Image Forming Apparatus Color Management Control Method
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Solution Overview
Problem
PostScript Level 3's color management process is time-consuming and inefficient for printing monochrome office documents, as it requires multiple color space conversions, especially for images with large bitmaps, and cannot directly handle Separation and DeviceN color spaces used by dedicated printing machines, leading to reduced print throughput and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A method to control image forming apparatuses by converting print data into a device-independent standard color space and allowing users to skip or apply color management processes based on user preferences, enabling direct conversion to the print color space without unnecessary color management for monochrome documents and supporting Separation and DeviceN color spaces by converting them into substitute color spaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If color management process is applied to all print data, then color reproducibility is improved, but print speed deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies different color management treatments to different types of print data. Color management is applied only when necessary (e.g., for RGB data or when high color reproducibility is required), while skipping the process for monochrome data where it is not needed. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by maintaining high color reproducibility for color data while preserving print speed for monochrome data.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention dynamically adjusts the color management process based on the input data characteristics and user settings. The system can switch between color management modes (enabled/disabled) depending on the document type and user preferences, allowing optimal performance for each specific printing scenario rather than a fixed approach.
2Measurement precision
If color management process is applied to monochrome documents, then color reproducibility is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the color management process from the processing pipeline for monochrome documents. By detecting that the input data is monochrome (e.g., DeviceGray or DeviceCMYK with N% black), the system skips the unnecessary color management conversion steps, reducing processing time while maintaining adequate color reproducibility for the actual output.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies partial color management only when needed rather than excessive color management for all data types. For monochrome documents, the system applies minimal or no color management action, while for color documents it applies full color management, optimizing the balance between quality and processing time.
3Measurement precision
If standard color space conversion is performed for all color spaces, then color management precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies different conversion strategies to different color spaces. For Separation and DeviceN color spaces, the system uses direct conversion to substitute color spaces without going through the full standard color space conversion pipeline. This local differentiation reduces overall device complexity while maintaining color management precision for color spaces that require it.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces substitute color spaces as intermediaries for Separation and DeviceN color spaces. Instead of converting these specialized color spaces directly through the full standard color space pipeline, the system uses intermediate substitute color spaces that simplify the conversion process while maintaining the necessary color management precision for the final output.
Data Source
AI summary
Input print data can assume one of a RGB color space, CMYK color space, and Gray color space. When graphic arts are principally to be printed, data of these color spaces is converted into CIE Color Space XYZ as a standard color space, and data of the standard color space is converted into a CMYK color space according to the Output Profile of a printer, which then prints the converted data. On the other hand, when office documents are principally to be printed, conversion into the standard color space is skipped, and input color space data is directly converted into a print color space CMYK, and the converted data is then printed.