X-Rite VeriColor Spectro Setup & Operator Manual

®

VeriColor

Spectro

Non-Contact Spectrophotometer

Setup and Operator Manual

CE Declaration

Manufacturer's Name: X-Rite, Incorporated

Authorized Representative: X-Rite, Incorporated

Siemensstraße 12b
Phone:[phone]

Model Name: VeriColor Spectro
Model No.: VS410
Directive(s) Conformance: EMC 89/336/EEC LVD 73/23/EEC

Note:

This is a class A product. In a domestic environment this product may cause interference in which case
the user may be required to take adequate measures.

Federal Communications Commission Notice

NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device,
pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection
against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This
equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in
accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference in which case
the user will be required to correct the interference at his own expense.

VERICOLOR® SPECTRO

• 63263 Neu-Isenburg • Germany

• Fax: [phone]

Industry Canada Compliance Statement

This Class A digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003.
Cet appareil numérique de la classe A est conforme à la norme NMB-003 du Canada.

Equipment Information

Use of this equipment in a manner other than that specified by X-Rite, Incorporated may compromise
design integrity and become unsafe.

WARNING: This instrument is not for use in explosive environments.
ADVERTENCIA - NO use este aparato en los ambientes explosivos.
AVVERTIMENTO - NON usare questo apparecchio in ambienti esplosivi.
WARNUNG: Das Gerät darf in einer explosiven Umgebung NICHT verwendet werden.
AVERTISSEMENT: Cet instrument ne doit pas être utilisé dans un environnement explosif.

RoHS/WEEE

X-Rite products meet the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive 2002/95/EC and
European Union – Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive 2002/96/EC. Please
refer to www.xrite.com

for more information on X-Rite's compliance with the RoHS/WEEE directives.

3

VERICOLOR® SPECTRO

Proprietary Notice

The information contained in this manual is derived from patent and proprietary data of
X-Rite, Incorporated. The contents of this manual are the property of X-Rite, Incorporated
and are copyrighted. Any reproduction in whole or part is strictly prohibited. Publication of
this information does not imply any rights to reproduce or use this manual for any purpose
other than installing, operating, or maintaining this instrument. No part of this manual may
be reproduced, transcribed, transmitted, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any
language or computer language, in any form or by any means, electronic, magnetic,
mechanical, optical, manual, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of an officer
of X-Rite, Incorporated.

This product may be cover ed by one or more patents. Refer to the instrument for actual
patent numbers.

Copyright © 2007 by X-Rite, Incorporated “ALL RIGHTS RESERVED”

X-Rite and VeriColor are registered trademarks of X-Rite, Incorporated. All other logos, brand names, and product names mentioned
are the properties of their respective holders.

Warranty Information

X-Rite, Incorporated (“X-Rite”) warrants each instrument manufactured to be free of defects
in material and workmanship for a period of 12 months. This warranty shall be fulfilled by
the repair or replacement, at the option of X-Rite, of any part or parts, free of charge
including labor, F.O.B. its factory or authorized service center.

This warranty shall be voided by any repair, alteration, or modification, by persons other
than employees of X-Rite, or those expressly authorized by X-Rite to perform repairs, and by
any abuse, misuse, or neglect of the product, or by use not in accordance with X-Rite's
published instructions.

X-Rite reserves the right to make changes in design and /or improvements to its products
without any obligation to include these changes in any products previously manufactured.
Correction of defects by repair or replacement shall constitute fulfillment of all warranty
obligations on the part of X-Rite.

THIS WARRANTY IS EXPLICITLY IN LIEU OF ANY OTHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED
WARRANTIES, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR
ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THIS WARRANTY OBLIGATION IS LIMITED TO REPAIR OR
REPLACEMENT OF THE UNIT RETURNED TO X-RITE OR AN AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER
FOR THAT PURPOSE.

This agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Michigan and
jurisdiction and venue shall lie with the courts of Michigan as selected by X-Rite,
Incorporated.

