Material adaptive color management unit for printing manufacturing process

Abstract

The present invention relates to a material color adaptive color management unit for a printing manufacturing process that adaptively corrects the printing color state according to the printing material, comprising: a color data receiving unit that receives manufacturing data including printing color information and material information of an ordered product; a meta-profile generating unit that selects a plurality of base color profiles corresponding to the material of the ordered product based on the material information among a plurality of base color profiles preset according to the printing material, and generates a meta-profile for the material of the ordered product by weighted combining the selected plurality of base color profiles; a RIP parameter setting unit that generates RIP parameters applied to the RIP pipeline of the printing manufacturing process based on the meta-profile and applies them to the manufacturing data; an inline color measuring unit that measures color coordinate values ​​by scanning in real time a color patch printed in a separate area along with the printing shape of the ordered product according to the manufacturing data to which the RIP parameters are applied during the printing manufacturing process; and a color difference analysis unit that calculates a color matching error including color difference by comparing the actual color coordinate values ​​measured by the inline color measuring unit with the target color coordinate values ​​defined in the meta-profile. The present invention provides a material color adaptive color management unit for a printed material manufacturing process, comprising a RIP feedback correction unit that updates the RIP parameters in real time and feeds them back to the printing equipment so that the color matching error is less than or equal to a preset threshold.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a material color adaptive color management unit for a printed material manufacturing process. More specifically, the invention relates to a material color adaptive color management unit for a printed material manufacturing process that can minimize color reproduction errors occurring for different printing materials, thereby maintaining color accuracy and stability in a multi-variety, small-batch printing environment and improving print quality. Background Technology

[0002] With the commercialization of digital printing technology, on-demand printing services that print on various materials are rapidly spreading.

[0003] Printing materials are diversifying beyond traditional coated paper and art paper to include synthetic paper, matte paper, metallic paper, synthetic film, packaging PET, and metal-coated paper; each material possesses distinct physical properties such as ink absorption rate, surface reflectivity, gloss, and texture. Since these material-specific characteristics directly affect the quality of print color reproduction, a problem arises where the output color varies significantly depending on the material, even when the same color data is input.

[0004] Furthermore, digital printing equipment is prone to color deviations during the printing process due to environmental factors such as changes in ink viscosity, temperature and humidity, and nozzle balance; particularly in the fields of packaging, labels, and security printing where high-resolution printing is required, color reproduction errors can directly lead to quality defects.

[0005] Previously, to address these issues, methods were used such as manually selecting ICC profiles for each material or manually correcting by measuring color samples with offline equipment after printing. However, these methods not only slowed down process speed but also presented the problem of making real-time quality correction impossible in a high-mix, low-volume production environment. Prior art literature

[0006] Korean Registered Patent No. 10-0951195 The problem to be solved

[0007] The present invention was developed to solve the problems of the prior art. The objective of the present invention is to provide a material color adaptive color management unit for a printed material manufacturing process that can minimize color reproduction errors occurring for different printing materials, thereby maintaining color accuracy and stability in a multi-variety, small-batch printing manufacturing environment and improving print quality. means of solving the problem

[0008] The present invention relates to a material color adaptive color management unit for a printing manufacturing process that adaptively corrects the printing color state for each printing material based on manufacturing data generated in the printing manufacturing process, comprising: a color data receiving unit that receives manufacturing data including printing color information and material information of an ordered product; a meta-profile generating unit that selects a plurality of base color profiles corresponding to the material of the ordered product based on the material information among a plurality of base color profiles preset according to the printing material, and generates a meta-profile for the material of the ordered product by weightedly combining the selected plurality of base color profiles; a RIP parameter setting unit that generates RIP parameters applied to the RIP pipeline of the printing manufacturing process based on the meta-profile and applies them to the manufacturing data; an inline color measuring unit that measures color coordinate values ​​by scanning in real time a color patch printed in a separate area along with the printing shape of the ordered product according to the manufacturing data to which the RIP parameters are applied in the printing manufacturing process; and a color difference analysis unit that calculates a color matching error including color difference by comparing the actual color coordinate values ​​measured by the inline color measuring unit with the target color coordinate values ​​defined in the meta-profile. The present invention provides a material color adaptive color management unit for a printed material manufacturing process, comprising a RIP feedback correction unit that updates the RIP parameters in real time and feeds them back to the printing equipment so that the color matching error is less than or equal to a preset threshold.

[0009] At this time, the meta profile generating unit may apply weights reflecting material absorption rate, glossiness, and surface roughness information to the base color profiles during the process of weighted combination of a plurality of selected base color profiles.

[0010] In addition, the RIP parameter setting unit can generate RIP parameters including at least one of a color tone reproduction curve, a total ink usage limit, a GCR (Gray Component Replacement) ratio, and a UCR (Under Color Removal) condition based on the color reproduction characteristics included in the meta profile.

[0011] In addition, the inline color measurement unit continuously scans the color patch along the movement direction of the printed fabric to measure changes in color coordinate values ​​according to the movement direction and time of the printed fabric, and the color difference analysis unit analyzes the changes in color coordinate values ​​as color uniformity information and can reflect this in the process of calculating the color matching error.

