Overview ColorScout S

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The spectrophotometer ColorScout S with all its components is an extraordinary versatile measuring instrument for all color analyzing purposes, especially for the printing and prepress industry. The compact and ergonomic design with two buttons make it an easy to use device. Color profiling and densitometry measurements in the prepress field are two of the many applications. ColorScout S makes positioning easy: The nozzle of the measuring head is visible and can easily be positioned - without any complicated mechanism as seen on other devices. These features make it unique among spectrophotometers with 45/0° circular illumination optics.
Accessories like the ColorScout A and ColorScout P extend the functionality of ColorScout S in the areas of color profiling and densitometry.

Color profiling

For the automatic chart scanning we offer the XY-table ColorScout A family. The ColorScout S fits easily into the according receptable of ColorScout A.
A color profiling software controls the movement of the ColorScout S on the XY-table ColorScout A reading the color patches on the test chart.

Densitometry

ColorScout P, a personal digital assistant (PDA) with a large, clear color display, allows the usage of Color Scout S not only as a flexible and precise densitometer, but as an instrument with a wide variety of functions.

Technical Data ColorScout S

Spectral module	monolithic spectrometer module with focussing echelette diffraction grating, quartz fiber optic, 256 elements photo diode line, 16 bit A/D-conversion, no moving parts
Spectral range	380 to 780nm
Optical resolution	10 nm
Sampling resolution	3 nm (corresponding to 134 Bands)
Modi	remission, transmission
Sensor geometry	45/0° circular illumination optics
Aperture diameter	4 mm
Light source	tungsten, gas filled, illumination type A
Measuring time:    remission    transmission	< 0.5 s approximately 3 s
Measuring range	density DIN 16536: D 0.0 - 2.5
Inter-instrument agreement	typical 0.4 dE on BCRA tiles
Linearity	±0.01 D
Short term repeatability	±0.03 dE across 10 measurements on white
Density repeatability	±0.01 D
Measuring parameters
White reference	absolute, relative
Illumination type	A, B, C, E, D50, D55, D65, D75, arbitrary Dxx-illumination, G, P, Xe, F1 .. F12
Observation angle	2°, 10°
Density norm	DIN 16536, DIN 16536-NB, ANSI Status A, ANSI Status T, ANSI Status E, ANSI Status M, ANSI Status I
Color metrics	CIE-XYZ, CIE-Lab, CIE-xyY, CIE-Luv, Dichten CMYK
Data interface	serial
Power supply	100-240 V, 50/60 Hz
Dimensions	115 mm x 66 mm x 40 mm
Supplied software	(requiring Windows 2000, Windows XP or Windows Vista)
Densitometry	Density, L*a*b*, dE*, XYZ, xyY, adjustment of slope and Yule-Nielsen factor
Supports color profiling	Reading of IT8.7/3-Charts, manually oder automatically withColorScout A

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Overview ColorScout P (discontinued)

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The optional ColorScout P, a personal digital assistant (PDA), turns the ColorScout S into a very flexible and versatile densitometer on a spectral basis. The ColorScout P features well arranged and comprehensive data windows on a large and clear color display. It is connected to the ColorScout S by a serial interface.

Functions:

Window	Displayed data
CMYK	All densities C, M, Y, K and screen percentages of the dominant printing ink. Slope und Yule-Nielsen factor can be adjusted in separate windows.
Lab	L*a*b* and Delta-E* values relative to a reference or to the last measured value.
QC	Quality control. Up to eight reference colors can be defined. Following measurements show the nearest color and the corresponding color difference (dE) to the nearest color. This allows to check whether a color is within an allowed tolerance range. This is especially convenient for package printing.
Spectrum	Spectral curve. Moving a hair line across the curve displays the corresponding values.
XYZ	Color metric values of X, Y, Z.
xyY	Color metric values of x, y, Y.
Slope	Slope values can be entered and sent to the ColorScout S separately for C, M, Y and K. This allows to simulate the behaviour of other instruments, e.g. color densitometers.
YNF	Input of the Yule-Nielsen factors for C, M, Y, K for dot size determination.
Settings	Various parameter adjustments: transmission/remission 2°/10° observer angle density filters ANSI-A, ANSI-T, DIN, DIN-NB illumination A, B, D50, D65 These settings can be transferred to the ColorScout S.

