ICC version 4.3

The International Color Consortium has just released version 4.3 of the ICC specification today.

Information at the ICC website is here:

http://www.color.org/icc_specs2.xalter

We will be looking into what changes are included in this new version, and reporting on it.  New profiles are often a consequence of a new specification like this, but there is no word about when new profiles will be forthcoming.

Smallest camera

I just think this is cute.

This little thing takes still images at 1600 x 1200 resolution and captures video at 30 fps at 640 x 480 resolution. Images are taken as JPEGs and videos as AVIs, saved onto an included 2 GB microSD card (supports up to 32 GB cards). Images and video can be viewed when connecting it to a computer running a Windows operating system.  Includes a USB 2.0 cable. Rechargeable battery provides up to 30 minutes of operation from a one-hour charge via USB. Includes wrist lanyard.  $99.

John Paul Caponigro recommends ColorThink

Here's another great review of our ColorThink Pro software at John Paul Caponigro's blog:

http://www.johnpaulcaponigro.com/blog/?p=5082

We're finding that our customers really like hearing about how others use ColorThink.  You get some great ideas by hearing what other people do with the software.  Many people, like John Paul Caponigro find it indespensible for explaining color to others in a classroom setting or seminar.

Munki confusion

Since X-Rite has come out with a new model of colorimeter for calibrating monitors, I just know this is going to confuse people, so I thought I'd explain things. Internally, X-Rite refers to the device as the "i1D3" to reflect how it is intended to replace the i1 Display 2. But this single device comes in two different models:

1. - i1 Display Pro
2. - ColorMunki Display

The i1Display Pro is nothing like the "i1 Pro" - and -

The ColorMunki Display is nothing like the "ColorMunki"

The i1Pro instrument is a well-known spectrophotometer, and can be used to make printer profiles as well as monitor profiles. Let's try not to talk about the "i1 Pro" when we really mean the i1 Display Pro.

Also, the ColorMunki display is an entirely different device from what most people refer to as a ColorMunki device - which is a low-end spectrophotometer for calibrating displays and printers.

The i1Display Pro and the ColorMunki Display are identical in form, but the basic difference is that the i1Display Pro is faster and more expensive, and the ColorMunki Display is slower and costs less. http://blog.chromix.com/2011/06/x-rites-i1display-pro-colormunki.html

Lion bites ICC profiles

With the release of Apple's new OS X Lion operating system (10.7), there is a new twist that affects those who use ICC profiles. If you have trouble finding your ICC profiles, it is because the users' Library folder is hidden in the new OS. On the Mac, most ICC profiles are stored in ColorSync/Profiles folders, either in the username/Library/ColorSync/profiles, or the HD/Library/ColorSync/Profiles folders. Any software that relies on being able to access and write to the user's folder is going to have trouble with Lion. For example, several monitor calibration applications are able to save any monitor profile they make, but then will not accurately reflect the new profile as being in place as the system profile. Most of these vendors are scrambling to get a new version of their software out to take care of this situation. In the meantime, you can generally get into the settings area of your app and tell it to save your profiles elsewhere - in the HD/Library... location for example.

To access the user's Profiles folders directly under Lion, hold down the alt/option button on the keyboard while you navigate to Go in the main Finder menu. This will make the username/Library folder visible.

i1Profiler version 1.1.1 now available

X-Rite just released version 1.1.1 of i1Profiler on June 28th. This version has a few improvements in how it performs monitor calibrations:

• You can choose between small (119), medium (220) and large (478) patch sets when doing advanced display calibration.

• You can now specify a contrast ratio in order for the display to match the ICC standard PCS black point (287:1).

• You can now use the contrast ratio of a printer profile as the target contrast ratio for a display profile.

• They've made miscellaneous bug fixes that seems to be making the whole program more stable according to early reports from users.

Besides the new features, X-Rite is also reporting a list of known issues and important points to be aware of. Every user of i1profiler would find this well worth reading:

http://www.xrite.com/product_overview.aspx?ID=1397&Action=support&SupportID=5503

X-Rite's i1Display Pro & ColorMunki Display - NEW

X-Rite has just announced two new monitor calibration products called the i1Display Pro and the ColorMunki Display. i1Display Pro is geared for those who want pro-level functions and control, and ColorMunki towards those who want easy of use. The i1Display Pro uses i1Profiler software, and Color Munki Display uses ColorMunki software.

Based on CHROMiX tests of the i1Display Pro, the results are very good (especially compared to the i1Display 2 product). Expect a review in the near future from CHROMiX.

Both i1Display Pro and ColorMunki Display products should be a welcome new addition to the market. Both are based on a new colorimeter device with a new optical system and with a new filtering technology. Both have a new, intelligent and innovative form factor.

Main features included for both products are emissive measurement, ambient light measurement and sensing controls, flare compensation, iterative profiling, and automatic display control (ADC).

The i1Display Pro is faster (5x) than the ColorMunki Display and the i1Display2 and includes a Display Quality Assurance verification, and a Display Uniformity Test.


CHROMiX beta-tested the i1Display Pro for X-Rite and found it to be a superb product, especially for the price point. We're not sure yet about ship date, but expect August 2011.

The i1Display Pro is expected to be street priced around ~$250 and the ColorMunki Display around ~$175. CHROMiX will be selling both units at competitive prices. And until September 30, 2011... you can trade in an old device and receive up to $40 for an i1Display Pro and $25 for a ColorMunki Display.

Rebate form

Main product information PDF

To buy at CHROMiX: i1Display Pro or ColorMunki Display