Why You Shouldn't Seek Specifications for Colors You Find in Digital Images

When designing the home of your dreams, you want to be absolutely sure that everything you choose and order is the exact color it should be. You spent a lot of time meticulously choosing colors that coordinate perfectly, and you deserve them to be exactly what you expect, right? There's a very good way to help ensure you're satisfied with the final results -- don't rely on digital images for your color choices!

Digital Colors: An Overview

Digital photography works by turning colors into numbers. Some cameras use the physics of the light waves surrounding the object to determine these colors, while others rely on the way the eye sees color. In either case, the color the image actually displays is not always the exact color the item photographed was in real life. Depending on the lighting in the room, the angle of the photograph, the camera's preferences, the photographer's fixes in a photo editing application, and even the settings on your monitor - the color you see on the image may be lighter, darker or a different shade completely than the "real" color actually used. This is the same for 3D renderings, only with an added complication - a 3D artist also chooses the color of the sun!

Implications When Choosing Paint and Decor

So, with all those opportunities for colors to change from photo to your screen, there are very real implications. If you take just the color values from a digital image or even the original color name (if you've managed to find out what it is) with you to the store, you're likely to end up with a different color than you intended. This happens a lot, and it leaves a lot of homeowners disappointed. When you get home with your paint or decorative item, it's not going to be the same color as the picture you were trying to match.

A Better Way to Choose Color

Instead of relying on digital images to choose colors for your home, use one of these other options:

• Print an image out and bring it with you to the store. After printing, double check that the color on paper is what you want, and then use it to match your paint.
• If your printer is low quality, take your laptop with the image on it. Note that this can be tricky, because of differing light conditions from screen to paper.
• Don't be afraid to take paint swatches home with you, compare the colors to items you have or colors you see elsewhere, and then return to the store when you have a specific color in mind.
• Hire a professional Interior Designer. Color matching and making your room look great is what they do.

Designing the home of your dreams is a lot of work! Let Mascord help. Look over our most popular designs, and find one that's right for you.