Image Processing Apparatus Out-of-Gamut Region Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
It is challenging for users to identify regions with colors outside the displayable color gamut in an image, as existing methods often convert these colors to a specific color, making it difficult to distinguish them from other regions.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus that sets a target range for luminance levels and generates processed images by distinguishing between regions within and outside this range, allowing colors outside the gamut to be displayed differently based on luminance and gamut inclusion, enabling users to easily identify out-of-gamut regions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If out-of-gamut pixels are converted to a specific color, then the color gamut is converted to match the displayable range, but it becomes difficult for users to identify which regions originally had colors outside the gamut
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different processing to different regions: in-gamut pixels are converted normally to match the display color gamut, while out-of-gamut pixels are converted to a specific color (e.g., magenta) to indicate they exceeded the original gamut. This local differentiation preserves the ability to identify out-of-gamut regions while achieving proper color conversion for the rest of the image.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent specifically changes the color of out-of-gamut pixels to a distinctive color (such as magenta or purple) that differs from both the original out-of-gamut color and the converted in-gamut colors. This color change serves as a visual indicator that the pixel originally exceeded the displayable color gamut, preventing information loss about which regions were out-of-gamut.
2Ease of manufacture
If all out-of-gamut regions are displayed with the same specific color, then conversion is simplified, but regions with different luminance characteristics cannot be distinguished
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides out-of-gamut regions into sub-categories based on luminance characteristics (e.g., dark regions, mid-tone regions, bright regions) and assigns different specific colors to each category. This allows the system to maintain relatively simple processing while providing luminance-based differentiation through color variation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the color parameter (hue) of out-of-gamut pixels based on their luminance parameter. By mapping different luminance ranges to different hues (e.g., darker out-of-gamut pixels become one shade, brighter ones become another), the system preserves luminance information in the displayed image while maintaining straightforward conversion processing.
3Ease of operation
If out-of-gamut pixels are displayed in saturated state, then the conversion is straightforward, but noise regions may be incorrectly identified as out-of-gamut pixels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary analysis of pixel characteristics before converting out-of-gamut pixels to specific colors. By预先 checking whether a pixel is truly out-of-gamut versus being noise (perhaps through thresholding or comparison with neighboring pixels), the system avoids misidentifying noise regions as out-of-gamut areas, thereby improving detection reliability while keeping the conversion process straightforward.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary verification step between detecting out-of-gamut pixels and converting them to specific colors. This intermediary process filters out false positives (noise regions incorrectly identified as out-of-gamut) before applying the color conversion, ensuring that only genuine out-of-gamut pixels are highlighted while maintaining the simplicity of the overall conversion workflow.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus includes a first setting unit configured to set a target range of a luminance level, and a generation unit configured to generate a processed image by performing image processing on a first region of an image in such a manner that the first region is distinguished from a second region and a third region, the first region having a luminance level included in the target range and having a color not included in a target color gamut, the second region having a luminance level not included in the target range and having a color not included in the target color gamut, and the third region having a luminance level not included in the target range and having a color included in the target color gamut.