In previous posts, we have had an overview of color as well as a synopsis of subtractive color. Today, we will be discussing additive color.

As a review, additive color is color that is produced by a light emitting object and then projected into your eye. An example of a device that produces additive color is the computer monitor you are looking at right now, or your television at home.

The issue that we have in graphic arts with additive color is that no two devices are going to look the same, that is not without some calibration. If you want me to prove it, take a picture with a digital camera and then upload it to your computer. Look at the picture on the camera’s screen and then look at the picture on the computer screen. They look different…right? I thought so.

There are several different methods to calibrating your computer’s display so that your project will look the same no matter where it is, as long as you use a calibrated display.

The first thing that you need to do to get consistent color is to get a decent display. If you are still using a CRT, that is fine, but it will require a lot of maintenance to stay calibrated. With the falling prices of LCDs, you should definitely invest in one. If you are going to buy one, pay attention to the native color temperature of the monitor. Remember that in a previous post, it was stated that the ISO standard for color consistency was 5000k. You should get a display that is also 5000k. These days, the best value in a display is Apple’s Cinema Display. It has the 5000k native temperature as well as many other valuable features. I use one on my machine and love it.

The second thing that you should do is to calibrate your display. You can either do this by eye, or by using a calibration device. If you only have one or two computers, you can do this by eye. If you have more than a few in more than one office or under different kinds of light, then using a device is preferable. Generally you will get a more accurate profile by using your eye, but the device profiles are more consistent. Remember that if you are going to be calibrating multiple displays by eye that you should do the calibrations one after another on the same day.

To calibrate by eye on a Mac start by clicking on “system preferences,” then on “displays,” then onto “color,” then finally “calibrate display.” In Windows, I have had best luck using the utilities that come with the various monitors. My favorite is Gateway’s EZTune software. Remember to specify 5000k (D50) for your native color temperature (white point).

There are many different devices out there to use to calibrate color. X-Rite sells several different levels of devices, their most popular in the Graphic Arts community being the Eye One Pro. They also sell a more economical product called the Huey. These hang down over your screen in a specified spot. The software will tell the monitor to display different color values. These values are then measured by the device and the parameters of your monitor are established. Once the ways that your monitor displays color values is established, the software develops a calibration profile for your monitor which will shift the color values sent to your monitor so that they appear as they would on any other calibrated monitor.

Once you have your displays set up to match each other you are ready to delve into the world of color profiles. More on that next time.