Color Management Course

Lesson 1 • Physics of Light and Colour

Covers electromagnetic spectrum, wavelength, and how surfaces reflect or absorb light. Establishes the physical basis for all subsequent colour measurement concepts.

Lesson 2 • CIE Standards and Colorimetry

Covers CIE XYZ, xyY, and standard observers used in colour measurement. Provides the mathematical framework for objective colour specification.

Lesson 3 • Colour Models and Colour Spaces

Introduces RGB, CMYK, HSL, and device-independent spaces. Students distinguish additive from subtractive mixing and understand gamut boundaries.

Lesson 4 • Human Visual System Basics

Explains cone cell types, chromatic adaptation, and perceptual limitations. Connects physiology to why colour appearance changes under different conditions.

Lesson 1 • Spectrophotometers and Colorimeters

Compares instrument types, geometries, and measurement modes. Students match instrument choice to substrate and application requirements.

Lesson 2 • Calibration and Instrument Maintenance

Covers white tile calibration, drift correction, and inter-instrument agreement. Builds habits that prevent systematic measurement errors.

Lesson 3 • Density and Spectral Data Interpretation

Explains optical density, spectral reflectance curves, and dot gain measurement. Connects raw instrument data to actionable press or process adjustments.

Lesson 4 • Measurement Geometry and Conditions

Explains how viewing angle, backing material, and UV content affect readings. Ensures consistent, reproducible measurement setups across sessions.

Lesson 1 • Profile Creation Workflow

Walks through software-guided profiling steps for displays, printers, and scanners. Students produce and save valid ICC profiles from measured data.

Lesson 2 • ICC Profile Architecture

Breaks down profile header, tag structure, and connection spaces. Provides the conceptual map needed to understand how profiles encode device behaviour.

Lesson 3 • Profile Classes and Rendering Intents

Covers input, display, output, and abstract profile classes and their use cases. Explains perceptual, relative, absolute, and saturation rendering intents.

Lesson 4 • Profile Quality Evaluation

Uses gamut plots, error statistics, and visual checks to assess profile accuracy. Students identify and correct common profiling defects.

Lesson 1 • Display Technology and Colour Behaviour

Compares LCD, OLED, and wide-gamut panel characteristics relevant to colour work. Sets expectations for what calibration can and cannot correct.

Lesson 2 • Calibration Targets and Standards

Defines white point, gamma, luminance, and black point targets for common workflows. Students select targets appropriate for print, video, or web production.

Lesson 3 • Hardware Calibration Process

Guides students through colorimeter-based calibration using display LUTs. Covers OSD adjustments, software settings, and profile embedding.

Lesson 4 • Maintaining Display Consistency Over Time

Establishes recalibration schedules, drift monitoring, and multi-monitor matching. Ensures colour decisions remain reliable across the display's lifespan.

Lesson 1 • Gamut Boundaries and Mapping Concepts

Defines gamut volume, boundary surfaces, and out-of-gamut conditions. Students visualise gamut relationships between source and destination spaces.

Lesson 2 • Rendering Intent Deep Dive

Analyses perceptual, relative colorimetric, and saturation intents with real image examples. Students predict which intent preserves critical image qualities.

Lesson 3 • Colour Conversion Accuracy Testing

Measures conversion accuracy using test targets and Delta E statistics. Students identify conversion errors and adjust settings to minimise colour loss.

Lesson 4 • Black Point Compensation

Explains black point compensation mechanics and when to enable or disable it. Students avoid shadow crushing and blocked detail in conversions.

Lesson 1 • Press Linearisation and Calibration

Explains linearisation curves, tone value increase, and ink density targets. Students stabilise press output before profiling to ensure profile accuracy.

Lesson 2 • Substrate and Ink Characterisation

Covers how paper type, ink set, and total ink limits affect colour gamut. Students measure and document substrate-specific colour behaviour.

Lesson 3 • Applying and Verifying Output Profiles

Demonstrates profile assignment in layout and RIP software and verifies output with measurement. Students confirm colour accuracy against reference data.

Lesson 4 • Colour Proofing and Contract Proofs

Covers inkjet contract proofing, media wedge verification, and proof-to-press matching. Students produce and certify proofs that meet industry standards.

Lesson 1 • Colour Communication Across Supply Chains

Addresses colour approval workflows, digital colour standards, and remote verification. Students manage colour consistency when working with multiple vendors.

Lesson 2 • Brand Colour Specification

Explains how to document brand colours across media using Lab, spectral, and device values. Students create colour specification sheets that survive media changes.

Lesson 3 • Spot Colour Systems and Libraries

Covers proprietary and open spot colour libraries, fan deck usage, and Lab values. Students convert spot colours to process and evaluate match quality.

Lesson 4 • Industry Colour Standards Overview

Surveys print, packaging, and display colour standards and their characterisation data. Students understand which standard applies to each production context.

Lesson 1 • Troubleshooting Complex Colour Problems

Applies systematic diagnostic methods to resolve colour failures in production. Students trace root causes across devices, profiles, and software settings.

Lesson 2 • Colour ROI and Business Case Building

Quantifies the financial impact of colour accuracy on waste, reprints, and client retention. Students build business cases to justify colour management investment.

Lesson 3 • Colour Management Policy and Documentation

Creates written colour policies, standard operating procedures, and training materials. Students institutionalise colour management practices within an organisation.

Lesson 4 • Cross-Media Colour Reproduction

Manages colour consistency from print to web, packaging, and signage simultaneously. Students build conversion chains that preserve brand colour across all media.

Lesson 5 • Multi-Device Colour Consistency

Addresses profile management, device matching, and colour server configuration across fleets. Students synchronise colour output across multiple printers and displays.