Why Does the Problem Exist?

Before the desktop publishing revolution, professional craftsmen controlled the entire reproduction process. They were well trained, they used proprietary imaging systems, and they charged a lot of money. Creative professionals like designers and photographers didn't have to worry about the details of how their vision came to life but they also didn't have much control over the process and the final outcome.

Desktop publishing changed all this by giving control to designers, illustrators, and photographers. The desktop computer eliminated the complexity of using a computer, and applications such as Adobe PageMaker and Photoshop brought electronic publishing tools to the masses. Today, extremely high-quality color imaging hardware and software is more than affordable, and consumers and professionals alike are producing their documents and images "in-house," which in some cases, literally means in their own houses. But one element remains elusive for those seeking quality and consistency: color. Those looking to manage their own color workflow must become experts in color reproduction, or else go crazy trying.

So with all this technology, why do we still have a color problem? In the old days, craftspeople were well trained in how to use their systems, which essentially amounted to a computer running software from one company, connecting to scanners and output devices from the same company. It was much easier to control the process when you controlled all the parts and trained the operators in how to use them. But today we have open systems computers, scanners, digital cameras, displays, printers, and countless pieces of software all from different vendors. This introduces a near-infinite number of variables into the process, especially as each vendor tries to solve the problem alone. To get a clear sense of the problem, just take a look at all the different locations where you can change color settings.

The result is color that is unpredictable between applications and devices, and users who are frustrated.

Note

If you haven't copied the project files from this book's Web site onto your hard drive, do so now. For instructions, see "Getting Started" at the beginning of the book.