The development of this software

Version 4.0 (January 2009)
Version 3.0 (September 2006)
Version 2.5 (June 2005)

January 2009: Version 4.0

New Design

We have decided to make a complete new-design. The user interface is a central toolbar which always hovers in the foreground and which is the origin for retrieving the several windows.

About 50 new colour systems

Numerous colour systems are added, among AL-JAZEERA from Saudi Arabien, the second version of the ALSECCO systems, FAUST Color Mix (Praktiker), Thyssen-Krupp ReflectionsOne, the current filmnormex foil collection and more.

RGB tables as colour systems

You now have the opportunity to integrate your own RGB colour lists to all function sof the software.

Colour harmony now also on the base of CMYK

The colour harmony window now offers all calculations for colour harmonies/symphonies in CMYK. This is important for the pre-press !

Calculation of colour transitions

The colour symphony window now offers also the perception based calculation of any number of colour between two colour tones, on the CIELAB--base or within a chosen system.

Extremely enhanced printed CMYK COLOUR ATLAS, extremely enhanced CMYK data base

• The new atlas is clearly arranged. · It runs through the single percantage steps in CMYK with constant intervals in a structured way.
• The new atlas was printed according to ISO 12647, the up-to-date standard for four colour printing.
• The new atlas contains three paper sorts (added recycling/newsprint).
• The new atlas is smaller in size and has more pages. It is more easy to handle.

Consistency in results for CMYK > colour > CMYK

Calculations of the type CMYK --> colour --> CMYK had not the initial CMYK value as a result in the previous version. Reason: The CMYK data base for calculations of the type colour --> CMYK originated from the atlas which was included in the delivery. However the data base for the reverse direction didn’t originate from the atlas which was included in the delivery due to the fact that it had too much CMYK gaps.

This is now differently. The atlas which is included in the delivery doesn’t have any gaps, but includes the complete CMYK colour range and can be used for all CMYK initial values.

Next colours: CMYK with and without black

The button „creation of black“ offers two possibilities: To print with black (gray component replacement) and for as natural colour tones as possible without a fraction of black.

Next colour: now also comparison lists between different colour systems

By using the button „Compare all colours“ you now can also cretae comparison lists between colour systems. The result is written to a text file with an evaluation of the respective level of correspondance.

Colour area: Limitation to parts within colour systems

With the new window colour area you have the possibility to limit a specific area within a colour system according to colour tone, brightness and saturation and to save this as new colour system.

3D colour space: navigation through the colour system in 3D

The display in three dimensions enables an until now not known level of clarity, even in large colour systems. By 3D navigation you can examine colour areas, choose colours, see harmonies, show limits, defects and advantages of colour systems.

Easy Matching: Matching of colour samples on the screen

With the EasyMatching windows you can match colours in a very efficient way in the screen. Behind the windows there is hidden a large magnitude of know-how of colour management, colour perception and software ergonomics - and with it (no: just therefore) ist doesn’t have operating elements !

Largely enhanced pdf test files

The test files are now available for all colour systems. They contain of colours of the specific colours system optimised for sRGB and are smmed up in a clearly structured way in DIN-format.

pdf-colour atlas for pastel tones

Additionally to the four PDF-files, which are completely covering the RGB- and CMYK-colour range, we now include further PDF-files in the delivery which run through the bright area of pastel tones with a RGB-increment.

Extensive informations to the new functions can be found here.

September 2006: Version 3.0

The success of the product encouraged us to further expand it. Harmony functions, the colour sample, a revised pipette and more such helpful functions now enrich the DIGITAL COLOUR ATLAS package.

Harmony Functions

With the new harmony functions complementary contrasts, and brightness or saturation variations are calculated.
"Colour development" shows the development of one colour into another.

Pipette

A small enlargement window shows you the area of the screen in which you are. A further window besides that shows the colour of the measurement range which can be freely adjusted in size.

Colour Sample

The function „colour sample“ copies your selected colour as a bitmap onto the clipboard, with or without the colour name or colour values. This way you can copy the colour into all programs and work with it there, for example you could create a colour legend.

PDF testfiles

You will find PDF files for all supported colour systems in the generally accepted sRGB colourspace on the cd rom in the „test files“ file. Print them out and use them as overview cards or calibration samples. These files by no means replace the original colour cards from the manufacturer, but rather supplement them in a meaningful way.

System info about all colour systems
From this window you can get all of the important information regarding the colour systems. Manufacturer, intended use, colour quantity and contact information.

June 2005: Update 2.5

During the first large revision the code basis was brought up to date with the current programming techniques, in other words simplified and unitised. This way the project is prepared for future expansions and uptates. In detail:

• numerous of our own classes were created (none of which are prefabricated)
• no more application of external ocx- and dll files!
• Development for Macintosh: identical programming basis for Mac and Windows as well as all languages
• RGB/Lab-conversion using formulas (real colour management, previously: tabulations)
• Colour systems are now in binary code (new file format: *.bcs)

Effects

• Speed acceleration of about factor 5!
• every modification is immediatly available to Windows as well as Macintosh (OSX also)
• much less of the memory capacity is utilised by the full version (110 MB? 7 MB) mainly due to the omission of the RGB/Lab tables
• the demo version is no longer limited in its RGB – exactitude
• a strong increase of the data security: The windows system directory remains untouched, dlls/ocx- files will not be changed

More new Functions in Version 2.5

• "Calibration" enables the adaptation of the RGB/Lab conversion according to display types (like Photoshop)
• " Colour system - manager" enables the work with colour systems and individual colour values
• Text files with CIELAB colour values (e.g. measured values) can be converted into binary *.bcs files as further colour components (including
• entire folders or data media) Every RGB/CMYK colour component can be provided with information
• Detailed report was graphically optimised
• new extensive help system (html)
• ...as well as many improvements in the details

Colour system manager Initially this menu command opens a window with a list of the program available colour systems (the *.bcs files in the folder “Colour Systems”). The unneeded systems can be deactivated using the checkbox “Active”. The button „Colour system editing“ opens an additional window in which every colour tone of the chosen system can be edited along with its designation and the lab values. The “Save” function records the changes long term in the according *.bsc files.

Calibration This function enables a variation of RGB displays of the calculated and displayed colours depending on the type of monitor. Even though this function may seem unimpressive and doesn’t have much value to the user, our entire experience as software producers in the area of colour stems from it. Programmers who once have tried to dare to the topic of RGB/Lab-conversion will confirm: The conversion is under no circumstances as banal as one may think firstly. We also had a tough time with this topic (in previous versions we have worked with binary look-up-tables of a size of approximately 100 MB). Now we have „cracked“ the nuts: The routines have been included in the software application, external tables are not necessary anymore. Hint: With the sRGB profile which is included in the delivery (on the CD-ROM) the sRGB-display of the colours on the output devices often could be enhanced further.