Color management on Linux
In Living Color
Get a grasp of color management basics and put your knowledge to practical use.
The purpose of color management is to produce consistent color output across different devices. This definition might sound simple enough, but understanding the mechanics of color management and implementing a color-managed workflow can be a rather complex and confusing affair at times. This article can help you to get an understanding of color management fundamentals and set up a color-managed environment using open source Linux tools.
Color Management Distilled
The need for color management arises from the fundamental problem of color reproduction: a formal representation of a given color (e.g., numeric value of the color in a specific color model) doesn't necessarily produce the same color on different devices for a wide variety of factors. Thus, the primary goal of color management is to achieve a consistent color reproduction across devices. So, for example, a photo taken by a color-managed camera should look the same on a color-managed computer screen.
In a color-managed workflow, each device (e.g., a digital camera and LCD display) has its own color profile that characterizes the color response of that particular device. Each color profile describes these colors relative to a standardized set of reference colors. Color-managed software then uses these standardized profiles to translate color from one device to another. This is usually performed by a color management module [1].
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Kali Linux Waxes Nostalgic with BackTrack Mode
For those who've used Kali Linux since its inception, the changes with the new release are sure to put a smile on your face.
-
Gnome 50 Smooths Out NVIDIA GPU Issues
Gamers rejoice, your favorite pastime just got better with Gnome 50 and NVIDIA GPUs.
-
System76 Retools Thelio Desktop
The new Thelio Mira has landed with improved performance, repairability, and front-facing ports alongside a high-quality tempered glass facade.
-
Some Linux Distros Skirt Age Verification Laws
After California introduced an age verification law recently, open source operating system developers have had to get creative with how they deal with it.
-
UN Creates Open Source Portal
In a quest to strengthen open source collaboration, the United Nations Office of Information and Communications Technology has created a new portal.
-
Latest Linux Kernel RC Contains Changes Galore
Linux kernel 7.0-rc3 includes more changes than have been made in a single release in recent history.
-
Nitrux 6.0 Now Ready to Rock Your World
The latest iteration of the Debian-based distribution includes all kinds of newness.
-
Linux Foundation Reports that Open Source Delivers Better ROI
In a report that may surprise no one in the Linux community, the Linux Foundation found that businesses are finding a 5X return on investment with open source software.
-
Keep Android Open
Google has announced that, soon, anyone looking to develop Android apps will have to first register centrally with Google.
-
Kernel 7.0 Now in Testing
Linus Torvalds has announced the first Release Candidate (RC) for the 7.x kernel is available for those who want to test it.