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August 16, 2023

Color Inspector

Color Inspector

Color Inspector is a tool to create and assess color manufacturing standards. 

Plastics, Textiles, Fabrics, and Paints are typical examples of industries where ChromaChecker Color Inspector will help to communicate and exchange data. Various measurement Instruments, measurement technologies, and conditions make it hard to communicate information about color differences. ChromaChecker's advanced calculation engines can translate measurement data - both spectral or colorimetric and help to improve color matching between various technologies. This is part of what Color Inspector is designed to solve. 

Color Libraries Support.

Color Inspector can import/export and manage Color Libraries. If you have a license for any Library ( e.g. Pantone) you may upload it to the central repository Color Inspector Library and tie it to your quality control program to ensure the accurate color is aligned with the client's expectations. The preferred file format is a CxF (X1, X2, X3, X4) with X4 being the most complete description. 

Basic Features

Color Inspector allows you to compare colors, convert to different color description systems, find color matches in various libraries.

  • Color Inspector provides color detail from the central repository to Print Inspector in order to track the stability of the color reproduction in any printing process.
  • Color Inspector provides reporting for designers, print buyers, and production to evaluate the impact of any given print process used in production.
  • Color Inspector can analyze the lighting conditions and how they affect color samples which will predict problems.
  • Color Inspector can assess if any color can accurately (within customer expectations) be rendered on any print process.  

Assets

This is the repository for color Palettes and Libraries. 

 

Tracking

The tool is dedicated to tracking color with one or more instruments. 

 

Welcome to the Color Inspector 

Currently, the tool works in a limited version. However, it allows you to load and browse libraries that have been saved in CxF format (including CxF / X4). The program allows you to convert different units and also performs basic conversion to the preferences defined in the RBG profile and CMYK along with Roundtrip error calculation.

 

Libraries and Palettes 

Color samples can be organized into groups called Libraries and Pallets.

Use Libraries to store samples that are master color references, and use palettes to define the specific application of that color for a given print process that can not match the master reference. For example, The master Reference for "ChromaChecker Pink" is stored in ChromaChecker Library. But that Master sample is hard to reproduce because it is out of the typical gamut when printed on offset press using coated paper. It is required to define a color variant of the pink dedicated for specific printing conditions: e.g. Offset press/coated paper. This provides a new reference for this print process which will meet expectations.  

Spot color definitions for Print Inspector

Print Inspector Track preferences allow a user to define what palette or library to use for spot color matching. The user may specify if data existing in the measurement file (some 3rd party systems handle such feature) or Color Inspector is the source. If so there is a possibility to select default Library and default Palette to search reference values. Palette has higher priority so the system will start to look for a reference in Palette if none exist then Library will be the source. That provides a lot of flexibility.

Creating Color Libraries or Palettes

You can import a Library or Palette or use Capture to take readings of the master color/swatch to use as a reference. This can be checked during production to ensure the quality tolerances are being met.

Example 3rd party application (X-Rite eXact Manager, X-Rite i1Profiler, Alwan Print Verifier, Babel Color Patch Tool) but our CC Capture application will offer this very soon.  

Unique Color Inspector Features:

  • Virtual Spot Print w LUTs fine-tuning option
  • Spot Variator: Snowflake and Grid options
  • Virtual Check Color Library at custom Lighting Condition

 

Video

  • How to save a PDF file for use in the Named Color workflow with ChromaChecker. ChromaChecker is able to create custom lookup tables using device ICC output profiles. These tables are used to convert LAB values for each individual press to achieve the best match for critical spot color workflows.

  • The Spot Color Exercise is an interactive way to communicate how Spot Colors will print and determine the Delta E difference that is acceptable. The exercise is an instruction and a practical tool for designers, print buyers, and sales for communicating color.

  • This tutorial shows how Chromachecker Capture scans control strips that include spot colors as part of your overall color quality control program.

Related Topics

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