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Version 3.6.0 b268 (2011-12-14)
New features:
-
Added support for the X-Rite i1Display Pro colorimeter:
-
This instrument is currently used in the
Display Check tool.
-
Supported models: i1Display Pro hardware sold by X-Rite (i.e. the retail
version, part #EODIS3-XR). Generic models sold by other companies (third
parties, or OEM, part #EODIS-OEM) should also be compatible. At this
time we cannot say if we will support or not custom models sold by other
companies since separate agreements with these parties may be required.
More specific info will be provided as new models are released.
-
PatchTool can load and assign calibration matrices (contained in X-Rite
Emissive Display Reference (EDR) files) specifically designed for
various display technologies, and which provide improved measurement
accuracy. Five EDR files are supplied; additional files could be added
in the future without a need to reinstall PatchTool.
-
Select between two measurement speeds.
-
Note: On Mac, OS X 10.5+ is required (Mac
Intel tested, PowerPC TBD).
Improvements:
- Display Check Instrument Info dialog:
-
Revised interface: You can now assign the
instrument preferences without going back to the program Preferences’
dialog.
-
More robust code to improve the connection
to an instrument if this instrument is not connected when the Display
Check window is opened.
- (Mac) Replaced PICT by PNG as an image
export format.
Bug fixes:
- Exporting images: Fixed a bug where a reddish, yellowish,
or orangish tint could be seen in 16 bit TIFF L*a*b* patches when a* and/or
b* was negative with a value between zero and -0,001953.
- Display Check RAW file: Now shows correct L*a*b* D50
Source data. The problem was seen when the reference data was XYZ, L*a*b* or
L*C*h* and the destination profile was an external ICC profile. The problem
did not occur for RGB, CMYK, and spectral reference data, and when the
destination was an internal PatchTool profile; as well, RAW measurements
were never affected.
- Now shows the correct Hardware and Driver versions for
the Spyder2 and Spyder3 in the Display Check Info dialog.
Jump to Screenshots,
Features,
Detailed specs / System requirements
Go to the DOWNLOAD page
Go to the HOME page
Version 3.5.0 b255 (2011-06-01)
New features:
-
Extract Target from Image tool: This tool is designed to directly extract
the average of target patches in full size photographic images.
-
Target size: User-assigned ROWS and COLUMNS. The patch fill-ratio is
adjustable. The tool enables adjustments for almost any target
perspective.
-
Supported image formats: TIFF RGB (8 bit and 16 bit), and JPG.
-
Embedded profiles are recognized and automatically extracted.
-
Extract Profile from File tool: Extract a profile from a TIFF or JPEG image;
save the profile with an ICC or ICM extension. The tool shows the profile
name, type, ICC version, device class, and default intent.
-
Tweak Target tool: Improve the accuracy of
printed color patch lists by successive approximations. The original color
list is modified in one or two iterations. Important: This tool is NOT
designed to edit or change a profile.
-
Correction Matrix tool: Determine a Color
Correction matrix between two instruments according to ASTM E1455-2010. A
Color Correction matrix helps improve inter-instrument agreement in emission
(i.e. display) measurements. The matrix is computed by making measurements
of the primaries and white of a given display using a reference instrument
(often a spectrophotometer) and a target instrument (often a colorimeter).
The measurements can be obtained with PatchTool Display Check, if the
instrument is supported by PatchTool, or data from any instrument can be
entered or loaded into the tool. A matrix is always assigned to a specific
combination of display + target instrument.
-
Display Check tool: Now supports the use of
Color Correction matrices. Improve inter-instrument agreement and the
accuracy of colorimeters on wide-gamut displays.
- Import and
Export Adobe Swatch Exchange
(ASE) files. This file format is used to exchange color swatches between
Adobe applications such as Photoshop and Illustrator.
-
Supported color spaces: RGB, CMYK, and L*a*b* (D50). Because an ASE file
can contain swatches in all color spaces, PatchTool will create separate
files for each color space.
-
Color groups, such as those created in
Illustrator, are joined at import.
-
Supported color types: Process + Global
(only type supported in Photoshop), Spot color (Global), and Process;
the color type is the same for all PatchTool exported patches.
- Open TIFF images and assign one patch per
pixel. This tool is useful to open target files saved as one pixel per
patch, as well as small image files.
-
Supported image formats: TIFF RGB, CMYK and
L*a*b*; all in 8 bit and 16 bit.
