Spectrocam

[barry685]

Is there any current software that supports a Spectrocam for profiling printers?

[digitaldog]

In terms of actually capturing the measured data or building a profile from the measured data? In terms of the former, not that I’m aware of. IF you can use their software and save out a CGATs file, and you have the reference data, in theory most of the modern products will build a profile from that data.

[Ernst Dinkla]

You can save several profile creator file types with the scan feature of Avantes software.

Pantone's (ColorVision) Profiler Pro if still available has a driver for the SpectroCam.
Monaco Profiler 4.5 has a driver for the SpectroCam.

Old tools altogether so I do not know whether they can run on your OS and cooperate with the SpectroCam.


met vriendelijke groeten, Ernst Dinkla

New: Spectral plots of +230 inkjet papers:
http://www.pigment-print.com/spectralplots/spectrumviz_1.htm

[barry685]

In terms of profile quality, How would a spectrocam with Profiler PRO perform relative to either a Colormunki or the current Spyder3SR?

[eronald]

If you can generate a CGATS file you can usually use any software, including presumably Argyll which is free and quite good. You really need to separate the issues of how to get the data and how to make the profile; the spectrocam had a decent reputation, as a device.

Edmund

[Ernst Dinkla]

In terms of profile quality, How would a spectrocam with Profiler PRO perform relative to either a Colormunki or the current Spyder3SR?

For what kind of work? Indoor-outdoor display? It at least measures UV that the other ones do not at all. The non-UV cut version I mean.

Better than either on the hardware side. The Spectrocam light source is a Xenon flash with a good spectral distribution. The non-UV cut version measures nicely into UV. The spectral readings are closer to one another than on the Eye One if I recall it correctly. The multiple flashing/measurements creates an instant patch averaging in strip mode reading. The Avantes software included has some nice features too. As a Dutchman I could be proud of that instrument if Avantes still supported it fully (last year it was dropped from their catalog). Internally I think it doesn't have the engineering of an Eye One, product isn't changed in 10-12? years. Last year I decided to replace my 9 year old Spectrocam with an Eye One. Didn't use if for printer profiling since I got a HP Z3200 but the occasional varnished canvas quality.

I would think ArgyllCMS is the better choice but it doesn't drive the SpectroCam directly. Profiler Pro is an odd profile creator acting as a plug-in in older Photoshop versions. It was sufficient when we used it for profiling older Epson 6 ink printers but I doubt it will still be sufficient. Haven't touched it in 4 years.

met vriendelijke groeten, Ernst Dinkla

New: Spectral plots of +230 inkjet papers:
http://www.pigment-print.com/spectralplots/spectrumviz_1.htm

[barry685]

The Sepctrocam that I have is the non UV version (serial port) . I did find I believe version 1.5 of the Avantes Scanning software. I also have Profiler Pro but haven't use either in several years. I also own a Z3100 and now a canon IPF6300. I'm not familiar with the Argylcms but will look into it and see if they can be used together.
Thanks

[barry685]

How good is Monaco Profiler? Will that work well with a spectrocam?

[Ernst Dinkla]

How good is Monaco Profiler? Will that work well with a spectrocam?

Very good in my opinion. There are more Monaco profilers compatible with the Spectrocam. A friend uses Proof? with an 18 months old Spectrocam.

There are ways to profile another (Canon) printer with the Z3100 Color Center software I think. At least it is possible with the Z3200 Color Center version.


met vriendelijke groeten, Ernst Dinkla

New: Spectral plots of +230 inkjet papers:
http://www.pigment-print.com/spectralplots/spectrumviz_1.htm

[barry685]

Hi Ernst,
I have the HP APS and I have tried to profile the canon with the z3100 but It doesn't seem to load the target properly. It aborts after scanning about 30% of the target. I am printing the 928 patch target on a 24" roll.

[eronald]

How good is Monaco Profiler? Will that work well with a spectrocam?

Monaco Profiler is superb.


Edmund

[gubaguba]

Spectrocam worked well I thought.  It had its pluses and minus.  The biggest minus is for me it pretty much useless today.  As far as I know there is no software for OS X to drive it.  Unlikely anything that would run on intel based CPU.  Wouldn't mind getting it to work and maybe play with that open source software mentioned earlier.

[TylerB]

Spectrocam worked well I thought.  It had its pluses and minus.  The biggest minus is for me it pretty much useless today.  As far as I know there is no software for OS X to drive it.  Unlikely anything that would run on intel based CPU.  Wouldn't mind getting it to work and maybe play with that open source software mentioned earlier.

There was OSX software that worked, and I may have a copy somewhere. Not sure if it will work on an Intel. The other issue is adapters and OSX software for those. I used, and still have somewhere, a Spectrocam. The problem was erratic measurements due to heat buildup in the unit. You could just sit it on the calibration tile and do a bunch of spot measurements one after another and watch it drift...

Tyler

[gubaguba]

Hey Tyler,

If you have any software let me know.  I could find nothing out there and no longer have the disks I had it on.  I thought I might play with the open source software mentioned earlier.

[TylerB]

give me about a day...

[Ernst Dinkla]

Is there any current software that supports a Spectrocam for profiling printers?

http://www.avantes.com.cn/SpectroCam/partners.html

gives more software that is/was compatible with the SpectroCam


met vriendelijke groeten, Ernst Dinkla

New: Spectral plots of +230 inkjet papers:
http://www.pigment-print.com/spectralplots/spectrumviz_1.htm