Expert: LizaL - 10/12/2004

Question
I would like to know what is the best way to color correct a customers images in photoshop. Is there one set of tools to use of does it depend on the picture and what you are trying to achieve. Is there and classes or  books that I can read or take to learn this process.
Usually the customer will send a sample that does not match our digital proof then they want us to color correct there files to match the sample that they sent in. Any info would be great.

Thank You
Bill

Answer
Hi Bill!

I wish I had a good answer for you here -- but if your customer's need for accurate color correction is critical, you can't do it in Photoshop. Well, you can, but you need also to have a highly calibrated monitor, which most people don't; and also access to Kelvin lighting for viewing your proofs. For more information on various degrees of lighting, see this link:
http://photos.msn.com/resources/targeted/en-us/editorial/AreYouInTheDarkAboutLig...

But if you absolutely have to do color correction, and the customer understands that it's being performed in Photoshop and that's acceptable to them, you can use the Levels and Curves commands, both of which are found under the Image>Adjustments pulldown menu.

I was an art director for several national magazines for a good number of years, and I let prepress handle the color correction for the covers of my magazines. I would order a Cromalin proof of the cover, then mark up that proof with my changes (after having viewed it in a Kelvin-lit viewing booth), and I'd send it back to prepress so they could correct it and scan it again, before the final film was output.

Interior art wasn't as critical, and I could do that myself in Photoshop, but for something that's as important as a cover, I'd let the professionals in prepress do it.

Hope this helps! And try experimenting with Levels and Curves -- you might find that solves your problem.

Lisa