BabelColor FAQ

Click to go to the corresponding FAQ section:

General questions PatchTool questions CT&A questions Instruments questions

General questions

Is BabelColor Software free? Starting in January 2025 BabelColor software is distributed as FREEWARE. This means that it is free to use but it does not belong to “you”, the user. You cannot distribute or resell the software for instance. You will find more information in the License Agreement available in each software Help Manual. What are the differences between CT&A and PatchTool? There are too many to list in a short answer! To get a better understanding, start with the Products page which lists the features of each program and which contains links to screenshots of the various tools. Is a calibrated monitor required? A calibrated monitor is essential if you intend to visually assess and compare color patches on your display. Both CT&A and PatchTool are color managed and will detect the display color profile associated to the location of the program window. Can I get technical support? This free CT&A and PatchTool versions are provided as is – no maintenance or support services are provided. For questions related to program install/uninstall, consult the ReadMe file provided in the application folder. For questions related to program features and tools’ usage, read the relevant section in the help manual. If you suspect an incompatibility with the computer Operating System (OS), check if your computer meets the system requirements (CT&A specs, PatchTool specs). You should also consult the Tutorials page which contains many Application Notes. Can BabelColor software be run within an OS emulator or a Virtual Workstation? BabelColor software was designed for and tested with stand-alone computers running their native OS. Thus, the software may or may not work in an emulator or Virtual Workstation. You should test and see for yourself. Will there be macOS ARM or Linux versions of your software in the future? No., this is not planned. The macOS Intel-64 bit versions of CT&A and PatchTool are currently compatible with ARM based Mac computers via its Rosetta 2 application. There is no guarantee that this compatibility will persist or that Apple will provide this application in the future. Is an Internet connection required to use CT&A or PatchTool? No.

PatchTool questions

Can I make an ICC printer profile using PatchTool? No, PatchTool cannot generate an ICC profile. However, PatchTool has tools to check printer profiles; please consult Application Note AN- 3a on printer proofing for information on the Idealliance printer certification procedure. Can I use PatchTool to profile my monitor? No, PatchTool cannot generate an ICC profile. The Display-Check feature in PatchTool is dedicated, as its name says, to check your monitor calibration. Since PatchTool is color managed, it will use the default ICC display profile, or any other user-assigned profile, to display calibrated colors. Many calibration software offer a small utility, with basic features, to validate the profile they generate. PatchTool Display-Check is a flexible tool designed to independently validate monitor calibration, where you can define your own color list, of any size, and have a complete overview on how the measured data is processed. Please consult Application Note AN-4a on monitor proofing for information on the Idealliance monitor certification procedure.

CT&A questions

Do you use the same gamma for all spaces? No. If a multi-parameter gamma is defined for a given space, sRGB or eciRGB_v2 for example, the higher accuracy multi-parameter definition is used by default. However, the user has the option of using a single parameter gamma if desired. The detailed parameters and the single value gamma are displayed in the menu-selectable Space data table. Note: The L* (L-star) gamma of eciRGB_v2 has, by definition, the same equations as the multi-parameter gamma of sRGB and NTSC, but with different values for each parameter. Can I make an ICC profile using CT&A? You can make matrix RGB profiles by specifying the chromaticity coordinates of three primaries, the chromaticity coordinates of an illuminant, and a gamma function. This is done with the Custom RGB space dialog of the RGB-vs-RGB tool. You cannot make RGB or CMYK profiles from measurements.

