X-Rite, Incorporated–the world leader in color management and measurement technologies X-Rite announces ColorChecker Passport, an all-new solution for digital photographers working in a Raw workflow to quickly and easily capture accurate color, instantly enhance portraits and landscapes, and maintain color control from capture to edit.

For more info: www.cjcstrategists.com/resources/xrite/X-Rite_Passport_Press_Brief.pdf

“We developed Passport for photographers in a digital workflow, those working in Raw but also JPEG shooters as an all-in-one ‘capture to edit’ solution for color control and creativity. It’s a powerful solution that becomes even more powerful when combined with Adobe Imaging Solutions, for DNG profile creation and also to ensure accurate color, image to image and camera to camera, and a new easy level of creativity with one-click enhancement capabilities,” states X-Rite Senior VP of Sales and Marketing Iris Mangelschots.

ColorChecker Passport includes
(http://www.xritephoto.com/ph_product_overview.aspx?id=1257&tab=videos):
White Balance Target–a newly formulated neutral reference point to eliminate color casts, and improve camera display previews for more reliable histograms as well as speed up post-production editing.
Classic Target–provides the industry standard in color referencing for specific color evaluation, plus DNG profile creation for predictable and repeatable results from image to image and camera to camera.
Creative Enhancement Target–offers fast, one-click creative enhancements and a visual reference for judging, controlling and editing images for shadow details, highlight clipping or color shifts.
Camera Calibration Software–offers quick and easy custom DNG profiles for Adobe Imaging solutions.
Protective Case that is rugged, fits a camera bag or pocket, and self-stands in multiple positions; included lanyard for additional scene placement convenience.
“With ColorChecker Passport, you can expect much faster image processing time, improved quality control, all in a cool little package that you can take anywhere,” Mangelschots confirms.

To download a video of ColorChecker Passport hosted by Seth Resnick, visit www.xritephoto.com.

About X-Rite
(NASDAQ: XRIT) X-Rite is the global leader in color science and technology. The company, which includes color industry leader PANTONE Inc., develops, manufactures, markets and supports innovative color solutions through measurement systems, software, color standards and services.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–X-Rite (NASDAQ: XRIT), Incorporated, the world leader in color management and measurement technologies, launches a Show Us Your Munki contest, featuring its award-winning ColorMunki, (www.xritephoto.com) a product designed to deliver color perfection in digital imaging.

“X-Rite invites anyone to create a ColorMunki video, make us laugh, and submit it on our YouTube channel. The grand prize is 2,500USD, so the funnier, the better,” says X-Rite Sr. VP of Sales and Marketing Iris Mangelschots.

The Show Us Your Munki contest (www.ShowUsYourMunki.com ), which runs October 1, 2009–March 31, 2010, is simple. Make a side-splitting video with ColorMunki as a prominent “character”, and submit it on the X-Rite YouTube channel. Then the real fun begins.

Every month, prizes will be awarded to videos with the most views: 50USD (to buy your Munki a drink or two,) 150USD (to take your favorite Munki to dinner;) and 500USD (to take your Munki away for the weekend.) All monthly winners are eligible for the grand prize of 2,500USD, awarded at the end of the contest in March.

Don’t have a Munki? No worries; the contest even includes tools and ideas for developing your own hilarious video. To enter or for more on Show Us Your Munki contest details visit: www.ShowUsYourMunki.com

“ColorMunki was designed to appeal to the most creative people on the planet – those who want to obtain accurate color from screen to print in the easiest way possible. We are looking forward to seeing a wide variety of funny Munki videos that showcase a product developed to delight and engage them in the first place,” Mangelschots says.

To see what top professionals in the industry say about ColorMunki, visit www.xritephoto.com.

About X-Rite

X-Rite is the global leader in color science and technology. The company, which includes color industry leader PANTONE Inc., develops, manufactures, markets and supports innovative color solutions through measurement systems, software, color standards and services, www.xrite.com.

collective groan

Seriously. Quark will give you a free upgrade to version 8 if you buy or upgrade to QuarkXPress 7 between now and August.

