Color Profile Generation for Mixed Transmissive Reflective Lighting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing color management technologies fail to accurately manage colors in environments where both transmissive and reflective light sources coexist, leading to inconsistent color appearance of prints across different observational settings.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for calculating colorimetric values and generating profiles that account for both transmissive and reflective light sources by acquiring spectral transmittance and reflectance data of prints, along with the spectral distributions of these light sources, to accurately predict and manage color appearance under mixed lighting conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If color management is performed using conventional methods that consider only reflective or only transmissive light sources, then the color appearance is consistent under single light source conditions, but the color appearance becomes inconsistent when both transmissive and reflective light sources coexist

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor appearance consistencyVSAvoidadaptability to mixed lighting environments

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the illumination environment into two distinct components: transmissive light source characteristics and reflective light source characteristics. By separately acquiring and processing spectral data for each light source type, the system can independently manage their contributions to color appearance. This segmentation allows the colorimetric calculation to properly account for both light sources when they coexist, resolving the inconsistency problem in mixed lighting conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If spectral data of only one light source type is used for profile generation, then the profile generation process is simple, but the colorimetric values become inaccurate in environments with both transmissive and reflective light sources

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprofile generation process complexityVSAvoidcolorimetric value accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the spectral data of transmissive light sources with the spectral data of reflective light sources to create a comprehensive colorimetric calculation model. The system acquires spectral transmittance data for transmissive light sources and spectral reflectance data for reflective light sources, then combines these datasets in the colorimetric value calculation. This merging approach ensures accurate colorimetric values in mixed lighting environments while maintaining a systematic and organized profile generation process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Power

If colorimetric calculations are performed without considering both transmissive and reflective light source spectral distributions, then the calculation process is computationally simple, but the color reproduction accuracy deteriorates in mixed lighting observational environments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecalculation processing powerVSAvoidcolor reproduction accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary acquisition and storage of spectral distribution data for both transmissive and reflective light sources before conducting colorimetric calculations. By pre-acquiring these spectral characteristics and storing them for reference, the system avoids repeated complex measurements during actual colorimetric calculations. This preliminary action ensures high color reproduction accuracy in mixed lighting environments while keeping the calculation process computationally efficient through the use of pre-prepared spectral data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 appropriate color management and consistent color reproduction for prints displayed under the influence of both transmissive and reflective light sources, ensuring desired color impressions across varying observational environments.

Implementation Method 1

acquiring a spectral transmittance of the printed object and a spectral reflectance of the printed object

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpectral transmittance and reflectance measurement: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

calculating a colorimetric value of the printed object in the observational environment, using the obtained spectral transmittance of the printed object, the obtained spectral reflectance of the printed object, the obtained spectral distribution of the transmissive light source, and the obtained spectral distribution of the reflective light source

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectColorimetric calculation through integration: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS9109955B2Profile generating method, color conversion method, profile generating apparatus, color conversion apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium with profile generating program recorded therein

Publication Date: 2015.08.18 FUJIFILM CORP

AI summary

First spectral data (spectral transmittance) of a printed object, and second spectral data (spectral reflectance) of the printed object are obtained. Further, third spectral data (spectral radiance distribution) of a transmissive light source, and fourth spectral data (spectral radiance distribution) of a reflective light source are obtained. Then, using the first, second, third and fourth spectral data, colorimetric value data of the printed object in a given observational environment is calculated.