When was the Spectropad launched and what market is it aimed at? Barbieri’s portable spectrophotometer was shown for the first time at Fespa in Hamburg back in May. According to the Italian company, the machine is targeted at a number of professional print markets including digital, wide, super-wide, flatbed and industrial printing. The company was founded by Siegfried Barbieri in 1983 to make densitometers for the photographic industry. In 2002, the family business entered into the sign and display market and started making proprietary specialist devices for the wide-format, flatbed and industrial printing sectors.

How does the machine work? The Spectropad is a wireless, battery-powered device that works independently from a computer and so can be used directly on a press. Working from a touchscreen, users have a choice of selecting between spot measurement, strip measurement for linearisation, profiling or quality control. The Spectropad is placed on the media and a cube-shaped measuring head slides manually over the chart. Measurement readings are sent to a computer or they can be shown on the device display. "Our clients have been demanding a mobile, flexible device and we can now provide them with exactly that," explains Wolfgang Passler, international sales and marketing manager at Barbieri Electronic.

How does the Spectropad differ to Barbieri’s other spectrophotometers? Barbieri’s other spectrophotometers are the Spectro Swing and Spectro LFP. Both are capable of linearisation and profiling of digital output devices, and both are able to automatically measure in both reflection and transmission. Unlike the Swing and LFP, the Spectropad is a manual one-line scanning device for reflective media only. It is also the first of Barbieri’s products to feature the company’s new "QB technology". Named after the machine’s cube-shaped measuring head, QB is effectively a combination of D50 illumination and a high-precision spectral core. "The D50 illumination used is based on LED technology by Just Normlicht," says Passler. "It fully matches the new measurement condition M1 introduced with ISO 13655-2009. Thanks to the QB technology, precision results can now be reached. Meeting the ISO standards is crucial as they continue to play an ever more important role in wide-format digital printing."

What’s its USP? Being portable makes the battery-operated machine quite a "novelty", suggests Passler. Data is sent via a wireless network to a computer. A major, and often overlooked, advantage of using the machine directly on a printer is that the substrate doesn’t have to be cut first – especially handy for rigid substrates. Logically, it can also be taken to a customer’s site, should the need arise. Another benefit, says Passler, is the large measuring aperture, which enables the device to measure a wide range of reflective media including PVC, vinyl, canvas, cardboard, fine art paper and textiles. Finally, the machine can double as a densitometer.

How easy is it to use? According to Passler, the touchscreen makes job selection "a breeze", regardless of whether you intend to measure a control bar, a linearisation or profiling chat, or just a simple spot colour. "Measurement results are displayed immediately," he adds.

And what’s the quality like? Passler says Barbieri devices are known for their accuracy on most media. "This device is definitely again a step-forward – it’s very much the next generation of highest precision spectral core," he claims.

What about training and service support? To simplify its reseller network, last month Barbieri appointed Maidenhead-based IGS UK as distributor for its products in the UK. IGS is the owner of Tech8, a UK-based technical support business boasting 16 field-service engineers who specialise in the service and support of large format digital printing hardware and software. Passler says IGS has a well-established dealer network and is the "right partner" for Barbieri.

Training isn’t needed, says Passler, although a manual is provided to help the operator with initial set-up. Barbieri has also produced a ‘white paper’ for those who wish to output onto clear and translucent substrates, such as Plexiglas and glass. Available from the IGS UK website, the paper shows how to measure and create the correct readings using transmission or reflective options, and the relevance of different lighting conditions when determining the right profile for the material.

How much does it cost? As a standalone product, the Spectropad will set you back £1,730 (€1,995). Measurement software Profile-Xpert Gateway comes free, but if you want process control software included, the price increases to £2,500.

And how has it been received so far? The machine is currently nearing the end of its beta-testing period and it will be commercially available from September.

SPECIFICATIONS
Platform PC, Mac
Measurement aperture 6mm diameter
Scanning One-line manual
Geometry 45°/0°
Data transmission Wireless
Price £1,730 (€1,995), or £2,500 (€2,885) with process control software
Contact IGS UK 01628 560890 www.igsuk.net

ALTERNATIVES
X-Rite i1 Pro
The i1 Pro spectrophotometer is sold as part of X-Rite’s latest-generation i1 colour management software, which was launched in April. Unlike the Spectropad, the i1 Pro is able to measure in both reflection and transmission. However, it does need to be connected to a computer via a USB. If UV filtration is required, a UV cut version is also available. For those who want to speed up the measurement process, the i1 Pro can be connected to X-Rite’s i1iO automatic chart reading system.
Platform PC, Mac
Measurement aperture 4.5mm diameter
Price £920-£1,750 (depending on i1 package)
Contact X-Rite 01625 871100 www.xrite.com