[0012] In addition, the RIP feedback correction unit can update the RIP parameters in real time based on the magnitude of the color matching error and the rate of change over time. Effects of the invention

[0013] According to the present invention, by selecting a plurality of base color profiles to generate a meta profile that reflects material characteristics, the inherent characteristics of the material can be precisely reflected, and accordingly, differences in color gamut and ink absorption characteristics of each material can be precisely corrected, thereby having the effect of improving printing color accuracy.

[0014] In addition, by scanning color patches in real time during the printing process through an inline color measurement unit to determine color matching errors and updating RIP parameters in real time according to the color matching errors, it is possible to respond immediately to color changes occurring during the printing process and maintain stable print quality even with changes in the process environment. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0015] FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of an integrated package automation system for a printed material manufacturing process according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the functional classification of the server configuration of an integrated package automation system for a custom-made printed material manufacturing process according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the functional classification of the configuration of a material color adaptive color management unit in a printed material manufacturing process according to one embodiment of the present invention. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0016] Hereinafter, specific embodiments for implementing the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0017] First, it should be noted that when assigning reference numerals to the components of each drawing, the same components are assigned the same reference numeral whenever possible, even if they are shown in different drawings. Furthermore, in describing the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of related known components or functions could obscure the essence of the invention, such detailed description is omitted.

[0018] Furthermore, when it is stated that one component is 'connected,' 'supported,' 'connected,' 'supplied,' 'transmitted,' or 'contacted' with another component, it should be understood that while the connection, support, connection, supply, transmission, or contact may be direct to that other component, there may also be other components present in between.

[0019] The terms used in this specification are used merely to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the invention. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0020] Furthermore, it should be noted in advance that expressions such as "upper side," "lower side," and "side" in this specification are described based on the drawings, and may be expressed differently if the orientation of the object changes. For the same reason, some components in the attached drawings may be exaggerated, omitted, or schematically depicted, and the size of each component does not entirely reflect its actual size.

[0021] Additionally, terms including ordinal numbers, such as first, second, etc., may be used to describe various components, but such components are not limited by such terms. These terms are used solely for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another.

[0022] The meaning of "comprising" as used in the specification specifies certain characteristics, regions, integers, steps, actions, elements, and / or components, and does not exclude the existence or addition of other specific characteristics, regions, integers, steps, actions, elements, components, and / or groups.

[0023] FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of a custom-made integrated package automation system for a printed material manufacturing process according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram functionally classifying and illustrating the server configuration of a custom-made integrated package automation system for a printed material manufacturing process according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram functionally classifying and illustrating the configuration of a material color adaptive color management unit for a printed material manufacturing process according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] The present invention relates to a material color adaptive color management unit that adaptively corrects the print color state for each print material based on manufacturing data generated in a print manufacturing process.

[0025] The material color adaptive color management unit of the present invention may be composed of a single automation engine applied to a custom-made integrated package automation system of a printed material manufacturing process. Of course, the present invention may be applied to a separate printing manufacturing process rather than to a custom-made integrated package automation system; however, for the sake of convenience of explanation, the following description is based on its application to a custom-made integrated package automation system.

[0026] First, let us briefly look at the custom-made integrated package automation system for the printing process. This system is a system that integrates and automates a series of processes from the customer order stage to the manufacturing stage. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, it includes a server (20) that communicates with a customer terminal (10). Inside the server (20), there are an order receiving unit (110), a manufacturing data generating unit (120), an estimate calculation unit (130), a work group generating unit (140), a production order generating unit (150), and a schedule generating unit (160).

[0027] To briefly examine the configuration of the customer terminal (10) and the server (20), the customer terminal (10) is connected to the server (20) via a communication network. When an information request signal is transmitted to the server (20) through the customer terminal (10), the server (20) can transmit visualization information corresponding to the information request signal to the customer terminal (10). The customer terminal (10) can output the visualization information transmitted from the server (20) through an output device.

[0028] The customer terminal (20) may be a computer device, but is not limited thereto, and may include a smartphone, mobile phone, navigation device, laptop, digital broadcasting terminal, PDA (Personal Digital Assistants), PMP (Portable Multimedia Player), tablet PC, etc. For example, the customer terminal (20) may communicate with the server (20) through a communication network using a wireless or wired communication method.

[0029] The communication network is not limited to any communication method and may include, for example, communication methods utilizing mobile communication networks, wired internet, wireless internet, and broadcasting networks, as well as short-range wireless communication between devices. For example, the communication network may include any one or more networks such as PAN (personal area network), LAN (local area network), CAN (campus area network), MAN (metropolitan area network), WAN (wide area network), BBN (broadband network), and the Internet. Additionally, the communication network may include any one or more network topologies such as bus networks, star networks, ring networks, mesh networks, star-bus networks, tree or hierarchical networks, but is not limited thereto.

[0030] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a customer terminal (10) can input and transmit information request signals through a web-based program provided by a server (20) or output received visualization information on a screen. For example, the server (10) can variably utilize resources for a large number of user services based on a Micro Service Architecture (MSA). Through this, the same user environment can be provided on various platforms such as PCs, tablets, and mobile phones without a separate dedicated app. However, it is not limited thereto, and the customer terminal (10) can input and transmit information request signals or output received visualization information on a screen through a dedicated app provided separately by the server (20). Here, the dedicated app may be provided through an app market of a known smartphone operating system, such as an Android store or an app store, or may be provided directly by the server (20).

