If you want to master visual arts, you should turn your eyes to color management. Why? It’s one of the most important processes for photographers and digital artists to maintain color consistency between multiple devices. Many different elements may impact your color management efforts, and creating a viable color management workflow can be more complex than it seems. But don’t worry, we got your back with this post summarizing all you need to remember to create awesome pieces of design! 

Read on for a complete checklist of color management for digital artists. Or, why not check out ViewSonic’s solutions for creative work?

Now, color management may initially seem daunting, especially at the beginning if you’ve never had to perform such tasks before. Remembering all the different steps involved is a large part of the battle.

All visual artists must go through it, and to help you with your daily process, we’ve summed up the most important steps in this color management checklist for digital artists. With this guide, you’ll have every crucial step covered — no guesswork, no missed details, just vibrant, consistent results every time. Let’s get started!

What is Color Management? 

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of color management, let’s clear up what it actually means. The best way to think of this concept is as a process for managing the way in which color is presented at every stage of your creative workflow. From your camera to your computer monitor and, finally, to your printer, each device sees color a little differently. Without proper management, what looks perfect on your screen might look off in print — and that’s a headache no artist wants. 

Even subtle differences in the way the various devices represent color can have an undesired effect on the quality of your final work and how it’s perceived, leading to mismatched hues, duller tones, or just plain inaccurate visuals. Imagine crafting a stunning design on your screen, only to see it come out looking flat or “off” in print. Frustrating, right? That’s why color management matters.

Color plays a crucial role in our lives on many different levels. All forms of visual design reflect that importance. The right choice of hues, opacity, balance, brightness, and contrast, fine-tuned for hours before your screen is meant to evoke certain moods, feelings, or thoughts. This is why, as a digital artist, you want to be certain that the work you are creating is going to be experienced as you intend.  

For this reason, above all, you need to take the time to configure your hardware and software properly. Don’t skip this part and pay close attention. Instead, spend a little time upfront optimizing your devices and settings. It’s a small effort that pays off big when your final masterpiece looks just as bold, bright, and brilliant as you imagined. 

The Elements That Impact Color Management 

Let’s start by getting a better understanding of the different elements that contribute to a robust color management strategy and what kind of role they play. In general, this can be broken down into two categories: hardware and software. Hardware includes all the physical tools you’re using — like monitors, cameras, and printers — while software refers to the programs, apps, and operating systems that control how colors are displayed. Let’s break it down. 

Hardware: The Foundation of Color Consistency

If you’re working as a digital artist, photographer, or content creator, it’s likely you’re going to use a wide range of devices in your workflow. The challenge? Each device has its own way of displaying color, thanks to different color spaces, hardware quirks, and device-specific settings. This means a single image can look vibrant on one screen and dull on another. Annoying, right?

Without getting too technical, colors are generally assigned numeral values to identify specific tones or shades. Here’s a quick example: The RGB color space defines each hue using a mix of red, green, and blue values. While those values might be technically the same across devices, subtle hardware differences mean they may not look identical. Imagine designing a stunning teal on your monitor, only to see a washed-out blue when printed. Frustrating, right?

That’s why investing in the right hardware is step one. It’s not just about buying “good” devices — it’s about buying the right devices for your creative needs. Take the time to research, configure, and fine-tune their settings. It’s a little upfront work that pays off big when your colors stay consistent from screen to print.

Hardware Checklist for Color Management

When people think about color management, the focus is often on computer monitors and cameras. Yet, in truth, the amount of hardware that can be included within a color management workflow is much larger than this. Here’s the list of main hardware relevant to this process: 

• Monitors 
• Digital cameras 
• Video cameras 
• Printers 
• Scanners 
• Tablets
• Smartphones 

While each of these plays a role in your creative process, it’s not enough to just have the right gear. Even the most high-end hardware needs proper setup and calibration to give you the color accuracy you’re looking for.  

Software: The Next Piece of the Puzzle

Great, you’ve adjusted the settings and calibrated the various devices used for your digital artwork. Now, what happens next? You still need to optimize the settings at the software level.  

Again, the aim is to achieve consistency throughout the whole editing process. This means fine-tuning settings so that color is displayed accurately everywhere. You want the colors to look the same – or as similar as they possibly can – regardless of whether your design or image is displayed on a screen, a printed page, or online. 

