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The first step in setting up a color management system is to calibrate your monitor. For Windows users, Photoshop defines the color space on your monitor with the Adobe Gamma utility program. For Mac users, you need to use OS X's built-in Display Calibrator Assistant.
 | Before you calibrate your monitor, you need to turn it on, and if you're using a CRT monitor, let it warm up for at least 30 minutes. Also, make sure that your room lighting is set at a constant level and that your monitor is set at an angle that works for you. If you are working with an LCD monitor, different viewing angles can make colors change, so be sure that your monitor is angled for optimal viewing. |
For Windows users
Follow these steps to calibrate your monitor:
1. Choose Start --> Control Panel.
The Windows XP control panel opens displaying various system utilities.
2. Double-click Adobe Gamma to open the utility.
The Adobe Gamma dialog box opens, displaying the composite gamma, which is the combination of red, green, and blue light that makes up the visible colors of what you're seeing.
To calibrate your monitor more accurately, you turn this off to set the red, green, and blue ranges for your monitor separately.
3. In the Gamma area, click the View Single Gamma Only check box to remove the check mark and deselect this option.
The Adobe Gamma dialog box changes to display the individual monitor colors of red, green, and blue. Use the individual color channels to calibrate your monitor.
4. Click the Load button to find your monitor model.
The Open Monitor Profile dialog box opens and displays a list of monitor models and color profiles, followed by the .icm file extension.
If you can't find your monitor model in the Open Monitor Profile dialog box, click Cancel to return to the Adobe Gamma dialog box, and use the default monitor profile provided by the utility. Skip Step 5 and continue with Step 6.
5. Select your monitor model and click Open.
The Open Monitor Profile dialog box closes and the monitor color space is loaded into the Adobe Gamma utility.
6. Use the Phosphors drop-down list to select your monitor type.
If your monitor is not listed (a good basic setting for monitors is Trinitron), then choose Custom and enter the Red, Green, and Blue phosphors settings for your monitor. To find these settings, consult the manual that came with your monitor.
If you selected a monitor model in Step 4, the utility automatically enters the Phosphors settings.
7. In the Gamma area, use the slider bars under the red, green, and blue areas to adjust each color.
For each color, make the inner square match the outer color as closely as possible.
8. Click OK.
The Save As dialog box opens with the Color folder selected (this is where all the other color profiles are saved on your computer).
9. Enter a name for your custom profile in the File Name text box, and then click Save.
Your custom profile is saved and the Adobe Gamma dialog box closes. Every time you use Photoshop, these settings transfer to Photoshop so that the program knows how to set your monitor's color space.
For Mac users
To calibrate your monitor with Mac OS X, follow these steps:
1. Choose System Preferences --> Displays.
The Displays pane of the System Preferences dialog box opens showing the Display and Color tabs. Use the Color tab in the Displays pane to access monitor calibration.
2. Select the Color tab and click the Calibrate button.
The Display Calibrator Assistant opens; it helps guide you through calibrating your monitor. The Display Calibrator uses Apple's system-wide color management system called ColorSync.
3. Select the Expert Mode check box.
Expert mode gives you more control over how your monitor is calibrated.
4. Click Continue.
The next Display Calibrator Assistant pane enables you to set the neutral tones of the display. Use the sliders to make the apple match the background.
5. Move the blue squares dot sliders in the to the left and right of the apple to adjust neutral tones.
Move the sliders until the apple matches the background as closely as possible. (It may help to squint!)
6. Click Continue.
This next panel of the Display Calibrator Assistant sets the brightness values. Use the sliders to make the apple's brightness match the striped background.
7. Move the blue dot sliders in the squares to the right and left of the apple to adjust your monitor's brightness.
8. Click Continue.
This next panel helps you set your monitor's luminescence. Move the sliders to make the gray apple to match the background.
9. Move the blue dot sliders to make the apple match the background as closely as possible.
10. Click Continue.
This next panel is used to set the lower end of your monitor's color range. Move the sliders to make the dark gray apple to match the background.
11. Move the blue dot sliders to make the dark gray apple blend into the striped background.
12. Click Continue.
13. Move the sliders to make the black apple blend into the background.
14. Click Continue.
The next panel of the Display Calibrator Assistant sets the contrast of your monitor's display.
15. Use the slider to set the contrast setting you want to use.
Two basic options are noted on the slider:
• 1.8 Mac Standard: The standard setting for the Mac OS.
• 2.2 PC Standard: Choose this setting if you are creating images for display on PCs or televisions.
16. Click Continue.
The next panel of the Display Calibrator Assistant sets the color cast of your monitor's display.
17. Move the slider to select a white point that is appropriate for the type of work you do.
The slider bar sets the color cast or white point of your monitor. You can move the slider from left to right through various light qualities: from warm yellow lighting (which is good for graphics art work) through a cooler setting that is similar to daylight (good for Web graphics) to cool blue lighting (which is similar to television display).
18. Click Continue.
If you are logged into the computer as an administrator, the next panel lets you set whether other users have access to the calibration settings.
19. Select the Allow Other Users to Use This Calibration check box to give access, if you want.
20. Click Continue.
21. Name the calibration profile that you just set.
22. Click Continue.
The Display Calibrator Assistant saves all the settings and displays your selections in a final panel.
23. Choose System Preferences --> Displays, and then click the Color tab.
You should see that the calibration profile you just created is selected.
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