Perfect curves every time.

Curve+ adds G7+ capabilities to the best G7, SCTV and TVI toolset available.

Printing United Alliance announced G7+ on January 18th, 2024 and we (CHROMiX and especially HutchColor / Don Hutcheson) have been integral in the development of this exciting upgrade to G7.

Curve+ is now available for those who want to reap the benefits of G7+, including better gray balance, more contrast on low density printing and stabilized calibration of high-density printing. We're excited to release this significant upgrade, while continuing to offer the most accurate G7 calibration of any tool on the market. The transition to G7+ will take time, and Curve+ is the toolset for the journey.

A System of Tools

Curve+ is comprised of several separate tools which form a powerful system to help you Calibrate your printing system, Verify its accuracy and prepare your measurements for ICC Profiling or use as color references.

Verify Tool

Visual layout in Verify Tool

Curve+'s Verify Tool calculates G7 conformance according to the most up-to-date IDEAlliance specifications and returns the results in a clear visual format.

Whether you're looking for G7 Grayscale, G7 Targeted, or G7 ColorSpace compliance, or simply wanting to verify a Color Proof, the Verify Tool summarizes your results with a clear PASS / FAIL badge.

Each color patch used is graphically displayed in comparison to the reference color. Any patches missing from your target will clearly show up in the display.

And if you want SCCA-based (Substrate-Corrected Colorimetric Aims) calculations, Verify can easily handle it, along with subtle G7 differences such as Custom Gray balance.

In short, the Verify Tool gives you confidence in your G7 / G7+ conformance while remaining easy and flexible to use.

Visual

Missing Patches
  • Clear indication of missing target patches -->
  • Failure summary and pointers

Flexible

  • Combine multiple targets' patches to calculate compliance
  • Supports new IT8.7/5 (TC1617) target
  • Supports any target or combination of targets containing the required patches, in any layout or order

Fast

VerifyNewAndMeasure.gif
  • Click 'New', measure, done

Accurate

  • Fully compliant to 2024 G7+ Master Certification and 2019 G7 Master Certification requirements

Reliable

C4setupReferences.png
  • Set up Reference presets for error-free operator use

G7 Master (2019) Compliance

Including optional SCCA, Custom Gray and Proof / Production Tolerances as well as Screen and Flexo alternates

G7 Grayscale / G7+ Grayscale

  • Tonality (weighted ΔL* for K and CMY and ΔTVI for G7+) and Gray Balance (weighted ΔCh for CMY)

G7 Targeted

  • G7 Grayscale metrics
  • Substrate, CMYK and RGB Solids

G7 ColorSpace

  • G7 Targeted metrics
  • Avg ΔE 2000 and 95th Percentile over the entire IT8.7/4 target

Basic Color Proof

Verify Tool showing failed Proof
For when you simply want to Verify a proof. Any target is supported.

CALIBRATE Tool

(available with the Calibrate or Complete license levels)
Updated Interface
Calibration Run
Like the VERIFY Tool, you have easy access to prior calibration sessions including subsetting into presses / customers / etc.
Calibration from a smaller initial target
For some printing systems a target smaller than the venerable P2P is sufficient for G7 calibration. Curve+ supports "miniP2P" and "microP2P" targets with as few as 96 patches.
Recalibration from a very small target
(only available with Complete license)
When re-calibrating a printing system that has already been successfully G7 calibrated, it's sometimes possible to use a very small target indeed. Curve+ supports Fast Re-Calibration using these targets (when it's appropriate for the printing system and pre-calibrated state)
Recalibration from a non-P2P target (P2P-less mode)
(only available with Complete license)
If you've only run an IT8, ECI2002 or other non-P2P target, Curve+ can generate the information it needs from the supplied patches. It may not have the same level of accuracy as that provided by a P2P target but for many printing systems it'll work just fine.
SCTV (Spot Color Tone Value) support
The Idealliance Print Properties group has determined that the Spot Color Tone Value method is the best for calibration of spot color inks. Curve+ fully supports this method.
Ink Channel Limiting / Balanced Neutral Black
Ink Restriction Function
Up to now, Curve has never altered the 100% level of any ink channels. For offset printing, this is the recommended method. But wth inkjet printing, where the gamut tends to be larger and the mass tone effect can cause significant hue shifts as ink density increases, limiting ink channels can be useful. Gray balance works better when the 300% CMY patch is close to neutral. Curve+ helps bring that CMY combination under control, improving gray balance and tonality in the process.
PressSync Curves
Curve+ can output PressSync™ curve codes as well as accept them for initial curve values for those printing with Esko's curve specification method. We worked with Esko to ensure Curve+ uses this system properly.