[0031] The server (20) has the same hardware configuration as a conventional web server and, in terms of software, can include program modules that perform various functions by being implemented through various forms of languages ​​such as C, C++, Java, Visual Basic, Visual C, etc. Additionally, it can be implemented on general server hardware using web server programs provided according to operating systems such as DOS, Windows, Linux, Unix, Macintosh, Android, and iOS.

[0032] The customer can select the desired product type through the customer terminal (10), check the template screen corresponding to the selected product, and then input order parameters including product dimensions, material, color options, printing method, coating method, whether variable data is included, etc.

[0033] The template displayed on the customer terminal (10) is not a simple UI form, but a data model designed based on the unfolded structure used in the actual printing manufacturing process, and may be provided in a predefined state including the product outline, the relative position of the fold surface, the arrangement of the adhesive surface, the directionality of the adhesive tab, and the arrangement pattern of the cutting line and the fold line. This template may be stored in a combined form of dimensional constraints and shape constraints so that the overall structural balance is maintained even if the user changes the product size or modifies specific options.

[0034] When the order receiving unit (110) of the server (20) receives template identification information and order parameters transmitted from the customer terminal (10), it converts them into an internal data structure for generating manufacturing data and stores them. At this time, the data stored may include not only simple dimensional information but also the relative position of each element included in the template, folding order, bonding method, distribution of printable areas, and coordinate information of safe areas and prohibited areas.

[0035] The template includes predefined template rules based on the product type, and these rules hierarchically store the product's dimensional tolerances, cut line placement rules, folding methods, and adhesive structures. The dimensional rules include minimum and maximum allowable values ​​for width, length, and height, and when a customer enters dimensions, they are automatically validated to ensure that the values ​​are set only within these tolerances.

[0036] Cutting line rules enforce that the cutting line maintains a certain minimum distance from the fold line, and by limiting the angle and length of the point where the cutting line intersects the outline according to specific standards, they can prevent cutting breakage during post-processing. Folding rules define the folding direction, folding angle, and folding sequence based on the unfolded structure, and can ensure that printed objects on both sides of the fold line are spaced apart by a specific distance to prevent interference between the fold surface and the printed surface. Adhesion rules define not only the shape and location of the adhesive tab but also the positional relationship of the opposing surface to which the adhesive surface contacts, allowing the design to consider whether the product tilts or opens after bonding.

[0037] In addition, the template clearly distinguishes between printable and non-printable areas, ensuring that key printable objects, such as logos or text, do not overlap with fold or cut lines. For example, the safe zone is an area where printing is prohibited within a certain distance to prevent damage to printed elements even if errors occur during the cutting process, and the manufacturing rule engine can automatically adjust objects that encroach upon this zone or provide warnings to the user during the order entry stage.

[0038] The manufacturing data generation unit (120) applies order parameters received through the order receiving unit (110) to the manufacturing rule engine to verify combinations that cannot be manufactured according to constraints and generates manufacturing data for manufacturing a product.

[0039] The manufacturing rule engine verifies whether order parameters meet manufacturability requirements by applying dimension, cut, fold, and bonding rules defined for each template. Dimension rules automatically detect inputs outside the template's tolerances and adjust dimensions or return errors if necessary. Cut rules apply cutting gap and minimum margin conditions to ensure that cutting lines do not interfere with fold lines or printed elements, and automatically reposition printed objects if they encroach upon the cutting risk zone. Folding rules automatically set no-print zones around fold lines to prevent print damage during finished product assembly, while bonding rules adjust shapes and areas to ensure that bonding tabs and bonding surfaces interlock precisely.

[0040] After the template rules are applied in this manner, the manufacturing data generation unit (120) constructs the entire unfolded shape and generates a manufacturing data package that integrates the die line data and the printing data. The die line data includes outer cutting lines, inner cutting lines, fold lines, perforation lines, etc., and the printing data includes the position of the printing object, color information, placement layer, transparency information, etc. Each data is stored in an integrated structure so that it can be directly referenced in the printing process and the post-processing process, and is configured in a form where the printing layer and the die line layer are clearly separated.

[0041] Meanwhile, the manufacturing data generation unit (120) may include a preflight verification engine that automatically verifies whether there are errors in the product specifications based on resolution conditions, whether there is cut line interference, and margin conditions.

[0042] The preflight verification engine is a component that verifies in advance whether generated manufacturing data can be processed without issues on actual printing and post-processing equipment. Preflight verification is a quality verification step performed from the perspective of manufacturing process output; it is distinct from the design-based structural constraint verification applied by the manufacturing rule engine and is performed based on technical constraints from an equipment perspective, such as the resolution of printing equipment, minimum stroke width, RIP (Raster Image Processor) processing conditions, and cutting equipment pass processing conditions. In the digital printing process, RIP refers to an engine or processing step that converts vector, text, and image data into pixel units (raster data) that can be output by an actual printer.

