DRUPA 2004, Düsseldorf, Germany; May 6, 2004 – One of the highlights of the GretagMacbeth stand in Hall 5, Stand D40 here at Drupa 2004 is the announcement of an exciting new addition to the Eye-One color management family – the Eye-One iO. This scanning chart reader, with its revolutionary new design, brings hands-free, ease-of-use, and affordable automation to GretagMacbeth’s popular, award-winning, Eye-One Pro hand-held color measuring device. When it is available later this year, the new Eye-One iO solution will add another level of convenience to measuring color test charts for current and future owners of the defacto industry standard Eye-One Pro device. “The new Eye-One iO provides an easy-to-use solution that adds even more versatility to the digital color production workflow,” says Thomas Kunz, Market Manager for PrePress, Creative, Photo at GretagMacbeth. “The Eye-One iO scanning table validates our continuing efforts to break through the cost and complexity barriers associated with color management and provide integrated, cost-effective color management solutions. Like all of the solutions in the Eye-One family, the new Eye-One iO is designed to be efficient, easy to use and affordable.” The Eye-One “iO” scanning table features a revolutionary new design in which the Eye-One Pro is mounted in a holder that moves like a “SCARA-type” robot by means of two pivot points to capture color information from any test chart. The iO gives users a choice of two reflective scanning options: white backing for use with color management applications; or black backing as an option to meet ISO specifications. This device also comes with an optional transparent base to measure various transparent materials. iO further enables characterization of thick to very thick substrates, such as the ones used in textile printing or in special printing applications like ceramics or decor printing. The current large installed base of Eye-One owners will be able to add the new scanning table to their existing Eye-One configuration. In addition to being sold as a separate accessory, it will also be available in a bundled package for new users. Used with either GretagMacbeth’s Eye-One Match or ProfileMaker color management software, the new iO scanning table will add complete automation functionality to all Eye-One Pro packages in an easily upgradeable form. More than ever before, the Eye-One delivers a complete solution for all color measurement and color management needs. This includes spot color measurement, monitor calibration and profiling, ambient light (including flash) measurement, digital projector calibration and profiling, scanner calibration and profiling, printer test chart measurement and profiling and media step wedge measurement and quality control. In addition, Eye-One Share freeware provides the ability to create and share custom color palettes so the designer can easily communicate exact spot color requirements to the printer. “With the new level of versatility and expansion potential the Eye-One iO delivers, there’s no reason for anyone to put off buying an Eye-One Pro solution. If you’re interested in accurate color, this is the configuration you’ve got to have!” continues Kunz. “It makes sense now more than ever to invest in an Eye-One, especially when combined with any of our GretagMacbeth color management software solutions, and begin taking advantage of all the benefits Eye-One offers today. Customers will be able to easily add the Eye-One iO automation at a later stage.“ The Eye-One iO provides a new level of automation for fast, automated test chart reading that will increase productivity, lower the level of operator skill required, and reduce the risk of errors, thereby ensuring consistent and reliable results with the Eye-One Pro spectrophotometer. It is ideal for creatives/designers, photographers, prepress operations, corporate design departments/ad agencies, as well as for print for pay, fine arts, sign shops, textile printing, large format printing and high speed digital printing environments. Price and availability GretagMacbeth expects to have the new Eye-One iO available for shipment later this year. Pricing and configuration bundles will be announced at that time.