VIGC-study researches reliability of myPANTONE on iPhone
Tests reveal color accuracy of new application
Company Supplied -- Graphic Arts Online, November 6, 2009
Turnhout, 6 November 2009 - The Flemish Innovation Center for Graphic Communication (VIGC) conducted a study into the accuracy and reliability of the new myPANTONE for iPhone. With PANTONE describing itself as ‘the color authority', expectations for the application are high. "When I heard that PANTONE had launched a color reference tool for the Apple iPhone, I was somewhat surprised," says Eddy Hagen, managing director and trend watcher at VIGC. "The iPhone does not have a calibrated screen, so I questioned the accuracy of the on-screen color rendering." The VIGC subsequently conducted a number of simple tests to check if the application could live up to expectations.
Two devices, two colors
The VIGC tested two devices with the co-operation of Apple Belgium, which kindly provided the organization with an iPhone 3G and an iPod Touch, which has the same screen as the iPhone 2G.
After installing the myPANTONE application, the VIGC retrieved the color PANTONE GOE 37-5-1 C on both devices, with identical settings. This simple test immediately revealed a color difference. Plus the printed patch in the PANTONE GOE guide looked different to the one shown on the iPhones.
Caption: The iPhone 3G (left) and iPod Touch (right) show the PANTONE GOE 37-5-1 C color. The comparison shows that the colors are different.
Caption: Comparing the iPhone 3G with the printed GOE guide revealed a noticeable difference.
When the VIGC compared the iPhone 3G - which features better color rendering than the 2G and iPhone Touch - with an LCD screen calibrated with the X-Rite Color Munki Design, there was a remarkable difference yet again. While this was partly caused by the glare of the iPhone screen, this also clearly illustrates the limitations of the iPhone and iPod Touch screens.
Caption: A comparison between the iPhone 3G and a calibrated monitor with a color gamut very close to sRGB. The iPhone 3G has a smaller color gamut, plus the glare of the screen plays a role in the color perception.
On the internet one can find ICC profiles that have been created specifically for iPhone 2G and 3G screens. When comparing them in a gamut viewing tool, it is clear that neither of the two devices come close to sRGB (like most monitors used in an office environment), and certainly not close to AdobeRGB (like dedicated monitors for prepress environments). And while the iPhone 3G may have a bigger gamut than the 2G or the iPod Touch, it is still limited.
It is important to note that Apple has never claimed that the screens on the iPhone are sRGB or calibrated.
Snapping pictures to the closest PANTONE color
In its product information, PANTONE claims that it is possible to take a picture with the iPhone, or upload a picture to the iPhone, and ‘snap' a selected color to a similar one in the PANTONE libraries.
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