Check your monitor's gamma. Overview: calibration and profiling. The simplest ways to calibrate a monitor

How to calibrate your monitor | Two Reasons to Calibrate Your Monitor

If you have already gone through all the stages described, it means that a lot has already been done. If your monitor does not have a color management system, or you want to create ICC profile– you are welcome to the next section, where we will explain in detail how it works.

How to calibrate your monitor | Application: How to adjust color

In monitor reviews, we always measure the color gamut and brightness of the signal, even if in most cases these parameters are not adjustable. This requires a color management system (CMS), which is not available on most monitors. In particular, our experience with this feature is based on only a couple of expensive TVs and projectors. If your monitor settings include color gamut presets, you can use them to improve color accuracy. You should choose the one that is best suited for necessary for the user tasks (sRGB/Rec. 709 for most applications or Adobe RGB 1998 for image editing). A measurement must then be carried out to ensure that the preset meets the standard requirements.

Let's carry out small lesson"anatomy".

Chromaticity of AOC Q2963PM after calibration

You will find such a diagram in all our monitor reviews. This particular one belongs to the monitor AOC Q2963PM. At the top is the color saturation field. Color saturation level is simply the distance from the white point on the CIE chart. You can see how the reference dots go in a straight line from the white point towards each primary and secondary color. The further the point is from the center, the greater the saturation until the measurement reaches 100% at the top of the gamut triangle. Instead of measuring only the 100% saturation level, we also measure stops at 20, 40, 60 and 80%. If you only measure saturation at 100%, many monitors can generate nice-looking charts. Measurements different levels give more accurate color gamut results.

The middle part of the chart shows the brightness of the color gamut. This is the third dimension of color that is missing from the CIE chart. We believe it has a greater impact on perceived color accuracy than the points on the gamut triangle. The shorter the columns, the higher the quality. U of this monitor it's excellent.

The bottom chart contains Delta E error data. Here also values are below three to the naked eye invisible. Our chart shows the errors for each color at each saturation level.

If you have one of the very rare displays with a color management system, this may come in handy quick guide by setting it up. Don't forget that there are no two identical systems, and some of them may not work correctly. You should use the CMS carefully, using the necessary tools and understanding that your actions may not improve the quality of the image.

Traditional CMSs have three adjustments for each primary and secondary color: Hue, Saturation, and Lightness. Obviously, each has certain effects. Let's take another look at the blank CIE chart.

For example, if you adjust the tone to green, the color point will shift towards cyan or yellow. If you adjust the tone of a secondary color, its point will move towards one of the primary colors that it is composed of. For example, purple moves between blue and red.

Adjusting saturation moves a color closer and further from the gamut triangle. As with the grayscale adjustment chart (bullseye), you can manipulate hue and saturation adjustments to bring the color point into the target square.

Now let's look at adjusting the brightness.

In CMS, brightness is simply another term for signal brightness. To configure it, you first need to set the color points on the CIE chart. Then, starting with red, adjust the lightness until the bars shown above are as close to zero as possible. It sounds simple, and maybe it is. There is a chance that all three settings will influence each other, and you will have to tinker a lot to get best result. Setting up a CMS can take a long time. However, the basic procedure involves adjusting the hue and saturation for each color, and then you need to go back to adjusting the lightness.

Creating an ICC profile

Most monitors have chromaticity data built into the firmware, but this assumes it was measured correctly at the factory. And, based on our experience, we know that no two monitors are identical. It is best to create an ICC profile using self-measurement primary colors. We use it for this free program QuickMonitorProfile.

After collecting the CIE coordinates for each primary color, you have everything you need to create a profile. All you have to do is select Custom from the Chromaticity drop-down menu, and then enter the X and Y values for each color. You can then save them so that you can return to them later if necessary.

