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A real spectrophotometer for US $1,200?
Help request -- August 8, 1995
I HAVE OBTAINED THE INFORMATION from Colotron regarding their product and this is quite remarkable for the cost, as mentioned on this net earlier. Is there anybody who could comment on their use experiences with this device and relay this to the group?
We are interested in presenting colours with known characteristics (CIE eg) via a monitor for a new test of colour perception. We have the algorithm worked out and the presentation format has been designed. We are in the throes of ordering a Colortron spectrophotometer and that's why other user experiences could be useful.
Thanks in anticipation, J.Kirkland@massey.ac.nz (John Kirkland).
Previous discussion below:
The 'COLORTRON' Digital Color Sensor
COLORING Digest #14, 4/29 - 5/3/95
Bill, a general question for COLORING Digest. Has anyone had any experience with a relatively new product called Colortron from Light Source Computer Image?
Phil Bradfield: The documents opened by this application are palettes of measured or picked or derived colors. The colors are all drag-and-drop so one can measure a color, drag it from the palette to the color harmony tool pick some complementing colors and drag them to the palette. The palette can be exported as text (colorimetric / spectral data) or as an EPS palette. This EPS file can be imported in to Pagemaker (etc.) and it will be available for the designer to use in a document.
The software requires a Mac running system 7.1 or greater, 2 MB RAM, 5MB Hard disk, ColorSync (included), Apple Extensible Color Picker (included) and PANTONE Open Color Environment(included). The hardware features an annular halogen(?) light source. and a 45/0 geometry. There is a grating which pivots the "scanning" spectra across a photodetector. There is a "auto-ranging" feature which measures each wavelength until enough signal is received. There is a 3mm x 3mm sample area. The instrument measures 390 to 700nm at 10nm intervals. Here is a (very) rough ASCII sketch of the internal optics:
______ mirror
/|
/ |
/ |
/ | ______ Grating on pivot
/ __|___o
|/ |
mirror |------+------> O Photodetector
| |
^
O | O Light Sources
\ | /
\|/
_________ Sample
|
Since the measurements are scanned, each measurement takes a few seconds. A measurement of something light will take only about a second while a dark color may take a few seconds. LightSource says that there is a CRT measurement attachment and a integrating dome for measuring light sources in the works.
The price for this is around US$1,200.
I'm sure LightSource would be happy to send out info. Here are their numbers:
In the US: 1-800-99-4-COLOR (26567) or: 1-800-231-SCAN (7226) Outside the US: +1-415-925-4200 E-Mail: info@ls.com Disclaimer: The above information is entirely based on my opinions and knowledge and is NOT the opinion of Canon, Inc., Canon Information Systems, Inc. or LightSource Inc. Any errors or mistakes are mine.
Tim Kohler tkohler@canon.com
Canon Information Systems
Palo Alto, California 94304 USA
COLORING Digest #15, May 4-7, 1995
In the last two COLORING Digests, we have had a discussion of this interesting, inexpensive device. I called LightSource for details. I got a nice 8 page Fax, and a snail mail brochure. It's true, not a misprint: they actually sell a serious spectro for $1,200 US!
I WANT ONE! Where are SPONSORS with $$$ when I need them??? COLORTRON, please note: I'll supply my own PC when you're ready for an Alpha or Beta tester -- I have a lot of great color software just waiting for a sensor...
Bill Dawes
I had a chance to talk with one of the tech guys there (Light Source) yesterday (Glenn Nelson). It's a pretty fascinating instrument and will soon be ported over to DOS machines for all you poor unfortunates who don't have a Mac. They are also coming up with the capability to do displays along with color densitometry. As an aficionado of clever optical designs, they have done well -- while they measure with a 10 nm. bandpass, in theory, they could go to 1 nm. Pretty neat stuff, with more to come ---clip---
(Opinions are mine and mine alone)
Art Springsteen artfy1166@aol.com
603-927-4266 x129
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