Optimized printing system

Abstract

A method is provided for optimizing a printer for driver settings and color profile in order to optimally print an image on a selected media. Data is stored in an index file for various combinations of printers, printer drivers, printer media and color profiles. The printer driver that is currently used on the user's machine for the selected printer is determined and the printer media selected for the printer is identified, e.g., by a simple query of the user. One set of steps involves choosing an appropriate stored color profile for the selected printer-media combination, and applying the chosen color profile to the image data, thereby generating transformed image data. Another set of steps involves retrieving printer settings for the selected printer-media combination and modifying the settings of the driver in use for the selected media.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09 / 479,420, filed Jan. 07, 2000, by Steven A. Billow et al., and entitled “Optimized Printing System”.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The invention relates generally to the field of printing, and in particular to establishing proper setup of printers and optimization of color for different types of media. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Printers, such as inkjet desktop printers, are now capable of making high quality images. To realize this capability, however, a user must be able to properly configure the printer driver software for the appropriate settings, as directed by either the printer manufacturer or the media manufacturer. There is every indication that most users do not appropriately set the driver settings for the media, which makes optimal printing very difficult, if not impossible, to achieve. Furthermore, to obtain consistent, reliable color, the print...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013] The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above. Briefly summarized, according to one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for optimizing a printer for driver settings and color profile in order to optimally print an image on a selected media. At an initial stage, data is stored, e.g., in an index file, for various combinations of printers, printer drivers, printer media and color profiles. Next, the printer driver that is currently used on the user's machine for the selected printer is determined and the printer media selected for the printer is identified, e.g., by a simple query of the user. After an appropriate one of the stored color profiles is chosen for the selected printer-media combination, the chosen color profile is applied to the image data, thereby generating transformed image data. The stored printer driver settings for the selected printer-media combination are retrieved and the settings of the driver are thereupon adjusted for the selected media. Finally the transformed image data is printed through the modified settings of the printer driver to obtain optimal printing of the image. The advantage of the invention is that it automatically determines the user's driver, sets that driver appropriately, and then automatically chooses and applies a color profile built for that printer driver and the user selected media. The user only needs to select a printer and media to make the system operable. Another advantage is that the invention combines and automates the process of properly setting the printer driver and choosing and applying the output color profile. This “closes” the loop to guarantee that driver settings are correct for the selected profile. Otherwise, if a color profile is applied for a driver setting different than the setting for which the profile was built, the results are unpredictable at best.

Problems solved by technology

Otherwise, if a color profile is applied for a driver setting different than the setting for which the profile was built, the results are unpredictable at best.

Images