[0043] When manufacturing data is validly configured through the manufacturing data generation unit (120), the quotation calculation unit (130) calculates a real-time quotation based on various elements included in the manufacturing data. The quotation calculation process goes beyond simple unit price calculation and is carried out by comprehensively evaluating the working method of the printing equipment, the RIP processing load, the characteristics of the materials used, the working time per process, and the manufacturing difficulty. The quotation calculation unit (130) analyzes various manufacturing parameters within the manufacturing data, such as printing color information, printing shape size, whether variable data is used, coating method, post-processing method, and material usage area, to quantitatively calculate the resources and time consumption required for actual production and reflect this in the quotation calculation. The quotation generated by the quotation calculation unit (130) is transmitted to the customer terminal (10) and output in real time, thereby contributing to the confirmation of the order.

[0044] When an order is confirmed, the work group creation unit (140) groups multiple orders into a single manufacturing unit to create a single work group. The work group creation unit (140) creates a single work group by clustering multiple orders into a single manufacturing unit based on the confirmed order data obtained through the manufacturing data creation unit (120) and the estimate calculation unit (130).

[0045] Since the printing manufacturing process requires a significant amount of time for the setup of printing equipment, coating equipment, cutting equipment, etc., due to the nature of the equipment, the method of processing different orders independently not only reduces equipment efficiency but also causes problems such as increasing the amount of waste and extending the overall lead time. Accordingly, the work group creation unit (140) groups orders with high setup similarity and similar process conditions based on the main manufacturing conditions included in the manufacturing data so that they can be integrated and processed as a single work unit.

[0046] The work group creation unit (140) can first extract key attributes such as the type of printing material, color count, coating method, printing equipment setting information, and post-processing method from the manufacturing data, and create a work group based on the similarity of the manufacturing equipment setup.

[0047] The work group generation unit (140) calculates setup similarity by synthesizing these manufacturing conditions and groups orders with similarity above a certain standard. Setup similarity may be composed of a weight-based indicator calculated by combining multiple parameters of manufacturing data, rather than simply comparing a few attributes. For example, printing materials and color counts are set with a high weight as key factors determining group composition, while coating methods or whether variable data is used may be assigned an intermediate level of weight depending on the situation. This weight-based group generation method can contribute to forming more accurate work groups in an actual printing manufacturing environment where various manufacturing conditions interact in a complex manner.

[0048] In addition, delivery information may also be an important consideration in the process of creating work groups. Since orders with the same manufacturing conditions cannot be grouped into the same group if their delivery schedules differ significantly, the work group creation unit (140) can adjust the order of work for each group based on the delivery information included in the manufacturing data or create a separate group for compliance with the delivery date.

[0049] The work group creation unit (140) automatically creates one or more work groups based on these criteria, and the created work groups are directly utilized in subsequent steps such as imposition placement, optimization of fabric placement efficiency, creation of production instructions, and scheduling.

[0050] When multiple orders are organized into a single work group unit by the work group generation unit (140), the production order generation unit (150) generates a detailed production order to perform actual manufacturing work for the corresponding work group. That is, the production order generation unit generates a production order including a process route, material information, and work sequence based on manufacturing data for each work group unit.

[0051] A production order is a document or digital command set provided in a form that can be directly utilized at the manufacturing site by structuring the entire manufacturing route, including the sequence of printing, coating, and post-processing processes, as well as the materials, equipment settings, work procedures, and quality standards required for each process. The production order generation unit (150) analyzes all manufacturing elements required for each order based on manufacturing data and work group information, and then automatically generates a production order by optimizing the process flow of the entire group.

[0052] Additionally, the production instruction generation unit (150) can set the process order to minimize the work switching time occurring in the entire manufacturing process when creating manufacturing instructions for work groups. Work in a work group unit performs multiple processes sequentially, such as printing, coating, cutting, folding, and bonding. When different work groups are processed consecutively, productivity may decrease if equipment settings, such as the color setup of the printing equipment, the coating conditions of the coating equipment, and the pass settings of the cutting equipment, are changed excessively. Accordingly, the production instruction generation unit (150) can minimize the switching time between work groups by comparing the manufacturing conditions of each work group and arranging the work groups in the order in which the range of equipment setting changes is minimized.

[0053] In addition, since multiple orders are included within the same work group, if the work conditions between orders differ even within the group, repeated setup of equipment or process switching may occur. The production order generation unit (150) can arrange the process order so that the time for switching between orders is minimized by analyzing manufacturing data for each order within the group and arranging orders with similar process conditions, such as color intensity, coating method, and cutting pattern, in adjacent order. Such optimization of the process order can reduce the problem of repeated equipment setup time at the manufacturing site and shorten the production lead time by streamlining the overall process flow.

[0054] The schedule generation unit (160) is configured to determine the execution order and time distribution of the entire manufacturing process based on the production order of the work group unit generated by the production order generation unit (150), and generates a production schedule corresponding to the production order of the work group unit by considering delivery information and process constraints.

[0055] The production instructions and production schedules generated in this manner are transmitted to the equipment control unit that controls the operation of the printing manufacturing equipment, and the printing manufacturing equipment operates in accordance with the production instructions and production schedules through the control of the equipment control unit.

[0056] This custom manufacturing integrated package automation system can automate the entire process, from the order reception stage to manufacturing data generation, quotation calculation, work group clustering, production order creation, and schedule generation, by connecting them into a single integrated flow.

[0057] The material color adaptive color management unit of the present invention may be composed of a single automation engine applied to the custom-made integrated package automation system of the printed material manufacturing process described above.

