Is there a photographer's tool that wil sample the actual RGB color of an item?

I use the Colormunki Photo. But you web guys should use the Colormunki Design. It’s a Spectrophotmeter that allows capturing Pantone values off of any substrate.

i think the Photo version does it too but I’ve never had need for it… best read up on both

I love the Colormunki ColorPicker… beautiful way to find complimentary colors from all spectrums. And the Digital Pouch is a clever way to pass along calibrations to those who are not calibrated.

@RealEyesRealizeRealLies Thanks. That soulds like exactly what I need. Did you have a chance to play with the Color Scheme Designer link above?

Yes, the ColorPicker is far and away more elegant and easy to use. I actually tried to upload it to my server for you but it loses it’s patch. No can send from here. See if they have a sample download from their site.

It is loaded with many photos and artwork that are simply beautiful, and it breaks down every single tonality of the piece as separate Pantone values. It’s really spectacular.

Check your local camera shop and see if they have a rental Munki or another Xrite product. Or contact me and I’ll rent you mine for whatever your budget allows. You may even be able to get a camera shop to send a representative out to do a color reading. Perhaps take them a sample and purchase a single profile.

Depending upon how desperate you are, buy it and take it back within return policy.

The software wont do any good unless your monitor is calibrated. Very easy with the proper tool.

Hey, I deeply appreciate the attempt to upload it. I’ll see if they have a trial versin.

Unfortunately the client is in Suburban Maryland and I’m in Boston. I will have to see if I can find a photographer local to her that has the tools and knows what I’m talking about. I’d run down there if she wanted to cover the costs, but I think it’d be far more cost effective to find someone local to her who can do it for her.

A quick browse through Maryland commercial photographers, this is the level of studio you would need to contact. Not many of us are that critical about our color. And though I don’t know this guy, his work suggests he is of that caliber.

You may also want to check Commercial grade photo labs. These guys seem to be of the quality needed. I’m not talking about retail photo labs. Find a place that does reproduction grade art archival. They’ll have the equipment needed.

Thanks. I greatly appreciate the professional advice. Will pass this info on to Patricia, the site owner. But I made a gross error. SHe’s in Providence, Rhode Island. I should have looked. My memory must be slipping.

Color matching is more than finding a specific rgb value… Many other things come into play. Such as what color space the photo was taken in, what color space you are working in, what format the images are in, what type of profile converting, what browser is being used, and ultimately, is the screen color profiled professionally?

You need to understand that people don’t have color corrected screens, therefore the color will never match the clients wall. You need to explain that to your client.

I’d imagine you are taking a non-raw picture that has been pre-converted, editing it on your non color corrected screen, and having the client look at it on their non color corrected screen. Regardless if you had the true rgb value of the wall, it will never look the same on any multiple screens.

@Silence04 This really isn’t about photos. It is about a Website, with art mostly created in Photoshop with exact colors, and with background colors of specific areas controlled by CSS Style Sheets.