Color Calibration
The process of adjusting a display device to reproduce colors accurately according to a known standard.
Monitor calibration uses a hardware colorimeter that measures the actual colors displayed on screen and creates a custom ICC profile correcting for the monitor's specific characteristics. Without calibration, monitors drift from factory settings over time, and different monitors show the same image with different color casts, brightness levels, and contrast. Professional photographers and retouchers calibrate monthly because display characteristics change with age and temperature. Calibration targets typically include sRGB or Adobe RGB gamut, D65 white point (6500K), and a gamma of 2.2. Print professionals also calibrate to match their printer's output, using test prints and profile comparison to achieve screen-to-print color accuracy.