Dynamic Color Profile Selection for Image Forming Apparatuses
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current image forming apparatuses face issues with printing quality due to the use of default color profiles that are not appropriate for specific print jobs, leading to visual artifacts like 'color fringes' when printing black or gray text, and compatibility problems arise from diverse computing devices and printing standards.
Innovation Solution
A method that analyzes each color point in an image to determine if it is part of a sequence of repeating or non-repeating colors, using counters to select an appropriate color profile for color conversion from RGB to CMYK, thereby selecting the correct color profile for the print job based on the dominance of repeating or non-repeating pixel values.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a default color profile is used for all print jobs, then compatibility across different devices is maintained, but printing quality deteriorates due to color fringes on text
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically selects between text color profile and photo color profile based on analyzing the raster data characteristics (repeating vs non-repeating color patterns). This dynamic adaptation allows the same system to optimize for different document types, resolving the contradiction between universal compatibility and type-specific quality optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the color profile parameter based on the detected characteristics of the raster data. By analyzing color repetition patterns and switching between different color profile configurations, the system achieves both broad compatibility and optimized printing quality for specific document types.
2Manufacturing precision
If a text color profile is used to avoid color fringes, then printing quality for text improves, but compatibility with diverse computing devices deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically determines whether to apply text color profile or photo color profile by analyzing the raster data for repeating color patterns. This dynamic approach allows the system to automatically adapt to different document types (text-heavy vs. photo-heavy) while maintaining compatibility with diverse computing devices that send raster data in various formats.
Solution Approach 2:
The image forming apparatus performs self-analysis of the incoming raster data to automatically determine the appropriate color profile without requiring external metadata or device-specific configuration. The system serves itself by detecting document type characteristics and selecting the optimal color profile independently.
3Measurement precision
If color conversion is performed using all CMYK colors for every pixel, then color accuracy is maintained, but visual artifacts like color fringes are produced on text
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies different color conversion strategies to different regions of the image based on local characteristics. For areas with repeating color patterns (text), it uses a text-optimized profile that suppresses CMY for black/gray pixels. For areas with non-repeating patterns (photos), it uses a photo-optimized profile. This local adaptation eliminates color fringes on text while preserving color accuracy in photographic regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the color conversion parameters dynamically based on the detected document type. For text-heavy documents, it modifies the color profile to map black/gray pixels to K-only values, preventing color fringe formation. For photo-heavy documents, it maintains full CMYK color conversion for accurate color reproduction.
4Adaptability or versatility
If metadata containing color profile information is removed to improve compatibility, then device compatibility improves, but the ability to select appropriate color profiles deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of relying on external metadata to convey document type information, the system performs self-analysis of the raster data characteristics. By detecting repeating vs. non-repeating color patterns directly from the image data, the apparatus determines the appropriate color profile without needing metadata, thus maintaining compatibility while preserving color profile selection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the essential document type information directly from the raster data itself, rather than relying on separate metadata structures. By analyzing color repetition patterns within the image data, the system extracts sufficient information to determine the appropriate color profile, eliminating the need for metadata while retaining selection capability.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A method for determining a color profile from received raster data and printing the raster data is provided. Color profiles provide a mapping from a color space of the raster data to a color space of the printer, which typically uses CMYK toner or ink. A text color profile may be employed to print crisper text, or a photo color profile may be employed to produce better images. The raster data includes a plurality of raster scan lines containing digital pixel values. The method includes determining a number of sequentially repeated digital pixel values (906, 908, 912, 914) and a number of sequentially non-repeated digital pixel values (906, 910, 912, 914) for the plurality of raster scan lines. A color profile is selected (918, 920) based on a determination between the repeated and non-repeated digital pixel values (916). An example image forming apparatus that may carry out the method is also provided.