Datacolor User to User Support Group.

Will the patch reading guide that I see pictured with the Spyder3 ads
be made available to us that already have the spectrocolorimeter from
PFP 2?

Thanks, Derek

Well I don't find the patch reading difficult, but when I saw the
guide I hoped that it might speed up the process, like if there were
detents allowing the spectro to fall into place over each patch.

--- In colorvision_group@yahoogroups.com, CDTobie@... wrote:
>
> 
> In a message dated 10/31/07 10:27:17 AM, dealy663@... writes:
> 
> 
> > Will the patch reading guide that I see pictured with the Spyder3 ads
> > be made available to us that already have the spectrocolorimeter from
> > PFP 2?
> > 
> > 
> There is no official program for this yet, but I suspect that, once 
> quantities allow, the SpyderGuide will be made available to PrintFIX
PRO owners for 
> some shipping and handling charge...
> 
> Personally, I don't find it to improve my speed or accuracy in
measuring, but 
> for those who find the freehand process difficult, it may well make it 
> easier, or less tiring if you are reading a lot of targets. Just
keep in mind that 
> it doesn't magically turn the patch reader into a strip reader: you
still have 

> to stop and click on each patch.
> 
> C. David Tobie
> Product Technology Manager
> Digital Color Solutions
> Datacolor
> CDTobie@...
> www.spyder3.com
> 
> 
> **************************************
>  See what's new at 
> http://www.aol.com
>

Just out of curiosity, what are the major problems in developing strip
reading capability? Is that potentially an update or upgrade feature?


Badmoose
 


--- In colorvision_group@yahoogroups.com, CDTobie@... wrote:
>
> 
> In a message dated 10/31/07 5:23:21 PM, dealy663@... writes:
> 
> 
> > Well I don't find the patch reading difficult, but when I saw the
> > guide I hoped that it might speed up the process, like if there were
> > detents allowing the spectro to fall into place over each patch.
> > 
> The patch layouts will vary with paper size, margin width, and to a
lesser 
> degree, printer by printer, or media by media. And there are a
number of 
> different targets. So a "notched" ruler could get into trouble in a
lot of ways...

> 
> C. David Tobie
> Product Technology Manager
> Digital Color Solutions
> Datacolor
> CDTobie@...
> www.spyder3.com
> 
> 
> **************************************
>  See what's new at 
> http://www.aol.com
>

It would seem possible that a software change could cause the DC1005 to
"accumulate" readings as you scanned down the strip as opposed to clicking
each square...

"Dammit Jim, I'm a photographer, not a software engineer!"

pjs
"kansas - the flat & happy state"
Fine Art Prints by Patrick
Digital Reproduction of Original Fine Art
www.oegallery.com/BlueWhaleProductions
no habla mac J

-----Original Message-----
From: CDTobie@...
Subject: Re: [colorvision_group] Re: Spyder3 print patch reading guide?
 >>>No, it is not. The head in the DC1005 spectro is intrinsically a
patchreader. <<<

--- In colorvision_group@yahoogroups.com, CDTobie@... wrote:
>
> 
> In a message dated 11/9/07 3:11:48 PM, badmoose@... writes:
> 
> 
> > Just out of curiosity, what are the major problems in developing 
strip
> > reading capability? Is that potentially an update or upgrade 
feature?
> > 
> No, it is not. The head in the DC1005 spectro is intrinsically a 
patchreader. 
> It will not ever be a strip reader. Thats definitional, and needs 
to be 
> accepted as a characteristic of the device. 
> 
> C. David Tobie
> Product Technology Manager
> Digital Imaging & Home Theater
> Datacolor
> CDTobie@...
> www.datacolor.com/Spyder3
> 
> 
> **************************************
>  See what's 
> new at http://www.aol.com
>

Of course, we could always pay ~$1000 (or more) for a strip reader 
<G>  

But then the software, and results, may not be as good as the 
DataColor PFP or Spyder3.....and we know the support could never be 
better.

