Color Chart Image Data Generation for Specific Ink Assessment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing color chart printing technologies only allow users to check the color tone of CMYK inks, failing to assess the visual effects of other factors in the printing result.

Innovation Solution

An image processing apparatus generates color chart image data where the amounts of CMYK inks are fixed, while the amount of a specific-color ink (such as white or metallic ink) varies among patches, allowing for the assessment of visual effects by printing the specific-color ink as an undercoat or in mixed-color printing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a color chart contains only CMYK patches with varying amounts of recording agents, then the color tone can be checked, but the visual effects of other factors (such as white ink or metallic ink) cannot be assessed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor tone assessmentVSAvoidvisual effect assessment

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The color chart is segmented into distinct patch types: CMYK patches for color tone assessment and white ink/metallic ink patches for visual effect assessment. Each patch type independently evaluates specific printing parameters, allowing comprehensive checking of both color accuracy and visual effects without interference between different ink types

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The color chart is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both a color tone reference chart for CMYK verification and a visual effect assessment chart for white/metallic ink evaluation. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate charts for different assessment purposes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the color chart includes patches with varying amounts of white ink or metallic ink, then visual effects can be assessed, but the complexity of the printing parameters increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisual effect assessmentVSAvoidprinting parameter complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions of the color chart are assigned different local qualities: CMYK patches use varying combinations of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks, while white ink and metallic ink patches use their respective specialized inks. This localized parameter variation simplifies the overall design by confining complexity to specific patch types rather than requiring all patches to handle all ink variations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS10877709B2Image processing apparatus, non-transitory recording medium storing image processing program, and image processing method for generating a color chart image data

Publication Date: 2020.12.29 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

An image processing apparatus includes a processor that generates color chart image data representing a color chart containing a plurality of patches and causes a printing apparatus to print the color chart based on the generated color chart image data, and the processor generates the color chart image data representing the color chart in which the amounts of recording agents having colors that belong to a first color group are fixed among the patches and the amount of a recording agent having a specific color that does not belong to the first color group varies among the patches.