Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/187650
C olor calibration of monitors is a critical process that needs to be done with frequency to ensure the accuracy of the displays viewed by everyone involved in the production and post process — from those on-set, to the editors, colorists and VFX artists in facilities large and small. While many displays are factory-calibrated, they are prone to change, depending on the technology in use, once out of the box. "Displays change far more regularly than manufacturers would like to admit or than users realize," says Steve Shaw, owner of Light Illusion. "They need to be checked on a very regular basis and recalibrated to correct for any underlying inaccuracies." Color calibration can be performed by professionals making on-site visits or by users themselves, implementing an increasing array of high-quality DIY software in conjunction with the basic hardware tools of the trade. At least one monitor manufacturer offers a send-in service in which monitors are recalibrated, free of charge, back at the factory. The options for color calibration have never been greater. LIGHT ILLUSION UK-based Light Illusion's (www.lightillusion.com) flagship product, the LightSpace CMS color management system, has grown considerably over the years. "Initially, it was a LUT builder for LUT conversion, then the calibration side grew. Its growth has been organic based on what we've needed as colorists," says Light Illusion owner Steve Shaw, a film colorist in the Europe and Bollywood. Since its release, LightSpace has become "the de facto standard for color management" and color calibration, he reports. Customers include broadcasters; camera owner/operators; DITs; professional calibrators; the top-end home cinema market; major post facilities and boutiques; film labs; and film studios. "Basically, the whole of the film and TV industry," Shaw points out. To assist with easy display verification, Light Illusion has a free profiling-only version of LightSpace that can be downloaded directly from the Website. To perform color calibration, users simply need the LightSpace software, a laptop and a probe that best suits their needs. The color engine used within LightSpace permits "corrections on a global volumetric basis," he says. "It applies corrections across all measurement points within a display profile, generating accurate LUTs targeted at any color space or alternative profile; it can generate multiple calibrations from one profile set, utilizing clever Color Cal Maintaining accuracy on your displays. By Christine Bunish