March 9, 1998

Color Calibration

This tip will hopefully help you with your color calibration. This is a hard issue to tackle and I hope that I get everything. Coming from a mostly print production background, I've fought the war with calibration for years, and it still hasn't improved. Below I describe how to use three types of calibration with FreeHand™. Of course it's best to use a system that works the same with all your programs (PageMaker, Photoshop, etc.).

Version: Depending on type of calibration. Version is listed with type.

  
 


Display Color Setup (versions 2-5, 8 and above Mac) (versions 3-5, 8 and above Win)

This calibration system was first introduced in FreeHand 2. It worked well if you knew how to use it. Otherwise colors on the screen were way too saturated. With the introduction of FreeHand 7, they eliminated this feature and had us try out the Kodak Color Management System (see below for more details on this). With FreeHand 8, they brought it back, and let us choose between this or the KCMS.

Each version is different but you can find this calibration system in the Preferences under the color area. Below is how to make it work better for you using PhotoShop as a guide.

When selected you are faced with this dialog. You can click on these color swatches and you are brought into Apple's Color Picker dialog box (Since Windows does not use multiple color pickers, I've shown Windows' RGB values in a separate table below using PhotoShop's Color Picker). You can set these with the different color systems, but I'm going to use the RGB Picker system here with the help of Photoshop.

I'm using Photoshop because it is well known as a consistent source of color. When in Photoshop, set your Preferences so that Photoshop uses the Apple Color Picker (PhotoShop Color Picker for Windows). This is set in the General Preference panel.

Next make your Color Panel active. Choose CMYK Sliders from the right pull-down menu. Now create the first color FreeHand™ needs in the Setup Dialog. Cyan is the first, so slide it over to 100%. Then click on the little upper left color square containing your color.

 

Now you will see the Apple Color Picker. Choose the RGB Picker if it isn't already. You'll see the different percentage values that make up the color you made. You can write these down to enter into FreeHand's Color Display Setup.

Now repeat these steps for each color FreeHand™ needs :

Cyan: 100% Cyan
Magenta: 100% Magenta
Yellow: 100% Yellow
C+M: 100% Cyan + 100% Magenta
 
C+Y: 100% Cyan + 100% Yellow
M+Y: 100% Magenta + 100% Yellow
C+M+Y: 100% of each.

You then take these values and enter them in the Display Color Setup dialog in FreeHand. Below I've created a table with all the values I've gotten, and they may work for you as well, but it's always a good idea to do it yourself as all systems are different.

Mac RGB values for Apple Color Picker

Red

Green

Blue

Cyan

0

66

85

Red

Green

Blue

Magenta

83

0

40

Red

Green

Blue

Yellow

100

84

0

Red

Green

Blue

C+M

0

6

34

Red

Green

Blue

C+Y

0

52

28

Red

Green

Blue

M+Y

83

0

15

Red

Green

Blue

C+M+Y

13

9

13

Windows' RGB values for PhotoShop Color Picker

Red

Green

Blue

Cyan

0

160

221

Red

Green

Blue

Magenta

197

0

103

Red

Green

Blue

Yellow

255

235

0

Red

Green

Blue

C+M

28

11

90

Red

Green

Blue

C+Y

0

135

64

Red

Green

Blue

M+Y

196

0

38

Red

Green

Blue

C+M+Y

33

24

32

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Kodak Color Management System (KCMS)
(versions 7 and above Mac) (versions 7 and above Win)

This calibration system caused me so much headache and hours of time to configure, that I wonder why I even still use it. But I still believe to this day, that it's the best system for accurate color across FreeHand, PageMaker and Photoshop.

If your like me and use the latest versions of PageMaker and Photoshop then you've seen these KCMS extensions installed as well as the always cryptic resource folders in the System Folder (CMSCP, KPCMS). The frustrating thing is, FreeHand , PageMaker 6.5 and Photoshop all install them but they all have different version numbers. Also, if you installed FreeHand's KCMS, then install or reinstall PageMaker's or Photoshop's, FreeHand no longer accepts the KCMS extensions and grays out the use of it in the preferences.

