Munsell color charts for archaeology and art history.

Munsell color charts are the standard color references for Maya archaeology. Although the Carnegie Institution began with the Ridgway color system, by the 1960's most people were using the Munsell reference numbers. Merle Greene Robertson uses these Munsell reference numbers to show the colors of the paints used by the Maya o f Palenque.

Most people presume that these charts were made only in the 1960's but the company is still alive and well.

The parent company is now GretagMacbeth (as one word), tel (914) 565-7660, www.gretagmacbeth.com. Gretag is a giant multinational Swiss company, a leader in digital imaging and other fields.

Munsell color company has their own web site, www.munsell.com. The product that archaeologists need is the Munsell Soil and Plant Tissue Color Charts. These charts are useful for geologists, archaeologists, and other scientists. They don't list art historians but I would add them as well. This is Part Number: 50216.

GretagMacbeth also makes the Gretag color checker (registered trade mark). This is the international standard that you can buy in any good camera store. We picture these on either www.digital-photography.org and/or on www.cameras-scanners-flaar.org

GretagMacbeth now has come out recently with a digital color chart for using with professional digital cameras, such as BetterLight, PhaseOne, Jobo and others. This new product is called the ColorChecker DC reference chart. This product is coordinated through their new ProfileMaker 3.1 digital camera module. These products are considered essential tools for calibration of digital cameras.We look forward to evaluating these color management aids shortly.

Even more links to Maya art and archaeology from another web site, www.maya-art-books.org | Desktop publishing (how best to print your reports, class notes, publish in your own office).