Automated Color Profile Selection for Spot Color Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In commercial printing, deciding on optimal color profiles for spot color data is cumbersome and operator-dependent, requiring trial-and-error and specialized knowledge, which complicates meeting quality standards.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus that receives quality requirement data and production system information to determine and set optimal print settings, specifically output color profiles, based on analysis, reducing operator burden and ensuring quality standards are met.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If operator manually decides color profiles using trial-and-error method, then color accuracy can be achieved, but operator burden and time consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-calculates and stores optimal color profile mappings between different color spaces (e.g., between the printing apparatus color space and standard color spaces like sRGB or Adobe RGB) based on device characteristics. When printing, the workflow management server automatically retrieves and applies the pre-determined color profile without requiring manual trial-and-error adjustment, thus achieving both color accuracy and time efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The printing apparatus and workflow management server automatically perform color profile selection and adjustment without operator intervention. The system self-determines the appropriate color profile based on the print job requirements and device capabilities, eliminating the need for operators to manually adjust color settings through trial-and-error methods.
2Reliability
If operator with specialized knowledge decides color profiles, then quality standards can be met, but operator dependency and skill requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system embeds color management expertise within the workflow management server and printing apparatus software. The automated color profile selection algorithm encapsulates specialized knowledge about color spaces, device characteristics, and quality standards, allowing the system to make expert decisions without requiring operators to possess specialized color management knowledge.
Solution Approach 2:
The workflow management server acts as an intermediary between the operator and the color management process. It receives print job requests, automatically determines appropriate color profiles based on device characteristics and quality requirements, and applies the selected profiles without requiring the operator to understand complex color management concepts.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple color profiles are tested to find optimal setting, then color accuracy improves, but process complexity and steps increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-establishes the relationships between different color spaces and device characteristics during system setup or device characterization. These pre-determined color profile mappings are stored and automatically applied based on the print job requirements, eliminating the need for operators to conduct multiple tests and comparisons to find the optimal color profile.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates device characteristics and color measurement data to automatically determine the optimal color profile. By using feedback from device performance data and color measurements, the workflow management server can directly select the most appropriate color profile without requiring manual trial-and-error testing by operators.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus includes at least one memory device that stores a set of instructions, and at least one processor that executes the set of instructions to receive, from a printing apparatus, an output profile of the printing apparatus, and receive, from an external apparatus, print data and quality requirement data including a spot color. A color profile to be used as a print setting is chosen based on the received output profile of the printing apparatus and the spot color included in the received quality requirement data.