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What is ImageMapper? |
ImageMapper software is one component of a suite of color publishing software developed by Kodak Polychrome Graphics. Photographers, creatives, publishers and other users can use this software to do the following tasks, easily and automatically:
What is the advantage of profiling digital cameras?
When you create a custom profile for your digital camera, you significantly improve the fidelity of your capture. Tone, contrast, neutrality and color may be greatly improved, with less need to manually edit the picture in image editing software.
With ImageMapper, profiling is simple: just include a 24 patch GretagMacbeth ColorChecker target in one shot that represents the same setup and lighting conditions for a series of pictures. The ColorChecker does not need to be perfectly square in the captured image.
Note: The 24-patch GretagMacbeth ColorChecker is available in both the traditional standard size and a smaller 3.25 x 2.25 inch size (the Mini ColorChecker). The Mini ColorChecker is included with the ImageMapper software. Check with your preferred photo dealer or on the Internet to obtain additional Mini ColorChechers or standard-size 24-patch ColorCheckers.
The ImageMapper software will then guide you to draw a loose box around the ColorChecker target in the photographed image. Within that box, the software automatically finds and analyzes the patches of the ColorChecker target, and creates a profile for that digital camera and scene condition. You can then apply that profile to an entire folder of pictures shot under the same conditions.
If you wish, you can simply save the new profile to your computer without processing any pictures; or, you can use a profile that you made previously to process a designated folder of images.
Profiles: source and destination
The profile that you make for your digital camera (called the "source" profile) is used along with a "destination" profile that you select to specify the intended output process for your images. For example, if you know that your pictures will be used in a CMYK printing process, you can select a destination profile that is appropriate for that CMYK process. ImageMapper will use the profiles you select to deliver processed files, ready for the next step in the workflow. There are several types of destination profiles that you might select, depending on your specific workflow.
Looks
Along with the custom-built profiles that characterize your digital camera, you can also select and apply Look profiles. Look profiles can be used to help shape the color rendition for the type of subject that you are shooting. For example, you might want to emphasize bright, saturated color for product shots, or achieve good fleshtone-to-neutral balance for portraiture. You can also apply Look profiles that help achieve certain visual effects, including emulation of favorite film and paper combinations.
Supported File Types
KPG ImageMapper can process
JPEG images and uncompressed TIFF images produced by your camera and
software. Uncompressed TIFFs that are “byte encoded” for either
Macintosh or PC may be used.
Here are some examples of TIFF images with compression that are not supported:
KPG ImageMapper does not support black and white images.
Types of Output
ImageMapper supports output for specified CMYK and RGB output paths. Output file format may be TIFF, JPEG, or "same as input."
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