HVC Color Composer Professional
HVC Color Composer is a Photoshop plugin that uses a new, proprietary color space in which the three values are: Hue, Value, and Chroma. The vendor claims that this is the only color space that makes perceptual sense. It has the same basic layout as the color picker in Photoshop and performs much the same function, but in a very different way. It uses a technique of color quantification that takes account of how human beings actually perceive color. Whereas other color spaces such as HSB, RGB, Lab, or CMYK make compromises for the sake of simplicity, HVC makes visual accuracy its top priority. The result is more natural-looking color, plus the capability of making accurate measurements of the contrast between any two colors.
Comment
The concept of choosing colors based on their contrast with other colors was one pursued by Albert H. Munsell (1858-1918) who developed a color notation system based on hue, value, and chroma dimensions. It was used for many years to identify the colors for mixing paints. HVC Color Composer extends Munsell's very practical approach, bringing it up-to-date with computer processing. It can identify any colors that will be out-of-gamut in printing and it marks them as such.
HVC Color Composer is obviously useful to designers because it produces wonderfully harmonious palettes -- but can photographers also derive benefit from it? In some circumstances, yes, especially when taking pictures for print where accurate color reproduction is critical, for example, when taking shots for fabric and interior design catalogs. On these projects a photographer can work with a designer, both using HVC Color Composer to achieve perfect color combinations.
Tech info
- Plugs into: (Windows) Photoshop CS onwards, Elements 4 onwards; (Mac) PhotoShop 7 onwards, and Elements
- OS: Windows 2000 onward; Mac OS X
- Price level: (Standard) $50; (Professional) $130
Master Colors
Founded in 2000, Master Colors is a leader in color quantification technology. Its patented technology produces true harmonic color palettes organized at the fundamental level of combined HVC contrast. The company is based in Santa Barbara, California.
From the same vendor:
- DOF PRO
- HDRI Volume
- 3D Sphere Pro
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