Datacolor Introduces Advanced Color Management Software for the Automotive Industry

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ-July 17, 2008-Datacolor, a global leader in digital color management technology, announced today it is introducing a new version of its popular MATCH PIGMENTR color management software for the Paint, Plastic, and Ink industries with the introduction of MATCH PIGMENT 2.0. The software includes a number of new technologies, including an advanced mathematical algorithm, which allows extremely accurate color matches even with difficult and complex circumstances such as transparent and translucent plastics. In addition, the software includes a new Queue system, which allows users to view, manage, and process a list of standards and their associated formulas for a large number of samples simultaneously. Other new and improved features include New Sorting Options, Priority Values for Ingredients, Compatibility Values for Ingredient Combinations, and Scheduling features.

"Without question, Datacolor MATCH PIGMENT provides users with the most powerful color management software tool in the industry," said Albert Busch, Vice President, Industrial Products, Datacolor. "The advanced mathematics designed into the software, together with the Queue function and Sorting options now available will help lab technicians, R&D specialists and marketing executives achieve precise and consistent results with greater efficiency," he added. "These efficiencies will translate to cost savings, time savings, and reduced waste which not only improves the bottom line but is good for the environment."

New Mathematics

MATCH PIGMENT 2.0 incorporates new mathematics in the software that allows users to match colors in difficult and complex circumstances such as translucent and transparent applications. A new 'combined method' matching engine adaptively selects the best functions from classic one, two and multi-flux models and extends them with powerful automation for optimized colorant calibration, background optical contact and variable internal reflectance modeling.

Queue Function

The purpose of the new Queue function in the Datacolor MATCH PIGMENT 2.0 software is to provide the user with a means of creating, viewing, managing, and processing a list of standards and their associated formulas. The central element of the Queue function is the Queue Viewer Screen. This screen incorporates support functions for Queue matching, dispensing, printing, and other related functions including the ability to export formulas to Datacolor PAINTT and Datacolor TOOLSR software.

Formula Sorting Methods

In most pigmenting scenarios, there are preferred pigment combinations when making a match. These combinations can be based on many things including the metamerism of combinations (mixing red and blue together to make black is typically not the preferred approach), colorant interactions in combinations (yellow and blue do not always make green), and colorant strengths (mixing a strong and a week version of the same pigment together). Datacolor MATCH PIGMENT 2.0 now offers the ability to specify priorities for ingredients and ingredient combinations. When matching a new color, the operator can sort calculated formulas according to the priority of the ingredients and the ingredient combinations.

Scheduling

When matching a large amount of samples, Datacolor MATCH PIGMENT 2.0 is designed to display the best formula as "first choice" to the user. Scheduling is essentially used to allow a standard to be matched sequentially against multiple templates until a match is found. This process now allows a user to define multiple templates with varying matching tolerances to find the optimal match quickly.

System Benefits

"Datacolor's MATCH PIGMENT 2.0 software has the potential to provide my company with enormous efficiencies in both manpower and materials," says Ben Kohlen, Lab Manager, Evonik Netherlands. "The software quickly and easily chooses the best combination of colors without losing the quality, consistence or integrity of the raw ingredients. Now we can batch numerous jobs simultaneously and literally walk away from the job and return when the batch is complete," Ben Kohlen added. "This helps to maximize my workforce and produce a better product for our clients."

Another great new benefit is that Datacolor's MATCH PIGMENT 2.0 allows more experienced colorists to share their knowledge of specific processes - often gained over years of experience - with newer operators. Datacolor MATCH PIGMENT 2.0 makes it easy to set rules or rank compatibilities and preferences for ingredient and pigment combinations - directly setting rules or using non-colorimetric physical properties per ingredient. Formula Central then evaluates these preferences and requirements during the calculation of a color match providing a truly timesaving break-through.

Pricing is available through regional resellers and there are upgrade versions of MATCH PIGMENT 2.0 for all MATCH PIGMENT users. MATCH PIGMENT 2.0 is available now. Visit www.datacolor.com <http://www.datacolor.com/> for a listing of authorized resellers and more details.