3. Color Management
page 10
LaCie blue eye 2
User’s Manual
By taking into account the translation mechanisms contained in the ICC profile, another computer monitor (or any other
device, such as a printer, for example) can reproduce the exact same absolute colors even though its components, settings
and aging may be significantly different. The benefit is that both professionals see the same colors, and that there is no
color shift across the workflow.
3.2.1. Monitor Calibration
The calibration process allows the
professional to influence the range of
colors displayed. The main settings that
influence the range of colors displayed
are the following:
The
Gamma Curve
. This curve determines
the characteristics of the absolute colors
associated with all the RGB values
between the white point and the black
point. It expresses the intensity of the light
emitted by each of the RGB dots for each
of the intermediary values between 0 and
255. The shape of the gamma curve in
particular determines the level of detail
and contrast that are displayed on the
monitor. A practical way of describing this curve is through the use of a numerical value that describes its slope.
The
White Point
, i.e. the characteristics of the color displayed by the RGB value: R=255, G=255, B=255. These
characteristics are often summarized with the term White Point Temperature, because scientists have developed a model
where a given body brought to a certain temperature emits light of a given color. This temperature is expressed in degrees
Kelvin (°K). Common White Point Temperature settings in the pre-press workflow are 5000 K and 6500K. To influence
White Point Temperature, it is necessary to adjust the respective intensities (also called gains) of red, green and blue light
that are emitted by the RGB value of (255, 255,255).
The
Luminance
controls the overall brightness of the monitor.
With the LaCie blue eye 2, you can fine-tune all of these factors and target the Brightness, Gamma and White Point
Temperature settings of your choice. The sensor that is included is an advanced device that measures the light emitted by
your monitor and expresses it in absolute colorimetric terms.
