Digital Colour Standard for Consistent Print Output
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional digital printing methods face challenges in accurately reproducing spot colors due to limited color gamut and calibration issues, leading to inconsistencies in re-printing processes across different presses and environments.
Innovation Solution
A color standard is created from a graphic digital input file, incorporating a color target calibration strip and a grid chart of spot color builds arranged in the LCh color model, which captures the press's calibration state and provides optimized color build options for consistent output.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If spot colour inks are used in conventional printing, then colour accuracy and gamut are improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms physical spot colour ink parameters into digital colour build parameters (CMYK percentages). The system uses colour models and algorithms to convert spot colour specifications into process ink builds, allowing digital adjustment of colour parameters without physical ink changes. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining colour accuracy through precise digital parameter control while avoiding the complexity of spot colour ink systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical spot colour ink system with a digital colour management system. Instead of using physical spot colour inks that require special press configurations, the system uses digital colour builds with process inks controlled by colour models and algorithms. This substitution eliminates the need for complex spot colour ink handling while maintaining colour reproduction capability through computational methods.
2Reliability
If colour management is applied to maintain consistency across presses, then colour reproduction reliability is improved, but calibration complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs colour calibration and press characterization in advance, storing the results as press-specific colour models. These pre-computed models capture the unique characteristics of each press and are ready for immediate use. When reproducing colours across different presses, the system simply applies the pre-established models without requiring time-consuming on-the-spot calibration, thus maintaining reliability while reducing calibration time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates digital copies of press colour characteristics through characterization measurements and stores them as reusable colour models. Instead of recalibrating each press every time, the system uses these digital copies (colour models) to replicate the intended colour appearance across different presses. This copying approach maintains colour consistency while eliminating repetitive calibration procedures.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple colour builds are evaluated for spot colours, then colour matching precision is improved, but the number of print runs and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the colour management system predicts the outcome of different colour builds using press-specific colour models. Before actual printing, the system evaluates multiple colour builds computationally, uses the colour models to predict which build will achieve the best match, and selects the optimal build. This feedback loop eliminates the need for multiple trial print runs, improving colour matching precision while maintaining productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a colour standard, assembled from a graphic digital input file, in which one or a combination of CMYK, RGB, Lab or spot colour builds are contained. The colour standard comprises a colour target calibration strip which is indicative of the calibration status of a printing press; an output image which is indicative of the digital input file; and a grid chart of spot colour builds, built-in process inks, with their respective process build values available for each spot colour in the digital input file. The colour standard is configured to capture the calibrated state of the press for a particular digital input file in order to achieve a particular colour-managed output image, so that product print runs of the output image can be repeated accurately and consistently over time.