@marthadimeoIn the webinar I presented to the Graphic Artists Guild titled Color Management for the Graphic Arts Professional, I highlighted a key concept—that color management is not color correction. It is a common misunderstanding that the two processes are thought to improve color, but in fact, they are two very different things.
Color Correction vs. Color Management
Color correction is the process of making color changes—either overall or to a specific area—to improve the image. Color management, on the other hand, sole purpose is to maintain color appearance as an image moves through the production workflow.
Color Management Has One Mission—Maintain Color Appearance
For example, if an image has an overall color-cast, or if selective areas within the image need correction—i.e flesh tones are too red, a sky is heading toward purple, a color of a product is not accurately represented—a color-managed workflow will not compensate for the problem. If the color in an image is “bad” in some way, color management will dutifully reproduce the image as is. Displeasing color in, displeasing color out.
Why is this? Color management’s mission is to preserve color appearance. It does not know if a color is “off”. Color management does not perform color evaluation. Only a human being can determine whether a color is not pleasing and should be amended. As in the case with this photo, color retouching, not color management, corrected the very red lobster-faces.
There Are No Bad Originals
I started this discussion by referring to images in need of color retouching as “bad” originals. Know this—most color problems can be fixed. Thus, there are really no bad originals. If the color of an image is slighting—and even drastically off—in the hands of a photo retoucher skilled in color correction, color and tonal problems can be corrected.
To get a sense of the magic that can be done to improve seemingly bad images, visit the Retouching, Composites, Manipulations portfolio.
One of the most dramatic examples is a photo in the Book Covers & Magazines portfolio. It was so grossly under-exposed, it could have easily been tossed in the trash.
The Takeaway
Color management is essential to maintain consistent color throughout the production workflow. If the color is displeasing, that color will be maintained. If you don’t like what you see when you open the image on your display for the first time, start with photo retouching. Get the color corrected before moving to the next step in the design process.
Getting Your Images Reviewed & Color-Corrected
Let’s review your images and talk color. I’m happy to provide a complimentary review of your images. Upload files here to start the conversation.
©Martha DiMeo — Photos ©Respective Image Owners
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