Instruments questions

Can I use my eXact / FD-7 / MYIRO / Techkon instrument with CT&A or PatchTool? No, the software cannot be used to take measurements directly with these instruments. However, many types of measurement files generated by these instruments can be opened. The file formats supported by the various tools in CT&A and PatchTool can be found in their respective Help Manuals. You will also find a list of the instruments that are supported directly by CT&A and PatchTool in their respective specifications (CT&A specs, PatchTool specs). My instrument is connected but not recognized by CT&A or PatchTool. What can I do? You may see text to the effect that the instrument is not connected in the dialog which opens when you click on the Info button located near an instrument selection menu. Assuming that your instrument is indeed connected and that the proper driver is installed, check if another program that uses or can use the same instrument, such as X-Rite I1Profiler, is opened; if this is the case, close the other program and click again on the Info button. Info on driver installation can be found in the ReadMe file located in each program application folder. If the above fails, you can always try to disconnect and reconnect the instrument. My i1Pro/i1Pro 2 is detected but I get an error message when I calibrate. What is wrong? Calibration failure more often occurs when calibrating in reflectance mode. This can happen even if the instrument is properly detected and identified in the 'Information info' dialog. Here are potential causes to look for: 1. The instrument is not properly seated on the calibration tile. This may seem obvious but it is worth checking! 2. The calibration tile is dirty. Clean it gently with a soft tissue lightly dabbed in isopropyl alcohol. 3. You are using the wrong calibration tile for the instrument. The i1Pro calibration tile is matched to the instrument at the factory. You should be aware that using a tile from another instrument will very likely provide inaccurate measurements, even if you do not get an error message! 4. There is a bad or degraded contact between the instrument and the USB cable or between the cable and the computer USB port. If a connection is loose, you can sometimes improve it by pushing, holding, or reinserting the connector. Try another USB cable or another USB port to see if you get better results. In some extreme cases your computer USB port or your instrument connector may need to be replaced. 5. The overall USB cable resistance is too high. This can be due to a poor quality cable, a damaged cable, a cable which is too long, or a cable with dirty connectors. 6. The computer USB port cannot provide enough current for calibration. This is more often a problem with external USB hubs. Try a USB port which is not used (i.e. connected and disconnected) often. 7. If all of the above is non-conclusive, your instrument may be due for a factory calibration or repair. Note: The i1Pro requires more power when calibrating in reflectance mode because current must be supplied to its lamp. If the overall cable plus connectors electrical resistance is too high, this will lower the actual voltage applied to the instrument light source and affect its emission properties, resulting in a failed calibration. It seems that this problem is more often seen in association with the i1Pro 2 than with the original i1Pro.
BabelColor ®
Color Measurement and Analysis
About BabelColor / Legal info / Privacy policy Copyright © 2025 The BabelColor Company

BabelColor FAQ

Click to go to the corresponding FAQ

section:

General questions PatchTool questions CT&A questions Instruments questions

General questions

Is BabelColor Software free? Starting in January 2025 BabelColor software is distributed as FREEWARE. This means that it is free to use but it does not belong to “you”, the user. You cannot distribute or resell the software for instance. You will find more information in the License Agreement available in each software Help Manual. What are the differences between CT&A and PatchTool? There are too many to list in a short answer! To get a better understanding, start with the Products page which lists the features of each program and which contains links to screenshots of the various tools. Is a calibrated monitor required? A calibrated monitor is essential if you intend to visually assess and compare color patches on your display. Both CT&A and PatchTool are color managed and will detect the display color profile associated to the location of the program window. Can I get technical support? This free CT&A and PatchTool versions are provided as is – no maintenance or support services are provided. For questions related to program install/uninstall, consult the ReadMe file provided in the application folder. For questions related to program features and tools’ usage, read the relevant section in the help manual. If you suspect an incompatibility with the computer Operating System (OS), check if your computer meets the system requirements (CT&A specs, PatchTool specs). You should also consult the Tutorials page which contains many Application Notes. Can BabelColor software be run within an OS emulator or a Virtual Workstation? BabelColor software was designed for and tested with stand-alone computers running their native OS. Thus, the software may or may not work in an emulator or Virtual Workstation. You should test and see for yourself. Will there be macOS ARM or Linux versions of your software in the future? No., this is not planned. The macOS Intel-64 bit versions of CT&A and PatchTool are currently compatible with ARM based Mac computers via its Rosetta 2 application. There is no guarantee that this compatibility will persist or that Apple will provide this application in the future. Is an Internet connection required to use CT&A or PatchTool? No.

