A new RIP?
A new RIP?
- Subject: A new RIP?
- From: Marco Ugolini <email@hidden>
- Date: Sun, 21 Mar 2004 22:12:50 -0800
I just learned about a RIP called X-Color, made by ColorGraphX (see more at
http://www.colorgraphx.net/US/products.htm).
They make a hell of a claim, nothing short of guaranteeing "contract quality
proofs every time", and -- get this -- completely WITHOUT the use of
ICC-based technologies. Is this the mumbo-jumbo it seems to be, or has
anyone in this forum used it, and found it to stand up to its rather bold
claims?
If they are not B.S.ing us, this would seem to be nothing short of a
"revolution" in color technologies for proofing and accurate color, but then
again it might just be the latest flavor of snake oil...
Surely enough, in a section titled "Our Technology"
(
http://www.colorgraphx.net/US/tech.htm) they throw around words meant to
impress ("Colorgraphx X-Color uses non abridged spectral data to define
color models" [we all hate them abridged...], and "There are 31 values for
every color that is measured by a spectrophotometer. Each of these
measurements is a "floating point number" (at least 32 bits)." [sometimes
33, or 35 even?] "Colorgraphx technology utilizes this data directly to
construct its color prediction model. There is no elimination of data before
beginning the color prediction process." [as opposed to who else eliminating
what?] And so on.)
The price is $475 (a bit less than ImagePrint), not exactly as dirt-cheap as
one may expect of a RIP for which it is claimed that it does not require end
users either "to invest in color measuring devices or color management
software", or to have "an education in color science" (now, that worries me:
contract proofs from people with no knowledge of color technologies? So,
push-button accurate color is with us ALREADY? Please, DO convince me...).
And since it is also claimed that the end user does not do any measuring of
the 100-or-so patches which must be printed and "measured" to create the
"I.D." on which the system revolves (according to their pitch), then one is
left presuming that these patch must be sent to some specialized center,
probably for a recurring fee -- a procedure which would have to be repeated
for each device and combination of device and paper, and updated regularly
as the device ages and drifts. A nice little source of captive cash flow...
So far I am not convinced, but I am curious. Does anyone know more about
this strange bird? And does it fly?
--------------
Marco Ugolini
Mill Valley, CA
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