Basic window layout

Before we dive into the depths of MeasureColor, we feel the need to explain the ‘common interpretation method’. Most modules start by showing you an overview of jobs and measurements. This overview contains all available jobs and corresponding measurement data. This is also the place to start a new job or measurement. Viewing measurement data in detail needs a bit more explaining.

The software detects if a job contains certain parameters or not. Depending on its detected job parameters, the appropriate window will show you either the ink zones view, the traffic light view, or the spider graph view. Of course, this brand new feature can also be switched off if you prefer to.

Below you see the inkzones result window, the traffic light result window and the spider graph result window:

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Roughly we can divide every measurement detail window in 4 separate areas. Explaining these areas will help you better understand the overall structure of the interface.

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The above image displays a typical measurement detail window. All the details of a job can be derived from this single view. The window is divided in:

  1. the ‘job information area’
  2. the ‘measurement detail area’
  3. the ‘generic buttons area’
  4. the ‘module depending buttons area’.

The job information area

In the upper area, the job information area, you first see (left to right) a concise job label. This label is clickable and brings you to the job settings overview. On both sides of the job label, you find navigation arrows. These arrows help you toggle between the measurements within this job. Click-and-hold an arrow button to fast forward to the first or the last measurement.

Right of the job label, there is the [OK sheet] button. This button sets or unsets the OK sheet status. Switching the status is done by a single click. There will be no confirmation popup.

Next to the OK sheet button, you will find the [Production mode] button This button sets and shows the production mode per separate measurement. If the button is dark gray, the mode is set to production.

The wrench button gives you access to density settings, locking the ink zones (if available), exporting the current measurement information to various different export formats, printing a measurement label or report, or summary or the current screen and finally deleting the active/current measurement.

From 16.2 and later the wrench tool additionally enables you to set custom references and send measurement data to PQM reporting servers. The appearance of these buttons depends on the used license, reports settings and user rights.

As you may have noticed, the button for importing data is missing. This feature is switched off by default but can be switched on again in the local configuration editor. When switched on, the import button will appear left of the [Devices] button.

In the export button you'll notice a small arrow top-right. This means you can click-and-hold that button to get more functionality to select.

Last, but not least in the job information area, you see the Score overview at the most right side. The Score overview is a concise label, containing a selection of the most valuable information for this measurement. It is used as a quick indicator. This overview -when clicked- shows you a score overview with more details of the measurement.

You also have the opportunity to open a “Raw list” of this measurement. The raw list is a collection of all the measurement values in their comparison to the reference. In the Raw list, individual patches can be examined.

The measurement detail area

This area will be set up differently, depending on the kind of job (ergo, the default view). It will always show the detailed content of a measurement in an appealing way. This window is optimized for specific roles. Things you don’t need to see as a press-operator for instance, you don’t see. But you can always find all the information within a mouse click.

The generic buttons area

The generic buttons area contains three buttons:

  • [JOBS] : Gets you back to the job list overview and selects the first job of the current client.
  • [DEVICES] : Is always present and shows you an overview of supported devices. It also lets you know if your device is recognized, active and calibrated or not.
  • [MEASURE] : This button adds a measurement to the selected job. Your measurement device needs to be connected of course.

The module depending buttons area

This area can contain different buttons, depending on the kind of job that is viewed. Not every job viewing needs the same view-selectors to interpret the information and not every production role needs all the information. The following buttons can be visible here:

  • [INK ZONES] : If you are measuring a job containing ink zones, this button will show. You can use the ruler to view more information about a specific ink key.
  • [BALANCE] : When the used color bar is fitted with patches for measuring balance, you can view the balance score here. Balance is typically divided in Highlight, Midtone and Shadow. Use the CMY-button repeatedly to view the balance for the separate primaries.
  • [GAMUT] : Shows the color gamut corresponding to the selected measurement.
  • [PROCESS]: Shows the details of the job, compared to the standard for production you selected when setting up the job.
  • [DOTGAIN] : Focusses on the dot gain in the selected measurement by using several advanced graphs for curves, numbers and gamuts.
  • [SPOT] : Is a quick and reliable way to analyze the details of a spot color. It is also very suitable for measuring a spot and comparing it to a reference.
  • [CTP] : Shows the actual measured curve, compared to its target. This is also the view to execute a CTP compensation curve on curve action.
  • [TRENDS] : Helps you compare and analyze the measurement data.