How to calibrate your monitor | Calibrate your monitors to improve image quality

Since the calibration steps are well-diluted with theoretical information, we decided to combine them into one compact list of recommendations:

Warm up the monitor for at least 30 minutes before taking any measurements. It's better to be sure that the backlight is completely stable.
Select a picture mode that allows you to access all possible settings, including points for levels, gamma, grayscale, and chroma.
Customize your levels with PLUGE and templates. Try to prevent clipping of the darkest and lightest areas of the brightness scale. It might be worth using measuring device for determining maximum level Sveta. We always use 200 cd/sq.m.
Set the gamma control to 2.2, if available. To unlock the RGB sliders option color temperature you need to set it to custom or your own.
Make sure the gamma is close to 2.2. If not, change the preset.
Using the 80% white template as an example, adjust the RGB sliders using a meter and appropriate software. We like the bar and bull's-eye charts, but you can use whatever method you prefer and use to set the white point to 6500K or D65.
Measure color gamut using window templates. Record CIE coordinates to create an ICC profile. Some software packages will do it for you. If your monitor offers a choice of color gamuts, choose one that the best way suitable for your needs. sRGB/Rec. 709 are great for gaming, watching videos and working on a PC. Adobe RGB 1998 is suitable for photo editors if the camera has the same color gamut.
Check the results with a final series of measurements. Now everything is ready!

The main advantage of this method over a software compatibility table is related to stability. With LUTs, it's very easy to start chasing color settings after each other, especially when you add an additional ICC profile variable. Each application performs its functions slightly differently, and a slight change in color on your monitor can mean a big inconvenience later when you're printing an image, for example. When the display is properly configured with its own adjustments, there is no need for a LUT and you can use a single ICC profile that is turned on or off depending on the application. For example, when creating graphs for reviews, we do not use profiles, since everything is created for the Internet.

If you want to figure out which monitor to buy, it's fairly easy to create your own benchmarks based on the steps above. Then you will definitely know the weak or strengths display. Similar to how we look at brightness, gamma, grayscale and color, you can test these parameters to find a model that suits your needs.

If after reading this material you still have or have new questions, we would like to warn you that a new article on this topic is coming. Next time we'll focus on the CalMAN CalPC package. SpectraCal has several kits with inexpensive meters and a template-generating client module for about $300. If you already have a measuring device, you can additionally buy the program online for $149.

We hope you now have a better understanding of monitor calibration and how the built-in adjustments work to improve image quality. By following the steps given in this article, which we use in our reviews, anyone with necessary tools, can achieve the same results.

image source http://4k-monitor.ru

Good and correct display settings are not the last task in order to work comfortably and efficiently not only with images, but also simply at the computer. The factory settings of monitors are always too high for brightness and contrast; manufacturers do not make adjustments at all, and users themselves often simply do not know about it.

I note that we will talk about the simplest screen settings; professional calibration is much more complicated.

You can configure it both software (if your display is connected to a PC with an operating system that has tools for such settings) and hardware. Adjustment using the menu buttons is not much different from adjusting the picture on a modern TV.

Hardware setup

Start by learning the buttons on your monitor. If nothing is clear, then you will have to read the instructions, or use the “unscientific poking method” (not recommended). After you have figured out the control buttons of the device, you can go directly to the settings.

Important note: ensure proper lighting! If the sun or a 200 W light bulb hits the monitor directly, no adjustments will help. Well, this is a separate big topic, but now there are a few basic recommendations:

The bright light source should not directly illuminate the monitor;
The light should not hit the eyes;
It is better to use uniform diffused lighting, for example, in the form of an LED strip.

Setting and assessing image quality

When working with a matrix monitor Low quality, mistakes often occur when choosing colors when processing images, photographs and print layouts, when creating websites and resources.

The picture below will allow you to evaluate how well the monitor is configured. On each half of the picture there are numbers 1 2 3 4 5

If you see all the numbers on both bars, then the monitor is set up well. Average level will show you the numbers 3. At all bad setup Only 1 and 2 are visible.

Remember how many numbers you can see. With this, after configuration, you can evaluate the quality of the improvements made.

But, first, a small off-topic “with a beard”:
“...I downloaded the program “Cleaning the monitor from dust”, laughed, installed it, launched it. The monitor was filled with an even dirty gray color, the keyboard turned off, clicking the mouse did not help.
I took a napkin, wiped the dust off the monitor, and saw a barely visible “Thank you, you can exit the program” button. I went out and thought, looking at the blank monitor...”

Therefore, first we put the surface itself in order, after which we move directly to the settings.