[0058] A material color adaptive color management unit according to one embodiment of the present invention is configured to adaptively correct the color reproduction state for various printing materials based on manufacturing data transmitted from the aforementioned custom manufacturing integrated package automation system, and may be configured to include a color data receiving unit (310), a meta profile generating unit (320), a RIP parameter setting unit (330), an inline color measurement unit (340), a color difference analysis unit (350), and a RIP feedback correction unit (360) as shown in FIG. 3.

[0059] Even when using the same ink and color profile, print quality can vary significantly depending on the type of material to be printed, surface characteristics, absorption rate, etc., and if these variations are not properly controlled, color inconsistencies between products may occur. The material color adaptive color management unit of the present invention is configured to ensure stable color quality for various materials through a series of functions, including the generation of meta-profiles based on manufacturing data, inline color measurement, color difference analysis, and RIP parameter feedback.

[0060] In the present invention, a color data receiving unit (310) can receive manufacturing data including printing color information and material information of an ordered product, and a meta profile generating unit (320) can generate a meta profile optimized for the corresponding material by weighted combining a plurality of base color profiles based on the material information. Subsequently, a RIP parameter setting unit (330) can set RIP parameters (color processing parameters) to be applied to the RIP pipeline based on the generated meta profile, and an inline color measurement unit (340) can measure color coordinate values ​​by scanning a color patch output during the printing process in real time. A color difference analysis unit (350) can calculate a color matching error by comparing the measured color coordinate values ​​with a target color defined in the meta profile, and a RIP feedback correction unit (360) can continuously correct color deviations by printing materials by updating the RIP parameters in real time and feeding them back to the printing equipment so that the color matching error is maintained within a reference value. Through this series of flows, the present invention can implement an adaptive color management function that can stably maintain color quality even in various material environments.

[0061] The color data receiving unit (310) receives manufacturing data including printing color information and material information of the ordered product from the aforementioned custom manufacturing integrated package automation system. The printing color information may include color composition, target color coordinates, rendering intent, etc. included in the product design, and the material information may include physical property information such as the type of printing target, whether surface treatment is performed, glossiness, absorption rate, and thickness. The color data receiving unit can organize this information by appropriately mapping it to an internal data structure so that it can be utilized in a subsequent step.

[0062] The meta profile generation unit (320) selects a plurality of base color profiles corresponding to the material of the ordered product based on material information among a plurality of base color profiles preset according to the printing material, and generates a meta profile for the material of the ordered product by weighting and combining the selected plurality of base color profiles. In the process of weighting and combining the selected plurality of base color profiles, the meta profile generation unit (320) may apply weights reflecting material absorption rate, glossiness, and surface roughness information to the base color profiles.

[0063] To look more specifically, the meta profile generation unit (320) receives printing material information of the ordered product, selects a plurality of base color profiles that most accurately reflect the physical properties of the material among a plurality of base color profiles pre-set according to various materials, and generates an optimized meta profile by weighted combining the selected profiles.

[0064] In the printing manufacturing process, target materials are classified into various types, such as coated paper, matte paper, art paper, synthetic paper, PVC film, and metallic paper, and each material possesses different color reproduction characteristics, such as ink absorption rate, surface roughness, glossiness, and ink drying speed. Therefore, using only a single base profile can lead to significant color reproduction errors in the actual output results; to resolve this, a meta-profile that comprehensively reflects material characteristics may be required.

[0065] Considering these points, the meta profile generation unit (320) can first analyze the material information included in the manufacturing data and select multiple profiles similar to the characteristics of the material from among a plurality of base color profiles stored in advance. For example, in the case of high-gloss coated paper, considering the material characteristics of high gloss, a base color profile reflecting gloss characteristics, a base color profile reflecting conditions of high saturation reproduction power, and a base color profile reflecting conditions of low ink absorption rate can be selected simultaneously.

[0066] In addition, the meta-profile generation unit can generate a meta-profile by combining base profiles by applying weights that reflect the material's physical property information to each selected base color profile. In particular, when the material's ink absorption rate is high, a high weight can be assigned to a profile containing ink concentration limit information, and when the gloss is high, greater weight can be given to a profile optimized for gloss reproduction. Weighted synthesis can be performed based on the ICC (International Color Consortium) profile structure, which is a standard color gamut conversion specification, and a meta-profile with comprehensive reproduction characteristics can be formed by mixing the TRC (Tone Reproduction Curve), Gamut Boundary, and PCS (Profile Connection Space) mapping information of individual profiles according to ratios.

[0067] As a result, the meta-profile generation unit applies a combination method based on multiple profiles that reflect the actual characteristics of the printing material, thereby improving the accuracy of color reproduction compared to a method using a single profile and reducing color deviations that may occur in printing equipment in advance.

[0068] The meta profile generated in this way can be reflected in the settings of the Gray Component Replacement (GCR) ratio, Under Color Removal (UCR) condition, tone reproduction curve correction, and Total Area Coverage (TAC) limit through the RIP parameter setting unit (330).

