ColourSpace can be integrated with Assimilate's Scratch grading system for closed loop display profiling and calibration, including integrated patch generation.
- ColourSpace INF/XPT/PRO/CAL/LTE
- Closed Loop Profiling
- Inbuilt TPG Operation
- 3D LUTs
Calibration of displays connected to Scratch uses a Light Illusion developed plug-in that enables Scratch to act as the pattern generator for ColourSpace, and is standard within Scratch v9.3 onwards. For older Scratch versions, the plug-in can be downloaded from the General Downloads page.
ColourSpace Integration
Scratch operation and function is controlled via the Network Server within the the Hardware Options menu, accessed via the Profiling window.
Initial Setup
If Scratch v9.3, or later, is being used, there is no need to download the older plug-in, as it is included within Scratch by default.
If using a pre Scratch v9.3 version, after downloading the Scratch Plug-in, the calPatch.spa and calPatch.tif files need to be copied to a location where Scratch can find them at startup. One way to achieve this is on Windows by putting them in a directory and setting the correct environment variable: ASSIMILATE_PLUGINS c:\myScratchPluginHome
Alternatively, copy both files to: C:\Program Files\Assimilate\plugin64\.
On Mac OSX, copying to: /Library/Application Support/Assimilator/Plugins.
See Chapter 11 - Customizing Scratch - of the Scratch User Guide called for details on how Scratch scans for plug-ins.
The Custom Command XML allows you to add a button to the Scratch interface to automatically start the calibration session rather than having to manually initialize the plug-in.
For Windows the example custom command XML file should be placed in: C:\ProgramData\Assimilator\Settings.
And for Mac OSX: /Library/Application Support/Assimilator/Settings.
If there is an existing CustomCommands.xml, they should be combined using a text editor.
See Chapter 11 - Customizing Scratch - of the Scratch User Guide called for details on Custom Commands.
If using Scratch v9.3, or the plug-n for older versions has been installed, ColourSpace can now be connected to Scratch.
- 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 the info boxes within Network Server Options
- Connect the display to be calibrated to Scratch's dedicated video output card
- Connect the Scratch workstation to the ColourSpace laptop via a network cable
- In Scratch, enter any project and select the Tools menu
- Select the custom command button for ColourSpace
- Scratch will jump to the Player, where the patch generator can be configured within the Calibration menu
- Enter the network IP address ColourSpace lists within Network Server Options
- Within ColourSpace set the desired set-up options via the Settings menu, as required
- Set Calibration Patches to Automatic
- Patch Size, etc., can be controlled directly within Scratch
As soon as the Calibration Patches are set to Automatic the output of Scratch will display the patch colour as defined within the ColourSpace Measure and Characterisation menus.
Profiling Operation
To use Scratch as a Patch Generator with ColourSpace navigate to the desired profiling mode - Manual Measure or Display Characterisation.
The output of Scratch 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 ColourSpace, with Scratch displaying the required patches on the display being profiled.
LUT Use
After profiling, a Calibration LUT can be generated as normal within ColourSpace LUT Tools, and used where required, either within Scratch, a LUT box, or uploaded directly into a suitable display.