Colour Checker
Definition
A calibrated chart of known colour patches (typically the ColorChecker Classic, originally marketed as the Macbeth ColorChecker and now produced by Calibrite, or an equivalent calibrated target) photographed in the same light as the scene, used to correct for differences in illumination and to verify that colour rendition is consistent across sessions and cameras.
- Common product
- ColorChecker Classic (formerly Macbeth ColorChecker)
- Current manufacturer
- Calibrite
- Content
- Patches of known, fixed colour values
- Use
- Correct illumination differences across sessions and cameras
Common questions
How does a colour checker differ from simply setting white balance in camera?+
In-camera white balance only corrects the neutral grey point, while a colour checker with multiple known patches lets software build a fuller colour correction profile across the range of hues, which is needed to verify consistency for evidentiary photography, not just a pleasing image.
Why is it photographed at every scene photography session rather than once per camera?+
Ambient lighting, flash use, and even minor sensor drift vary session to session, so re-shooting the chart each time provides a contemporaneous reference for that specific set of images rather than relying on a stale calibration.
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