To evaluate the color-matching procedures outlined here, I used
images taken with a Kodak DC-50 digital camera. The camera came
with me as I rafted under, hiked around and helicoptered over
Brazil's stupendous Iguacu Falls (or Iguazu, when viewed from
the Argentine side). This excursion was followed by a week of
oppressive heat and humidity deep in the Amazon jungle. With frequent
downloads to an IBM ThinkPad 701C laptop and one spare set of
AA batteries, the camera survived some 500 exposures, a few of
which turned out to be pretty good photographs.
Once back in civilization, I viewed one of the digital images
on a MAG InnoVision 17-inch monitor whose display had been optimized
with Sonera Technologies' DisplayMate software. I tried several
printer driver modes and ICM settings, then evaluated the printed
results using the admittedly subjective Woram Standard.
| Test | Printer Mode
| ICM Profile | Evaluation by Woram Standard
|
| 1 | No adjustment | None
| A trifle dark, some loss of definition,
but best blue in sky and good cloud contrast
|
| 2 | Match Screen | None
| Also dark, but better definition than 1. |
| 3 | Automatic | None
| Lighter, with best contrast in shadow areas
|
| 4 | Automatic | mnb22g15.icm
| Same as 3 (ICM has no effect in Auto mode).
|
| 5 | No adjustment | mnb22g15.icm
| Similar to 2, but better color saturation in rainbow. Some loss of shadow contrast
|
| 6 | No adjustment | mnb22g18.icm
| Slightly lighter, bluer sky, slight loss of saturation in rainbow
|
| 7 | No adjustment | mnb22g22.icm
| About the same as 6. |
| 8 | No adjustment | colorific.icm
| Same as 5. |
Depending on where you're willing to compromise, you'll get the
best colors with either a printer driver in automatic mode or
with an ICM color profile enabled. For casual use, Windows 95's
color profiles should suffice. But for the ultimate tweak, the
Colorific software offers more control over the printed page.