4

Table of Contents

VERICOLOR® SPECTRO

Overview 7

VeriColor Spectro Description 7
Unpacking and Inspection 7

VeriColor Spectro Installation 8

Measurement Distance 8
Height Insensitivity 9
Measurement Angle 9
VeriColor Spectro Dimension Drawing 10
Cable Connection and Wiring 11
Hardware Interface Description 13

Discrete Input Lines 13
Power/Comm/Control Cable (p/n: VCS50-EUR8-DB5) 13
Discrete Output Lines 14
Discrete Interface Cable (p/n: SE108-EUR8-5M) 16
Computer Interface 16
Status LED Indicator 17

Software Installation and Overview 18

Basic System Requirements 18
Installing the Software 18
Starting the Application 18
Application Overview 19

VeriColor Spectro System Operation 20

Configuring the Software Options 20

Administrative (Admin) Setup 20

Language Tool 26
Targeting a Part 27
Calibration/Verification of the VeriColor Spectro 28

Attaching the Calibration Tool 28

Performing Calibration (first time, out of box) 29

Performing Verification 30

Performing Calibration (after verification failure) 31

Calibration Configuration 32
Color Standards and Projects 34

Creating Palettes and Color Standards 34
Verify Mode 39
Project Mode 40

Configuration PLC Values 42
Monitor Mode 44

Selecting a Single Standard (no auto target) 44

Selecting a Project for Auto Targeting 45

Measuring a Standard 45

Setting Tolerances 46

Creating a Standard from a Series of Measurements 47

Manual Sample Measurement 47

Interval Sample Measurements 48

Viewing Sample Data 49
Lookup Mode 52
Compare Mode 54

Selecting a Standard from File 54

Measuring a Standard 55

Setting Tolerances 55

Selecting a Trial from file 56

Measuring a Trial 56

Deleting Trials 56

5

VERICOLOR® SPECTRO

General Maintenance 58

Repair Information 58
Cleaning the Spectro Instrument Lenses 58
Cleaning the Calibration Tool 58
Hardware Troubleshooting 59

Appendices 61

Specifications 61
Accessories 62
Electrical Interface Details 63

6

Overview

VeriColor Spectro Description

The VeriColor® Spectro is used to evaluate and identify colors in industrial applications. The
VeriColor Spectro is a spectrophotometer that delivers 100% in-line, non-contact, absolute
(L*a*b*) color measurement and identification.

Like other color sensors, the VeriColor Spectro allows you to “learn” (measure) standard
colors and measure samples for comparison. The system uses these comparisons to
determine the closest standard or pass/fail a sample based on a tolerance.

The system is composed of two main components: the VeriColor Spectro which stores
standard colors and captures sample color, and the software application.

Sensor Lens

Illumination Lens

VERICOLOR® SPECTRO

Mounting Flange (4)

Unpacking and Inspection

After removing the VeriColor Spectro from the shipping carton, inspect it for damage. If any
damage has occurred during shipping, immediately contact the transportation company. Do
not proceed with installation until the carrier's agent has inspected the damage.

Your VeriColor Spectro was packaged in a specially designed carton to assure against
damage. If shipment is necessary, the VeriColor Spectro should be packaged in the original
carton along with all the accessories. If the original carton is not available, contact X-Rite to
have a replacement shipped to you.

Packaging Contents:

• VeriColor Spectro P/N VS410-00-01

• 5 Meter Male 8-Circuit Open Ended Cable P/N SE108-EUR8-5M

• 5 Meter Female 8-Circuit Open Ended P/N VCS50-EUR8-5DB

• Calibration Tool P/N VS410-63

• VeriColor Spectro Application Software CD P/N VS410-500-CD

• Setup and Operation Manual P/N VS410-500

• Registration Form (multi-language) P/N SD01-99

RS-232 Connector

RS-485 / PLC Connector

Status LED Indicator

7

VERICOLOR® SPECTRO

VeriColor Spectro Installation

Measurement Distance

Mount the VeriColor Spectro to the fixture using the holes provided at each flange.

VeriColor Spectro must be set to measure at a distance of 4” nominal to the measurement

surface. If the instrument is mounted in a 0°/30° geometry (preferred), the distance is that
from the center of the illumination lens to the sample. If the instrument is mounted in a
30°/0° geometry (alternate), the distance is measured from the center of the sensor lens to
the measurement surface.

CAUTION: Keep the sensor lens and illumination lens free from dust, smudge
marks, and finger prints.

