Process for the production of a color palette

• US 20020167527A1
• Filed: 04/04/2002
• Published: 11/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: X-Rite Switzerland GmbH (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: X-Rite Europe AG
• Inventors: Ehbets, Peter, Zimmermann, Bruno, Senn, Thomas, Van Aken, Harold R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,280,118 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/592
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/462 Computing operations in or between colour spaces; Colour management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/52 using colour charts

Abstract

A system and method are provided for producing a color palette including a multitude of color patterns for a predetermined coloring process with a multitude of defined base colors and for a predetermined substrate. The individual color patterns are systematically, especially equidistantly, defined in a mathematically defined color space by the way of color coordinates describing the color space. The spectrum of the color pattern is synthesized by calculation for each color pattern in the color space by way of a color mixing model representing the predetermined coloring process and the predetermined substrate, whereby that spectrum is selected having the highest color constancy. The spectra synthesized by calculation are stored in relation to the color coordinates of the underlying color patterns. Through use of a mathematical/physical basis (such as the CIE-system), it is possible to define a visually equidistant color space and assign a spectral curve to individual points having the best color constancy.

Claims

1. A method of producing a color palette including color patterns associated with a particular coloring process and substrate, comprising the steps of:

a) providing color mixing modeling data relating to the particular coloring process and substrate;

b) defining a plurality of color patterns in a color space by color coordinates, wherein each color pattern represents a mixture of a plurality of base colors; and

c) calculating spectral data for each color pattern of the plurality of color patterns using the color mixing modeling data.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of storing the spectral data for each color pattern and the associated color coordinates in a database.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of selecting the spectral data for each color pattern associated with the highest color constancy.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of providing color mixing modeling data relating to the particular coloring process and substrate further comprises entering calibration information for each base color in the plurality of base colors.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of defining a plurality of color patterns in a color space by color coordinates, wherein each color pattern represents a mixture of a plurality of base colors further comprises defining the color patterns equidistantly.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of defining a plurality of color patterns in a color space by color coordinates, wherein each color pattern represents a mixture of a plurality of base colors further comprises defining the color patterns in a CIE-L,a,b color space with cartesian color coordinates.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of defining a plurality of color patterns in a color space by color coordinates, wherein each color pattern represents a mixture of a plurality of base colors further comprises defining the color patterns in a CIE-L,c,h color space with polar color coordinates.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of calculating spectral data for each color pattern of the plurality of color patterns using the color mixing modeling data further comprises using color mixing modeling data based on a color formulation algorithm.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of calculating spectral data for each color pattern of the plurality of color patterns using the color mixing modeling data further comprises using color mixing modeling data based on a color formulation algorithm selected from the group consisting of an algorithm according to Kubelka-Munk, Hoffman-Schmelzer, and Mudgett-Richards.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of calculating spectral data for each color pattern of the plurality of color patterns using the color mixing modeling data further comprises using color mixing modeling data based on a raster formulation algorithm.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of calculating spectral data for each color pattern of the plurality of color patterns using the color mixing modeling data further comprises using color mixing modeling data based on a raster formulation algorithm according to Emmel-Hersch.

13. A system as recited in claim 12, further comprising a database for storing the spectral data for each color pattern and associated color coordinates.

14. A system as recited in claim 12, further comprising a means for selecting the spectral data for each color pattern associated with the highest color constancy.

15. A method according to claim 12, wherein the means for defining a plurality of color patterns in a color space by color coordinates, wherein each color pattern represents a mixture of a plurality of base colors comprises a computer program using a CIE-L,a,b color space with cartesian color coordinates.

16. A method according to claim 12, wherein the means for defining a plurality of color patterns in a color space by color coordinates, wherein each color pattern represents a mixture of a plurality of base colors comprises a computer program using a CIE-L,c,h color space with polar color coordinates.

17. A method according to claim 12, wherein the means for providing color mixing modeling data relating to the particular coloring process and substrate comprises a computer program using a color formulation algorithm.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the color formulation algorithm is selected from the group consisting of an algorithm according to Kubelka-Munk, Hoffman-Schmelzer, and Mudgett-Richards.

19. A method according to claim 12, wherein the means for calculating spectral data for each color pattern of the plurality of color patterns using the color mixing modeling data comprises a computer program using a raster formulation algorithm.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the raster formulation algorithm is an algorithm according to Emmel-Hersch.

12. A system for producing a color palette including color patterns associated with a particular coloring process and substrate, comprising:

a) means for providing color mixing modeling data relating to the particular coloring process and substrate;

b) means for defining a plurality of color patterns in a color space by color coordinates, wherein each color pattern represents a mixture of a plurality of base colors; and

c) means for calculating spectral data for each color pattern of the plurality of color patterns using the color mixing modeling data.

21. A method for producing a color palette including color patterns associated with a predetermined coloring process and substrate, comprising the steps of:

a) defining a plurality of color patterns in a mathematically defined color space by using color coordinates;

b) calculating the spectrum of the color pattern for each color pattern of the plurality of color patterns in the color space by using a color mixing model relating to the predetermined coloring process and substrate; and

c) storing the calculated spectra relating to the color coordinates of the color pattern.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein the step of defining a plurality of color patterns in a mathematically defined color space by using color coordinates further comprises defining the color patterns equidistantly.

23. A method according to claim 21, further comprising the step of storing color mixture recipes relating to the color patterns associated with the calculated spectra.

24. A method according to claim 21, further comprising the step of selecting the spectrum for each color pattern of the plurality having the highest color constancy.

25. A method according to claim 21, further comprising the step of optimizing the spectrum for each color pattern using the color constancy.