After photographing a color painting, the client looked over my shoulder as I "tweaked" colors and arrived at a finished product on my color-calibrated MacBook Pro. During the editing phase, the artwork was illuminated by an identical light source as used to photograph the painting and was positioned next to my computer. Upon completion, the client approved and was delighted with the finished product. To insure there would be no transmission problems, I presented her with a flash drive containing the photos of her painting.

Then she got home, downloaded the flash drive on her laptop to show to her husband or to send to the panel of judges in hopes of gaining entry in an art show and she wrote me to say that when our work was downloaded the color was off, the overall composition looked faded and in essence, suddenly, everything was unacceptable.

I honestly don't know how to control something like this when photos are edited on a MacPro, the client accepts the finished product and later reviews their artwork on what might be an aging or second-tier brand computer. If anyone has a suggestion, I would delight in hearing it, but as I see it, this is a no-win situation. Other artists are wanting me to do work with them photographing their artwork, as well, but I don't think I can satisfy any of them as far as getting the exacting colors they expect, especially in light of all of them probably reviewing my work on their home computers. Most of these people have never heard the words "color calibrated", leave alone having performed this procedure on their personal computers.

I would love hearing from anyone having experienced this same problem who might have a solution. In fact, I'd love hearing from anyone who has an idea, a system or procedure that might work. Thanks.

I've been recruited by several artists to photograph their paintings where said photos will be used to enter competitions or used to publicize their work. The problem: color accuracy.

I'm not convinced that a digital camera (Nikon 750) and quality fixed lens (50MM) under practically any circumstances can accurately capture the various colors, hues, shadings etc of an oil painting. Camera color set at Neutral, White balance set for proper light temps (3200 Kevlar incandescent lights--2 of them at 45 degree angles), aperture settings at midrange for maximum focusing accuracy, equipment on tripod, painting mounted and shot on seamless black cloth background. Downloaded to Lightroom 5 with WB settings at either Automatic or Custom (shot at both settings with hardly any discernible differences).

After tweaking, adding color, fiddling with exposure, modifying color, saturation,and everything other thing I can think of, the artists still complain that an item from the painting isn't quite right...a flower is too blue, the sky is washed out, the wood on the table needs to be a deeper brown and the comments go on and on and on.

I personally think a digital camera under the proper set-up can very closely approximate a painting, but will never capture it with absolute, total accuracy.

With all the photographic expertise of men and women who's knowledge, experience and opinions I value here on Ugly Hedgehog can anyone shed any light on this problem (no pun intended)? Am I doing something wrong, or overlooking something I should be doing?

I've considered paying the exorbitant price for a color card kit, but have read that these are useless or else they are beneficial. Opinion split about 5o-50.

Thanks everyone for wading through this post.

Thanks for your informative reply. The camera in question was actually one I've given to one of my students to use and when I got together with her I checked everything out, activated the auto sensor cleaner on the D300, did a test shot and VOILA! nothing appeared, even when downloading to look at in Lightroom. And the "smudge" she said was on her shots looked more like the sample you used. Probably a dust bunny.....anyway, problem solved. But your response was very much appreciated. Thanks again for the response.

Thanks for comeback. Have found camera repair service, cleans sensor, overnight service $100 cash. Considering what I'm dealing with, can't afford to mess with the sensor and screw everything up.

That's the only thing I can think of and I'm petrified to mess with that. If it were your camera, what would be your course of action? I've never even though about doing anything to get to the sensor so confidence level is absolute zero. Guess the first thing I need to do is see id there is something on the sensor causing the problem. Thanks for your reply and I welcome your input.

Suddenly on my Nikon D300 a black smudge appearing on screen of shots taken. Have checked lens for cleanliness, along with mirror in camera and don't seem to find anything that would cause this problem. Smudge appears not only on camera monitor but when downloaded for post in Lightroom. Anyone experienced similar circumstance who might have a suggestion to remedy this problem? THANKS, in advance for any input, ideas or suggestions.

Bill....just did as you suggested, went to schedule a repair and entered "Clean Sensor" and they came back to me with a quote for $50....so I guess my camera with serial number in the 600,000's passed muster as a legit USA model.

Thanks to you.....and to everyone who replied. Input much appreciated. As always, "The Hogs" have the answer(s).

Aware of the pitfalls of gray market purchases, primarily Nikon's refusal to repair or even distribute Nikon parts to authorized dealers, prior to a purchase of a Nikon 750 from an individual, I contacted the source where the camera was purchased (B&H) with serial number of camera and was told that without an invoice number (not available), they could not confirm if the camera was from USA stock or from their limited Gray Market offerings. B&H's sales rep suggested I go direct to Nikon for a confirmation which I did, using Nikons toll free number. According to the Nikon Rep/Technincian I was told that to confirm a gray market camera, the only way Nikon could tell was to actually receive camera in question, open it up and then make a determination. He then reiterated, this is the ONLY way to find out if you have gray market vs USA Nikon product.

This goes against everything I've ever been told in the past as far as identifying gray market equipment. I was under the impression that serial numbers were the key, but now I've been told differently. Directly from Nikon.
Did I possibly end up with a "ditzy" Nikon representative???

Knowing the wisdom and experience of Hog members, just wanted to get a reaction on this. I just can't conceive of the idea that you have to ship your possible purchase to Nikon for them to take it apart to make this gray market determination.

Thanks, Guys.

By the way, I purchased the camera from a Professional Photographer who claimed the camera was NOT gray market. So if you can't trust a Professional Photographer, who can you trust??? Hmmmmmmm..........

Could sell lens only for $259 , included Nikon Lens Hood, caps and Zeikos Polarizing filter. Does not include shipping costs.

For you seasoned Hoggers, I don't need to tell you about this workhorse of a camera with a lens that's equally respected for quality and dependability. So will just say, this one's for sale. Pristine condition with no dings or scratches. Less than 30K activations. From smoke free home. Lens has had Zeiko polarizing filter in place from very beginning. Immaculate system. Selling due to lack of use as backup to other Nikon. Asking $550 plus shipping from Dallas TX. Includes camera/lens, Hood, Strap, 2 batteries, battery charger, wrist strap and polarizing filter. Happy to answer further questions. This camera has a ton of quality photographs left in it.

Fellow photog tells me the NIK package of B&W presets, especially Silver EFex no longer usable on current LR 5 or newer versions. Google supposedly dropping the NIK? Any truth to this or is it scuttlebutt?

I still have the panel on the left, but it's showing the 42 pictures listed that I downloaded into LR5. And it was during this downloading process from External Hard drive that I evidently hit a key that LR5 didn't like and all my other files containing 9000 pictures just went away.

Just loaded from card reader to External Disk new photos. Then on MacBook pro, opened up LR5 in order to set up file from External Disk for editing. Somehow in the process, however, I've lost the LR directory that runs down the left hand column of LR5 containing over 9,000 photos.

Still have the directory of all the photo files on External Drive, but they don't come up once I go to LR5. Am sure this is a dumb Operator Error, but I'm stymied.

Any suggestions, Hogs???

Greg, is your 800E still up for sale?

Great suggestion to eliminate the distraction of "lens chatter", plus with this suggestion, I can get a product that can also be used at the dinner table which could help with other irritating sounds in my life. Thanks!