0°/30° Mounting - Preferred 30°/0° Mounting - Alternate

Mounting

Flange (4)

Sensor Lens

Sample Part

Mounting
Flange (4)

Illumination Lens

4.0"

Sensor Lens

4.0"

Illumination Lens

Sample Part

IMPORTANT: The Geometry setting in the

software will require editing from the default
setting of “0°/30°” if the alternate 30°/0° mounting
method is used. Refer to the Calibration
Configuration section later in this manual for the
procedure.

8

Height Insensitivity

Vericolor Spectro can tolerate
variation in depth of the

measurement distance of +/- 0.25”.

This means that if the sample being
measured fluctuates up and down

by no more than +/-0.25”, the

measurement will not be affected
beyond specified tolerances (refer
to the Specifications in the

Appendix). Any more than +/- 0.25”

it is suggested that the sample
being measured be stabilized to
prevent the variation in the
measurement distance.

VERICOLOR® SPECTRO

4.25"

Sample Part

3.75"

Sample Part

Measurement Angle

It is important when installing the
instrument in-line that the geometry and
axis angle be set appropriately. The

instrument can be set at a 0°/30°
illumination or 30°/0° illumination (see
illustrations on previous page). The 0°/30°

position is preferred for best repeatability
and correlation to an X-Rite 964 or similar
hand held spectrophotometer. Other angles
may be used (example 7.5/37.5) but care
must be taken to avoid sensing specular
reflections from the illuminator. Once the
instrument has been trained on a sample in
the preferred position, it is critical that
future samples be measured for comparison
against the standard at the same
measurement angle. Any deviation in the
measurement angle (called off axis
measurement) will affect the color reading
and indicate a fail condition, when in fact
the sample might be completely within the
specified tolerance range.

It is preferred that the instruments
mounting plane be as close to 90° to
sample plane as possible.

It is recommended that once the mounting angle of measurement is determined, the
instrument fixed position should be marked or documented. This will allow you to more easily
reposition the instrument to the original and correct position when measuring that sample
profile and color.

90°

Sample Part

9

VERICOLOR® SPECTRO

(

)

VeriColor Spectro Dimension Drawing

(189.35 mm)

227.20 mm

(28.62 mm)

(6.35 mm)

(146.73 m m )

(175.51 mm)

(25.29 mm)

(172.03 mm)

(200.07 mm)

(57.30 mm)

(67.05 mm)

(31.90 mm)

(44.19 mm)

(98.47 mm)

(73.30 mm)

(38.10 mm)

(0.76 mm)

(38.86 mm)

10

Cable Connection and Wiring

The VeriColor Spectro is designed to utilize the same cable configuration as the VeriColor
Solo; however, due to the increased power requirements of the VeriColor Spectro, RS232
communication should be limited to cable lengths of less than 15 meters. For cable distances
longer than 15 meters it is recommended that the RS485 communication scheme be utilized.

The VeriColor Spectro RS485 communications wiring may be configured as either half or full
duplex on a single drop RS485 line. Usage of the RS485 communication requires proper
ground termination for both the power supply cable and the RS485 cable; any notable
differences in potential between the cable grounds may result in intermittent communication,
communication failure and possible damage to the instrument.

1. After the instrument has been mounted, attach the female connector of the

'Power/Comm/Control' cable (p/n: VCS50-EUR8-5DB) to the male connector (longer,
threaded), located on the back end of the VeriColor Spectro, and tighten.

2. The other end of this cable has a DB9 connector and several stripped and tined wires.

This end interface to power, computer and discrete devices.

a. Instrument power is applied via the white (+) and brown (-) wires (+24 Vdc ±2 Vdc)

IMPORTANT: A limited current source must be used. The applied operational power

shall be a filtered +24 Vdc, ±2 Vdc tolerance, having a 3-Amp capacity.

b. RS232 communications is obtained via the pre-wired DB9 connector.
c. If manual or discrete operation is needed, attach the appropriate wires to controlling

device (relay, PLC terminal, etc.). These lines are the READ, 10's, 1's, and DSR inputs

and are low-power, active high inputs. Refer to next section for details.

3. If discrete output, PLC feedback or RS485 interfacing is needed, attach and tighten the

male connector of the 'Discrete Interface' cable (p/n: SE108-EUR8-5M) to the female
connector (short, non-threaded). The connector is located on the back of the VeriColor
Spectro instrument.

