Datacolor User to User Support Group.

Indeed I have no insider knowledge how exacly ColorBase works. Neither I have first hand experience for a 
reason that prompted this post. Hence I can only cite others' experience. Both Michael Reichmann on his site and 
Alain Briot on outbackphoto discuss ColorBase in the context of custom profiles. Further, Briot is using Bill 
Atkinson custom profiles build after linearization with ColorBase.

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/software/epson-colorbase.shtml

http://www.outbackphoto.com/printinginsights/pi041/essay.html


Further let me cite relevant passages from Epson ColorBase FAQ.

In regard to custom profiling:

"How can I use Epson ColorBase with my ICC profile workflow?

First calibrate your Epson printer with Epson ColorBase and activate the calibration data. Your Epson printer 
matches now a standard Epson printer. Then create and use your own ICC media profile or use the supplied 
default Epson ICC media profile. When you recognize changes in the colour output, you only create new 
calibration data. Afterwards you can still use your already created ICC media profile or the supplied default Epson 
ICC media profile."

What ColorBase actually does:

"How does Epson ColorBase calibrate my Epson printer?

For the reduction of colour differences, Epson ColorBase calibrates your Epson printer to a standard Epson 
printer. First you print an Epson ColorBase test chart. The test chart consists of 264 colour patches. After a 
specific drying time you measure the test chart with a spectrophotometer. Epson ColorBase compares the actual 
measurement result with the ideal result of a standard Epson printer and calculates the correction that has to be 
applied to your Epson printer in order to match the standard Epson printer. These corrections are saved in the 
calibration data file. The calibration data file is inserted into your Epson printer driver’s look up tables (LUTs) 
that drive the colour halftoning process.

How often should I calibrate my Epson printer?

We recommend you to calibrate your Epson printer with Epson ColorBase regularly every second week to every 
month. Additional calibration to this time interval is necessary when you changed the ink cartridges or the media 
lot number, when you transported your Epson printer or when the environmental conditions changed a lot (i.e. in 
summer high temperatures or humidity)."


Based on all of the above I am inclined to think ColorBase is a wonderful utility. If PrintFix users can use it 
without the lunacy of a heavy investment in another spectrophotometer that would be great.


> I have seen no evidence of "ColorBasing" a 
> printer making it better with custom profiles, only with canned ones. I 
> would agree, on the other hand, that linearizing a RIP, or choosing the 
> most appropriate media setting for an RGB driver will indeed produce a 
> better result, even with a custom profile, so if ColorBase's 
> capabilities run to that level of sophistocation, they may well worth 
> bothering with even for use with custom profiles. That would be quite 
> exciting, bringing one more feature of RIPs to a RIPless RGB workflow. 
> I suspect, however, that they offer simple channel adjustments whose 
> overall effect on total ink densities is similar to changing the 
> default settings in the Density control.
> 
> C. David Tobie
> Product Technology Manager
> ColorVision, Inc.
> CDTobie@...
> www.colorvision.com