Year 2000

binuscan in general

1. What does binuscan do exactly?

   The binuscan ColorPro product range includes Artificial Intelligence (AI) based color correction software (IPM, i.e. Image Processing Machine), graphical interface for tuning all the preferences (ColorPro), prepress AI-based calibration tools (in ColorPro Professional) and software for integration with Quark Xpress (Job Manager). The software is intended to take over much of the role of the "expert" scanner operator and color scientist by converting raw scans from a wide range of scanners into intelligently corrected, sharpened, resized and separated files. It is also designed to manage Client/Server workflows.

2. What are ColorPro "Modules"?

   ColorPro modules for scanners are modelled around raw scans, using special scanner driver settings that capture the optimuum amount of data from the scanner's CCD. This data is first adjusted by a serie of curves to optimise the scanner data (Pro Toolkit users can create these curves specifically for their own scanners, rather than generic curves for the model) then passed to the AI portion of the program. Images are corrected using a proprietary process which reconstructs missing data in the histograms, then adjusts the images based on an analysis that includes range, contrast, balance, white and black points, and overall color cast. After correction, the image can be optionally sharpened, resampled and separated.

3. Is binuscan a color matching system?

   binuscan is NOT, strictly, a colour calibration product - not in the same sense that MagicMatch, KPCMS and ColorSync are. These systems will try to accurately reproduce a bad original - binuscan will correct the bad original as well. Certain scanner modules use the additional 3D Tables, which extends the color range of any scanner by correcting hue and saturation values in addition to RGB levels.

4. What is so special with binuscan separations?

   binuscan uses a proprietary method for generating its CMYK separations which offers several major improvements over the simple black generation system used by Photoshop. ColorPro can reproduce a much broader range of colors in CMYK, and can accommodate widely varied printing conditions. The separations are designed to give consistent composite color results irrespective of the separation type - UCR and GCR separationss will be almost identical when proofed together. Certain separations, in particular "BINUSCAN", cannot be edited - all of the others are fully customizable.

5. Displaying a binuscan Image

   When binuscan is used to output an RGB image, the result can be viewed in Photoshop or another RGB based application, with the proviso that it is impossible to properly judge image sharpness on a screen - the sharpening applied will be affected by the halftone pattern in the final print. Displaying CMYK images is far more difficult - Photoshop can only be used to accurately preview scans that have been separated by Photoshop, as it has to reconstruct original RGB data from the CMYK scan, using the current settings for ink types, dot gain etc. Because of the different technique used to generate CMYK in binuscan, Photoshop's screen display is inaccurate. Typically, scans will appear over-sharpened and slightly overexposed. Also, the larger range of colours that can be separated by binuscan are not displayable in Photoshop - it does not include RGB equivalent for those CMYK values. binuscan generates special screen simulations of CMYK files when using the EPS (preferably DCS) file format - the preview information for screen display is actually an optimized 256 colors TIFF used for a better accuracy of the screen display in, for example, Quark Xpress. CMYK images should only really be judged from analogue or wet proofs - Cromalins or MatchPrints provide accurate visual feedback on colors, however they do not simulate press conditions very accurately (eg 400% total ink coverage looks fine on a proof!). binuscan CMYK images can be judged using the binuscan utility program called ColorCorrect.

6. Sharpening - The Resolution Myth

   binuscan's special sharpening algorithm allows users to escape from the normal rule of scan resolution equals twice the line screen ruling. In ColorPro, the amount of sharpening applied to any area in an image is "context sensitive": in skin tones, there will be very little sharpening applied, however in areas of high contrast (for example the edge of a foreground object, around a fringe or eyelash) the sharpening is much greater than normal. The result is astounding - the "quality factor" can drop as low as 1.2 or even 1.0 without visible loss. ColorPro's sharpening system is frequently used to produce 200dpi images for 175lpi printing! ColorPro changes the amount of sharpening applied based on the file size. For example, to reduce the strength of "Light" sharpen, you could change the first row to read "1,2,3,4,5,6"

7. Dot Gain

   The popularity of Photoshop has introduced to DTP and digital prepress users Adobe's concept of Dot Gain. The figure used by Photoshop's Ink Setup tables is not, strictly, dot gain, and bears little resemblance to the measurements understood by the printing industry. For example, it is possible to generate separations that are tolerant of a range of Dot Gain, because gain varies independently in each ink and for each dot size. ColorPro produces separations that are suitable for most conventional offset applications with an Adobe-equivalent Dot Gain of 4-22% (the range covered by the SWOP definitions). It is not necessary to give ColorPro a Dot Gain value for these types of printing, although some users try to tweak the CMY Output curves which has a similar effect. Prepress users with precise press-matching requirements can introduce precise gain compensation by surveying their presses and using features of Professional Toolkit (Fine Tuning) to adjust the output accordingly.