Now I know what you’re thinking: “Why bother getting version 7 when version 8 will be here soon?”

I can think of three good reasons:

1. Just like every version of QuarkXPress, version 8 will let you save documents down by one version. In other words, QuarkXPress 8 will let you save documents down to a format that can be read by QuarkXPress 7.
   But if you buy QuarkXPress 7 now, you’ll have both version 7 and version 8, which means you can save down to version 6 if you need to.
2. You’ll also be able to open, edit and save any QuarkXPress 7 documents that come your way, without worrying about file compatibility.
3. And finally, you’ll get my cool “New Features Overview” video that comes in the QuarkXPress 7 box! Maybe you heard that there were more than 160 new features in version 7. Believe me, there are — and I show every one of them. If you’re not up to speed with 7, you’ll miss out on some of the best stuff in version 8! Don’t miss out: get version 7 now.

You’ll thank me later.

(By the way, if you’re saying to yourself: “Hey! I’m already using QuarkXPress 7 and don’t know anything about that New Features video!” Well, maybe your boss locked away the discs. Maybe yours is missing. Whatever the reason, you can download your own free copy if you like, here.)

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. � March 17, 2008 � X-Rite, Inc., the world leader in color management and measurement technologies, along with recently acquired Pantone, Inc., the global authority on color and provider of professional color standards for the design industries, today introduced ColorMunki �, a breakthrough in both price and performance.

Based on X-Rite and Pantone�s deep understanding of the photo and design communities, ColorMunki solutions are the industry�s first easy-to-use, convergent technologies developed specifically to feed the artistic imagination of creative professionals � at an affordable price. Designed to meet the requirements of creatives working in a digital environment across industries, the revolutionary ColorMunki family, (colormunki.com) ensures accurate color from inspiration to final output in ways never before possible,

Our all-new ColorMunki portfolio reflects a deepened commitment to customers. We�ve developed solutions for distinct segments of the creative community facilitating an unprecedented digital workflow that seamlessly incorporates color. The exceptional ease of use has extended the appeal of our solutions. Finally, color excellence can be integrated effortlessly into anyone�s creative vision, setting a new industry standard,� states X-Rite Senior VP of Global Sales & Marketing Iris Mangelschots.

Meet ColorMunki

ColorMunki solutions provide photographers and designers new technological advances that � for the first time � address core issues of color creation, control and communication in easy-to-use, integrated solutions. The ColorMunki portfolio includes ColorMunki Photo, ColorMunki Design and ColorMunki Create, all supported by colormunki.com. The products are a combination of software and hardware that give creatives freedom and flexibility to create and produce with color confidence.

The ColorMunki Portfolio Includes:

ColorMunki Photo

Designed for the digital workflow of social, wedding and portrait photographers � or anyone passionate about photography � ColorMunki Photo delivers an easy, quick and affordable solution for matching colors from display-to-print.

Developed with professional photographer input, ColorMunki Photo is a completely integrated, versatile solution that calibrates displays, projectors and printers, measures ambient light and captures spot colors. The new AppSet � automatically sets the printer profile for the user. ColorMunki Photo also includes new, exciting color creation and communication tools, such as automatically extracting colors from images and transporting images with DigitalPouch � to ensure ViewSafe � environments. ColorMunki Photo gives photographers ultimate color control for their images.

� Read Photo Brief: http://www.cjcstrategists.com/resources/wppi08/CM_PhotoBrief.pdf

ColorMunki Design

Developed for graphic professionals from freelancers to corporate in-house designers, ColorMunki Design provides the freedom and simplicity to select, specify and store color palettes in a calibrated environment, assuring precise color viewing and reproduction. Palettes can then be seamlessly imported into popular design applications including Adobe Photoshop, InDesign and QuarkXPress, as well as other industry-standard applications. Colors can be selected from multiple sources including PANTONE Color Libraries, system-level color pickers, inspirational images, color harmonies and key word searches. ColorMunki Design allows users to quickly and accurately capture colors from any surface, easily calibrate monitors, projectors and printers for accurate display-to-print matching, and verify spot colors for process-safe reproduction in any medium.

