Notes on the PC ColorPerfect Photoshop Plug-In, Version 2.00 5/15/12<br><br>

ColorPerfect is an Adobe Photoshop plug-in that is designed to produce and preserve the natural look of good color images.  We strongly recommend that new users read through all of this short ReadMe file.  Those of you who really hate to read instructions, skip to "Installation" below and use the Help system in ColorPerfect as you need it.<br><br> 

ColorPerfect 2.00 converts scanned color negative film images to digital positive images, deals with scanned positives and has the new PerfectRAW System<br> http://www.c-f-systems.com/PerfectRAWSystem.html<br>
to deal with digital camera RAW images as well, applying a selected calibration to produce natural color and providing very powerful image adjustments which preserve the natural appearance of the color.  ColorPerfect is distributed as a fully functional demo version on our web site <br>
http://www.c-f-systems.com/Plug-ins.html<br>
For color negatives, ColorPerfect Version 2.00 has built-in calibration data for over 250 types of color negative film from Kodak, Fuji, Agfa, AgfaColor, Konica, China Lucky, Rollei, and Ferrania as well as PerfectRAW calibrations for over 150 designations of digital cameras.  Problem negatives and positives as well as negatives of unknown type usually can be satisfactorily calibrated using our unique FilmType control.  There is also a unique ColorPerfect Alpha Channel Feature<br> http://www.c-f-systems.com/ColorPerfectAlpha.html<br>
with the ability to apply the accurate colors of an image to a grayscale version of the same image that has been prepared outside of ColorPerfect.<br><br>

The PC version of ColorPerfect has been tested with Photoshop 7, and Photoshop CS, CS2, CS3, CS4 and CS5.  There is a 64-bit version of ColorPerfect for users of the 64-bit CS4 and Cs5 versions of Photoshop included in the X64 folder of this release.  All other users should use the 32-bit version in the main folder.  Once you have ColorPerfect working, you may want to use larger dialogs with larger preview images to better accommodate larger displays.  See<br>
http://www.c-f-systems.com/Plug-ins.html#DialogSize<br><br>

Installation<br><br>

Download the zip ColorPerfect200.zip file.  Put the ColorPerfect.8bf file in the Photoshop filters folder, typically<br>
C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop x\Plug-Ins\Filters<br>
where "Photoshop x" specifies the version of Photoshop.  Once the ColorPerfect.8bf file has been placed in the folder, Photoshop will automatically configure for ColorPerfect the next time it is started.  64-bit Photoshop users should use the ColorPerfect.8bf file in the X64 folder.<br><br>

We have had a report from a user that to install ColorPerfect on the PC version of CS6, locate the Plug-Ins folder as for other versions.  If there is not already a Filters folder inside the Plug-Ins folder, create one.   Copy the appropriate ColorPerfect.8bf file to the Filters folder.<br><br>

Three Auxiliary files included in the zip are not needed for testing ColorPerfect.  ColorPerfect.negpos, ColorPerfect.colorint, and ColorPerfect.pfraw are sample User files which are used by advanced users of ColorPerfect.<br><br>  

Getting Started with ColorPerfect<br><br>

ColorPerfect requires that images be in RGB mode or Monochrome (B&W) mode.  ColorPerfect produces its best results when you scan files as 16-bits/channel or use MakeTiff and PerfectRAW for digital camera RAW but also will work with standard 8-bits/channel images and scans.  Then from the Photoshop Filter menu: Filter->C F Systems->ColorPerfect.  The C F Systems entry should be near the bottom of the Filter menu.  ColorPerfect has three modes that can be selected from a Pulldown: ColorNeg for treating scans of color negatives, ColorPos for treating positive images from scanners or digital cameras, and Touch Up for dealing with positive images that have already been calibrated.  ColorPos also has a special PerfectRAW mode for digital camera RAW images.  PerfectRAW requires that you convert the camera RAW files to very special TIFF files using the free MakeTiff application.  Download MakeTiff where you downloaded ColorPerfect: <br>
http://www.c-f-systems.com/Plug-ins.html#colorperfect<br>
and learn about PerfectRAW <br>
http://www.c-f-systems.com/PerfectRAWSystem.html<br><br>

Note: ColorNeg Mode will produce the best results you are likely to get from a "standard" scan of a color negative if you scan it in the same way you scan a slide (color positive) - so the result looks like the color negative.  However, the results from ColorNeg mode will be best, with very noticeable improvements in detail and color, when using a linear 16-bit/channel scan, and for 16-bit/channel images ColorNeg Mode is set up to expect linear images by default.  If you are producing 16-bits/channel images but cannot do a linear scan or do not know what that means, try pressing the "L" button next to ColorNeg to see if the results are better.  Also, ColorNeg needs you to use the pop-ups at the bottom of the dialog to select a film manufacturer and a film type that most nearly matches that of the scanned negative.  Monochrome (B&W) negatives cannot be calibrated according to manufacturer and film type, so the manufacturer pop-up is not available for monochrome.<br><br>

