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The printer section of the software prints out 2 test charts of colour patches on the paper you choose. This is the clever bit. Previously these patches would need to be measured by a different device from your monitor profiler, and the measuring of each patch was a long arduous task.

After a 10 minute print drying time, you simply run the Colormunki across the strips of patches on the print. Again the software provides clear instructions on how to do this, along with small animated video instructions if you need them.

Once the two test charts are done, the software automatically stores the information into the colour management folders and adds it to Adobe Creative Suite applications or Quark Express if you need it. This is the only disappointment in the system, it's limited to those applications, and some of the less expensive applications are unsupported.

A final note to be made is that when you print, you need to change the print dialogue in Photoshop CS 3 to colour management handled by Photoshop, and select the new profile from a drop down menu and ensure you turn off the printer colour management in your printer driver.

The results, using an Epson R800 and a variety of papers were really impressive, producing much better colour prints, especially on third party papers, such as Ilford Gallerie, Imgaes matched the monitor version much closer, though the nature of the two viewing media - LCD and ink/paper - will never allow an absolute perfect match.

Verdict

This is by far the cheapest and simplest colour profiling device I have yet used, and the speed is really impressive. It took just five minutes to calibrate the monitor and around half an hour to set up the printer - in the past I have spent an evening on a printer profile.

It's not going to suit everyone - it's still a somewhat high end solution for the perfectionist rather than the average snapper, but if you really care about your prints and have £360 to spare, it's sure to prove a hit.

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