[argyllcms] Re: New to color management

Geert Janssens wrote:
* Is there a lot of difference in profiling quality between the different spectrometers ? I mean, given that all of them would be used with Argyll CMS, would one spectrometer result in a better (more acurate) color profile than another ? 

> * If that is the case, what can you recommend ? What's your experience with
> different spectrometers ?

At present, there aren't too many choices for print measurement instruments.
Since X-Rite & Gretag merged, the the remaining choice at the entry level
is basically the Eye-One Pro. (DataColor make a reflective measurement
instrument, but it isn't supported under Linux, and I understand it's a
manual patch by patch machine. It is cheap though).
The Eye-One Pro is a good, flexible instrument.
* Reading through the Argyll CMS documentation, I read that I would require some test charts to profile printers and scanners. Are such test charts provided with the spectrometers or do I have to buy them separatly ? If so, where could I buy these ? 

You print your own test charts for printers. For scanners you probably
need to buy a chart, or one comes with the Eye-One Pro package.
* I live in Belgium (Europe). On my search for a spectrometer, I currently have only found the Spyder2 from ColorVision. I can't find any other brand in the shops I visited. Does anyone in Europe know where I would be able to buy one of the other models (should they be more appropriate) ? I don't mind buying these things via an online shop, as long the website has got a decent reputation. 

You are probably better off visiting the X-rite web page, and locating
a nearby supplier that way.
* It seems the Spyder2 will not be around for much longer. Colorvision's is currently selling a sequel: the Spyder3. How different would this one be from the Spyder2 ? What are the odds it would work out of the box, provided I use the correct firmware that comes with it ? 

It almost certainly will not work. Support for the Spyder3 is not likely
in ArgyllCMS anytime soon. Note that the Spyder (and similar display
colorimeter instruments) are only useful for calibrating and profiling
displays.

Graeme Gill.

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