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Help me choose calibration software

2445 Views 14 Replies 8 Participants Last post by lcaillo, Jan 18, 2008

Leexgx

Discussion Starter · Jan 13, 2008

I'm currently looking to add a third party software package to my arsonel and it's basically come down to two packages:

- Progressive Labs C5

- Accucal

Some of the pros / cons as I currently understand them (which I may be wrong about):

Progressive Labs:

- Recent updates (+)

- Supports both Eye-One Pro and OTC1000, both of which I have (+)

- Supports Accupel HDG-3000 with support for HDG-4000 coming (+)

Accucal:

- Hasn't been updated since 2005 (???) (-)

- Requires Microsoft Excel (-)

- Features auto prompting to recalibrate Eye One Pro every 10 minutes to insure accuracy (+)

- Features an "Improve Dim Reading Accuracy" function to greatly improve readings from Eye-One Pro at low light levels (+)

- Supports only Eye-One Pro, Accupel HDG-3000, and Sencore VP403 (which I don't have or want) (-)

I guess I'd kinda like to get both, however, I can really only afford to pick one right now. I like the functions of improved readings using the Eye-One Pro. But I also like the fact that the Progressive Labs supports more hardware, namely, the OTC1000 which I also have.

What would you pick if you were in my position?

(I'm pretty sure both authors of each program post here and it's not my intention to start a fight between them... honestly, I'm having a hard time deceiding which one to get...)

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1 - 15 of 15 Posts

derekjsmith

· #2 · Jan 13, 2008

Leexgx I sent you a PM about a 3rd choice.

Grendell

· #3 · Jan 14, 2008

Personally, I would go with Accucal, I hear nothing but great things about how accurate the I1 Pro is, and the Accucal software is "tried and true" at making it even more accurate. You could always get the C5 software if you feel you really want it later down the line.

(You don't have to install the entire MS Office, just Excel.)

No disrespect towards Progressive Labs!

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lcaillo

· #4 · Jan 14, 2008

I use Accucal, and am happy with it. For a less expensive and rapidly becoming more robust and versitile choice I would consider CalMAN. The current V3 is very flexible and the coming pro version should be the best value and most flexible software available.

Chad B

· #5 · Jan 14, 2008

I suggest CalMAN 3.0 also. It's in a late beta stage now, but it's very close to release quality. It has a steep learning curve, but it's very thorough and accurate.

Chad B

· #6 · Jan 14, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chad B /forum/post/12812215

I suggest CalMAN 3.0 also. It's in a late beta stage now, but it's very close to release quality. It has a steep learning curve, but it's very thorough and accurate.

Maybe I should qualify what I mean by steep learning curve. It might not be bad at all for most people. I kind of got stuck in my ways after using another commercial software package for years, and some of the learning curve could be just me not being used to the way CalMAN goes about doing things.

derekjsmith

· #7 · Jan 14, 2008

Yes we do things a little different than most of the other cal packages. Mostly the amount of hand holding we do on startup. It is a 6 to 8 step process to select the meter, the display type, input types to build a work list, select your source and initialize it if needed, dark cal the meter if needed, CRT sync if needed and finally point the meter for non-contact displays and meters. Then you are ready to start calibrating. The reason we do this is to take all of the guess work out of when and how the setup the meter, source and display. The other main thing we do differently is for advanced users you need to layout your own charts and data fields from our list of over 40 different chart and data field objects we provide its kind of like a Visio interface where you drag and drop objects on to a workspace. We do this so you can design in your own methods you are already used to.

BTW CalMAN V3 was release a couple of weeks ago with build 106 and we are now working on build 108 to fix a few minor bugs in 106.

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Leexgx

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jan 15, 2008

2

I looked at CalMan, but I was too confused about its hardware support.

For example, on one page, it says it supports:

Quote:
Any "universal" Spyder2™ from Colorvision®

X-Rite MonacoOPTIX (also known as the DTP94)

GretagMacbeth Eye-One Display2

GretagMacbeth Eye-One Pro

Then on another page, it also mentions Spyder3 and DisplayLT.

Finally, the "pro" package says it supports signal generators, and I couldn't find which signal generators it supported anywhere on the site.

That really left me scratching my head as to what it supports exactly and what it doesn't.

I feel there should be a page listing specific hardware support, and the fact that there isn't kinda turned me away.

However, the PM I received from derekjsmith contains such a list, so that helps a lot. So now I guess I'm considering the CalMAN as well.

