New Colour Control for Windows XP

Via the Lifehacker blog, I have learnt that Microsoft has brought out a newly downloadable control panel component, to offer colour control for Windows XP.

According to the Microsoft Site -

Professional-level photographers and designers know that getting consistent, accurate color from file to screen to print and beyond is a requirement for great results. On Microsoft Windows XP, the means to obtain great color is built right into the operating system via Image Color Management (ICM) 2.0. ICM 2.0 is an International Color Consortium (ICC)-compliant color management system exposed through Win32 API functions, so it is readily available to any application, device driver, device calibration tool, or Color Management Module (CMM). Windows itself and many Windows-based software applications use ICM 2.0 "under the covers" to improve the appearance of pictures and graphics.

However, until now Windows has lacked a central Control Panel interface for managing ICC color profiles and ICM 2.0 color settings across the system. The new Microsoft Color Control Panel Applet for Windows XP addresses this by adding a Color tool to the Windows Control Panel, making it easier for you to manage Windows color settings.

From my perspective, not being a designer, I still remain aware of the constant frustrations with creating a digital layout which appears "just right" on my flat screen monitor but won’t print out half as good. If this applet gives me some ability to control things then all the better.