Pharmacy Talk Millwater

18 millwaterinfocus

If you gave 10 people a recipe, you’re almost certain to get 10 different slightly different dishes. The same is true whenever you download an image from your camera onto your computer. Camera RAW files are simply a recipe used by software to render an image. Just like in the kitchen, different applications have their own interpretation of RAW files and subsequently produce a slightly different image. Computer screens, printers and even paper also interpret these recipes on their own, so it’s very common to see significant differences in colour depending on the medium on which the image is presented. Besides interpreting the recipes slightly differently, the available colours (gamut) may also differ across devices.

When you shoot camera RAW, there is no gamut applied, regardless of what your camera is set to. It’s only when you copy the RAW image to a computer does the gamut come into play. There are many gamuts available, certainly too many to represent in this article. What’s important to understand as a photographer are the available colours across the different gamuts used by the applications and devices being used to edit and print your pictures.

Most computer monitors will use the sRGB gamut, as will websites. It’s the smallest colour space that is a subset of most other larger gamuts. Now, even if your computer screen is sRGB, it doesn’t necessarily mean it can show all of the sRGB colour space. Screens need to be regularly calibrated to ensure they are showing the colour as intended by the manufacturers.

Here’s where it gets tricky. If your editing application uses Wide Gamut RGB, which is larger than the Adobe RGB gamut and your monitor is only sRGB, then you’re not going to see all the available colours as you edit your image.

Equally, if you edit in sRGB and your printer is capable of printing in Adobe RGB, then print will not be as vibrant as it could be.

If you’re not already super confused, then this might put the nail in the coffin. File bit depth affects the gamut. JPGs are 8-bit files, which means from black to white there are 255 steps. 16-bit files have over 65,000 steps between black and white which means the gradation and tone is much more gradual, resulting in better quality images.

If you want to know more about colour management for your own equipment, don’t hesitate to drop me an email paul@visualvoice.co.nz

NEW! In Millwater and the wider Hibiscus Coast

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AND Open Saturday morning Orewa Medical Plaza, 8D Tamariki Ave, Orewa Phone: (09) 426 5437 www.orewamedicalcentre.co.nz

Cross Country Champs

Sunday 10th September from 1pm at Butler Stoney Park, Millwater ALL welcome $2 entry

Athletics Club Open Day

Distances to suit all from 3 years old to 17 Sunday 17th September between 10am and 12pm at Metro Park, Millwater Learn about the Athletics club and the season ahead Fun games and prizes Register for the season

Athletics Club Season 3 – 6 years Wednesday 18th October 2017 – Wednesday 28th March 2018 5:30pm until 6:30pm 7 years + Wednesday 4th October 2017 – Wednesday 28th March 2018 6pm until 7:30pm Age based on age on 31st December 2017