ColourManagement.net - Neil Barstow

basICColor Display software, the very best Display calibration and profiling basICColor from color-solutions
calibration/profiling software,
calibration sensors,
digital camera Grey-balancing tools


Neil Barstow has been working with basICColor for 9 years and with hundreds of users in the field is very well equipped to talk you through the advantages and features of their product line. please click here to contact us by email. Please provide contact details and a little info. about your needs and Neil Barstow will call you personally to talk over your requirements.

Display calibration and profiling :


basICColor Discus

New from German Colour masters basICColor: Discus, a highly accurate measurement sensor for Display Calibration. basICColor discus, the ultimate display screen calibration and profiling sensor
Monitor Technology has recently undergone very rapid development and now demands much more from a measurement instrument.
basICColor Discus has been designed specifically for highly demanding fields of application. The high end Discus colorimeter offers longevity with the precision and flexibility of a laboratory graded instrument with the compact design and portability of a hand held instrument.
More info on Discus below


basICColor Display Calibration Software Ground breaking Monitor Display System
Calibration and Profiling software.


basICColor Display initial licence
new - lower pricing £85,
102.00 inc vat

Excellent calibration and profiling software for those users who fell that they'd like more accuracy and, thus bpeace of mind, or more options and flexibility for calibration than provided by their bundled software (e.g. i1 match or Spyder3 software).

basICColor Display is a software only solution, i.e. it does not include calibration hardware, although it can be bundled with the high end basICColor Discus Colorimeter or basIColor Squid2 WG Colorimeter.

Display software also supports virtually every device on the market (see list below). basICColor Display is also the technology behind the NEC SpectraView Profiler software as supplied with the high end NEC SpectraView displays.

With version 4, the proven software basICColor Display has been taken to a new level of quality, speed and ease of use in monitor calibration and profiling.  

The highly respected quality of earlier versions has been further improved by using latest algorithms for calibration and profiling.  

The software now offers higher speed, a considerably easier to use interface, more features than previous versions and than any other product in the market.

For beginners the software offers a selection of predefined settings for easier handling and faster success in calibrating and profiling the monitor.

Expert users have access to extended options to optimise, edit and fine-tune the calibration and profiling of their monitors.

The quality of the system can be reviewed in basICColor display 4 at any time - in the validation process.

basICColor Display4, the best calibration and profiling software - includes Validation for Quality Control

basICColor display is the first software to calibrate monitors to a visually LINEAR state based on L*a*b* colourspace.  All other solutions set the gradation curve using a simple gamma function.  And now basICColor even added a “Match sRGB” calibration curve for video and web!

With basICColor display 4 you can also measure and assess ambient light and viewing booths (with a suitable instrument) according ISO 3664 and ISO 12646.

More on Features:

Software for calibrating and profiling all types of monitors, e.g. CRT, LCD, Notebooks, projectors

Fully automatic hardware calibration for compatible monitors such as Eizo ColorEdge

Visually linear L* calibration, Gamma calibration

NEW: True "sRGB" calibration target curve for web design and video

NEW: Ease of use with predefined calibration and profiling settings
(ISO 3664 and ISO 12646, Office, PrePress, Photography, Video, WebDesign)

NEW: Option of defining calibration parameters not only for white luminance but also for black luminance and neutrality and/or contrast ratio

Supports all sensor instruments of adequate quality (colorimeter and spectrophotometer)

Options for ICC v2 or v4 profiles, 16-bit LUT-based or matrix profiles

Visual and numerical validation test of calibration and profiling results

NEW: Option of editing white point and gradation of the profile

NEW: option for measurement and assessment of ambient light and viewing booths (with compatible instrument) according to ISO 3664 and ISO 12646

Calibrates and profiles multiple monitors

On Site Example: In our work with City of Westminster College in their CoVE (Centre of Vocational Excellence) as well as their suite of Cinema Displays, we helped set up 2 fairly old iMacs, 2 PC's with XP, 3 G4 Apple Macs, each with 17" Apple LCD and 2 x eMacs.  With the right settings they were able to be extremely close, a lot closer than expected after rumours of disappointing results on the eMac.  I'm not saying the CRT eMac becomes a high end retouching display, but the results were very good.  

