Pixiq

New cameras and lenses may have stolen the limelight at Photokina, but there were several new product announcements of significant interest. One came from DataColor, with their new SpyderCheckr™ color calibration tool for creating a custom camera profile for any camera to achieving consistent color control in a RAW file workflow. Scheduled for release next month it will be in direct competition with the X-Rite ColorChecker Passport.

The SpyderCheckr comprises a set of two 24-patch color targets, both of which are reversible and have a grey scale and grey patch on the opposite face, enclosed in a folding book-style case. The targets are also user replaceable and the device has a built fading indicator, the FadeCheckr, which is a light sensitive patch that monitors the exposure to light  of the target sheets and warns the user when its time to replace them. Another simple yet very useful design feature in the inclusion of a standard 1/4"-20 tripod mounting socket at each end of the spine of the SpyderCheckr case. The supplied Mac and Windows software generates camera profiles by creating a HSL (Hue, Saturation, Luminance) calibration file for direct import to Adobe Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Lightroom, and Bridge, for use in Adobe RAW converters with no requirement to convert RAW files to the DNG format.  

The SpyderCheckr is due to be released on October 15 2010, with suggested retail price in the U.S. of US$129

The SpyderCheckrPro bundle that comprises the SpyderCheckr and SpyderCube white balance accessor will be available for US$169