Color adjusted printing

• US 20020171851A1
• Filed: 05/21/2001
• Published: 11/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CognitiveTPG LLC (Blue Edge Technology LLC)
• Original Assignee: ATSI Holdings, Inc.
• Inventors: Nye, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 6,995,867 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/02 using printers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2215/0082 Architecture adapted for a particular function
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2215/0094 Colour printing

Abstract

A program method of converting a multiple color file to a two-color, or limited color file, so that an image contained therein can be printed upon a receipt, Point Of Sale, or two-color printer. Most multiple color files that contain logos and graphics cannot be successfully reduced in color by automatic or computer generated methods. The programmatic method of this invention contains a second-stage routine that requests viewer participation and input. The resulting printed or displayed image is visually acceptable by reason of this viewer input.

Claims

1. A method of converting a multi-colored image, logo, or graphic contained in a file to an alternate color image, logo, or graphic having fewer colors, so that it will be printable upon a limited-color printer, said method comprising the steps of:

a) loading a file containing an image, logo, or graphic into a program;

b) programmatically reducing the colors of said image, logo, or graphic to a predetermined number of colors; and

then

c) manually changing color regions of said image, logo, or graphic.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the step of:

d) resizing said image, logo, or graphic to fit said limited-color printer.

3. The method in accordance with claim 2, further comprising the step of:

e) printing said image, logo, or graphic upon a limited-color, two-color, receipt, or Point Of Sale printer.

4. The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the step of:

d) printing said image, logo, or graphic upon a limited-color, two-color, receipt, or Point Of Sale printer.

5. The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the step of:

d) saving said image, logo, or graphic in a computer file.

6. The method in accordance with claim 5, further comprising the step of:

e) saving said image, logo, or graphic in a different format from said file.

7. The method in accordance with claim 2, further comprising the step of:

e) saving said image, logo, or graphic in a computer file.

8. The method in accordance with claim 7, further comprising the step of:

f) saving said image, logo, or graphic in a different format from said file.

9. The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the step of:

d) selecting the number of colors for said image, logo, or graphic corresponding to a limited-color printer.

10. The method in accordance with claim 9, further comprising the step of:

d) selecting a conversion speed for said image, logo, or graphic corresponding to said limited-color printer.

11. A method of converting a multi-colored bitmap contained in a file to an alternate color bitmap representation having fewer colors, so that it will be printable upon a limited-color printer, said method comprising the steps of:

a) loading a file containing a bitmap into a program;

b) programmatically reducing the colors of said bitmap to a predetermined number of colors; and

then

c) manually changing color regions of said bitmap.

12. The method in accordance with claim 11, further comprising the step of:

d) resizing said bitmap to fit said limited-color printer.

13. The method in accordance with claim 12, further comprising the step of:

e) printing said bitmap upon a limited-color, two-color, receipt, or Point Of Sale printer.

14. The method in accordance with claim 11, further comprising the step of:

d) printing said bitmap upon a limited-color, two-color, receipt, or Point Of Sale printer.

15. The method in accordance with claim 11, further comprising the step of:

d) saving said bitmap in a computer file.

16. The method in accordance with claim 15, further comprising the step of:

e) saving said bitmap in a different format from said file.

17. The method in accordance with claim 12, further comprising the step of:

e) saving said bitmap in a computer file.

18. The method in accordance with claim 17, further comprising the step of:

f) saving said bitmap in a different format from said file.

19. The method in accordance with claim 11, further comprising the step of:

e) selecting the number of colors for said bitmap corresponding to a limited-color printer.

20. The method in accordance with claim 19, further comprising the step of:

d) selecting a conversion speed for said bitmap corresponding to said limited-color printer.