The magic happens and produces a color profile-which is automatically added to the appropriate folder so Lightroom and ACR can find it. Select the two DNG files (the images of the Classic Target) and Export them to the X-Rite Presets. This actually seems like more work to me, but some people think it’s easier.
The software quickly finds and highlights each of the color patches and produces a color profile-which is automatically added to the appropriate folder so Lightroom and ACR can find it. It’s free (Win and Mac) and you download load it from here.ĭrag the two DNG files (the images of the Classic Target) into the software interface and stand back. Open the X-Rite ColorChecker Camera Calibration software.
Click, click, done.Īlthough the color profile that is created, strictly speaking, is a DNG color profile, once recognized by Lightroom or ACR it works with any Raw format, so-and I want to strongly emphasize this-creating a DNG file is a one-time-only event.
The second method is to open the Raw file in Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) and save it as a DNG. The first, and most direct, is to use the aptly-named Adobe DNG Converter, which is free and can be downloaded here. There are (at least) two ways to transform Raw format files into DNG files. The Raw format files must be converted to DNG (unless of course, you created the DNG files directly in the camera, a trick most Leica, Pentax and Ricoh cameras can do). Using Raw images from two different light sources allows you to create a “Dual Illuminate DNG Profile.” Start by shooting two Raw format images of the Classic Target, one under sunlight and one under tungsten. Use it as a super-easy standalone profile creator or as a Lightroom plug-in.
The industry standard 24-patch color reference target that you’ve probably seen many times and wondered how to use.Ī set of color swatches that differ in small increments and allow you to fine tune color settings and subtly adjust warm and cool tones in consistent and predictable steps.ĭownload X-Rite’s software. Instead of searching for a piece of white paper, use this target to create custom white balance settings as per your camera’s instructions.
White patch is used to set White Balance. It’s hinged like a book, and each page is a precisely crafted color target, as shown below.Īn 18% gray patch that is used to set exposure via your camera or handheld light meter. Inside the 3.5 x 5 inch hard plastic shell are four rigid pages. The X-Rite ColorChecker Passport Photo 2 has a long name and a very short learning curve. Now there’s no excuse to not get the colors right – or should I say X-Rite? If you thought creating a color profile was difficult or overly technical, think again. What fits in your shirt pocket, delivers perfect white balance and accurate color from your camera, assures the same color from all of your cameras and is a snap to use? It’s the ColorChecker Passport Photo 2 from X-Rite, a hardware-software combination that creates color profiles with just a couple mouse clicks.