� Read Design Brief: http://www.cjcstrategists.com/resources/wppi08/CM_Design_Brief.pdf

ColorMunki Create

ColorMunki Create is an affordable, simple starting point for designers whose primary requirement is color palette creation. ColorMunki Create offers spectral color selection from system-level color pickers, inspirational images, color harmonies and key word searches, and with the ability to snap-to PANTONE Goe Colors for repurposing into usable palettes. In addition to software, ColorMunki Create offers a simplified approach to on-screen color control to let designers realize their creative vision. ColorMunki Create easily upgrades to ColorMunki Design with the discount voucher included in the box.

� For Feature & Pricing Chart:

US: www.cjcstrategists.com/resources/wppi08/CM_feature_chart.pdf

EU: www.cjcstrategists.com/resources/wppi08/CM_feature_EU.pdf

All three solutions are supported by www.colormunki.com, an online portal where designers and photographers can experience key ColorMunki software capabilities such as create, share and view color palettes with peers, search and select colors from images provided by the photoshelter.com community, and test their color-viewing ability with an online test. Creatives will also be able to purchase any of the ColorMunki solutions directly through the Web site.

Pricing, Availability and System Requirements

ColorMunki Photo and ColorMunki Design available in late March 2008, ColorMunki Create available in June 2008. The ColorMunki family of products is compatible with Mac OS X 10.4 or higher and Windows XP and higher. Pricing and more information at: www.colormunki.com.

A GelSprinter Product Designed with the Small Office in Mind

The GX2500 is the first in the line of Ricoh GelSprinter products that is specifically designed for workgroups of up to three users. The GX2500 produces documents at 28 pages per minute (ppm) in both color and black and white using an enhanced viscous ink formulation. Vivid color documents are made possible by GelSprinter technology, which is not only waterproof and fade resistant, it also averts any smearing and bleed-through.

“Ricoh is excited to now provide a GelSprinter product to users in the small office environment,” said Ron Potesky, vice president of Corporate Product Marketing, Ricoh Americas Corporation. “No matter the size, every business has a need to produce high quality documents. The GX2500 will give small businesses the opportunity to reap the benefits of a high-end printer at an affordable, entry-level cost.”

Cost conscious organizations such as schools, real estate firms, and insurance offices among others will find the GX2500 to be the ideal printing solution for their document management needs. In addition to providing professional color prints, the GX2500 offers cost effective features including Level Color Mode. With the Level Color Mode, businesses reduce the cost-per-page utilizing less ink to produce high quality images and graphics, while maintaining legible text. The GX Series of products uses high-yield viscous ink cartridges that are compatible across the entire line of GelSprinter products. An Energy Star compliant device, the GX2500 is also environmentally friendly enabling organizations to reduce their carbon footprint.

The GX2500 is available at a suggested retail price of $169.00. For more information on Ricoh’s entire line of GelSprinter products, please visit www.ricoh-usa.com.

About Ricoh Americas Corporation
Ricoh Americas Corporation, headquartered in West Caldwell, N.J., is a subsidiary of Ricoh Company Ltd., the 71-year-old leading supplier of office automation equipment and electronics, with fiscal year 2006 sales in excess of $17 billion, an 8.4 percent increase over the previous year.

Ricoh Americas Corporation is a leading provider of document solutions. Ricoh’s fully integrated hardware and software products help businesses share information efficiently and effectively by enabling customers to control the input, management and output of documents. Ricoh’s line of document management devices include, color and black & white digital imaging systems, facsimile products, printers, scanners, digital duplicators, production printing products and wide format engineering systems. Additionally, Ricoh offers a wide variety of document and printing solutions directly and through strategic alliances enhancing office productivity and document workflow. Ricoh’s document management software enhances workgroup collaboration and offers secure storage, retrieval and sharing of critical information.

Ricoh Americas Corporation directly or through its network of authorized independent dealers markets and distributes products in North, Central and South America. For fiscal year 2006, Ricoh Americas Corporation sales exceeded $3.3 billion, an increase of 7.4 percent over the previous year.

