The "Monaco Optix XR" monitor calibrator from X-Rite is an affordable hardware & software solution for profiling and calibrating LCD and CRT based displays. It’s compatible with Mac OSX (not compatible with Apple’s OS9), Windows 98SE, Windows ME, Windows 2000, and Windows XP.
Monaco has always been a software company and has outsourced the manufacturing of their hardware calibrators to a different manufacturer. When X-Rite purchased Monaco Systems it teamed the best in software with the best in hardware to create a super-company in calibration and profiling solutions. The "MonacoOptix XR" is the first product designed and manufactured from this new combination of companies.
The Optix comes in a small (approx. 10x10x3 inch) box and includes the hardware calibrator with hard-wired USB cable, a counterweight adapter (for calibration of LCD displays), a suction cup adapter (for calibration of CRT displays), and the software CD containing both Windows and Mac OSX software. The software comes with a site license which means that the software can be legally installed and used on any display at one site (physical street address).
The software install was very simple and the install for the hardware is done by simply plugging in the USB cable. However please visit DTG’s BLOG at CLICK HERE and read the post titled “Before you install and use Monaco Optix XR” if you are going to be installing any monitor calibration system.
After the install and reboot, we started the "Monaco Optix XR" software and began the calibration and profiling process. The software is a wizard driven interface and steps you through the process. The calibrator attaches to CRT based monitors with a small suction cup and we did not have any problems with the cup “popping” off in the middle of the calibration like some other calibrators we’ve used. If you are calibrating an LCD or laptop screen then you remove the suction cup and use the supplied counterweight which worked fine in our tests. During the wizard, all you need to do is answer 2 questions (which white point and gamma you wish to use) and follow the instructions on each step. When the calibrator is finished reading all of the patches of color the software prompts you to “create profile” which is basically just naming and saving it. It automatically puts the profile in the correct folder for each operating system which is an expected but appreciated touch. It also updates and applies your new profile as the system profile for your operating system.
To evaluate the quality of the profile we have some standard tests we like to do in Adobe Photoshop. We ran those tests for each type of display we calibrated, CRT and LCD. The quality of the calibration/profile for the CRT monitors on both Macintosh and PC was top notch and equal to the quality of X-Rite’s previous monitor calibrator costing over $600, the DTP-92. The quality of the profile on the LCD monitor was not as good as the profile on the CRT but pretty typical for LCD calibrations. While the calibration did make the LCD more accurate, LCD monitors and the calibration systems for them still have some way to go to reach the quality of CRT based systems.
We also tested these monitor profiles for their accuracy with soft proofing. We took our DTG custom ICC profiles for the "Epson 4800" Ultrachrome inks with photo, fine art, and canvas medias from Ilford, Hahnemuhle, and Fredrix and proofed them in Photoshop. We compared the prints to the soft proof using the profile created from the Optix and were impressed and satisfied with the output transform of the profile. The soft proof was very accurate.
To conclude, the Monaco Optix XR monitor calibration system is an affordable, easy to use, and very accurate monitor calibrator. X-Rite and Monaco have teamed up to make the product we would expect from two industry leaders. If you do not own a monitor calibration system or are not satisfied with your existing system then the " MonacoOptix XR" is well worth the small investment.
DTG Reviews: Monaco Optix XR 