4. The other end of this cable has several stripped and tined wires allowing low power

interface to discrete devices and/or attachment to an RS485 port (4-wire).

a. 'Pass', 'Fail', 'Action' and 4 discrete channels are the default output signal set-up.
b. Optional RS485 control (communications) is set-up by changing the 4 discrete

channels.

c. Attach the appropriate wires to the controlling device (relay, PLC terminal, etc.).

These outputs all use a common feed or return line. Refer to next section for details.

5. See the diagrams on the next several pages and appendices for electrical interface details

plus examples.

VERICOLOR® SPECTRO

11

VERICOLOR® SPECTRO

DB9 Connector

Pin 5 – #2 Ground (brown)
Pin 2 – #3 Txout (green)
Pin 3 – #4 Rvin (yellow)

Power/Comm/Control Cable

(VCS50-EUR8-5DB)

#2 – Negative (brown)
#1 - +24 Vdc (white)
#5 – DSR (gray)
#6 – 10's (pink)
#7 – 1's (blue)

#8 – READ (red)

Cable Shield (Panel or fixture ground)

Discrete Interface Cable

(SE108-EUR8-5M)

#1 – PASS (white)
#2 – FAIL (brown)
#3 – Output Comm (green)
#4 – CH-E 16 / 'ACTION' (yellow)
#5 – CH-D 8 / RS485-TX-A (gray)*
#6 – CH-C 4 / RS485-RX-A (pink)*
#7 – CH-B 2 / RS485-RX-B (blue)*

#8 – CH-A 1 / RS485-TX-B (red)*

Cable Shield**

*Connect the “#5 – CH-D 8 / RS485-TX-A (gray)” and “#6 – CH-C 4 / RS485-RX-A (pink)” wires together for

Half Duplex. Also, connect the “#7 - CH-B 2 / RS485-RX-B (blue)” and “#8 – CH-A 1 / RS485-TX-B (red)”
wires together for Half Duplex.

**Use as common return to controller ground (insert a 10Ω resistor if voltage potential between the controller

and VeriColor Spectro is significant).

12

Hardware Interface Description

The VeriColor Spectro interconnects externally using serial communications and/or discrete
signals to a computer or programmable device; detailed as follows. Additionally, there is a
visual indicator which provides system status during set-up or local maintenance monitoring.
Refer to the appendices for electrical interface details and examples.

Discrete Input Lines

These control lines are part of the 'Power/Comm/Control' cable and are low power, active
high inputs, as referenced to the ground return power supply input. Each input has an on/off
timing cycle which creates the signal that the VeriColor Spectro recognizes and then takes a
responsive action.

The active high condition means to initiate an action utilizing a positive voltage signal (+9Vdc
to +24Vdc) for a specific time period. The time period is typically 65 milli-seconds, ±15 milli­seconds in duration. The 'Discrete Select Request' (DSR) has longer special conditions that
are explained later.

Power/Comm/Control Cable (p/n: VCS50-EUR8-DB5)

Discrete Select Request (DSR) – gray wire

This input is used to prompt the selection of a different color standard before the next
measurement is taken. It is the control input (request) that allows the toggling of the 1's and
10's input, so it must be activated first.

VERICOLOR® SPECTRO

During the activation of DSR, new measurement triggers are locked out (ignored) until DSR
is completed. Each time DSR is enabled, the color number selection starts at 0 (zero) and
increments according to the 1's and 10's toggling. After the new color number has been
selected, when DSR is completed, the new color number is stored. If the DSR input is
released without changing the color number (toggling the 1's or 10's), the color number
remains at the previous stored value.

There is a maximum of 250 colors that can be stored and therefore selected.

Due to the requirement that this input remain on (active) while the 1's and 10's are toggled,
the time duration or period is dependent on the number of those 1 and 10 activations
combined.

1's Select – blue wire

This input can only be used while DSR is active.
Each time this input is toggled the color number will increment by 1.
This input can be used at the same time as the 10's input, so it should only toggle a

maximum of 9 times to prevent selection errors.

10's Select – pink wire

This input can only be used while DSR is active.
Each time this input is toggled the color number will increment by 10.
This input can be used at the same time as the 1's input, so it should only toggle a maximum

of 24 times to prevent selection errors (i.e. 24 toggles times 10 is 240 and added with 9
ones is 249).

