Calibrating X-Rite Densitometer

There are 3 stages in calibrating the X-Rite, calibrating the A mode,calibrating the M mode and calibrating the reflective. Both need to be done at the same time in order to perform a complete densitometer calibration.

Before any scans or calibrations are made to the densitometer, it should be turned on to warm up for at least 5 minutes before use, otherwise your readings will be inconsistent.

If readings fluctuate dramatically, there is a good chance the bulb needs to be changed or it needs to be serviced.

Pay attention to the calibration sequence when doing this yourself; it should be cal Tm, cal Ta, and cal Refl, then repeat each three times before you are finished. each time confirms the curve of the response. Note that you don't have to reset all the density values each time, as they are already in there from the first time. Just click through them, then do the read stage, and read Cal Hi. When changing status functions or turning on, leave the unit set long enough to stabilize. When reading with no film, hold the read button down and push "CAL" for three seconds until the readings zero, or null. Recheck stage null by pressing read again without pressing the cal button; it should stay on "0.00 - 0.00 - 0.00" for R, G, and B. Calibrate in the RED GREEN BLUE display condition, and then check Auto. Do not expect cal in Auto to work. It might, but it adds a section of logic not intended to be part of the calibration. The book doesn't tell these things.

Calibrating in Transparency Mode

-Change mode to TA mode for Transparency

-Make sure you have the Chromira X-Rite 9/29/11 calibration transparency, it should be located underneath the Densitometer in the film area.

-You can check the current calibration range by simply pressing the densitometer lever and checking the levels with no transparency, the readings should be 0,0,0. Note how far the numbers are from this 0.0,0.0,0.0 ideal.

-Press Calibrate, to start the calibration process

-Press Calibrate, to select "Yes"

-The Densitometer screen will show you the calibration settings, make sure these numbers match the high & low settings indicated on the transparency

-Press "Color" to scroll through the calibration numbers until you reach the end.

-Screen will say "Read No Film", press down Densitometer lever without any film, the Densitometer will take the reading

-Screen will ask for the "Hi Calibration", scan the part of the film indicating "Hi-Calibration", the Densitometer will take that reading.

-Calibration should be done, check by scanning with no film, reading should be at 0.0,0.0,0.0

Calibrating in Reflective Mode

-Change mode to R for Reflective

-Make sure you have the Chromira calibration plate, it should be a hard reflective metal plate.

-Scan the "Low" patch (white) before calibration, and check the calibration numbers against the numbers on the back of the calibration plate. Note how far the numbers are.

-Press Calibrate, to start the calibration process

-Press Calibrate, to select "Yes"

-The Densitometer screen will show you the calibration settings, make sure these numbers match the high & low settings indicated on the back of the calibration plate

-Press "Color" to scroll through the calibration numbers until you reach the end

-Screen will ask for the "Low" reading (white), take the reading of the white patch

-Screen will ask for the "Hi" reading (black), take the reading of the black patch

-Calibration should be done, check by scanning "Low" patch (white), reading should match calibration numbers on the back of the calibration plate