8. binuscan JPEG

   binuscan uses its own algorithm for JPEGing EPS files, which results in significantly improved shadow and highlight detail (where normal compression artifacts are most visible). This means that you can produce smaller files with equivalent quality to Photoshop, or files of the same size but of a much higher quality.

9. Digital Proofing with binuscan

   By using the Printer Profile option in the ColorPro preferences dialogue, you can produce DCS files which are optimized for your digital proofing device. Proofers, especially dye subs, are notorious for their poor RIP performance and inaccurate color simulations - ColorPro improves the proofing by reducing the RIP times and using separate image data optimized for the output device. The DCS file format can contain three types of image information:
   1. High-res plate information for press, in files xxx.c etc. No previews are contained in these files.
   2. A screen preview, contained in the fifth, composite file of the DCS set. This file is already optimised for the screen, giving accurate simulations in Xpress. The data is 72dpi TIFF, held at the physical dimensions of the image. An 8-bit adaptive colour palette is used.
   3. A composite printer preview which is used for proofing (mono or CMYK as selected in the Preferences). This is kept within the fifth file of the DCS set, the format being dependent on whether a Postscript Level 1 or Level 2/3 device is chosen.
   4. PSL1: The data is stored in TIFF format, at the specified resolution. The data is described by halftoning (normally contone) functions and a PostScript transfer function that optimises the data for the proofing device (unlike Photoshop's transfer functions, these are continuous functions that do not affect the RIP performance, instead of Photoshop's look-up tables which are far slower).
   5. PSL2: The data is stored in JPEG format, which can be decompressed on-the-fly by a PSL2 RIP. There are also halftone and transfer descriptors as above - RIP performance is typically four to ten times faster with PSL2.
   To use this feature you should change the file type to EPS DCS, Composite CMYK. When you choose your printer type from the list of profiles you should enter the resolution recommended in the profile name. These resolutions are typically lower than the device's optimum, however they offer the best compromise of proofing speed and quality. You should never set a resolution that exceeds the final resolution of your images.

10. Why does binuscan provide scanner settings?

    We strongly recommend that the supplied default modules for each supported scanners be used - these have been created after testing with hundreds of diverse images and printing processes. It is VERY important that the correct scanner settings are used to produce a true "raw" scan - from your scanner driver Settings menu you can usually Load a file located at .\ColorPro\Scanset\Manufacturer\Model.

binuscan and Photoshop

1. Does binuscan replace Photoshop?

   No. binuscan is not an image editing/retouching program like Photoshop or Live Picture. binuscan is intended to be used in conjunction with an image editor, replacing it as the customer's primary means of obtaining high quality color corrections and separations. While image editors are excellent tools for removing scratches, applying filters, and photo-maniplation, they do not have the ability to intelligently analyze an image and automatically rebuild it like binuscan does. binuscan-processed images can be fully edited in Photoshop, Live Picture, etc., giving the customer the best of both worlds: high quality automatic processing that rebuilds an image with a perfect histogram, correct shadow and highlight points, good color balance, selective sharpening, and post-correction control over image retouching and special effects from within their image editing application.

2. I can correct my images in Photoshop. Why should I use binuscan?

   1. Image Quality

      binuscan's exclusive RECO technology allows automatic color corrections without any data loss from the histogram. Image editors such as Photoshop use transfer and curve functions to make color corrections, resulting in image quality degradation: the more corrections the user must make, the more data is lost from the image. binuscan's correction technology allows the software to intelligently identify color values that were not picked up in the original scan and to rebuild the image with all of its color data intact. An image processed with binnuscan will ALWAYS have a ful histogram, meaning it will contain the maximum color depth possible in a digital image.

   2. Separations

      binuscan's color separation tables are superior to Photoshop's, resulting in better color representations and fewer colors out of gamut when the image goes to press.

   3. Time and Expertise

      Because binuscan is able to analyze and process an image automatically, it requires no color expertise on the part of the operator. Until now, digital color correction required a detailed understanding of color theory, CMYK process printing, and Photoshop transfer and curve functions. binuscan allows digital artists to concentrate on design instead of color correction, and allows prepress managers to elimate a time-consuming step in the printing process.

   4. Key Points

      1. binuscan never rewrites the original image; Photoshop does.
      2. binuscan intelligently interpolates missing color data in images; Photoshop does not.
      3. binuscan batch processes images and works transparently in the background; Photoshop does not.
      4. binuscan is production oriented; Photoshop is design oriented.