Technical data ColorScout P:

CPU	Hitachi SH7709a 32-Bit CPU, 100 Mhz
Display   display size	240 x 320 pixels 55 mm x 74 mm brilliant colors background illumination
Memory	8 MB RAM, 8 MB ROM
Dimensions	130 mm x 81 mm x 22 mm
Weight	approximately 250 g
	The ColorScout P is based on the PDA Hewlett-Packard Jornada.

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Overview ColorScout A (discontinued => ColorScout A+)

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We offer the XY-table ColorScout A for the automatic reading of color charts. ColorScout A is connected to a PC via the serial port. The ColorScout S fits easily into the according receptable of the XY-table. A color profiling software controls the movement of the ColorScout S on the XY-table ColorScout A corresponding to the color patches on the test charts and measures them.

For color profiling we offer the color profiling software family basICColor by ColorSolutions. This software is available for Apple Macintosh or Windows PC systems. The profile charts are measured online with ColorScout S and basICColor.

There is also an offline interface to all compatible color profile creating software via data files. These data files are created by the software ColorChart for Windows, which comes with the ColorScout A. 
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Technical Data ColorScout A

Maximal usable area	325 mm x 292 mm
Power supply	220-240 V, 50/60 Hz versions for other countries available on request
Dimensions	670 mm x 460 mm x 130 mm
Weight	7.4 kg

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Overview ColorScout A+

Have you ever thought about automating your handheld measuring device?
Then the ColorScout A+ is the solution for automation. The ColorScout A+ is available in versions for the following manufacturers and devices (Please keep in mind, that some devices are sold under different brandnames like EFI, Elcometer, Ihara, Shamrock, Sheen, ...):

Byk-Gardner (member of the Altana group):
old micro tri gloss
micro haze plus and other
new micro tri gloss and other
color guide in different versions with sphere in/ex, 0/45, gloss
spectro guide
BYK-mac (coming soon)
wave scan (on request)

ColorPartner:
ColorScout S
ColorScout AX (high speed XY spectral scanning table)
ColorScout AXT (high speed XY spectral scanning table with through light option)

Datacolor:
Mercury
Check (Direct successor of the Mercury)
110P (Direct successor of the Mercury)

Elcometer:
thickness gauges

Fischer Technology:
Dualscope MP40

GretagMacbetch (now X-Rite):
Spectrolino
EyeOne
SpectroEye
ColorEye
D19C
SPM

Hunterlab:
MiniScan Plus XE

KonicaMinolta:
CM-2300d
CM-2500c
CM-2500d
CM-2600d
MULTI GLOSS 268 and other
FD-5 / FD-7

RhoPoint:
new NOVO GLOSS series (planned)

Techkon:
SpectroDens
SpectroPlate

X-Rite:
SP60, SP61, SP62, SP64
960, 962, 964, 939
938, 948, 968
504, 508, 518, 520, 528, 530
MA58, MA68, MA68-I, MA68-II (final tests have to be done)
MA98
VS450

The benefits of the ColorScout A+ are large measurement areas, low noise and speed performance.
The ColorScout A+ for Spectrolino is an inexpensive replacement for the SpectroScan. The ColorScout A+ for Eye-One combines the speed of the Eye-One with the comfort of an XY-table. The ColorScout A+ helps you to automate your measuring process, which gives you more safety and time. The ColorScout A+ is a unique solution. The standard maximum adjustable measurement height is 30 mm for automatic measurement of textiles, thick plates and other special materials. For more than 30 mm we can offer other versions.
The ColorScout A+ is designed for connecting any handheld measuring device on customer demand for an automatic scan processes. Several versions were build to carry glossmeters for measuring gloss.
Where are the application areas?
Color management, quality control, research & development in a big variety of industries like paper, plastic, foil, aluminium, ceramic and textile printing, tests for the paint, coating, detergent and furniture manufacturing, and many, many more. (Some are shown below)
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Technical Data ColorScout A+

Maximal usable area	445 mm x 365 mm (for Spectrolino/Eye-One: 420 x 340) (for X-Rite SP6x/96x: 440 x 360) (for other sizes and options, please have a look at the pricelist)
Power supply	100-240 V, 50/60 Hz
Dimensions	700 mm x 500 mm x 160 mm (up to 180 mm for X-Rite)
Weight	approximately 16 kg

