Step 4: Data Input
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Digital Photo Print Guide
Inputting Data
Color space
For data that includes color and tones, it is important that each device handles color in the same way. If
you do not use a consistent color space from input to output, it will be difficult to achieve consistent
colors. The main color spaces used by digital cameras are Adobe RGB and sRGB. It is important to
understand their respective features and use them appropriately according to your purpose.
Color photos
Adobe RGB is a bigger color space than sRGB. The space for blue and green in particular is bigger, which
is useful for capturing the blue of the sea and the vivid green of trees for nature and scenery
photography.
Many general monitors do not support Adobe RGB, so you can set up an sRGB environment at lower
cost. However, even if your monitor does not support Adobe RGB, Epson printers can output data that
uses the Adobe RGB color space. Although the colors on the screen and in the print will differ slightly,
printing the data without adjusting it will give you an idea of how to adjust it to create the work that you
want.
Monochrome photos
Although difference in color is not an issue here, if you create the data for monochrome photos using the
three RGB channels, the issues regarding color space will be the same as with color photos, so differences
in representing half tones will also arise.
Digital cameras
Taking photos
When you take photos, avoiding whiteout and blackout is important. Although you can adjust contrast
and sharpness slightly later, note that you cannot adjust parts that exhibit whiteout or blackout.
Furthermore, although it may be necessary to achieve the image you want, adjustment can be difficult in
backlit portraits and instances when objects of widely differing brightness are included in the same
scene. In this case, use the auto bracket function to take the picture at several different exposures.
If you take a photo with the intention of adjusting it later, you will have more leeway to achieve richer
tonality if the shadows and highlights are fairly uniform, with low contrast, or in other words, if you take
a 'flat' picture.
