Display Calibration (Mac)

Tutorial

Create a Display Color Calibration Profile for a Specific Printer

For example, if you will be printing on the printer named Walt on the 7th floor, you should create a calibration profile for that printer. If you print on any other printers each printer would need to be calibrated.

Note: The adjusting the brightness of your computer screen will affect the brightness and contrast. Calibrate with your screen at full brightness, and remember to check your colors with the screen at full brightness while working.

1. Print the Print Safe Colors image from the printer you will be using.

Be sure to print with the substrate you will be using (color copy paper, regular paper, canvas, etc.)

All calibrations will be different for each printer and substrate combination.

2. Keep the file image on your screen to compare it to your print.

3. Go to System Preferences > Displays > Color.

4. Choose the display mode that is standard for you display.

Color LCD for Macbook Pros, IMAC for iMacs, Dell___ for Dell Monitors, etc.

5. Hold the OPTION key and click Calibrate, and check Expert Mode.

6. Follow the steps in the calibration menu, paying specific attention to white temperature.

7. Match the display to the printed image.

8. As you continue through each toned apple:

• The dark apple will help you color match the dark tones, so move the gray slider up or down to match the tone. Move the color slider around to match the colors.

• The light apples will help you color match for light colors, so move the gray slider up or down to match the tone, then move the colors slider around to match the colors.

9. Target Gamma - Mac Standard is generally lighter in the white point and PC Standard is darker in the white point. Uncheck "Use Native Gamma." Try moving the toggle to in between Mac and PC, or all the way to PC. This might be a closer match to non-reflective substrates.

10. Select Target White Points - If your whites and lights are more red in your point, move the white point towards the red. If more blue, move towards the blue, etc.

11. Save the color profile with the specific printer name and the date.

(PrinterName Date) = Calder 1/13/20

12. In System Preferences > Display > Display, uncheck Automatically Adjust Brightness.

When you toggle between your printer calibration and your native web calibration, the print one should look darker. You will probably still have to make adjustments to your files after you frint your first proof, but this will get you close.

Switching a Display Color Calibration Profile to Web

1. Go to System Preferences > Displays > Color

> Color LCD (for Macbook Pros)

> Apple Studio Display (for Mac Desktops)

> Dell 1780FP (for the schools Dell extended monitor and a better PC color proof)

*You should choose the standard setting that came with your display. This is, however, a moving target and is not perfect. Displays will all be different. The goal is for your image to look good on all of these display settings. This is one of the reasons why extended monitors work well: it give you a PC and a Mac web preview.

Approaches for Using Extended Monitors

1. Keep the extended monitor profiled for web. This will enable you to look at your image in both web and print settings simply by moving the image from monitor to monitor.

OR

Make the extended monitor profiled for print. This will enable you to look at your image in both monitors set for print by moving the image from monitor to monitor.