Digial Color Management Question...

Okay, I know there are probably libraries written on this subject... but if you have a moment to share your knowledge with an aspiring photographer, it would be much appreciated.

So I realize the importance of regular monitor calibration, lets just say that I've learned the hard way that prints can go very bad if you don't calibrate and soft proof and all that... but when you do those things and correct an image for printing, will that same image appear inaccurate on a non-calibrated(client's) monitor in an online proofing gallery?

How do you balance the two mediums - print/digital display???

RazorbackSam wrote in post #11417914
So I realize the importance of regular monitor calibration, lets just say that I've learned the hard way that prints can go very bad if you don't calibrate and soft proof and all that... but when you do those things and correct an image for printing, will that same image appear inaccurate on a non-calibrated(client's) monitor in an online proofing gallery?

Yes. Just like if your client walks around with sunglasses on indoors, he sees everything darker than the rest of us. If his monitor is dim, or shifted toward red, your calibrated photos will still be dark or red on his monitor. Not much you can do about that one. I put a grayscale chart on my site so if someone really wants to ask why my pictures are dark or red, I can suggest he look at that chart and tell me whether it's dark or gray. But nobody's ever asked, mostly I suspect because they're used to their own monitors.

RazorbackSam wrote in post #11417914
How do you balance the two mediums - print/digital display???

I'm not sure what you're asking on this one.

Dave

Tracknut -
I guess you really answered my last question when you said that there is nothing you can really do to ensure that your client's digital display will appear close to the color that you will print for them...

Right. Other than you can have some sort of "moral high ground" by being able to say you've calibrated your monitor and the print matches what a calibrated monitor will show. And then prepare to have a discussion with the customer about what calibrating monitors means, and why their cheapo old monitor is not an accurate representation of how the images really look... All in all not a great discussion to have with a customer, but I supposed might be needed once in a while.

Dave

You'll probably find more info in existing threads in the Printing & Post Processing forum along with more answers.