OPTIXXR Display Profiler
Today’s digital workflow presents two challenges for professional photographers, first achieving the correct exposure before capturing the image and second, evaluating the image file accurately on the computer monitor.
EXPOSURE
Digital photography has opened a new frontier for creative possibilities, precision quality control and repeatability. Its capabilities remain one of the biggest advantages and challenges for today’s working professional photographer. Capturing perfect digital images requires tighter exposure tolerances than traditional film capture, and it demands accurate and consistent control through the image process. Without the necessary exposure control, evaluating the properties of an image, such as color, is impossible because exposure can alter color saturation and contrast. Since exposure is the key to reproducing accurate color, contrast and tonal range in a photograph, it is first step in getting it right the first time.
MONITOR
The Monitor (the window to your digital world) – It’s not a perfect world when it comes to computer monitors. They are not all made to display color in the same way. Contrast, brightness and color can all be displayed very differently from one monitor to the next. If you have ever walked through a television department store, you have probably seen different color or contrast from one television to the next. Imagine trying to make accurate color, contrast or brightness changes to your images based on what you see on your computer screen. If the color and contrast you see is not a correct representation of the information that’s part of your image file, how can your changes be right? Whether it is a CRT or LCD display, you need to make sure that what you see is really what you captured.
Digital image capture requires much more accurate exposure control, far greater than traditional color film. Over and under exposure changes the color (RGB) values. Just making the images darker or lighting in the computer later will not solve the problem.
Correct exposure
As you can see from the histograms, when the exposure is not correct, information is not recorded. Missing information cannot be created by simply making the picture lighter or darker. It is lost forever.
THE RIGHT DISPLAY COLOR
Three monitors, all displaying the same image, will more than likely show images with differences in color, saturation and contrast. This is due to variations in the manufacturing process of the monitors. Variation in how your video card handles the processing of color and converts it to a video signal for your monitor can also change the way images look on your screen.
The same RGB values of R232 G78 B53 are displayed completely differently on each non-profiled monitor.
Different makes and models will also produce colors differently. Only a custom profile can correct the differences in both the monitor and video card.
Overexposed
GET CONTROL OF YOUR EXPOSURES AGAIN
Just how much digital data are you losing in your shadow and highlight detail, and can you even tell when you evaluate your images on your monitor? Stop wondering with the world’s most accurate multi-function light meter – you’ll get control of your exposures again.
The Sekonic L-558R DualMaster is the most versatile meter with features necessary for today’s digital and film shooter. It measures light beyond the capabilities of your camera an puts the power of wireless control in the palm of your hands. The L-558R offers superior performance with new, redefined standards for precise, multi-function exposure and light meter control. With a turn of a knob the L-558R changes from a incident meter to a 1° spot meter all combined into one rugged, compact, all-weather housing. It features a digital 1° spot viewfinder which displays f-stops, shutter speeds, percentage of fill flash and 1/10th of a stop increments. It simultaneously provides flash and ambient lighting ratio data in three convenient ways on the LCD. The Sekonic L-558R DualMaster also includes calibration adjustment, exposure and filter factor compensation and measurement memory mode. The L-558R also offers the only built-in radio transmitter, so that you can trigger your flash units wirelessly and measure them all at the same time. With its selective Quad-Triggering feature, you can choose which strobe to fire or not, and you can even trigger your camera right from the L-558R. The L-558R offers the accuracy and control you need today with the flexibility and durability you’ll need tomorrow.
Midtone Highlight Shadow
The L-558R provides metering of specific subject areas such as Shadow, Mid-Tone and Highlights. All readings are displayed on an analog scale and can easily be stored and averaged.
MONACO OPTIXXR BY X-RITE
The essential component for a color managed system, the MonacoOPTIXXR assures simple, accurate calibration and profiling of all monitors. The result of years of hardware and software development, the MonacoOPTIXXR is the next generation design in colorimeters offering unparalleled performance regardless of whether you have an LCD or CRT display. Based on award-winning, wizard-driven Monaco software, MonacoOPTIXXR represents a major advancement in automation and programming. This minimizes calibration and profile time while maximizing color accuracy.
Name the new profile and save it to automatically create your own custom profile!
TAKE CONTROL OF EXPOSURES AND
Sekonic DualMaster
L-558R Light Meter
The first step in creating perfect images is ensuring they are captured correctly. With the Sekonic L-558R you’ll get control of your exposures again. The L-558R is the most accurate and consistent meter available. Its unique versatility offers features necessary for the digital and film shooter. It measures light beyond the capabilities of your camera and puts the power of wireless control in the palm of your hand.
- 1° Spot finder with digital display
- Super sensitive sensor
- Flash/ambient analyzing
- Wireless flash triggering built-in
- Calibration and compensation
OPTIXXR
The single most important step towards color management is a calibrated monitor. Judging your digital images is impossible if your display is not showing the correct color and contrast.
The NEW MonacoOPTIXXR colorimeter was recently awarded 5 out of 5 by Mac Design magazine.Step-by-step,the software walks you through the process of ensuring what you see is what you get.
- Create ICC profiles for LCD and CRT color displays
- Customizable white point for accuracy
- Hardware-assisted brightness and contrast adjustment
- Convenient workflow option to skip calibration procedure
Monaco by X-Rite
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