Color Material Usage Control for Reference Color Reproduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing color printing technologies face limitations in the usable amount of color materials, leading to decreased accuracy in color value conversion when excessive usage occurs.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus and program that acquire and manage color material usage amounts, providing warnings or restrictions based on specified thresholds to ensure accurate color reproduction, using a colorimetric instrument and printing apparatus to optimize color material usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the usage amount of color material is increased to achieve desired color reproduction, then the color intensity and saturation are improved, but the accuracy of conversion to color values (Lab values, etc.) decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculation of color material usage amounts before actual printing based on input image data and printing conditions. This allows the system to predict and control the usage amount in advance, preventing excessive color material application while maintaining color reproduction accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback to the user by displaying the calculated usage amount of color materials before printing. This feedback mechanism allows users to adjust printing conditions or accept the predicted usage, enabling informed decisions about color material consumption versus color reproduction quality.
2Productivity
If the usage amount of color material is specified without warning, then the printing process is simple and fast, but the reproducibility of reference color deteriorates when usage amount is excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The system calculates and displays warning information about color material usage amounts before the printing process begins. This preliminary warning allows users to adjust settings or proceed with informed knowledge, maintaining printing efficiency while preventing poor color reproducibility due to excessive material usage.
3Measurement precision
If the conversion accuracy is maintained for all usage amounts, then the color value conversion precision is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically calculates the usage amount of color materials based on input image data and printing conditions without requiring manual intervention. This self-service approach maintains color value conversion accuracy while avoiding the complexity of manual control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces complex manual control mechanisms with automated calculation based on image data analysis and printing condition parameters. This substitution maintains precision while reducing device complexity by using computational methods rather than mechanical controls.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an information processing apparatus including: a color information acquisition unit that acquires, based on input to a usage amount specification screen that specifies a usage amount of a color material, the usage amount of the color material when a reference color is printed by a printing apparatus; and a warning unit that displays no warning regarding reproducibility of the reference color when the usage amount of the color material is a first usage amount, and displays a warning regarding reproducibility of the reference color when the usage amount of the color material is a second usage amount greater than the first usage amount.