Information about Ricoh’s complete range of products and services can be accessed on the World Wide Web at www.ricoh-usa.com.
 

Wacom Technology Corp. announced today the introduction of two new members to the Cintiq family — the Cintiq 12WX and Cintiq 20WSX. The Cintiq 12WX combines all the advantages and power of direct pen-on-screen input with a new low-profile, lightweight and flexible design. The new Cintiq 12WX is aimed at professional creators of digital content looking to improve and streamline their workflow. Storyboarding for 2D or 3D animations, compositing for post production, designing graphics, as well as retouching photos are just a few of the many creative applications where the Cintiq 12WX will excel.

Also joining Wacom’s Cintiq lineup is the Cintiq 20WSX, the world’s first wide-format desktop pen display. Combining the the same design elements and ergonomic enhancements as the Cintiq 21UX, Wacom’s latest wide-format pen display is ideal for those who prefer to work with a 16:10 aspect ratio and may not require the increased resolution of the 21UX.

The Cintiq 12WX
The Cintiq 12WX is suitable in a variety of computer environments, especially those where users wish to work across multiple monitors. It is ideal as a companion monitor for a primary display, alongside other displays in a multi-monitor environment, or even by itself. Additionally, with an estimated street price of $999, the Cintiq 12WX is an affordable and ergonomic solution for creative users seeking an interactive pen display experience.

“Users will appreciate the Cintiq 12WX’s ability to integrate seamlessly into existing workflows,” said Michael Marcum, director of product management for Wacom. “Whether developing content at a work station in conjunction with a large-format display or creating material with a laptop, the Cintiq 12WX provides all the advantages of pen-on-screen usage in an intuitive and functional design.”

Key to the Cintiq 12WX is its attractive size and low-profile design for comfortable and effortless handling. Weighing just 4.4 pounds, its dimensions and thoughtful styling make it an ergonomic product ideal for flexible integration into existing workplaces or use at a remote location such as a collaborative meeting at a client site. Combining the small size and flexibility of a desktop pen tablet with the natural hand-eye coordination of an interactive pen display, the Cintiq 12WX offers slimline dimensions comparable to Wacom’s Intuos(R)3 6×11 pen tablet.

“Current Intuos3 users who switch to the Cintiq 12WX can gain an even more natural and liberating edge over their current workflow,” said Marcum. “In addition, the Cintiq 12WX works seamlessly with over 100 software applications, providing navigation and creative control freedoms that place an emphasis on ease-of-use, intuitive on-screen input and a welcome jump in productivity.”

Cintiq 12WX Feature Set Highlights
The Cintiq 12WX features a high quality 12.1″ TFT LCD wide-format display for direct pen-on-screen image editing, painting, sketching, navigating and collaborating. Like the Cintiq 20WSX and 21UX, the Cintiq 12WX enables near perfect hand-eye coordination. Users can work with the pressure sensitive pen directly on screen, providing WXGA resolution of 1,280 x 800 pixels, 24-bit color depth and a wide viewing angle of 170 degrees. The Cintiq 12WX also features ten customizable ExpressKeys(TM), five on each side of the display, which can be set to initiate keyboard shortcuts, modifier keys, and important functions such as Display Toggle. The Display Toggle function is especially beneficial to those using the Cintiq 12WX in a multiple monitor environment, allowing users to easily switch between screens or maximize pen control across different displays. Additionally, a programmable Touch Strip is ergonomically located on each side of the display with presets to allow zooming and scrolling in various applications. These “on board” features significantly improve workflow and productivity by off-loading environmental controls to the non-dominant hand and allowing the user to focus on the pen with the pen hand.

The patented, cordless and battery-free Grip Pen offers precise and advanced tool controls for realistic results due to the 5,080lpi resolution and 1,024 levels of pressure in both the pen tip and eraser. Tilt functionality is supported with angles of up to 60 degrees, allowing natural-looking pen, brush and eraser strokes. Additionally, the Cintiq 12WX supports Wacom’s optional input devices such as the 6D Art Pen and Airbrush. The Cintiq’s robust driver software allows users to define and save application-specific settings for a simple and uninterrupted workflow.