Here's the hardware support list I was PM'd, I'm posting it for others' benefit (since I couldn't find it on calman.tv):

Quote:
For meters here is our current list:

CalMAN Simulated meter

ColorVision Spyder2, Spyder2express, Spyder2platinum

DataColor Spyder3 added in build 106

x-rite Display2, Display2 LT

x-rite Gamma5 with CalMAN calibration tables

x-rite Gamma5 - OEM'd by many manufactures

x-rite manacoOPTIX xr, DTP94

x-rite eye-one Pro

x-rite eye-one Monitor

Sencore ColorPro II (RS-232 and USB)

Sencore ColorPro III, IV and V (RS-232 and USB)*

Sequal Imaging SIP meters - OEM'd by many including Sony, NEC, Mitsubishi, Barco, LaCie and Progressive Labs*

x-rite Chroma5 with factory calibration tables*

x-rite Chroma5 with CalMAN calibration tables*

x-rite Chroma5 - OEM'd by many manufactures*

x-rite SigmaRGB - OEM'd by Progessive Labs 6X* added in build 108

x-rite Hubble - OEM'd by Sencore as the OTC1000* added in build 108

For source devices:

Generic Calibration (DVD)

GetGray Calibration (DVD)

AVIA Guide to Home Theater (DVD)

Digital Video Essentials (DVD) (HD-DVD)

CalMAN V3 HTPC pattern generator (IP/Sockets - Remote or Local pattern control of your HTPC)

ColorFacts V6 HTPC pattern generator (Local app only)

Lumagen VisionHD series (RS-232)

Lumagen Radiance XD (Manual mode until it has RS-232 for it's patterns)

DVDO VP series (RS-232)

Pixel Magic Systems CrystalIO II (Manual mode until it has RS-232 for it's patterns)

AccuPel HDG-3000, HDG-4000 (RS-232 / USB)*

Sencore VideoPro 300, 301, 400, 403 (RS-232)*

Quantum Data 801Gx, 802Bx (RS-232)*

* supported in our Pro version

Can I ask this about the CalMAN...

Does it have functionality similar to Accucal for the Eye-One Pro, such as prompt for recalibration every 10 minutes, and "improve readings at low light levels?"

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derekjsmith

· #9 · Jan 15, 2008

The list I PM'd you was from our user forums. The web site at www.CalMAN.tv is dated and was setup for v2. Since then we have changed the company name to SpectraCal, LLC with the product now being CalMAN and are working on a new web site for V3. Anyhow yes we do have a low light handler for all of our meters we support. For the i1Pro it's more than just a simple multiple reading and then average like most do. We also have a re-cal timer with warnings when you need to for the meters that need it.

Citation4444

· #10 · Jan 16, 2008

I own both Progressive Labs C-5 and CALMan v3 beta and it's a very close call on the software.

If I were doing calibration for a living, I would choose Progressive Labs due to its extensive reporting capabilities and screen offset data files. In particular, its Excel report file provides about anything you would want to present to your customer. The CAlmAN V3 beta doesn't have good reporting capabilities at present, but that should change as it progresses towards a released product.

If I were a hobbyist or just learning how to calibrate, I would lean towards CALMan as it has extensive help built in to the program and can provide a quick education on the ins and outs of calibration pretty quickly.

Bob

Bear5k

· #11 · Jan 17, 2008

Reporting is at the top of the list of things to do for the upcoming Pro version. The thinking (right or wrong) was that a consumer-oriented product did not need to generate customer reports.

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Joelc

· #12 · Jan 17, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bear5k /forum/post/12838730

Reporting is at the top of the list of things to do for the upcoming Pro version. The thinking (right or wrong) was that a consumer-oriented product did not need to generate customer reports.

Bill:

As you know I have purchased the pro version and am quite happy that I did...from an inbiased position -- because i will have reporting capability -- I would suggest that basic reporting should be considered for inclusion within the non-Pro version if, fo rno other reasons, that it is a real PITA to write down all the before/after settings in the event of a need to return to past calibrations...in other words, fancy before and after graphs may not be necessary but the ability to store and print before/after calibration settings would be MOST useful...sort of, if I may, along the line of my spreadsheet which i shared with you and derek...

Hope all is wwll with you...

Bear5k

· #13 · Jan 17, 2008

2

Quote:
Originally Posted by Joelc /forum/post/12839640

As you know I have purchased the pro version and am quite happy that I did...from an inbiased position -- because i will have reporting capability -- I would suggest that basic reporting should be considered for inclusion within the non-Pro version if, fo rno other reasons, that it is a real PITA to write down all the before/after settings in the event of a need to return to past calibrations...in other words, fancy before and after graphs may not be necessary but the ability to store and print before/after calibration settings would be MOST useful...sort of, if I may, along the line of my spreadsheet which i shared with you and derek...

We will definitely port some portion of the new reporting engine to the consumer version, but what that is will be determined, well, once we build it.

As for the rest? Well, we have plans there, too.

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Joelc

· #14 · Jan 17, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bear5k /forum/post/12840604

We will definitely port some portion of the new reporting engine to the consumer version, but what that is will be determined, well, once we build it.

As for the rest? Well, we have plans there, too.

Undrstood and, as you know, anxiously waiting...

lcaillo

· #15 · Jan 18, 2008

Same here. I like a lot of what I see in v3, but there has to be much better reporting to make use of it for professional work. For now I am still using Accucal for work and tinkering with CalMAN.

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