Encoding Over-Range Color Values Using Shifting and Scaling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Digital devices often lose color data when converting files due to differences in color gamuts and limitations in color value ranges, particularly when converting from color spaces like scRGB to formats that only support values between 0 and 1, leading to significant color loss.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for encoding over-range color values as in-range values by clipping, shifting, and scaling them within a predetermined range, accompanied by an indicator like an ICC profile, to maintain color data integrity without altering the target file format, ensuring minimal loss in color quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If over-range color values are directly converted to standard formats, then conversion simplicity is maintained, but color data integrity is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing clipping, shifting, and scaling operations on over-range color values before final conversion to standard formats. This preprocessing ensures color data integrity is preserved in the encoded values, while the conversion process itself remains straightforward. The indicator is also added in advance to signal the presence of encoded values, preventing misinterpretation during downstream processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms over-range color values by changing their parameters through clipping (restricting to valid range), shifting (translating the range), and scaling (normalizing to 0-1). These parameter transformations allow over-range values to be represented within standard format constraints while preserving the relative color relationships. The indicator parameter is also changed to signal the encoded state.
2Adaptability or versatility
If color values are clipped to fit standard ranges, then compatibility with existing formats is maintained, but color accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of simple clipping that would lose color accuracy, the patent applies a combination of clipping (to ensure values fit within standard format ranges), shifting (to preserve the relative positioning of color values), and scaling (to maintain the dynamic range). This transforms the parameters of color values in a way that preserves accuracy while ensuring compatibility with existing formats that expect values in the 0-1 range.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an indicator as an intermediary element that mediates between the encoded color values and downstream processing systems. This indicator signals that the color values have been through encoding transformations, allowing systems to interpret them correctly without requiring changes to the underlying color value representation, thus maintaining both compatibility and accuracy.
3Loss of information
If over-range color data is preserved exactly, then color quality is maintained, but incompatibility with standard formats increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent preserves color quality by applying parameter changes that maintain the relative relationships and dynamic range of over-range color values. Through clipping, shifting, and scaling, the transformed values retain the essential color information while adapting to the constraints of standard formats. This allows color quality to be maintained without creating incompatibility issues.
Solution Approach 2:
By performing the encoding transformations (clipping, shifting, scaling) as a preliminary action before file conversion or transmission, the patent ensures that color quality is preserved in the encoded values. This preliminary processing allows the data to be compatible with standard formats from the outset, preventing incompatibility issues during downstream operations.
4Adaptability or versatility
If color values are scaled to fit 0-1 range, then standard format compliance is achieved, but dynamic range is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies scaling as part of a combination of transformations that change the parameters of color values. The scaling operation normalizes values to the 0-1 range required by standard formats, while the accompanying shifting operation preserves the dynamic range by maintaining the relative differences between color values. This dual operation achieves format compliance without sacrificing the quantity or dynamic range of color information.
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes receiving an input file comprising input color values in a first color space. The at least one input color value includes an over-range color value in the first color space. The method also includes encoding the input color values including encoding each over-range color value as an in-range color value in the first color space to generate encoded input color values. The method further includes creating an output file that includes the encoded color values and an indicator. The indicator indicates that the output file includes encoded color values.