New information on colourmunki is here

The X-Rite ColorMunki profiling solution [X-Rite] is now available and since we've been helping with some of the device testing we've got this review of some of its main features.

ColorMunki Profiling
The (approx. $400) ColorMunki device and software allows you to profile your monitor and printers (and data projectors too).

You can also make spot colour measurements.

The ColorMunki range (Mac and PC) is firmly aimed at the large majority of users who might find some of the kit I've reviewed elsewhere, a little daunting for their own requirements.

Updates

* July 2009 ColorMunki software update - update to V1.1 adds improved monitor calibration capabilities and other improvements.
* Updated license details
* Software Update downloads (V1.0.5) Mac, Win
* New Training Video (100MB) Mac, Win

More advanced articles on our site

* Printer profiling with the ColorMunki - Detailed review
* Improving black and white printing with the ColorMunki

Note -June 08 There are reported issues with profiling particular monitors on some PC systems - if you have problems with the profiling locking up, then check the X-Rite support site for a patch. They have a fantastic support by the way.

Colour management for everyone?

If you take pictures and get them printed (by yourself or by a lab) then the first thing you need to sort out is getting your monitor calibrated.

After that, if you do your own printing, then custom icc printer profiles will usually improve your print quality.

(If you move your mouse over the box image above, you'll see the contents...)

I sometimes see people on forums say it's not really needed. If you value the quality (and consistency) of your final results then this is just plain wrong.

What's not quite so obvious for me (who writes and teaches about the subject) is that a lot of people find colour management really tricky. [It's not! just some people try and make it sound a lot more complex than it needs to be]

X-Rite have looked at this large market, and in the first big new development since their take over of Gretagmacbeth, have produced a new 'all-in-one' device, the ColorMunki.

This is a multipurpose spectrophotometer, based on i1 technology (see the links at the end of this piece, for all our reviews of all the various i1 options.

* Note for more technical readers ...It is a UV Cut version of the spectrophotometer, with the light source based on the iSis

It is aimed squarely at all those, who in the past, perhaps found the idea of colour management just a bit too much.

* BTW, Just in case you are still wondering just what this 'Colour management' stuff is, I've a very short guide to colour management page that might be of help - it includes links to other articles on this site and elsewhere. There are also links to further information at the end of this article.

I'm limiting this discussion/review to the basic functionality of the ColorMunki Photo, since I'm looking at software that has a few missing features.

Whilst I have some opinions (as you'd expect ;-) on the precise choices available, I'll leave them for a more detailed look at the device and its software.

There is more information available from X-Rite (warning - turn down the sound on your computer first! ;-)
What do you get

The ColorMunki is available in two versions.

One, the 'ColorMunki Photo', is what I'm looking at here, and is primarily aimed at photographers (particularly the social market and advanced amateurs).

That's the 'black' version.

The white ColorMunki Design is more for graphics designers. It's the same device, but in a white case.

MUST READ:

Check out the Second part of this Article at the link below... AND MAKE SURE YOU ALSO CHECKOUT THE LINK TO ARTICLE CONTAINING THE WRITER'S FRIENDS HANDS ON EXPERIENCE WITH THE MUNKI...