Brightness

The brightness should be adjusted so that in the picture the black colors of the suit and shirt do not merge into a single whole and the cross in the background becomes visible. The brightness parameter is responsible for the difference between details and dark colors.

Contrast

Responsible for light colors and their details.

In the image, to adjust the contrast, you should select a quality such that the folds and buttons on a white shirt are clearly visible. Set the contrast to zero and gradually increase it. As soon as these details begin to disappear, it is worth going back a little.

Gamma

Next important parameter- gamma. Accurate perfect setting It can’t be done on all monitors, but it’s still worth getting closer to the ideal. A good gamma setting will be indicated by missing spots of light and dark shades in the center of the test image.

Gray setting

Eliminates unnecessary shades that distort the colors on the display. This is done either software or hardware by adjusting the 3 primary colors (red, green, blue). Ideally, a picture with gray stripes should not be interrupted by extraneous shades. Only shades of gray.

Ideal gray setting.

Software setup

We launch the calibration tools programmatically (described for Windows).

In Windows 7, click the “Start” button and write the word “calibration” in the search bar. Launch. You will be given a series of image adjustment tests. There are very few of them. Go through them.

In Windows 10, enter the command cttune in the search bar, ClearType will launch, turn it on and select the display that is most convenient for your eyes. Then enter the dccw command. The calibration of screen colors, gamma, brightness and contrast will begin. Everything is described in the tests, read and follow the advice.

Checking the result

Now go back to the beginning of the article and look at the first image with numbers. At the very beginning, I asked them to remember. If you have improved the settings, you will see at least one more number.

Set it up correctly and in the end you will be pleasantly surprised at what your monitor can do!

Have you set up your monitor? Get to work: profession "".

You can visually evaluate certain aspects of your monitor settings using specially designed wallpapers with test scales.

Wallpapers must be viewed in programs (or environments) that do not support color management. For example, wallpaper can be placed on the operating room desktop Windows systems. Sometimes it's good to leave them there permanent basis, in order to control the loading of the calibrated monitor profile into the system (it happens that profiles “fly off” and sometimes it is difficult to notice without help).
Still very important point— wallpaper should be viewed at 100% scale, because even slight scaling or blurring of the scales makes them unsuitable for evaluation.
Also, the test cannot be used normally on cheap monitors and many laptops due to the simple TN matrix with small viewing angles. Such screens will split the image into 2 colored halves.

What can you appreciate with this wallpaper? Not much: brightness and contrast settings and gamma register. Gamma is the distribution of color brightness from “shadows” to “highlights.” A person perceives brightness not linearly and gamma is designed to compensate for this feature of human perception. It is believed that gamma 2.2 does this as close as possible.
The color accuracy and white point temperature of a monitor can only be checked using a calibrator. This check is a mandatory step in the monitor calibration process. The calibration accuracy and capabilities of the monitor can be checked by conducting a test using a measuring device for reference colors. The result depends on the “complexity” of the set of reference colors and is given in delta-E units. The lower the delta-E values, the more accurately the device conveys the reference shade.

So let's get back to the wallpaper.
To install them on a working Windows table, in properties find current resolution on your screen. Download the required wallpaper size from the list below.

Comments:
1. These three columns are needed to check the gamma register. You need to look at them at a distance from the screen. Or, when viewing, blur (“squint”) your vision so that the image becomes uniform:

The leftmost column is divided into two parts. Find a square that matches the lightness of the right striped scale as much as possible. The number in this square indicates your current gamma.
The column in the middle is also divided into 2 parts and both of these parts should merge if your current gamma is 2.2.
The rightmost column is divided into three parts, but with the current gamma of 2.2, they all look equally neutral, without any color impurities. On many TN LCD monitors, this scale will appear at the top with shades of cyan, magenta and yellow. And in the lower part give red, green and blue.

2. These scales measure the visibility of details in the shadows (upper) and in the highlights (lower). On the black rectangle in the center of the scale, three squares that are slightly lighter should be visible. On the white rectangle at the bottom of the scale, look for three darker squares. This is the minimum threshold for distinguishing details.