13

VERICOLOR® SPECTRO

Discrete Output Lines

These individual signal lines are part of the 'Discrete Interface' cable and all are low power
outputs which use a common control line referenced (“ComO”; the green wire). This common
line is either a supply or ground return connection for these outputs.

a. Low power means these outputs are intended for +9Vdc min to +24Vdc max @ 120 mA.

Refer to Electrical Interface Details in the Appendix for additional information.

b. All outputs default as normally open contacts, but can be configured as to normally

closed contacts. Note they still all use a common control line.

c. If the common control line is connected to ground, then all outputs are in low-side or

return path configuration. This means when VeriColor Spectro activates the 'pass' output,
it is providing a ground return for an external light or relay coil to turn on. See Figure 1.

Discrete I/O Connections (Example: Low-side output enable)

+24 Vdc

read

brn

2

Pwr & RS232

J1

male 8-pin

red

8

Pass

Rx

Fail

Action

Rx = current limiting resisto r as nee ded

Rx

Rx

Connector J2 Color Description

Pin 1 White PASS = pass result Output
Pin 2 Brown FAIL = fail result Output
Pin 3 Green ComO = common discrete outputs Output
Pin 4 Yellow CH-E = 'ACTION' result Output

Instrument Outside Control
Pin 5 Gray TXD A RXD A Output
Pin 6 Pink RXD A TXD A Output
Pin 7 Blue RXD B TXD B Output
Pin 8 Red TXD B RXD B Output

A (-) B (+)

wht

brn
grn

yel

nu
nu

nu
nu

1
2
3
4
5

6
7
8

VC Spectro

nu = not used

J2

Discrete I/O

female 8-pin

d. If the common is connected to power (voltage ranging from +9Vdc to +24Vdc), then all

outputs are in high-side or supply path configuration. This means when VeriColor Spectro
activates the 'pass' output it is providing a positive voltage signal for an external light or
relay coil to turn on. See figure 2 on the next page.

14

Figure 1

Discrete I/O Connections (Example: High-side output enable)

VERICOLOR® SPECTRO

+24 Vdc

read

brn

2

J1

Pwr & RS232

male 8-pin

red

8

Rx

Rx

Pass

Fail

Rx = current limiting resisto r as nee ded

+24 Vdc

Rx

Action

Connector J2 Color Description

Pin 1 White PASS = pass result Output
Pin 2 Brown FAIL = fail result Output
Pin 3 Green ComO = common discrete outputs Output
Pin 4 Yellow CH-E = 'ACTION' result Output

Instrument Outside Control
Pin 5 Gray TXD A RXD A Output
Pin 6 Pink RXD A TXD A Output
Pin 7 Blue RXD B TXD B Output
Pin 8 Red TXD B RXD B Output

A (-) B (+)

wht
brn

grn

yel

nu
nu

nu
nu

1
2
3
4
5

6
7
8

VC Spectro

nu = not used

J2

Discrete I/O
female 8-pin

In the default project set-up these wires are all discrete lines. Pass, Fail and ComO are
always the same, while CH-A through CH-D and Action can have an alternate configuration.

a. Action is the default but can be configured as CH-E (channel-E).
b. CH-A through CH-D are the defaults but can be configured into a 4-wire RS485 port.

Once these lines are set as RS485, they cannot also be used as discrete outputs.

Figure 2

15

VERICOLOR® SPECTRO

Discrete Interface Cable (p/n: SE108-EUR8-5M)

Pass – white wire

This output is a VeriColor Spectro measurement response. It is activated when the last
sample was determined to be within the set tolerance for the selected color.

Fail – brown wire

This output is a VeriColor Spectro measurement response. It is activated when the last
sample was determined to NOT be within the set tolerance for the selected color, or had a
greater difference than allowed for the selected color.

Action – yellow wire

In the default set-up state 'Action', this output activates to a VeriColor Spectro measurement
response. It is activated when the last sample was determined to be within the set tolerance
for the selected color, but is either very close to being out of tolerance or is statistically
trending toward the limits.

However, if configured as a discrete channel output 'CH-E', then its activation will depend on
how the user has determined what this output is used as (project set-up conditions).