basICColor Display 4 is compatible with most reading devices, supported as of ver.4.1.22:
basICColor Squid 2,basICColor Discus,  X-Rite Eye-One Spectrophotometers [e.g. X-Rite Eye-One Design, Eye-One Photo, Eye-One Monitor etc.]; Eye-One Display Eye-One Display 2 and Eye-One Display LT, X-Rite Colormunki Photo or Design Datacolor Spyder 2and 3 X-Rite Monaco Optix XR, Sequel Chroma 4 USB, X-Rite Monaco DTP 94., Eizo Swing (built-in calibrator on CG245W and CG275W)

basICColor Display4, the best calibration and profiling software

Minimum System Requirements

Windows: Windows XP SP2, Windows VISTA (32 & 64-Bit), Windows 7 (32 & 64-Bit)
Mac: Mac OS X 10.4.11 (PPC), Mac OS X 10.5.6 (Intel), Mac OS X 10.6.2 (Intel). PowerPC® G4-Processor, Intel® Core-Duo-Processor

option/alt click here to to download a PDF about basICColor Display 4

basICColor Display software is sold as an activation file for a downloaded software. Please be careful to ensure that it is suitable for your needs by downloading and activating the demo software and trying it out before buying. unfortunately refunds cannot be given once the licence has been used to activate the software.


click here for instructions – how to download and activate the 14 day basICColor Display demo software


basICColor Display Calibration Software Ground breaking Monitor Display System
Calibration and Profiling software.


basICColor Display initial licence
new - lower pricing £85,
102.00 inc vat

( please click here to email us with any basICColor queries).



basICColor Discus

please click here to email us for pricing and more on Discus basICColor Discus colorimeter, the ultimate screen calibration and profiling sensor
New from German Colour masters basICColor: the Discus, a highly accurate measurement sensor for Display Calibration. The Discus is available bundled with basICColor Display software and is also compatible with NEC Spectraview Profiler software.

Monitor Technology has recently undergone very rapid development and now demands much more from a measurement instrument. Latest LCD and LED screens, new Wider Gamut Displays, Video, Cinema, Presentation and Medical Applications all require measurement instruments for calibration with highest precision, signal to noise ratio (for a clean signal) and with excellent longevity.

basICColor Discus has been designed specifically for these demanding fields of application. The high end Discus colorimeter offers the precision and flexibility of a laboratory graded instrument with the compact design and portability of a hand held device.

The encapsulated optics and the thin-film glass filters of the Discus sensor guarantee long term stability of the instrument's measurement values.

Each Discus is calibrated individually and can be repeatedly re-certified by basICColor. This ensures that the basICColor Discus can be used perpetually as a dependable master tool and reference instrument. A built in temperature sensor compensates for heating during measurement, thus the user can be sure to achieve reliable and constant measurement values, even for the critical dark areas.

With basICColor Discus the user is fully equipped for all display measurement tasks. Discus masters Contact Measurement; Tele-Measurement (with laser pointer), as well as Light Measurement, for example in proof illumination. Thanks to the intelligent design the flat ambient light diffuser is mounted in parallel with the paper surface. It can also be positioned perpendcularly to the light source with the help of its laser pointer.

Up to 128 loadable calibrations make for a guaranteed long-term future, basICColor Discus is easily adaptable for any Display technology

Features of the basICColor Discus:
Measure modes: Contact, Tele and (ambient) Light Measurement

Optical Design: Highly sensitive colorimetric sensor with long-term stable thin-film glass filters, elaborate optical path for a large measurement spot even in contact measurement.

Aperture angle in contact and tele measurement: +/- 2°

Measure spot in contact: ø ca. 0.7 cm

measure spot in tele, distance 1m: ø ca. 7 cm

measure spot in tele, distance 10m: ø ca. 70 cm

Filter wheel with 3 positions:

Tele and Contact measurement with filter thread for lens hood or filter
Integrated flat ambient light diffuser for light measurement (Aperture angle 180°)
Calibration position and protection for optics and laser printer.

