X-Rite ColorChecker Passport
With three photographic targets, the ColorChecker Passport from X-Rite lets you ease your workflow in a variety of ways. A creative enhancement target allows one-click warming and cooling, and easy evaluation of shadow details. The classic target is the standard 24 patch for creating DNG profiles. The white balance target allows for a consistent white point for a series of images, saving the need to correct each one later in your work flow.
A protective case keeps your targets safe from damage, and has a built-in stand so you can situate the targets to adjust for any scene. The included software lets you easily build DNG profiles, and profile adjustments can be applied to hundreds of images, allowing hours of manual changes to be completed in a few minutes. The portable, versatile kit is an excellent tool for all photographers, from aspiring amateurs to professionals.
- In-Camera White Balancing
- Having a consistent white point in a set of images reduces editing time, eliminating the need to individually adapt white points per image.
- Visual Color Controls
- Check and control shadow details or highlight clipping.
- Fully Supports the RAW Workflow
- Enables any shot in a representative lighting to be used to create a profile as well as to correct exposure, color and white balance. Corrections from one image can be applied to hundreds of shots taken in the same lighting.
- Maintain Consistent Color Between Different Cameras and Lenses
- Saves time by ensuring smooth workflow and minimal file handling.
- DNG Profiling for RAW Shooters
- DNG profiling enables greater capability to calibrate and correct color.
- Multiple Targets in One
- Keep all your target cards in one easy to carry case.
- Robust Plastic Case
- Protects target cards against elements, bending, and other damage.
Note:The ColorChecker Passport is not compatible with Hasselblad cameras.
| System Requirements |
Windows: Microsoft Windows XP, Vista, or 7 (latest SP required, 32- and 64-bit versions supported) 512MB RAM Intel Pentium 4 or AMD Athlon XP or better CPU 200MB of available disk space Monitor resolution of 1024 x 768 or higher Internet connection required for software update Macintosh Mac OSX 10.4.11 or 10.5.x, or 10.6 (with the latest updates installed) G4 Processor or higher (Intel recommended) 512MB RAM 350MB of available disk space Monitor resolution of 1024 x 768 or higher |
| Format | DNG |
| Compatible Software |
Adobe Lightroom 2.0 or newer Adobe Photoshop Camera Raw 4.5 or newer Adobe Photoshop CS3 or newer Adobe Photoshop Elements 7 or newer Adobe Bridge CS3 or newer |
| Languages | English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, Japanese |
| Dimension (DxWxH) | 4.9 x 3.5 x 0.4" (125 x 90 x 9mm) |
| Weight | 3 oz (80g) |
| Environmental Requirements |
Temperature: 32-104°F (0-40°C) Humidity: 0-85% (non-condensing) |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 239 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
99%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Reliable (116)
- Small footprint (79)
- Great picture quality (60)
- Easy to use (58)
- Adjustable viewing angles (31)
Cons
- Price (4)
- Small viewing area (3)
Best Uses
- Portraits (27)
- Photography (25)
- Studio (17)
- Landscape photography (15)
- Color correction (13)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Pro photographer (39), Business user (30), Photographer (25), Professional (18), Graphics enthusiast (15)
- Primary use:
- Business (129), Personal (71)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (21)
- Computer Platform:
- PC (25), Mac (20)
Most Liked Positive Review
A must have to call yourself a pro!
This product from X-Rite is a must have for your camera bag. If you care about the quality of your photos, the accuracy of your color, then please get this ColorChecker.
The Co...Read complete review
This product from X-Rite is a must have for your camera bag. If you care about the quality of your photos, the accuracy of your color, then please get this ColorChecker.
The ColorChecker comes enclosed in a very well made plastic casing. It is a bit stiff to open and close, but not a problem. Only lets me know that the case will last a long time before wearing out. Fits in your back pocket and comes with a long lanyard for wearing around your neck. Simply open it up, snap a shot of it, and go on shooting your scene or subject. When the lighting or scene changes, just pull it out and snap another shot of it. Only takes 5 seconds and you will guarantee yourself accurate colors in post.
