Image Conversion Method for Accurate Print Preview
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods cannot accurately represent the light and shade of an image on a display, leading to discrepancies between the displayed and printed images, especially with fine art paper, where the appearance of gradation characteristics is only identifiable after printing.
Innovation Solution
An image conversion method that acquires and corrects the illumination-light component of an input image based on display luminance information, allowing for the accurate representation of light and shade on a display by combining it with the reflectance component, using specific correction functions and processes to maintain texture and local contrast.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the entire input image is corrected to match print luminance, then light and shade accuracy improves, but texture and local contrast are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the input image into two distinct components: illumination-light component and reflectance component. This segmentation allows selective correction of only the illumination-light component while preserving the reflectance component that contains texture and local contrast information, thereby resolving the contradiction between light and shade accuracy and texture preservation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different processing qualities to different components of the image. The illumination-light component undergoes luminance correction to achieve accurate light and shade representation, while the reflectance component maintains its original local contrast and texture characteristics. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction by applying correction only where needed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If preview image data is generated based on registered paper image data, then paper properties like smoothness and color tone are represented, but light and shade of printed image cannot be accurately shown
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary segmentation of the input image into illumination-light and reflectance components before generating the preview. This preliminary action enables subsequent selective correction of the illumination-light component based on print mode luminance information, allowing accurate light and shade representation while maintaining adaptability to different paper types through the reflectance component.
3Illumination intensity
If coal-black region is displayed on display, then high contrast is achieved, but it appears as deep gray on print material
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the luminance parameter of the illumination-light component based on print mode information. By adjusting the luminance values in the illumination-light component according to the specific print mode characteristics, the display representation accurately predicts how coal-black regions will appear when printed, resolving the discrepancy between display contrast and print output.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an image conversion method that allows for the representation, on a display, the light and shade of a printed image obtained by printing the image on paper. The image conversion method includes a step of acquiring an illumination-light component and a reflectance component from an input image, a step of correcting the illumination-light component in accordance with display luminance information of a print mode in which the input image is to be printed, so that light and shade of the input image displayed on a display come close to light and shade of a printed image obtained by printing the input image in the print mode, and a step of acquiring a combined image by combining the corrected illumination-light component and the reflectance component or the corrected reflectance component.