I'm going to start dumbing down my color correction.

I swear, it's killing me. My clients aren't using color or brightness adjusted monitors, or they're using cheapo LCD panels that don't show shadow detail or highlight detail. I've been getting comments about "everything looks white!" or "I can' see what's under that table!" or something, but I can see it perfectly, and it also shows up fine once printed. Anyone else dealing with this? I'm afraid that I'm going to start losing clients because I'm TOO precise with regards to color correction and correct brightness.

Telling them that "it will print fine" doesn't work because 90% of my photos are used digitally.

Need to use a uncorrected monitor profile so you can see the image/s as others will see them on other displays. All images need to be preped for what ever the output target device may be.

Mike, do you use a dual-monitor system? I keep one monitor properly calibrated to match prints and online managed displays, but also one to "keep things in balance" to make sure things are, well, in balance.

You really can't get away from discrepancies in displays -- what can you do? Avoid extremes...

MrAl wrote in post #11484842
Need to use a uncorrected monitor profile so you can see the image/s as others will see them on other displays. All images need to be preped for what ever the output target device may be.

It's not just that - in what I shoot, color correctness is critical. I don't know if their monitor is too blue, too warm, etc. So when I get comments like "the white walls are blue" or "why is the snow orange" I get a little pissed. You can never tell, and I'm not going to send out six different versions of a photo. Dark, normal, bright, warm, normal, cool.

tonylong wrote in post #11484876
Mike, do you use a dual-monitor system? I keep one monitor properly calibrated to match prints and online managed displays, but also one to "keep things in balance" to make sure things are, well, in balance.

You really can't get away from discrepancies in displays -- what can you do? Avoid extremes...

Yep, I do use two - which just makes it more confusing, cause I never know which to use

mikekelley wrote in post #11484599
Telling them that "it will print fine" doesn't work because 90% of my photos are used digitally.

That sounds like it would be impossible if your clients aren't color savvy!

The problem is you can't dumb it down if there isn't even an accepted "uncalibrated" standard. I find most monitors are ok though. I found CRTs often show color cast if not calibrated. Really now LCDs show differences in brightness and contrast. The main problem is laptop LCDs, they are just horrible.

I am surprised you get a lot of complaints about the color being way off. I would just tell those people to look on a different computer or desktop monitor to see if their concerns are still valid.

Make them all B&W!

Sdiver2489 wrote in post #11485944
The problem is you can't dumb it down if there isn't even an accepted "uncalibrated" standard. I find most monitors are ok though. I found CRTs often show color cast if not calibrated. Really now LCDs show differences in brightness and contrast. The main problem is laptop LCDs, they are just horrible.

I am surprised you get a lot of complaints about the color being way off. I would just tell those people to look on a different computer or desktop monitor to see if their concerns are still valid.

It's not 'a lot' but it's enough to get my gears grinding about it.

Include a Disclaimer:

"I work in an industry-standard, color-correct digital environment geared toward print work. Due to manufacturing tolerances, the images you see only on a monitor may not reflect proper colors or contrast but the finished physical prints will be correct."

+1 on the disclaimer.
And put a grayscale wedge on your site: "you should be able to see all transitions. If you can't, your monitor is to blame, not me"

+1 on the +1 !

Here's how you can make your own stepped grayscale to place in an image.

http://oak.cats.ohiou.​edu …w/digital/step_​scale.html

navydoc wrote in post #11488648
Here's how you can make your own stepped grayscale to place in an image.

http://oak.cats.ohiou.​edu/~schneidw/digital/​step_scale.html

Or include this:

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

Great ideas all - and thanks PhotosGuy!