3. These scales are for testing the maximum threshold of detail recognition..

4. The upper scale is for the purity of gray and the smoothness of the gradient. Any shades throughout the entire scale, as well as stepwise gradients, are not allowed. In the lower scale, all rectangles should be different and have pure color without foreign impurities.

These wallpapers are convenient for beginners in questions Monitor calibration checks because contain comments directly next to the scales. The scales themselves are located as close as possible to the center of the screen for more convenient checking on monitors with a TN matrix.

39192 Improving your skills 0

In this lesson, I want to talk about checking monitor calibration for a photographer and recommend a program for setting it up at home. I was prompted to write an article about calibration own experience and a bunch of materials on the Internet on this topic that are understandable only to professional printers. The purpose of the lesson is not to load the reader with clever words, but to tell in simple language about monitor calibration, so that even a novice amateur photographer can understand it.

Why do you need monitor calibration?

You need to calibrate your monitor to achieve “natural” or “correct” color reproduction. Let's look at the chain “your cool monitor -> good PRO-lab” (this is where your photos are printed expensively and with pathos). You will NEVER achieve an absolute match between the image on the monitor and the print for two reasons:

First reason: paper does not glow like a monitor, it reflects light (and it can be different). Depending on the light in which you view the prints, the shade on them will change. Try looking at the photo in the light of the lamps, and then going to the window. Notice how the shades have changed.

The second reason: in the photo lab they could change the water, load a new roll of paper, and the color would go away a little. And if you believe that the printing press is calibrated in the lab every day, then you are a holy man!

Why then calibrate the monitor if it will still be bad? You need to calibrate your monitor in order to trust that everything will be fine for you!

If you have no idea what matrix your monitor is made on, but you bought it based on the requirements “that it would not be expensive,” then most likely you have a monitor on a TN matrix. In my opinion, calibrating a monitor on a TN matrix is pointless, but owners of cheap monitors also believe in miracles, and I will not destroy their illusions. If you consciously bought an expensive monitor with IPS or a slightly cheaper one with a PVA (MVA) matrix, then you need to calibrate the monitor in order to make sure that you did not waste your money.

How to calibrate your monitor?

When checking your monitor, remember: even if the wallpaper displays perfectly, this does not mean that it is correctly calibrated. The test that I want to offer you allows you to determine only the correct setting of brightness, contrast and gamma. The accuracy of color temperature settings cannot be checked on them, as well as the color coordinates of primary colors. For full customization monitor requires special hardware and software.

With a good monitor setting from a distance of 60-70 cm, you should see a uniform gray gradient in the pictures below, without any extraneous color shades. If you see color bands, your monitor is not calibrated.

Ideally you should see a uniformly gray screen

Now that you are a little upset when you see multi-colored stripes and circles, I suggest you correct the situation with self-calibration. In 30 seconds you can check the correctness of the gamma curves, and after spending about 5-10 minutes, you can put the gamma curves in order. Nothing complicated, believe me!

In our lesson we will use the free program CLTest. Download it by finding it on the Internet at free access. Let's get started!

1. CHECKING GAMMA CURVES

Warm up the monitor, preferably for at least an hour. We set the profile on the monitor to “Standard” (if there is one), sRGB, or, if the monitor is new, the one that was set by default (“Native”). Remember - bright room lighting and dusty monitor surfaces make adjustment very difficult.

Magic-Color(s) and other “improvers” only interfere with calibration; they must be completely disabled. The quality of testing especially suffers if the monitor adds sharpness (for example, NEC 1970NX) or blur.

Launch CLTest.exe.

If the picture is in the window running program looks like a solid gray vertical gradient - congratulations, your monitor has correct setting gamma curves, and there is no point in doing anything further. If not (extensive colored “areas” are visible), then move on to setting it up.

The monitor does not require calibration

2. ADJUSTING THE BLACK LEVEL

The CLTest.exe application is running and is in the default mode: in the menu gamma 2.2, Result, All, the slider is in the center)

For LCD monitor:

We go to the Mode->Calibtate fast menu and find ourselves at step (Step -1). In this case, rectangles of 3 primary colors and gray levels of 10..1 are displayed on the screen on a black background.

If 7-9 rectangles in each column are visible on a black background, then no adjustments are required at this point.

