Optics: measuring and testing – By shade or color – With reflective multicolor chart or standard
Reexamination Certificate
2001-10-31
2004-04-06
Evans, F. L. (Department: 2877)
Optics: measuring and testing
By shade or color
With reflective multicolor chart or standard
C434S098000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06717674
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a color chart, a chart image data recording medium storing chart image data representative of a color chart, a profile producing method and a profile producing apparatus for producing a profile using a color chart and a profile producing program storage medium storing a profile producing program which causes a computer to operate as the profile producing apparatus when the profile producing program is incorporated into the computer.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hitherto, there is known a profile producing method and a profile producing apparatus for producing a profile defining an association between coordinates of a color space depending on a device such as a printer and a scanner for performing input and output of images and coordinates of a color space independent of the device, using a color chart in which color patches are arranged. For example, in a shop photographic print system in which an image of a photographic print is read by a scanner and fed to a computer in form of an original image, so that a copy of the original image is created on the computer and is outputted on the photographic print by a printer, the computer operates as the profile producing apparatus so that a profile suitable for the scanner and the printer is created in form of for example an LUT (Look Up Table). And a color conversion between the color space depending on the device and the color space independent of the device is applied to the original image in accordance with the profile, so that a color of the photographic print of the original is coincident with a color of the photographic print of the copy.
Hitherto, to create the profile, there are used a color chart referred to as IT
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for example and a lattice color chart in which color patches corresponding to lattice points on a predetermined lattice defined in a color space are arranged in a similar fashion to that of lattice points on the color space. Further, there is used a dedicated color chart according to a performance of a system and a device.
By the way, as recent network technology advances, a field of giving and taking image data between devices is expanded, and devices, which are connected to a certain system, are diversified. It is impossible to prepare all profiles of such diverse devices beforehand. Thus, it is desired to offer a profile producing apparatus and a color chart, which are high in general-purpose properties, capable of producing suitable profile meeting with those diverse devices. However, the above-mentioned dedicated color chart and a profile producing apparatus premising such a dedicated color chart are of course low in general-purpose properties.
It is needed for IT
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and a lattice color chart that all the patches of the color chart are read at the time of creation of a profile, as a general rule. However, the number of patches to be used in creation of a profile is different in accordance with a performance of a device. That is, in the event that a performance of a device is excellent, a profile is created in accordance with data in which a number of patches having a number of colors including fine color difference of colors is read, so that a profile, which is high in continuity, is obtained. On the other hand, in the event that a performance of a device is wrong, it is difficult to implement a faithful reproduction of a plurality of colors having fine color differences. Accordingly, in the event that a profile is created in accordance with data in which a number of patches having a number of colors including fine color difference of colors is read, the profile is low in continuity. In this case, it is rather higher in continuity that a profile is created in accordance with data in which a few number of patches having a few number of colors clear in color difference of colors is read. For this reason, IT
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, the lattice color chart, and the profile producing apparatus premising those color charts cannot cope with a plurality of sorts of devices mutually greatly different in performance, and are low in general-purpose properties.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a color chart which is high in general-purpose properties, a chart image data recording medium storing chart image data representative of such a color chart, a profile producing method and a profile producing apparatus for producing a profile using such a color chart and a profile producing program storage medium storing a profile producing program which causes a computer to operate as the profile producing apparatus when the profile producing program is incorporated into the computer.
To achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a first color chart comprising a plurality of patches in which colors of the plurality of patches are read in accordance with a patch reading order determined beforehand, said color chart including:
a first patch group comprising a plurality of patches each having a predetermined color; and
a second patch group comprising a plurality of patches having colors among said predetermined colors, said plurality of patches being read later than the patches constituting said first patch group in accordance with said patch reading order.
Colors of the patches of the second patch group are able to be approximately computed in accordance with an interpolation computation based on the colors of the patches of the first patch group. Thus, to meet a performance of a device, both the first patch group and the second patch group, or only the first patch group are read to be used for creation of a profile, and thereby enhancing general-purpose properties.
In the first color chart according to the present invention as mentioned above, it is preferable that said first patch group includes patches of saturated colors of red, green, blue, cyan, magenta, yellow, white and black.
Since those saturated colors are colors corresponding to corners of the general color space, it is difficult to compute those saturated colors in accordance with an interpolation computation based on other colors.
Further, in the first color chart according to the present invention as mentioned above, it is preferable that patches, which belong to either one of said first patch group and said second patch group, occupy over half in its entirety.
This feature makes it possible to enhance effects of the present invention.
Furthermore, in the first color chart according to the present invention as mentioned above, it is preferable that same gray patches are disposed at a plurality of places.
The same gray patches disposed at a plurality of places are sensitive to input and output performance of colors by devices. Thus, this feature makes it possible to verify a performance of a device. Further, an arrangement of the same gray patches together with the first patch group and said second patch group makes it possible to know a performance of a device at the time of creation of a profile.
To achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a second color chart comprising a plurality of chart sheets which are sequentially read in accordance with a sheet reading order determined beforehand, said color chart comprising:
a faster-read sheet in which a plurality of patches each having a predetermined color are arranged, said faster-read sheet being relatively faster read in accordance with said sheet reading order; and
a later-read sheet in which a plurality of patches having colors among said predetermined colors are arranged, said later-read sheet being relatively later read in accordance with said sheet reading order.
Colors of patches of the later-read sheet can be approximately computed in accordance with an interpolation computation based on the colors of the patches of the faster-read sheet. Thus, it is possible to create a profile through reading the chart sheets by the necessary number of sheets to meet a performance of a device.
In the second color chart according to the
Evans F. L.
Fuji Photo Film Co. , Ltd.
Geisel Kara
Sughrue & Mion, PLLC
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