The big deal about Firefox 3, from a photographer’s viewpoint, is that it has color management capabilities. If you’ve not read my post Firefox 3 For Photographers, you should check that out as well. It’s important to understand that while Firefox 3 has color management in the code, the feature is not activated, nor is it even easy to get to.

Why Wasn’t Color Management Activated In Firefox 3?

As much as photographers would like to think that Firefox 3 was created just for them, it’s important to remember that each generation of the program must respond to the needs and wants of millions of users around the globe. In the eye’s of Mozilla, there weren’t enough ICC-profiled images on the web to make it a priority - especially since activating color management slows Firefox 3 down. (Some say the performance hit is in the range of 10-15% slower). [Read more →]

The third generation of Firefox was released on June 17th with more than 8 million downloads during the first 24 hours [a world-record according to Mozilla, the non-profit that orchestrates the worldwide development of this popular web browser]. As of this writing, less than a week after the launch, the download count has exceeded 17 million.

What’s so cool about Firefox as a web browser? First, it’s a global, cooperative effort (available in 45 languages). Second, it’s open source (meaning that anyone can create widgets and plug-ins to add special functionality). Some of my favorite plug-ins for photographers are listed below. Third, it’s free (but donations at Mozilla and plug-in developer sites are always welcome).

As a modern photographer, chances are that you’re using Firefox right now. According to the digital bean counters at PixSylated, of 15,000 people who have visited this site during past two months: 46% use Firefox, 28% use Internet Explorer and 23% use Safari. So, if you’re not using Firefox (yet), your neighbor probably is.

[Read more →]

Let’s embrace the obvious. Many photographers feel that investing time and effort into learning color management is the digital equivalent of going to the dentist. Unless you are an uber-geek, I bet that you would rather study DIY acupuncture, medieval French literature or the genome of the common fruit fly than cuddle up with a long piece on the theory of color management. Fear not. Color management is built upon simple truths. Many of which are close at hand.

Let’s start with the following. I think you’ll recognize it as irrefutable proof about why it’s important to know at least the basics of color management.

Huh? O.K. Stick with me and I’ll lay it out for you. [Read more →]