If less than 7 rectangles are visible, then you need to raise the black level (the “Up” button), but this must be done carefully - the visibility of the rectangles is required on the verge of visibleness, otherwise, by going overboard with the black value, you can worsen the black itself, and as a result, the contrast.

For CRT monitor:

We go to the Mode->Calibtate fast menu and find ourselves at step (Step -1). Next we try to adjust the brightness of the monitor, ensuring that 8-10 rectangles in each column are visible.

If, when setting up, all 10 rectangles are different in one or two channels, and there are less than 7 of the others, then in this case a channel-by-channel monitor setup is necessary (point 5 of the lesson, see below).

3. ADJUSTING THE WHITE POINT

While at step (Step -1), go to step (Step 0) by pressing the "right" button, or by selecting the Mode-> Set White menu. In this case, the rectangles Gol-Purp-Yellow-Ser on a white background are displayed on the screen.

If 7-9 rectangles are visible in each column, then no adjustments are required at this point, except perhaps adjusting the white balance.

If less than 7 rectangles are visible, then you need to reduce the white level. You can try reducing the contrast on the monitor - if the contrast was too high, this helps. If visibility appears only with a very strong decrease in contrast, as a result of which the picture on the monitor becomes dim, it is better to use the CLTest adjustment (Down button, mouse wheel).

Now you need to check the white balance - white should be truly white (or gray if the brightness/contrast is low), without color casts.

If white goes into some color (or the sum of two colors), this color (these colors) must be reduced. The best way to do this is from the monitor menu, the “Color” submenu. But it can also be done in CLTest. To do this, select the appropriate color in the “Color Channel” menu and reduce it until white returns to normal.

4. ADJUSTING GAMMA CURVES

Go to the 1st step (Step 1) by pressing the "right" button, or by selecting the menu Mode-> Step (1)

Step 1: use the Up-Down buttons on the keyboard (or the scroll wheel) to achieve a gray image. If the image looks red-green-blue (R-G-S) RGB, the Out value should be increased, if (G-R-F) CMY, it should be decreased.

When we have achieved neutral gray, click on the “Right” button (or CLTest “NextStep”) and find yourself on next step(Step 2). Step 2…14: repeat everything as in step 1.

We check the result on CLTest Mode ->Result (gradient). If everything worked out, save the color profile CLTest ->Curve->Save. That's all! In this case, we skip the channel-by-channel method (next point 5).

5. CHANNEL SETTINGS OF THE MONITOR

If the monitor’s gradient is not initially pure gray, you will have to adjust it channel by channel: in the Mode->Calibtate slow RGB menu

and we find ourselves at step -1.1 (Red). If less than 7 rectangles are visible, then you need to raise level 0 for this channel (Up button, mouse wheel).

Same as -1.2 (Green), -1.3 (Blue). We set up white in the same way (Step 0.1…0.3) - 9-7 rectangles should be different. Plus, upon completion, we control the white balance.

If everything worked out - don’t forget to save the color profile CLTest ->Curve->Save in order to use it in the future (you can come up with a name yourself, “RivaCLTest” by default) + added profile loading upon system startup.

If it didn't work out , then you need to set it in the menu "CLTest->Curve->Set default". And repeat the setting.

Check the changes by saving and loading the result of the gamma curve transformations into the CLTest->Curve->Save and set startup registry and restarting the computer.

That's it, your monitor is now calibrated, congratulations! All the photography to you!

In this article I will tell you what proper viewing of photographs is: how to look and what to look at. I’ll also tell you about terminology to make it easier to understand what is what in the world of photography =)
But first, 2 small axioms that will then be discussed in this article. If you want to see the real color of the photographs as originally intended by the photographer/designer/artist:

1) View photos in in electronic format should only be on IPS monitors / LED TVs(they must be calibrated)
2) The natural color of the printed photograph will appear only in daylight (street) light. Indoors the photograph will go into yellow(If ordinary lamps) and in Blue colour(if energy saving lamps).

I have been doing color correction for a long time and during this time I have managed to thoroughly understand all aspects of the perception of color by the human eye.

