QTR-Quadtone RIP

> I've just read of the new ColorMunki, and all who have used it seem to
> think it does a very credible job. I'm wondering if any QTR'ers have
> looked at it and does it have any place in this environment.

Hi

I've been using the CM for testing for some time and at the moment know of no easy way 
to get its measurements into a form usable by QTR

The device and software is designed in a very closed manner, they do not intend it to be 
upgradeable or to be used with third party software. That's not to say someone won't 
come up with a hack to make use of the device, but don't expect any help (for the time 
being) from X-Rite.

This is a pity since it really is easy to use reading patches, and is a full UV cut 
spectrophotometer, similar to what is found in the -much- more expensive iSis

It's firmly aimed at the graphics design and wedding/social/'prosumer' photographer 
market.

I've got a review (from using pre-release software) available at 
<http://www.northlight-images.co.uk/reviews/profiling/colormunki.html>

I'm waiting for the proper release software before writing anything more detailed, since 
there are still some rough edges.

If you see anyone (myself included ;-) commenting on quality of profiles anywhere, then 
do take their opinions with a slight pinch of salt, since -no one- has final software at the 
moment :-)  Given the target market, expect to see a lot of 'reviews' rather low on 
information content and heavily reliant on supplied PR materials ;-)

I would say that it generated a reasonable CMYK profile for my networked HP K80 office 
printer, using hp-ijs/foomatic drivers on a Mac and plain paper. That's my standard 'quick 
test' printer. It caught me out in that it detected that it was a postscript driver and 
produced a CMYK profile (with no input from me). It also made a perfectly acceptable 
profile for my Epson 1160 using third party inks and canon photo paper.

One thing else to remember about the (large) ColorMunki target market is that if you 
appreciate why sometimes you might choose one rendering intent over another, then you 
are in the 'expert' category and not who they are aiming it at...  If you have an inkling 
about how to use a QTR profile to linearise B/W output, then you are in the ColorMunki 
'Rocket Scientist' league :-)

bye for now

Keith Cooper