ColorGATE Productionserver vs DisplayCAL
ColorGATE Productionserver
colorgate.comDisplayCAL
displaycal.netSide by side
| Figure | ColorGATE Productionserver | DisplayCAL |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 3 | 1 |
| Spec score · Color Management Software | 7.4 (#13) | 7.7 (#11) |
| Purpose | Core Productionserver is a configurable RIP and color management product family for digital print production. | DisplayCAL is a display calibration and profiling solution built on ArgyllCMS. |
| Support | The product page lists self-service guides and documentation, online training sessions, and technical support through a web ticket system. | The site links to forums, a wiki, documentation, help, and an issue tracker; it also invites voluntary contributions toward development and technical assistance. |
Plans
ColorGATE Productionserver
- Core Productionserver LPriced on request
- Core Productionserver MPriced on request
- Core Productionserver SPriced on request
In their own words
ColorGATE Productionserver
ColorGATE Productionserver is a configurable RIP and color-management product family for digital print production on Windows. Edition S targets a single printer, M a growing print shop, and L a high-throughput provider. Every edition includes advanced cutmarks, color correction tools, MIM administration, a multi-color ICC engine, RIP while Print, visual scaling, and white-ink support. Depending on edition, options include Adobe PDF Print Engine, color replacement, tiling, media-device synchronization, linearization, print and cut, nesting, and quality assurance. Profiler Suite, Simulation & Proofing Package, and Screen Package are optional additions for specialized workflows. A REST API connects existing workflows when the Access Control Module is present. Perpetual licenses carry an annual Value Pack Subscription equal to 18% of license value for support and upgrades. Supported systems include 64-bit Windows 10 and 11 and Windows Server 2016, 2019, 2022, and 2025. Apple ARM-based Macs are unsupported.
DisplayCAL
DisplayCAL is a free display calibration and profiling solution built on ArgyllCMS, available for Linux, macOS, and Windows. With a supported measurement instrument, it measures displays and creates calibrations and ICC profiles, including for multi-display setups. Users can verify profiles and display devices, measure screen uniformity, and create video 3D LUTs with optional CIECAM02 gamut mapping. Colorimeter corrections can be imported from vendor software or created from measurements when a spectrometer is available. A test chart editor makes patch charts and accepts pasted data from CGATS, tab-delimited CSV, and spreadsheet applications. Documented pattern generators include madVR and DaVinci Resolve 10.1 or later; Chromecast support is optional. DisplayCAL requires ArgyllCMS 1.0 or newer and a supported measurement instrument. The software is licensed under GNU GPL version 3 or later and comes without warranty. The download page provides SHA-256 checksums, while the site links to forums, a wiki, documentation, help, and an issue tracker.