Curve Software Family
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Curve Software
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IDEALink Curve
In 2006, IDEALliance, the umbrella organization for both GRACoL and SWOP, and Don Hutcheson, the source of the current G7 technique and mathematics, chose CHROMiX to write a software package to streamline and simplify the application of the G7 method. This software package became IDEALink Curve, and was first announced in June of 2006. The final version of IDEALink Curve, version 1.1, was released on June 30, 2008 .
Most of the information about the IDEALink Curve software can be found at the CHROMiX website including downloads of the most recent version of the software: https://www.chromix.com/idealink
The manual for the IDEALink Curve is in a pdf that is downloaded with the software.
This wiki also contains a small addenda page describing the ISO colors used in IDEALink Curve.
CHROMiX continues to maintain a ColorForums site specifically for Curve software products:
http://www.colorforums.com/viewforum.php?f=20
Curve2
In February of 2010, Curve2 was released as a joint-development between CHROMiX and HutchColor.
Curve2 replaced the existing IDEALink Curve software. Like IDEALink Curve, Curve2 is primarily designed for calculating G7 calibration curves, but made use of completely new core algorithms to gain higher precision.
Curve2 has been discontinued in favor of Curve3.
Curve2 software can still be downloaded from the CHROMiX website:
https://www.chromix.com/curve2
Some of the 50 new functions and features were:
- basic pre-qualification tools that verify ink and paper colors,
- conformance metrics for NPDC and gray balance,
- introduction of a new document format capable of holding a series of related press runs in one single file,
- new graphs and graphing tools such as integrated zoom, pan and graph expansion,
- new export options including Device Link profiles, Photoshop(tm) curves, text files and RIP configuration files,
- ability to calculate ISO-standard TVI curves instead of G7 curves.
- version 2.1 introduced the OneRun target capability
See the ColorWiki page for more information on Curve2.
See the ColorWiki page for more information on using the OneRun targets in Curve2.
Curve3
In April of 2013, Curve3 was released as an update to Curve2.
Curve3 improved many existing functions of Curve2 and introduced more new features to fit special needs. In addition to calculating G7 calibration curves, Curve3 can calibrate using TVI curves, calibrate special inks (besides CMYK) has a new smoothing algorithm and can use a custom starting point calibration.
Some of the new features are:
- 4-dimensional data smoothing cleans up challenged systems
- Spectral VPR now applies curves to full-spectral data
- Enhanced black-point options for ink-jet and digital needs
- Normalizing Curves to improve shadow smoothness
- Custom TVI calibration (mostly for European users)
- Intelligent error-reporting and resolution
- User-specified starting-point calibration
- User-defined Control Point lists
- Expanded graphs and reports
- A new "Demo" mode
- Outputs to more RIPs: Rampage, Harlequin, Fuji, AGFA, EFI, HP Indigo, Konica Minolta, Tucanna, Xerox and PressSync Curves.
The software package can be downloaded at no charge from the CHROMiX website, but authorization codes need to be purchased before the user can run it: https://www.chromix.com/curve3
See the ColorWiki page for more information on Curve3.
See this ColorWiki page for more information on using the OneRun targets in Curve2 and Curve3.
The Manual for Curve3 is a pdf document downloaded with the software package, but can also be accessed online at Hutchcolor.com:
http://www.hutchcolor.com/CurveGuide.htm
Curve4
In September of 2016, the Verify-only version of Curve4 was released.
A 8-page, full-color brochure is downloadable from the Ideallliance website.
In May of 2017, the full versions of Curve4 were released which added the Calibrate and Blend tools.
While retaining the functions of Curve3, Curve4 added many new features and entirely new tools. Some of the main differences were:
- Ability to drive most of the common spectrophotometers directly in the Curve4 software.
- Verifying measurements according to G7 Grayscale, G7 Targeted, or G7 ColorSpace compliance.
- Adding the Blend tool to aid in combining, averaging and saving out specific target patch collections.
- Adding a white point and black point adaptation to scale data to new white point / black point.
- Adding the ability to calibrate using targets other than the usual P2P targets.
- Adding the ability to fine-tune a calibration using smaller targets, some as small as 6 patches.
- Introducing a Ink Limiting feature with diagnostic tools for making calculated ink limiting decisions in a RIP or outside of a RIP.
- Adding Spot Color Tone Value (SCTV) support, a method of calibrating Spot inks that has been embraced by the industry.
- Adding support for importing and exporting i1Profiler .cxf files, and other common file types.
- Integration with Maxwell, the CHROMiX cloud-based color tracking system.
The software package can be downloaded at no charge from the CHROMiX website. It can be operated in Demo mode. A license needs to be purchased before the user can run it using his own files.
Curve 4 information page at CHROMiX.
See this Curve4 Frequently Asked Questions page in the ColorWiki.
A PDF Manual for Curve4 is downloaded with the software, but Hutchcolor.com also hosts an online version:
http://www.hutchcolor.com/CurveGuide.htm
Idealliance hosts a Curve4 information page:
https://connect.idealliance.org/viewdocument/curve-4-information-sheet
Curve+
In March of 2024, Curve+ was released shortly following the TAGA/COLOR Conference in Dallas, Texas.
https://www.chromix.com/curve+/#overview
A newsletter article describing the new G7+ specification, and the Curve+ software that supports it is here: http://www.colorwiki.com/wiki/G7%2B_..._The_Inside_Skinny
Curve+ retains the ability to calibrate to the G7 specification, as well as to the new G7+ specification.
Some of the features related to G7+ include:
Using SCCA (Substrate-Corrected Colorimetric Aims) maintains smooth gray balance
Corrections for High Density printing (for example: inkjet) are now smoother
Gray balance is improved for strongly-colored substrates
Curve+ also supports the new P2P75+ target and the G7+ Verifier target