Probe Description

The Progressive Labs C-5 probe utilizes a state of the art design coupled with a detector capable of measuring the low light levels found in current video displays. The new C-5 design incorporates a baffle located in front of the detectors to significantly reduce stray light scatter and provide greater measurement accuracy. Three probe calibration files may be accessed via software allowing the user to accurately measure any display type available including LCD flat panels. The probe is supplied with a removable diffuser which is used for measurement of front projection television displays (FPTV).

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Screen Offset File Function

The C-5 provides a unique screen offset file function used to correct for the chromaticity error induced by various front projection screen materials. The user may select from a directory the manufacturer of the screen which they are using and then simply click on the model of screen which they are using. The offset file is loaded into the software and provides the ability to calibrate the front projection display with the probe oriented towards the display with the calibration results obtained as if the probe had been oriented towards the screen. There are presently over sixty screen offset files provided with additional files being made on an ongoing basis.

The offset files are made by taking measurements of samples of each manufacturers screen material with a PhotoResearch PR-650 directly from the screen using the MS-75 lens. Reference measurements are made from the projector with the PR-650 utilizing the CR-650 Cosine Receptor. The difference between the screen measured value and the reference is the offset value. Our files are created in both the XYZ and xy file formats. The XYZ file contains offsets for R, G, B, and W which enables accurate measurement of primary colors when calibrating displays providing color management software. The xy offset files provide accurate measurement of all levels of Gray for precision Grayscale analysis.

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Product Integration

The C-5 analyzer has been designed to work in conjunction with a number of third-party video pattern generators providing faster access to all generator functions. In addition to the features found on the supported devices Progressive Labs has added automated features such as "Automated Grayscale" as well as "Auto Primary/Secondary" at the touch of one button.

The C-5 software presently supports the Accupel HDG-3000 pattern generator as well as the Sencore VP-300/VP-400 series of generators. The C-5 also integrates with Avia Pro and Get Gray DVD software to perform automated Grayscale measurements via embedded test tone signaling.

We have recently added support for the Minolta CS-100A, CA-210, and CS-200 instruments as well as the PhotoResearch PR-650 spectroradiometer with more devices being added soon! For more details on these instruments please click on the picture of the instrument.

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Data Export Feature

The C-5 allows the user to save measured data from its logging software in two convenient forms for retrieval at a later date. The measured data may be saved as a .dat file which allows the measured data to be reloaded to the C-5 software for review at the touch of a button. The C-5 is also supplied with an embedded .xlt template which allows the user to save the data to a pre-formatted report. The report contains the identical data which the .dat file has and allows the information to be presented as printed report directly from Excel.

The Excel Report allows the user the flexibility of being able to customize the graphics using the features contained in the graph and charts wizard of Excel. All of the measured data which is graphed in Excel is provided at the top of the report and may be highlighted and easily exported to any Windows application.

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Graphic File Formats

All screen elements may be saved in any of (8) Eight graphic file formats. File formats provided are Enhanced Metafiles (.emf), Metafiles (.wmf), Bitmaps (.bmp), JPEG Files (.jpg), GIF Files (.gif), PCX Files (.pcx), PDF Files (.pdf), and Postscript files (.eps). This feature allows easy file exchange between users as well as allowing posting to internet forums.

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User Calibration Function

The C-5 provides a probe "User Calibration" function to enhance measurement accuracy of difficult to calibrate displays. Files are provided from Progressive Labs for displays on an "as needed" basis and may be downloaded from our website for use with the C-5 software. The file allows the probe to utilize actual measured values made of the displays primary colors and White as a reference providing greater accuracy to the measurement. The "User Cal" reference files are created using our PhotoResearch PR-650 spectroradiometer. The User Calibration function may also be used by the calibrator as a means to reference their C-5 to another instrument for custom applications such as performing video wall calibrations with two different make analyzers. An unlimited number of calibration files may be saved to a directory in the pc for future recall.

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Multiple Data Set Graphics

The user has the ability to open multiple sets of saved data to a single graph for evaluation. This feature is extremely useful as an aid to select the most accurate gamma setting in a display. Any number of data sets may be added to the graph by the user as well as the ability to select a unique color for each data set depicted in the graph.

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Excel Report

All measured data may be saved as either a data file (.dat) so that the user may examine it directly in the application at their convenience. The data may also be saved as an Excel file using the softwares embedded Excel template (.xlt) so that it may be given to customers as a file which may be printed out on their own computer. All data and graphs found in the software are provided in the Excel template. The data is easily exported from the software to the template at the touch of a button.

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Ideal Luminance

The C-5 incorporates a calculator indicating the ideal illuminance/luminance value at any given ire level of a display. The function uses the peak measured value (100 ire) of the display and calculates via the gamma function the correct illuminance/luminance values for that display. This allows the user the ability to precisely set the brightness level of a display to achieve perfect gamma tracking without the need for iterative measurements.

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Ideal Secondaries

The C-5 provides a unique CIE graph mode displaying the "ideal" secondary coordinates calculated from the actual measured primaries. This function is quite useful as most current display technologies do not provide the ability to adjust secondary colors with their color management software. Users may now improve the picture quality of their display by adjusting the chroma decoder to precise xy coordinates calculated from the actual measured values of the display using a video color analyzer. This technique is far more precise then using the "defacto" standard of using a Blue filter to adjust the chroma decoder.

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