I'm not about to use 3 pages to print targets that fit on one page, or 8 pages instead of 3 pages of 6mm square patches.
Well that bugs me too, increasing the patch size even slightly makes page count double etc. because of the stupidity of the generation software. But you wan to be ISO compliant then increased page size is not avoidable imho.
The i1Profiler generates 821x1189 vs. 822x1190 measuretool.
The i1Profiler generates RGB patches by taking whole numbers while measuretool averages them like it should be.
The i1Profiler generates patches 1px x 1px smaller then measuretool (25x25px vs. 26x26px)
So whoever made the i1Profiler could not even copy same generation parameters.
But initially, I shared your caution re the small, default iSis patch sizes. So I made a test to measure the optical iSis margins relative to adjacent patches and also made a test to measure adjacent patch light leakage. I was frankly surprised at how good it was, averaging around 0.01% which is like the difference between 100 Lux and .01 Lux or a DMax of 4.
What patches was this tested with? Nobody provided me with clear statement what physical aperture size i1isis has so I can't say what patches are ISO 5-4:2009 compliant, in regard to i1Pro that has 4.5mm aperture that is 8.5x.8.5mm.
I do have other concerns. The Isis leaves tracks from it's rollers on glossy and semigloss type papers. The iSis uses thin, rubberized wheels for feeding paper. Big problem initially which, interesting, has become almost non-existent after about the first 3 months of use. Significant dE variation on reading pre and post track marks.
Well I noticed that my isis has 2 sets of metal shafts with rubber o-ring wheels that drive the paper. Front has smaller diameter the the main shaft is larger. The rubber is red and clean when new. Now it's picket up ink or whatever and turned black. It is cleanable with isopropyl alcohol 99%. But it gets dirty quite fast. Why is this I don't know.
I wanted to replace it with silicone o-rings but did not find any hard silicone o-rings and soft ones will not work.
But they have pretty much gone away, I'm suspicious that the cause was plasticizer used in the wheel's traction rubber. It has gradually been either rubbed off or hardened into the substrate or simply isn't causing dE errors for some other indeterminate reason.
As you know o-rings are made from a mold that has 2 parts and in the middle is a visible mold separation line. That like looks visible on new o-rings. Perhaps this is why new isis leaves marks.
The next issue of significance is that the iSis illuminant is a white LED, not illuminant A per ISO, and a bit of its shorter wavelengths (430-440nm) near the LED blue peak are absorbed and emitted at a slightly higher wavelength. So the reflected spectrum of high OBA paper differs slightly between I1Pros (Ill. A) and iSis/i1Studio/ColorMunki (Whilte LED). Also, the white LED has virtually no output below 430nm so apparently the instrument just extrapolates for M2 only scans. However, these are curiosities. The iSis has proven to provide highly repeatable measurements. The iSis light source is incredibly stable and there is much less variation reading charts with multiple passes. At least there is now since the tread mark problem has become insignificant.
I myself while agree that I1Pros (Ill. A) is better and ISO compliant way the isis LED is remarcable achievement in longevity and stability of the light source. Only the Konica Minolta FD-9 (isis on steroids in quality and price) is better imho in every regard.
The Barbieri LFP is another option if you do transmissible measurements only.
Now if CHROMIX or Babelcolor would make an actual chart generator that would be best move since Babelcolor made patchtool to edit the targets. Having to hack targets with photoshop and numerous actions is so 2007.