The Olympus Color Profile function - Part 4

Last Update:- 10th April 2021

Olympus EM1 with Lumix 14-140mm MKII - ISO200, f9, 1/800 - Enhanced Raw converted in WS, Soft ART filter, Color Creator, Curves, Clarity, Contrast...

We reviewed the Color and Creative Photography strategy from Olympus in the first 3 articles of this 6-Part series. We also learned more about the Olympus Pen F and EP-7 cameras. We discussed the basics of color and how to select color combinations. We also learned that the image conversion process includes adjustments from the Color Creator, Color Profiles, and Monochrome Profiles.

This article takes a closer look at the Olympus Color Profile function with the Pen-F, the EP-7, and Workspace. You will learn more about color profiles and why the Olympus Color Profile function is different. 

To better understand how Olympus applies the different color adjustments from the Color Profile function in the camera's Image Processor, study this article. Picture modes, saturation, contrast, WB shift, and sharpness sliders can be used with any camera to create "Color Profiles." The Pen-F and the EP-7 are unique because photographers have access to specific color adjustments with the Color Creator, Color Profile function, and Monochrome Profile function.

The image below shows the raw file on the left and the edited version on the right. The inserts show the adjustments to the image on the right. You can now save these adjustments in a Batch Processing file in WorkSpace. The batch processing file is really your new Color Profile. This example shows that the settings added to your Color Profile are all the adjustments made to the image. 

That means it's a good idea to plan your color profiles. You will now also appreciate why the Pen F profiles will in most cases be a smaller version of the profiles you can create for WorkSpace.

For more on how to save your image adjustments or batch-processing files in WorkSpace, see my how-to page  on WorkSpace (See Tip No. 5)

When you think about it, Olympus named the Color Profile function incorrectly. Color Profile is confusing as it lets one think, this is the tool I will use to create color profiles. 

With the examples below, you will see how to do basic adjustments with the Color Profile function. That said, the Color Profile tool adjusts only the selected color or colors and not the rest of the colors like the Color Creator. This is why we can use color templates and work with color groups like harmonious or complementary colors in the Color Profile tool.

When you work with any of the color functions like:- 

• The Color Creator, 
• The WB compensation sliders, 
• The individual Red, Green, and Blue (Tone Curve) colors, 
• Color filters, 

You will see your target and the corresponding opposite colors are your primary colors and the rest of the colors are the secondary colors. The main difference between these color functions and the Color Profile tool is how these functions change the primary versus secondary colors.

It's important to experiment with each of these color functions and to familiarize yourself with how they adjust the image. The real power of these different color functions is when using two to three of them at the same time when editing an image.

Olympus EP3 with 12mm f2.0 Lens - f6.3, 1/800, ISO200

I edited the above Olympus EP3 raw file in WorkSpace. I adjusted the WB, did a Keystone correction, and small corrections to the image brightness before saving it as a jpeg file. It is not possible to use the Color Profile function on EP-3 raw files in WorkSpace. It is only possible to use it on the jpeg files.

This is important because not all of the different Olympus raw files have access to the Color Profile function in WorkSpace. This is disappointing because now each photographer needs to establish which functions are available and which are not for his or her Olympus camera...

The Color Profile function in Viewer 3 and the Pen-F/EP-7 adjusts the saturation. WorkSpace adjusts the Hue, Saturation, and Luminance. This is big because it offers more creative control in editing.

Looking at the settings on the right and the above image, you will see I shifted the Hue 2 steps to the right and upped Luminance to create a unique look in the final step. I created the pastel look by desaturating the image in Workspace. 

One can save these adjustments as a "Light Pastel" profile. When you study the original image you see CYM colors are dominant. This will be a good place to start when creating different-looking profiles...

With this example, I targeted the "Secondary" CYM colors. Hue and luminance stayed as-is. One could also decide to focus on different colors. Study the image and list the colors you will target.

Always practice studying your images first and how to target selected colors. Practice with the different color templates and how to edit using color groups.

Before you start editing, list the changes you like to see in the hues, luminance, and saturation. You will also see creating your own profiles are different for B&W and color images. The key is to experiment with all the WorkSpace color adjustments until you find a technique or sequence that works for you.

When you study the image below you will see blue, yellow, brown, cyan, and magenta. Select the colors you like to target for your profile plus the harmony template that will work best for you. When making adjustments, start with small adjustments and monitor the effect before making the next adjustment. Building your own Color Profile takes time, practice, and patients.

With this image, I kept the hues and the luminance the same. I only increased saturation.

Nothing about working with the Color Profile function and color is really new. Anyone familiar with Photoshop has been doing this for years. What is new is WorkSpace now also has this functionality.

So what is the benefit of using WorkSpace and not Photoshop? Apart from no prescription costs, the biggest benefit is WorkSpace uses the same Olympus color processing engine as Olympus cameras.

WorkSpace is a great editing option for photographers with Olympus cameras. It's the perfect option when you are new to image editing. Photoshop is something completely different and more powerful.

Another advantage for Olympus photographers is the common feel between WorkSpace and Olympus cameras. Whether you using the SCP (Super Control Panel) on the camera, the Color Creator, or the Color Profile tool in the camera, they are all the same in WorkSpace.

See the example below of how I used the Color Profile and other adjustments in WorkSpace to edit the before/after image below. 

The different WorkSpace adjustments