figure 1

1.

This procedure requires Photoshop version 6 or later.

Download the Gamut Viewer image, unzip* it, and open it in Photoshop. After opening it, you will see an image similar to that in figure 1 on the left.

* For Windows, use Winzip to unzip the downloaded file. Macintosh users may use Stuffit Expander .
If your browser permits, you may also download the psd file directly)

2.

Now select the Gamut Warning menu item, and verify that it has a check mark next to it as shown in figure 2;

3.

Click on the Custom menu
item under Proof Setup.

4.

You will now be presented with the Proof Setup dialog. Make sure the Preview box is checked. Then select various items from the Profile list. In this example, I've selected the sRGB profile. Select the same profile and see if you can match it up with one of the sample images to the left.

5.

That's all there is to it. Here are some comments that may help you interpret what you are seeing as you scroll through the different gamuts.

1. The top level of the gamut view represents 90 percent Lightness in the Lab space. Most gamuts - the color ones anyway, are strongest in the yellow in this range, as you would expect.
2. The bottom levels of the view represent 10, 20, and 30 percent Lightness, the realm of saturated blue.
3. The smallest gamuts tend to be printer device gamuts. The largest gamuts are RGB display gamuts, with the largest of those being "Wide Gamut RGB". RGB gamuts are generally traingular in shape, with maximum spikes in the red, green, and blue ranges.
4. If you wish for more precision than the gamut viewer provides, check out LabMeter, another free download from Curvemeister

download the gamut viewer

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