Color Chart Layout for Separating Similar Adjustment Patches
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing color adjustment methods for printing machines face challenges in identifying color patches with similar colors arranged adjacent to each other, making it difficult to execute accurate color adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that generates color chart data with color patches arranged such that similar colors are not adjacent, using a grid pattern and threshold value determination to facilitate easy identification and extraction of individual patches, employing a Sobel filter for edge detection and color difference analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If color patches with similar colors are arranged adjacent to each other in the color chart, then the color gradient and transition are improved, but the identification and extraction of individual patches become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a frame line (boundary) as an intermediary element between adjacent color patches. This frame line has a different color from both adjacent patches, creating a visual separator that enables easy identification of patch boundaries while preserving the color gradient effect. The frame line acts as a mediator that resolves the conflict between smooth color transitions and clear patch identification.
2Area of stationary object
If color patches are arranged in a grid pattern without separation, then the color chart compactness is improved, but the extraction accuracy of individual patches deteriorates when similar colors are adjacent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the color chart by introducing frame lines that divide and separate adjacent color patches. This segmentation creates clear boundaries between patches, enabling accurate extraction and identification of individual patches even when they have similar colors. The frame lines act as segmentation elements that maintain the grid structure while improving patch distinguishability.
3Device complexity
If no boundary lines are added between color patches, then the color chart simplicity is improved, but the identification of adjacent patches with similar colors becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs color changes in the frame lines to enhance patch identification. The frame lines have colors that differ from adjacent patches, creating visual contrast that facilitates easy identification of patch boundaries. This color-based differentiation method maintains relative simplicity while dramatically improving the ease of identifying and extracting individual patches.
Data Source
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AI summary
A computer-implemented method of creating color chart data to be used for executing color adjustment on an image forming apparatus (10) includes obtaining (S34), from a color chart printed out by the image forming apparatus (10), color chart data including a color adjustment patch group in which a plurality of color patches used for executing the color adjustment are arranged adjacent to each other, determining (S16, S18), for one or more of the plurality of color patches included in the color adjustment patch group, whether color of the color patch and color of an adjacent color patch adjacent to the color patch are similar, and based on a determination that the color of the color patch and the color of the adjacent color patch are similar, creating (S23) color chart data in which the color patch and the adjacent color patch that are similar in color are arranged not to be adjacent to each other.