Target "Curves" vs. Target "Traces"

Created by Jake Bedard, Modified on Tue, 10 Sep at 10:20 AM by Jake Bedard

Target "Curves" vs. Target "Traces"

In Smaart, there are two main ways to format pre-existing data for use as a measurement reference: Target Curves and Target Traces.

These terms may often be used interchangeably, as each type of target is used in the same way when taking measurements. However, the way that Smaart imports, exports, and displays these target references is quite different.

Quick Reference Chart

	Filetype	Location in Smaart	How to Import into Smaart
Target Curve	.crv	Target Curves dialog	"Import" button in Target Curves dialog
Spectrum Target Trace	.srf	Data Bar (Spectrum View)	Drag and drop into appropriate data bar
TF Target Trace	.trf	Data Bar (TF View)	Drag and drop into appropriate data bar

Target Curves

Target Curves are available as a plot overlay that can be toggled with the hotkey [X]. They exist within Smaart's "TargetCurves" folder as .crv files, and can be managed within the Target Curves dialog, accessible via the [Alt/Opt] + [X] hotkey. Within this dialog, they are separated into "Spectrum" and "Transfer Function" depending on how they are formatted. You can import, delete, and edit various details of the curves from within this dialog.

Smaart can only import Target Curves that are saved as .crv files and follow specific formatting, which is detailed in this article.

Target Traces

Target Traces, while used in the same way as Target Curves, are actually Spectrum or Transfer Function traces that have been captured from a measurement. Being measurement traces, their filetypes are .srf for spectrum traces and .trf for transfer function traces. Since they are data traces, they exist within Smaart's "Data" folder, sorted into its "Spectrum" and "Transfer Function" subfolders.

Target Traces can be imported by dragging and dropping them into the Data Bar. This is where previously imported Target Traces can be viewed, hidden/unhidden, and deleted alongside your other captured traces. Just like any other trace, Spectrum Target Traces can only be viewed in Spectrum View and Transfer Function Target Traces can only be viewed in Transfer Function View.

To edit the attributes of a Target Trace, right click it in the Data Bar and click "Info" from the dropdown menu. You can change the dB offset and color like with Target Curves, but its line thickness depends on your global settings.