Contact measurement: mounting suspension with tape measure

Tele measurement: 3/8" tripod socket, laserpointer, tape measure

Light measurement: 3/8" tripod socket, laser pointer, coplanar uni-body housing for measurement of lighting (e.g. light-box, proof viewing cabinet, offset print control station . . . ), flat ambient light measurement with paper surface at a distance of only 27mm, 2 positioning aids at 45° for repeatable appraisal of stray light

Unibody housing for added robustness and thermal stability

Measurement range:
Luminence: 0.05 to 2.500 cd/qm
Chomaticity: 0.05 to 2.500 cd.qm

Accuracy
Luminence: +/- 2% 1 digit (1~500 cd/m2)
Chromaticity: +/- 0.002 illuminant D65
Chromaticity: +/- 0.0025 CCT 4000-15000K
Chromaticity: +/- 0.0065 for other colours
Calibration: PTB traceable
Flickering: Measurement according to VESA standard
Interface: USB 2.0
Power: 4.7 to 5.5V DC via USB

Parameter storage: 8 different base calibrations (5 occupied by factory setting), 16 positions for user calibrations, can be arbitrarily combined with factory calibrations: 128 combinations

Timing: max 10 measurements for low sensitivity, max 4 measurements for high sensitivity

Temperature compensation: 10 to 50°C
USB cable: approx. 1.8m
Dimensions: ø 97mm, height: 27mm, weight: 310g
Included: instrument with laser pointer and integrated ambient light diffuser, socket adaptor 3/8" to 1/4", mounting suspension with integrated tape measure, bag.

Errors and Omissions Excepted - specifications are provided by the manufacturer and are subject to change.



basICColor Squid WG colorimeter, optimised sensor for calibration of wide gamut displays

Other basICColor profiling gear :::

learn more about color-solutions basICColor software range at color-solutions website [new window]

basICColor products include Scan+, a capable scanner profiling application, as well as the excellent Control, for proofer and printer validation. Please click here to email us for prices or more information.



basICColor caliCube and GreyCard
digital camera Grey-balancing tools

Color–solutions have produced a special Greycard and, for even more assistance, the basICCaliCube, both are useful aids for a digital photographer, utilising a superior type of material for the Grey-balancing of digital cameras. More on the cube below on this page.

The practical science:-
Digital photography offers the user a wide range of new possibilities.  Color fidelity in particular can be improved tremendously.   Instead of two conversions (Original – [Photography ] – Film,  Film  – [Scan] – File) only one is required (Original – [Photography] – File).  Color conversion from original to film is obsolete.  That is the step which is not easily controlled, while scanning delivers very exact color reproduction when colour management is applied.  Merging of the capture and the scanning process in digital photography eliminates color problems in film that otherwise cannot be corrected.  In order to achieve exact color reproduction, the digital camera needs, ideally, to be calibrated and profiled – just like the scanner – in a conventional two – step process.  

Variations in lighting conditions present a special challenge in digital photography.  While all ICC – compatible programs (camera software, Photoshop, InDesign, RIPs, . . .) are based on the internationally standardized (through ISO standards) lighting D50 (daylight, 5000 Kelvin, equals approximately sunlight at noon), photographers are dependent on the actual lighting in the current scene.  

When working with different illuminants, metameric failure will occur regularly.  The color of two objects will look the same under one light, but they differ under another light.  In everyday life you see this effect when shopping for clothing – clothes match under shop light and do not match under sunlight – or vice versa.  

A white balance target bears a special relevance in respect to metamerism.  If the photographer uses a metameric Grey card for this purpose, (and, many commercially available Greycards are metameric)  all images taken under a non – D50 lighting situation will produce a color cast, although the camera had been calibrated to Grey.  The cast depends upon the type of metameric failure.  This effect is known for most Grey cards, even from well known manufacturers in the photographic industry.  That’s why Color Solutions developed the basICColor Grey card .  Because of its spectral remission properties, it is virtually free of metameric failure.  The color shift under different lighting situation remains way under the threshold of visual perception.  Or, in brief, the basICColor Grey card looks the same under all viewing conditions: Grey without a cast. Most Greycards do not have this property.  


basICColor Greycard, the ultimate greybalancing card for digital cameras

option/alt click here to read more download an info PDF for basICColor Greycard

basICColor cali - cube basiCaliCube, the ultimate digital camera greybalancing and exposure process

basICCaliCube


An expert photographer's view of the basICCaliCube: –

After only a couple of months of use, I can say that this little tool has simplified the whole process of evaluating shadow and highlight areas in an image, especially when shooting raw and especially when photographing scenes that have no proper highlight area or full tonal range.  For example, a landscape which consists mainly of midtones will be hard to evaluate when establishing highlight and shadow points.  


