Asymmetric Color Chart Design for Visual Patch Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
In color selection processes, especially for ink jet printers, accurately reproducing target colors can be challenging due to profile errors and the absence of color measuring devices, making it difficult to visually identify the closest color patch to a target color.
Innovation Solution
A color chart design where the adjustment direction from the target patch is wider than the counter adjustment direction, with clear indications for the target patch and adjustment direction, facilitates easier selection of the closest color patch by visually distinguishing the target and adjustment directions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a color chart with all color and tone patches is printed for calibration, then color measurement data can be obtained, but it becomes difficult to visually identify the closest color patch to a target color when no color measuring device is available
Solution Approach 1:
The color chart is segmented into multiple regions, with each region containing color patches of the same hue but different tones. This segmentation allows users to first locate the target hue region and then search within that region for the matching tone, significantly reducing the visual search area and making it easier to find the closest color patch without measurement devices
Solution Approach 2:
The color patches are arranged in a two-dimensional space where one dimension represents hue and the other represents tone. This spatial arrangement creates a visual gradient that allows users to track color transitions and easily identify the closest match by following the gradient patterns, transforming a complex multi-dimensional color matching problem into a simpler two-dimensional visual search
2Ease of manufacture
If color patches are arranged uniformly in all directions from a target patch, then the color chart is simple to produce, but it becomes harder to quickly locate the closest color patch when adjustment is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The color patches are arranged asymmetrically around the target patch, with higher density and more patches positioned in the direction of expected color adjustment (the adjustment direction), while fewer patches are placed in the opposite direction. This asymmetric arrangement optimizes the chart for typical adjustment scenarios, allowing users to quickly find matching patches when adjustment is needed while maintaining reasonable production simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The color patches are pre-positioned in the chart according to predicted adjustment directions and patterns. By anticipating the likely directions in which users will need to adjust colors and pre-arranging patches in those directions, the chart enables users to quickly locate suitable matches without having to search through all possible patches, thereby reducing selection time
Data Source
AI summary
A color chart for color selection to select a color patch of the closest color to a target color from among a plurality of the color patches, in which the color patch that represents colors of either an adjustment target color or a reference color that substitutes the adjustment target color is a target patch, a direction that represents a direction in which a color is to be adjusted from the target patch in the color chart for color selection is an adjustment direction, and the adjustment direction from the target patch is wider than the direction counter to the adjustment direction from the target patch.