Obtaining accurate color gamut with X-Rite ColorChecker Passport

After my photo assignments, I usually spent more than a couple minutes post-processing each image, trying to make sure that the color that comes out lie within the natural feel of its environment. Depending on the light source, the color temperature of the image can vary drastically and it is a much more difficult task trying to nail the proper tone.  Often, a more serious photographer will carry a gray card with them and use the custom white balance to get proper color at the pre-process stage and hope that the adjustment is enough to correct the color.  Often, I found that it is not the case!!

A safer approach is to include such color standard into the image itself. By doing so, we can correct the white balance also at the post-processing stage.  Certainly, we can't include these standard targets in all images. I have recently decided to buy the X-Rite ColorChecker passport as it allows me to correct color&white balance, both at pre-processing and post-processing stages. First, the passport comes with large enough 18% grey target that can me used to generate custom white balance image for my SLR. Additionally, it also provides standardized color targets to warm or cool color tone of an image. If you are taking photos in RAW format, you will only need to take a picture with this ColorChecker target for a specific lighting environment. You can then apply the chosen white/color balance to any other photos in the same lighting series. What I like the most is its ability to create DNG color profile that will help me get the most accurate color gamut for my camera. When you are using either lightroom or photoshop, your images are processed with 'adobe standard' profile. Certainly, this profile is not optimal, considering how different camera brands manage photos differently. For example, Nikon photos tends to give more yellow tone than the canon cameras. With X-Rite passport, I can make sure that I get the most accurate color gamut in my picture. The kit also comes with simple-to-use software that will integrate well with any photoediting softwares. For $89-$99, I think it is very well worth it since you won't have to spend as much time trying to correct color balance after your assignments.