The display comes profiled out of the box and can be calibrated with most color measurement solutions on the market from companies including X-Rite(R) and Datacolor(R). It can also be connected either by VGA or DVI for added convenience.

The Cintiq 12WX comes with an adjustable stand that is conveniently and completely integrated into the Cintiq’s body. The stand is optimized for use in three different orientations — at a 25-degree angle from horizontal, at a 65-degree angle or flat (with stand totally retracted) for use on the desk or lap. Due to its compact size, the Cintiq 12WX can be used in a similar way to a traditional analog sketchpad, meaning that ideas and creative content can be shared in a digital format immediately and spontaneously. When placed flat on a desktop, it also rotates on a pivot point to fit the structure of the human body.

Available now, the Cintiq 12WX is offered through a variety of distribution channels, as well as direct from Wacom’s online http://www.wacomdirect.com/ store.

The Cintiq 20WSX
Also now available is the Cintiq 20WSX, the world’s first wide-format desktop interactive pen display. Featuring a 20.1″ widescreen LCD (WSXGA+ 1680×1050 resolution) and the same intuitive design as the 21UX, the Cintiq 20WSX provides creative controls and workflow comfort levels that have made Wacom’s interactive pen display’s the de facto standard among creative professionals. Its estimated street price of $1,999 sets a new benchmark for affordability, allowing a broader audience to experience the freedom and power of working directly on screen with a Wacom pen.

“Wacom’s three-tiered interactive pen display family is made complete with the introduction of the Cintiq 20WSX,” said Michael Marcum. “Now, every professional working with digital content and looking to enhance productivity and creative freedom can find the right Cintiq to match specific workflows and budgets.”

Visit http://www.wacom.com/cintiq to discover more about Wacom’s latest interactive pen display family.

About Wacom
Wacom Company Ltd., (Tokyo Stock Exchange 6727), is a global company based in Japan with subsidiaries around the globe. Founded in 1983, Wacom’s vision to bring people and technology closer together through natural interface technologies has made it the world’s leading manufacturer of pen tablets, interactive pen displays and digital interface solutions. The advanced technology of Wacom’s intuitive input devices has been used to create some of the most exciting digital art, films, special effects, fashions and designs around the world and provides business and home users with the ability to express themselves in a natural way. Today, millions of customers use Wacom’s cordless, battery-free, pressure-sensitive pen technology to express their creativity.

Now Includes PANTONE Goe™ and PANTONE FASHION + HOME SMART System Libraries for Greater Flexibility Across Multiple Design Industries

CARLSTADT, N.J., Oct. 22, 2007 – Pantone, Inc., the global authority on color and provider of professional color standards for the design industries, today announced that its award-winning handheld color identification device, PANTONE Color Cue 2, now includes nearly 4,000 new colors for significantly increased color matching capabilities to empower designers across the graphic arts, fashion, home, architecture and interior design industries. A portable, affordable, single device, Color Cue 2 allows users to toggle across multiple PANTONE Libraries to identify color inspirations and match them to PANTONE Colors wherever they go.

By converting any color to the closest PANTONE Color, Color Cue 2 lets designers move effortlessly from color inspiration to realization, regardless of the medium. Color Cue 2 now features two additional PANTONE Color Libraries: the PANTONE Goe System and the PANTONE FASHION + HOME SMART Color System Libraries. PANTONE Goe, announced in September 2007, is the first completely new color inspiration and specification system for the graphic arts industry with 2,058 new PANTONE Colors. The PANTONE FASHION + HOME SMART Color System, announced in March 2007, consists of 1,925 newly formulated colors for increased efficiencies in the fashion design and home furnishings industries.

In addition to the new libraries, the updated Color Cue 2 includes the PANTONE MATCHING SYSTEM Library for coated, uncoated and matte stock for graphic design, printing and publishing, and the PANTONE PAINT + INTERIORS Library for architecture and interiors. Combined, the four libraries provide access to approximately 9,000 PANTONE Colors in a single handheld device. Color Cue 2 also records the last 30 colors measured for later reference. The device is powered by a standard nine-volt battery that lasts for thousands of measurements.

