Remote Proofing via Color Space Transformation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current color management systems fail to accurately match colors across different devices and printing processes, leading to mismatches that are often discovered only during printing, causing costly and time-consuming resolution issues.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced that uses a prototypical color transformation to identify and correct color mismatches in print jobs by converting source colors to a common color space, applying the target printer's color transformation path, and ensuring color consistency across objects, with options for automatic correction or user intervention through a user interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If ICC-based color management is used to transform colors between devices, then color translation capability is improved, but color match accuracy deteriorates due to different transformation paths for different source color definitions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary color matching process that compares the actual color transformation results with expected color matches. This intermediary verification step identifies mismatches caused by different transformation paths and enables correction before final output, resolving the contradiction between versatile color translation and accurate color matching.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary color match verification by transforming colors using the target device's color space before final rendering. This advance checking allows identification and correction of color mismatches due to different transformation paths, ensuring color accuracy is maintained while preserving the adaptability of multiple source color definitions.
2Device complexity
If color verification is performed only during printing, then device complexity is reduced, but loss of time and productivity increase due to costly rework
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs color verification and correction in advance during the prepress stage, before actual printing. This preliminary action detects and resolves color mismatches early, preventing costly rework during printing while maintaining relatively simple device complexity by using software-based verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where color transformation results are compared against expected matches, and correction information is fed back to adjust the color values before final output. This feedback loop ensures high printing efficiency by preventing errors while keeping the system complexity manageable through iterative correction.
3Productivity
If automatic color correction is implemented, then productivity is improved by reducing manual intervention, but device complexity increases due to automated processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automatic color correction that identifies and corrects color mismatches without requiring manual intervention. The system performs self-service by automatically comparing colors, detecting mismatches, and applying corrections based on the target device's color space, thereby improving productivity while managing complexity through algorithmic automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent automatically adjusts color parameters by transforming source colors through the target device's color space and correcting mismatches by modifying color values. This parameter-based automatic correction improves productivity by eliminating manual work while keeping device complexity reasonable through mathematical color space transformations.
4Measurement precision
If remote proofing with full color transformation is performed, then measurement precision of color accuracy is improved, but use of energy and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential color transformation operations needed for accurate remote proofing, performing color space transformations using the target device's color profile. By extracting and applying only the necessary color correction data rather than full processing, the system achieves high color accuracy verification while reducing energy consumption and processing time.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for remote proofing a digital press by performing the color rendering of a specific DFE and printer, including taking into account job and printer settings, while maintaining vector objects is described. In one exemplary embodiment, the method color renders a file to a PDF/X-1 format to enable a portable proof-ready file, independent of the target print system. The PDF/X-1a's output intent tag identifies the intended print condition within the file. The rendered PDF/X-1a file can be sent to any device that supports the PDF/X standard and automatically convert colors from the output intent color space to the proofer color space for an accurate hard copy proof. This functionality automates and streamlines the proofing task of the end user because there is no need to find and load the correct ICC profile on the proofing system.