Glorious Dendrobium!

[alexpgp]

As "Tropical Depression 11" decides what to do with itself out in the Gulf, I spent a little time this evening after work looking at some pretty flowers. Orchids, to be more specific. Dendrobiums to get really down to it. The kitchen window is heavy with pots containing various kinds of orchids, but these are the only ones blooming at the moment.

Work went well today. The highlight of the day was the successful audit of a number of so-called "Corrective Actions" that are part of the company's ISO 9000 system. These things have been hanging around my neck for a number of months, because every time I think the problems that are the target of the corrective actions are gone, they manage to crop up again. I think we've finally developed enough consciousness of the problems to make sure they don't happen again. A number of new corrective actions were generated as a result of a recent internal audit of how well the organization is following the ISO procedures; these are normal and an expected part of the process of keeping everyone straight and the program on track. However, I'll have to wait until after next week to address these issues, since I'll be returning to Orlando next week for the ATA conference.

I spoke to Galina during lunch today. She sounds much more optimistic and even joked with me over the phone. She comes home Monday, and that means that the homestead better be squared away by Sunday night.

Here's hoping that TD 11 decides to disorganize itself and simply drop some rain where it's needed.

Cheers...

Comments

Dendrobium

[pixelpusher.livejournal.com]

Beautiful orchids and great pic! I want to tweak it into a hawaiian shirt!

My own garden has struggled this summer. I'm the only woman alive who could kill a jade plant that quick. :-/

Re: Dendrobium

[alexpgp.livejournal.com]

Go for it!

Listen, it occurs to me that you must know the answer to a question that's been bugging me...

I've begun to notice that one and the same graphic image looks different on different monitors and media. For example, if I tweak an image until it looks okay on my monitor at home, sending it to a color printer yields a sorta washed-out result. Images transferred from my digital camera (where they look great on the small LCD screen) turn out way dark on the monitor. Other images that look okay on my monitor show up as too dark on others.

My question: does there exist some kind of "test pattern" graphic that one can use to "calibrate" one's monitor? I realize that something like that won't solve everyone else's problems, but at least it would help make sure an image is in best possible shape for consumption elsewhere.

Cheers...

Re: Dendrobium

[pixelpusher.livejournal.com]

I have an answer to this but I'm on my way out the door. So I'll hook you up later this afternoon!!!

Re: Dendrobium and Gamma Correction

[pixelpusher.livejournal.com]

I could sit here and write to you eloquently about the beauty and sheer hell of Gamma Correction and Printer Calibration, but in truth I'd rather just link you up. :-D

There are test images, sure, but because every printed output differs from every monitor, its a tricky business. Just go to any lab and load the same image on 5 different monitors. You'll see vast differences if they're not calibrated properly. Argh.

These links with QT are assuming you have a realtively fast net connection for the Quicktime tutorials. The tutorials are as awesome as they are amusing. The rest are plain old HTML. Even if you don't have Adobe Photoshop, the conceptual information on color calibration is helpful.

If your image-editing program does not have these correction functions, then it is clearly time to invest in a new image editing program. Seriously. :-)

I have an application called "Adobe Gamma" that helps to calibrate my monitor. It comes with Photoshop. There may be others out there but I'm not aware of them.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Gamma Correction Tips
http://hotwired.lycos.com/webmonkey/geektalk/97/25/index3a.html?tw=design

Gamma Correction Explained
http://www.cgsd.com/papers/gamma_intro.html

Color Management Terminology
http://www.adobe.com/support/techdocs/c9fe.htm

The Secrets of Good Gamma -- Requires Quicktime
http://www.adobe.com/web/tips/totalphs9/main.html

Levels or Curves? Tutorial -- Requires Quicktime
http://www.adobe.com/web/tips/totalphs11/main.html

Photoshop 5's new color calibration feature -- Requires Quicktime
http://www.adobe.com/web/tips/totalphs13/main.html

Save Storage Space with Adjustment Layers in Photoshop 5 -- Requires Quicktime
http://www.adobe.com/web/tips/totalphs12/main.html\


Best,
"Linky"

Re: Dendrobium and Gamma Correction

[alexpgp.livejournal.com]

Best thanks.

Cheers...