Characterizing and Calibrating Profiles

Characterization establishes a norm for a particular device across a range of samples of the device. This form of profile is typically supplied by a profile vendor. To obtain an optimally accurate DCP for a particular device, calibration is required.

Calibration makes measurements of an individual device and applies them to the base DCP. This causes the updated DCP to represent the actual color device the customer is using.

The KCMS API provides two API functions, KcsCreateProfile() and KcsUpdateProfile(), to create new blank profiles and then to update them with characterization data or calibration data.

The first step your application should take in building a new profile is to create an empty profile using KcsCreateProfile(). Then it can fill the empty profile with KcsSetAttribute() to describe the device being characterized. For example, it can supply monitor chromaticities and white-point values. Measurement data is required for KcsUpdateProfile() to complete the creation of the new profile. Once updated, your application should save the profile with KcsSaveProfile() to the desired KcsProfileDesc location.

Updating profiles typically is a CMM-dependent operation. Using measurement data at the KCMS framework interface level frees you from details of the profile format and the process by which the CMM turns the measurement data into its methodology for color manipulation.

The default CMM supports characterization and calibration of monitors and scanners.