“Creative professionals gather color inspiration everywhere they look, from flower petals and fruits to drapes and carpets,” said Richard Herbert, president of Pantone. “By expanding the capabilities of Color Cue 2 to support the most recent PANTONE Color Libraries, we are empowering designers across all industries to identify and integrate colors into their multimedia projects with ease.”

Software in Color Cue 2 enables designers to translate PANTONE Colors for use in different color spaces and popular image editing software, as well as accurately specify and communicate color for four-color process and Hexachrome® printing and the Web. Color Cue 2 provides additional formulas for reproduction including CMYK, CMYK EURO, sRGB, Adobe® RGB 255, HTML, L*a*b, PANTONE Hexachrome® and XYZ values. Color Cue 2 also enables users to simulate lighting conditions for: D65 (6500° K, daylight), D50 (5000° K, daylight), F2 (4150° K, fluorescent), A (2856° K, horizon) and TL84 (4100° K, narrow tri-band fluorescent).

Pricing and Availability
PANTONE Color Cue 2 is available immediately for U.S. $349 on the Pantone Web site, www.pantone.com, and through select distribution partners.

About Pantone, Inc.
Pantone, Inc. has been the world’s color authority for more than 45 years, providing design professionals with products and services for the colorful exploration and expression of creativity. Always a source for color inspiration, Pantone now offers paint and designer-inspired products and services for consumers. More information is available at www.pantone.com.

East Topsham, VT (PRWEB) November 4, 2007 — Vermont PhotoInkjet, LLC announced today the immediate availability of their proprietary color ink formulation which replicates the color space of EPSON’s Ultrachrome K3 ink technology. The ConeColor inks for EPSON Ultrachrome K3 printers do not require any color management, and can be used with existing ICC profiles. Users can simply plug this new ink set into their existing color workflow and make prints with acceptable color results. ConeColor ink shares the same pigment technology as Piezography® K7 inks and that makes them extremely fade resistant and non-damaging to EPSON print heads.

Vermont PhotoInkjet, LLC’s flagship product is Piezography, a managed system of monochromatic inks and profiles, and is the only system of its kind in the industry, and is known as being the highest-standard product for printing black and white photographs using EPSON printers. “Establishing ourselves in a color market dominated by other companies requires a sensitivity to the needs of customers and a product that was innovative like Piezography”, said Jon Cone, President of Vermont PhotoInkjet, LLC. “The overwhelming complaint of third-party color users is that they need special ICC profiles or have to purchase expensive color management software” he added. Instead ConeColor users can simply plug in the new ink set and continue to print with the same color gamut. They can even use the same ICC profiles they use with EPSON ink.

“We are in a unique position to formulate a color ink because we developed a proprietary process for our monochromatic pigments that is easily adapted to color pigments” said Geoff Spence, Director of Research and Development at Vermont PhotoInkjet, LLC. “We were able to quickly create a color ink formulation that was as non-clogging as the OEM and performed to the longevity expectations of its current users.” He added, “The trick was in creating a color space that emulated the OEM and that was a long slow process.”

An additional benefit of using ConeColor inks and the refillable cartridge system is its immediate impact on the environment. Currently, Currently, EPSON does not have a recycling or refilling plan in place for their inkjet cartridges that compliments digital photography in the way that digital film has. Media cards can be erased and reused. “Hundreds of thousands of EPSON carts are being thrown into US landfills and it’s so unnecessary, and an even worse impact is that the carts require and contain a semi-conductor chip,” warned Cone. Because a ConeColor customer may need only one refillable cartridge set for the life of their printer, they will be dramatically reducing the amount of plastic cartridges being thrown out that would otherwise find their way into local landfills. Also, they are doing their part to protect semi-conductor workers worldwide who have one of the largest percentages of health effects and children with birth defects.