John

I don't believe the mechanics of the device will allow that. I'm sure Datacolor is capable of comming up with a strip reader or automated patch reader but you may not like the price. If reading patches is too much work then you can always get a Spectralino for 7 grand and watch it do the work for you and don't even think about getting the level of service you get from Datacolor

Walt

>-----Original Message-----
>From: PJS [mailto:psandham@...t]
>Sent: Saturday, November 10, 2007 05:07 AM
>To: colorvision_group@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: RE: [colorvision_group] Re: Spyder3 print patch reading guide?
>
>It would seem possible that a software change could cause the DC1005 to
>"accumulate" readings as you scanned down the strip as opposed to clicking
>each square...
>
>"Dammit Jim, I'm a photographer, not a software engineer!"
>
>pjs
>"kansas - the flat & happy state"
>Fine Art Prints by Patrick
>Digital Reproduction of Original Fine Art
>www.oegallery.com/BlueWhaleProductions
>no habla mac J
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: CDTobie@...
>Subject: Re: [colorvision_group] Re: Spyder3 print patch reading guide?
> >>>No, it is not. The head in the DC1005 spectro is intrinsically a
>patchreader. <<<
>

That's certainly the exception, not the rule. For that price I'll take all of them I can get my hands on.

Walt

>-----Original Message-----
>From: Doug Lenos [mailto:doug@...]
>Sent: Saturday, November 10, 2007 06:03 AM
>To: colorvision_group@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: Re: [colorvision_group] Re: Spyder3 print patch reading guide?
>
>I found the X-Rite Pulse ColorElite System w/ monitor profiler on Craigs list for $200 (unopened) - it is a strip reader - I read their 700+ patch targe in under 2 minutes the first time..

It's not that it is too much work to read the patches, I just like progress!
Seems a logical hardware update for down the road. And of course it will
cost more, just keep it below the competition and Datacolor will keep the
customer. I am VERY HAPPY with the current product (DC1005) and have created
over 100 profiles for almost every paper on the market using the 1000 patch
method (Color w/BW). I'm aiming to be the first person to read 500,000
patches to see if I will get a prize!

pjs
"kansas - the flat & happy state"
Fine Art Prints by Patrick
Digital Reproduction of Original Fine Art
www.oegallery.com/BlueWhaleProductions
no habla mac :-)


-----Original Message-----

From: wkm@...
Subject: Re: [colorvision_group] Re: Spyder3 print patch reading guide?
>>>If reading patches is too much work<<<

PFP and the DC spectro are indeed fine products given their price.
However, I do think that it would be worthwhile to spend some thought
cycles on how the process can be made easier.

While you David may be confident in your patch reading accuracy vs
speed, I know that there are plenty of us that aren't. I am not really
able to read one patch per second, and feel that I didn't over step an
edge somewhere along the way.

Obviously someone over there at ColorVision was thinking along those
same lines and decided to include a patch reading guide in the latest
version of the product. Maybe the current DC spectro can't be made
into a strip reader without increasing the price to something much
more like the current i1 products, I don't know. However, I do know
that you can certainly constrain the size of the patch target to a
consistent block size as long as the paper itself is of at least A4
dimensions, and therefore putting centering detents into the guide is
possible. For very little additional cost. 

I certainly would have greater confidence in the accuracy of my
readings if I knew for sure that the spectro was really centered over
every patch, and not crossing any edges.

Derek

--- In colorvision_group@yahoogroups.com, CDTobie@... wrote:
>
> 
> In a message dated 11/10/07 1:08:22 PM, psandham@... writes:
> 
> 
> > I am VERY HAPPY with the current product (DC1005) and have created
> > over 100 profiles for almost every paper on the market using the
1000 patch
> > method (Color w/BW). I'm aiming to be the first person to read 500,000
> > patches to see if I will get a prize!
> > 
> 
> You may well be the first person *outside of the ColorVision* to
reach that 
> mark, but trust, me, you won't be the first person to get there... 
<G> My 
> level of usage of our spectro is not typical of any end user, but it
does point 
> out how much easier to use the DC1005 is than any previously
available patch 
> reader... if I measured as many patches with a ColorMouse, Digital
Swatchbook, 
> ColorTron, etc... I would have seized up with carpal tunnel syndrome
long ago. 
> Even the Pulse and EyeOne, when used in patch at at time mode (as I
am often 
> required to use them) are not as easy to use as the DC1005. What it
does, it 

