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