Let's start with the fact that men and women see colors slightly differently. Women are more sensitive to the perception of different color shades than men. I became convinced of this while designing websites and logos for companies. When I first started working, I didn’t see much difference between the shades of colors. I think this picture fits this topic very well:

I also didn’t understand why artists needed so many “identical” shades in their palette. However, the longer I worked with color, the more clear the picture became of how different color shades are from each other. The most important thing is that the ability to see more shades develops in the same way as hearing and voice.

So, we figured out the peculiarities of human color perception, but what if the monitor plasma panel The tablet and even glossy paper on which we look at photographs do not show us the color shades that were originally intended? First of all, this is a disappointment for the creator, who tried to show the mood with color.
In 2011, I spoke at a conference dedicated to wedding photography. The topic of the presentation was creative photo processing. The material was carefully prepared and photographs were printed. My presentation began, the projectors turned on and... the colors that the projector showed were so different from the original that the whole essence of my topic at the conference had to be explained using handouts. Due to the uncalibrated projector, it was impossible to explain to people why I used this or that color, because... colors and shades were greatly distorted..

Since then, at any of my performances, the main condition is a calibrated monitor/projector

But how do you know what color it really should be? First, it is necessary that the material be viewed on a calibrated monitor. In addition to this, you also need to understand if the photographer processed the photo using designer monitor With IPS matrix, then the color spectrum is initially much richer ( large quantity colors) than the same standard TFT / LED monitors. What does this affect? Colors located next to each other will merge, and will not look like several shades of the same color, but as one color. Imagine, using the same picture, that all these 3 out of 4 colors can be absolutely identical, although on a more or less calibrated monitor these are completely different 4 shades of yellow.

Visually, it may not be so noticeable, but when detailed consideration With this range, the entire photo will look much less deep and with less detailed detail.

How to test your monitor at home?

There are 3 tests:

1 . Checking for the display of blacks and shadows in a photograph
http://www.lagom.nl/lcd-test/black.php
(If you see all the squares from 1 to 255 squares, your monitor is perfectly calibrated for black color and you see all the shadow transitions in the photo. From 3 to 255 squares is also allowed. If you see, starting from the 4th, 5th square, it means The monitor is not calibrated for this parameter.)

2. Check for the display of white color in the photo and highlights.
http://www.lagom.nl/lcd-test/white.php
(If you see all the squares from 200 to 254, then your monitor is perfectly calibrated according to white color. Squares from 200 to 253 are also allowed. If you see only up to 250-252, then the monitor is not calibrated for this parameter.)

Checking for color gradient shifts and color confusion -

(In front of you with the left and with right side vertical rectangles. If on the left side you have it divided into 2 lines, and on the right side into 3 with different colors, it means that the monitor is NOT color calibrated. For example, blue for you will probably be lilac, and orange will turn into brown. It all depends on how clearly these lines are separated by color from each other. The smaller the difference, the better. Ideally, on a calibrated monitor, only the grey colour without division into 2 lines. And on the right there is only gray color without division into 3 lines.)

This is what should happen ideally:

However, if you get a result with colored stripes, then in this case your monitor is not calibrated and it is not showing the colors correctly:

In most cases the result is disappointing.

You may think that your monitor is to blame, but don't rush. In any computer, the video card transmits the image to the monitor. And it's all about her. The monitor only shows the image that comes from the video card. If you come to a computer store and take 2 absolutely identical laptops, then with a 90% probability the displays will show different colors. Most likely, you have heard the phrase that it is best to look at photographs on products Apple(iMac, iPad, etc.). This is true, and the reason for this is only the fact that, unlike laptops and PC computers, which are assembled from various parts, video cards and monitors, Apple computers are just a candy bar that already combines a monitor and a video card. It is logical that such a monoblock can be calibrated during assembly, which cannot be said about PC computers. After all, the store employees do not know what monitor you will buy and what video card it will be combined with.

Buy Apple products To view photos “correctly” is not the only way out. There are special calibrators: separately for monitors and for printers. I use DataColor. There is a calibrator for both the monitor (in my case it is Spyder 3 Elite) and the calibrator for the Spyder 3 Print SR printer.

