Digital Imaging eNewsletter

Spyder3Elite Wins 2008 PC Photo Editor's Choice Award...Spyder3Pro, Spyder3Print released!

Spyder3Elite, released in October at PhotoPlus, received a 2008 Editor's Choice Award from PC Photo. The publication points out the importance of color control and monitor calibration; and lists ease-of-use, affordability, and the unique 7 detector color engine as the key attributes of Spyder3Elite.

On December 10, Datacolor introduced Spyder3Pro and Spyder3Print! These two new solutions are expertly designed to address the color management needs of photographers and creative professionals that require the most accurate color for digital editing and printing.

In October, Datacolor introduced the first two products in the Spyder3 family, the newly awarded Spyder3Elite™ and Spyder3Studio™. The addition of Spyder3Pro and Spyder3Print completes the full line of color calibration solutions, and all four are now available for purchase worldwide. Each Spyder3 product addresses different needs to match the diversity of users who depend on accurate color, setting a new industry standard for display and printer calibration.

The Spyder3Pro is a display calibration tool for serious photographers that includes the only colorimeter available on the market offering a seven detector color engine, with an aperture several times larger than other devices for increased accuracy and performance. It is designed to deliver more precise control over white point and gamma, and has easy-to-use features including a new Display Assistant that stores and easily retrieves all user device-specific information on each display to save time during recalibration.

Spyder3Print is a unique print calibration solution that includes software and a Datacolor 1005™ spectrocolorimeter to ensure accurate and consistent color. Spyder3Print enables photographers to output gallery-quality color or black and white prints and makes storing and creating profiles easy through its simple wizard-driven program. Additionally, its Precise Light Function enables users to adjust profile settings to optimize the print based on where and how it will be displayed by previewing and adjusting to different ambient lighting conditions.

Read more about Spyder3Pro and Spyder3Print

Spyder3Elite Loyalty Program

Datacolor is offering a loyalty program for customers who already own an older generation Spyder and would like to purchase the new Spyder3Elite™. The program is for a 20% discount and will be available until January 19th, 2008 through Datacolor's webstore only. To receive your discount, enter your Spyder's serial number (which can be found on its USB plug) at http://colorvision.com/loyalty.php.

Each Spyder3 product is specifically designed to address the color management needs of photographers and creative professionals that require the most accurate color for digital editing and printing. The Spyder3 line includes the only colorimeter available on the market offering a seven detector color engine, with an aperture several times larger than other devices for increased accuracy and performance.

The Spyder3 offers a sleeker design that's 37 percent smaller and incorporates third-generation Spyder technology. It also includes new easy-to-use, photo-centric user interface with features that photographers and creative professionals need.

The Spyder3 high-precision sensors and enlarged optical path increase its light sensitivity by 400 percent, making it the most accurate colorimeter in its class. This ensures consistent color on all LCD, CRT, laptop and front projector displays and includes the ability to match multiple studio displays to a single target.

Read more about Spyder3Elite

Expert Advice
Continuous Ambient Light Monitoring in Spyder3

Spyder3Elite and Spyder3Pro both offer continuous ambient light monitoring options. These options utilize the Spyder3's embedded ambient light sensor to keep a check on the lighting in your work area. Once you have defined a desired ambient light level, while profiling your display, the Spyder3 Utility can automatically check that your light level has not fallen significantly below, or risen significantly above, this level. If your ambient light leaves the target zone the Spyder3 icon in your Mac menubar, or your Windows tooltray will display a red slash.

Check with the Utility to see what issue is causing the red slash warning (other issues, such as exceeding your calibration time period will also cause this warning). It will tell you whether your ambient light is too high, or too low, and you can adjust lighting, blinds, shades or curtains as needed to return to your target level. Then use the ambient light measurement command in the Utility to recheck your lighting to see if you have succeeded in reaching the correct zone. You can also choose to launch your main Spyder3 application from the Spyder Utility to recalibrate at your new ambient light level, if preferred.

Photoshop Tip of the Month
Spell in another language

Take advantage of the fact that Photoshop not only spell-checks but can do so in different languages. Type in some text and select the words typed in the other language. Open the Character palette and from the pop-up menu, choose the appropriate language. Now when you spell-check, Photoshop automatically switches to the other language's dictionary.

Featured Photographer
Tom Pappas

On Spyder3Elite:
"I have installed and calibrated a number of monitors with the new Spyder3Elite, including a couple of projectors. It has been on both Windows and Mac machines, including OS X 10.5. After a slight issue with the software not seeing one of my monitors, everything is working perfectly.

Photo by Tom Pappas

There are two things that really suprised me. The first was the profiling of a projector, which in the past I would have done with a much higher cost solution. Results were excellent with Spyder3. I then tried to profile the LCD projector against a blue-gray wall rather than a screen, I was amazed at the quality of the profile on this background.

The other thing that impressed me was when running Spyder3Elite against my professional graphics display and its bundled calibrator; the results were almost identical.

This is what I would call absolutely remarkable quality from a device that retails for less than 300 dollars. As I said before, this will be what I will be recommending!"

Recent Coverage
We are constantly working to make color management more effective, affordable and easy to use. Here are some of our most recent sightings:

Spyder3
Spyder3Elite - Review (Northlight Images)
Review: Datacolor Spyder3 Elite colour calibration (Personal Computer World)

Spyder2express
Digital Photo Shopping Guide, Part 2 (PC World)

Read more reviews at: http://www.colorvision.com/reviews.php.