Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.scanner (
More info?)
Many thanks for this insight - plenty of food for thought there...
"bmoag" <apquilts@pacbell.net> wrote in message
news:kG3bd.12480$nj.838@newssvr13.news.prodigy.com...
>I believe what you are really asking about is fundamental color management.
>If you understand color management you will understand the role of
>calibration.
>
> Pantone, Monaco and others sell systems that will calibrate scanner,
> monitor and printer.
>
> The purpose of calibration, which is one part of color management, for
> most users is to get a reasonably close match between the computer monitor
> image and the print on the first try. Digital systems make it relatively
> easy to get a reasonably good print in spite of what you do. However even
> in the most experienced hands with rigorous color management procedures
> the first print is not necessarily the best possible print.
>
> In reality calibrating the monitor is the key step that is all most users,
> even professionals, require, if basic color management is otherwise
> understood. LCD monitors are just not as accurate as CRT monitors for
> judging color depth and contrast and if one is serious one should use even
> a middling level calibrated CRT for photo work rather than a middling LCD.
> Monitor calibration is absolutely necessary for good color management
> because if your photoprogram does not know what the color red, for
> example, looks like on your monitor how can it tell your printer what
> color red you would like to see in your print?
>
> Calibrating the scanner, presuming it is operating properly, for most
> uses is not necessary so long as you understand color management once the
> image enters your photo editing program. If you are only scanning printed
> photographs, and not working with digital original images or scans of
> negatives/transparencies, you are working with original images of very
> limited color and tonal scale. Particularly when scanning prints you need
> to understand the relationships between scanner dpi, printer dpi, file
> sizes, and the intended uses of the image or you may generate massive
> files that actually have very little useful picture information.
>
> Calibrating the printer, and every paper and ink combination requires its
> own calibration, is icing on the cake for any but the most rigorous (maybe
> the word is finicky) professional uses. I am sure I will get there some
> day.
>
> Calibration systems currently on the market are all keyed to color
> management as implemented by Photoshop 5 and later versions, and to my
> understanding PSP is not as capable as even PS Elements in this regard ( I
> only use Photoshop and admittedly could be wrong about this).
>
> In any event all writing on the subject of color management that I have
> ever read is written in terms of color management as implemented by
> Photoshop. Your Epson printer's drivers are written to accomodate Adobe
> Photoshop color management procedures in a relatively straightforward way.
> Epson I believe still offers an excellent online course about these issues
> called Print Academy. Adobe and Epson have for practical purposes set the
> standards and methods for color management much as Creative set the
> standards for sound cards in PCs: they were there first and the market
> followed.
>
> I suggest you read about color management and understand something about
> the subject before you purchase anything. Unfortunately alot of what is
> written is needlessly complex and some of it is just technically wrong
> about the relationships between different color spaces, color bit depths
> and what range of colors can actually be seen and reproduced on CRTs and
> in inkjet prints (photo magazines tend to be filled with helpful
> misinformation). You need to better understand the capablilities of your
> imaging program and gain some trial and error experience with printing
> before purchasing more hardware. These are complex issues that only become
> clear when you have made several mistakes along the way, if you are as
> dumb as me.
>
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