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Overview ColorScout AX / ColorScout AXT

ColorScout AX

ColorScout AXT

Large format ColorScout AX

The ColorScout AX is a high speed, high precision Automatic Chart Scanspectrophotometer on air cushion basis with air cooled high performance optical light probe. This air cushion technology ensures a preservative treatment of the charts. The continuous airflow also helps to keep the charts free from dust. The scanning time for the IT8.7/3 chart with 928 patches is about 4.0 min, for the ECI2002 chart with 1485 patches it is less than 6.0 min. The maximum chart format is A3+. The charts can be designed in any format. Due to its low noise emission, the ColorScout AX can be used in office atmosphere in contrast to other fast measuring systems.
The ColorScout AXT is a ColorScout AX with a installed transmission option.
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Technical Data ColorScout AX

Overall performance

Measuring time:    IT8.7/3 target    ECI 2002 target

approximately 4.0 min for 928 patches approximately 6.0 min for 1485 patches

Technical Data of the XY-table part

Maximal usable area	440 mm x 360 mm (for other sizes and options, please have a look at the pricelist)
Data interface	serial / USB adaptor
Power supply	100-240 V, 50/60 Hz
Dimensions	700 mm x 500 mm x 170 mm
Weight	approximately 17 kg

Technical Data of the spectrometer part

Spectral module	monolithic spectrometer module with focussing echelette diffraction grating, quartz fiber optic, 256 elements photo diode line, 16 bit A/D-conversion, no moving parts
Spectral range	380 to 780nm
Optical resolution	9 nm
Sampling resolution	3.5 nm (corresponding to 115 Bands)
Modi	remission
Sensor geometry	45/0° circular illumination optics
Aperture diameter	3.5 mm
Light source	tungsten, gas filled, illumination type A
Measuring time:    remission	< 0.1 s (< 0.3 s positioning included)
Measuring range	density DIN 16536: D 0.0 - 2.5
Inter-instrument agreement	typical 0.4 dE on BCRA tiles
Linearity	±0.01 D
Short term repeatability	±0.03 dE across 10 measurements on white
Density repeatability	±0.01 D
Measuring parameters
White reference	absolute, relative
Illumination type	A, B, C, E, D50, D55, D65, D75, arbitrary Dxx-illumination, G, P, Xe, F1 .. F12
Observation angle	2°, 10°
Density norm	DIN 16536, DIN 16536-NB, ANSI Status A, ANSI Status T, ANSI Status E, ANSI Status M, ANSI Status I
Color metrics	CIE-XYZ, CIE-Lab, CIE-xyY, CIE-Luv, densities CMYK
Supplied software	(requiring Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista)
Densitometry	Density, L*a*b*, dE*, XYZ, xyY, adjustment of slope and Yule-Nielsen factor
Supports color profiling	Reading of charts (e.g. IT8.7/3-Charts, ECI2002-Charts) automatically. Creating charts.

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Accessories

There are many special holder for different targets like textiles / fabrics, plastic and metallic plates available. Also large addon plates for integrating white, gloss and haze standards on the ColorScout A+.
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Customers / References

We have installations, to name a few, at the following companies:
Agfa, Armstrong World Industries, AVA CAD/CAM, Bayer, CM/PCM-Services, Color Solutions, Dai Nippon Printing, Donnelley Europe, Ecolab, ErgoSoft, Euro Digital, Eurofins Test Center, GMG, GRAFE Group, Henkel Düsseldorf, Henkel Spain, HighTex, Hollanders Printing Systems, Kodak, NexPress, Océ, Procter&Gamble (P&G), Reger Studios, Stork, Sun Chemical Yate, Sun Chemical Charlotte, Thierry, Volkswagen (VW), Wide Gamut, Xerox, X-Rite, Zumtobel Staff, ...
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Sample application areas

The ColorScout family is not only used in the printing industry, but also in many other industrial fields. There are for example:

Analysing washing tests in the detergent and cleaning service industry.

Color and pigment development and formulation in the chemical industry.
Waiting for images to come

Color tests in the leather and textile industry.
Waiting for images to come

Aging and other tests in the coating industry.
Waiting for images to come

And many more

A project with KonicaMinolta for VW: measurement system with automatic sample handling

A special version for large measurement heights without adjustment
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