Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: Color Checker with Macro Photography  (Read 7082 times)

seti

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 3
Color Checker with Macro Photography
« on: December 19, 2017, 04:32:35 pm »

Hi there,

Just joined, thanks for having me. Came across a forum post on the site today and found it useful so I figured I'd give it a shot.

I shoot mostly product photography for my own work and recently bought the ColorChecker Passport to help with color correction and white balance issues I've been having. The issue I'm running into is using it with my macro photography work as it's too big to fit in the frame. I'm curious what other people have been using to correct color/wb in macro work or how one might use the ColorChecker Passport in macro work. The ColorChecker Passport may not be the right tool for this job, but I figured I'd give it a try. If anyone has any other ideas I'm open to it. I'm fairly new to this (started about a year ago) so there could be something I'm overlooking.

At the moment I'm tethering to LR and using PS for post, but intend to get Helicon Remote/Focus and eventually C1 if that helps give context to the workflow.

Thanks,
Zack
Logged

Bart_van_der_Wolf

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 8913
Re: Color Checker with Macro Photography
« Reply #1 on: December 20, 2017, 06:29:28 am »

Hi there,

Just joined, thanks for having me. Came across a forum post on the site today and found it useful so I figured I'd give it a shot.

I shoot mostly product photography for my own work and recently bought the ColorChecker Passport to help with color correction and white balance issues I've been having. The issue I'm running into is using it with my macro photography work as it's too big to fit in the frame. I'm curious what other people have been using to correct color/wb in macro work or how one might use the ColorChecker Passport in macro work. The ColorChecker Passport may not be the right tool for this job, but I figured I'd give it a try. If anyone has any other ideas I'm open to it. I'm fairly new to this (started about a year ago) so there could be something I'm overlooking.

At the moment I'm tethering to LR and using PS for post, but intend to get Helicon Remote/Focus and eventually C1 if that helps give context to the workflow.

Hi Zack,

I'm not sure why you need to use a ColorChecker, unless you want to create new Scene-referred profiles. I use a WhiBal chart which is easy to clean, can even be used in rainy situations (or underwater if needed), and is very neutral. It's easy to use and get a 1-click Auto White-balance as a neutral starting point. It comes in different sizes, including a keychain one.

Cheers,
Bart
Logged
== If you do what you did, you'll get what you got. ==

DP

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 727
Re: Color Checker with Macro Photography
« Reply #2 on: December 20, 2017, 08:51:21 am »

context to the workflow.

you forgot to tell us are you using natural light or bring your own illumination ? you don't need to fit a target along in your macro scene - if you are not happy with OEM profiles in your raw converter you can simply get target shot apart from the object under the illumination you use (whether natural light or your own setup)...

this is THE topic about making color profiles = http://forum.luminous-landscape.com/index.php?topic=100015.0

+

https://www.ludd.ltu.se/~torger/dcamprof.html
https://www.ludd.ltu.se/~torger/photography/camera-profiling.html
www.lumariver.com/lrpd-manual/
Logged

seti

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 3
Re: Color Checker with Macro Photography
« Reply #3 on: December 20, 2017, 11:57:30 am »

Thanks for the replies Bart and DP, I appreciate it.

It seems that the WhiBal chart mentioned would be a better tool for this job. I'm trying to recreate the most accurate color and have been using the cameras auto wb function, which may not be the best move. It's worked pretty well so far, but I'm finding it's coming up all over the place in post (images look pretty good together but the actual wb on each is very different).

If it helps, here are some shots on the instagram account:
www.instagram.com/beiam.co/

I'm using mostly continuous lighting (5000k LEDs) and Nikons' speedlight system. I'll occasionally use natural lighting too, but most of the work has been with my own illumination.

Thanks,
Zack
Logged

digitaldog

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 20630
  • Andrew Rodney
    • http://www.digitaldog.net/
Re: Color Checker with Macro Photography
« Reply #4 on: December 20, 2017, 01:09:44 pm »

I'm not sure why you need to use a ColorChecker, unless you want to create new Scene-referred profiles.
Or custom .dcp (DNG) camera profiles which are not.

Everything you thought you wanted to know about DNG camera profiles:
All about In this 30 minute video, we’ll look into the creation and use of DNG camera profiles in three raw converters. The video covers:

What are DNG camera profiles, how do they differ from ICC camera profiles.
Misconceptions about DNG camera profiles.
Just when, and why do you need to build custom DNG camera profiles?
How to build custom DNG camera profiles using the X-rite Passport software.
The role of various illuminants on camera sensors and DNG camera profiles.
Dual Illuminant DNG camera profiles.
Examples of usage of DNG camera profiles in Lightroom, ACR, and Iridient Developer.

