Using Color Profiles

I have read some of the threads regarding color profiles and I am confused.

Being a novice to the color profiles, I would like to understand how I should use them. My goal is to setup system so that all apps will show the photo the same, photo will look the same on other machines, and prints will match the display.

The following is my current workflow.

1. Using a Nikon 4300 to take pictures.
2. Import pictures with Image Capture and a card reader
3. Image capture calls up EXIFRenamer to change the file name of the photos.
4. Sort photos into folders.
5. Import folders into iphoto as rolls.
6. Edit photos within iphoto.

What I have done.
1. Ran calibration from displays in system preferences.
2. Set gamma to 2.2 in the calibration.
3. Selected new calibration for display.
4. Currently using iMac G5 with iLife05.
5. Have purchase iLife06 but not yet installed.

Questions.
1. In Image Capture, what profile should I use in the add profile during import option?
2. How do I tell what profiles were used on the previous imported photos?
3. Can the profiles be changed or added to existing photos in iphoto?

Many thanks,
Brett

Powermac Quicksilver 733MHz Mac OS X (10.4.4)

Posted on Feb 12, 2006 8:46 AM

Mar 1, 2007 4:15 PM in response to brettdog

If you read this analogy you will have perfect understanding of the value of the "sRGB standard" and the futility of expecting iPhoto to automatically profile digital camera output.

Imagine photos are eggs, and iPhoto is a grocer. This thread reads kind of like the follow.

User: "You're applying to wrong size label to all these eggs. You labelled them all Medium."
iPhoto: "What should I have labelled them?"
User: "Large."
iPhoto: "Why?"
User: "Because they are oval."
iPhoto: "How does that make any sense?"
User: "The sRGB egg standard dictates that all large-sized eggs be identified as such by being presented in an oval manner."
iPhoto: "Er ... aren't all eggs oval?"
User: "Yes, but this is obviously because chickens have decided to all hew to the standard."
iPhoto: "Er, I don't think any actual physical changes are made in the eggs, no."
User: "Well then ... which label will describe this collection of eggs most accurately? Yours or mine?"
iPhoto: "I have no idea."