X-Rite includes software for creating the DNG Color Profiles, and for the Adobe users there is a plugin for Lightroom. The x-rite software and Lightroom plugin automatically locate the ColorChecker in your photograph (as long as it is larger than 10% of the overall photograph) and will create a custom DNG Color Profile that you can name anything you like. When the newly created DNG Color Profile is then applied to the remaining photographs shot under that lighting condition the magic happens. All of a sudden all of your colors in the scene become exactly what they were when you took the photograph. This product does not make your photographs suddenly look AMAZING. It simply shifts all of the colors in the photograph to exactly what they were in real life. It's like custom white balance to the extreme! With this product there is no guess work. White balance becomes spot on and then all of your colors get shifted to perfection. The subtle variations in a models skin color will now be spot on. The makeup that she took and hour putting on will now be rendered exactly as it was. All of those colorful fall leaves on that mountain side will now be the exact color that they were.
You will have to register the product with X-Rite to get access to downloading some extra software that will work with the Passport. One program is a DNG Manager. It allows you to delete and organize your custom DNG Color Profiles. You will def need this as you keep creating more and more profiles for each lighting circumstance. The other download is a very long and in depth video tutorial that explains exactly what is happening and how to use the Passport.
I have only one con and it's not even X-Rites fault, it's Adobe's. When creating custom DNG Color Profiles in Lightroom, you will not be able to apply them until you restart the program. Hopefully in the future, Adobe will figure out how to reload the color profiles as they are generated. Allowing a photographer to create one and apply it without restarting Lightroom.
Some reviews discuss that this product is difficult to use or figure out, which is not the case. I put the CD in, loaded on the software, opened Lightroom and found the X-Rite plugin in the Export dialog right away. Export the ColorChecker photograph, restart Lightroom, and now at the very bottom of the develop module under Camera Calibration I found my newly created DNG Color Profile waiting to be applied. As for the downloaded software, just read the email that X-Rite sends you. It's easy.
For those photographers who say they won't need this because their camera, editing skills, and knowledge allows them to take perfect pictures without a custom DNG profile, they simply don't know what they are missing and are too stubborn to realize how wonderful this tool is for the digital photographer.
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
Nice idea, but..
The idea is really good, and the packaging is certainly convienent. The comments on it though are:
- The thing is stiff to open, more than it needs to be.
- The in...Read complete review
The idea is really good, and the packaging is certainly convienent. The comments on it though are:
- The thing is stiff to open, more than it needs to be.
- The instructions while long aren't particularly well written. They never really provide a good explanation on how to use the product.
Reviewed by 239 customers
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Displaying reviews 1-20
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Pros
- Easy to use
- Great Features
- Keeps Colors Accurate
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about X-Rite ColorChecker Passport:
ColorChecker Passport and the accompanying software make keeping your colors accurate ridiculously simple for an incredibly reasonable price.
- Primary use:
- Business
- Computer Platform:
- Mac
Pros
- Easy To Navigate
- Fast and Powerful
- Great Features
- Makes Collaboration Easy
- Pocket sized
Cons
Best Uses
- Every photograph
Comments about X-Rite ColorChecker Passport:
Great product for getting accurate colour in your photos.. The warming and cooling patches are great for making adjustments to the colour of the image.. Wish I bought it sooner!! If you haven't got one you should buy one as soon as possible..
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- Mac
Pros
- Easy To Navigate
- Fast and Powerful
- Great Features
- Makes Collaboration Easy
Cons
Best Uses
- Improving Efficiency
Comments about X-Rite ColorChecker Passport:
Simple to use and integrates well with both photoshop cs5 and lightroom 3. Makes custom white balance and color a snap in post process. Little time is wasted on ensuring proper color and white balance anymore, making the post process of a wedding with at time 5000+ images a breeze! Hope that Helps!
- Primary use:
- Business
- Computer Platform:
- Mac
Pros
- Easy To Navigate
- Fast and Powerful
- Great Features
- Makes Collaboration Easy
Cons
Best Uses
- Improving Efficiency
- Organizing Data
Comments about X-Rite ColorChecker Passport:
Put in you final setup shot and the shoot away. When you get to the computer, choose the image with the image of the passport in it and the computer does the rest. In Lightroom the profile is used on all photos from that shoot automatically .
