One of the most important things you can do to make money in professional photography is to have an efficient and consistent workflow. Part of that workflow is knowing basic color management. By properly managing your digital files you’ll get better results, and actually save time and save money.

Zookbinders’ printers, as those within most labs, print in the sRGB color space. The key to good color, however, is consistency. Whether you choose to shoot and work in the sRGB or AdobeRGB color space, you should pick one and be consistent. In your camera as well as your computer, select your preferred color space. In Photoshop you’ll select it in Working Space under Color Settings. Also select Convert to Working RGB under Color Management Properties and uncheck Ask When Opening and Ask When Pasting if you’d like Photoshop to automatically convert your files. When saving your JPEG files, make sure to check the “Embed Color Profile” check box so that your printer will know your color space and you will have predictable results.

Now to help stay in the black with money that is green, you’ll also need to have a properly calibrated and profiled monitor. The easiest and most accurate way to do this is with a calibration device such as those available from Xrite, DataColor or GretagMacbeth. These devices, with their software, remove any color cast from your screen, optimize brightness and contrast and create a profile for your monitor. Photoshop uses this profile when displaying your images to give you the most accurate color display possible.

By taking control of your monitors and your images, you will be assured that what you send Zookbinders or your lab will look the way you expect. Sure a calibration device can require a $150-$200 investment, but in the end you’ll save much more in time, remakes, and lab fees as most labs to offer discounts for studio managed color prints.

Let us know what you think or your tips for color management and stay tuned for those next tips as you start the process of calibrating your monitor.

Scott Patrick, Zookbinders Marketing and Sales Staff