Pantone announced a new compact, handheld device that lets design professionals, contractors, paint retailers and do-it-yourselfers confidently measure and match color inspiration instantly – from small, patterned, multi-colored textures and textiles to walls and carpeting. They are calling it, sensibly, CapSure.
Created for professionals in fashion, home furnishings, interior, industrial and graphic design, as well as contractors, paint retailers and do-it-yourselfers, CapSure allows users to accurately identify color inspiration from any surface, material or fabric and match it to a Pantone Color for easy identification and communication. Part of the X-Rite company, and known for being the industry standard in color calibration, accuracy and matching, CapSure significantly reduces the time it takes to measure or choose a color from a sample or any other form of color inspiration. It’s not cheap by any means, but your wife would probably love one of these for Christmas… I’m just sayin’.
Pantone CapSure Handheld Color Matching
“CapSure’s advanced image capture technology sets a new standard for accuracy and versatility in a portable device. The real power of CapSure is its ability to measure the color of any surface, including small, patterned and multi-colored textures and textiles, which can confound other instruments because of their textural complexity, and quickly match them to more than 8,000 Pantone Colors.”
– Giovanni Marra, director of corporate marketing at Pantone
The device uses powerful tri-directional image capture technology that eliminates the shadows and interference inherent to patterned and textured materials and surfaces. By illuminating the surface being measured from three different directions while simultaneously recording 27 color-accurate images in 1.6 seconds, CapSure can extract up to four dominant colors from an intricate pattern so the viewer can clearly identify the desired color.
“I am constantly inspired and, believe it or not, have actually started carrying CapSure in my bag to capture color inspiration wherever I am – it’s as easy to use as an iPhone. Pantone has managed to marry the design process with cutting-edge technology in this one tool – my design team and I are obsessed!”
– Peter Som, American women’s wear designer
Pantone’s portable CapSure device takes users right to the Pantone Color number with one click, then provides dozens of additional Pantone Color options and complementary colors which are all stored for easy use and reference in CapSure. It’s about as easy to use as an iPhone app.
CapSure’s image capture technology lets professionals preview what they are measuring on its 1.75-inch color screen, in real time, to affirm image accuracy. Those images are then stored on the device for later reference. CapSure has the ability to record the last 100 colors measured for later reference. Users can also annotate colors with a voice recording as well as a time and date stamp. Additionally, the device provides harmonious shades and identifies related colors that are lighter, darker or similar in tone to the identified color.
CapSure comes pre-loaded with all Pantone Color Libraries allowing users to match more than 8,000 colors with a single device. Users can also toggle across multiple Pantone Libraries and cross-match any material or surface. CapSure includes:
- The Pantone FASHION + HOME Color System Library (paper and cotton) for fashion and home;
- The Pantone PAINT + INTERIORS Library (paper and cotton) for architecture and interiors;
- The Pantone PLUS SERIES Formula Guide (coated and uncoated), the Pantone PLUS SERIES CMYK (coated and uncoated) and the Pantone Goe System (coated and uncoated) for graphic design, printing and publishing; providing sRGB, Adobe RGB, HTML, Lab and XYZ values for multimedia design.
Users can also upload fan decks from popular paint manufacturers, at an additional cost, to match the color of an inspirational item in paint.
For convenient remote use, the device is powered by a rechargeable lithium battery that lasts for thousands of measurements on a single charge.
CapSure Palette Application Software
The CapSure Palette Application Software provides convenient access to saved color measurements, details and tags, and allows users to view measured color samples with selectable lighting conditions on their computer screen. Users can also create palettes with their favorite shades or custom palettes for a specific project. All palettes can be synchronized with popular design applications including Adobe Creative Suite, QuarkXPress and CorelDRAW.
CapSure Sync
CapSure Sync ensures that CapSure is always updated with the most current color selections, new color ranges and specialty collections.
Pricing and Availability
CapSure is available immediately for U.S. $649 at www.pantone.com. Paint libraries can be purchased for an additional cost at www.xrite.com or through the CapSure Sync function. CapSure Sync is available for both PC and Mac users and is included, free-of-charge, with each CapSure device. The Palette Application Software is available for download, free-of-charge, upon product registration. The Palette Application Software is PC-compatible; Macintosh support is expected in January 2011.
About Pantone
Pantone LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of X-Rite, Incorporated, has been the world’s color authority for almost 50 years, providing design professionals with products and services for the colorful exploration and expression of creativity. Always a source for color inspiration, Pantone also offers designer-inspired products and services for consumers. More information is available at www.pantone.com.
About X-Rite
X-Rite, Incorporated, is the global leader in color science and technology. The company, which now includes color industry leader Pantone, develops, manufactures, markets and supports innovative color solutions through measurement systems, software, color standards and services. X-Rite’s expertise in inspiring, selecting, measuring, formulating, communicating and matching color helps users get color right the first time and every time, which translates to better quality and reduced costs. X-Rite serves a range of industries, including printing, packaging, photography, graphic design, video, automotive, paints, plastics, textiles, dental and medical. For further information, please visit www.xrite.com.
