On some monitors or LCD screens, the colors on this Web site may appear darker when using a computer running the Windows operating system. This is because Windows-based computers default to a gamma setting of 2.2 chosen by Microsoft and IBM to match the gamma of television. Apple defaults to a gamma of 1.8 in deference to print media. As such, it is worth noting that all the images on this site have been edited on a computer running the Macintosh OSX operating system with a color profile set for the Apple Cinema HD.
Additionally, all images are edited using the Adobe RGB 1998 colorspace at a gamma setting of 1.8. This colorspace also matches the camera's settings, and are intended to accurately output printed reproductions. However, in order to better reproduce accurate color across operating systems and browsers, the Web-based photographic images on this site have the assigned colorspace is changed to sRGB IEC61966-2.1 prior to uploading.
It is very difficult to accurately reproduce photographic colors and textures through the browser medium. An important variable is how the viewer's monitor is fine-tuned, or calibrated.
One goal of monitor calibration is to make sure that tones immediately lighter than true black are clearly distinguishable from true black, and tones immediately darker that true white are distinguishable from true white.
The images on this page are designed to help you adjust the brightness and contrast of your monitor until you can distinguish each of the tones, from pure black to pure white. These scales display a range of grey scale tones, equally spaced, from true black to true white. Adjust the brightness and contrast of your monitor until your can just about see the difference between the grouped tones. After calibration, true black should still look black, not grey.