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Color formulation and correction involves a complex series of tasks. The technology that helps streamline this process requires sophisticated software. But sophisticated on the inside doesn't have to mean complicated on the outside. Colorists operating these systems should be able to concentrate on their work, not on "working the computer." Formulation software should follow the colorist's lead and respond to the colorist's requests, not the other way around. Older color-matching programs forced the user to perform tasks in a prescribed, linear order dictated by the program's developer. Linear program designs required the user to navigate a maze. The latest generation of color-formulation software offers dynamic tools that adapt to the colorist's needs. To be truly user-oriented, software designers must recognize that the people using the system have different skill levels. The developers of ChromaCalc(R) 3, Datacolor's latest formulation software package, realized that most companies have employees whose experience falls into one of three levels:
* The inexperienced laboratory technician who is just learning how to formulate colors.
* The more experienced colorist who wants to maximize his or her efficiency and productivity.
* The highly experienced color scientist, a power user who wants to use the formulation system in new and creative ways.
A program design oriented toward beginners will soon get in the way of intermediate users, while a package designed only for the advanced user means a steep learning curve, low productivity and much frustration for less experienced people.
Software developers must recognize that a user's skill level will change over time. The ChromaCalc development team took advantage of an array of development tools and conventions to accommodate these multiple skill levels. Their solution incorporated the following navigation features:
* Menus and easy-to-understand help for the beginner.
* Toolbar buttons and on-screen reminders for the intermediate user.
* Keyboard accelerators and a complete on-line reference for the advanced user.
The Graphic User Interface (GUI)
A colorist should be able to simply measure a target and have the system ready to match or search - or, without calling up a new screen, the colorist should be able to add a trial and go right to correction. Formula displays should be dynamic and automatically adapt to the colorist's input.
ChromaCalc achieves this flexibility by...