Re: color question

[Alan Bowen <acbowen@princeton.edu>]

On Oct 10, 2006, at 12:30 PM, gnwiii@gmail.com wrote:

> On 10/10/06, Alan Bowen <acbowen@princeton.edu> wrote:
>> If this is OT, my apologies to all.
>>
>> I am currently using ConTEXt to produce PDFs with a colored
>> background which I specify using R G B settings. Unfortunately, this
>> background does not look the same when others open the files on their
>> computers. Is there anything I can do at my end to correct this?
>
> There are well-known differences between various computer brands, and
> individual PC's generally vary widely. If you need really good
> agreement, then all the systems need to be viewed under similar light
> conditions and calibrated (e.g., using a colorimeter, or at least the
> GretagMacbeth ColorChecker, a printed chart) and you want to generate
> PDF's with a specific colorspace (not just deviceRGB).  For most
> purposes, it seems to work to use a rough "sRGB" setting where you
> adjust the monitor (brightness, contrast) to approximate gamma=2.2.
> Check this with:
> <http://www.normankoren.com/ 
> makingfineprints1A.html#Monitor_test_pattern>.
>
> Many LCD's and worn-out CRT's like the ancient NCD on my desk will
> fail even this simple test.
>
> -- 
> George N. White III <aa056@chebucto.ns.ca>
> Head of St. Margarets Bay, Nova Scotia


Henning and George—

Thanks for the replies. I had suspected that I was at the start of a  
search for yet another Holy Grail. Still, I will look into this sRGB  
(which is new to me), but first I had better see if I can calibrate  
my own monitor properly. (It failed the Monitor test.)

Alan