Calibration Flow in free Mode is enough to make correct prints. What sits behind Pro Mode is what you need if you calibrate seriously, several times a month, across several processes. Extended quotas to store everything your workflow produces, .acv curve export for Photoshop, advanced export options, and Full Gamut HD export — while Color Venn (generated for free on the website) stays free in all tiers, and Full Gamut's preview does too.
The commercial logic is clear: free Mode isn't a limited demo. You can do all your basic calibration and produce your digital negative. Pro Mode adds capacity and extra tools for regular workflows — including exporting your .acv curve to reuse in Photoshop — not an essential function disguised as an upgrade.
#What you see
In several places in the app, certain buttons carry a small orange "Pro" badge. Until you've activated Pro Mode, those buttons stay visible but the action triggers a subscription prompt. So you can see where the Pro functions are before paying — that's deliberate, so you know exactly what you're unlocking.
When you activate Pro Mode (€9.90/month subscription or activation of a Luminograph code), the Pro badges become functional. What you mostly notice:
- Your quotas expand: unlimited curves, unlimited presets, 100 HD scans, unlimited generated images, 5 GB of cloud storage (vs 300 MB in free Mode).
- HD media: your scans and images in full high definition, with no forced compression.
- Advanced export options unlock: additional formats, extended resolutions, batch exports.
- Cloud sync stays active: curves and presets saved on your iPhone show up on the web when you log into the same account, and the other way around. (Sync is also included in free Mode.)
- Community features unlock: you can share your curves and presets to the community library, upload custom calibrations.
#What doesn't change when you go Pro
The target analysis pipeline is the same. There's only one analysis engine in Calibration Flow, identical in free Mode and Pro Mode. The measurements you get are the same whatever your tier — there's no "more precise" Pro pipeline.
Custom chart creation. This function does not exist in the app today, in either tier — no selector for custom dimensions or patch count. The monochrome chart that Calibration Flow actually draws, in the Negative screen (Target tab → "Show the target"), carries no Pro restriction. See Create a custom test chart.
#Why it matters
For anyone calibrating several processes in parallel. The extended quotas let you store more than 3 curves without constantly deleting some. Over a year, that's what separates a workflow where you have all your calibrations on hand from one where you're permanently archiving.
For anyone working in CMYK or multi-channel color. Free access to the Color Venn target (3c, generated on the website) and the Full Gamut preview (6c, 7c) lets you understand and prepare the per-channel separation instead of suffering an automatic decomposition. On an Aquaprint Color CMYK print, that's what lets you visualize how each channel contributes to the final color. Going further — HD export of the Full Gamut negatives and the advanced separation settings — requires Pro Mode. Extended quotas in Pro Mode give you room to store multiple calibrations in parallel.
#When you don't need it
Occasional practice. If you calibrate one target a month, free Mode is enough. The subscription becomes worth it from five to eight calibrations a month, or when you start running out of room in your 3 curves / 300 MB.
You haven't bought a Luminograph yet but you plan to. Buy the Luminograph first — its activation code includes 1 year of free Pro Mode. No need to also subscribe for that first year. See Luminograph code.
You mostly use the basic functions. If you always calibrate in standard A4, no CMYK, free Mode covers you amply.
#Key facts
| Element | Value |
|---|---|
| Price | €9.90/month incl. tax (EUR zone) |
| Platforms | Web + iPhone + iPad — unified account |
| Free trial period | None (but 1 year included when you buy a Luminograph) |
| Cancellation | Anytime from picturale.app or iOS Settings → Subscriptions |
| Advanced features unlocked | Advanced export options, community curve sharing, Full Gamut HD export, advanced separation settings |
| Extended quotas | unlimited curves, unlimited presets, 100 HD scans, unlimited images, 5 GB cloud |
| Calibration tools | Color Venn (on the website) remains free in all tiers, no Pro badge required. Full Gamut's preview is free too; its HD export at 5-7 inks and advanced settings need Pro |
| Retention after cancellation | Data intact (read-only on the quota overage) |
| Custom target | Not available today |
#The test
Subscribe from your web account or activate a Luminograph code. Check that the Pro badge disappears from advanced export buttons and that you can use them without a new prompt. Open the library: your quota should show 5 GB instead of 300 MB. Try uploading a curve to the community — this feature should now be available. Log in on another device with the same Picturale account: the Pro status should propagate automatically without a new subscription.