QPcalibration Operation Instructions

Profiling a camera can, with a minimum of effort and time, be carried out using QPcard 202 or 203 color reference card and the QPcalibration application.
1) Take a straight (landscape or portrait) photo in raw format of QPcard 202 or 203. Avoid high ISO since noise might interfer with search algorithms.



2) Open the file in QPcalibration.
3) Generate a profile by clicking "Calculate", give it a name and "Save". The profile will automatically be saved in correct folder.
4) Open Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom. The new profile will now appear in the "Camera Calibration" option.
5) Apply the profile to pictures taken with the same camera in similar light.
6) Generate more profiles for other cameras and lights. Daylight, tungsten, fluorescent, flash, halogen, led, etc.

Main Functions in QPcalibration Application
• Open file: Opens a file dialog to let you choose the raw file you wish to process.
• Contrast curve: Determines how much contrast the profile applies. "Normal" gives a standard amount of contrast. "Low" is appropriate for high-contast scenes.
• Profile smoothing: Smoothing should normally not be necessary. If you get posterization (banding) in very difficult lighting conditions "High" smoothing can help.
• Gamut matching: Refers to destination color space. QPcalibration applies a certain amount of "soft-clipping" to the profile. If your intention is to develop your photos to Adobe RGB, "Medium" setting is preferred. In order to get a colorimetrically linear response for full manual control, "Large" is your choice (and ProPhoto RGB in ACR). For photos intended to be published on the web or printed on poor paper, choose "Small" (and sRGB in ACR)

• Calculate: Will generate and save a profile with your chosen settings. Hint: Give the profile a name you will easily recognize. But don't worry, your chosen name can be altered later (under Modification and Rename).



• Inspect: Opens a view of the colors that your camera recorded, the reference values and the result after profiling. This is presented in an xyY projection. Values and projection can be saved for later reference. Date time and camera model is automatically included. You can add a comment, like in what situation the card was photographed.



• Rename: Allows you to open a previously generated profile and give it a new name. You need only to type the new profile name, file ending and camera name will be added automatically.



• Adjust: This is one of the more powerful tools in QPcalibration. Adjust allows you to make manual adjustments to the currently open profile. Adjustments are executed in selected color segments (1/12 of the color circle). Increase or decrease saturation. Lighten or darken the chosen color. You can also make slight adjustments of hue (color tone). Your chosen adjustments can be saved and opened for further use or adjustments.
    Typical workflow for "Adjust": Generate a standard profile for your camera and light. Use ACR and open a photo taken with the same camera and in the same or similar light. Apply the profile. You might now realize that a certain color is over saturated and that another color would gain from a slight change in hue. Go back to QPcalibration and open the calibration photo. Open Adjust and decrease saturation in the first chosen color. Now adjust hue in the second chosen color. Click OK, calculate a new profile and give it suitable name. Go back to ACR and change to the second adjusted profile. Now you can toggle between the two profiles and watch the changes. If more adjustments are needed, simply go back to QPcalibration and make your desired changes.



Please note that all functions in this version of QPcalibration are free to use except "Inspect" and "Adjust". "Inspect" and "Adjust" can be used for free for five days after you installed QPcalibration. After five days you can visit our web shop and purchase keys to un-lock the functions. We will soon add icc support and support for Xrite CC24 and Passport reference cards.

Hint: Always bring your QPcard 203 and take one or a few raw pictures of it in representative light. The gray side of the card is perfect for white balance in the raw converter. And in case you should need to make a new profile you have a picture of the color card as well.