Systems, methods, and computer program products for converting between color gamuts associated with different image processing devices

• US 20050185200A1
• Filed: 05/14/2004
• Published: 08/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ZIH Corp. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: ZIH Corp. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Tobol, Nathan H.
• Application Number:
  US10/845,923
• Publication Number:
  US 20050185200A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.900
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/603 controlled by characteristics of the picture signal generator or the picture reproducer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/6058 Reduction of colour to a range of reproducible colours, e.g. to ink- reproducible colour gamut

Abstract

The present invention provides systems, methods, and computer program products for performing color gamut mapping between different color gamuts on a pixel basis. A set of desired parameters is initially defined representing the desired color gamut transformation to which the color values of the pixel are to be mapped. The parameters describe the best-fit lines for the portions of the curve for the gamut transform to which the specific parameters are applied. The present invention next maps the color values used for the pixel in the first color gamut and the color values used for the pixel in the second gamut to the parameters of the transform. The present invention performs mapping by isolating portions of a curve and approximating those portions of the curve with a best straight-line fit. This method of mapping from one color gamut to another color gamut is less computationally intensive than conventional methods.

Claims

1. A method for converting at least one pixel of an image from a first color gamut to a second color gamut, said method comprising:

receiving a set of red, green, blue values of a pixel, where the red, green, and blue values are in the first color gamut;

mapping the red, green, and blue values to a set of parameters that define transforms representing the second color gamut thereby forming a set of mapped red, green, and blue values for the pixel;

converting the set of mapped red, green, and blue values of the pixel to a set of cyan, magenta, and yellow values for the pixel; and

mapping the cyan, magenta, and yellow values to the set of parameters to define a set of mapped cyan, magenta, and yellow values for the pixel.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of mapping the red, green, and blue values comprises subtracting a gray level value associated with the pixel from the red, green, and blue values prior to mapping the red, green, and blue values.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of mapping the red, green, and blue values comprises:

subtracting a gray level value associated with the pixel from the red, green, and blue values to define a set of intermediary red, green, and blue values;

mapping the set of intermediary red, green, and blue values to the parameters of the transforms by applying a set of weighting factors to the intermediary red, green, and blue values; and

thereafter

adding a gray level value to the mapped red, green, and blue values.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said mapping a set of intermediary red, green, and blue values comprises:

determining a set of weighting factors, where each weighting factor is based on the amount of contribution that each red, green, and blue color makes to the mapped red, green, and blue colors of the pixel; and

applying the set of weighting factors to the set of red, green, and blue values.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein said mapping a set of red, green, and blue values to the parameters of the transforms comprises:

calculating a mapped red value by subtracting the contributions made to the color red by the green and blue colors from the contribution made by the red color;

calculating a mapped green value by subtracting the contributions made to the color green by the red and blue colors from the contribution made by the green color; and

calculating a mapped blue value by subtracting the contributions made to the color blue by the red and green colors from the contribution made by the blue color.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of mapping the cyan, magenta, and yellow values comprises subtracting a gray level value associated with the pixel from the cyan, magenta, and yellow values prior to mapping the cyan, magenta, and yellow values.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of mapping the cyan, magenta, and yellow values comprises:

subtracting a gray level value associated with the pixel from the cyan, magenta, and yellow values to create a set of intermediary cyan, magenta, and yellow values;

mapping the set of intermediary cyan, magenta, and yellow values by applying a set of weighting factors to the intermediary cyan, magenta, and yellow values; and

thereafter

adding a gray level value to the mapped cyan, magenta, and yellow values.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said mapping a set of cyan, magenta, and yellow values to the parameters of the transforms comprises:

determining a set of weighting factors, where each weighting factor is based on the amount of contribution that each cyan, magenta, and yellow color makes to the pixel; and

applying the set of weighting factors to the set of cyan, magenta, and yellow values.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein said determining a set of weighting factors for the cyan, magenta, and yellow values comprises determining the contribution that each cyan, magenta, and yellow value makes to the pixel.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein said mapping a set of cyan, magenta, and yellow values to the parameters of the transforms comprises:

calculating a mapped cyan value by subtracting the contributions made to the color cyan in the pixel by the magenta and yellow colors from the contribution made by the cyan color;

calculating a mapped magenta value by subtracting the contributions made to the color magenta by the cyan and yellow colors from the contribution made by the magenta color; and

calculating a mapped yellow value by subtracting the contributions made to the color yellow by the cyan and magenta colors from the contribution made by the yellow color.

11. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of determining a strength value associated with the pixel.

12. A method according to claim 11 further comprising:

comparing the strength value of the pixel to a strength threshold value;

if the pixel strength is less than the threshold value, determining a portion of the mapped cyan, magenta, and yellow values based on the strength of the pixel; and

combining the portion of the mapped cyan, magenta, and yellow values with the original cyan, magenta, and yellow values.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein if the strength value of the pixel is at least as great as the strength threshold value, said method comprising applying a scale factor to the mapped cyan, magenta, and yellow values.

