Color matching

Calibrated digital photography
Advances in digital camera technology provide the opportunity to perform colorimetric measurement with relatively inexpensive, readily available equipment. High quality images from digital single lens reflex (DSLR) cameras can now be obtained in a color-managed environment. For each area and lighting condition, it is possible to calibrate the color response of the camera. When images are captured in RAW mode, color calibration software can "develop" the information from the sensor into an image that is color accurate within certain tolerances. Image editing software such as Adobe Photoshop can then be used to obtain color information in the international standard CIE L* a* b* format for any size area of the photograph. Each color can then be identified by three numbers. This data can be utilized by color-matching software systems at the manufacturer's lab or for analysis and comparison of colors by the user.