Kodak strongly recommends regular factory service and re-certification of spectrophotometers. Spectrophotometers are precision optical/mechanical devices that require regular calibration and maintenance throughout their lifecycle.
Kodak Color software will not work reliably if a spectrophotometer does not operate within strict tolerances. If you are using a non-certified device, color output may not meet output specifications and Kodak may not be able to complete color services.
There are a number of symptoms that may indicate a spectrophotometer is no longer operating to the manufacturer's specifications:
- Repeat measurements of the same characterization chart give inconsistent results.
- Repeat measurements of the same chart with different characterization software (for example, MPI and i1Profiler) give inconsistent results.
- Automatic tables may freeze up while measuring, or are unable to complete measurement of a chart with the error: Inconsistent Color Measurements Detected
- Multiple calibration cycles in MPI continue to result in out-of-tolerance measurements for primary colorants and prevent media from being calibrated. Even if tolerance settings are increased, media may still not calibrate.
X-Rite recommends factory service and re-certification of spectrophotometers annually. See http://blog.xrite.com/caring-for-your-spectrophotometer/. X-Rite notes that many consumer product companies (CPCs) specify ISO compliance and require proof of spectrophotometer certification from suppliers. The link for requesting factory service and re-certification is http://www.xrite.com/service-support/services-offered/repair-certification.
Factory service verifies and documents the spectrophotometer's measurement accuracy and verifies its repeatability and consistency. The device is returned with a dated sticker and paper certification of NIST traceability to standard white, and allows you to certify ISO compliance.
If your spectrophotometer has not been recently serviced and re-certified, Kodak cannot guarantee that our color software will give accurate results. This can result in the delay of installation or color services at your site. For this reason, Kodak strongly recommends that you follow the spectro manufacturer's recommendations about regular maintenance and certification of critical color instruments.