Chapter 1. Color Management Fundamentals

This chapter will help you understand why color doesn't match between devices; learn key color management concepts, such as device gamuts, color spaces, and color management methods (or CMMs); and learn how to use color management to determine whether colors contained in an image or document are out of gamut for a particular device.

Download Chapter 1 files from www.peachpit.com/xpcolor.

This chapter takes approximately 60 minutes to complete.

Anyone who has ever printed a color document or image has probably uttered those fateful words, "This doesn't match what I see on my screen." While this mismatch is a common problem, most people don't understand why it happens or how to fix it. Instead, they either live with it or repeatedly tweak and then print their images or documents until they get the desired results, which can waste a lot of time and money. In fact, there are technical reasons why color often doesn't match between devices.

A good analogy for this problem is spoken communication. Each device, such as a printer or monitor, is like a person speaking his or her own language. When one person who speaks French attempts to communicate with another who speaks Japanese, without translation there is a breakdown, and the message isn't communicated accurately, if at all. Even people who speak the same language have different dialects. What's needed is an interpreter capable of interpreting the language as well as the dialect, to ensure that the message is properly communicated. The same holds true for color reproduction.

A color management system is a system for managing color reproduction among devices, software, and the user. Much like a language interpreter, a color management system interprets the reproduction of color from one device to another to ensure that the intent is accurately communicated. Color management systems can make the color reproduction process more predictable by removing the guesswork.

It's important to distinguish between color management and color matching. Color management is not color matching the system won't magically match the colors among your devices and applications, nor will it be a one-button solution for your color woes. However, once you get color management working, you'll be able to capture, edit, and output color content with confidence. You won't be surprised at what comes out of your printer you'll actually be able to predict it.