An update for the ColorVision PrintFIX

A major update for the PrintFIX?

The ColorVision PrintFIX has had a mixed press.

Some people have had excellent results, while others have had problems.

A year on from his original review Keith looks at where things have moved.

Using the original PrintFIX

Several people have contacted Keith after reading this article.

Keith has done some further testing and discovered some interesting tips on getting better profiles.

See more info at the bottom of the page

We also have reviews of the latest PrintFIX Pro, which now runs as a standalone package with a Spectrocolorimeter for measurements, and the PrintFIX PLUS software only solution

News

Changes in version 1.2

The most obvious difference is that you have to send off for an update.

This is free when you supply your PrintFIX serial number.

• ColorVision US upgrade site
• ColorVision EU upgrade site - look for PF1.2 update details and email your request.

You get a some new software and two copies of an all new calibration card.

Perhaps addressing some of the concerns about unit to unit variability, the new card has coloured patches...

The new software also supports an increasing range of printers:

Canon i70 Canon i80 Canon i860 Canon i900 Canon i950 Canon i960 Canon i965 Canon i9100 Canon i9900 Canon s9000 Canon 50i Canon 900pd Canon 950i Canon 960i Canon 9100i Canon 9900i Canon f9000

Epson Photo 890 Epson Photo 900 Epson Photo 960 Epson 1200 Epson 1270 Epson 1280 Epson 1290 Epson 2000p Epson 2100* Epson 2200* Epson 4000* Epson 5500* Epson 7600* Epson 9600* Epson c62 Epson c82 Epson c84

Epson r200 Epson r210 Epson r300 Epson r310 Epson r800 Epson rx500 Epson PM 870c Epson PM 880c Epson PM 950c Epson PM4000px* Epson PM 3300c Epson PM 3500c Epson MC2000 Epson MC5000 Epson PX7000* Epson PX9000* Epson PX-G900 HP Photo 7660 HP Photo 7760 HP Photo 7960

New printers added Feb 05 (and upgrade to V1.2.1)

CANON 9900i, CANON i80, CANON i9900(Updated), CANON iP8600, EPSON 4000 Matte, EPSON C60, EPSON C80, EPSON PXG5000, EPSON PXG900, EPSON PXG920, HP130

* Also supports MediaStreet Inc's Generations G-Chrome® Inks and Lyson Inc's CavePaint® & PhotoChrome® Inks on these printer models. Epson 4000 currently supported for PhotoBlack only.

New printers May 05 (V1.2.2)

CANON i9950,CANON iP8500, SAMSUNG CLP-500, SAMSUNG CLP-550

The PDF manual is very clearly set out and you should read it carefully to make sure that you follow the correct procedure when using the PrintFIX. I tried out the new version using Photoshop CS under Mac OS X 10.3 and it installed fine (New** see notes at end of article).

The original black and white calibration card is still used for setting up the scanner, and I'd draw your attention to the suggestion in the manual that you recalibrate the unit each time you use it afresh. Measurements for profile building require accuracy and consistent equipment.

The coloured cards are used in the profile building part of the PrintFIX program, suggesting that this is an additional kind of calibration.

As I suggested in my original review there was space in the dialog box to add features... :-)

The screen shot above was taken while re-testing one of my original scans. I've tried a 'new' profile using one of the cheaper papers I used for the original review and the results were noticeably better. I've not done the extensive testing that I did before, so I can't really be certain that it was not just me being more careful in making the scan and print.

I welcome ColorVision's efforts to continue developing the PrintFIX and would suggest that you get your upgrade ordered asap.

If you are still wondering about the device, have a look at the "Is PrintFIX right for me" section of the ColorVision site and understand what it does. I use a RIP for printing on my Epson 9600 - this is far beyond what the PrintFIX was designed for -- especially with all the B/W work I do. I use PrintFIX profiles in some of my teaching and with some oddball papers that I use for a few prints on my Epson 1290.

Latest news (16/11/05)

I've had a few reports of people having difficulties with getting good profiles and one person was good enough to supply me with an actual test print and profile chart. I scanned the chart and generated a profile. Checking several images with Photoshop soft proofing showed that the image was too light and too yellow in the highlights.

I went back to the scan and found that due to slight slippage the patch block was not completely square. The sides and top of the block were parallel to the paper edges but the bottom edge was not.

Selecting the whole scan I distorted it slightly to make it square (It is obviously best to get a good scan in the first place...) I also used the clone tool to remove blemishes, dust, and slight print defects (ink dropouts for example)

Generating a new profile, I compared the two. The differences were quite noticeable, with the second profile giving a very good soft proof.

I've not had these problems with the profiles I've used with my Epson 1290, but if you are having difficulties, then maybe a closer look at your scans may show up some problems.

I also heard from someone with problems on a dual G5 Mac. I'd tried out V1.2 on my old G4 which I still use for quite a bit of work. On the G5 the installed software seemed to cause Photoshop some serious grief ("could not write file" error), but then I remembered I'd just upgraded the Mac to OS X 10.3.6 I ran the PrintFIX uninstaller, did a disk permissions check (no problems) reinstalled the PrintFIX 1.2 and restarted. This time no problems.

Just to be sure I installed V1.2 on my G4 laptop (10.3.6) once again Photoshop complained. Uninstalling and reinstalling seemed to fix things.

As such I'd suggest using the unistaller to get rid of old PrintFIX stuff first if you are on a Mac...

I should add that I've also had mails from people saying that their profiles were OK, but I'd appreciate comments either way.

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