Re: [APML] OT? Markarian's Chain and printing

[<apml@beskeen.com>]

Hi Geoff,

Much appreciate the time spent on providing such a fantastic response to my
question. Great detail. Now to put it into practice!

Cheers, Paul.
--
> On Wed, 14 Apr 2004 16:47:05 +0000, Kevin Wigell writes:
>> Paul,
>>
>> Very nice images. However, this list is for film astrophotography,
>> unless you are discussing processing techniques that are applicable
>> to film as well as digital...
>
>  Hey Paul... Kevin...
>
>      Kevin... which part of Paul's printing question is *not*
> applicable to film ?!? Once an image is digitized, things are much
> the same... no ?!?
>
>      I would suggest that Paul's problem is related to the *GAMMA*
> adjustments of his monitor, in relation to the gamma read out of his
> printer. You may get this right with a calibration device such as the
> 'Spyder'... but you can also take another approach.
>
>      Not too long ago, these hardware calibration devices, and their
> accompanying
> software, were in the $1000.00 + range... the realm of professionals
> and prosumers. Prices have dropped, and 'entry level' devices are now
> being produced as well. Some of the less expensive versions are not
> true colorimeters, but the 'Spyder' is!
>
>      Even without a 'Spyder', one can come very close to setting
> optimum system gamma
> by following the steps outlined by noted 'amateur' photographer
> Norman Koren. This page begins here:
>
> http://www.normankoren.com/makingfineprints1A.html
>
> ... farther down the same page, he offers his 'ultimate' test pattern:
>
> http://www.normankoren.com/makingfineprints1A.html#Monitor_test_pattern
>
>      All this info can be very effective, when properly applied.
> Norman recommends a
> free-ware application called QuickGamma... I haven't used this, but
> I'm sure it works as he describes.
>
>      The QuickGamma program allows precise gamma adjustments, and most
> important,
> writes these into the video card's look-up table.
>
>      Since most of us have Photoshop, the 'Adobe Gamma' program, part
> of Photoshop
> from v5 on, might be the best choice to make these adjustments
> visually. (thanks Jerry L. !!!)
>
>      'Adobe Gamma' does create an ICC profile in addition to the
> look-up table entry... but it isn't a 'true' monitor profile, like
> the 'Spyder' generates. You should find
> 'Adobe Gamma' in the 'Control Panel' dialog.
>
>      In a nutshell, set your monitor's color temperature to 6500*K,
> then 'Contrast'
> to 100%, or as close to this as it will go. Most monitors will look
> fine at 100%, but if it goes funky, back off a little bit. Set the
> 'Brightness' at or near 100%, then begin the 'Adobe Gamma' program.
>
>      This is a simple 'Wizard' type dialog box, and you should see
> the sRGB IEC61966-2.1 Windows default in the 'description' box...
> click next, but *don't* use the simple grayscale target in the Adobe
> Gamma to set 'Brightness'... instead, click 'next' again and use the
> gamma slider in 'Adobe Gamma', in conjunction with the monitor's
> 'Brightness' control, and optimize these settings simultaneously,
> while using Norman's targets, linked above.
>
>      This sounds easy enough, but may take a little fiddling between
> the gamma slider and the monitor's 'Brightness' control to get it
> right. Try to do this under 'average' or 'typical' room lighting. Be
> aware of 'glare & flare'... but doing this in a totally darkened room
> turned out to be a mistake for me!
>
>      When it all looks good, finish the dialog... there's a 'before'
> and 'after' check box to show you the difference you have made. Also,
> if you don't know the exact phosphors your monitor uses, the HDTV
> setting seems the best choice for generic CRTs.
>
>      This can make an enormous difference in how your images, and
> other folk's, will
> display on the monitor screen, plus how things print out... and isn't
> too hard to do!


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