PGenerator

PGenerator is a Raspberry Pi based patch generator that enables the generation of calibration patches for the measurement and profiling of any display via an HDMI connection.

  • ColourSpace INF/XPT/PRO/CAL/LTE & HTX/HTP/HTL & DPS/ZRO
  • Raspberry Pi based (not Pi5)
  • Bit Accurate 8-bit & 10-bit
  • HDR Operation
  • Dolby Vision
  • ColourSpace ZRO compatible
  • DeviceControl Management
  • Ted's ISO Test Patterns
  • No Raspberry Pi hardware included

£10

(Free to existing ColourSpace users)

Overview

PGenerator can be used with all ColourSpace version with Profiling capabilities, including the free ZRO license version of ColourSpace, enabling verification of any screen parameters on any connected device, as well as working with any main version of ColourSpace for full profiling and LUT based calibration.

As PGenerator can be controlled directly by ColourSpace it can generate any required colour patches, either as a managed sequence for automated profiling, or manually selected for manual display calibration adjustment, on any HDMI connected display.

PGenerator is based on the Raspberry Pi, using software developed by Riccardo Biasiotto, for patch generation under control of ColourSpace via a dedicated Hardware menu, as well as the Network Server.

Setup

  • Download the PGenerator ISO file, and unzip the compressed .7z file
    (Download via Customer Downloads, or General Downloads, or purchase Ted's ISO, which includes advanced Test Patterns)
  • Download balenaEtcher and install it
  • Connect an SD card reader with the Raspberry Pi SD card inside
  • Open Etcher and navigate to the PGenerator .img file to be written to the SD card
  • Select the SD card to write to, and click Flash! to begin writing the PGenerator Image to the SD card
  • When finished, place the SD card into the RPi

PGenerator is now ready for operation, and can be used directly with ColourSpace via the Network Control Manager, or managed via DeviceControl .

Updates

When a new version of PGenerator is released, the SD card can be re-flashed with the new ISO file.
(Any new updated can need to be download via the Customer Downloads, or General Downloads options, as usual.)

Alternatively, if running PGen v1.4 or later, automated update is possible via the free PuTTY utility program.

  • Start PuTTY and enter the IP address for your Raspberry Pi, leaving the default port as 22, and click open.
  • Login: pgenerator
  • Password: pgenerator
  • Select: 2) Update Software
  • The update will downloaded and be applied

PGenerator will Reboot once the update installation is complete

ColourSpace Direct Integration

All PGenerator operation and function can be controlled via the Hardware Options menu, accessed via the Profiling window.

PGenerator

Initial Setup

  • Connect an HDMI cable from PGenerator to the display
    (For Raspberry Pi cases with dual HDMI ports make sure to use the correct port.)
  • Connect PGenerator to the ColourSpace laptop, and start ColourSpace and PGenerator
    Depending on the Raspberry Pi, connections can be Ethernet, USB, WiFi (WiFi is not recommended, as it causes TPG issues), or Bluetooth, with both WiFi and Bluetooth requiring setup via DeviceControl
  • Direct WiFi password: PGenerator
  • Bluetooth IP address: 10.10.11.1
  • USB IP address: 10.10.12.1
  • Open a ColourSpace Profiling window, select Hardware Options, and select PGenerator from the Hardware drop-down list
  • Select Connect, and ColourSpace will will send a request for any active PGenerator system to connect
    (Note: Due to the way PGen connections work, Available will show green even if no PGenerator is actually available, as the message defines ColourSpace as being available, not PGen. A Disconnect/Connect toggle may be need to re-initiate a connection if a PGen is attached after Connect has been enabled)
  • Any available PGenerators will show in the Generators drop-down, and can be individually selected
    (If multiple connections to a single PGen are available, such as Ethernet and WiFi, there will be multiple listings in the drop-down. Hovering over the selected PGen will show a Tool Tip with the devices IP address)
  • Alternatively, for a fixed IP address Ethernet connection, enter the PGenerator IP address into the Network Address box.
    (The available PGen connections are shown with fixed IP at the top, and Serial at the bottom of the drop-down list)
  • For TPG operation, set Calibration Patches as required, with Automatic being the normal option
  • From the ColourSpace Setting window set Patch Size, Position, BG Colour, Scale & Resolution as required
  • The PGenerator Options menu allows any of the additional PGen settings and functions to be configured as required, including Ted's LightSpace Disc patterns, if Ted's PGen ISO has been purchased separately.
    (If Ted's ISO has not been purchased, those options will not show in the Pattern Groups drop-down)

As soon as the Calibration Patches are set to Automatic the output of PGenerator will display the patch colour as defined within the ColourSpace Manual Measure and Characterisation menus.

PGen Advanced User Guide

ColourSpace customers can download a LG Dolby Vision Guide for PGen via Customer Downloads.

Profiling Operation

To activate PGenerator navigate to the desired profiling mode within ColourSpace - Manual Measure, or Display Characterisation.

The output of PGenerator will mimic the colour displayed, using the patch settings defined via the Hardware Options and Settings menus.
Note: The keyboard 'O' key can be used within the Hardware and Manual Measure menus to quickly Disable/Enable the TPG.

Profiling can then be performed as normal, using the probe connected to the ColourSpace laptop, with PGenerator displaying the required patches on the HDMI connected display.

LUT Use

After profiling, a Calibration LUT can be generated as normal within ColourSpace LUT Tools, and used where required, either within a grading system, a LUT box, or uploaded directly into a suitable display.

Calibration Guides

3D LUT Calibration Manual Calibration

ColourSpace Network Server Integration

PGenerator TPG only operation and function can be controlled via the Network Server within the the Hardware Options menu, accessed via the Profiling window.

PGenerator

Initial Setup

  • Connect an HDMI cable from PGenerator to the display
  • Connect PGenerator to the ColourSpace laptop, and start ColourSpace
    Depending on the Raspberry Pi, connections can be Ethernet, USB, WiFi (WiFi is not recommended, as it causes TPG issues), or Bluetooth, with both WiFi and Bluetooth requiring setup via DeviceControl
  • Direct WiFi password: PGenerator
  • Bluetooth IP address: 10.10.11.1
  • Open a ColourSpace Profiling window, select Hardware Options, and select Network Server from the Hardware drop-down list
  • Select Connect, and the IP address and Port details of ColourSpace will populate info boxes within Network Server Options
  • After few seconds a connection to PGenerator will be made, and shown in the Connected Clients window
  • For TPG operation, set Calibration Patches as required, with Automatic being the normal option
  • From the ColourSpace Setting window set Patch Size, Position, BG Colour, Scale & Resolution as required

As soon as the Calibration Patches are set to Automatic the output of PGenerator will display the patch colour as defined within the ColourSpace Manual Measure and Characterisation menus.

Profiling Operation

To activate PGenerator navigate to the desired profiling mode within ColourSpace - Manual Measure, or Display Characterisation.

The output of PGenerator will mimic the colour displayed, using the patch settings defined via the Hardware Options and Settings menus.
Note: The keyboard 'O' key can be used within the Hardware and Manual Measure menus to quickly Disable/Enable the TPG.

Profiling can then be performed as normal, using the probe connected to the ColourSpace laptop, with PGenerator displaying the required patches on the HDMI connected display.

LUT Use

After profiling, a Calibration LUT can be generated as normal within ColourSpace LUT Tools, and used where required, either within a grading system, a LUT box, or uploaded directly into a suitable display.

Calibration Guides

3D LUT Calibration Manual Calibration

Additional Info.

ColourSpace Integrated User Forums