Focoltone Color Solutions

6 May 2004, Germany - Building on its success as an international color specifying system since 1984, Focoltone now introduces the Intelligent Color Calibration System (ICCS). It uses advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Negative Color Comparison techniques to calibrate digital color printers.

Focoltone ICCS effectively enables accurate and consistent color on digital printers, whose color quality fluctuates due to instabilities like machine drift, humidity and temperature changes, and ink or toner variations.

At its simplest, Focoltone ICCS compares a digital printer's color output against an accurate color reference and calibrates the color output towards the target reference, making the printer Color OK!

Target color levels and reference standards are provided through the system's unique Focoltone Calibration Chart. With its range of offset-printed CMYK colors, it provides a perfect target reference.

Having tested the system, Mr. John Feld, editor of PC Graphics Report, was impressed, saying, "It's revolutionary! Even the colorblind will be able to see the improvements through the different shades of colors".

John's experience highlights the true innovation of the Focoltone ICCS concept, which is based on the fact that the human eye can accurately compare differences between colors.

Focoltone ICCS inventor, Dr. Allan Zhang, explains this concept, "Focoltone ICCS uses a color comparison methodology called Negative Color Comparison. It enables a scanner to function like a human eye and accurately evaluate the color it scans.

"The system then assigns precise AI-derived color data values to the colors. Using Negative Color Comparison, Focoltone ICCS analyzes the color differences and subsequently creates a new ICC profile for the printer to ensure accurate color output".

Operating as a plug-in to Adobe Photoshop, Focoltone ICCS is recommended to work on digital color printers that support ICC profiles. This release is compliant to ICC standards and is launching at drupa 2004 in Germany.