BLEND Tool

(available with the Complete license level)
Blend Tool

The BLEND tool is a group of functions to combine, massage and process color measurements so you can build the best ICC profiles possible (among other things).

Features include:

White Point Adaptation
Alter the white point of your measurements using SCCA-like calculations.
Smoothing & Smart Averaging
The same technology that powers Curve's VPR function can be applied to spectral measurement data. This multi-dimensional smoothing function is a very effective method of improving measurements by minimizing measurement noise and other sources of error that lower ICC profile quality. BLEND also provides multiple methods of averaging different measurements together - mean, median, and weighted mean.
Apply Curves
Curves created in the CALIBRATE Tool can be applied to measurement sets for Virtual Press Run (VPR) simulation. This function is also available in the CALIBRATE Tool itself.

Powerful Additional Functions

Measuring

(included with all three Curve+ Tools)
Powerful measurement tools are integrated into Curve+ and available within each tool.
I1 Pro, iO, iSis, eXact, KM FD-9, Barbieri Spectro LFP and Techkon SpectroDens instruments are supported
Learn More...

Virtual Press Run

VPR Logo
  • enabled with Complete license (or upgrade to Complete using module code)
  • available within Curve+'s Calibration Tool for any selected calibration or in the Blend Tool as Apply Curves .


VPR can save thousands of dollars in time and materials by eliminating one of the normal two G7 press runs.


The environmental and financial impact of VPR will benefit small and large printers alike. The ROI can be realized on the very first job.

Without VPR, obtaining a press profile from a G7-calibrated press requires at least two press runs; one with null plate curves to calculate the G7 calibration curves, and a second to print the profiling target through the resulting plate curves to profile the press.

VPR eliminates the need for the additional press run. G7 curves calculated from the first run are applied mathematically to the profiling target measurements of the first run, producing measurements that appear as if they were produced on a second "virtual" run.

"VPR is worth it's weight in gold." said Mike Graff, CEO of Sandy Alexander, Clifton NJ. "The VPR option can pay for itself in a single day."

The savings are greater than you might think. The first press run can be used to print on a number of different paper types. If VPR eliminates the second runs for each paper, one press run might be all that's needed to G7-calibrate a group of papers. That's a huge savings.

One-Run Hybrid Target Function

OneRun Logo
  • enabled with Calibrate license
  • available within Curve+'s Calibration Tool for any selected calibration.

One Target. OneRun.

OneRun target combines P2P and profiling targets into one; saving press sheet room and aiding G7 calibration of smaller presses.

The OneRun target, in combination with Curve+'s VPR (Virtual Press Run) module, makes it possible to calibrate a press to G7 using multiple papers, and make profiles for the press - all in one run .

The beauty here is that you only have to print one target, on one press run to do all this. Press calibration and profiling can't get much easier than this!

Here's how it works: To save on space, time and reduce measurement error, we've created new, hybrid targets that combine the P2P target with IT8 and other profiling targets. Redundant patches have been removed and the resulting target is smaller and easier to place on a variety of printing forms.

Your measurements of this single target, printed on all your papers, are fed into Curve+. The software extracts the individual targets from the OneRun target using the P2P patches for curve calculation and the IT8 patches for VPR curving.

All of your papers + one target = OneRun.

Other OneRun targets incorporating alternate profiling targets are also available. Contact support (at) chromix.com for more information.

Maxwell Integration

Maxwell Logo

Curve+ includes direct Maxwell support* so Maxwell users can easily access their measurements from the leading cloud-based color monitoring system.

Included with VERIFY, CALIBRATE and BLEND Tools

Integrated directly into all 3 tools for quick download access

Just click the Maxwell logo and you can choose any measurement from Maxwell. One click, and the measurement is automatically downloaded into your Curve+ document and added to the Measurements list.

You can download single measurements, a selected group of measurements or the "last x measurements", allowing for a rapid color snapshot of recent behavior. Curve+ will automatically average multiple measurements together to give you smoother results.

Any Maxwell measurement can be downloaded directly into the desired Curve+ tool and used for verification, calibration or blending.

Blend Upload

If you've licensed the Blend Tool, your smoothed, averaged and curved blend can easily be uploaded to the Maxwell Track of your choice. It's a great way to create reference-quality Color Aims for your production monitoring in Maxwell.


*Requires active Maxwell account and measurement / verification services

G7 Certified System

G7 System Seal


On December 6, 2010, Curve2 was granted G7 Certified System status from IDEAlliance . All Curve versions since continue to achieve this important certification.

