Wanting to improve my knowledge and experience of colour management and colour science I seem to have a growing number of X -rite calibration tools. However, I really do not intend to become a collector, so would appreciate the comments of others here.
For monitor profiling I have the X -Rite i1Display Pro which I intend to keep as I understand being a Colorimeter it is better able to measure dark colours than a Spectrophotometer.
For printer profiling I have been using the i1Studio (ColorMunki) and have been so far satisfied with the results using both the bundled software and more recently the excellent ArgyllCMS, which really does extend the capabilities of the device, well beyond my current understanding and paygrade :-)
I had hoped that I may have been able to pick up a Spectrolino but the owner did not want to part with it even though it was of little use to his printing requirements; still he may change his mind
On a whim I recently purchased an EFI ES1000 (i1Pro rev D UV cut) at a very good price. I know that it is quite old and somewhat limited in features when compared to the newer i1Pro 2 and 3's, but thought that it may prove to be a useful addition until I decide to upgrade to something more up to date (and expensive!) and more accurate. Worst case scenario is that I could probably sell the unit without any finacial loss looking at current asking prices.
When the unit arrived I was pleasantly suprised to find that it looks close to as new condition so somebody has looked after it, at least as far as I can tell.
Before deciding to keep the unit I downloaded the X-Rite diagnostic tool to run tests. Abbreviated results, comments appreciated:
Type i1Pro (M2 only), Revision D
Dark Measurement count: 3764
Lamp burning time: 6496.7 seconds (1.8 hours)
Factory calibration 15/06/2011
Instrument licences
Measurement Modes: (Reflectance Spot, Reflectance Scan, Emission)
Licenced functionality: (Has UV cut filter, Spectral Values, Tristimulus, Density)
Licensed Modules: iMatch, all not licensed. iProfiler Module, all not licensed.
No surprises here as it is an EFI product and has the Fiery disks that I have not even bothered to look at.
Emission test, Button test, Noise Tests, Reflectance test, Lamp test, Reflectance drift test, Reflectance Scan calibration. All successful resulting in **Pass**
So on the face of it the unit checks out as OK with my only concern being the lamp burning time as I do not know how long they should last but am aware that replacement may be difficult to get hold of or more cost than the unit is worth.
Sorry about the long intro but I thought it appropriate to try and cover the background before posting and asking for advice/opinion. These are my conclusion so far. Your input, suggestions and advice sought:
1. Keep the i1 Display Pro for its intended purpose over Spectrophotometers
2. i1Studio to be used in conjunction with ArgyllPro Color Meter (to be purchased) for measurement of Ambient light, CRI and other measurements as a very portable unit. Also for its intended purpose as appropriate for print profiling either via i1 software or more likely ArgyllCMS when necessary.
3. i1Pro to be used mainly for print profiles and possibly spot readings (no ambient light facility). Hoping that the fact of easy reading of many more patches than i1Studio and increased sampling rate will lead to more accurate profiles using ArgyllCMS than the i1Studio device even with more patches within ArgyllCMS and homemade ruler devices