-
Maximum image size: 65536 pixels (which
results in 65536 patches).
- Added “Use the patch Name as the patch ID“
command in the Patch view Tab
Re-map menu and in the Tabular data Tab
contextual menu. This command was added after it was noticed that patch IDs
were now incorrectly assigned to the Name tag in exported CGATS files from
X-Rite’s ColorPort 2.0. After using the command, it is possible to correctly
change the layouts of IT8.7/4 and ECI2002 files.
- Added “Assign the patch-ID as the
patch-Name” checkbox in the “Import CxF2” dialog. In some CxF2 files, the
patch-ID field contains the patch-Name; by checking this box, you can import
the ID field as the Name.
Improvements:
-
The saved/exported file name is now shown in the file window title after the
file is saved.
- A check is now made on the patch IDs of
ECI2002 and IT8.7/4 files to see if they match the expected values; a
message is shown to the user if the check fails.
-
Patch view tab of opened files: You can
rename a patch using the alternate contextual menu (Shift + right-click).
-
Tabular data tab of opened files: You can
rename a patch by clicking in the Name column.
- The
Info window now shows the beginning and
end of long file names.
Bug fixes:
- Will now deselect any selected Name cell when renaming
the Unconstrained PatchReader patches.
- Now properly sets the rows when changing the layout of
ECI2002 and IT8.7/4 files.
- Added Exception handling when opening and re-opening a
file which is locked by another application.
- (Windows) A Display Check sequence will now stop when
pressing the Stop button.
- Will now correctly interpret CxF2 input values when the
program runs in an international environment where the “thousands” separator
is a period.
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Version 3.0.0 b228 (2011-01-10)
New features:
-
PatchReader tool: This tool is designed to
measure targets or individual colors in reflectance (i1 Pro only).
Measurements are exported to a CGATS type file for compatibility with most
applications. There are three measurement modes:
-
Unconstrained measurements: Measure color
patches in any order; select between the XYZ, L*a*b*, or L*C*h* color
spaces. You can re-order the measurements by dragging them in a list;
you can sort, delete, or rename any measurement. Look at any or all
spectrums on a graph.
-
Custom charts: Define a chart by assigning rows and columns numbers.
Measure the patches individually (Patch mode) or line-by-line (Strip
mode). You can use a timer to automatically trigger a measurement at
fixed time intervals when in “Patch” mode. The Strip mode works with
lines of patches which exhibit a high contrast between them or with
lines of patches which have contrast gaps.
-
PatchTool file: Select any opened file as a reference. The measured
patches can be visually compared with the reference colors in the file.
The other features are identical to the ones of the Custom chart.
-
CMYK data can now be assigned to an ICC
profile. When opening a file consisting only of CMYK data, you can assign
any ICC profile to this data. When a file has no CMYK data, you can select
any CMYK ICC profile to convert the imported colors to CMYK. Note: As in
previous versions, when a file has CMYK data in addition with another color
reference, such as XYZ or L*a*b*, CMYK is imported as is.
- RGB data can now be assigned to an ICC
profile in addition to the standard RGB spaces of the previous version. When
opening a file consisting only of RGB data, you can assign any ICC profile
to this data. When a file has no RGB data, you can select any RGB ICC
profile or the built-in RGB spaces to convert the imported colors to RGB.
Note: When a file has RGB data in addition with another color reference,
such as XYZ or L*a*b*, RGB is imported as is.
- Compare files saved from Display Check
Quick-Test measurements will now re-open with the “xy graph” and “Display
data” tabs.
- Export of spectral data in CGATS files: You
can now select between three data tags types for spectral data: nm450,
SPECTRAL_450 (used in ColorPort), and SPECTRAL_NM_450.
Improvements:
-
Display Check tool:
-
Revised interface.
-
When making a test using a PatchTool file,
and when applicable, the tool shows information on the RGB or CMYK
profile that was used to derive the file XYZ data.
-
Gamut Tools Convert / Clip check:
-
Revised interface.
-
When you select a file, you get the data
type used for import, the profile information associated with the CMYK
and RGB data, and the currently selected Illuminant and Observer
settings.
-
Average tool:
-
When applicable, the tool shows information
on the RGB or CMYK profile that was used to derive the file XYZ data.
-
The tool dialog can be resized for long file
names.
