Color Correspondence Generation for Reduced Colorant Consumption
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current printing technologies fail to effectively reduce colorant consumption while maintaining natural appearance of printed colors, as they often result in unnatural color appearances due to excessive modification of color gradation values.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced to generate color correspondence information by modifying CMYK color specification values to reduce colorant consumption, involving a two-step process: first, modifying Q number of CMYK values to decrease colorant usage, and second, remodifying N number of these values to ensure the color difference approaches a target index, thereby generating look-up tables that correlate RGB and CMYK values for efficient printing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If colorant consumption is reduced by modifying CMYK color specification values, then colorant consumption decreases, but the printed colors appear unnatural
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying CMYK color specification values in a controlled manner. Specifically, it adjusts colorant amounts based on color difference indices and chroma indices, changing parameters selectively to reduce consumption while maintaining natural appearance. The modification amount is calculated using formulas that consider both color difference and chroma, ensuring subtle changes that preserve color naturalness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by applying different modification strategies to different color regions. It identifies colors requiring modification based on color difference indices and chroma indices, then applies modifications selectively only to those specific color regions rather than uniformly across all colors. This localized approach ensures colorant reduction is applied where needed while preserving natural appearance in other regions.
2Loss of substance
If CMYK color specification values are modified to reduce colorant consumption, then printing cost decreases, but color accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms by calculating color difference indices between original and modified CMYK values, and chroma indices to evaluate color properties. This feedback information is used to determine the appropriate modification amounts, creating a closed-loop system that adjusts colorant values while maintaining color accuracy within acceptable ranges. The feedback ensures modifications are data-driven rather than arbitrary.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by modifying only a portion of the CMYK color specification values rather than all of them. It selectively modifies colors based on their color difference indices and chroma indices, leaving other colors unchanged. This partial modification approach reduces colorant consumption in critical areas while maintaining overall color accuracy by preserving unmodified color regions.
3Loss of substance
If multiple modification processes are applied to CMYK values, then colorant consumption reduces effectively, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-calculating color difference indices and chroma indices for various CMYK color combinations before actual printing occurs. Reference data is prepared in advance that maps original CMYK values to their corresponding indices, enabling rapid lookup and modification during printing without complex real-time calculations. This pre-processing reduces the computational burden during actual color conversion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the color modification process into distinct sequential steps: (1) calculating color difference indices, (2) calculating chroma indices, (3) determining modification amounts based on both indices, and (4) generating final CMYK values. This segmentation of the complex modification process into manageable stages makes the overall system more manageable and easier to implement, with each stage building upon the previous one in a systematic manner.
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes generating color correspondence information correlating L number of first reference color specification values in a first color space with L number of determined second color specification values in a second color space on a one-to-one basis. The L number of determined second color specification values includes (L−Q) number of unmodified second reference color specification values, (Q−N) number of modified second reference color specification values modified in a first modification process but not in the second modification process, and N number of remodified second reference color specification values which are modified in both the first modification process and the second modification process, where L is an integer greater than or equal to two, Q is an integer greater than or equal to one and smaller than or equal to L, and N is an integer greater than or equal to one and smaller than or equal to Q.