External Editors Calbrite Camera Calibration Plugin for Lightroom

[kitjv]

Lightroom Version Number

14.3

Operating System

1. macOS 15 Sequoia

I just updated the Calbrite display calibration software to v2.0. A feature of the update includes the Camera Calibration Plugin for Lightroom. After reading the brief explanation of the plugin, I still have no idea what this plugin actually does. Could someone kindly explain what this piugin does in non-technical terms? Thank you so much.

 

[Rob_Cullen]

You would require (buy or borrow) a color checker chart to use the camera calibration plugin.
You take a photo of the color chart, open the photo with the Profiler plugin, and the plugin creates a Profile that Lightroom can use to display colours as accurately as possible. I have a profile created for my Nikon D750 that I apply on Import of photos to Lightroom-Classic.
You ideally need to also have the monitor calibrated which creates a profile for the OS to use.
Camera profile- corrects colors that the camera sensor records.
Monitor profile- corrects colors displayed on the screen.
A professional lab (or keen amateur) would need both camera and screen calibrated to achieve best possible color correctness.

 

[kitjv]

Thank you, Rob, for the response. My monitor is calibrated/profiled. I soft proof any images that I send to the lab using the lab's paper/ink profile. So if I understand correctly, by creating a camera profile this enables the camera to more accurately capture the colors being photographed. Am I on the right track?

 

[Rob_Cullen]

Yes, a camera profile (applied in Lightroom-Classic) will correct the colors that come from the camera sensor. It doesn't change the camera's output in an image file, but rather it corrects colors when the profile is used or applied in Lr-Classic. (The profile has learned the corrections to apply by working with the Color Checker swatches.)
Different camera sensors may detect colors differently. The color chart and camera profiler generates a profile that makes corrections so that colours in the image are displayed as accurate as possible (With a screen profiled!)
Both camera and Monitor profiles are needed when you want to accurately edit and print Commercial Product photos, or the bridesmaid's dress color.

 

[kitjv]

Thank you again, Rob.

 

[kitjv]

Thanks to Rob, I now have a better understanding of the function of a camera profile & its affect on color accuracy. Now for a more pragmatic question... In the realm of amateur photography, how essential is a camera profile? I fully understand that some photographers are passionate (even obsessive) about color accuracy, as well as the underlying technology. And there are those whose incomes are derived from their cameras. But for the rest of us, is having a camera profile a game-changer?

 

[Rob_Cullen]

In the realm of amateur photography, how essential is a camera profile?

Not essential. I know many camera club members that do not know what a camera profile is, yet still produce quality images. Editing is a very 'visual' pursuit- if it looks good, it probably is. When you need color accuracy (eg. Professionals) then a camera calibration profile is very useful.
OTOH a Screen/Monitor profile is of more importance. Witness the number of forum posts that say their prints don't look like their screen. I have seen people with laptops working in 'Night Mode' (supposedly to ease eye strain) and then they wonder why others see their exported images differently.

 

[Johan Elzenga]

Agreed. Super accurate colors are only needed for professional work, when you need to reproduce colors absolutely correctly. For most photos, even most professional photos and certainly pretty much all consumer photos, you want the colors to ‘look good’, which is very often not the same as 100% accurate.

 

[Rob_Cullen]

A job I once had for a client. Under difficult factory lighting-
Camera Profiled, Screen Profiled, Color Checker used to white Balance the images. Colors true- Client happy.!

 

[Zenon]

I’ve asked many times what is accurate and who says so? X-Rite, DXO, Adobe, ON1, C1Pro ( who have claimed to be the kings of Color for the last 15 year) and other developers. Canon, Sony, Nikon and the other manufacturers?

I worked in print media for 35 years and there was nothing but X-Rite in the plant. I picked up the ColorChecker Passport and I don’t like the colours. Blues and some other colours are over saturated for me. I have to say skin tones are spot on. If I was a portrait photographer I’d likely be using it.

To me accuracy is more consistency. Whatever you use it looks the same from the shot to the screen and to print. As others stated you may need to use something like X-Rite for professional requirements. Or they might just like it.

Many years ago I stopped banging my head against the wall with trying to achieve colour accuracy. I just go with pleasing colours. That has made my hobby so much more fun.

For the month of March I used the new Adobe Adaptive Color Profile for all the images I posted on my various sites.

I do calibrate my monitor using Calibrite but that is it.

 

[clee01l]

Many years ago I stopped banging my head against the wall with trying to achieve colour accuracy. I just go with pleasing colours. That has made my hobby so much more fun.

Agreed. However, I regularly calibrate my monitor. My thinking here is that if the image pixel is producing a pure red green or blue, then I want the monitor to display as nearly as possible that red, green or blue.

FWIW I have never calibrated my camera output as described above.

 

[kitjv]

I have to admit that when I broached the question I had my suspicions (except for "critical" work - whatever that might be) that camera profiles were akin to pixel peeping & other "excessive" concerns that (for more) detract from the enjoyment of photography. Thank you for your responses.

 

[Zenon]

Agreed. However, I regularly calibrate my monitor. My thinking here is that if the image pixel is producing a pure red green or blue, then I want the monitor to display as nearly as possible that red, green or blue.

FWIW I have never calibrated my camera output as described above.

I calibrate my screens about every 3 months. That is important to me. For the rest I just go with the flow.

 

[happycranker]

I have for many years been involved with fashion photoshoots and camara calibration is critical for colour rendition, between models and gowns, from one shoot to another. So I have used the colour checked passport, so much so that I nearly bought a second one as it was so beaten up!

Anyway those days are behind me now and I can be more relaxed knowing that a few generic camera profiles will cover most of the pictures I take now, with the two camaras I use the most.