Best Practices in Color Management

Best Practices in Color Management

Table of Contents
Executive Summary…………………………………………………………………..3
Purpose and Scope……………………………………………………………………4
Introduction to Color Management ………………………………………………….5
Description of Best Practices…………………………………………………………6
Color Management in Practice……………………………………………………….8
Color Management and the DAM……………………………………………………10
Color Management and Screen Images……………………………………………12
Resources……………………………………………………………………………..13
Further Learning………………………………………………………………………14
5
Executive Summary
There are many components of a strong brand. Color is one of the most important, however
it is one of the most difficult to control. This is because of the multitude of creative technology
products—computer monitors, digital cameras, graphic software, and printing presses—that
have been developed independently of one another. Each employs its own methods for
describing digital color specifications. It’s difficult to preserve the integrity of color among all
these devices and media without a strategy for managing color.
Color management is especially challenging for a large organization with such a prominent
international presence as . The Corporation and its affiliates
are reliant on numerous graphic designers and print vendors around the world; each is likely
employing a slightly different mix of creative production technologies. This is further
complicated by the fact that is several regional standards for the printing of color materials
that are currently in practice.
In the absence of color-quality controls an organization suffers on two fronts. First, the costs
associated with inefficient workflows and wastes. There have been several studies (by
Gistics, Heidelberg among others) on the Return on Investment of color management
strategies. The results have both similar and staggering. The annual cost of a color
management strategy is approximately $150 per device (digital cameras, monitors, printing
presses), yet three-year return is estimated at 1,000% to...

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