Color Conversion Data Generation for Ink Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional printing methods face challenges in reducing the amount of colorants used while maintaining the color gamut, particularly in low-lightness regions, leading to inefficiencies in ink or toner usage.
Innovation Solution
A data-processing apparatus that modifies measurement values in a specified color space to generate color conversion data, ensuring that the lightness of color values within specific ranges is adjusted to reduce colorant usage without compromising the color gamut, by maintaining the lightness in the outer layer and increasing it in inner layers, thereby optimizing the amount of colorants used for printing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the color signal for black and other color signals are adjusted to reduce the total magnitude of color signals, then the amount of colorant used is reduced, but the color gamut in low-lightness regions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The color space is segmented into multiple hue ranges, and within each hue range, measurement values are selectively modified based on their position (outer layer vs. inner layers) and lightness characteristics. This segmentation allows different regions to be treated differently, reducing colorant usage in inner layers while preserving color gamut in outer layers.
Solution Approach 2:
Different modification strategies are applied to different regions of the color space. The outer layer measurement values are preserved to maintain color gamut, while inner layer measurement values are modified to reduce colorant usage. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between reducing colorant amount and maintaining color gamut.
2Quantity of substance
If the lightness of measurement values is increased to reduce colorant usage, then the amount of colorant is reduced, but the color accuracy in certain regions is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies different lightness modification strategies to different regions: outer layer measurement values maintain their original lightness to preserve color accuracy, while inner layer measurement values have their lightness increased to reduce colorant usage. This localized approach resolves the contradiction between colorant reduction and color accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
By dividing the color space into outer layer and inner layers, the invention can apply selective lightness modification. The outer layer segmentation protects color accuracy, while inner layer modification reduces colorant usage, thereby resolving the technical contradiction.
Data Source
AI summary
A data-processing apparatus modifies a part of a plurality of measurement values defined in a specified color space to acquire modified measurement values; and generates color conversion data by using the modified measurement values. A dark range is defined by lightness of a maximum chroma measurement value and includes a first color range and a second color range. The first color range includes at least a part of an outer layer corresponding to a target color range. The second color range is at least a part of a portion inside the first color range in the dark color range. The data-processing apparatus performs the modification to meet the following conditions (a) and (b): (a) lightness of each measurement value within the first color range is not increased; and (b) lightness of each measurement value within the second color range is increased.