To download the Application Data Sheet (ADS)

Download PDF

CurveCore SDK Overview

CurveCore is a licensable SDK for products to integrate G7™ and G7+™ calibration technology.

In response to numerous requests, we are now making the core technology inside Curve+ available for integration into new and existing Graphic Arts products like RIPs, printer drivers, workflow solutions and analysis software.

To a developer, licensing CurveCore means shorter development times and virtually no research costs, because the complex gray balance and curve fitting algorithms inside the original IDEAlink Curve software have already had three years of practical field testing in hundreds of end user sites. The core algorithms have been further enhanced for even greater accuracy and functionality in Curve+.

Another benefit of licensing CurveCore is that IDEALink Curve is the defacto G7 reference implementation, so G7 conformance testing or certification should go very smoothly. Naturally, we ensure that Curve+ passes IDEAlliance's G7 conformance testing, which means any application using CurveCore should also pass, as long as developers follow the SDK development procedures.

For licensing information, please contact CHROMiX sales at 866-CHROMiX or sales (at) chromix.com

Feature Compare

License Level
Tools / Features   Verify Calibrate Complete
Direct-Drive Measuring
File Handling
Maxwell Integration
download Maxwell colorSets
upload into Maxwell Track
VERIFY Tool
Verification functions
G7 Grayscale/Targeted/ColorSpace verification
*G7+ Grayscale/Targeted/ColorSpace verification
Proof Pass/Fail verification
Report for print / PDF export
Import custom color aim (TC1617 patches)
Accept ICC profile as measurement
Accept ICC profile as color aim
quick-edit of Reference parameters
*New Calculator Tool
Quick calculation of G7+ and G7 printing aims
Manual number entry free in demo mode
From measurement or file
From ICC profile
CALIBRATE Tool
Calibration functions
G7 Calibration
*G7+ Calibration
TVI Calibration
SCTV Calibration
PressSync curves in/out
Multi-dimensional data smoothing
Report for print / PDF export
Ink Restriction Function
Mini-P2P targets (as few as 96 patches)
P2P-less calibration (IT8s, etc)
reCal minimal recalibration
VPR - Virtual Press Run
*Apply curves to ICC profile
BLEND Tool
Blend functions
Combine patch sets
Average (mean, median, weighted)
Regenerate
Apply Curves (VPR)
White Point Mapping
Black Point Mapping
Target subsetting
Target regeneration
 
* features new to Curve+

Curve+ Measuring

Included with VERIFY, CALIBRATE and BLEND Tools

Measurement functions are integrated directly into all three tools for quick access

Our software adds unique benefits to each instrument we drive with:

Supported Instruments

  • X-Rite
    • i1 Pro 1&2
    • i1 Pro 3 & 3 Plus
    • iO 1&2 &3
    • iSis 1&2
    • eXact and eXact Scan (USB or Bluetooth)
  • Barbieri
    • Spectro LFP (USB)
    • Spectro LFPqb (USB or Ethernet)
  • Konica Minolta MYIRO-9 (FD-9) (USB or Ethernet)
  • Techkon SpectroDens (USB or Wifi - Wifi and Windows access require TDservice app in Windows computer or VM)
  • Color Sentinel CSS-110 (Win only, USB or Bluetooth)

Allows full access to instrument capabilities including M0, M1, M2, M3 filtering, Reflective / Transmissive scans, Aperture Control and multiple measurements per patch (all depending on instrument features, of course)

Targets

(practically any target on any instrument)

Scans targets created by:

  • MeasureTool
  • ColorPort
  • i1Profiler
  • Barbieri Chart Generator

And they can be scanned with virtually any instrument (the iSis is a stickler for needing multiple items specified, so it requires a target created for the iSis - but! iSis targets can be scanned by virtually all other instruments)

Also, target definitions are shared between all CHROMiX applications and services, so Curve, Curve+, ColorThink 4 and Maxwell all share the same setup.

MemoryScan (iO, LFP, MYIRO-9)

CHROMiX was the first to offer the innovative MemoryScan function (in June 2016) which recalls the position of prior targets for speedy multi-target scanning on iO, LFP/qb and MYIRO-9.

Use heavy tape (iO and LFP) to mark target positions and measuring becomes as fast as placing a trimmed target and hitting the space bar!

Corner Aiming (LFP)

The Barbieri Spectro LFP and LFPqb typically require users to aim the instrument at points 17.5 mm lower than the top edge of the target. Targets specifically made for scanning on the LFP have these markings, but many others do not.

