlds) Grtx, René Damkot www.damkot.com www.getcolormanaged.com Sent from my iPhone On 10 aug. 2011, at 15:23, Karsten Krüger <kk@kkrueger.de> wrote:
Good question, Roger !
I would like to go even further:
What expectations do people have regarding color on the iPad / similar devices ? How big a value do you create by calibrating / profiling an iPad ?
When we talk about print media this is an easy answer. When we talk about the web, it's a bit blurry, but we have at least some experience. When we talk about the iPad and similar devices, this is no easy answer because environments and usage differ from a PC or laptop:
Environments:
PCs are limited to office like setups. Indirect lighting, usually a bit dim. And if you are serious on color you take the right steps to be able to judge colors without environmental deviation.
An iPad is used when commuting (inconsistent light - changing every few seconds), in a park (green grass & trees, blue sky), a coffee shop (dim, orange brownish), the living room (dim, warm colors) etc… Does color management work in such environments ? Is it possible to cover all of these environments with a single calibration / profile ? If not, is it possible to automatically detect these environments and to adjust color management as needed without user activity ? How do you handle automatic background light dimming, which is necessary for outdoor viewing ? How to compensate display shifting due to temperatures changes when taking the iPad outside ?
Expectations:
To most people the iPad is a device like an iPhone. Do you expect colors to be correct on a mobile telephone ? I don't. But I would care to have pleasing colors and crisp details on a digital picture frame. Would I expect to have matching colors between the iPad and print ? Would I want to compare ? Would I notice a mismatch if a printed item does not match the display on an iPad ? How would I feel about the difference (considering the different contrast ratios) ? I don't know. Based on my experience on the iPhone the crispier digital display will be more pleasing and slight differences would be interpreted as an enhancement if noticed at all.
There are still situations where color accuracy counts: As a designer I would care about color when I show my work to a customer hoping to get a contract, or as a photographer presenting my pictures. But is the iPad's display suitable for color correct work ? When I look at the gammuts displayed on Rene's web site I doubt that there is a big value in it.
Bottom line for me:
Color management has different needs on an iPad than what we are experienced to. And while I wish there would be the tools to calibrate and profile an iPad, and APIs to create apps for those who need color management, expectance might be to high and the value gained with it might be a lot less than anticipated.
Just my 2 cents, Karsten
Am 10.08.2011 um 12:50 schrieb Roger Breton:
René,
I monitor this list closely and I must say that Louis is the first poster to dare suggest a specific colorspace for use on the iPad. Even though it is a colorspace that may not have everyone's favour here. I think this was a constructive statement on his part.
What colorspace would YOU suggest?
Best / Roger