The mechanics of color printing are similar to black-and-white printing. Once you have mastered the techniques of black-and-white printing, you will have a solid foundation to build your knowledge and skills in color printing. The most difficult task in color printing is distinguishing between various and sometimes subtle colors and selecting filters to produce a color balanced print. That is not as difficult as it may sound. Through time and practice, you will make excellent color prints; however, before color printing is discussed, the principles of color photography and how they apply to color printing will be reviewed.

PRINCIPLES OF COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY

Most people see in color and expect their photographs to be in color. Because of customer demands and the cost benefits involved, color photography has nearly replaced black-and-white photography in Navy imaging facilities. Few amateur photographers understand the complexity of color reproduction in color photography. Most of these amateurs take their unprocessed film to a drug store or a 1-hour photo finisher. As a Navy Photographer's Mate, you are a professional. To produce professional quality color photographs, you must have a basic understanding of the color process.