CH-A through CH-D / RS485

In the default set-up state 'CH-A through CH-D', these outputs activate to a VeriColor
Spectro measurement response. Their activation will depend on how the user has
determined what this output is used as (project set-up). They can be individual control lines
or a group output (binary/HEX).

However, if configured as an RS485, 4-wire port, then only RS485 operation is allowed.

• CH-A / RS-485-Tx-A - red wire

• CH-B / RS-485-Rv-A - blue wire

• CH-C / RS-485-Rv-B - pink wire

• CH-D / RS-485-Tx-B - gray wire

NOTE: Connect the “CH-A / RS-485-Tx-A - red wire” and “CH-B / RS-485-Rv-A - blue wire”
together for Half Duplex. Also, connect the “CH-C / RS-485-Rv-B - pink wire” and “CH-D /
RS-485-Tx-B - gray wire” together for Half Duplex.

Computer Interface

Normal computer communications between the user and the VeriColor Spectro is by the
serial RS232 interface. This interface is part of the 'Power/Comm/Control' cable, which has a
DB9 connector pre-wired for this feature. The VeriColor Spectro can also be configured to
communicate using RS485, if the appropriate discrete outputs are project set-up to operate
in this mode. Other communication schemes can be utilized if an external adapter is attached
(see note on RS232 to RS485 Adaptors below).

Note: On the Use of RS232 to RS485 Adaptors
While RS232 to RS485 adaptors are common and relatively inexpensive, the use of such

adaptors can be problematic in half duplex operation. For example, many such adaptors do
not have adequate power resources to generate currents for the longer periods of time
necessary when operating at low baud rates into terminated lines. Furthermore, until
recently, adaptors did not have the intelligence to know when to hold or release the transmit
condition. Often, a delay was inserted to hold the transmit condition until it was thought that
no more characters were coming through the RS232 interface. This delay was accomplished
with a simple timer that required the user to change a resistor in the adaptor to select the
right delay for the right baud rate. This meant that any requirements that differed from the
adaptor's default state would require the operator to “tweak” hardware or configuration
jumpers until things began to work properly.

16

VERICOLOR® SPECTRO

X-Rite recommends the use of PCI to RS485 adaptors for installations where a PC is the
controlling device. These adaptors are usually free from the limitations previously mentioned,
may provide features that simply are not available in other adaptor designs, and are cost
effective. Ethernet to RS485 and USB to RS485 adaptors are also available, and while these
types may be ideal for a given installation, they usually have fewer configuration options.

Important: The VeriColorSpectro does NOT support simultaneous communication over
RS232 and RS485. Response should be finished before attempting to use the other port.

RS232 Interface

The default computer communications is by way of the serial RS232 interface which is part of
the 'Power/Comm/Control' cable, via a DB9 connector.

The communications protocol is serial using X-Rite's RCI command set. See appropriate
documentation for this command set.

Status LED Indicator

On the back plate of the VeriColor Spectro, located between the 2 rear mounted connectors,
is a LED indicator which visually provides system status. This LED indicator is capable of
displaying three colors: green, amber and red. A description of each color status is listed
below.

Off (no color) – This generally indicates the VeriColor Spectro has no power.

Solid Green – indicates the VeriColor Spectro is ready and waiting for further input (discrete

input or serial port).

Solid Amber – indicates the VeriColor Spectro is busy and performing a requested task.
Whenever a PLC input or serial command is being processed, the status light should remain
amber until it is ready for the next request.

Solid Red – indicates system error/failure. If this occurs then the VeriColor Spectro is not
functioning and cannot be used until the problem is resolved.

Flashing Amber – When the VeriColor Spectro is first powered up, it will slowly flash while
undergoing system test, and waiting for the illumination LED pack to warm up to
temperature.

Flashing Red – Indicates that the VeriColor Spectro is above operating temperature and will
shut down shortly.

Flashing Green – Indicates that the red LED has burned out and the yellow light is non
operable.

17

VERICOLOR® SPECTRO

Software Installation and Overview

The VeriColor Spectro system includes a software application that provides an interface for
the VeriColor Spectro. The application is used to configure the VeriColor Spectro, store
projects which consist of color standards, and provide visual feedback of sample
measurements.

