Color Profile Generation for Print Mediums with Surface Roughness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing systems face challenges in reliably generating conversion tables for calibration and color profile correction, especially when dealing with unknown print mediums, particularly those with severe surface roughness or high color saturation, leading to unstable color measurement results and undesired color reproduction.
Innovation Solution
A data processing apparatus and method that involves obtaining measurement results from both ink-applied and ink-unapplied regions of a print medium to determine the effectiveness of correction data, allowing for the generation of reliable color profiles and calibration tables, even for new or unconventional print mediums.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If color measurement is performed on print mediums with severe surface roughness or high color saturation, then conversion tables can be generated, but the color measurement results become unstable and unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the measurement process into two separate measurements: first measuring the ink-unapplied region to obtain baseline optical characteristics, then measuring the ink-applied region. This segmentation allows the system to isolate and compensate for the influence of surface roughness and base color by comparing measurements from both regions, thereby improving measurement reliability on difficult print mediums.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediate measurement step by measuring the ink-unapplied region as a reference. This intermediate measurement serves as a mediator that captures the optical characteristics of the print medium itself, which can then be used to correct or compensate for measurements taken on the ink-applied region, improving overall measurement stability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conversion tables are generated for print mediums with high color saturation base colors, then color profiles can be created, but the base color influence contaminates the measurement results causing mistaken color reproduction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and separates the base color influence by measuring the ink-unapplied region first. This allows the system to take out the contaminating base color effect from the overall measurement, so that subsequent color profile generation is based on measurements that have had the base color influence removed or accounted for, improving color reproduction accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs a preliminary measurement of the ink-unapplied region before measuring the ink-applied region. This preliminary action captures the base color and surface characteristics in advance, allowing the system to prepare correction factors or compensation values before the actual color measurement is taken, thereby preventing base color contamination in the final color profile.
3Ease of operation
If correction data is generated based on color measurement results from print mediums with unstable optical conditions, then calibration can be performed, but the correction reliability decreases leading to undesired color reproduction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism by comparing measurements from both ink-unapplied and ink-applied regions. The system uses the ink-unapplied region measurement as feedback to assess the stability and reliability of the optical conditions. If the feedback indicates unstable conditions (such as severe surface roughness), the system can identify this and adjust or reject the generated correction data, improving overall measurement precision.
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
Enables stable color reproduction by determining the effectiveness of color measurement data and generating suitable color profiles only for print mediums where reliable measurements can be obtained, avoiding unsuitable parameters and ensuring consistent image output.
Implementation Method 1
measures the color of the pattern using a color measurement device
Data Source
AI summary
According to the invention it is possible to determine in advance whether it is possible to correctly generate a conversion table for calibration or color profile correction even with respect to an unknown print medium, and to avoid the preparation of unsuitable parameters and the performance of unsuitable image processing based thereon. In order to achieve this the color of a subject print medium is measured and from the color measurement result it is determined, based on color measurement data from a test pattern printed on the print medium, whether it is possible to obtain parameters suited to the print medium. As a result it has become possible to avoid the preparation of unsuitable parameters to be associated with the print medium, and it has become possible to output images with a comparatively stable reproduction of color even where performing printing on a variety of print mediums.