[0069] The RIP parameter setting unit (330) generates RIP parameters to be applied to the RIP pipeline of the printing manufacturing process based on the meta profile and applies them to the manufacturing data. More specifically, the RIP parameter setting unit (330) can calculate various color processing parameters to be applied to the RIP in the printing manufacturing process based on the color reproduction characteristics included in the meta profile generated by the meta profile generation unit (320). Since the optical characteristics of the printing target material, ink absorption rate, surface reflection characteristics, gamut boundary, tone reproduction curve (TRC), etc., are reflected in the meta profile, the RIP parameter setting unit can generate setting values ​​that optimize the color reproduction of the output data based on this.

[0070] In particular, the RIP parameter setting section can generate a Tone Reproduction Curve (TRC) to allow the brightness or saturation of individual color values ​​to be corrected in a form suitable for the material characteristics. For example, in high-gloss coated paper with a smooth surface, the ink tends to remain on the surface at a high rate, causing bright colors in the bright areas to become oversaturated; therefore, RIP parameters can be calculated to prevent color oversaturation by suppressing the tone curve in that area. On the other hand, matte paper with high surface roughness or synthetic paper with fine irregularities may have a high ink diffusion rate, resulting in insufficient expression of highlights; therefore, parameters that increase the sensitivity of the highlight areas on the tone reproduction curve can be applied.

[0071] In addition, the RIP parameter setting unit (330) can set a limit on the total ink amount (TAC, Total Area Coverage) to prevent ink bleeding, poor drying, and adhesion problems. For example, if the TAC standard calculated from the meta profile is 280%, the RIP parameter can be automatically adjusted so that the total ink amount does not exceed this value in a specific color combination during printing.

[0072] Additionally, the RIP parameter setting unit (330) can determine the ratio for replacing a certain portion of the neutral tone area composed of CMY (Cyan / Magenta / Yellow) ink with black (K) ink by calculating the GCR (Gray Component Replacement) ratio, and can set parameters for removing CMY ink that overlaps or accumulates excessively in dark areas and redistributing it to the center of K ink by using the UCR (Under Color Removal) condition. Since this process requires a combination of ink absorption characteristics and color reproduction characteristics for each material, elements of the meta profile can be directly reflected in the RIP parameter setting.

[0073] For example, in the case of matte paper rather than coated paper, using a large amount of CMY ink can cause severe bleeding, so the RIP parameter setting section can ensure ink stability by increasing the GCR ratio and applying UCR strongly. Conversely, for packaging film materials that require high saturation expression, rich colors can be reproduced by increasing the proportion of CMY ink and lowering the GCR ratio.

[0074] In this way, the RIP parameter setting unit (330) can comprehensively generate and adjust complex color processing elements rather than a single parameter, and the generated RIP parameter can be applied to the RIP engine and directly reflected in the actual output digital print data. In addition, these RIP parameters can be readjusted in real time by the RIP feedback correction unit (360) by reflecting the measurement results of the inline color measurement unit (340) and the color difference analysis unit (350), so that color deviations occurring during the printing process can be continuously corrected.

[0075] The inline color measuring unit (340) can measure color coordinate values ​​by scanning a color patch printed in a separate area along with the printed shape of the ordered product in real time according to manufacturing data to which RIP parameters are applied.

[0076] The printing equipment prints the printed shape of the ordered product on the printing material and simultaneously continuously prints color patches displaying various standard colors in a separate area along the transport direction of the printing material, and the inline color measuring unit (340) scans the color patches in real time through a sensor or vision system to measure color coordinate values.

[0077] In printing equipment, contact or non-contact sensors can be continuously deployed along the transport path of the printing substrate. These sensors can collect spectral reflectance or color information of color patches passing over the surface of the printing substrate by converting it into the ICC standard color coordinate system. Unlike offline methods that require samples to be taken and analyzed separately after printing is complete, this approach allows for real-time monitoring of color status during the printing process, enabling the rapid detection of color deviations occurring during the process.

[0078] The inline color measuring unit (340) can continuously scan color patches along the direction of movement of the printed fabric to measure color coordinate values ​​that change over time, and can also identify changes in color uniformity across the entire length of the printed fabric. That is, the inline color measuring unit (340) can continuously scan along the direction of movement of the printed fabric to measure changes in color coordinate values ​​according to the direction of movement of the printed fabric and changes in color coordinate values ​​over time.

[0079] For example, the output may be in normal color during the initial part of the printing press, but the color may be altered in the middle part due to changes in roller pressure or ink viscosity, and such changes can be detected immediately through inline scanning. In addition, even if a certain deviation occurs between color patches due to material characteristics or changes in the equipment environment, such deviation can be reflected in the actual color coordinates and subsequently reflected in the process of calculating the color matching error of the color difference analysis unit (350).

[0080] The inline color measurement unit (340) can analyze not only simple color coordinate measurements but also the position alignment of the scanned color patch, the sharpness of the color patch boundaries, and the presence of noise, and, if necessary, can separate each color patch into zones to extract individual color component values. This inline measurement method can improve the overall color stability of the print by detecting print quality variations in advance and enabling immediate correction of RIP parameters or ink supply amounts.

[0081] The color difference analysis unit (350) calculates a color matching error including color difference by comparing the actual color coordinate values ​​measured by the inline color measurement unit (340) with the target color coordinate values ​​defined in the meta profile.

[0082] The color difference analysis unit (350) can generally apply a method of calculating the ΔE color difference based on the CIE L*a*b* color space, and can selectively use a formula suitable for the characteristics of the printing equipment and the type of material among various international standard color difference formulas such as ΔE2000, ΔE94, and ΔE76.

