Spot Color Patch Positioning for Printing Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in printing technologies is accurately reproducing spot colors across different positions on a printing medium due to variations in drying time and ink discharge, making it difficult to evaluate and maintain color accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus and method that includes a data generation unit to create color chart data with spot color patches positioned according to their locations in the image, allowing for precise color measurement and control through a printing unit and colorimetry unit, ensuring accurate color reproduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a spot color patch is printed on the printing medium for color evaluation, then the colorimetry value can be obtained for evaluation, but the tone of the spot color may differ due to position variations affecting drying time and ink discharge
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a color chart with multiple spot color patches positioned at different locations corresponding to the actual print job. Each patch is evaluated independently at its specific position, accounting for local variations in drying time and ink discharge characteristics at different areas of the printing medium.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the color evaluation process by dividing the print job into multiple spot color patches located at different positions on the color chart. Instead of evaluating a single averaged color, the system separates and evaluates each spot color at its specific position, allowing independent assessment of color accuracy at each location.
2Ease of operation
If a single spot color patch is used for color evaluation, then the evaluation process is simple, but it cannot adequately represent color variations across different positions in the printing result
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the color evaluation by creating multiple spot color patches at different positions on the color chart, each corresponding to a specific location in the print job. This segmentation preserves position-specific color information while maintaining a standardized evaluation process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a color chart that copies the spatial arrangement of spot colors from the actual print job. By reproducing the positional relationships and color locations, the color chart serves as a simplified copy that retains all necessary color evaluation information in an easily measurable format.
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus includes a printing unit, a colorimetry unit, a data generation unit configured to generate color chart data, and a printing colorimetry control unit configured to control printing performed by the printing unit and colorimetry performed by the colorimetry unit, where the data generation unit acquires, from a first image represented by a first print job, a position of a first spot color contained in the first image and generates the color chart data having the first spot color patch disposed at a position corresponding to a position of the first spot color in the first image, and the printing colorimetry control unit causes the printing unit to print the color chart that is based on the color chart data and causes the colorimetry unit to measure the color of the color chart printed on the printing medium by the printing unit.