Learn more about the "L/G" linear/gamma button or any other topic by pressing the Help button and then activating the button or control which you want to learn about.<br><br>

ColorPerfect works differently than other color systems.  Select the Black number box, located near the top of the scrollbar, and use the scrollbar to control the lightness/darkness of the image.  This control adds and removes black and so has its greatest effect on the brighter areas of the image.  (Just as when you add black paint to white paint the change will be greater than when adding black paint to black paint).  White, just below Black, also controls image lightness/darkness but does so by adding or removing white and so is shows greatest in the darker areas of the image.  These two adjustments give an amazing amount of control over the image without damaging its color.  It should be noted that the white adjustment so important and so easily done here ranges from difficult to impossible to do in Photoshop proper or with most color adjustment systems.  Located at the top of the dialog, the Highlights control works in conjunction with Black to control highlight brightness and detail and the Shadows control works in conjunction with White to control shadow depth and detail.  The way Black and White work in ColorPerfect might be more obvious to artists and is explained in <br>
http://www.c-f-systems.com/Complete/CompleteColorIntegrity.html<br>
Ignore the next control, BPTails, until you are more familiar with the system, but Saturation can be used to control the depth of color while maintaining an amazingly natural appearance.  The Gamma control is similar to the "middle gray" slider in Photoshop's Levels control, but unlike "middle gray", this Gamma adjustment affects only the tonal scale - photographic contrast - while leaving the colors unchanged.  When working with Monochrome images (B&W) this Gamma control is also used to adjust the tonal range of the image.<br><br>

Color balance can be set by clicking areas in the image that should be gray or by using the Ring Around or by using the AutoColor control.  Use Help to understand how to use these features.  Color balance is expressed in terms of the CC (Color Compensation) filters that are familiar to many experienced photographers.  For a start, find a patch in the preview image that should be gray (colorless) and click on it.  "Gray" can be anywhere from quite dark to white.  If possible, click several gray patches and see what happens to the image, choosing the best result.  ColorPerfect provides great control over color relationships in an image while still retaining a natural appearance.<br><br>  

ColorPerfect will also deal with problem or mishandled negatives or positives using the unique FilmType system, but save this until you have gained some familiarity with ColorPerfect.  Use the Help system to get an idea of how FilmType works.<br><br> 

***Legal Notice***<br><br>

This software is provided "as is" without any warranty or condition, whether expressed, implied or statutory.  In no event will C F Systems be liable for any lost profits or other consequential, incidental or special damages (however arising, including negligence) in connection with the ColorPerfect software even if C F Systems has been advised of the possibility of such damages.  In no event will C F Systems' liability in connection with the ColorPerfect software regardless of the form of action, exceed the purchase price of the software. C F Systems retains all right, title, and interest in and to the ColorPerfect software.  This software is Copyright © 2004 - 2012 by C F Systems.  All rights reserved.  You may make copies of this software for personal use or for use within your own single business location, not to exceed three (3) copies total for each registration Key code purchased.  You are prohibited from making copies for distribution in any other form.<br><br>  
***Demo Version and the Registration Key Code***<br><br>

ColorPerfect is distributed as a demo version on our web site:<br> http://www.c-f-systems.com/Plug-ins.html<br>
The MakeTiff utility, used for the PerfectRAW mode of dealing with digital camera RAW, can be downloaded from the same place.  The demo version of ColorPerfect embeds a gridwork in the images it produces.  In general, this gridwork is not obtrusive enough to prevent evaluating the results and in fact we expect that some less critical users may find the results usable as is.  To unlock the demo version and eliminate the gridwork, a Key code may be purchased via our web site:<br> 
http://www.c-f-systems.com/Plug-ins.html<br>
where you will find a paragraph starting in larger red type:<br>
"Purchase ColorPerfect for PC." <br> 
Clicking this will take you to a secure site where you can purchase a "ColorNeg for PC Family" Key code. The SAME key code can be used on up to three computers owned by the same person or company and will unlock the PC versions not only of ColorPerfect, but the older separate ColorNeg, ColorPos and Gamsat plug-ins as well.<br><br> 

The Help button will explain the registration sequence.  You can avoid typing in the registration code by doing a copy and paste from your e-mail containing the key code.
Press the Register button in the ColorPerfect dialog (bottom of the Start Panel which is in the upper right corner) to pull up the registration dialog box, then click to select the registration Key edit box.  Paste the copied key in the box.   OK out of the registration dialog and then OK or Cancel out of ColorPerfect.  The Key will be active the NEXT time you call up ColorPerfect.  Please remember to keep a copy of your Key in case you need it in the future.