My Work:
I am wanting to license my graphic work through zazzle.com, which prints designs on various consumer goods ranging from clothing to ipod cases. Zazzle recommends that designs are uploaded in srgb format although they can accept cmyk format.
I am wanting to gradually grow this into full time - i.e., become a pro.
Decision:
I am currently using CTR monitors, but want to change to a calibrated LCD monitor to insure color accuracy. Most of the monitors that offer good color accuracy are higher end pro models which support 10 bit color and typically offer a special srgb mode.
My current Mac systems (a G4 and a Intel MacBook Pro) will not support 10 bit color so I am looking at either:
A. Buying a LCD for my current older Macs and using it in 8 bit mode.
OR
B. Buying a new Mac system, software, peripherals in the hope of achieving 10 bit color.
I have read various articles about the difficulty of obtaining 10 bit color and am wondering if it is worth the cost? Although such a 10 bit system would allow me to essentially work with more shades on screen I must in the end save/export the final work in srgb format so would it make sense at all?
On the other hand my major worry is completing many thousands of designs in 8 bit color now only to discover in the future that I now need 10 bit color and have rework them.
What's Required:
So far from articles I've read:
1. OS - apparently 10 bit color support has been a part of Mac OS X for some time (through OpenGL if I recall correctly).
2. Software - I would need at least Photoshop CS5; however, I would need to use it in via a special OpenGL mode and official support from Adobe is questionable per posts I've seen in their forums.
What about Adobe illustrator? Is there 10 bit support? So far I've only seen 10 bit support mentioned with CS5 Photoshop and a couple non-Adobe software applications.
3. Video card. A reference note for the video cards in the Intel MacBook Pro I have says it will support 10 bit color, but the manufacturer is likely to never actually release a new driver so they make you buy a newer high end card. Even if I were to buy a high new end Mac Pro it does not appear it would support 10 bit color without replacing the video card and support for the card is questionable as all the manufacturers only seem to support Windows.
At this point the only 10 bit color I've read about on a Mac working was on MacBook Pro with a Eizo monitor - and only because Apple and Eizo worked together. A MacBook Pro would really be undersized from my point of view - I would need the expandability of a Mac Pro.
4. Video card driver.
5. Connections. I'll need a displayport and may need to use a mini to full size displayport adapter on any newer Mac (although the adapter itself may cause problems). DVI and ADC ports are not 10 bit.
6. I've not seen anything on 10 bit color and USB use - i.e., does USB transmit 10 bit color? I utilize several older scanners that claim to support external 10 bit color and are connected via USB, but really have no way of knowing if they actually do that because the system's video card, monitor, and software are 8 bit.
I am wanting to license my graphic work through zazzle.com, which prints designs on various consumer goods ranging from clothing to ipod cases. Zazzle recommends that designs are uploaded in srgb format although they can accept cmyk format.
I am wanting to gradually grow this into full time - i.e., become a pro.
Decision:
I am currently using CTR monitors, but want to change to a calibrated LCD monitor to insure color accuracy. Most of the monitors that offer good color accuracy are higher end pro models which support 10 bit color and typically offer a special srgb mode.
My current Mac systems (a G4 and a Intel MacBook Pro) will not support 10 bit color so I am looking at either:
A. Buying a LCD for my current older Macs and using it in 8 bit mode.
OR
B. Buying a new Mac system, software, peripherals in the hope of achieving 10 bit color.
I have read various articles about the difficulty of obtaining 10 bit color and am wondering if it is worth the cost? Although such a 10 bit system would allow me to essentially work with more shades on screen I must in the end save/export the final work in srgb format so would it make sense at all?
On the other hand my major worry is completing many thousands of designs in 8 bit color now only to discover in the future that I now need 10 bit color and have rework them.
What's Required:
So far from articles I've read:
1. OS - apparently 10 bit color support has been a part of Mac OS X for some time (through OpenGL if I recall correctly).
2. Software - I would need at least Photoshop CS5; however, I would need to use it in via a special OpenGL mode and official support from Adobe is questionable per posts I've seen in their forums.
What about Adobe illustrator? Is there 10 bit support? So far I've only seen 10 bit support mentioned with CS5 Photoshop and a couple non-Adobe software applications.
3. Video card. A reference note for the video cards in the Intel MacBook Pro I have says it will support 10 bit color, but the manufacturer is likely to never actually release a new driver so they make you buy a newer high end card. Even if I were to buy a high new end Mac Pro it does not appear it would support 10 bit color without replacing the video card and support for the card is questionable as all the manufacturers only seem to support Windows.
At this point the only 10 bit color I've read about on a Mac working was on MacBook Pro with a Eizo monitor - and only because Apple and Eizo worked together. A MacBook Pro would really be undersized from my point of view - I would need the expandability of a Mac Pro.
4. Video card driver.
5. Connections. I'll need a displayport and may need to use a mini to full size displayport adapter on any newer Mac (although the adapter itself may cause problems). DVI and ADC ports are not 10 bit.
6. I've not seen anything on 10 bit color and USB use - i.e., does USB transmit 10 bit color? I utilize several older scanners that claim to support external 10 bit color and are connected via USB, but really have no way of knowing if they actually do that because the system's video card, monitor, and software are 8 bit.