Francesco Marzoli
When did you first understand the importance of color to the photographic process?
I understand the importance of color every time I see the sunrise over the sea and the sunset behind the mountains, a field of peach trees in the country and the red cheeks of a child, the black hair of a girl and the white dress of a bride. The world is in color, color is life, color is everything. Black and white are two colors too. So I quickly realized that the colors were important and I had to find the best way to play and display, to relive and revive the emotions captured and put into a pile of pixels. How is it a famous campaign says it, “What would life be without colors?”
Give an example of the ways in which a solid knowledge of color management (or an accurate color environment) helped you – on a project? In a consultancy situation?
I teach every year in the Master in Art and Cultural Heritage in Rome, and it's primary to show to the class how they do a correct workflow to reproduce a painting or a fresco in the right way
Why are you committed to using X-Rite products?
Because is the best? :) best price/quality ratio, efficiency, accuracy, support.
How important are the latest color management tools in today’s industry? Why?
Tools for color management are essential and fundamental for all types of work, both amateur and professional. I would never start a post production job without a calibrated monitor. It would be like driving in the fog or with a dirty windshield. I already have to jump through customer service hoops, photographer and stylist asking you something because if he dreamed about in the night. If you start with an inaccurate set up, you’re stressed out, your work is bad, you go in the wrong direction, lose time and spend more money. Why to complicate your life?
What does the (near) future hold for the photo industry, in your opinion? Do you think color management will be more or less important – why?
I notice that the Color Management in the professional field is a must, a standard. But I think that in the consumer market, or in the mobile photography we can do more.
How is color management related to your artistic process?
I think that color management in the artistic process is necessary when you want to show your artwork into a monitor, exposition, print, and in all devices/support.
Is not necessary before but is indispensable after!
Do you see color management as an advantage for saving money?
How I wrote before, of course!