Having done much of my graduate work in image processing, much of the basic color perception information was already familiar to me. This book has some of the best discussions of color theory and the perception of color in the context of computer systems I have ever seen. I wish I had had these explanations when I was starting my graduate work! Having provided for the basic background, the book covers many aspects of handling color within computers systems in a clear and concise manner. Even though I have a stronger than average background in color theory and management, much of the information about how color is handled in operating systems, applications, scanners, and printers was quite valuable and illuminating.

This is a must have reference book for anyone who is serious about color in photography, desktop publishing, or as a hobbiest.

If you are looking for a practical, concise book explaining how to get the best possible match between what you seen on screen and what gets printed, this is NOT the book. It spends loads of time discussing background theory and how to create color profiles. Most people just don't need or want to get into this much detail or to control the process to this extent. If you just want to use color management tools and existing color profiles--which is at least 80% of us--this book is too long winded and not nearly practical enough. If you are in the elite 20%, this is a great book (see the glowing reviews for details).

This is a great book that teaches about color theory and digital workflow. At the same time, it is not just theoretical. If you work with color images, you'll find this book very useful in a practical down-to-earth fashion. The authors eat, drink, and breath color management: they know what they are talking about.

It's a rare title that manages to impart both theoretical and pragmatic content--and to do so in a relatively pain-free fashion. Just buy this one!

This is an excellent book for advanced and/or professional photographers/graphic artists/printers. Not for the faint of heart! If you can't find it here, you don't need it!

Whew - where to start?

It's good stuff - carefully laying foundations and then building upon them. Sometimes the reading is tough going - sometimes requiring a bit of re-reading, but not through any fault of the book.

Before reading the book I was making many color management mistakes (not really knowing what I was doing) - after reading the book I was able to help many people overcome the same mistakes I was making - and I started getting much better results myself.

Only criticism (if you can call it that) was that the book is written to address color management issues accross entire industries, whereas I suspect that the majority of readers will be photographers wanting better color management when printing their (or someone elses) work - so a "condensed" version of the book that skips info pertaining to commercial / offset presses etc would probably sell well, and be a little easier to read, but having said that, you can always skip through those sections.

All in all though I think that this has to be the current definitive work on the topic - and just like the saying "no gain without pain" when it comes to improving ones fitness, the "pain" associated with this book will teach you how to get much better results. If those teachings save you from having to reprint work then it will pay for itself many times over very quickly.

For me it was a combination of read a bit - try it out - read some more - try to answer a few others questions - get stuck - look it up in the book - and eventually emerge out the other side doing (in the words of a couple of photographers who now use me to do their printing) "some damn fine work".

So grab the book - get stuck in - and be all the better for it!