Converting Color Values
When selecting colors for a project that needs to reproduce color consistently regardless of delivery format (web, print, dvd, etc.), use the ColorSync Utility to ensure that the colors being specified do not shift too drastically when converted.
The Calculator feature of the ColorSync Utility will measure any color you select (or enter) and generate corresponding color conversion results using the built-in capabilities of ColorSync.
Step 1: Open the ColorSync Utility located in the Utilities folder in the Applications folder.
Step 2: Select the Calculator in the toolbar.
Step 3: Choose the color space you want to match from the pop-up menu on the left. On the right, choose the color space and profile you want to convert to.
Step 4: Either enter the values of your original color, or to find the color values for any pixel on your screen, click the magnifying glass and drag the pointer over the desired sample area, and click once to capture.
Step 5: Once a value has been entered or a pixel has been sampled, the resulting color conversion will be automatically calculated by the system, delivering output values in both color spaces selected in step 3 above.
By comparing your original color to the color output generated by the color conversion, you are able to predetermine potential color shifts that might occur during final output or delivery.
In addition, you can drag and drop any color defined within the utility for use in any application that uses the Mac OS X Colors panel.