The monitor calibration process is quite simple. You will need to place a sensor on the display, it in turn will scan all the colors and make adjustments for color shades. This information(color profile) is written to the video card. Monitor calibration takes on average 10-15 minutes. Calibrating the printer by printing special targets on a specific type of paper will take on average up to 2 hours. You only need to calibrate your monitor in sRGB mode! If your monitor does not support this mode, consult your monitor manufacturer about calibration. Because Although calibration in other modes will improve the situation at the moment - the 1st and 2nd tests, which we passed, the 3rd test may be failed due to the fact that the monitor may not support the color gamut range that we need needed.

An example of what the picture looks like on all the displays I have and my color correctors:

If it is not possible to use a calibrator?

In this case, I advise you to look this video- and use the program Atrise Lutcurve, which can be found in any search engine.

You just need to clearly understand The point of calibration with Atrise is not to set the absolute correct color values, as with a calibrator, but to eliminate the drift from neutral to shades. After all, when we tune a guitar on the first string by ear without a tuning fork, it is not accurate. But by tuning the remaining strings according to the first string, the guitar will begin to sound correctly, not out of tune.

1) Never watch photos on a plasma TV. On plasma there are tens of times fewer color shades than in monitors, due to which a photograph viewed on TV will have huge contrast and terrible differences in color. If you watch it, then only on LED/OLED TVs or with an IPS matrix.
2) Choose only high-quality photo printing centers. For example, when I give weddings, I give the newlyweds printed color targets on a calibrated printer. Thus, you can compare the resulting target with the one on the monitor, and also use it in the future for test printing in the darkroom. Pictures can only be compared in natural light - preferably in the morning or afternoon, but not at night, because... there should be no additional source of lighting.

Test target (click to enlarge) Full Screen, and also print in the future.):

In May 2015, my colleagues and I conducted an inspection of different photo salons - in total there were 3 salons in Zelenograd and 12 in Moscow and Moscow Region.
Out of 15 “professional” photo salons, only 2 showed themselves with the best side. The check was based on 3 criteria to 5 different photos:
- Paper quality (its density)
- Ink quality and equipment calibration (printer calibration relative to a calibrated monitor)
- Qualification of working personnel to know what they are doing.

If with the 1st point everything was fine in 11 photo salons out of 15, then on the 2nd and 3rd points there were terrible mistakes..
Only 4 photo salons had calibrated equipment! For everyone else, B/W photographs went to waste pink tint, someone turned green. It’s generally sad to talk about color photographs - blue flowers some turned lilac, others turned greenish. For some, the dress became overexposed, while for others, the groom's jacket merged into a single color and had no shadows. In terms of brightness and contrast, many also large spaces.
As for the qualifications of the staff, some “specialists” could not answer the question - what is the thickness of the paper. Someone was cutting photographs - with the cheapest document cutter, which left traces of a white edge.

According to the results, as it turned out, nothing can be printed in Zelenograd at all. But in Moscow we have identified the 2 best centers:
PhotoLab, PhotoPro
I am not familiar with any of the owners of these studios and these tests were independent. It is not known what the quality will be in six months or a year, I hope it will remain good. But at least these tests showed that only ~1 in 10 photo centers actually operate as professional photo laboratories.

An example of one of the checks. Both photos were scanned. On the left is printing in a darkroom with calibrated equipment, on the right is printing in a darkroom that did not care about the print quality and equipment calibration.

3) The color and brightness of the printed photograph strictly depends on the conditions in which it is viewed this photo. The natural color will appear only if this photo is viewed outdoors with natural light. If you look at the same photograph in an apartment, its color depends on the color temperature of the lamps. If the lamps are ~2700 Kelvin, the photo will take on a more yellow-red hue. If the lamps are ~6400 Kelvin or more, the photo will take on a bluer and colder tint.

4) Every photo viewer - ACDsee, Picasa, etc. have their own built-in color profiles. Thus, they can display the colors of the same photo differently. The same sometimes applies to some browsers. Therefore, be careful.

But even with all this, do not forget that each person has his own preferences in color, and what may seem like an ideal color for you, for another it will not be so, and vice versa =) That is why there is still no single rule/pattern the color you should strive for in paintings, photography, cinema, etc. because All people are different and everyone has their own vision =)