Generate Color Themes That Can Inspire Any Project
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Color is considered one of the most useful and powerful creative tools a photographer or designer has. People respond to different colors in different ways, and these responses take place on a subconscious, physical and emotional level. Studies have shown that color accounts for 60% of the acceptance or rejection of an object, person, place, or circumstance.
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Kuler allows you to choose the mood of your color scheme for any image. You can even upload your photos from Flickr™.
Experiment with color variations and browse thousands of color themes with this neat little web-based program. And the best part is that it's free!
Just a warning about color - Kuler can help you choose a relative theme but the colors you select are not absolutes. Color profiles are ignored in these programs so it's important to be aware that what you see on the screen will not be exactly the same color others see on the web, or in print.
Expert Advice
Checking Display Neutrality with SpyderProof
SpyderProof offers four neutral images for analyzing display neutrality and smoothness. This article is based on the composite image in the lower right of the SpyderProof matrix. Click on this image until it fills the SpyderProof image area.
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The most visible change when switching between calibrated and uncalibrated states in SpyderProof is the change in whitepoint (unless native whitepoint has been selected). Toggle several times to gauge the degree of change, and to get a sense of the relative warmness or coolness of the screen's default white, and the targeted white.
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Once this has become familiar, look at the step gradient in the lower left of the image. Compare the smoothness and neutrality of each step with and without calibration. Calibration should produce more consistency in the neutrality of the grays, as well as the size of the steps between patches. Now examine the small circular gradient next to the step gradient. This highlights any sudden changes in density in the gray ramp.
And finally, examine the photographic images, and especially the enlarged sections above them. These emphasize highlights, shadow detail, and subtle steps in both these areas.
If you do not find the expected degree of consistent neutrality, smoothness, and detail in your calibrated display, experiment with screen cleaning, careful recalibration, and choice of target values to optimize your display.
Photoshop® Tip of the Month
Better Grayscale Conversions
Using the Channel Mixer is a great way to convert a color image to grayscale, but it does take some experimentation. Another way to do this (with less control but excellent results) is to convert your file to Lab mode. In the Channels palette, just click on the Lightness channel and then change the mode to Grayscale.
Featured Photographer
Carlos Lumiere
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Carlos was born in Spain and developed an interest in photography from an early age, influenced by his father, who is also a photographer. After studying architecture, Carlos moved to Miami, Florida in 1989 to work as a, press photographer for the Spanish press agency, Radial Press. Here, he was inspired by Miami Beach's fashion boom to devote his career to fashion photography. Carlos went on to develop an extensive portfolio of work, living and working in New York, Hamburg, Munich, Milan and Paris, helping some of the largest names in fashion capture the images that best reflect their brands and campaigns.
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Carlos Lumiere
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From the intimacy of his light and spacious studio in London Bridge to beautiful panoramic landscapes around the world, Carlos enjoys choosing locations to fit a shoot, something that his passion for architecture plays a key part in. He now divides his time between London and Paris, working on high profile fashion and advertising campaigns. He is best known for his rich, emotive and dynamic style, blending classic lines with luscious colours.
To see more of Carlos' work, please go to http://www.carloslumiere.com.
Special Promotion
Get Vivid Colors This Holiday Season with Datacolor & Nik Software - a perfect combo!
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The holiday season is here, and if you're like us, photography will play a big part of the festivities! Matching the colors you shot to what you see on your monitor and prints is critical when delivering your best work, whether you're making a gift or a personal print.
We've teamed up with Nik Software, makers of the award-winning Viveza™ and Color Efex Pro™ 3.0, to offer savings of 20% on these products for you, your friends and family! It's a perfect match for vivid colors in your images after calibrating with Spyder3Elite.
Learn more about Nik Software and the offer here. Hurry, offer ends December 15, 2008!
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News
Datacolor Selects Omegasatter as Distributor for its Line of Spyder Brand Print and Display Profiling Systems
LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ - September 16, 2008 - Datacolor, a global leader in digital color management technology, today announced it has selected OmegaSatter as the distributor for its entire line of Spyder brand monitor and printer calibration systems. OmegaSatter has been distributing products to retail outlets in the photographic industry for more than 70 years and offers Datacolor the expertise, knowledge, and experience required to succeed in this competitive market. The partnership will be effective immediately.
"Leveraging the long-time experience of OmegaSatter in the photographic industry will help Datacolor build programs and processes that will ultimately make us a better partner in this channel," said Rob Rosborough, general manager, Datacolor. "We have wanted to develop new ways to serve resellers and believe this partnership will allow us to further support this important group."
» Read more
Events
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Photo Fair 2008
Deemed one of the greatest international photo equipment exhibitions, Photo Fair 2008 boasts the most advanced technology in the world of digital photography. The show will take place in Bangkok, Thailand from December 3rd-7th, 2008.
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PhotoPlus Expo 2008
Datacolor would like to thank everyone who visited our booth at the PDN Photoplus Expo show last week. Our show special mail-in rebate is available online and is good until November 30th, 2008.
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Photokina 2008
Datacolor made a huge splash during their participation at the Photokina show held in Cologne, Germany. With a booth that was constantly full of action, the Spyder Clan effectively leveraged Datacolor and its products as the global leader in color management solutions.
View some Photokina 2008 highlights
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Special guest, Photoshop guru Doc Baumann, provided the attendees with presentations that were packed with information; there was an area set up for photographs with a Vespa, and a Spyder trade in program to entice attendees to upgrade their product. Cheers to the Spyder Clan for their hard work in making Photokina the success that it was and to all the attendees who stopped by the Datacolor booth.
Recent Coverage
We are constantly working to make color management more effective, affordable and easy to use. Here's what other people around the web have to say about our products:
How to save money on photo printing (The Earth Times)
Datacolor Spyder3Studio (Layers Magazine)
JungleJim shares PhotoPlus impressions (Nikonians Blog)
