Digital BW, The Print

Martin,

I didn't mean to imply that the Spectrocam was not accurate. It is. What
happens is that when you are scanning a line of patches you may get a CRC
error. A CRC error indicates that there was a communication error between
the Spectrocam and the computer. If you get an error you will have to scan
the line over again. An inconvenience, but not a show stopper. The
communication errors have nothing to do with the measurement accuracy.

I can see no evidence of poor quality control. My unit is very well made and
a joy to work with. I believe that an earlier design had some issues with
shielding and so were subject to interference from other electrical devices.
The current generation does not seem to have that problem.

The Spectrocam can make 35 measurements per second. This is software
configurable. After all the measurements are taken it then integrates them
into a single reading. I have mine set to make the full 35 measurements
since I am using it in the non scanning mode. This results in a one second
reading duration.

The scan mode is set up so that the Spectrocam just starts making
measurements continuously. As you move it over the row of patches to be
scanned it recognizes when one patch ends and another begins. After it
recognizes that all patches have been scanned it stops making measurements
and assumes the row is complete.

The Spectrocam software for the PC does not include monitor calibration like
your monitor spyder does. I think the software is lacking in this regard. It
does have the ability to measure the color temperature of your monitors
white point. The monitor spyder is a tough one to beat though.

I agree with Tyler. This is the sort of tool that gets used infrequently.
But when you need a spectrophotometer nothing else will do. Oddly, I have
found that I use it for more than just profiling. I use it to measure the
white point of different papers. I use it to measure the steps of gray ramps
when printing in monochrome and even for measuring the color temperature of
proofing lights.

I had a Color Mouse initially and found the process of measuring 729 patches
far to tedious and slow. I couldn't stand to use it. I have never regretted
sending it back and purchasing the Spectrocam.

Scott

----- Original Message -----
From: "Martin Wesley" <mwesley250@...>
To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 30, 2001 10:14 PM
Subject: [Digital BW] Re: Culbertson's RGB method A-OK


> Scott,
>
> Thanks for the feedback. This is definately a field where few of us
> have much experience.
>
> So I gather the inaccuracy with the Spectrocam occur when you are
> using it in their fixture and moving it over a test strip but if you
> do the patches individually they are okay?
>
> Tyler is on his third or fourth one due to defects and recalls so I
> am concerned about their quality control.
>
> I seem to recall in the Colormouse specs that it required 4 sec for
> each measurement which would slow you down, manually or
> automatically, on even the 127 patch test. What is the measurement
> time for the Spectrocam?
>
> I noticed Spectrocam's monitor calibration feature but I already have
> an EZColor sceen spider and if you buy the Profile Pro bundle they
> through in their spyder as well. Does the Spectrocam offer better
> quality in this area?
>
> As Tyler mentioned this is the type of thing that for me would get
> very heavy initial use until I was up and going with a good ink/paper
> combination. Once I got where I wanted to be, the instrument would
> see little use until some new paper or ink came along. So from that
> point of view it probably makes more sense to go with something
> slower and cheaper. Would want the highest level of accuracy though.
>
> Martin
>
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "Scott Hendershot"
> <scott@p...> wrote:
> > Martin,
> >
> > Just a few comments on the Spectrocam. It does have a high rate of
> > communication errors when used in the scanning mode. That is one of
> the
> > reasons that I made the indexer out of a plotter. When used to make
> > individual measurements it works wonderfully. The guys at
> Spectrostar tell
> > me there is a new version of the software coming that has a superior
> > communications driver. That will improve the scanning mode, but
> won't affect
> > the way I use it.
> >
> > I beleive that my approach to indexing can be applied to the
> ColorMouse as
> > well. There are a few people with a ColorMouse that I will be
> working with
> > to see if it can be done.
> >
> > You may want to consider the Spectrocam's other features before you
> dismiss
> > it. It can make emissive measurements as well as reflected
> measurements
> > which means you can measure the color temperature of light sources
> and even
> > your monitors white point.
> >
> > Scott
> >
> (snip earlier)
>
>
>
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