Thank you for the constructive criticism regarding our website. We will certainly take your comments into consideration as we redesign our website and fine-tune our message.
As we are all aware, color is a complex subject, and reducing the discussion to a simple statement appears to have caused some controversy. In no way do we intend to deceive, we simply want to make a case for a real solution to a real problem.
The problem addressed by DCF Full Spectrum is that the RGB system reproduces an incomplete spectrum of colors. As you can see in the digital recording and reproduction of the component colors of sunlight (the spectrum shot below), RGB systems have difficulty reproducing shorter wavelengths of light (original image on the left). In the Full Spectrum RGB image on the right, you can clearly see how the spectrum includes the shorter wavelengths of light for a more complete reproduction of violet, and in turn the whole spectrum.
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This is what we mean when we say: “Your eyes see purple, so why can’t your camera?”
The poor sensitivity to violet can also be seen in this image of the LA Lakers jersey. If you have ever seen the Lakers on television, you will see that there jerseys appear bright blue, like the original digital capture on the left. The Lakers jerseys are purple, like the Full Spectrum RGB image on the right.
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We first noticed the shortcomings of RGB in digital fine-art reproduction where color matching is critical. Tribeca Labs’ color experts have worked extensively with museums and cultural institutions involved in large scale digital preservation projects since 1998. Working in fully color managed environments with the highest resolution digital scan back cameras, we have been able to confirm that the problem is common and can be seen in every camera or monitor.
For nature photographers, DCF Full Spectrum provides richer, more photorealistic and natural colors, as you can see in the following images of flowers (original on the left, Full Spectrum RGB on the right).
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Mark.S asks, “There's a difference between a product that adds a number of styles - or film emulations - and then claiming that digital cameras do not record purple, is there not?”
The comparison between Kodak film (deep blues) and Fuji film (vibrant red) was made to illustrate the concept of a color palette. For example, to say Kodak film has deeper blues than Fuji film is like saying Full Spectrum RGB has deeper blues than RGB alone.
Admittedly, one problem we have with our advertising is that people think that DCF Full Spectrum only affects purples. In the shot of the trees below you can see how DCF Full Spectrum brings out the complexity of greens, producing a better sense of space and dimension (RGB on the left, Full Spectrum RGB on the right).
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Full Spectrum RGB is available in two additional settings, the “number of styles,” to which Mark.S refers: DCF Vivid and DCF Portrait. These are optional intensity settings that make use of the expanded Full Spectrum RGB color palette. The following photographs make use of DCF Vivid color (original image on the left, DCF Vivid on the right).
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The above images are compliments of the photographers at
www.sxc.hu.
Finally, because we know photographers like to make their own adjustments, we added the DCF Control Panel that allows the user to compose his own color palette and intensity settings.
I hope this clears up any misunderstandings. If you have any questions, you can contact me directly at
mike@tribecalabs.com.
Sincerely,
Michael Bevans
www.tribecalabs.com