Software Checklist for Color Management

Within the category of software-based color management, there are several concepts vital for artists to understand and remember. The most significant ones are explained below: 

• Color spaces: The absolute range of colors on a visual spectrum that can be displayed or produced. They’re also known as color space profiles and some of the most common examples include sRGB, Adobe RGB, and CMYK. 
• ICC profiles: The International Color Consortium system, which can be used to describe the color characteristics of a device. These profiles can be broken down into input profiles (associated with devices like cameras) and output profiles (associated with devices like monitors). Creatives need to synchronize ICC profiles across devices. 
• Software calibration: The calibration of color settings on a monitor via software. This is achieved by adjusting the settings associated with the operating system and the graphic card being used by a particular device. Software calibration differs from hardware calibration because the monitor’s settings are stored on the computer and will only apply when the monitor is connected to that source. 
• Screen resolution: The number of distinct pixels for the height and width of the screen on your computer monitor.

Color Gamut: The Range of Colors You Can Actually See

Digital artists and professional content creators also need to be aware of the color gamut. While color spaces like sRGB and Adobe RGB define the theoretical range of colors available, color gamut refers to the range of colors a specific device (like a monitor) can actually display.

In other words, think of color gamut as the “real-world” version of a color space. For example, modern OLED displays have a much larger color gamut than older LCD monitors. If you’re serious about color management, it’s worth investing in a monitor that supports a wide color gamut. This way, you can see more colors while you work, which is especially useful for artists working in Adobe RGB or higher-end color spaces.

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3-Step Color Management Workflow for Digital Artists

When it comes to color consistency, having the right hardware and software is only half the battle. The real magic happens when you lock in a solid workflow. Why? Because color management isn’t a “set it and forget it” kind of process. Every new project is a fresh opportunity to make sure your colors stay true — from screen to print, and everything in between.

If you’ve ever designed a stunning visual masterpiece only to see it look off in print, you’re not alone. In fields like photography and digital art, there’s an essential technique called soft proofing – where you see an accurate digital representation on your monitor of what the final printed product will look like. But for soft proofing to be accurate, all your hardware needs to be on the same page (literally and figuratively).

Don’t worry — it’s not as complicated as it sounds. Just follow this simple 3-step process to keep your colors consistent:

Step 1: Select the Right Color Space Across Devices

Choose a color space that matches your creative goals. The sRGB color space is considered the standard and the best option if your work is going to be published on the web. However, the Adobe RGB color space was created to encompass the colors that are possible on color printers and so may be preferable for printed work. For a deeper dive into the details, check out our article: sRGB vs Adobe RGB: Which One to Use?

Step 2: Calibrate Your Monitor

Without color calibration, you’re basically guessing what you’ll see in print. Here’s how to do it right:

• Software Calibration: Adjust your monitor’s color settings using software. It’s quick and easy, so it’s the absolute minimum that digital artists and photographers should carry out.
• Hardware Calibration: For pro-level accuracy, use a display colorimeter like the ColorPro Wheel. These devices work with your monitor’s hardware settings directly, giving you the most accurate results possible. Even better, the hardware calibration process doesn’t need to be carried out every time as the settings can be saved. 

Step 3: Select the Right ICC Profile for Editing

If color spaces are the “language” of color, ICC profiles are the “translators.” An ICC profile tells your devices how to display colors correctly, so what you see on screen is as close as possible to what prints out. It’s like having a universal color dictionary for your hardware and software.

Here’s how to make it happen:

1. Sync your input devices: Cameras, scanners, and any input device you use should follow the same ICC profile.
2. Match it with your editing software: Tools like Photoshop, Illustrator, and other design software should also be set to the same profile.
3. Align your output devices: Printers need to follow the same ICC profile as your input devices to ensure colors print as expected.

Assuming your color management strategy has been successful, the output finished product should be identical – or as close as possible – to what you have been working with on your input device and your computer. 

Final Thoughts 

Color management is the unsung hero of every digital artist’s workflow — the difference between “nailed it” and “not quite right.” From hardware and software calibration to choosing the perfect color space and ICC profile, every detail matters. Plus, your input, editing, and output devices all need to work seamlessly together. Sound like a lot? It is — but that’s where a solid color management strategy comes in, keeping your colors true, your work consistent, and your creative confidence sky-high.

If you liked this read, you might also enjoy learning about Color Management and Color Blindness. And if you’re looking for tools that bring your vision to life, explore ViewSonic ColorPro monitors — designed with digital artists in mind.