Mike Chaney's Tech Corner

Very basic question.  Just learning.  How do I set up the color management window.  I'm using a Canon Rebel Xs, AdobeRGB color space.  My monitor has no profile, it's a Dell SE178WFP, a plug and play.  I do have the printer profile.  Thanks if anyone is willing to help with this very newbie basic question.

It is difficult to set it up properly without a monitor profile. You need a calibration device to do that. However, a compromise might be to use sRGB as many monitors have a profile that is close to that but it's not guaranteed.
To a large extent, colour management starts with profiling your monitor so that what you see on the screen matches (more or less) what is printed.

You say you have a profile for the printer - that should be paper and ink specific not the generic one the printer driver uses to control colour. Tell us which printer, paper and the profile file name you are using and we can be sure that is all ok. Also, it will enable us to tell you in more detail how to set the printer driver although the profile should have driver setting instructions with it - that is critical.
I've attached a screen snap of my CM window.
I assume for the fact you mention Adobe RGB, you are shooting camera jpeg's. Note that the Honor Exif space box is ticked.
The rest should be straightforward but you need to know that colour profiles are stored in C:\WINDOWS\system32\spool\drivers\color.
Also, click F1 while in that window to get all the Qimage Help on the subject.

There is one other option with Qimage, especially if you do not have the correct profile for the printer/paper/ combination.
Set Qimage to "Let the Printer Driver manage Color", click the little printer icon in the CM window printer section. Qimage uses its own "universal" printer profile and can give good results. The Help tells you how to set your printer driver for this option.

That hopefully will give you a start on the Colour Management Journey  ;D
Please come back with some more detail about your printer etc. and we can go from there.
Terry.

Thank you for your prompt response.  Several days ago I had posted about a problem with the prints not matching my monitor.  I just wanted to make sure that I was setting up that window properly.  The only thing I was absolutely sure about was the printer profile.  I do know for sure I have the correct one.
I've read all your articles on color management including the ones on El Cheapo printers and Canon printers.  Personally I think my output problem is more a too bright monitor than anything else.

My color management window is set up like yours.  If I knew how to attach a picture of it I would do so.  Thanks again.

Not my articles but Mikes'. I'm just a hanger-on here  ;)
You can always adjust you monitor brightness to match the prints, I know of others who do it this way. It does not replace calibrating for colour though  :o
Terry.

Let's take it in three sections.
Section 1, the camera input profile (color space) 
You want Qimage to open your rebel images in AdobeRGB.
Click INSERT to create an active row.

Click Extract EXIF model   (see screen snap) and click on one of your JPGS
Click Select Profile and locate your AdobeRGB profile and OK out.
Last, make sure you have a Y in enable.
You should have a box that looks somewhat like screen snap .
Make sure you have a Y in enable

Section 2 in the monitor profile. Click the little square icon button to the right and loacte and insert the sRGB profile that comes with Qimage or other software.

Section 3
Printer profile
Same thing: click the button on the right, locate the correct profile for the paper and printer. and OK out.

PS Did you get a new printer with profiles?

Fred

Thanks Fred.  Not yet.  I do have profiles for the printer I have now.  Still trying to justify the $$$ for a new printer.  Playing with the brightness of the monitor, seeing if that helps.  Got the monitor and printer set up correctly.  Just wasn't too sure about the input one on the top.

Should my camera model be showing up in the top part of the window?

Yes indeedy.
If you follow the steps from my last post and look at either snap, you will see a REBEL in there (which I do not own).
I did that using one of Terry's pix to show you how easy it was.
After you create the row, click on Extract EXIF model. Find one of your JPGS from your camera, and select it.
Qimage will know what camera you used, and extract the model from the EXIF info from that shot.
Fred

Fred, was able to do that successfully.  Quick question though.  Wouldn't it be better for me to just leave that first part up to Qimage to find the EXIF info rather than going through all that on a picture by picture basis; especially since my old point and shoot are all sRGB and the first 500 or so pics I took on the Rebel were as well?  That could be another dummy question but I asked it anyway.    :-\

Sure, if you have shots from the same camera with a different color space than AdobeRGB, the simply delete that row completely and make sure there's a check mark in HONOR EXIF in that same dialogue box.
Then Qimage will look for a tag and provide the matching colorspace automatically.
I just thought you wanted to know how that upper part of the box worked.

That should fix you up.
Fred

Thanks, I think I'm all fixed up for a while on that issue.  On to my monitor issue.  Ever hear about a program called Calibrex?  It does monitor profiles.

Isn't the one on TV that says, "Ask your doctor if Calibrex is right for you?"

Unfortunately, I have not.
Fred

Oops! Another SENIOR MOMENT!   Calibrize.

Another option that is a little more complete than Calibrize is Monitor Calibration Wizard.

I use a DataColor Spyder so I haven't done much with these software only utilities. But I suspect that either Calibrize or Monitor Calibration Wizard would be better than nothing.

Tom