Color Separation Condition Determination for Local Image Quality

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing color separation methods in inkjet image forming devices apply a uniform color conversion process to identified areas, which may not optimize image quality for each local area due to varying color distributions and spatial frequency distributions within the same content type.

Innovation Solution

A color separation condition determining apparatus and method that estimates the affecting level of visual effects at both macroscopic and microscopic levels by analyzing pixel characteristics and peripheral pixels, allowing for optimized color separation conditions in each local area, incorporating a suitability judging section and color separation condition changer to adjust settings based on human visual response characteristics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a uniform color conversion process is applied to each identified area, then the processing complexity is reduced and the ease of manufacture is improved, but the image quality optimization for each local area deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of color conversion processVSAvoidimage quality optimization

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by determining color separation conditions for each local area based on its specific characteristics. The system divides the image into multiple local areas and analyzes the color distribution and spatial frequency distribution of each area independently, then applies optimized color separation conditions tailored to each area's characteristics, thereby achieving local image quality optimization rather than uniform processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the image into multiple local areas for independent analysis and processing. By dividing the image and evaluating each local area's color distribution and spatial frequency characteristics separately, the system can apply different color separation conditions to different segments, resolving the contradiction between processing simplicity and local optimization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If color separation conditions are optimized for each local area, then the image quality is improved, but the device complexity and processing time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage qualityVSAvoidprocessing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining multiple types of color separation conditions corresponding to different image characteristics. The system预先 establishes color separation conditions for various content types (natural images, illustrations, graphs, etc.), and during processing, it only needs to identify the content type and select the appropriate pre-defined conditions, thereby reducing the complexity of real-time optimization while maintaining high image quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes parameter changes by adjusting color separation conditions based on detected image parameters such as color distribution and spatial frequency distribution. The system dynamically selects or modifies color separation parameters according to the local area's characteristics, achieving adaptive optimization without requiring completely complex processing for each area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If color separation conditions are optimized for each local area, then the image quality is improved, but the processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage qualityVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies copying by using pre-defined color separation condition templates for different content types. Instead of creating entirely new optimization parameters for each local area, the system copies and selects from pre-established condition sets that have been optimized for specific content types, significantly reducing processing time while maintaining optimization effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP2733919B1Color separation condition determination device, method and storage medium

Publication Date: 2019.07.17 FUJIFILM CORP

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AI summary

The present invention relates to a color separation condition determination device, method and storage medium. A pixel of interest (102, 142) is extracted from multiple pixels, and the influence of visual effect applied to the pixel of interest (102, 142) is estimated on the basis of the positional relationship between the color of the pixel of interest (102, 142) and each color of at least one surrounding pixel (104, 144). Also, the total usage of color materials (22c, 22k, 22m, 22y) in the pixel of interest (102, 142) is estimated. The color separation condition (SCfix) in the pixel of interest (102, 142) is determined on the basis of the respectively estimated influence of visual effect and total usage of color materials (22c, 22k, 22m, 22y).