Portrait Artist Forum - View Single Post - Achieving Accurate Color on the Web Across Platforms?

Michele Rushworth · 03-21-2003, 10:57 AM

I've been involved, professionally and otherwise, in trying to get consistent color fidelity on computer input and output devices for more than twenty years. I worked with IBM and Microsoft, among others, to study this and see what could be done. I've basically given up, as there are far too many variables.

It's just not possible to have an image look the same from where it started on a camera or scanner through the output stages on every (or even most) monitors or printers.

One would have to control the ways in which color was defined on all of the following:

- The "color space" or color system used by camera and scanner manufacturers
- Software used on the computer for color maniuplation and file storage
- The limited "color gamuts" on monitors, web, output devices, etc.
- How users have their monitors calibrated, or (more likely) not calibrated
- Monitor manufacturers
- Printer manufacturers
- And last but not least, any non-standard color manipulations done by potential viewers in an attempt to get "accurate color" (whatever that is) on their devices.

I gave up over a decade ago.

03-21-2003, 10:57 AM	#2
Michele Rushworth CAFE & BUSINESS MODERATOR SOG Member FT Professional Joined: Jul 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 3,460	I've been involved, professionally and otherwise, in trying to get consistent color fidelity on computer input and output devices for more than twenty years. I worked with IBM and Microsoft, among others, to study this and see what could be done. I've basically given up, as there are far too many variables. It's just not possible to have an image look the same from where it started on a camera or scanner through the output stages on every (or even most) monitors or printers. One would have to control the ways in which color was defined on all of the following: - The "color space" or color system used by camera and scanner manufacturers - Software used on the computer for color maniuplation and file storage - The limited "color gamuts" on monitors, web, output devices, etc. - How users have their monitors calibrated, or (more likely) not calibrated - Monitor manufacturers - Printer manufacturers - And last but not least, any non-standard color manipulations done by potential viewers in an attempt to get "accurate color" (whatever that is) on their devices. I gave up over a decade ago. __________________ Michele Rushworth www.michelerushworth.com [email protected]