Automatic Color Replacement in Printing Systems

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing information processing systems require users to manually designate colors for replacement in each printing job, increasing user workload and complexity.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus with a processor that acquires color information from an image file and automatically replaces specific colors with associated replacement colors, reducing user intervention by prioritizing associations based on file or user attributes and providing a preview of the replacement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If users manually designate colors for replacement in each printing job, then color replacement accuracy is improved, but user workload and operation complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor replacement accuracyVSAvoiduser workload

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically performs color replacement by acquiring color information from the image file itself and using stored association data between specific colors and replacement colors. The processor executes the replacement without requiring manual user designation, making the system serve itself rather than requiring continuous user intervention for each printing job.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system stores association data between specific colors and replacement colors in advance in a storage unit. This preliminary preparation of color mapping relationships allows the system to automatically perform accurate color replacement during printing without requiring users to manually specify colors at the time of each printing operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If users manually designate colors for replacement in each printing job, then color replacement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor replacement precisionVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically performs color replacement by acquiring color information from the image file itself and using stored association data between specific colors and replacement colors. The processor executes the replacement without requiring manual user designation, making the system serve itself rather than requiring continuous user intervention for each printing job.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses color information copied from the image file and matches it against stored color association data to automatically determine which colors to replace. This copying and matching approach simplifies the process compared to requiring manual color designation, while maintaining precision through the stored association relationships.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Ease of operation

If the system automates color replacement, then user workload is reduced, but color replacement accuracy may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser workloadVSAvoidcolor replacement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically performs color replacement by acquiring color information from the image file itself and using stored association data between specific colors and replacement colors. The processor executes the replacement without requiring manual user designation, making the system serve itself rather than requiring continuous user intervention for each printing job.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces manual mechanical color designation with an automated digital process. The processor automatically acquires color information, compares it with stored association data, and executes replacements based on predefined rules, substituting the mechanical action of manual color selection with an automated computational system that maintains accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS20240106963A1Information processing apparatus, non-transitory computer readable medium storing information processing program, and information processing method

Publication Date: 2024.03.28 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP

AI summary

An information processing apparatus includes a processor configured to acquire color information of an image file as a printing target, and, in a case where colors represented by the acquired color information include a specific color associated with a replacement color, replace the specific color with the associated replacement color and output a result of the replacement.