In order to have the flexibility you need, we added the option to use the normal target corners for aiming. Now it's easy to scan any target on an LFP/qb without having a ruler and sharpie pen in hand.

Target Rotating (measure in any orientation)

Sometimes rotating a target 90 or 180 degrees makes scanning much easier:

  • Hand-held instruments like i1Pro, eXact and SpectroDens are often easier to use across a target in a specific direction
  • Sheet scanners like the iSis and MYIRO-9 often scan targets in the portrait orientation but table scanners like the iO and LFP need them in landscape.
  • The MYIRO-9 needs a target to have a sizable border on its trailing edge - feeding it an iSis target 'upside down' often works better.
  • Some heatmap-style targets will only fit into a scanner rotated 90 degrees from the direction it passed through the printer
For these and any other reasons, we built target rotation into our measurement software. Simply click the left or right rotation buttons until the target on screen matches how you want to measure it. The arrangement of the scanned patches will match the original target definition file's layout, so no other adjustments are required.

Reverse-Order Row Scanning (i1 Pro)

When hand scanning targets row-by-row, our tools allow scanning from the bottom row up, ensuring the scanning instrument (and ruler in some cases) will not mark the printed target in any way

MeasureWatch Control and Verify

Implementing support for modern instruments within a company can be tricky.

Customers need to control the aperture, reflective / transmissive scan mode, M-series filtration and other features to ensure each measurement is gathered and recorded correctly. MeasureWatch Control benefits range from intelligent default behaviors - like ensuring that production measurements automatically configure the instrument to match reference colors - to powerful management control - such as locking out instruments that don't provide the required M-series measurements (in Maxwell Client)

MeasureWatch Control features are included with all of our measurement tools in Curve, Curve+, ColorThink 4 and Maxwell. We felt these control capabilities were too important to leave to chance so they're built into every measurement we make.

MeasureWatch Verify, Maxwell's instrument verification service launched in December 2011, enables instrument verification and trending by measuring a Color Reference Material target. CRMs including reference measurements can conform to ISO-9001 and reduce the need for expensive instrument re-certification.

Flexible Connections

At CHROMiX we like to get along with others and our software shows it.

Our software typically won't connect to an instrument until the measurement process begins. It's also simple to disconnect from instruments and leave the software running. This makes it easy to use instruments in other software while still running our apps. This seems like reasonable basic behavior though you'll be surprised to find how many other applications aren't this friendly.

Curve+ Downloads

Curve+ is available for download for demonstration or production use.

With a serial number Curve+ is unlocked for full use of all modules.

Without a serial number Curve+ will run for an unlimited time in a limited demonstration mode that allows full navigation of the modules but will restrict opening and graphing to the included demo data files.

  • Curve+

    • v5.0.2
    • Released: 2024-04-09

    64bit - Mac OS X 10.14-10.15 Catalina, 11-13/Ventura, 14/Sonoma, 15/Sequoia Intel Processor, and M1-M4 via Rosetta2 Min display size: 1024x768

  • Curve+

    • v5.0.2
    • Released: 2024-04-09

    Win 10/11 **64bit** Min display size: 1024x768


  • Curve+ (beta)

    • v5.0.3 b1
    • Released: 2024-04-15

    64bit - Mac OS X 10.14-10.15 Catalina, 11-13/Ventura, 14/Sonoma, 15/Sequoia Intel Processor, and M1-M4 via Rosetta2 Min display size: 1024x768


  • Curve4

    • v4.4.3
    • Released: 2024-10-08

    64bit - Mac OS X 10.10 - 10.15 Catalina, 11/Big Sur, 12/Monterey, 13/Ventura, 14/Sonoma, 15/Sequoia Intel Processor, and M1-M4 via Rosetta2 Min display size: 1024x768

  • Curve4

    • v4.4.3
    • Released: 2024-10-08

    Win 7/8/10/11 **64bit** Min display size: 1024x768



  • Curve3

    • v3.1.2
    • Released: 2016-01-16

    32bit - Mac OS X 10.5 to 10.14 (Mojave) Intel Processor Min display size: 1024x768

  • Curve3

    • v3.1.2
    • Released: 2016-01-16

    Win 7/8/10/11 (XP likely works but not supported) Min display size: 1024x768


  • Curve2

    • v2.3
    • Released: 2012-05-15

    Mac OS X 10.4 to 10.7 Universal Binary Min display size: 1024x768

  • Curve2

    • v2.3
    • Released: 2012-05-15

    Windows XP / Win7 Min display size: 1024x768



CHROMiX