> does well.
> 
> C. David Tobie
> Product Technology Manager
> Digital Imaging & Home Theater
> Datacolor
> CDTobie@...
> www.datacolor.com/Spyder3
> 
> 
> 
> **************************************
>  See what's new at http://www.aol.com
>

I tend to agree with David on this. I have even made full size templates to
read all targets large , expert and regular. The thing is, I just can't beat
the accuracy

of selecting each patch on target and hitting the enter key. I know right
away if the reading is correct and it takes about 1 second for each patch. I
keep all of my targets in photographic storage bags and recheck the patches
after 10 days, you would be surprised at the difference. Using the same
thought I let all of my prints set or dry for about 1 week no matter what
the medium. What may seem to be a bit off in color or gamut will fall right
into place in a few days. I use 3 different printers (wide format pigment
and dye so I when I reorder media I re-profile each printer to the new
media) and tend to make targets all at one time and then set aside a few
hours in the evening to read targets and make profiles. The additional
finishing photo targets in Spyder 3 print really does help with corrections
and curves after reading is taken. My Epson printer seems to need the least
profile correction while the HP's and Canon's  usually need some correction.
Once you get used to the patch reading it is easy and freehand reading lets
you easily re read patch if it seems out of correct order.Aloha

From: colorvision_group@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:colorvision_group@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of dealy663
Sent: Sunday, November 11, 2007 5:50 AM
To: colorvision_group@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [colorvision_group] Re: Spyder3 print patch reading guide?

 

PFP and the DC spectro are indeed fine products given their price.
However, I do think that it would be worthwhile to spend some thought
cycles on how the process can be made easier.

While you David may be confident in your patch reading accuracy vs
speed, I know that there are plenty of us that aren't. I am not really
able to read one patch per second, and feel that I didn't over step an
edge somewhere along the way.

Obviously someone over there at ColorVision was thinking along those
same lines and decided to include a patch reading guide in the latest
version of the product. Maybe the current DC spectro can't be made
into a strip reader without increasing the price to something much
more like the current i1 products, I don't know. However, I do know
that you can certainly constrain the size of the patch target to a
consistent block size as long as the paper itself is of at least A4
dimensions, and therefore putting centering detents into the guide is
possible. For very little additional cost. 

I certainly would have greater confidence in the accuracy of my
readings if I knew for sure that the spectro was really centered over
every patch, and not crossing any edges.

Derek

--- In colorvision_group@yahoogroups.com
<mailto:colorvision_group%40yahoogroups.com> , CDTobie@... wrote:
>
> 
> In a message dated 11/10/07 1:08:22 PM, psandham@... writes:
> 
> 
> > I am VERY HAPPY with the current product (DC1005) and have created
> > over 100 profiles for almost every paper on the market using the
1000 patch
> > method (Color w/BW). I'm aiming to be the first person to read 500,000
> > patches to see if I will get a prize!
> > 
> 
> You may well be the first person *outside of the ColorVision* to
reach that 
> mark, but trust, me, you won't be the first person to get there... 
<G> My 
> level of usage of our spectro is not typical of any end user, but it
does point 
> out how much easier to use the DC1005 is than any previously
available patch 
> reader... if I measured as many patches with a ColorMouse, Digital
Swatchbook, 
> ColorTron, etc... I would have seized up with carpal tunnel syndrome
long ago. 
> Even the Pulse and EyeOne, when used in patch at at time mode (as I
am often 
> required to use them) are not as easy to use as the DC1005. What it
does, it 
> does well.
> 
> C. David Tobie
> Product Technology Manager
> Digital Imaging & Home Theater
> Datacolor
> CDTobie@...
> www.datacolor.com/Spyder3
> 
> 
> 
> **************************************
> See what's new at http://www.aol.com
>

 

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--- In colorvision_group@yahoogroups.com, "Randy Gentry" <gentryr001@...> wrote:
>
> I tend to agree with David on this. I have even made full size templates to
> read all targets large , expert and regular. The thing is, I just can't beat
> the accuracy of selecting each patch on target and hitting the enter key.

I've been using my patented Applescript to help in the process of reading targets.

If you are on a Mac you can use an Applescript for Semi-Automatic Patch Reading:

http://homepage.mac.com/johnvito/printfix_applescript/printfix_pro_applescript.html

On Windows there's an app called "AutoHotKeys" that will do the same.