You want help from Kodak? Try looking for any technical support from their web site regarding this issue. None.

Anyway, after years of tackling the version numbers and installation processes of the KCMS extensions and resources, I've finally found a set that works across FreeHand, PageMaker 6.5 and Photoshop.

If you have PageMaker 6.5, then you have the KCMS extensions that work correctly. Below are the ones I have and their version numbers.

As you can see, you only need these 4 KCMS extensions. I had about 10 of these before (KODAK PRECISION CP, WHITE POINT, etc.) and deleted them all as well as the CMSCP and KPCMS folders, because the whole system wasn't working for me. If you have the PageMaker 6.5 installer, then you can delete all of yours too and start from scratch.

Using the PageMaker 6.5 installer, I did a custom install and chose to install only the KCMS extensions. It then asks you to pick color libraries (Pantone, Hexachrome, etc.). Once I installed these, everything worked across the board, and my system folder was clean once again. (Please read the ColorSync™ area below for more on this)

Once you have a setup that works for you, it's a good idea to back up theses extensions and folders on a floppy or something. If the past is any indication of the future, any new program or upgrade that installs these, will louse up the whole thing again.

Above is how to set up the KCMS in FreeHand 8 if the KCMS is working for you. You of course, choose your Monitor type, how your Monitor simulates the colors, and what kind of Separations printer you want to use. I consistently use Kodak SWOP Proofer CMYK, as this shows great color in both FreeHand™ and PageMaker especially if you plan on doing a lot of Print work from these programs.

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ColorSync™ (versions 7 and above Mac)

This update to the ColorSync system from Apple is a definate plus to download. It comes in SMI (Self Mounting disk Image) format, and you can get it free from Apple at the following link:

I won't go into a lot of detail about it but I will describe why it could be better than all the above calibration techniques. This update is compatible with PhotoShop, FreeHand and even PageMaker.

It now combines the ColorSync control panel with the Monitors & Sound control panel for easy setup. From there you can even calibrate your monitor through Apple's own method.

Above is the intro to the Monitor Calibration Assistant.This takes you through easy steps in assuring accurate colors for the type of monitor you have. You can then save your setup as a profile that is located in the ColorSync Profiles folder in the root of the System folder.

    Special Note

    What's better, if you do a custom install of ColorSync™, you can choose to install a single Kodak extension called KODAK CMM. When you do this, you can eliminate all the other Kodak Precision extensions mentioned above(with the exception of the CMSCP and KPCMS folders which still hold all the Kodak profiles needed). Now all your applications that can use the Kodak System will recognize and use it.

After you go through the Monitor Calibration Assistant and name and save a profile for your setup, you can copy this calibration file found in the ColorSync Profiles folder to the ICM folder in FreeHand™'s root folder. This allows FreeHand™ to see your custom monitor type in the Kodak Color setup mentioned above.

Many people have had problems with FreeHand 7 or 8 not seeing any profiles from ColorSync. Here is one solution to the problem:

  1. After installing ColorSync (or upgrading to MacOS 9), you'll see that the ColorSync Profiles folder was renamed and moved from the Preferences folder to the root level of the System folder.
  2. Option-Drag a copy of this folder from the System Folder into the Preferences folder. Then move the Original in the Trash. This bypasses the problem of the folder name being locked disallowing the next step.
  3. Rename this folder from ColorSync Profiles to ColorSync™ Profiles (the ™ is made by typing Option+2).
  4. Open the ColorSync Control panel and it will recreate the ColorSync Profiles folder in the System folder.
  5. Now FreeHand (and other programs) should see the profiles.

Well I hope these tips help you in calibrating your system, as they have mine. It always helps to have a good monitor and the know-how of setting up your Gamma settings using the Control Panel that comes with Photoshop. Good Luck!  

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