Microtek Scanner ICC Profiler user guide

Microtek

Scanner ICC Profiler

User's Manual

(Windows)

Copyright  1998 by Microtek International, Inc.

All rights reserved.

Trademarks

Microtek and ScanMaker are trademarks of Microtek International, Inc. IBM PC is a registered trademark of
International Business Machines Corporation. Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft
Corporation. Adobe and Adobe Photoshop are trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated. Kodak is a
registered trademark of Eastman-Kodak Company. Other product or company names are trademarks or
registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Important

Documents that you scan may be protected under copyright law. The unauthorized use of such documents
could be a violation of the rights of the copyright holder. Microtek bears no responsibility for the
unauthorized use of copyrighted materials.

To obtain optimal results from the Microtek scanning software and user's manual, you should be familiar with
such Windows concepts as pointing, clicking, dragging, and selecting from menus and dialog boxed. If these
things are new to you, refer to your Microsoft Windows User's Guide.

Doc. No. I49-002327
November 1998

Microtek Lab, Inc.

3715 Doolittle Drive
Redondo Beach, CA 90278-1226
Main: 310-297-5000
Sales: 800-654-4160
FAX: [phone]
BBS: 310-297-5102
Technical Support: 310-297-5151
AutoTech fax back system: 310-297-5101
http://www.microtekusa.com

Microtek International, Inc.

6, Industry East Road 3
Science Based Industrial Park
Hsinchu, 30077, Taiwan, R.O.C.
TEL: [phone]
FAX: [phone]

ii

Microtek Europe B.V.

Max Euwelaan 68
NL-3062 MA Rotterdam
The Netherlands
TEL: [phone]
FAX: [phone]

Contents

1 Introduction 1-1

Why you need the Scanner ICC Profiler..................................................................... 1-1

Calibration target ...................................................................................................... 1-2

Taking care of the target ............................................................................................ 1-2

Replacing the target................................................................................................... 1-3

2 Using Microtek Scanner ICC Profiler 2-1

Installing Microtek Scanner ICC Profiler .................................................................... 2-1

Placing calibration target ........................................................................................... 2-2

Placing Q-60R1 reflective target .......................................................................... 2-2

Placing Q-60R1 reflective target on an A4-sized (or Letter) scanner............... 2-2

Placing Q-60R1 reflective target on an A3-sized scanner ............................... 2-2

Placing 4" x 5" Q-60E1 transparency target ......................................................... 2-3

Placing 4" x 5" Q-60E1 transparency target on an A4 twin-plate scanner....... 2-3

Placing 4" x 5" Q-60E1 transparency target on an A3 twin-plate scanner....... 2-3

Placing 4" x 5" Q-60E1 transparency target for TMA .................................... 2-4

Placing 4" x 5" Q-60E1 transparency target on transparency scanner ............ 2-4

Placing 35mm Q-60E3 transparency target for slide scanner................................ 2-5

Calibration Procedure ............................................................................................... 2-6

Step 1: Scan target image .................................................................................... 2-7

Step 2: Align target registration marks................................................................. 2-8

Step 3: Create profile .......................................................................................... 2-9

3 Reference 3-1

The Main Window .................................................................................................... 3-1

Controls............................................................................................................. 3-1

System Menu ..................................................................................................... 3-3

Calibration Window (Preview & Scan target image) ................................................... 3-4

Calibration Window (Align target and create profile).................................................. 3-5

4 Troubleshooting 4-1

iii

1

Introduction

Microtek’s Scanner ICC Profiler is a scanner calibration and profiling utility
program designed for use with the professional scanner TWAIN driver —
ScanWizard Pro. Scanner ICC Profiler lets you calibrate the color attributes of
your scanner and create a customized ICC color profile dedicated for the
scanner.

This manual describes how to install and use Scanner ICC Profiler with a
Microtek scanner on PC platform. The scanners covered in this manual are color
flatbeds, color flatbeds with transparency media adapter (TMA), twin-plate
color flatbeds, transparency scanners, and 35mm slide scanners.