Placing the Cube in a shot gives all the information needed to properly set white and black points for a given lighting set–up, whether artificial or natural.  The Grey face of the Cube is for setting a mid–tone and is particularly useful as it is spectrally neutral...    which means it won't change colour under different lighting conditions unlike some popular Grey cards.  Imagine shooting a bunch of garments somewhere outside...  the weather is variable; some cloud cover, some sun...  you do a reference shot each time the light changes with a (non–spectrally neutral) Grey card.  When you come to process the raw files, you use each reference shot to neutralise on and find that...  oh dear...  each batch of images has a slightly different colour temp.  If you use a spectrally neutral Grey card instead though...  consistency reigns.  Which means time saved....  and time is...  

The only thing you need in addition is something to hang the cube off!

Nick Dunmur 2006


Using the basICCaliCube
by industry guru Thomas Holm of Pixl:

Basically, first set the white point, then the black point. This will fix the tonal range and make highlights and shadows neutral. Then, try with the Grey eyedropper. If the Grey doesn't work either delete the points in the individual RGB curves or try to adjust them to make things look right. Then do either hue/sat or selective colour adjustments. Next you might play with making selections if you still have areas that do not appear as you want them. This procedure goes for most any type of image colour correction.

The process, more detail - In Photoshop's Curves dialogue:

Set a white point using the eyedropper (but do set the eyedropper level first, i.e. [double click it and adjust each target]. For setting white with some detail [as on the white face of the Cube] this value would be about 247/247/247, experiment with your images, and, after clicking, look at the level of the spectral highlight on the chrome ball, this should be near to 255/255/255, generally).

Set a black point (again set the eyedropper's level first [double click it] for black with some detail as on the black face of the Cube, this value may be about 10/10/10, again experiment and observe the level of the area in the black hole - for absolute black, , this should be near to 0/0/0, generally).

Once Black and White are set, you can now set a Grey point, so you will have a neutral Grey balance.

You can only place the Grey point after the Black and/or White points. If, after setting Grey, you click with either the white or black eye dropper any other adjustment to the (R+G+B) curves is erased, so you'd have to redo the Grey point. Check the individual channels after setting white + black, then Grey, or black + white, then Grey.

Having set the initial Black/White/Greypoint in curves, now save the curve. Apply this curve as a starting point for the real images from a similar shooting scenario.

Of course, ease of success depends on your light source. The fuller spectrum, the easier this is (daylight is full spectrum). The more whacked the light is [maybe fluorescent?] the more adjustments you will need to do to obtain a pleasing image.

If you set the Grey eyedropper and the image as a whole "appears" wrong my answer would be to then slightly adjust the individual points of the curve in the R+G+B channels, this method achieves a shifted Grey-balance, e.g. perhaps for a sunset scene where the warmth of the light should be retained).

When the Grey balance is nailed down using a spectrally neutral object like the Cube (or basICColor GreyCard), the rest is a question of hue/sat and possibly selective colour adjustments to make skin tones and memory colours appear more pleasing.


basICColor cali - cube basiCaliCube, the ultimate digital camera greybalancing and exposure process

option/alt click here to to download an info PDF for basICCaliCube




More from basICCColor:

basICColor DropRGB, simple and accurate RGB printer profiling

basICColor CMYKick, simple and accurate CMYK printer profiling and reprofiling from existing data, rebuild your existing profiles to a higher quality

There are many interesting and useful products from color-solutions in the range, please click here to go to the basICColor website for more info. Once at the home page, Alt Click on "product overview" at top right, to download a pdf with a summary of the full basICColor software range.


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