| Industry Announcements
 Color Eyes Display Pro announced
Integrated Color has a totally new, written from the ground up version of my favorite professional-level display calibration software. The new version is more intuitive to use, and has a slew of new capabilities like time tracking, black point control, native gamma and white point. As with the previous version, Color Eyes Display Pro has the L* gamma option that mimics the human response curve to light and a manual white point adjustment control that allows you to quickly tweak the white point for a perfect match to paper white. These features plus its inteligent adaptive calibration procedure set it apart from the competition.
For professionals who demand and appreciate an extremely well calibrated display, I think this software is a must have. And yes, it will calibrate via DDC all displays that have internal high bit depth calibration hardware like the Eizo ColorEdge series, Quato displays, Sony Artisans and the NEC and LaCie models with internal calibration hardware.
I have demonstrated the previous version of this software to at least half of you that receive this newsletter. If you haven't already I'd like to encourage you to at least download the free demo and try it out for yourself. If your demo period has expired now is a good time to purchase it. This new version is available for Mac OS only but the Windows version will be released soon. If you already have a qualifying device you can purchase the software by itself for $175. If you need a device, the software is now bundled with your choice of the Spyder2 (for $279) or the XRite DTP-94 (for $325). The DTP-94 is considered the best colorimeter ever made but because of high manufacturing costs, XRite will stop manufacturing it next summer so get one while you can. As I mentioned above, my clients can use the "onsight" coupon code at integrated-color.com to receive a 10% discount. This offer is only for my clients and Integrated Color does check with me with every order so don't tell your non-Onsight client friends about this offer or we will lose it.
Note: I don't have any affiliation with Integrated Color and don't benefit in any way from the use of the coupon code. I want to spread the word about this exciting small company with the best display calibration software on the market. I have a warm soft spot for any underdog with the superior product.
Visit www.integrated-color.com for more information
 ColorBurst 4.2 Update bring new calibration device support
ColorBurst has announced a new version of their SWOP and GRACoL certified RIP software that will most notably support linearization and profiling with GretagMacbeth devices like the EyeOnePro, ISiS, ICColor and Spectrolino. Previous versions allowed for linearization but not profiling with these devices. The new version will also introduce a newer, more intuitive ink limiting method, Epson 3800 support, and increased slug area printing information like job titles, color bars, comments and logos. This 4.2 release will become available by mid January.
Visit www.colorburstrip.com for more information
Email me for some quick free advice if you are considering and have any questions about implementing a RIP in your workflow.
 1 Day 50% off sale today for high end profiling software
XRite is having a 1 day 50% off sale today on their high end profile making software ProfileMakerPro and Monaco Profiler. As many of you know I've moved away from ProfileMakerPro (PMP) and have been getting superior rests with MonacoProfiler (MP) for the last few years. PMP is by far the most popular software that most color management consultants use but MP is the best kept secret that delivers better neutrality, shadow detail, overall saturation, skin tone and yellows. MP's customized target generation feature is a two step process that generates a customized profiling target specifically for that printing process. I have found customized target generation to be the key to excellent photo paper profiling.
I don't recommend buying PMP since it is inferior to MP. Now might be the right time for EyeOne Pro or Pulse owners to upgrade their consumer level software to Monaco Profiler. XRite is likely to release new software that combines and improves upon PMP and MP's capabilities but I won't think that will happen anytime too soon. Purchasing MonacoProfiler today will insure eligibility for the upgrade to the new software when it arrives.
Call XRite at 800-248-9748 for more info
 Email me for some quick free advice if you are considering purchasing profiling equipment. Some users need to have this capability in-house while others find my remote profiling service to be much more attractive and affordable.
Universal Binary Mac Beta Release of Photoshop on Friday?
I hear existing Photoshop CS2 users might be able to download and run an Intel Mac native Universal Binary beta version of Photoshop on Friday. The holidays are about to get a little merrier.
|
Apple's laptops have a "clamshell" mode that allows a person to use use his/her laptop with an external display, keyboard and mouse while the lid is closed. This mode makes it easy for mobile professionals to switch between their desktop enviornment and the road. The advantages are:
To leave clamshell mode and disconnect from an external display:
Those that use clamshell mode should also know that Adobe Workspaces can be used to save the palette locations on each of the displays you use. In Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, goto Window>Workspace>SaveWorkspace... to save the position of your palettes. If you make a workspace for each of your displays you can select the appropriate workspace instead of tediously moving your palettes around each time you switch displays. I hope this is a good tip for a few road warriors out there.
I am hosting an informal open house at my studio in the Finesilver building in downtown San Antonio Thursday afternoon December 21st from noon to 5pm. This is a great chance not only to hang out with digital imaging professionals but to get some hands-on with some of the best equipment and software our industry has to offer. I'll have a side-by-side comparison of the Sony Artisan, 20" iMac, Apple 23" Cinema and high-end German-made Quato display. I'll also have side-by-side print samples of the latest fine art and prepress proofing papers. There is also an Epson K3 ink printer, Imacon scanner, light booths, Solux lighting and a variety of spectrophotometers and colorimeters to use if you are interested. Equipment availability is first-come first-serve. Some of this equipment is difficult to find and use before making an educated purchasing decision so feel free to stop by, look around, ask questions and spread some holiday cheer. The Finesilver building is an odd place to get to so if you haven't been here before please