#Digital Design
2018.04.04
Edition No.2 COLOR COMMUNICATION
If your work involves dealing with images, you would probably have experienced difference in opinion regarding brightness or color of the images with relevant stakeholders or external agencies. This is all part of the process of creating the optimum product and difference in opinion is quite normal as well as necessary.
-
Examples of color differences on different devices
I am certain that we all at one point had doubts on whether the counterparty is looking at the same brightness or color as ourselves – feeling frustrated at the possibility that we are actually discussing a different image while wishing for the same output, not just a difference in preference or opinion. We express our thoughts or accept the opinion of the other under the premise that we are looking at the same image and same color while communicating with our counterparty.
The problem here is that this is not always true. Look around you right now at your colleague's smartphone, and you will see that the same image, website or even a white blank page looks completely different in terms of brightness, tone and color.
The problem here is that this is not always true. Look around you right now at your colleague's smartphone, and you will see that the same image, website or even a white blank page looks completely different in terms of brightness, tone and color.
As a simple example, you can see that the same image that looks colorful and rich on a Samsung AMOLED smartphone display looks placid and sophisticated on a Retina Display of an iPhone. The mood of the same image looks completely different. Such difference in images occur even among products of the same brand, so you can image what the difference would be like in different types of devices, including smartphones, laptops, computer monitors and more.
I am not suggesting that there is nothing that can be done as displays and devices express images differently. I think, however, that we need to clarify requirements and standards, recognize the issues in communicating and work to narrow the gap.
I am not suggesting that there is nothing that can be done as displays and devices express images differently. I think, however, that we need to clarify requirements and standards, recognize the issues in communicating and work to narrow the gap.
CMS (Color Management System)
Color Management System (CMS) is a process designed to reconcile the different color capabilities of different image production devices to overcome the differences mentioned above in brightness, color and mood, define parameters to reduce any error or gap, and manage colors within predictable scope.
Different color spaces of the human eye / film / monitor / printout
It is a process of creating an optimum state to minimize the color gap among devices through consistent profile because there exists a difference in color spaces and color reproducibility according to settings among different devices. Monitor calibration as well as external display, project display and dual monitor calibrations can be done by using display calibration tools, such as Spyder5 and i1 Display PRO.
-
Before and after comparison of calibration
An external factor that needs to be taken into consideration in the calibrating process is controlling the surrounding environment of the monitor. Colors on the monitor look different according to the color temperature of the surrounding main lighting because surrounding light intensity impacts brightness factors. The most ideal setting is to match the color temperature of your monitor to the color temperature of your workspace. Important factors that you should check for are as follows :
. Maintaining light intensity and color temperature surrounding your monitor is important.
. Use monitor hood to eliminate interference from external lighting.
. Use non-glare panel to eliminate interference with color due to screen reflections.
. Monitor brightness > surrounding brightness
The details of how to use calibration tools and their setting values may be technical, but understanding the concept of CMS, the necessity of monitor calibration and making efforts to keep in mind the above checklist and make improvements are crucial for users who work with images and communicate with customers on images. Therefore, seeking ways to make improvements and maintaining such measures are needed.
. Maintaining light intensity and color temperature surrounding your monitor is important.
. Use monitor hood to eliminate interference from external lighting.
. Use non-glare panel to eliminate interference with color due to screen reflections.
. Monitor brightness > surrounding brightness
The details of how to use calibration tools and their setting values may be technical, but understanding the concept of CMS, the necessity of monitor calibration and making efforts to keep in mind the above checklist and make improvements are crucial for users who work with images and communicate with customers on images. Therefore, seeking ways to make improvements and maintaining such measures are needed.
-
Like
2 -
Recommend
0 -
Thumbs up
0 -
Supporting
0 -
Want follow-up article
0