Using Monaco IT8 with Silverfast

[KenCooper]

Today (Apr-19-2009), I had a problem and found this previous message >

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Board index ‹ General ‹ Imaging in general

SilverFast and Monico IT8 Targets
Postby missouricitybill on Fri Dec 05, 2008 7:17 pm

(Mr Cooper writes, that the following is the core of those messages) >

"... we are well aware of this problem with the Monaco reference files. Monaco has choosen no to deliver the reference files in standard ascii mode but in an own file format that we can not encode. I would reccomend to buy..."


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My computer> an old Pentium 4 with 2GB ram, running XP Home. At the start of April, I decided to clean the OS with nLite and managed to remove about 330 MB from the original XP install disk.

Years ago, I purchased Monaco EZcolor (now part of X-Rite). I still use the software for basic calibration of my 19 inch Viewsonic monitor.

For scanning 35mm, I use a Nikon LS-5000ED. Since 99% of my film was shot on Kodachrome, I obtained a IT8 Kodachrome Q-60 slide from "B&H Photo" in New York. Master scans use a wet-mount process and done at 8,000 dpi.

For prints or larger film, I use an Epson 4990 flatbed.

The Monaco package also contains a 5x7 Print (IT8.7/2) and a 4x5 Transparency (IT8.7/1).

The 4x5 Film uses calibration data contained in a "txt" file - eg: "C:\Programs\X-Rite\EZcolor 2.6.5\Preferences\MONT45.2004.06.txt"

However, the 5x7 Print uses data contained in a "mrf" file - eg: "C:\Programs\X-Rite\EZcolor 2.6.5\Preferences\MONR2004.08.01.mrf"

These two files were copied from the X-Rite folder and put into the "C:\Programs\SilverFast Application\SilverFast Epson\SilverFast\IT8 Reference Files\" folder.

Silverfast can't read (or use) the "mrf" file. The 'trick' is to just add a ".gz" suffix to the file [rename it] - eg: "MONR2004.08.01.mrf.gz"

Now use WinRar (or somesuch) to unzip this file BACK into a normal text file! Next rename this new file to "MONR2004.08.01.txt"

When you run a IT8 Calibration using the 5x7 inch print, Silverfast will now ask and find this new text file.

Note: for some strange reason, while I was doing my calibration, the overlay positioning grid was 'upsidedown'. I had to grab each corner and do a complete vertical flip...!

And after selecting this new data file, the process seemed to 'choke' a few times! Perhaps some buffer or array never got flushed out in time?

But after a few attempts - everything then seemed to work fine...

Ken Cooper
Vancouver, BC. Canada

[LSI_Luebker]

Dear Ken,

thank you for this information, but It really does not sound to convenient to me. You should also consider that the IT8 charts age as all film does so I would recommend to swap the charts after 2-3 years of use even when stored properly to guarantee the most accurate results.

[KenCooper]

Thanks for your reply. I'll have to add another entry to my 'todo' list...

[arlyn9391]

Today (Apr-19-2009), I had a problem and found this previous message >

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Board index ‹ General ‹ Imaging in general

SilverFast and Monico IT8 Targets
Postby missouricitybill on Fri Dec 05, 2008 7:17 pm

(Mr Cooper writes, that the following is the core of those messages) >

"... we are well aware of this problem with the Monaco reference files. Monaco has choosen no to deliver the reference files in standard ascii mode but in an own file format that we can not encode. I would reccomend to buy..."


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My computer> an old Pentium 4 with 2GB ram, running XP Home. At the start of April, I decided to clean the OS with nLite and managed to remove about 330 MB from the original XP install disk.

Years ago, I purchased Monaco EZcolor (now part of X-Rite). I still use the software for basic calibration of my 19 inch Viewsonic monitor.

For scanning 35mm, I use a Nikon LS-5000ED. Since 99% of my film was shot on Kodachrome, I obtained a IT8 Kodachrome Q-60 slide from "B&H Photo" in New York. Master scans use a wet-mount process and done at 8,000 dpi.

For prints or larger film, I use an Epson 4990 flatbed.

The Monaco package also contains a 5x7 Print (IT8.7/2) and a 4x5 Transparency (IT8.7/1).

The 4x5 Film uses calibration data contained in a "txt" file - eg: "C:\Programs\X-Rite\EZcolor 2.6.5\Preferences\MONT45.2004.06.txt"

However, the 5x7 Print uses data contained in a "mrf" file - eg: "C:\Programs\X-Rite\EZcolor 2.6.5\Preferences\MONR2004.08.01.mrf"

These two files were copied from the X-Rite folder and put into the "C:\Programs\SilverFast Application\SilverFast Epson\SilverFast\IT8 Reference Files\" folder.

Silverfast can't read (or use) the "mrf" file. The 'trick' is to just add a ".gz" suffix to the file [rename it] - eg: "MONR2004.08.01.mrf.gz"

Now use WinRar (or somesuch) to unzip this file BACK into a normal text file! Next rename this new file to "MONR2004.08.01.txt"

When you run a IT8 Calibration using the 5x7 inch print, Silverfast will now ask and find this new text file.

Note: for some strange reason, while I was doing my calibration, the overlay positioning grid was 'upsidedown'. I had to grab each corner and do a complete vertical flip...!

And after selecting this new data file, the process seemed to 'choke' a few times! Perhaps some buffer or array never got flushed out in time?

But after a few attempts - everything then seemed to work fine...

Ken Cooper
Vancouver, BC. Canada

Nut it is not directly available from our on-line store. You will need first to return your original or provide. To secure a new Monaco IT8.


_________________
Scotsman Ice Machine

[salvadori]

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[doggy]

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[bian80]

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