Case Study: How Calman Studio Empowers Production Equipment Rental Companies like NAC to Deliver Color-Accurate Monitors Their Clients Can Trust

Customer: NAC IMAGE TECHNOLOGY
Division: NAC Rental
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Solution: Calman Studio
Challenge: Inconsistent monitor colors on set leading to communication issues and unreliable reference visuals
Result: Industry-leading monitor calibration workflow, improved production efficiency, and enhanced trust from clients

Ensuring On-Set Color Accuracy with Calman Studio

NAC IMAGE TECHNOLOGY Co., Ltd., based in Tokyo and led by CEO Seiji Nakajima, is known for its expertise in developing and supplying imaging and measurement solutions for academic, industrial, and government R&D fields. Through its NAC Rental division, the company has earned a trusted reputation in the film, commercial, and television industries for providing high-quality rental equipment, including digital cinema cameras, high-speed cameras, lenses, and monitors.

However, as the industry transitioned away from Sony’s PVM-A170 monitors to newer models like SmallHD, NAC Rental began receiving a growing number of complaints from production crews about inconsistent color across monitors on set. Manual image adjustments were no longer sufficient. Something more precise and repeatable was needed.

Solving the Monitor Mismatch Problem

“We kept hearing, ‘the colors don’t match between monitors,’” explains Mr. Kanamaru, General Manager at NAC Rental. “These discrepancies became a real pain point, especially as we diversified our rental offerings.”

Color uniformity on set isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s essential for post-production accuracy and efficient communication between directors, DPs, and colorists. Without a consistent visual reference, collaboration becomes guesswork. Recognizing this, NAC Rental implemented Calman Studio from Portrait Displays to bring calibration accuracy and repeatability into their monitor preparation process.

Building a Standardized Calibration Workflow

NAC Rental now calibrates all SmallHD monitors with Calman Studio prior to each rental. For larger models, the team leverages Calman’s dedicated workflow for SmallHD. For smaller units without Ethernet connectivity, a 3D LUT workflow is used.

“Because every model differs in brightness and color balance, manual tuning can’t create a truly consistent look,” says Kanamaru. “With Calman Studio’s intuitive GUI and guided workflows, we can perform precise calibrations without needing years of experience. It’s a process that anyone on our team can follow—and that’s powerful.”

The team is actively working to train additional staff and expand this capability across newer, high-brightness models. Standardizing adjustment methods is a priority as they scale.

Aligning Perception and Building Trust

Since introducing Calman Studio, NAC Rental has noticed a significant shift. Calibrated monitors now deliver a consistent viewing experience, creating a unified visual language among crew members—even when working in different locations.

“In the past, people would see the same footage on different monitors and disagree on what the ‘correct color’ was,” says Kanamaru. “Now, there’s a shared standard. When we say, ‘this monitor is good to go,’ everyone on set understands what that means.”

This technical assurance has also become a valuable differentiator for NAC Rental. By delivering monitors in a professionally color calibrated state, they’re not just renting equipment—they’re offering peace of mind.

Raising the Bar for the Industry

The company believes its commitment to color consistency represents more than just an operational improvement; it also reflects a deeper value. It’s a step toward establishing a standard across the entire industry.

“Calman Studio doesn’t just calibrate monitors—it bridges the gap between on-set, post-production, and even client-side viewing,” Kanamaru says. “When everyone is seeing the same thing, production flows more smoothly and the final product benefits.”

NAC Rental’s forward-thinking approach, backed by Calman Studio, is setting a powerful example: that technical accuracy and creative intent can go hand in hand. As they continue to expand their calibration program, they’re not only solving the color mismatch problem—they’re helping the future of reliable, color-consistent production workflows.

Interested in improving your own on-set color consistency?
Learn more about Calman Studio → https://store.portrait.com/professional-software/calman-studio.html