Archive notice: This article was originally published on April 25, 2008. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
Unnatural, distorted colour reproduction on the TV screen is a thing of the past with home cinema calibration solutions from Datacolor, a world leader in colour management technologies. For professionals and specialist dealers, Datacolor has now reissued the ColorFacts Professional colour calibration sytem with version 7.5. The new version offers even more features and takes full advantage of the new Spyder3 colorimeter. This allows developers or specialists installing high-end equipment for customers to take even more accurate measurements and adjust the TV sets correspondingly precisely. To accompany this, Datacolor, together with MGR International Beratungs GmbH und Co. KG, is now offering multi-stage, manufacturer-independent Joe Kane Productions (JKP) training courses for specialist dealers, which include ColorFacts training among other things.
“The home cinema market still offers great growth potential. This applies particularly to LCD TVs,” says Christoph Gamper, General Manager EMEA of Datacolor’s Consumer Business Unit. “The high demand in this area shows that first-class image quality is important to customers. But incorrect colour reproduction noticeably reduces display quality. With ColorFacts Professional 7.5, we now have exactly the right product in our range that specialists need to get the optimum image quality out of TV systems – added value for specialist dealers and a clear plus for the television experience.”
The new Datacolor Spyder3 sensor has a measuring aperture of 372 mm2, representing an increase of 246% over the predecessor model, and is currently the only colorimeter in its class with seven colour detectors. Measurement accuracy has also been increased by 29% and is now
Δx, y 0.0025.
In addition, ColorFacts Professional 7.5 software offers improvements in reading sensor data and, for the first time, an EyeOne Display option. This lets the user specify whether an LCD or CRT screen is being measured, which can further increase measurement accuracy. Together with the established ColorFacts characteristics, the colour calibration system offers the following features:
• goal-oriented, menu-guided colour measurement programmes
• intuitive, fully configurable user interface
• full Spyder3 compatibility
• improved reading of sensor data
• internally or externally generated test patterns
• C3 calibration
• wizard for matching different measuring instruments
• automatic display of all important screen parameters without further user intervention
• wizard for correct display calibration
• measurement and display of gamma values
• precisely targeted image correction using the “Bullseye” principle
• measurement and display of reproducible colour spaces
• freely selectable reference colour system (NTSC, ATSC/HDTV, PAL/SECAM, user-defined)
• Selectable calibration targets (A, B, C, D50, D55, D65, D75, E, 9300 K, user-defined colour temperature or coordinates)
• Import and export of various formats (*.csv, *.bmp, *.jpg, *.pdf)
• EyeOne Display option for selecting LCD or CRT screen measurement
• Integrated address book
• Calibration of video walls and multi-display systems
• Detailed report generation
• Direct integration of test DVDs (Avia, Video Essentials, PF Test-Disc)
• Direct integration of signal generators
ColorFacts Professional 7.5 is available now and costs €1,800 (RRP excluding VAT). The software is now available as a download; the upgrade is free for users of ColorFacts Professional version 7.0. To use the full functionality, the user must in this case purchase a Spyder3 colorimeter separately, for example Spyder3Pro for €125 (RRP excluding VAT).
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The first German-language JKP training course takes place from 27.05. to 29.05.2008 in Zurich, followed by training in German, English and French in Cologne, Manchester, Paris, Berlin and Munich. Anyone wishing to take part in one of the JKP training courses can make a binding registration via the Datacolor website.
At the JKP traninings, participants receive not only first-class calibration know-how but also the opportunity to acquire calibration equipment at favourable prices – including professional calibration training that enables them to work independently with the equipment in future. The JKP logo awarded after the training shows end customers that the dealer has first-class expertise and operates according to a unique code to preserve the art and quality of film through considered product selection, recommendation and calibration. Since JKP training courses build on one another and dealers must pass a test to reach the next training level, the ColorFacts packages are offered with either JKP Level 1 or JKP Level 1 & 2 training.
For dealers in consumer electronics in particular, it is important to offer services that go beyond the normal sales discussion. Display calibration and the optimal adjustment of different AV components to one another provide an ideal opportunity for extended “after-sales support”, in which products are optimally adjusted and configured after delivery to the customer’s home. The training also provides dealers with the knowledge needed to identify the quality of new products before expanding their portfolios. However, retailers are often dependent on manufacturer training, which covers certain technological characteristics of the manufacturers’ own products but often cannot offer the necessary broader perspective. The collaboration between Datacolor and MGR International provides a remedy here: the manufacturer-independent JKP training courses give dealers and AV professionals solid and comprehensive knowledge that they can offer their end customers on top – a clear advantage over the competition.
Overview of the 2008 Training Dates
27.05. – 29.05.2008 Language: German Location: Zurich
24.06. – 26.06.2008 Language: German Location: Cologne
29.07. – 31.07.2008 Language: English Location: Manchester
12.08. – 14.08.2008 Language: French Location: Paris
04.09. – 06.09.2008 Language: German Location: Berlin
07.10. – 09.10.2008 Language: German Location: Munich
Further Links:
- Datacolor
MGR INternational
Joe Kane Productions