Low Rez (YouTube):
http://youtu.be/_fikTm8XIt4

High Rez (download):
http://www.digitaldog.net/files/DNG%20Camera%20profile%20video.mov
Logged
http://www.digitaldog.net/
Author "Color Management for Photographers".

digitaldog

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 20630
  • Andrew Rodney
    • http://www.digitaldog.net/
Re: Color Checker with Macro Photography
« Reply #5 on: December 20, 2017, 01:11:22 pm »

It seems that the WhiBal chart mentioned would be a better tool for this job.
And you can spend a lot less!
https://photographylife.com/diy-reliable-and-cheap-universal-white-balance-reference-device
Logged
http://www.digitaldog.net/
Author "Color Management for Photographers".

DP

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 727
Re: Color Checker with Macro Photography
« Reply #6 on: December 20, 2017, 02:06:52 pm »

I'm trying to recreate the most accurate color

profiles supplied with raw converters ( like Adobe's ACR/LR ) are in most ( all for Adobe ) cases not reproduction grade profiles - but then creating your own reproduction grade profile (vs just creating a profile different from what is supplied with converters - and this is what 99% of average joes mean when buying passport or so) for the specific illumination requires investment in time and equipment above sub $100 target ...


Logged

digitaldog

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 20630
  • Andrew Rodney
    • http://www.digitaldog.net/
Re: Color Checker with Macro Photography
« Reply #7 on: December 20, 2017, 02:24:19 pm »

profiles supplied with raw converters ( like Adobe's ACR/LR ) are in most ( all for Adobe ) cases not reproduction grade profiles - but then creating your own reproduction grade profile (vs just creating a profile different from what is supplied with converters - and this is what 99% of average joes mean when buying passport or so) for the specific illumination requires investment in time and equipment above sub $100 target ...
What constitutes a 'reproduction grade profile'?
.dcp profiles are white balance agnostic by design.
Logged
http://www.digitaldog.net/
Author "Color Management for Photographers".

DP

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 727
Re: Color Checker with Macro Photography
« Reply #8 on: December 20, 2017, 04:57:34 pm »

What constitutes a 'reproduction grade profile'?

not something w/ LUTs aiming to make colors nice or hue twists or imitating OOC JPG ... not to mention hidden exposure corrections... you perfectly know (you shall or otherwise...) what Adobe does with profiles supplied w/ ACR/LR ... plus such profile shall be created for the spectrum of illumination used and shall use targets better than 24 patches (w/ 6 "grey scale") - not that X-Rite does a bad job, but if u macro a colorful parrot or batterfly CC24/passport is not enough pigments wise
Logged

digitaldog

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 20630
  • Andrew Rodney
    • http://www.digitaldog.net/
Re: Color Checker with Macro Photography
« Reply #9 on: December 20, 2017, 04:59:15 pm »

not something w/ LUTs aiming to make colors nice or hue twists or imitating OOC JPG ... not to mention hidden exposure corrections... you perfectly know (you shall or otherwise...) what Adobe does with profiles supplied w/ ACR/LR
All generalizations are false, including this one.Mark Twain
Logged
http://www.digitaldog.net/
Author "Color Management for Photographers".

DP

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 727
Re: Color Checker with Macro Photography
« Reply #10 on: December 20, 2017, 05:08:11 pm »

All generalizations are false, including this one.Mark Twain

we leave it up to you to illustrate how what Adobe does in their profiles makes them better for reproduction work - I believe you can take a profile from LR distribution and tell us how it is good for that  ;D , start with them being dual illuminant (no, this is not about DCP in general - just about profiles actually supplied by Adobe) for the OP using a specific "5K" LED light...
Logged

digitaldog

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 20630
  • Andrew Rodney
    • http://www.digitaldog.net/
Re: Color Checker with Macro Photography
« Reply #11 on: December 20, 2017, 05:25:53 pm »

we leave it up to you to illustrate how what Adobe does in their profiles makes them better for reproduction work - I believe you can take a profile from LR distribution and tell us how it is good for that  ;D , start with them being dual illuminant (no, this is not about DCP in general - just about profiles actually supplied by Adobe) for the OP using a specific "5K" LED light...
Tens of thousands, perhaps millions of images have been reproduced using said profiles.
“Reproduction quality profiles” is a term you made up? Or a made up term by someone else?
Logged
http://www.digitaldog.net/
Author "Color Management for Photographers".

seti

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 3
Re: Color Checker with Macro Photography
« Reply #12 on: December 21, 2017, 01:02:19 pm »

Thanks digitaldog, will give that solution a try first.
Logged

DP

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 727
Re: Color Checker with Macro Photography
« Reply #13 on: December 22, 2017, 08:59:16 am »

Tens of thousands, perhaps millions of images have been reproduced using said profiles.
“Reproduction quality profiles” is a term you made up? Or a made up term by someone else?

"reproduced", yes  ;D
Logged
Pages: [1]   Go Up