In creating my own work, as well as that which I do for clients, the use of profiles for monitor, scanner, and printer are instrumental in allowing me to exercise good judgment about the colors I am editing and printing. The basics of color managing files in Photoshop are not difficult. One needs to have a calibrated monitor, a set of printer profiles, and an awareness of how Photoshop works with profiles. In a short time one can easily learn how to set up files properly, determine an appropriate Photoshop workspace, manage files with different workspace profiles, and preview what will happen when files are converted for print.

This material is covered in detail in the digital printing classes that are offered through the Smithsonian, occasionally through Penn Camera, and in small seminars that I arrange monthly. If you are interested in greater predictability and control with your digital output then one of these classes will be helpful. Please contact me for additional information and dates.

I also consult individually with those who would like to work on their own photographs with one’s own hardware.

Students in my classes will have an opportunity to purchase, at a discount, ColorVision software and hardware for monitor and printer profiling. These products are well known and highly regarded.


www.ColorVision.com

For monitors one should use a monitor profiling package, which contains a hardware device that measures color values on screen, and software that can make adjustments to colors that are not represented accurately. The ColorVision Spyder 3 is a device that can do this with a high degree of accuracy.

Some manufacturers such as Epson make printer profiles available with the software that accompanies their inkjet printers. Epson’s photo quality printers ship with profiles that are reliable when used with Epson papers. These represent a good starting point for people who are learning to work with inkjet printers.

Renewed interest in monochrome printing has led to some wonderful improvements in printers designed to work with grayscale files. With the wide range of printing papers that are available, and the ability to reproduce images with stunning tonality, black and white printing is as viable now as it was in the chemical age. Occasionally I lead one-day seminars on monochrome printing for those experienced with Photoshop. In addition to the output strategies, learning how to separate a color file into a variety of grayscale possibilities is truly amazing. The case for shooting in color and converting to gray in Photoshop is easy to make. If you are interested in one of these sessions please contact me for additional information and possible dates.