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- PC
Pros
- Easy to use
- Great Features
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about X-Rite ColorChecker Passport:
I've only used the Color Checker Passport a few times so far and I can already see the usefulness of it. The difference between corrected and not corrected colors is very apparent when you do a comparison between 'Camera Faithful' and the newly created profile in Adobe Camera Raw. I learned very early to check the highlight alert when reviewing the test shot of the Passport before moving on to be sure areas were not over or under exposed as this will not yield a usable image for color correction. You can correct this in ACR with the exposure control, but it's a good idea to check and correct as you are shooting in the field if only to avoid blowing out areas you might otherwise want to retain detail in while you are shooting.
The only change I would recommend is a little more length so that when you un-fold the case you have more area to hold onto without touching the color or grey scale patches. It could be easy to accidently leave a fingerprint on the color patches which, I believe, could change the calibration and shorten the usable life of the target.
I expect my usual process will be to shoot a custom white balance using the grey card, then shoot the color targets and check the highlight alert, adjust the exposure if necessary then reshoot until I have an image with no over exposed white target patches.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- PC
Pros
- Simple and effective
Cons
- 2 year shelf life
Best Uses
- Portrait Photography
- Stock Photography
Comments about X-Rite ColorChecker Passport:
This is a great product. Keep in mind this is not some magic wand casting-miracles. The changes seen are often very subtle but very necessary. I would only recommend this for professionals or those who are serious about photography and making professional prints. If you're just a hobbyist and/or get your prints at [@] this would be a waste of money.Cons:Sometimes difficult NOT to touch the color chips.Has a 2 year shelf life, I.E. the colors fade over time and needs replaced for accurate calibration. (But that is understandable)
- Primary use:
- Business
Pros
- Fast and Powerful
- Great Features
Cons
- Hard To Install or Upgrade
Best Uses
- Improving Efficiency
- Organizing Data
Comments about X-Rite ColorChecker Passport:
amazing isnt the "word" that I would attach to this device. Was a little sketchy getting the old instructions to work on my updated software but once I went to the website and watched the 5 min tutorial I was ready to work. The edits that would have taken hours are completed in minutes. Recommending this every chance I get!!!
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- Mac
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about X-Rite ColorChecker Passport:
As a beginner I regret buying it. Unless you aim high or do too much PP, it's useless. Standard while balance correction in LR or PS does the required job for me. Maybe in a few years it can really help.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- Mac
Pros
- Easy camera calibration
Cons
- Price
Best Uses
- Fix bad colors
- Products photos
Comments about X-Rite ColorChecker Passport:
I bought this to fix bad colors, and to make perfect and original colors in my products photos.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- PC
Pros
- Great Features
Cons
Best Uses
- Improving Efficiency
Comments about X-Rite ColorChecker Passport:
I've had this product for a couple months and it has really made a difference. After I made my own custom profiles, you'd be surprised at how much better color you get than with any of the standard or manufacturer profiles that come with Photoshop. The difference isn't that noticeable when comparing shots in bright sunlight or studio but in any other lighting condition the results are significant. In bright sunlight or studio lighting you will notice more accurate bright colors in clothing, lipstick, etc. In other kinds of lighting you get that benefit plus it's much easier to get a good white balance. In that sense the product is a time saver.
I found Xrite's web site video tutorials to be excellent. This is not a hard product to use but seeing it in action makes it a cakewalk.
I created profiles for each of my body/lens combinations in: noon full sun, noon shade, sunset full sun, sunset shade, overcast, and flash. That's covers most situations. If you're photographing people in a forest or in unusual lighting create a profile for that too.
One neat thing you can do is go back to your favorite pictures of the past and make those better by reprocessing the DNG files and applying the custom profile. Making the device a kind of "time machine."
