Dynamic Black-Printing Generation for Accurate Simple Color Reproduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing color conversion methods fail to accurately reproduce a simple black color when converting input data, especially when the black-printing generation characteristic is fixed, leading to incorrect output colors, particularly in graphic art where characters represented by a simple K color are not output as intended.
Innovation Solution
An information processing method that determines the relationship between lightness levels and black colors based on the output device's characteristics, allowing for the conversion of input color data indicating an achromatic color into output color data with a lightness level equivalent to the input, ensuring accurate reproduction of a simple black color.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the black-printing generation characteristic is fixed for color conversion, then the conversion process is simplified and processing speed is improved, but the accuracy of reproducing simple black color is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the black-printing generation characteristic changeable rather than fixed. The system dynamically selects between a first black-printing generation characteristic (for simple black colors) and a second black-printing generation characteristic (for other colors) based on the input color data. This allows the conversion process to adapt to different color types, improving both processing efficiency and color reproduction accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of black-printing generation characteristic based on the input color data. When the input represents a simple black color, the system uses a first black-printing generation characteristic that directly maps to simple black output. For other colors, it uses a second black-printing generation characteristic. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by optimizing the conversion for different color types.
2Manufacturing precision
If color-space compression is performed to convert input colors into the output device's color reproduction range, then color matching accuracy is improved, but the simplicity of achromatic color representation is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the color conversion process into two distinct paths: one for simple black colors (achromatic) and another for other colors. For simple black colors, the system directly determines the black component value without performing full color-space compression, thereby preserving simplicity. For other colors, the full color-space compression process is applied to ensure accuracy. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by applying different processing strategies to different color types.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of applying color-space compression to all colors and then trying to recover simple black representation, the patent inverts the approach by first detecting whether the input is a simple black color and handling it separately before color-space compression. This inversion allows the system to maintain achromatic color simplicity while still achieving accurate color matching for other colors.
Data Source
AI summary
In an information processing method, input color data indicating a plurality of color components including a black color component is converted into output color data that indicates a plurality of color components including a black color component. A relationship between lightness levels and simple black colors is determined for an output device based on the characteristics of the output device. When input color data indicates a simple black color, output color data for the simple black color having a lightness level equivalent to the lightness level of the input color data is determined based on the relationship between lightness levels and simple black colors.