This rainbow chart has been keeping pro photographers in check for 50 years – ColorChecker is celebrating its big birthday with a virtual museum
To celebrate 50 years of the ColorChecker, the calibration tool's manufacturer has just launched an online history of the iconic tool
The ColorChecker, a small card adorned with 24 color patches, has reached an impressive milestone of 50 years since its inception. To commemorate this significant occasion, Calibrite, the creator of the ColorChecker, has unveiled a virtual museum that delves into the rich history of this iconic design. This virtual museum is just one of the many exciting activities planned for the ColorChecker's 50th anniversary celebration, which spans an entire year.
The ColorChecker, formerly known as the Macbeth chart, was initially developed by scientists at the Macbeth company. Their primary goal was to aid the TV and movie industry in achieving accurate color representation. To ensure the right paint colors were achieved, they employed a spectrophotometer to measure the spectral reflectance curves of various real-world materials.
This process involved determining how much light is reflected at each individual nanometer wavelength within the visible spectrum for materials like human skin and leaves.
Over the past 50 years, the ownership of the ColorChecker has changed hands multiple times. Initially, it was part of the newly merged GretagMacbeth company in the late 1990s, later transitioning to X-Rite in the mid-2000s, and finally coming under the current ownership of Calibrite in 2021. With each change in ownership, the technology behind the ColorChecker has evolved.
Today, ultra-precise laser scanners are utilized to measure the light of each color patch. This information is then translated into universal digital coordinates that computers and software can comprehend. Consequently, digital ColorChecker products can now accurately determine correct screen colors, extending beyond the original handheld card.
At Digital Camera World, the staff utilizes a ColorChecker Video during the editing process of their Bokeh Face podcast. This tool helps ensure that no unwanted hues slip through before the episode is published. To access the virtual museum and other celebratory online events marking the ColorChecker's 50th anniversary, visit the official hub. For those interested in learning more about maintaining accurate on-screen colors, there's a recommended review of the best monitor calibrators available.
Written by urgent.news from Digital Camera World's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
