Looking for more details on Epsons Spectrophotometer?

[dgberg]

Trying to find more information on Epsons spectrophotometer for the 7900. How does it compare to Xrite's Eye 1sis or Eye 1io if I used the same platinum profile software package for all 3?  I would really like to see a comparison between the 3. If it is a fair comparison.
Does anyone here have a spectro on a 7900 or 9900 and use it for making profiles and what software are you using? I've heard it is not meant to read the small target charts like the desktop Eye Ones.

[edwinb]

Trying to find more information on Epsons spectrophotometer for the 7900. How does it compare to Xrite's Eye 1sis or Eye 1io if I used the same platinum profile software package for all 3?  I would really like to see a comparison between the 3. If it is a fair comparison.
Does anyone here have a spectro on a 7900 or 9900 and use it for making profiles and what software are you using? I've heard it is not meant to read the small target charts like the desktop Eye Ones.

"Optional Epson SpectroProofer™ technology powered by X-Rite spectrophotometer (ILS20EP)"
it looks lik a re-packaged i1 to me
used it with EFi XF rip software- just push the button and it prints reads and calibrates like magic
edwin

[dgberg]

Edwin,
I have seen all the literature about the Spectro but it doesn't give any more information other then what is already shown.
I may not get a RIP and just want to use it for making profiles. I am looking for comparison technical information between Epsons unit and Xrites  i1sis and i1.
What if you had targets to read off a 8 X 10 sheet, and want to make a new profile. Have you tried that?
The Epsons spectro is only $1500 and you pay a $1,000 for an i1. If the onboard uint will do it all it will be a pretty good deal. I could then move to the RIP software when ready.

[Sven W]

We have an Ep 9900 + Spectroproofer.
Software; ProfileMaker and Bill Atkinson 1728 chart.
Time for one profile with linearization of the printer first; 1h 30 min.
But that includes time for the "hairdryer".
So it is much, much faster to use an EyeOne iO, but if you take (as you should) the extra time for the print to dry, it's about the same.

We also use Efi XF, and as Edwin posted, it is very much like "just push the button".
But that's because linearization and measuring the normal Efi "manual" way, is very painstaking and timeconsuming.
Now the RIP and the SpectroProofer works togehter by themselves.

[dgberg]

Thanks Sven
Very helpful.
Is the internal dryer just blowing cool air to dry the ink,or is the air heated?
Does the EFI XF Fiery RIP software have the profie capabilities included? I would hate to have to purchase the X-Rite Profile package on top of the XF. Probably 3 to 4k for XF and another 3k for an i1 and the profile software. Was hoping to somehow cut that number in half with a Spectro and profile software.
I believe the EFI software salesman is calling Monday and I plan to pick his brain for all the options.
Dan

[Sven W]

Thanks Sven
Very helpful.
Is the internal dryer just blowing cool air to dry the ink,or is the air heated?
Does the EFI XF Fiery RIP software have the profie capabilities included? I would hate to have to purchase the X-Rite Profile package on top of the XF. Probably 3 to 4k for XF and another 3k for an i1 and the profile software. Was hoping to somehow cut that number in half with a Spectro and profile software.
I believe the EFI software salesman is calling Monday and I plan to pick his brain for all the options.
Dan

I don't know your needs, but if you just want FineArt RGB-profiles, I would not recommend the SpectroProofer.
1. The Efi XF is for cmyk-proofing workflow, but with additional "modules", you can make your own rgb-profiles.
2. To use the SpectroProofer you have to put the data in ProfileMaker, Monaco Profiler, or some other suitable software. Expensive.
3. I think the best solution for the money is i1 xtreme with i1 Match software.
4. Profiling canvas is a bit tricky....we take 4-5 readings, averaging in MeasureTool and then create the profile in ProfileMaker.

[Ernst Dinkla]

We have an Ep 9900 + Spectroproofer.
Software; ProfileMaker and Bill Atkinson 1728 chart.
Time for one profile with linearization of the printer first; 1h 30 min.
But that includes time for the "hairdryer".
So it is much, much faster to use an EyeOne iO, but if you take (as you should) the extra time for the print to dry, it's about the same.

Shouldn't there be a way to let the printed target dry elsewhere and reinsert it in the 9900 for measuring later on so there is no production time lost ?



met vriendelijke groeten, Ernst Dinkla

Try: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Wide_Inkjet_Printers/

[dgberg]

This is what I am trying to find out. The onboard spectro has an onboard dryer/or fan to dry the ink for reading. Doesn't it work ? Probably the real reason I want the onboard unit. Sure would like to find out if it really works!
To answer Swen's question. I am offering canvas workshops and would like to demonstrate the profile making process on canvas. Which is where the onboard dryer comes in. These are only 1 day courses and cannot spend time waiting for ink to dry to read a profile. The second area of use will be for our printmaking business where we get professional photographers that will need profiling and proofing.

[Sven W]

Dan & Ernst

To clear it out:
Yes, the dryer/fan works as it should. I haven't used a timer for checking the onboard dryingtime vs the manual way.
But from the Efi-staff it should be enough.

The only thing that you can get out from the SpectroProofer Utlities is pure .txt-data.
If you don't have the software for profiling, your lost.
Thats why I tried to check some solutions above.

Dan, which software do you use today for profiling?

[dgberg]

Swen,
We are a new startup so I do not have any at the moment. Are any of the EFI softwares a combination RIP and Profiling software? I know the X-rites profiling packages only profile.
No real need for a Rip if we are getting a pro level profiling software?

[Sven W]

Swen,
We are a new startup so I do not have any at the moment. Are any of the EFI softwares a combination RIP and Profiling software? I know the X-rites profiling packages only profile.
No real need for a Rip if we are getting a pro level profiling software?

I would say that EFI is very much a cmyk-proofing solution. Basic config. allows you only to linearize and calibrate a workflow to given cmyk-standards.
You can put in extra modules for making rgb-profiles (and cmyk), but at the bottom, it still uses a cmyk-workflow, what they call "Full gamut CMYK".

So we use EFI for proofing only. Together with SpectroProofer/Ep9900, it's a powerfull, but expensive, combo.
For rgb-workflow (FineArt) we use ImagePrint/Ep 11880.
For customers that uses the printdriver we create profiles with i1-iO and ProfileMaker.
Sometimes I make profiles for ImagePrint, for media not supported in IP.

I never print with the printdriver.

[dgberg]

Good data Swen. Its looking more and more like the Eye1 with its profile software.

[Czornyj]

Its looking more and more like the Eye1 with its profile software.

It's simplier to buy an i1pro Xtreme bundle - you can use Bill Atkinson 1728p. target and the method described by Eric Chan to make excellent profiles. And you can also profile your display, scanner, projector, and measure color from different objects and surfaces, or the spectra of ambient/flash light.

With spectroproofer you need to buy some profiling software that is expansive, or you have to use open source Argyll CMS. Spectroproofer is good solution for printing industry, where you often have to linearize and profile the printer, and certify proofs - it makes the whole process automatic. But using expansive EFI XF software (optimized for proofing application) for fine art printing is rather pointless, and you still need additional software solution make profiles. So i1pro is the simpliest and less expansive solution - where you get what you really need.