-
Compare tool:
-
When applicable, the tool shows information
on the RGB or CMYK profile that was used to derive the file XYZ data; it
also indicates if the file contains imported CMYK or RGB data.
-
The tool window can be resized for long file
names.
-
Patch view tab of opened files: Revised
interface.
-
Tabular data tab of opened files:
-
Revised interface.
-
You can now associate any CMYK or RGB
profile to the computed values of these spaces (if the file did not
contain CMYK or RGB data). In a Compare file, separate profiles can be
associated with the REFERENCE and SAMPLE.
- Missing info dialog: Now supports the
selection of ICC profiles for CMYK and RGB data.
- CxF2 import dialog: When importing
non-defined RGB and CMYK data, the Missing info dialog is used to assign an
ICC profile.
-
Export dialog:
-
When you select a file, you now get the data
type used for import, the profile info for CMYK and RGB data in the
file.
-
The dialog automatically imposes some data
types when exporting Compare files obtained with Display Check.
- Munsell export:
-
New database which results in better
conversion precision.
-
The conversion speed is typically 2X faster.
- All reports and export files now contain
more information and comments that describe the data in the file.
Bug fixes:
- Will show a warning message and not an error message when
trying to save a file which is opened by another application, or locked.
- It is not required to restart the program if an Eye-One
Display is disconnected and replaced by an Eye-One Pro, and vice-versa, in
order for the program to recognize the new instrument in the Display Check
tool.
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Version 2.8.0 b182 (2010-01-28)
New feature:
-
Display Check tool:
Added a chromaticity diagram
to show the measured primaries locations relative to the ones of standard
RGB spaces. This diagram is generated when performing a Quick-Test with a
Neutral ramp plus R, G, and B ramps.
Improvements:
- A dialog is now presented to the user when a
Version-1 CxF file is not Standalone. The user can select between letting
the program try to parse it, or cancel the import (cancelling import was
imposed in prior versions).
- Display Check tool: The sections of the Help
manual describing the tool options were rewritten and examples were added.
- Revised the Appendix on Color Management in
the Help manual.
Bug fixes:
- Now properly retrieves the black level when generating a
report in the Compare window 'Display data' tab; the problem occurred when
doing a Quick-Test with just a Neutral ramp.
- Now properly resets the Minimum and Maximum 'L' values
when clicking on the 'Default' 'Grid options', button of the OSA UCS tool.
Other:
- The default choice is now to discard the measured RAW
data after a Display Check, and NOT to save it.
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Version 2.7.0 b173 (2009-09-23)
New features:
- Added support for the Optical Society of
America Uniform Color Scales (OSA UCS):
-
Import UCS color lists defined as Ljg coordinates into a PatchTool file.
-
Generate UCS color lists for any of the nine
standard UCS data planes.
-
Export any opened file (with spectral data
or 10 degree Observer data) as UCS coordinates.
Improvements:
- Added “D93” and “E” in the illuminant list.
- Added an alternate contextual menu to the
“Patch view” tab. This new menu can be used to reassign the color of a
single patch (single files and Compare files) or of a range of patches
(Compare files only).
- Minor interface changes in the Gamut tools
window and in the Export dialog.
Bug fixes:
- (Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard) Fixed a compatibility
problem which made the program crash on startup.
- Disabled Munsell export for files defined only with the
10 degree Observer.
Go to the Tutorials
page for an Application Note on the OSA UCS (Look for the AN-7 App Note).
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Version 2.6.0 b154 (2009-04-06)
New features:
-
Open CxF Version-2 files, such as the ones generated by the X-Rite
ColorMunki:
-
Import a Color Collection, or a Color Set within a Palette, into a
PatchTool file.
-
Import Quality Control standard or
measurement data into individual
files, or import
both the standard and one measurement set into a PatchTool
Compare window.
-
Support for the following reflectance color
spaces: L*a*b*, L*C*h*, XYZ, xyY, AdobeRGB, sRGB, RGB, CMYK, plus
spectral data.
Improvements:
- Added menu shortcuts to folders containing
sample files and IDEAlliance reference files.
- Added a “Recent Open” menu where the last 10
files that were opened can be accessed directly.
- Added keyboard shortcuts to all tools, for
window organization functions, and for the Help file.
- Added the 2009 versions of the ISO 12647-7
reference files in the
IDEAlliance files folder and restructured the IDEAlliance help
documentation.
