DigiEye

Anika Easy discovers what's on the horizon

Global Colour Solutions (GCS) is a colour communication consultancy, and helps organisations to set-up, apply and develop the latest technologies in colour measurement to the relevant part(s) of their businesses.

Though formed in 2001, it brings together expertise gained collectively over 85 years in the colour science industries in the three directors, Sue Williams, Mick Butterworth and Geoff Plass. Pete Laban, with extensive colour and sales skills, strengthened the team by joining in 2004.

It's an exciting time, with GCS playing a key part in the development of DigiEye – the digital imaging system originally created to objectively measure fastness but has since developed so that it can capture the total colour and appearance of 2D and 3D objects.

Since its launch, GCS has been the worldwide distributor of DigiEye for all industries and by the end of 2006 will have sold over 70 systems to customers ranging from Nike to Unilever.

Calibrated capture of colour

What makes DigiEye unique is its ability to measure the unmeasurables, such as texture, as Sue explains, '"Of course you can use a spectrophotometer to measure the multi-fabric, the staining and the change of shade – so long as it's solid – though you have to do one at a time.

However, if you take an image with the DigiEye system, because it's calibrated, then it means you have colour values for every pixel within that image. This means that you can create templates for the fastness and assess five tests at any one time, instantaneously from the image."

For Sue it brings to mind the 1970s when spectrophotometry – giving numbers to colours – was first launched. This was pioneering technology and a pivotal point in the industry, revolutionising the way colour was measured.

Then, just as now, time and distance were the key influencing factors, so a colour communication system which could significantly reduce these while retaining match/quality had the effect of giving any utilising company a significant competitive edge.

Customer first
Another key part of GCS's success is the emphasis on 'making sure that the systems work for the client.' This means working closely with customers and specifically speaking to staff and listening to their needs, so that any new ideas are incorporated into the equipment or software. This has meant that, in addition to gaining their clients' trust and ensuring multiple sales, GCS can develop the application of its products in unexpected areas.

As well as making products more durable and effective in current markets, this has also opened up potential for new clients and industries, such as in the food and automotive industries.

The company itself is also developing, with the merger of GCS and DigiEye Plc planned for the end of February 2007. The current philosophy of the company will continue, as will the commitment of the core team to the ongoing development and sales of the system.

Sue sees this as an ideal time to take a new direction and has plans to retire from the day-to-day running of the business to go freelance. 'It's been a privilege to be involved in the development of DigiEye, because it is such a new technology.'

Now that it has moved beyond the initial development stage, Sue feels that she is ready for some new challenges, including continuing her work with the Society, for which she has been nominated for president for the term 2008/2009.

December 2006

Original article from ‘The Colourist’ by Anika Easy. Reproduced by kind permission of the SDC

Stop Press

Global Colour Solutions Ltd has been acquired by DigiEye plc. Mick Butterworth and Pete Laban are continuing in their technical support and sales roles.

DigiEye is a unique high quality non-contact image capturing system with high colour definition, incorporating DigiGrade for digital colour fastness grading and DigiPix for colour measurement of traditionally 'unmeasureable' samples

In addition, DigiEye plc offers a full range of colour measuring instruments