X-Rite Display Colorimeters
A display colorimeter, also called a calibrator, probe or puck, is a device that measures on-screen color patches for use in display calibration and profiling. The color measurements captured by a colorimeter are used in a software program that builds a unique custom color profile and calibration LUT for the individual display.
Calibrate & Profile a Display
X-Rite offers industry-leading display calibration solutions to OEM partners ranging from X-Rite’s advanced colorimeter hardware platforms (i1D3 and i1Pro3), software and our core color engine technology (Prism). Industry leading products for end-users are offered through our partner Calibrite.
Customize or License an OEM Colorimeter
We offer customized specific hardware, software, licensing, and services that enable OEM/ODM Display manufacturers to extend color management solutions to their customers.
Profile a Variety of Input & Output Devices
If you want to go beyond monitor calibration, we offer a series of all-in-one spectrophotometer solutions to ensure your monitor, projector, scanner, and printer all speak the same color language with custom ICC profiles.
Measure Basic Color Data
Are you are looking for a solution to measure color from an inspiration item and identify the closest color match from related digital color libraries?
When is a Display Colorimeter Used
Our eyes are very adaptive and influenced by many factors. If you work on an uncalibrated monitor, you can’t trust the colors you see on screen. You need a display colorimeter or spectrophotometer to help create a calibration LUT and an ICC profile. These devices speak a standard color language that the eye cannot and are necessary to render accurate color for the best on-screen reproduction. ICC profiles are used to achieve color consistency between different devices, such as monitor to monitor to ensure calibration to a reference color space or to match a printer.
To learn more about uses for a color calibration tools, check out our softproofing and monitor calibration blogs.
How Does a Display Colorimeter Work?
The colorimeter is placed on the center of the display and is used to establish correct luminance level and measure a broad spectrum of color. Calibration and Profiling software flashes more than 100 colors onto the screen, and the colorimeter utilizes an optical prescription and a finely tuned sensor to measure and capture the various colors. As the emissive wavelengths of light flood the sensor in the device, they pass through various filters: red, green and blue. The filters distill the RGB values for each color and the sensor captures the intensity of the color reflection. Some colorimeters can even measure ambient light and adjust for flare light falling on display.
These color measurements are applied to a color profiling engine to build a custom color profile, which is set as a default to work in the background in software programs that utilize ICC profiles or at the OS level. The profile adjusts for the display's white point, brightness, and colors to enable the monitor to automatically display accurate on-screen color.
Who Uses a Display Colorimeter?
A colorimeter can be used on all display technologies, regardless of manufacturer or model. Display calibration tools are ideal for content creators (such as photographers, filmmakers, and web designers), game designers and players, digital signage manufacturers and creators, as well as prepress and medical professionals.
Colorimeters can also be used by everyone in the supply chain who develops or builds products that use a display for human visual feedback, such as TVs, tablets, mobile services, desktop displays, digital signage, laptops, projectors, notebooks, and more. X-Rite can work with OEM partners to help build solutions for end users who rely on color accuracy to make on-screen edits.
What Types of Displays Can a Colorimeter Profile?
A monitor calibration tool can calibrate and profile a variety of TVs laptops, desktops, projectors, field recorders and digital sign displays, on a broad array of display technologies including LED, Plasma, RG Phosphor, OLED and HDR Wide Gamut. It' is important to let the display warm up before starting the process, and we recommend profiling at least once a month or more for color critical work.
What's the Difference between a Colorimeter and a Spectrophotometer?
Read our blog Colorimeters vs. Spectrophotometers to learn more about these differences.
Which Colorimeter is Right for You?
If you’re looking for an off the shelf colorimeter for your calibration needs, contact our partner Calibrite.
If you need help building a custom calibration solution, contact us and one of our Color Experts can help you choose.
Colorimeters and spectrophotometers are used in just about every industry where color is important. Learn which type of device is right for you.
How much time, paper, and ink do you waste re-printing images because the color isn’t right? Learn how to calibrate your monitor for more accurate color.
Learn more about the types of light, typical reflection curves, optical brighteners and much more about colorimetry and the theory of colors.
