Digital Color Printing Calibration for Consistent Substrate Output
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for printing color images on substrates are time-consuming and require repetitive cycles to achieve color accuracy due to variations in output devices and substrates, leading to high costs and temporary validity of image profiles.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the initial printing of color samples with varying tonal values, generating characteristic curves, and adapting printer settings or image files based on these curves to ensure consistent color fidelity across different printing times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional ICC profiling methods are used with sample areas of primary, secondary, and tertiary colors, then color accuracy can be achieved, but the process becomes extremely time-consuming and requires multiple repetitive cycles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential measurement data needed for color profiling by using a limited set of sample areas with specific colors (magenta, cyan, yellow, black, and white) instead of comprehensive primary, secondary, and tertiary color samples. This extraction of critical information reduces measurement time while maintaining sufficient color accuracy for practical applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by using a reduced set of color samples (5 colors × 5 tonal values = 25 samples) compared to traditional methods that would require many more color fields. This partial sampling approach provides sufficient color characterization without the excessive time investment of complete color space mapping, achieving a practical balance between accuracy and efficiency.
2Stability of the object's composition
If image data is corrected to compensate for substrate absorbency variations, then color consistency can be maintained, but multiple repetitions are necessary resulting in high costs and time consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary color characterization by measuring characteristic curves on actual substrates before production printing. The substrate-specific color data is stored and automatically applied during printing, eliminating the need for repeated manual color corrections and enabling consistent color output from the first print run.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service color management by automatically retrieving and applying substrate-specific characteristic curves from the database based on substrate identification. This automated process eliminates manual intervention and repetitive color adjustment cycles, allowing the printing system to self-correct for substrate variations without requiring multiple test prints.
3Measurement precision
If comprehensive color samples with multiple tonal values are printed for characteristic curve generation, then accurate color profiles can be created, but the initial setup time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple measurement operations into a single efficient process by printing all required color samples (5 colors with 5 tonal values each) in one printing operation rather than performing separate measurements for each color and tonal value. This combined approach reduces setup time while maintaining the precision needed for accurate characteristic curve generation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Achieves color-accurate printing without repetitive cycles by using stored characteristic curves to adjust printer settings or image files, ensuring consistent color output over time.
Implementation Method 1
a first characteristic curve for each color is generated by measuring the sample areas of each color
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A method of printing a color image of an image file onto a substrate (12) for decorative panels using a digital printer (10), the method comprising the following steps: at a first point in time: a) printing a plurality of color samples in a number of different colors on a substrate (12), said color samples comprising a reproduction of each color in a plurality of sample areas having the same color but different tonal values; b) generating a first characteristic curve for each color by measuring the sample areas of each color and storing the first characteristic curves of each color in a primary file; at a second point in time that is after the first point in time: c) repeating step a) using the same colors and the same type of substrate; d) generating a new characteristic curve for each color by measuring the sample areas of each color printed in step c) and storing the new characteristic curves of each color in a secondary file; e) adapting the image file by means of the secondary file such that the colors are printed with the first characteristic curves of the primary file and printing the color image (18) of the adapted image file, or e') adapting the printer's (10) settings by means of the secondary file such that the colors are printed with the first characteristic curves of the primary file and printing the color image (18) of the image file.