[0083] In this process, the color difference analysis unit (350) does not merely calculate the color difference at a single point, but can also evaluate changes in color uniformity by analyzing inline measurement data along the time axis or spatial axis. For example, if the same color patch is continuously measured while the printing material is being transported, the variation in the measured L*a*b* values ​​can be analyzed to identify the trend of color deviation due to changes in ink concentration of the printing equipment, head nozzle deviation, and pressure change. These changes may take the form of short-term spikes or cumulative deviations that gradually increase as printing progresses, and the color difference analysis unit (350) can recognize these various variation patterns and reflect them in the process of calculating color matching errors.

[0084] Additionally, the color difference analysis unit (350) can be used to analyze the pattern of color coordinate change amounts to distinguish specific problem factors. For example, if the L* value of a color patch continuously decreases, it may indicate a phenomenon where the ink concentration is relatively high, and a bias in the a* / b* value may indicate an imbalance in ink supply in a specific color channel. This information can be useful for performing more sophisticated color correction than simple ΔE calculation, and can subsequently be used as a basis for the RIP feedback correction unit (360) to determine which RIP parameters need to be adjusted.

[0085] The color difference analysis unit (350) can also utilize the gamut boundary information of the meta profile to determine whether the current output color is located in an area that exceeds the color reproduction limit of the actual equipment. If a specific color is located outside the equipment's color gamut, the color difference analysis unit (350) can detect this and transmit to the RIP feedback correction unit (360) that color compression or color mapping is required in that color area. Through this, color correction can be performed to minimize visual distortion within the outputtable range.

[0086] In addition, the color difference analysis unit (350) can match color coordinate values ​​collected through inline scanning with location information to generate a map of the color non-uniformity distribution across the entire length of the printed fabric. Through this, it is possible to intuitively identify phenomena such as uneven ink ejection in specific sections, color modulation due to deviations in roller pressure distribution, and color distortion caused by changes in the tension of the printed fabric. These analysis results can be transmitted to the RIP feedback correction unit (360) and can also be used for offline maintenance of equipment control parameters.

[0087] As a result, the color difference analysis unit (350) can perform various functions beyond simple color error calculation, such as color change trend analysis, determination of reproducible range, and color uniformity evaluation, to accurately diagnose color fluctuations occurring during the printing process, and based on this, support more precise RIP parameter correction.

[0088] The RIP feedback correction unit (360) updates the RIP parameters in real time and feeds them back to the printing equipment so that the color matching error is less than or equal to a preset threshold. That is, the RIP feedback correction unit (360) forms a closed-loop color correction structure to minimize color deviation occurring during the printing process, and can dynamically adjust the RIP parameters so that the color output by the printing equipment matches as much as possible the target color coordinates defined in the meta profile.

[0089] The RIP feedback correction unit (360) first receives a color matching error and can correct the RIP parameters so that the error is stably maintained within a reference value. If the color matching error increases above a certain level, the correction unit can improve the color error by adjusting the color tone reproduction curve (TRC), the gain of individual ink channels, the Gray Component Replacement (GCR) ratio, the Under Color Removal (UCR) condition, and the Total Ink Amount (TAC) limit. For example, if the L* value is continuously decreasing, the highlight tone reproduction curve can be corrected upward, and if a bias of a specific color channel (a*, b*) is observed, the density correction value of the corresponding ink channel can be adjusted.

[0090] Additionally, the RIP feedback correction unit (360) analyzes not only color errors but also the trend of change in color coordinate values, thereby preventing excessive correction for temporary noise or errors in unreproducible areas, and increasing sensitivity to enhance the correction effect when long-term deviations or repeating patterns appear. For example, rapid ink nozzle deviations are judged as short-term fluctuations, so only small-scale corrections may be applied. On the other hand, if a trend of gradually increasing color difference is detected due to a rise in printer temperature or a change in viscosity, the TRC or ink ejection amount may be adjusted more significantly.

[0091] The RIP feedback correction unit (360) can apply an adaptive control method that automatically adjusts the correction sensitivity, thereby preventing the correction control value from becoming excessively large and causing adverse effects on print quality. For example, if a situation where the color difference suddenly spikes is exceptional or likely due to a sensor error, the correction range can be limited to maintain equipment stability. Conversely, if the color difference increases slowly over a certain period, the correction sensitivity can be gradually increased to improve process stability.

[0092] Additionally, the RIP feedback correction unit (360) may be linked with auxiliary control elements other than the RIP, such as the speed of the printing equipment, the ink supply amount, and the tension of the printing material. For example, if the L* value of the color patch is consistently unstable, the ink pressure or temporary drying parameters, as well as the printing head's spraying timing, may be adjusted together. This linkage contributes to increasing the overall color stability of the printing equipment.

[0093] Additionally, the RIP feedback correction unit (360) can determine whether the color error occurs only in a specific color area and perform partial correction. For example, if the problem of exceeding the gamut boundary occurs only in the high-saturation area, the color compression or color mapping method of that area can be selectively adjusted, and if the deviation occurs in the neutral gray area, the GCR center correction can be strengthened.

