Z3200 and i1Match

[Ryan Grayley]

Does anyone know if there are any problems using exported HP Z3200 CGATS measurement files with i1Match to create profiles?

I have just acquired a Z3200 and everything seems ok but the built-in profiling isn't quite as accurate as I would like. I tried printing an i1Match 918 test chart with PhotoShop CS1 and measuring with my Eye One Pro. The results with both LOGO Chroma+ and LOGO Colorful profiles are much better than the profile created with the z3200 software.

I then wondered if it would be possible to combine the on-board spectro in some way with i1Match. I couldn't find a direct reference to this anywhere but a few clues lead me try the following technique.

Using the Color Measurement option in the HP Printer Utility I printed a 343 measurement chart and left it to dry for a few hours. I then used the on-board spectro to measure the chart and output the results to a CGATS file. I then used this file for both reference and measurement data within i1Match and it worked! The profile results are again more accurate than the built in HP profiling software.

I may also compare 343 measurement data from the on-board spectro which is UV limiting with my Eye-One Pro which is the non-UV cut version.

I have only had the Z3200 for a day but I am already feeling a lot happier. I may run the ESP7900 and the Z3200 side by side for a while but to my eye, prints on Hahnemuehle PhotoRag Ultrasmooth are as good as the ESP7900. I very rarely print on glossy papers but I ran a Z3200 test print on EveryDay Satin without GE and the GD was terrible! (I think the ESP7900 also shows a small amount of GD and this may explain why the ESP9900 glossy prints at the recent Landscape Photography exhibition in London were laminated.)

Cheers,

Ryan

[neil snape]

It depends on what paper is used on the 7900 if there is GD or not. You can still have GD underlaying with the Z3200 with GE applied.

Now back to the question. If you had the APS app you can print and measure the 9.18 chart , which you can also measure then in i1Match. I don't think you'll be able to do so without APS though inside Print Center. It's not that it couldn't be done, but X-Rite wouldn't want HP doing this as they joint venture created the APS program which really works out well on the Z.

With previous versions APS used Gretag Libraries, but the new APS uses Monaco. You can play in ColorPort to exchange the readings, but it's at times complicated.

I have tried some things with the ColorMunki and these charts but it is beyond me to make it automated.