Hey there. Just checking in to say Deke and I had a blast yesterday, talking to Chuck Joiner of MacVoices. Chuck used his Jedi mind tricks to convince us to pull back the curtain a bit on Martini Hour (without the benefit of cocktails; Chuck is a true master, not to mention a gracious podcast host from whom I could learn a thing or two). We spoke a bit about where we got the insane idea for a show that features martinis and computer graphics, our approach to covering a visual subject in an audio only format, and whether or not there is a real Pimm’s Quartet. Check out Chuck’s podcast here to find out the truth about these and other mysteries!
Plus our blue faces match Chuck’s logo. It was meant to be! Oh, and welcome to the return of Colleen-O-Vision. Deke just loaned me a Wacom tablet (encased in copious bubble wrap) to take for a test drive. Do you think he’s trying to tell me something?
Color Space VS My Monitor
Deke, have I been working blind?
My monitor seems to be incapable of displaying the full gamut of Adobe RGB 1998. The best colors I can achieve with it are sRGB defaults, modified slightly using Nvidia Control Panel. Therefore, in Photoshop…
Should I work within the sRGB color space? Or should I use the color space listed with my monitor’s name? Or should I use, as you recommend, Adobe RGB 1998 regardless? Or perhaps should I use Adobe RGB 1998 with a few modified settings?
If you aren’t able to answer well, can you suggest a good source instead that will help me to determine the answer? I’m kinda concerned that there’s a good chance I’m producing/seeing horribly inaccurate colors…
Stick with Adobe RGB for printed output
Hi!
I’m certainly not Deke, but I’ll try to answer…
First, you should not be surprised that your monitor can not display a full Adobe RGB gamut. Such displays are expensive toys.
Second, the fact that Adobe RGB is more difficult to display on an LCD screen is the very reason you should be using it. It is wider gamut and it contains all the colors of the ISO standard CMYK gamut. This alone makes it much better for preparing images for print. Unfortunately, not all of those colors will display right, but final results (prints) will still be better. Especially when converted to CMYK for offset printing.
If you want to achieve better results, I recommend getting a calibrator, like X-Rite Eye-One Display. I work with a calibrated Eizo displays both at home and at work and none of them displays 100% of Adobe RGB gamut. We just can’t afford such hardware. A ColorEdge CE series monitor (or NEC SpectraView) with a calibrator will still be relatively cheap and serve you well in 99% of cases.
Now… If you are working for the web exclusively, then you can stick with sRGB all the time. But calibrating your display will still make it look better!
Hope that helps (and excuse my not-very-best English…)
R.S.
Working Blind?
Wouldn’t it be better to work in sRGB (since I can actually see what I’m doing) and then for print convert to ARGB1998 and then to CMYK? If I’m working with colors I can’t see, then won’t I spend time perfecting an image only to learn I was actually ruining it?
Don’t think so…
If you’d place your adjustments then convert to Adobe RGB and then to CMYK you would gain nothing.
The purpose of working in Adobe RGB is to have wider gamut while working on your image. Making adjustments in Adobe RGB should generate better results, than making them in sRGB color space. More vibrant colors, better transitions…
It is also very likely, that your display supports some of the colors that are in the Adobe RGB and outside of the sRGB color space. sRGB is a standard that is common to all kinds of both good and poor quality displays and cameras.
I’m not an expert in colour management, but practically everyone recommends working in Adobe RGB when your final output is a CMYK offset print. Regardless of your monitor. And everyone recommends calibrating your monitor using a specific calibrating device (not just software).
Anyway, your chances of ruining an image are equeal in sRGB and Adobe RGB. It has always more to do with your and your abilities. And abilities of printers you are working with. And no monitor will display your colors with perfect accuracy. Even if you have a specific colour profile for specific printing machine and paper (instead of a standard ISO coated or uncoated profile).
One more thing…
Working in Adobe RGB makes more sense if you are starting your work with an Adobe RGB file or a RAW file from a camera. Then it is better to convert it to Adobe RGB and 16 bit. If you recieve a sRGB file you can actually convert it and make some adjustments… And propably the final offset print will look a little better. You can test it - create action with adjustments in photoshop, convert to CMYK and use an Adobe RGB file. Then do the same thing, but convert the file to sRGB at first. I’m interested - would you see the difference in CMYK numbers? Would there be any difference in the final CMYK files? Would you see it? It propably depends on a file you’d choose. I have made a little experimet and I got a litte more details in the highlights in warm colours… not that much, actually… The difference was barely noticable.
Thank You
Thank you so much then.
Stylus Tablet
Deke,
I’m a relative newcomer to graphic design. Though I’ve been using PhotoShop for over 10 years I’m just now getting around to really getting to know the app. So I picked up a copy of your PhotoShop CS4 One-on-One which I am thoroughly enjoying (my sincere thanks).
On the Brush Engine video you mention a Wacom (3?) Pressure Sensitve Stylus with tablet. Could you recommend a good Stylus for a beginner/intermediate user like myself?
Chuck Reinders