Image File Control Data Integration for Color Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Digital still cameras and other image data generation devices face challenges in reflecting user intentions due to differences in color brightness and tone characteristics between devices and output environments, requiring labor-intensive adjustments to achieve desired image quality.
Innovation Solution
An image file generation apparatus that associates image data with image processing control data, allowing for flexible image processing by integrating and combining various control data sets, including manufacturer-supplied and user-configurable settings, to generate image files that can be processed uniformly across different devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If image data is processed individually for each device characteristic, then color reproduction accuracy is improved, but processing time and labor burden increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple device-specific image processing control data sets into a single integrated image file. Instead of processing images individually for each device, the system merges characteristic data from multiple devices (e.g., printer A, printer B) into one consolidated control data structure that can be stored and reused across all target devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary integration of image processing control data during image file generation, before actual image output. By pre-combining device characteristics and processing parameters into the image file metadata, the system eliminates the need for repeated individual processing when the same image needs to be output to different devices.
2Productivity
If uniform image processing is applied across all devices, then processing efficiency is improved, but color reproduction accuracy deteriorates due to device-specific characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by incorporating device-specific processing parameters within the unified image file structure. Each target device's characteristics (such as printer-specific color profiles, monitor gamma settings) are stored as separate but integrated control data sets, allowing the system to apply device-appropriate processing while maintaining a single efficient workflow.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple device-specific control data sets are maintained separately, then adaptability to different devices is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal image file structure that can serve multiple output devices simultaneously. The integrated control data format is designed to accommodate various device types (printers, monitors, projectors) and their specific processing requirements within a single standardized framework, eliminating the need for separate processing pipelines for each device.
Data Source
AI summary
The technique of the present invention ensures flexible image processing that is performed integrally on a plurality of image data.In accordance with the present invention, an image output system enables output of the image data, which is generated in a digital still camera DSC 12, with a color printer 20. The DSC 12 generates an image file, in which the image data, image processing control data and an additional data are stored. The image processing control data, which is preset by the manufacturer, may be specified regarding each image. The additional data is the user-configurable data, which is stored into the DSC. The color printer 20 performs image processing based on the image processing control data and the additional data, which is included in the image file, and outputs the resulting image.