Color Management Helps Microscopy Show Its True Colors

Laboratory managers and researchers generally agree that having more accuracy and consistency in color rendition could assist in achieving improved evaluation of results. However, color management has seemed so complex and elusive that many scientists and medical professionals have given up on achieving it. Transmitted-light bright-field microscope images have an enormous number of variables outside the specimen itself, all of which contribute to the creation of color in the final image. Results vary not only because of the microscope and camera used to capture them, but also because of such accessories as lamp houses, filters and image-acquisition software. Changing the intensity of, or voltage to, a halogen lamp, for example, changes the color of its output and ultimately impacts the color of the final image. Similarly, cameras are intended to provide an objective image for viewing, but there is no standard among manufacturers with regard to color adjustments being made by the imaging device. Although digital imaging has been a boon to scientists for purposes of documenting their research with much greater ease than film-based photomicrography, it has also created an environment in which color varies more widely due to camera quality and acquisition software. In addition, monitors and other displays add further variability as to how images are perceived. Despite the growing demand for standards that assure consistency in comparing and evaluating results in science and medicine, and an increasing focus on scientific integrity in imaging, color accuracy continues to be an issue. For example, an Internet search for the term “histology” reveals a disturbing variation in the color of images presented for scientific and medical purposes. Similar results are seen in scientific poster presentations and in images found in respected science magazines. Key hues range from red to pale BY MARK CLYMER1 AND DR. EDUARDO ROSA-MOLINAR2,3 1DATACOLOR INC., LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ 08648 USA 2BIOLOGICAL IMAGING GROUP, UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO-RÍO PIEDRAS, SAN JUAN 3INSTITUTE OF NEUROBIOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO-MEDICAL SCIENCES, OLD SAN JUAN