Bug fixes:
- Fixed the contextual copy-data menu in the Compare window
“Patch view” tab, where only the Reference data was copied.
- Fixed the problem in the Average tool where the average
of spectral data was sometimes scaled incorrectly.
- Fixed issues with the previous keyboard shortcuts.
- Now correctly computes the size of the vertical markers,
used to separate patches in a target image, when a change is made in the
resolution field of the Image tab in the Export window.
- (Windows XP) Fixed the problem where some popup menus
would not work properly in the Traditional Chinese version of the OS.
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Version 2.5.0 b142 (2009-01-26)
New features:
-
Gamut Tools:
-
Convert RGB or
CMYK data assigned to a Source profile to a Destination profile.
-
Convert RGB or CMYK data assigned to a
profile to the Profile Connection Space (i.e. L*a*b*/XYZ).
-
Convert L*a*b* or XYZ file data to RGB or
CMYK through a profile.
-
Check if RGB or CMYK data assigned to a
Source profile is
clipped by a Destination profile.
-
Check if L*a*b* or XYZ file data is clipped
by a Destination profile.
-
Generate device dependent
RGB or CMYK color
lists.
-
Generate
device independent
color lists (L*a*b*/L*C*h*/XYZ) with a gamut limited by a profile.
-
Determine the
gamut volume of a
profile.
- L*a*b* data contained in CxF files (CxF 1.0)
can now be imported (in addition to spectral data).
- The patches width and height can now be
separately assigned when
exporting patches as images. In previous versions, the width and height
were always the same.
-
Contrasted markers can be
added between patches when exporting an image; these markers enable scanning
of the printed image one line at the time instead of patch by patch (this
feature is designed specifically for i1-Pro instruments).
Improvements:
-
Export image dialog: The
interface used to specify the patch and image sizes was redone. Also added
“cm” units to the patch and image sizes.
- Will now open CxF files (CxF 1.0) which do
not contain a description of the CxF file structure, also called the
Document Type Definition (DTD), since the DTD is not inserted in the file by
all applications.
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Version 2.3.1 b110 (Mac only) (2008-10-10)
Bug fix:
- Fixed a bug that made the program crash on
start-up. The problem was seen on Macs running OS X 10.5.5.
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Version 2.3.0 b109 (2008-06-16)
New features:
- Added support for X-Rite DTP94 (MonacoOPTIX)
colorimeter.
- PatchTool
Compare files can be
re-opened within PatchTool for further analysis.
- Now records the measuring instrument Serial
Number in exported files
and reports.
Other:
- There is no more a requirement to be a
system administrator in Windows XP; this change also makes the program
better compliant to Windows Vista security requirements.
- Windows 98 is no longer supported; the last
compatible version for this OS is 2.2.0.
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Version 2.2.0 b102 (2008-04-14)
New features:
- Added support for Datacolor's Spyder3
colorimeter. PatchTool uses an exclusive adaptive algorithm to speed-up
data-acquisition while minimizing noise. The measurement time is based on
the patch display luminance, and there are two user-selectable modes which
place emphasis on either SPEED or PRECISION.
Improvements:
- Display Check measurements with the Spyder2
are now done with an adaptive measurement algorithm similar to the one used
for the Spyder3. In SPEED mode, measuring the 1617 patches of an IT8.7/4
target can now be done 2.4X times faster than with previous PatchTool
versions, with negligible effect on the measurements statistics.
- The decimal separator for exported data can
now be forced to a period (0.0) even when the program runs in an
international environment where the decimal separator is a comma (0,0). This
option facilitates data exchange with applications that are not
international-savvy.
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Version 2.1.0 b098 (2008-03-25)
New features:
- PatchTool has a new feature which helps to
fulfill the requirements set forth by
IDEAlliance for
printer (SWOP
and GRACoL approved papers) and monitor
proofing certification. In particular, when IDEAlliance proofing reference
data of an IT8.7/4 target is compared to measured data, a report can
automatically be generated. This report covers the statistical analysis of
all IT8.7/4 patches as well as the comparison of specific patches of the
chart. More information can be found in application notes
AN-3 and
AN-4.
- An IT8.7/4 chart layout can now be changed
between “Measured”, Random” and “Visual”. You can also assign the official
IT8.7/4 patch IDs if they were not in the opened file.
