At ColorMetrix we have been working on some cool new software and new features for the ProofPass.com product line. Development of the new stuff has required learning a little more about color, color measurement, and color matching functions (you know the fun geeky math part of color management). As a guy who blogs a whole lot of free information here (I will let you the readers decide the value of the information) I was quite pleased to find some valuable color information out on the web.Even the sources I was familiar with have been updated since I last had time to look at them. As a general rule of thumb the parts of the site I found really are pretty color geeky in nature. So, here are some highlights from my most recent search of the internet with a few comments about what I found most interesting about each site. (Listed in alphabetical order)
babelcolor.com – These guys from Canada not only appear to have some pretty cool software, but if you get into the tutorials section of the site you will definitely learn a thing or two about color. As for the software I would view it as a complimentary offering to ProofPass.com. While I have had not had too much time to research it, it looks like it could easily import one of the data formants ProofPass.com can output.
BruceLindbloom.com – Pretty much a standby for any color geek. It is always a good starting point. The site seems to have a fresh look and lots of new content from the last time I visited.
Hutchcolor.com – Not only does Don commit a great deal of time and energy to GRACoL he also makes some pretty cool stuff available on his site for free “non-commercial use.†I would start in the “Free†area but if you like beer make sure to check out RGB (Really Good Beer) in the “Cool†section.
poynton.com – Charles Poynton a Canadian based color consultant has a Color FAQ’s section on his site that has a great deal of good information.
taosinc.com – TAOS (Texas Advanced Optoelectronic Solutions) makes sensors for measuring color. The also have posted a pretty cool spreadsheet that let’s you have fun with some of the color matching functions. Along with the spreadsheet there is a PDF describing it. Both can be found here.
Some of these sites I already knew about, and just checked back to see if they had been updated. Others I found with the fabulous tool Goggle!
#52 Generated quite a few comments in my email inbox. I have asked those who made the comments to post them here, but as yet they have not. Perhaps for #53 I will create a collection of the comments.
While you wait I would highly recommend reading Dimitri’s post on trying G7 for himself.
In the mean time I will continue my working vacation with my family. Interestingly when we reached the top of this mountain (Chimney Tops in Great Smoky Mountains National Park) it occurred to me that when I am 90 (God willing) and sitting in my rocking chair reflecting on life this moment I will remember and G7 not so much 
Oh, it is much colder than Jake’s short sleeve shirt would suggest. Ah, to be young again.
P.S. - For a guy who likes to write so much, I just plain suck at the word game Boggle. The other three people in this picture could be grand champions of the game.
It has been an interesting couple weeks in the field for me. Color experts at four of the largest printing companies in the world have made almost exactly the same comments about the new GRACoL and SWOP data sets, and G7 methodology. I want to stress that the comments that follow are not mine, but are instead a summary of what I have heard from experts in the field who have to work with the data sets and methodology every day.
Data sets: The data sets are good and we will be using them. The data has clearly been massaged and is not wholly from press sheets, but good nonetheless.
G7 Methodology: The methodology is unnecessary for us. We have had our presses grey balanced for years.
It is good to have confirmation that the running to grey balance as many of us have been doing for years is validated. The G7 methodology is just one way of arriving at good grey balance with a specific set of inks. While it would be wonderful if everyone ran perfect G7 or SWOP ink sets those of us who are honest know this is not the case.
This explains why these very large and successful printers have chosen to achieve pressroom grey balance in their own way, and then run to match the proof created with the data sets mentioned above.
The experts mentioned above also validate that having quality “standard†data sets is critical to being able to print the same job in multiple plants control by multiple owners all over the world. It does not appear, however, to be critical that each vendor use exactly the same process to achieve grey balance on press as long as grey balance has been achieved. (More than one kind of mouse trap can be used, and G7 may or may not be a better mouse trap.)