ConeColor inks for EPSON Ultrachrome K3 printers is available in one liter bottles with a corresponding set of user refillable carts made of high quality ABS plastic. The cost per ml is only 18¢ compared to 50¢ with the OEM. Each one-liter bottle is priced at $184.00 retail. A set of ABS refillable cartridges is available for the EPSON 4800, 7800 and 9800 printers priced at $398.00 retail. ConeColor inks are available immediately from http://www.inkjetmall.com Vermont PhotoInkjet, LLC is seeking resellers for its products and they can find more information at http://www.conecolor.com

Vermont PhotoInkjet, LLC is a small company located in the rural village of East Topsham, Vermont and is well renowned worldwide for its Piezography brand of monochromatic inks and software. It operates on the world-wide-web as InkjetMall.com. Jon Cone is President of Vermont PhotoInkjet, LLC and Cone Editions Press (est. 1980) and is recognized as being the world’s first digital printmaker who single-handedly revolutionized digital printmaking in the 1990s as the Marketing and Development Partner of IRIS Graphics. Jon Cone has mostly been known as a monochromatic ink formulator, but created one of the earliest fade-resistant color ink sets for ink jet printing as well as the first multi-toning black and white ink sets for ink jet printing.

Review by Eric Berkow

Oh, for the days when we didn’t need all this gadgetry! Way back in the day type was set by professional typesetters using giant machines, and color artwork was actually separated by taking several filtered pictures of the artwork to create actual film separations! Here in the digital age, accurate color reproduction is available to almost anyone with a computer! All you need are a few tools to make sure that your equipment is accurate.

If you are trying for accurate color reproduction, you need a good set of color management tools. The i1Photo XT is a good place to start for most photographers/designers. 

This color management package will calibrate and profile monitors, projectors, scanners, printers and digital cameras. Basically it can do everything a designer/photographer will need.

Let’s take a look at the package.

Monitor Calibration

I am going to skip the lecture on the importance of monitor calibration. I am assuming if you are reading this you know why it needs to be calibrated. 
The i1 Match software is well built. There is a unified interface throughout, which makes finding all of the information you need a snap.

One of the best parts of this software is it’s simplicity. On the left, you can see the number of steps, and where you are in the process. The center panel is the ‘work stage’, and on the right is the description and instructions for each step.

This last part is by far the best feature of this software. Other color management packages do not do a very good job of giving step by step instructions or explaining exactly what and why you are doing what you are doing.

This software really is design to help the color management newbies set their systems up correctly.

Monitor profiling and calibration is straightforward and consistent. The advanced mode will walk you trough adjusting the color and brightness of you monitor to insure the most accurate calibration.

Scanner
If you have never profiled a scanner, you are missing out. If you have an accurately profiled scanner, you should need no adjustments to get your scans to match your originals.

Scanner profiling is rather simple- scan a target, load the image into the software, then tell it what target you scanned and a profile will be built! 

It was in scanner profiling that I hit my first issue with the i1. The target that is provided for scanner profiling is not one of the standard scanner targets. The i1 seems to use it’s own target, which means it has to be measured before scanning. While this will insure a more accurate profile, measuring the many patches is time consuming and a bit of a pain.

One you have gone through the process of measuring every patch in the target, then it is simple to create the profile.

Printer
The printer module is as complicated as you need the image to be for your printer. The software is capable of creating profiles for both RGB and CMYK printers.

Before anyone gets too confused- all printers use the CMYK colors to print. However, not all printers have software that is designed to accept CMYK input. Many of the consumer grade inkjet printers will actually convert your CMYK image date to RGB, then back to their own CMYK space for printing! So make sure you know what you printer is capable of before printing.
 

Summary
The i1 Match software is user friendly, with a great interface and wonderful instructions for color management newbies. The i1 instrument itself is accurate and reliable. The only downside of the i1 as an instrument is that it is a pain to measure large targets. If you are planning on using the i1 to consistently calibrate printers using full on CMYK targets like the ECI2002 target, I would highly recommend purchasing the i1iO- and automated system for measuring your targets. If you are a photographer or designer, I would highly recommend this package as a necessary addition to the toolkit that keeps your studio humming and productive.