Color and Line Width Matching for Printing Apparatuses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing systems face challenges in accurately matching line width and color between different printing apparatuses, leading to inconsistent output when printing identical image data, as the width and color of lines can vary significantly depending on the printing device model.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus that acquires color and line width characteristics of both the source and target printing devices, generates a color matching table, and uses a line width correction unit to adjust input line widths based on these characteristics, ensuring accurate color and line width matching between devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If color matching is performed by adjusting average density to match between printing apparatuses, then color consistency is improved, but line width accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the matching process into two independent segments: color matching (using average density adjustment) and line width matching (using line width characteristic tables). This segmentation allows each parameter to be optimized separately without compromising the other, resolving the contradiction between color consistency and line width accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism in the form of a line width correction unit that uses pre-stored line width characteristic tables. This intermediary component specifically addresses line width variations by applying correction values derived from actual printing measurements, thereby maintaining line width accuracy while the color matching process handles color consistency.
2Ease of operation
If line width and color are converted to match average density, then apparent impression consistency is improved, but actual line width matching deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the visual appearance matching (color density adjustment) from the dimensional accuracy matching (line width correction). By processing color and line width as independent parameters with separate correction mechanisms, the system achieves both apparent impression consistency and actual line width matching simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The line width correction unit acts as an intermediary that specifically targets line width variations after color matching is performed. It uses measured line width characteristics from actual printing to apply precise corrections, ensuring that the actual line width matches the intended dimension while the color matching handles the appearance consistency.
3Reliability
If printing parameters are adjusted for each printing apparatus, then output consistency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary measurements of color developing characteristics and line width characteristics for each printing apparatus and stores them in lookup tables. This preliminary action allows the system to quickly retrieve and apply appropriate correction values during actual printing operations without complex real-time calculations, thereby achieving output consistency while managing system complexity through pre-computed data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent manages system complexity by parameterizing the corrections in the form of lookup tables that map printing apparatus identifiers to specific correction values. Instead of implementing complex adaptive algorithms, the system uses parameter tables that store pre-measured characteristics, allowing straightforward parameter retrieval and application during printing operations.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus includes a first acquisition unit to acquire a first color reproduction characteristic indicating first color reproduction color values that indicate a color obtained by reproducing color values by a first printing apparatus, a second acquisition unit to acquire a second color reproduction characteristic indicating second reproduction color values that indicate a color obtained by reproducing color values by a second printing apparatus, a first generation unit to generate color matching information when color matching is performed between the first and second printing apparatuses based on the first and the second color reproduction characteristics, a third acquisition unit to acquire a first line width characteristic of the first printing apparatus, a fourth acquisition unit to acquire a second line width characteristic of the second printing apparatus, and a second generation unit to generate line width correction for correcting an input line width for the second printing apparatus.