- For ECI2002 charts, you can now assign the
official ECI2002 patch IDs if they were not in the opened file.
Bug fixes:
- (Mac) New drivers are provided for the
Datacolor Spyder2 colorimeter. The old drivers freeze the application when a
Spyder3, a more recent model, is connected. There is no problem when a
Spyder2 is connected.
- Fixed the issue where display measurements
made with the Eye-One Display, the Eye-One Display 2, or the Spyder2, were
corrupted. The Eye-One
Pro was not affected by the problem.
- The program will now react properly if the
previous default display profile is missing at program start.
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Version 2.0.0 b091 (2007-12-06)
New features:
- PatchTool display output is color-managed and can be set
to use the system default display color profile, a built-in color profile,
or any user-assigned ICC profile.
- Display Check tool:
-
Measure your display characteristic within
PatchTool using the Datacolor Spyder2 or the X-Rite Eye-One line of
instruments (Eye-One Pro or Eye-One Display).
-
Export the RAW display measurements for
independent analysis.
-
Check your display performance using
built-in Quick-Test patches. The reference patches and their measured
values are shown in a Compare window. For these patches, you also get a
dedicated “Display
data” tab with additional comparative data.
-
Check your display performance using any
color list opened in PatchTool and compare the reference list with the
measured values.
- Compare tool statistical tab (“Stats”):
- Extract statistical data from compared files
using any color-difference parameter.
- Select between “Absolute”, combined
Neg./Pos., or separate Neg./Pos. statistics.
- Obtain graph and data of the Cumulative
Relative Frequency (CRF), which is helpful in establishing SWOP / GRACoL
IDEAlliance certification.
- Export color lists in
Munsell “Hue Value/Chroma”
notation. Select the color-difference formula used for conversion. Select
from three output formats (number of columns).
Bug fix:
- (Windows Vista) Windows Vista incorporates a Data
Execution Prevention (DEP) feature which monitors how applications access
memory. In most Vista Home systems, the DEP setting is set, by default, to
check only the system programs and services; in this case, even before the
fix, PatchTool started correctly. However, the DEP setting can be changed by
the user, either globally or on a program by program basis, and its default
setting may also vary for other OS configurations. PatchTool did not start
when the DEP was assigned to all applications, or to PatchTool only; this
has been fixed.
Improvements:
- (Mac) The program is now offered in Universal binaries
and Intel packages.
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Version 1.1.1 b057 (2007-05-21)
Bug fixes:
- Fixed the crash that happened when exporting the XYZ data
of Compare files that do not have spectral data.
- Fixed a data corruption problem which affected XYZ data
when sorting the data table.
- Fixed a display rendering problem caused by a combination
of the Lightbox setting with other commands which affect the patches order.
Improvements:
- More robust parser for CGATS and plain text files.
Other:
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Version 1.1.0 b052 (2007-03-26)
New features:
- Compare tool:
-
Compare two files (with the same number of
patches) in the same window.
-
Sort patches according to the difference in
any of the following parameters: C, M, Yellow, K, R, G, B, x, y, X, Y,
Z, E*, L*, a*, b*, C*, h*, or H*.
- Import RGB data encoded in 8 bit, 15 bit, 16 bit, or
scaled to 100%.
- Recognizes ECI2002 color lists and can display their data
in the
Measured, Random, or Visual layouts.
- Export RGB data encoded in 8 bit, 15 bit+ (i.e.
Photoshop "16 bit'), "true" 16 bit, or scaled to 100%.
- Export spectral data in either 0-1 or 0-100% ranges.
- Export spectral data with either a 380 to 730 nm range or
a 400 to 700 nm range.
Bug fixes:
- (Mac) Corrected 16 bit export for TIFF image.
- (Mac) Fixed crashes which happened when clicking on the
top window action
buttons while the program was busy.
- Corrected the cases, for non-spectral color lists, where
data was corrupted when exported to the BabelColor CT&A database.
Improvements:
- Better handling of files which were saved with numbering
formats (i.e. decimal and thousands separators) which do not correspond to the computer’s Regional settings.
- More internal precision that enables handling of 16 bit
RGB and higher accuracy in obtaining RGB values close to zero.
- Faster and higher quality JPEG export. QuickTime not
required anymore on Windows for JPEG export.
- Many other improvements.
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Version 1.0.0 b026 (2007-01-03)
New features:
- First released version for Windows and Mac.
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