When you think about it, consider the path a specific color of red goes through from the subject to the PC display, RAW/JPG or print.
Ambient light hits the color red on the subject, goes through a filter attached to the camera lens, through the camera lens (OEM or other) to the camera, processed through software to a file. That's a lot of handshakes - and we're not across the finish line yet. From the file the journey continues to either electronic display or print.
So - what is the possibility that that one specific color of red that started with the subject finished at the destination with the same color? The odds probably not good.
In reality, do you really need to capture that specific color or red? If you are OK with the way you photos turn out from your (phone) camera, and with what the manufacturer algorithm does to a RAW image in the conversion to a JPG, and how your display presents the image - then you don't need this.
If you're already on the road to the dark side, that is take the time to process your own images (RAW), then you'd probably see value in the extra time to get the original colors right.
So how to do that?
A few years ago I purchased a color card. X-Rite's Passport to be exact. (This is not a commercial for them, just fact.) Once I understood the difference between a JPG and a RAW file, it only made sense to me that the only way to get a true color duplication was with a color card. OK - if not true, then a truer color duplication. What I found out was that my both my Nikons using OEM lens' were a little light on blue shades.
But is that really true? Or was the blue shade not represented correctly on my monitor?
In reality, I think I have only one side of the conversation.
Now, dealing with displays only, I have the other piece to help in getting the color representation. I purchased X-rite's Cololmunki Display. Again not an advertisement. In theory it should blend in with the current process I use now.
As with most tech-toys, there are lots of Youtube videos on how to set the product up. It really wasn't that difficult. But what was missing - or I missed, was where the profile file was used.
The Colormunki creates an .icm file, much like a printer profile. And like a printer profile file, the file has to be 'read' by the device. I've played around with printer profiles before, so I sort of understand the concept. Just have to translate the knowledge to the display.
Actually, it was easier than I thought it would be. For Windows, it is in the display settings. DOH!.
If you have multiple displays configured, a unique profile can be created and used for each.
So - the real question is, did it help?
I can see a difference. For me, the monitor is somewhat darker and thus the colors are not so washed out. But the neat thing is that all three monitors, different manufacturers, are now pretty much the same.
I haven't set up my laptop yet, need something to do next weekend. I'm expecting a big change there.
