ICC Profile Management for Consistent Color Reproduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
In color printing systems, managing ICC profiles across multiple printing devices is challenging due to the drift in color reproduction over time, leading to invalid profiles and increased complexity in maintaining consistent color output across various paper types and ink limits.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced to perform match calibration operations between printing devices, generate and update calibration tone reproduction curves (TRCs) using measurement data, and transfer ICC profiles to ensure consistent color reproduction, allowing for intelligent management of color resources by retaining metadata for TRCs and ICC profiles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If ICC profiles are created for multiple printing devices with different paper types and ink limits, then color reproduction accuracy is improved, but the number of profiles to manage increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal ICC profile that can be applied across multiple printing devices with different paper types and ink limits. The profile includes embedded metadata and rules that enable it to adapt its behavior based on the specific device characteristics, eliminating the need to create and manage separate profiles for each device-paper-ink combination while maintaining color reproduction accuracy.
2Stability of the object's composition
If calibration operations are performed frequently to maintain valid ICC profiles, then color consistency is improved, but the time and resources required for calibration increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs calibration operations in advance to create a universal ICC profile that is valid across multiple devices. By conducting the calibration beforehand and storing the results in a reusable profile with embedded metadata, the system eliminates the need for frequent recalibration operations, thereby maintaining color consistency while reducing the time and resources spent on calibration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a master ICC profile through calibration that can be copied and applied to multiple printing devices. This single calibrated profile serves as a template that can be reused across different devices with appropriate metadata adjustments, eliminating the need to perform calibration operations on each device individually and significantly reducing calibration time.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple ICC profiles are maintained for different printing conditions, then adaptability to various paper types is improved, but the complexity of profile management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal ICC profile that can adapt to multiple paper types and printing conditions through embedded metadata and conditional rules. This single profile replaces the need to manually manage multiple device-specific profiles, as the universal profile automatically adjusts its behavior based on the printing conditions while simplifying management through centralized control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a universal ICC profile with embedded parameters and metadata that can be dynamically adjusted based on printing conditions such as paper type and ink limits. Rather than creating separate profiles for each condition, the system modifies parameters within the universal profile to adapt to different scenarios, thereby maintaining versatility while reducing management complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A color printing system includes a color management server and one or more printing devices. The color management server manages color printing resources among the printing devices. A test chart is printed at a printing device and used to capture calibration measurement data. Calibration settings are defined for the calibration measurement data. A tone reproduction curve (TRC) is generated based on the calibration measurement data and the calibration settings. The TRC is stored with the TRC settings and calibration measurement data to be used at a printing device. ICC profiles are shared between printing devices following a match calibration operation between the printing devices. An ICC profile is transferred from one printing device to another. If the ICC profile is updated, then the updated ICC profile is transferred to the matched printing device.