When you’re talking color with a client you can never be sure that you’re talking the same language. One key factor to set up before hand are calibration of each display, both yours and the one of your client.

This makes sure you both mostly see the same thing regardless of your geographic location. And it really helps when your paycheck is on the line that your work as an editor and/or colorist looks close to your screen on your client’s screen as well.

Now the question is how to get you client to actually calibrate their display? The prices of good colorimeters have gone down rapidly over the last five years and you can get an x-rite Colormunki Create for around $130 or a Pantone Huey Pro for below $100 now. So you could just buy one and send it to your client. 

Considering the headaches and the extra time this will save you, it’s really worth it. No lengthy lectures, just a “here take this, do these 3 steps and you see what I see” often times does the trick. You client will be more comfortable with your work and your discussions will be based on facts, not on speculations.

How does this work when sending screenshots for quick check-ups when you can’t do a cineSync session? If your client uses Apple Safari or Google Chrome the color will be rendered correctly. If they’re using Firefox, the colors will be all over the place without any way to control it. If they’re a die-hard Firefox user you’re best off sending it as a zip file, that way they have to download it and look at it in a more controlled environment. 

And lastly set a reminder up with your client as no LCD can hold their color consistent for more than 100 hours. They will drift slightly and more as time goes by. The new LED backlit last a bit longer as there are no ballast inverters and no gas that wears out.

The more you keep this at pace, the less money you’ll end up spending on re-renders.