Why you need the Scanner ICC Profiler

To each scanner, a generic factory-set ICC color profile is included for use with
ScanWizard Pro. This factory-set profile delivers high color quality in general.
However, scanners, like any high-end device, perform subtle difference in color,
even although they have the same model.

In addition, even if an individual scanner, it also performs differently against
time due to the aging of the lamp, or due to ambient temperature. Scanner ICC
Profiler lets you calibrate your respective scanner, compensate color deviation,
and create a custom scanner color profile that precisely describes the color
characteristics of your scanner. Customized color profile delivers superb color
quality. In order to keep color consistency from time to time, it is recommended
that you carry out calibration each day when you start to use the scanner.

Introduction 1-1

Calibration target

Your Scanner ICC Profiler kit includes an industry-standard IT8 color target for
calibration. Depending on the scanner model your purchase, three types of
targets are available:

• Kodak Q-60R1: 5" x 7" reflective target for all flatbed scanners (e.g.,
ScanMaker 4, ScanMaker 5, and ScanMaker 2000).

• Kodak Q-60E1: 4" x 5" transparency target for twin-plate scanner with built­in transparency adapter (e.g., ScanMaker 4, ScanMaker 5, and ScanMaker

2000), as well as for transparency scanner (e.g., ScanMaker 45t Pro).

• Kodak Q-60E3: 35mm transparency target for slide scanner (e.g., ScanMaker
35t Plus), as well as for the transparency media of some flatbed scanner
models.

Note: Use only the Calibration Target that came from Microtek. It is at your own risk
if you perform color calibration by using the calibration target from third-parties.
Microtek bears no responsibility for the color calibration quality from other parties.
Further more, third-party Calibration Target may not match with Microtek scanner's
ICC profiler.

Taking care of the target

The calibration target is very delicate and must be handled carefully. Make sure
you follow these rules in caring for it.

• Gently take the target out of its protective storage sleeve.

• Do not touch the target image with your fingers, or with any other object.

• Keep the target out of the light – even interior lighting when no in use.

• Always return the target to its protective sleeve immediately after use.

• Store the target away from light in a cool, dry place, since long exposure to
light and heat can change the colors on the target.

1-2 Microtek Scanner ICC Profiler User’s Manual

Replacing the target

With proper care, when you start to use the color target will hold its original
vivid colors for about a year or so. After that, it will begin to fade, as is the
nature of most photographic materials. The change may be unnoticeable to the
naked eye, but even very slight changes in the target decrease the performance
of Scanner ICC Profiler.

To maintain color accuracy, Microtek recommends that you replace the target
once a year, or when you notice a loss of quality in your scanned images. To
order a new Scanner ICC Profiler system kit with a new target, and the latest
software, call Microtek sales.

Introduction 1-3

2

Using Microtek
Scanner ICC Profiler

This chapter provides information on how to use Scanner ICC Profiler on your
Windows platform. To use Microtek Scanner ICC Profiler, take the 3 steps
below:

• Install Microtek Scanner ICC Profiler

• Place the target on your scanner

• Calibrate your scanner

Installing Microtek Scanner ICC Profiler

You should have ScanWizard Pro and Kodak CMS programs installed before
installing Scanner ICC Profiler. Depending on the packing you purchased, your
Scanner ICC Profiler program maybe shipped in disk or CD-ROM format.

For disk users

Insert the Scanner ICC Profiler program disk #1 into your floppy disk drive.
Choose Start, Run, input A:\Setup.exe, then click OK. The installer program will
guide you to insert Program disk #2 during the process, until installation is
complete.

For CD-ROM users

Insert the Scanner ICC Profiler CD into your CD-ROM drive. Choose Start,
Run, input D:\Scanner ICC Profiler\Setup.exe, then click OK. Where “D”
represents the CD-ROM is installed in D: drive. The installer program will guide
you during the process, until installation is complete.

Using Microtek Scanner ICC Profiler 2-1