Color is dull, anyone recommend a Color Checker? I want vibrant colors

[capturedexpressions]

My skin tones are especially dull. I look through all my books and they have phenominal color. I'm not sure what my problem is. I've seen a lot on the MacBeth Color Checker. Does anyone use this? And is it worth the hassle?

[Toogy]

Do you pictures look dull online? or in print? What coloUr space to you prOcess in?

[capturedexpressions]

Originally Posted by Toogy

Do you pictures look dull online? or in print? What coloUr space to you prOcess in?

Adobe RGB - They can print pretty dull and online. Here is one of my worst. The skin tone makes them look ill. Is it too close with flash? I'm tring to figure out my exposure meter that I got a hold of... hoping it can help.

And why can't I upload a larger image like everyone else? I try to upload a 4x6 with 72 dpi and it says it's too big for a jpg.

[Toogy]

I'd definitely give sRGB a try! Adobe RGB is a wider gamut, but hardly anything handles it well. Certainly not the internet and most labs.

[tim]

Your image is in Adobe RGB - you MUST convert to sRgb before posting on the web. Most print labs will support sRgb and Adobe RGB. I opened your image in photoshop and it's still not great color wise. I did a bit of white balance correction, added saturation and contrast, then converted to sRgb and saved and it looks much better. I haven't attached it because you don't have "image editing ok" in your profile.

[capturedexpressions]

Originally Posted by tim

Your image is in Adobe RGB - you MUST convert to sRgb before posting on the web. Most print labs will support sRgb and Adobe RGB. I opened your image in photoshop and it's still not great color wise. I did a bit of white balance correction, added saturation and contrast, then converted to sRgb and saved and it looks much better. I haven't attached it because you don't have "image editing ok" in your profile.

I will change my profile then cause I'd love to see it. I thought I had that already. So do you think the color profile makes a huge difference?

[tim]

Originally Posted by capturedexpressions

I will change my profile then cause I'd love to see it. I thought I had that already. So do you think the color profile makes a huge difference?

Yes the color profile makes a huge difference, you must have a color managed workflow as a professional photographer. I recommend anyone who doesn't have a good, through understanding of color management work in sRgb for EVERYTHING. See also this thread on color.

Photo attached

[capturedexpressions]

Originally Posted by tim

Yes the color profile makes a huge difference, you must have a color managed workflow as a professional photographer. I recommend anyone who doesn't have a good, through understanding of color management work in sRgb for EVERYTHING. See also this thread on color.

Photo attached

Thank you so much! I've read on color but still do not have it figured out. Sometimes I need to read things many times. Thanks for the help!

[tim]

In my sig I have a book thread, there's a color management book in there that should help you out. It's a bit of a read but it's worthwhile

[capturedexpressions]

Originally Posted by tim

In my sig I have a book thread, there's a color management book in there that should help you out. It's a bit of a read but it's worthwhile

Thanks! So Color checker is not recommended I guess? Just something the market is telling us to buy?

[picturecrazy]

Originally Posted by capturedexpressions

My skin tones are especially dull.

Try a good moisturizer. Then follow up with some foundation if your colour is still too dull.

sorry... Tim already answered your question so I had nothing more to contribute...

[tim]

Originally Posted by capturedexpressions

Thanks! So Color checker is not recommended I guess? Just something the market is telling us to buy?

What's "color checker"? I've never heard of it.

[capturedexpressions]

GretaMacbeth Color Checker:

http://www.akdart.com/macbeth.html

[tim]

Originally Posted by capturedexpressions

GretaMacbeth Color Checker:

http://www.akdart.com/macbeth.html

I don't know what that's for. I initially thought it might be useful for white balance, but a white piece of paper works fine for that. That color checker is completely unrelated to color profiles or a color managed workflow. Don't waste your money.