No HCT in i1Profiler

The latest version of i1Profiler (v 1.4.2) has added the ability to make a scanner profile. The workflow supplied by X-Rite requires the user to select from a short list of supported scanner targets. There does not appear to be any way to choose a target that is not in this list, and the HCT scanner targets made by Hutchcolor are not included.

These are very good quality scanning targets, and should be a perfect match for X-Rite's latest software update.  Several people have been asking why the HCT targets are not included and if they will be included in a future release of the software.

According to Don Hutcheson, X-Rite will have to modify the software in order to make it HCT-compatible. Discussions on that subject are under way but there is no official confirmation from X-Rite about when, or if, i1Profiler will make HCT profiles. Those with HCT targets are recommended to use MonacoProfiler or basICColor scan+ to make good quality scanner profiles.

Customers of both of these products should feel free to contact X-Rite about this, and let their needs be known.

Curve2 Tips

In our ColorForums, I have posted a couple of responses to some frequently asked questions about our Curve2 software.

The first post discuses how the spider graph in the software relates to the control points.
http://www.colorforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=1780

Today's post describes what to do with the Run-to-run tab that shows up when you have more than one run.
http://www.colorforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=5333#5333

i1 sale ends soon

CHROMiX is having a sale on ALL i1 products from X-Rite, for a very (very) limited time. Any product that has an "i1" on it will cost you 10% less up until midnight of Wednesday, November 21st.

https://www2.chromix.com/ColorGear

Purchase any 'i1' product before Thanksgiving and we'll take an additional 10% off the CHROMiX price for all i1 items on your order. All i1 product is included in this sale.

Announcing Curve3

Seattle, WA - Oct 2, 2012 - CHROMiX and HutchColor announce the newly updated Curve3™ G7® calibration software at Graph Expo 2012 in Chicago.

Curve 3 is the successor to the industry-leading Curve2™ G7 calibration tool.  Curve2 evolved from the original IDEALink Curve calibration tool that helped launch G7 and establish it as an industry-changing technology.

Curve3 builds upon Curve2's core capabilities with a strong list of additional features requested by the industry:

-         Innovative multi-dimensional data smoothing

-         Special (CMYK+) ink calibration for packaging

-         Spectral VPR (applies curves to full-spectral data)

-         New black-point options for ink-jet and digital

-         Enhanced TVI calibration for European users

-         Intelligent error-reporting and resolution

-         User-specified starting calibration

-         User-defined control point lists

-         Expanded graphs & reports

        … and more

In addition, Curve3 supports OneRun targets and Esko's PressSync® calibration scheme. OneRun targets combine the P2P and profiling targets into one, saving press sheet room and aiding G7 calibration of smaller presses. An upgraded Curve3 Virtual Press Run (VPR) module will be released at the same time. VPR simulates press runs, generating curved color measurements for ICC profiling and saving thousands of dollars. Pricing of Curve3 and VPR will be similar to previous Curve2 pricing. Upgrades for past customers will be available at 50% of MSRP.

Curve3 will be shown at GraphExpo Chicago, McCormick Place South in the Konica Minolta booth #421. CHROMiX and HutchColor will demo Curve2, Curve3 and also CurveCore, an SDK for developers or manufacturers who want to embed G7 calibration into their products. Konica Minolta designates CHROMiX and HutchColor as 'Technology Partners'. Konica Minolta's new Color Care v2.2 software utilizes the CurveCore SDK to offer G7 calibration to Konica Minolta customers.

Calibration on Mars

Here is some interesting reading for the geeks among us who might be curious how one goes about calibrating a camera on Mars: 

• http://www.wired.com/curiosity-mars-rover-cameras/

And here are some details about the calibration target used on the Curiosity:

• http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/images/?ImageID=3804

Quiz your fellows over the water cooler: How much US currency is on Mars?

Actual pictures from Mars coming to us over the next few weeks & months promise to be high quality, clear and sharp.  Not the sorts of images we're used to seeing from other planets!

Viewing a Rendered Gamut in ColorThink

Number 3 in our series of Tips and Tricks for ColorThink shows you how to view a "rendered" gamut in ColorThink Pro. This, combined with the "proofing" gamut can give you both directions of a profile at the same time. This is a great way to analyze the quality of a printer profile.
View it at the ColorSmarts YouTube Channel

or 

At the Tips and Tricks page of the ColorWiki.

Konica Minolta Sensing Announces CHROMiX As A Reseller For Graphic Arts Product Line

RAMSEY, NJ, June 5, 2012
Konica Minolta Sensing Americas, Inc. (KMSA), the worldwide leader in the industrial measurement of color, light and 3D shape, announces the addition of CHROMiX, Inc. as a new reseller of Konica Minolta’s FD- Series Spectrodensitometers.

CHROMiX is the leading provider of technical services and reseller of graphic arts products. They are uniquely positioned as both a software developer as well as a reseller, making them unique in the industry. ColorThink Pro, Maxwell, and Curve2 are three color management software products created by and with CHROMiX which have been widely adapted.

“CHROMiX’s reputation for great customer service as well as a leading voice of color management know-how was a key factor in selecting them as a reseller of the Konica Minolta instruments” said Russell Doucette, Business Development Manager for KMSA.  “We look forward to CHROMiX supporting us with our growing product line of instruments and software for the offset and digital printing markets as well as quality control and formulation.”

CHROMiX has taken on the FD series product line because of its cutting edge approach to address the M0, M1 and M2 standards. “Offering our customers cutting edge products and software to meet their needs has always been priority one”, says Steve Upton, President of CHROMiX, Inc. “We believe the products brought forth by Konica Minolta will allow our customers yet another choice for measuring and achieving the best color accuracy.”

Learn more about the FD Series spectrodensitometer by visiting our website today.