Digital Considerations

Excerpts from Paul Schranz and Kelly Blok's article "Calibrating the Digital Darkroom" originally published in October 2003 Photo Techniques, page 47. The article is the first in a series of three.

"Photoshop is an easy program to do a lot of things wrong. It's also an excellent and complex program that does things very right" Many people do not take the time to learn the fine qualities of this program. "If you're going to do serious digital photography, learn Photoshop. Not a little- a lot."

Monitor (screen) calibration is crucial for assessing images and providing a benchmark from which image adjustments can be made. CRT monitors are huge, heavy, use a lot of power, and generate heat. LCD monitors don't. LCD monitors "...are tipping the scales in their favor."

Maintaining a consistent viewing environment with little ambient light will enhance your ability to reliably produce perceptual color outputs. To reduce glare work in a darkened room with no windows or windows with tightly closed blinds. Reduce lighting within the room from fluorescent or incandecant lights. Consider utilizing a monitor hood and wear dark color clothes to further reduce unwanted reflections.

Get your monitor calibrated. There are a number of inexpensive (comparatively speaking) tools available for this purpose including: OptiCal, MonacoOPTIX and Eye-One Match.

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