Can anyone point me to an article (or offer his own advice) regarding the current state of printer profiling software and hardware?

Mainly I want a good profile but I am willing to sacrifice convenience because I do not expect to be profiling more than a dozen combinations of ink and paper.

Maybe I should just use a custom profiling service considering my anticipated volume?

Do I need to be able to edit the profile as some high-end programs allow?

Thanks.

You can't go wrong with the Gretag-MacBeth X-Rite products, but for the number of papers you plan on doing you should try custom profiles first. Odds are you'll be completely happy with the results. Almost all profiling services use the same high-end automated profile creation process, so I suggest choosing on price. Check out this offer at InkjetArt: http://www.inkjetart.com/custom_profiles/

A lot depends upon the printer you're using, as well as the RIP and profiling. You don't mention the specific printer you want to use, however, if you want to go with very well made "canned profiles", and the ability to create your own (if you have an Eye One or the like), Colorburst RIP and with an Epson is very accurate. I use it in conjunction with my Epson 4000 and Epson Semimatte Proofing paper. With my calibrated monitor, dead-on proofs which 98% of the ime match the final finished printed piece from the client. (Much of the time, images are submitted as final CMYK.)

So I guess for truly accurate answers to your question, you need to address:
1) monitor calibration
2) intended printer
3) inkjet media
4) printer RIP
5) profiling software

Nemo

I'll second X-Rite. I started out with Eye-One Photo LT with very basic RGB (printer) profiling. I soon upgraded to the full RGB module - very happy with results.

To your specific question, I can't imagine a better introductory discussion than the one included in 'From Camera to Print':

http://luminous-landscape.com/videos/camera-print.shtml

-John

I highly recommend X-Rite's color measurement products. I've been using them for over 15 years.

Making your own profiles is not difficult but it is expensive.

I offer custom printer profiles. Info here (scroll to the bottom of the page for ordering info):

http://coalsoneditions.com/custom-icc-printer-profiles.htm

> I'll second X-Rite.
> I highly recommend X-Rite's color measurement products.

What other alternatives for real spectros (I'm not thinking of Datacolor's "spectrocolorimeter" here) do we have then these days?
Before the merger there was the Pulse from X-Rite, the Eye One from GMB, and now?

If you are looking for the top.

hardware: Barbieri SpectroSwing
software: Argyll
profiling service and shopping center: www.photoactivity.com (italian)

Jacopo

> Barbieri
> Argyll (free)

Agreed.

Barbieri's software Profile-Xpert is excellent too. It produces the best perceptual intent I've ever seen (very close to relative colorimetric, without the clipping).
Works very well with photolab printers.

Or LFP:

http://www.barbierielectronic.com/n_rodney.htm