Digital BW, The Print

In a message dated 3/6/06 5:00:35 PM, hrodkin@... writes:


> Where do the Printfix Suite and the Spyder2 Suite fit into this mix. The
> Printfix Suite also seems to have hardware for both printer and monitor
> and the Spyder2 Suite comes with a software only printer management
> system. Your response has helped me understand the two ends, but I'm
> still a bit confused about the value of the solutions in the middle
> 

I would not recommend PrintFIX (as opposed to PrintFIX PRO) at this time, as 
it supports only specific printer models, and that list is getting older. Its 
also not as accurate as PrintFIX PRO. The software in the Spyder2 Suite is a 
software only version of PrintFIX PRO called PrintFIX PLUS, where there are 
premeasured starting points for a range of printers that you can work from, to 
tweak a profile for your particular printer, inks, and paper. There will be more 
of these starting points on the ColorVison website later on. This may prove 
to be a very good alternative for those who don't want to spring for the cost 
of the spectro in PrintFIX PRO... its a new product, and there hasn't been much 
chance for user feedback yet, so we'll have to wait to see what people think. 
I suspect this solution will be preferable to previous generations of 
software-only printer profilers, especially once the website kicks in with broader 
starting points. I was certainly impressed with what I could get it to do.

More relevant to this list, PrintFIX PLUS may prove of interest for B&W work 
as well, in the long run; since anyone with a copy of PrintFIX PRO will be 
able to load measurement sets to the CV website, where PLUS users can access them 
as starting points for their own profile building. This could be extended to 
Curves building, B&W profile building, lots of interesting stuff.

C. David Tobie
Product Technology Manager
ColorVision Business Unit
Datacolor Inc.
CDTobie@...
www.colorvision.com


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