The Digital Darkroom


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Once an image is captured on your camera, it will end up in your imaging workstation where the fun begins.

If you are not computer-savvy or if you don't know Photoshop, then digital will be much less useful to you. Learning color management and workflow issues will overwhelm some people. Not everyone can learn to take advantage of the digital explosion. But there are new tools introduced every month that make the process easier. Within the decade, this problem will be solved.

Exploring the Digital Darkroom
How To Make Digital Slide Shows

Color Proofers

For most photographers, after images are captured, enhanced, and color convereted, they need to be output as color proofs. The most popular devices are the wide variety of desktop dye-sublimation printers normally costing from $8,000 to $18,000. For those with larger budgets, digital color proofers costing as much as $40,000 may be the answer. Dye-sublimation printers require less maintenance than proofers such as the Iris which requires maintenance contracts costing hundreds of dollars each month.

For those with very tight budgets, Epson's Stylus Color 3000 inkjet printer might fill the bill.

Price Max. Size Max. Resolution (dpi)
Desktop Dye-Sublimation
Agfa DuoProof Enhanced $18,995 12.16x18 300
High-Res Inkjets
Agfa Atlas $32,000 34.5x47.5 300

Scanners


What's HOT in Digital Photography Books

Profitable Photography in Digital Age
The rapid evolution of digital photography and the ease of distribution over the Internet has transformed the photo industry. Everything from marketing and sales to competitive pricing and job security has been affected. And now that the flood gates have come down, everyone from semi-pros to amateurs to the common consumer affects how business is done, whether it's pricing, assignments, or just getting your photos seen by potential buyers.

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Color Management

If you want to be able to produce predictable color in-house, as well as calibrating with outside vendors you will need to have a workable color management system in place. The purpose of color management software is to keep the colors that you specify in a file as consistent as possible throughout your work flow, as files move through the various peripherals (scanners, monitors, printers) to final output. Each device has its own way of representing color and with each step, there is the potential for problems.

There are a number of color management software packages on the market today. What's important is the product must work with image data to create ICC-compatible, device-independent profiles. It is beyond the scope of this page to fully explain color management theory, but suffice it to say that relying on Photoshop alone will not give you color-calibrated, press-ready files. Without an effective color management system, your file's color will not remain true, as each application writes to its own color management scheme with little interaction with the operating system.

Color Management Resources
Color Management - The Color Conundrum


Read More About Buying a Digital Camera
Digital Photography Resources
Shop for a Digital Camera at Ritz| Canon Cameras | Kodak Store | Nikon Store
Amazon.com | Canon Cameras | Nikon Cameras
How to Buy a Digital Camera
Buying a New Digital Camera
Types of Digital Cameras
How a Digital Camera Works
Advantages v. Disadvantages of Digital Photography