[0094] This RIP feedback correction unit (360) can control color fluctuations occurring during the printing process in real time by immediately reflecting the updated RIP parameters to the RIP engine, thereby enabling stable maintenance of output quality despite changes in printing material, ink condition, and environmental conditions.

[0095] As described above, the material color adaptive color management unit according to the present invention generates a RIP profile by creating a meta profile based on printing material information, and can compare the difference between the actual color information printed according to the profile and the target color information in real time and perform feedback correction. Through this, consistent output quality can be secured even in complex printing manufacturing processes where color variations due to material characteristics and changes in the process environment exist in combination.

[0096] The configuration of the material color adaptive color management unit of the printing process described herein may be realized by digital electronic circuits, integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), computer hardware, firmware, software, and / or combinations thereof. These various embodiments may include being implemented by one or more computer programs executable on a programmable system. A programmable system comprises a storage system, at least one input device, and at least one programmable processor (which may be a special-purpose processor or a general-purpose processor) coupled to receive data and commands from at least one output device and to transmit data and commands to them. Computer programs (which are also known as programs, software, software applications, or code) include instructions for the programmable processor and are stored on a "computer-readable recording medium."

[0097] Computer-readable recording media include all types of recording devices in which data that can be read by a computer system is stored. Such computer-readable recording media may further include non-volatile or non-transitory media such as ROM, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, floppy disk, memory card, hard disk, magneto-optical disk, and storage device, or transitory media such as data transmission media. Additionally, computer-readable recording media may be distributed across networked computer systems, and computer-readable code may be stored and executed in a distributed manner.

[0098] Various embodiments of the methods described herein may be implemented by a programmable computer. Here, the computer includes a programmable processor, a data storage system (including volatile memory, non-volatile memory, or other types of storage systems, or a combination thereof), and at least one communication interface. For example, the programmable computer may be one of a server, a network device, a set-top box, an embedded device, a computer expansion module, a personal computer, a laptop, a PDA (Personal Data Assistant), a cloud computing system, or a mobile device.

[0099] The foregoing description is merely an illustrative explanation of the technical concept of the present invention, and those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will be able to make various modifications and variations within the scope of the essential characteristics of the present invention. Accordingly, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention are intended to explain, not limit, the technical concept of the present invention, and the scope of the technical concept of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments. The scope of protection of the present invention shall be interpreted by the claims below, and all technical concepts within an equivalent scope shall be interpreted as being included within the scope of rights of the present invention. Explanation of the symbols

[0100] 10: Customer terminal 20: Server 110: Order receiving unit 120: Manufacturing Data Generation Unit 130: Estimate Calculation Section 140: Workgroup creation section 150: Production Order Generation Section 160: Schedule generation section 310: Color data receiver 320: Meta Profile Generation Section 330: RIP Parameter Configuration Section 340: Inline color measurement section 350: Color difference analysis unit 360: RIP Feedback Correction Unit

Claims

Claim 1 A material color adaptive color management unit for a printing manufacturing process that adaptively corrects the printing color state for each printing material based on manufacturing data generated in the printing manufacturing process, comprising: a color data receiving unit that receives manufacturing data including printing color information and material information of an ordered product; a meta profile generating unit that generates a meta profile for the material of the ordered product by selecting a plurality of base color profiles corresponding to the material of the ordered product based on the material information among a plurality of base color profiles preset according to the printing material, and applying weights reflecting material absorption rate, glossiness, and surface roughness information to each of the selected plurality of base color profiles and combining them by weighted combination; a RIP parameter setting unit that generates RIP parameters applied to the RIP pipeline of the printing manufacturing process based on the meta profile and applies them to the manufacturing data; an inline color measurement unit that measures color coordinate values ​​by scanning in real time a color patch printed in a separate area on a printing substrate along with the printing shape of the ordered product according to the manufacturing data to which the RIP parameters are applied in the printing manufacturing process; and a color difference analysis unit that calculates a color matching error including color difference by comparing the actual color coordinate values ​​measured by the inline color measurement unit with the target color coordinate values ​​defined in the meta profile.A material color adaptive color management unit for a printed material manufacturing process, comprising: a RIP feedback correction unit that updates the RIP parameters in real time and feeds them back to the printing equipment so that the color matching error is less than or equal to a preset threshold; wherein the inline color measurement unit continuously scans the color patch along the direction of movement of the printing material to measure changes in color coordinate values ​​according to the direction of movement of the printing material and time; wherein the color difference analysis unit analyzes the amount of change and change pattern of the actual color coordinate values ​​measured by the inline color measurement unit to distinguish between instantaneous color deviations and color deviations accumulated as printing progresses, and reflects the analysis result of the amount of change and change pattern of the actual color coordinate values ​​and the result of distinguishing the color deviations in the process of calculating the color matching error. Claim 2 delete Claim 3 A material color adaptive color management unit of a printing process, wherein the RIP parameter setting unit generates RIP parameters including at least one of a color tone reproduction curve, a total ink usage limit, a GCR (Gray Component Replacement) ratio, and a UCR (Under Color Removal) condition based on color reproduction characteristics included in the meta profile. Claim 4 delete Claim 5 In claim 1, the RIP feedback correction unit is a material color adaptive color management unit of a printed material manufacturing process that updates the RIP parameters in real time based on the magnitude of the color matching error and the rate of change over time.

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