Arrow Camera Digital Photo & Imaging Center

We evaluate each file for color accuracy as a standard practice. Our goal is to give you consistent quality.We correct each image for color density contrast and saturation on for standard machine print. Anything larger than 8x12 is a custom print and gets evaluated in Adobe Photoshop first, where we can make more indept corrections if necessary. Let us know if you have already made color corrections, otherwise we will use our best judgment in doing so for you.

Here are a few steps you can take to assure you get the best colors.

1. Make sure your monitor is calibrated. If you don't have a calibration tool here are some simple steps to calibrate. You can also pick up a test print that you can hold up to the monitor to compare. Calibrate your monitor

2.Set your Camera to srgb 1966

3.Set up Adobe P hotoshop to the correct color setting.

4 .Get Profile for our Noritsu Printer Profile this does not apply to prints larger than 8 x12.

5. Install the profile. Convert and Print with the Noritsu Profile.

A very effective way to learn colors is by numbers. In Adobe, position the eyedropper tool over the image and examine the Red, Green and Blue values displayed in the info palette under windows. Neutral tones should have equal value for all three colors.The darkest shadow tone value should be around 15 to 20.
The lightest highlight tone should be about 240 to 250.
White should be 255 255 255.
Pure Black should be 0 0 0.
Gray tones at about 128

Custom gray card balance by Margrit Holmes at Arrow Camera

Stop by and pick up a test print that can be compared to the monitor profile.

We use a Color Vision Monitor Spyder to keep our monitors calibrated. View below:

Is your screen correctly calibrated?

Use 24-bit color.

When you do your first calibration, only look at the gray scale (white-black) below.
Use the screens installation dials/buttons for light settings 'Lighter/Darker' (symbolized often with a sun)
and the dial/buttons for Contrast (often represented by a Half-moon shape).

The white on the left ought to be 'White' and the black field to the right ought to be 'Black'
with all the shaded fields in between preferably visible.

The color scales below give you a quick reckoning of the color installation in your computer.
If the difference is so great that you want to alter it than consult your computer supplier or manual.
Color scales go from White to Red, Green and Blue.
Small variances in the color scales are acceptable!

All photos look their best when you set your computer on 24-bit color.
The minimum recommendation is 16-bit color. If you use 256 colors or less you won't be able to fully appreciate and enjoy the beauty of the photos.

If you are not sure how to install 24-bit color, consult your manual or computer dealer.

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GET SOME FREE COLOR MANAGEMENT KNOW-HOW FOR FREE Color Cookbook! Managing color is just like cooking; the secret lies in using the right ingredients for your recipes. Our Color Cookbook teaches you how to adjust settings, profiles, and colors in Adobe software so that colors are the same across all media. Written for the beginner to the intermediate user, this book gives you the know-how to make color management work for you! Download your FREE Color Cookbook today.

When we use a digital camera in the Studio we make a custom white balance with a traditional 18% gray card, we set the Camera to Custom Balance and pre-expose the gray card only. Then we take one picture of the client holding the gray card, we bring the image into Photoshop, utilizing the eyedropper tool by clicking on the gray card to obtain a perfectly balanced picture. In Photoshop we create an adjustment layer for that images and then apply it to the rest of the images. You will end up with pictures that are perfectly color balanced. It is that easy.

Custom balance using a white card

Custom balance using a 18% gray card