PatchTool questions

Can I make an ICC printer profile using PatchTool? No, PatchTool cannot generate an ICC profile. However, PatchTool has tools to check printer profiles; please consult Application Note AN-3a on printer proofing for information on the Idealliance printer certification procedure. Can I use PatchTool to profile my monitor? No, PatchTool cannot generate an ICC profile. The Display-Check feature in PatchTool is dedicated, as its name says, to check your monitor calibration. Since PatchTool is color managed, it will use the default ICC display profile, or any other user-assigned profile, to display calibrated colors. Many calibration software offer a small utility, with basic features, to validate the profile they generate. PatchTool Display-Check is a flexible tool designed to independently validate monitor calibration, where you can define your own color list, of any size, and have a complete overview on how the measured data is processed. Please consult Application Note AN-4a on monitor proofing for information on the Idealliance monitor certification procedure.

CT&A questions

Do you use the same gamma for all spaces? No. If a multi-parameter gamma is defined for a given space, sRGB or eciRGB_v2 for example, the higher accuracy multi-parameter definition is used by default. However, the user has the option of using a single parameter gamma if desired. The detailed parameters and the single value gamma are displayed in the menu- selectable Space data table. Note: The L* (L-star) gamma of eciRGB_v2 has, by definition, the same equations as the multi-parameter gamma of sRGB and NTSC, but with different values for each parameter. Can I make an ICC profile using CT&A? You can make matrix RGB profiles by specifying the chromaticity coordinates of three primaries, the chromaticity coordinates of an illuminant, and a gamma function. This is done with the Custom RGB space dialog of the RGB-vs-RGB tool. You cannot make RGB or CMYK profiles from measurements.

Instruments questions

Can I use my eXact / FD-7 / MYIRO / Techkon instrument with CT&A or PatchTool? No, the software cannot be used to take measurements directly with these instruments. However, many types of measurement files generated by these instruments can be opened. The file formats supported by the various tools in CT&A and PatchTool can be found in their respective Help Manuals. You will also find a list of the instruments that are supported directly by CT&A and PatchTool in their respective specifications (CT&A specs, PatchTool specs). My instrument is connected but not recognized by CT&A or PatchTool. What can I do? You may see text to the effect that the instrument is not connected in the dialog which opens when you click on the Info button located near an instrument selection menu. Assuming that your instrument is indeed connected and that the proper driver is installed, check if another program that uses or can use the same instrument, such as X-Rite I1Profiler, is opened; if this is the case, close the other program and click again on the Info button. Info on driver installation can be found in the ReadMe file located in each program application folder. If the above fails, you can always try to disconnect and reconnect the instrument. My i1Pro/i1Pro 2 is detected but I get an error message when I calibrate. What is wrong? Calibration failure more often occurs when calibrating in reflectance mode. This can happen even if the instrument is properly detected and identified in the 'Information info' dialog. Here are potential causes to look for: 1. The instrument is not properly seated on the calibration tile. This may seem obvious but it is worth checking! 2. The calibration tile is dirty. Clean it gently with a soft tissue lightly dabbed in isopropyl alcohol. 3. You are using the wrong calibration tile for the instrument. The i1Pro calibration tile is matched to the instrument at the factory. You should be aware that using a tile from another instrument will very likely provide inaccurate measurements, even if you do not get an error message! 4. There is a bad or degraded contact between the instrument and the USB cable or between the cable and the computer USB port. If a connection is loose, you can sometimes improve it by pushing, holding, or reinserting the connector. Try another USB cable or another USB port to see if you get better results. In some extreme cases your computer USB port or your instrument connector may need to be replaced. 5. The overall USB cable resistance is too high. This can be due to a poor quality cable, a damaged cable, a cable which is too long, or a cable with dirty connectors. 6. The computer USB port cannot provide enough current for calibration. This is more often a problem with external USB hubs. Try a USB port which is not used (i.e. connected and disconnected) often. 7. If all of the above is non-conclusive, your instrument may be due for a factory calibration or repair. Note: The i1Pro requires more power when calibrating in reflectance mode because current must be supplied to its lamp. If the overall cable plus connectors electrical resistance is too high, this will lower the actual voltage applied to the instrument light source and affect its emission properties, resulting in a failed calibration. It seems that this problem is more often seen in association with the i1Pro 2 than with the original i1Pro.
BabelColor ®
About BabelColor - Legal info - Privacy policy Copyright © 2025 The BabelColor Company