I had great results with my Canon bodies but my only complaint has been with creating profiles for Pentax. When I used the bundled software I could not get good profiles for Pentax. I downloaded the free Adobe Profile Editor and got excellent profiles for Pentax using that and it's free and almost as easy to use. With regard to Canon, I did not see any difference between the profiles created with the bundled software compared to Adobe Profile Editor, only with Pentax.
- Primary use:
- Business
- Computer Platform:
- PC
Pros
- Accurate color
- Does what it says it will
- Fast and Powerful
- Makes Collaboration Easy
- Simple functions are easy
Cons
- Advanced functions tricky
Best Uses
- Color calibration
- Professional photography
- Work flow enhancer
Comments about X-Rite ColorChecker Passport:
The checker is very easy to use. The instruction on how to load the profiles in Lightroom leave much to be desired. I use it simply for studio work where white balance must be bang on and color accuracy is imperative. Again some of the key functions are not explained well, but overall it does what you will need it to do. The checker is also great for perfecting skin tones which is often hard to hit perfectly in tricky light. The only downside to using this is you must take the first picture with the checker in each situation where there is a change in ambient light.
- Primary use:
- Business
- Computer Platform:
- Mac
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about X-Rite ColorChecker Passport:
Very useful for nailing your colors between cameras.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- Mac
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about X-Rite ColorChecker Passport:
I use this for correcting color on Raw images after importing to Lightroom and Photoshop. Easy to use, lightweight, small enough to tuck into my purse. The included strap for carrying is handy. The plastic case feels sturdy.
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
- Easy to use
Cons
Best Uses
- Custom Camera Profiles
Comments about X-Rite ColorChecker Passport:
I had no idea how bad my Lightroom camera profile was until I created a new one with ColorChecker Passport. So simple to do, with great results.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- Mac
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about X-Rite ColorChecker Passport:
The ColorChecker Passport by X-Rite is an extremely valuable tool. I do most of my work for retail and reproducing accurate color is imperative to my clients.
- Primary use:
- Business
- Computer Platform:
- Mac
Pros
- Easy to use
- Great Color Calibration
- Portable
Cons
- Too little size
Best Uses
- Indoors
- Studio
Comments about X-Rite ColorChecker Passport:
Very easy to use, you don't need to go to the NASA to understand how to use it.
With a simple shot you can have the colors to do a perfect color profile for your specific camera.
Remember, you need to use their software to calibrate the colors with a DNG file format.
- Primary use:
- Business
- Computer Platform:
- Mac
Pros
- Reliable Performance
- Small Footprint
Cons
Best Uses
- Color correction
Comments about X-Rite ColorChecker Passport:
Easy to use and carry. This works very well and fills the missing link in my color workflow for a reasonable cost. I would highly recommend this to anyone concerned about getting your colors right without guessing.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- PC
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about X-Rite ColorChecker Passport:
If you are concerned about maintaining color accuracy from capture to print then you need to include this product in your workflow. Consistency from shoot to shoot is vastly improved.
- Primary use:
- Business
- Computer Platform:
- PC
Pros
- Ease of use
Cons
Best Uses
- All Photography
Comments about X-Rite ColorChecker Passport:
Inexpensive workflow solution for white balance and color correction. Great for all types of photography.
- Primary use:
- Business
- Computer Platform:
- PC
Pros
- Adjustable Viewing Angles
- Easy to use
- Reliable Performance
Cons
- DNG only not Raw or Tiff
Best Uses
- Commercial
Comments about X-Rite ColorChecker Passport:
I really like the ColorChecker Passport. I am used to putting a gray or white card in front of the lens for every scene and so the use of this is no less convenient. I like the fact that it closes up so the colors don't fade or scratch.
I wish it would create a profile for raw files coming out of my Leaf back but I can make it work.
- Primary use:
- Business
- Computer Platform:
- PC
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Care & Cleaning
- Price: $4.99
Stands & Support Equipment
- Price: $104.50
This is a special order item. Est. arrival at B&H is 7-14 days (subject to availability). Your order will be charged at the time of shipment.
Misc Accessories and Adapters
- Price: $69.00
What's in the Box
- 3 x Photographic Targets
- Protective Case
- Camera Calibration Software
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