Correct way to do color correction with CMYK bar and Photoshop?

Question

I've been tipped by other people to place a CMYK bar strip near my painting / still life object when i'm to photograph it. But i'd like to know how the procedure to do proper color correction with the color bar, on Photoshop.

For your info, i do calibrate my white balance in my camera before i shoot.
Thanks for your contributed thoughts.

Answer 1

As a graphic designer, photographer, and artist, I get the impression that you are photographing your own artwork which you intend to then have printed in a 4-color process from that capture. Thus the Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black bar strip included in your shot, to aid in color matching?

Of course you must be working in CMYK mode in Photoshop. Open up the INFO palatte, and here you will see a breakdown of percentages of color for cyan, magenta, yellow and black. Next, take the eyedropper sample tool and place it on one of the color bars. For example, if you put it on the cyan bar, and it reads Cyan 95%, Magenta 15%, Yellow 0%, and Black 10%, what would you want to do to correct that photo color?

There are many ways to do it, but probably the curves selection is best. Using curves, you would want to lower the magenta color, leave the yellow alone, lower the black curve, and boost the cyan slightly.

Always go by the numbers to get the correct output for color. Monitor calibrations varies, even printer calibrations vary, etc., but the numbers never lie to us.

When you have adjusted one color, then move on and do the same to the others. Your result will be that your painting or still life will be adjusted to match the CMYK bar.

However, do you also set the levels, adjust the saturation, etc. Those things will make a big difference in your output, too. Just matching CMYK color will not always give you a great photo if there are other problems with the photo—are the whites blown out (test them with the eyedropper sample tool also), or are your shadows so dark that no detail can be seen in them?

Color correction is an art that takes years of studying and experimenting to get right! I've been at it for too many years to even count, and I still learn something new every day! Sometimes that is the fun of it.

Best wishes to you on your endeavor, and I hope this helps you.

Answer 2

i dont understand your question.

to get correct colours, set your camera to the correct exposure, this is done by first setting white balance if using digital, filters or the appropriate colour tempurature film if shooting film

then do an exposure reading off mid grey is the most used method. others are reading white and adding 3-4 stops or reading black and taking away 3-4 stops. i do hand or palm reading and add a stop

so set white balance* to white and exposure to mid grey and your colours will be true if you shoot raw or the correct film

*can read grey if you like......

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Answer 3

It might be easier to include something white or gray instead, and go to "remove color cast" to make sure it shows up neutral.