Now that so many different types of papers, display films, art papers, packaging materials, and fabrics can be digitally printed, the professionals who produce digital prints need more versatile color-measurement devices. X-Rite and Pantone have addressed this need with the i1Pro 3 Plus color-measurement instrument and a new X-Rite iO Automated Scanning Table.
The i1Pro 3 Plus device from X-Rite Inc. and Pantone LLC is a spectral color measurement solution specifically designed for imaging, print, and textile professionals who need advanced calibration and color profiling capabilities to support today’s wide-format and industrial printing applications.
The i1Pro 3 Plus has been optimized for digital printing on a range of materials and surfaces, including ceramics, textiles, glass, metal, wood, vinyl, plastics, thin films, cardboard, paper, and more.
Commercial, wide-format, grand-format, packaging, and industrial printers can now create ICC profiles for almost any substrate and calibrate print production devices for the highest level of color accuracy.
Background
As more industries turn to digital printing, customers expect print-service providers to be able to achieve accurate, repeatable color. To do this, production print equipment must be linearized and profiled for each substrate.
Traditionally used profiling devices have limited ability to measure textured, rough, or uneven surfaces. And most, can’t accommodate the many different thickness of materials that can be digitally printed today.
Many devices do not have the resolution required to ensure the highest color quality when printing detailed patterns, metallic effects, or photography images. These shortcomings lead to costly color errors and rework.
Benefits
“The i1Pro 3 Plus builds on the success of the i1 family of products and removes the variability to create accurate ICC profiles on the widest range of materials,” said Ray Cheydleur, Printing and Imaging Product Portfolio Manager, X-Rite. “Wide- and grand-format users and industrial material printers will see immediate value by incorporating the affordable i1Pro 3 Plus into their prepress and production workflows.” He said users can expect more accurate and repeatable color, a reduction of waste, and an increased return on investment.
A long-term X-Rite partner, EFI (Electronics For Imaging), also sees the great potential of the i1Pro Plus 3 and supports it in their latest Fiery print-management technologies: “Due to the nature of digital textile production, this large-aperture device is an excellent fit with our latest single-pass EFI BOLT high-speed textile printer. For both color management and quality control, this device will allow our customers to produce accurate color much more easily,” said John Henze, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, EFI Fiery.
New Features
The i1Pro 3 Plus includes a number of new features.
The larger, 8mm aperture supports new materials and substrates used in digital printing applications.
A new polarization filter (measurement condition M3) reduces specular highlights and shadows on fabrics and ceramics. It provides better blacks and richer colors on rough surfaces and glossy medias, such as canvas prints and fine art photo papers.
It can simultaneously measure M0, M1 and M2 in a single pass to account for optical brighteners. This enables prepress and print operators to quickly predict how colors printed on optically brightened substrates will look under different lighting conditions.
A longer ruler can measure the wider charts used in grand-format printing. The ruler includes an ISO-compliant white backer and removable magnetic strips on the top and sides for holding samples in place while measuring.
A new LED illuminant improves device reliability. The i1Pro 3 Plus allows for four measurement conditions (ISO 13655 M0; M1: D50; M2: UV Excluded, M3 Polarized).
It supports transmission scanning for backlit film and materials used in signage. The device can measures high brightness, up to 5K NITs for ultra-bright displays.
“We are used to seeing bumpy shadow measurements from unpolarized devices on glossy textured medias like canvas. With the new polarization feature in the i1Pro 3 Plus, our M3 measurements are dramatically smoother in the shadows – perfect in fact,” commented Scott Martin, Founder, Onsight, a workflow consultant for print, prepress, design and photography.
New X-Rite iO Table
X-Rite’s new i1iO Automated Scanning Table supports the i1Pro 3 Plus. This hands-free test chart reader offers automated color profiling on a variety of substrates with reduced risk of color measurement errors. It is ideal for photographers, designers, and printers who want to speed up and automate the measurement process and eliminate manual strip reading.
The new i1iO table can be used with a variety of industrial materials including textiles, ceramics, corrugated, etc. and supports materials up to 33 mm thick, with the optional z-axis spacer. It also supports transparencies and backlit materials.
About X-Rite
X-Rite Incorporated is a global leader in the science and technology of color and appearance. Manufacturers, retailers, printers, photographers and graphic design houses use X-Rite products to achieve precise management and communication of color and appearance throughout their processes.
For more information, visit www.xrite.com. Connect with X-Rite on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.
About Pantone
Pantone provides the universal language of color that enables color-critical decisions through every stage of the workflow for brands and manufacturers.
Learn more at www.pantone.com and connect with Pantone on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.