Before installing the software, make sure the VeriColor Spectro is set up as explained earlier
and the cable is connected to appropriate communication port.

Basic System Requirements

• Windows 2000 or XP Pro

• Minimum Screen resolution (1024 x 768)

Installing the Software

The software uses a standard Windows installation procedure.

1. Insert the software CD into your computer's CD-ROM drive. Browse to the Application

folder and double-click the setup.exe file on the CD.

2. The setup program guides you through the rest of the installation process. Follow the

instructions on each setup screen to complete the installation.

Starting the Application

The software application can be launched using the “VeriColor Spectro” short-cut on the
desktop or from within the Programs> VeriColor Spectro application group.

NOTE: If the VeriColor Spectro is not connected to COM 1, you will need to select the correct
communications port after launching the application for the first time. Click Admin and
select the General page to set correct COM port. Refer to Configuring the Software Options
later in this section for additional information. After the correct port is selected, you will need
to perform a calibration. Please refer to the Calibration procedure in the System Operation
section for additional information.

18

VERICOLOR® SPECTRO

Application Overview

The VeriColor Spectro application consists of four menus and five application modes. The
menus are located at the top and the mode bottoms are at the bottom of the application.

Menus

• File – used to exit the application and launch a language translation tool (if activated

in Admin)

• Instrument – used for testing, calibrating and targeting of the VeriColor Spectro

• Admin – used to configure the default settings for the application

• Setup - used to create palettes and standards

Application Modes

• Verify – used to find the closest stored standard to a measured sample

• Project – used to create projects

• Lookup – used to auto select a standard from a palette

• Compare – used to compare stored or measured trial and standard data

• Monitor - used to monitor sample measurements after the system is set up

Refer to the VeriColor System Operation section that follows for detailed information on
setting up the software and using the VeriColor Spectro with the software application.

19

VERICOLOR® SPECTRO

VeriColor Spectro System Operation

Configuring the Software Options

The software should be configured before proceeding with the color standards setup and
sample measurements.

Administrative (Admin) Setup

Administrative setup is used to configure the General, Verify, Lookup, Compare, and Monitor
options. The Admin dialog is accessed by clicking Admin menu at the top of the application.

General Screen Page

The general screen is used to establish serial communications, select the language the
application will run in, and setup password protection.

1. Click in the COM port field and enter an appropriate port number, or use the up/down

arrows to select the connection port. The default port is one.

2. Click in the Set White Verification … field and select the number of days that pass

before you would like to be reminded to perform a verification. Use the up/down arrows
to select the number of days, ranging from 1 to 30. The default number is 1.

3. Click one of the Baud Rate buttons to select the desired baud rate. Once selected, the

instrument and software will both be configured. The default baud rate is 115200. You

can click the Test instrument button to check the baud rate selected. If the connection
is fine, OK should appear in a green box below the instrument field.

4. Select the Language that you would like that application to run in by clicking the

appropriate option. The default language is set to English. If the desired language is not
available, you can use the Language Tool option located in the File menu to localize the
application to a different language. Refer to the Language Tool later in this section.
NOTE: The Allow Editing Language option must be checked before the Language Tool
item appears in the File menu. The default is un-checked.

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VERICOLOR® SPECTRO

5. You can password protect the Admin menu, Setup menu, and Project mode from

unauthorized access by checking the desired Password for option and entering a
password in the New password field. The password must be between 2 and 7 characters
to be acceptable. You will then be asked to enter this password before you can access the
mode selected.

6. Click the OK button to save your setting and exit Admin; or select the Verify, Lookup,

Compare, or Monitor page to continue with option settings.

Verify Screen Page

The verify screen is used to choose how the measurement will be triggered, measurement
interval time (for timed interval), and the Tolerance dE value used for Verify mode.

1. Select Manual, Timed interval, or External Trigger as the trigger mode. This

determines the measurement method that is used in Verify mode. The default mode is
Timed interval. Manual selection requires a Measure button click for each measurement.
Timed interval allows automatic interval measurements to take place. External trigging
requires an external device (PLC) to activate a measurement.

2. Click in the Tolerance dE field and enter desired tolerance value. This determines the dE

value used in the Verify mode.

3. Click the OK button to save your setting and exit Admin; or select the General, Lookup,

Compare, or Monitor page to continue with option settings.

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