14. A system for converting at least one pixel of an image from a first color gamut to a second color gamut, said system comprising a processor that:

receives a set of red, green, blue values of a pixel, where the red, green, and blue values are in the first color gamut;

maps the red, green, and blue values to a set of parameters that define transforms representing the second color gamut thereby forming a set of mapped red, green, and blue values for the pixel;

converts the set of mapped red, green, and blue values of the pixel to a set of cyan, magenta, and yellow values for the pixel; and

maps the cyan, magenta, and yellow values to the set of parameters to define a set of mapped cyan, magenta, and yellow values for the pixel.

15. A system according to claim 14, wherein when said processor maps the red, green, and blue values, said processor subtracts a gray level value associated with the pixel from the red, green, and blue values prior to mapping the red, green, and blue values.

16. A system according to claim 14, wherein when said processor maps the red, green, and blue values, said processor:

subtracts a gray level value associated with the pixel from the red, green, and blue values to define a set of intermediary red, green, and blue values;

maps the set of intermediary red, green, and blue values to the parameters of the transforms by applying a set of weighting factors to the intermediary red, green, and blue values; and

thereafter

adds a gray level value to the mapped red, green, and blue values.

17. A system according to claim 16, wherein when said processor maps the red, green, and blue values, said processor:

determines a set of weighting factors, where each weighting factor is based on the amount of contribution that each red, green, and blue color makes to the mapped red, green, and blue colors of the pixel; and

applies the set of weighting factors to the set of red, green, and blue values.

18. A system according to claim 15, wherein when said processor maps the red, green, and blue values, said processor:

calculates a mapped red value by subtracting the contributions made to the color red by the green and blue colors from the contribution made by the red color;

calculates a mapped green value by subtracting the contributions made to the color green by the red and blue colors from the contribution made by the green color; and

calculates a mapped blue value by subtracting the contributions made to the color blue by the red and green colors from the contribution made by the blue color.

19. A system according to claim 14, wherein when said processor maps the cyan, magenta, and yellow values, said processor subtracts a gray level value associated with the pixel from the cyan, magenta, and yellow values prior to mapping the cyan, magenta, and yellow values.

20. A system according to claim 14, wherein when said processor maps the cyan, magenta, and yellow values, said processor:

subtracts a gray level value associated with the pixel from the cyan, magenta, and yellow values to create a set of intermediary cyan, magenta, and yellow values;

maps the set of intermediary cyan, magenta, and yellow values by applying a set of weighting factors to the intermediary cyan, magenta, and yellow values; and

thereafter

adds a gray level value to the mapped cyan, magenta, and yellow values.

21. A system according to claim 20, wherein when said processor maps the cyan, magenta, and yellow values, said processor:

determines a set of weighting factors, where each weighting factor is based on the amount of contribution that each cyan, magenta, and yellow color makes to the pixel; and

applies the set of weighting factors to the set of cyan, magenta, and yellow values.

22. A system according to claim 21, wherein said when said processor determines a set of weighting factors for the cyan, magenta, and yellow values said process determines the contribution that each cyan, magenta, and yellow value makes to the pixel.

23. A system according to claim 22, wherein when said processor maps the cyan, magenta, and yellow values, said processor:

calculates a mapped cyan value by subtracting the contributions made to the color cyan in the pixel by the magenta and yellow colors from the contribution made by the cyan color;

calculates a mapped magenta value by subtracting the contributions made to the color magenta by the cyan and yellow colors from the contribution made by the magenta color; and

calculates a mapped yellow value by subtracting the contributions made to the color yellow by the cyan and magenta colors from the contribution made by the yellow color.

24. A system according to claim 14, wherein said processor further determines a strength value associated with the pixel.

25. A system according to claim 14, wherein said processor further:

compares the strength value of the pixel to a strength threshold value;

if the pixel strength is less than the threshold value, determines a portion of the mapped cyan, magenta, and yellow values based on the strength of the pixel; and

combines the portion of the mapped cyan, magenta, and yellow values with the original cyan, magenta, and yellow values.

26. A system according to claim 25, wherein if the strength value of the pixel is at least as great as the strength threshold value, said processor applies a scale factor to the mapped cyan, magenta, and yellow values.

27. A computer program product for converting at least one pixel of an image from a first color gamut to a second color gamut, said computer program product comprising:

a computer-readable storage medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium, said computer-readable program code means comprising;

first computer instruction means for receiving a set of red, green, blue values of a pixel, where the red, green, and blue values are in the first color gamut;

second computer instruction means for mapping the red, green, and blue values to a set of parameters defining transforms representing the second color gamut thereby forming a set of mapped red, green, and blue values for the pixel;

third computer instruction means for converting the set of mapped red, green, and blue values of the pixel to a set of cyan, magenta, and yellow values for the pixel; and

fourth computer instruction means for mapping the cyan, magenta, and yellow values to define a set of mapped cyan, magenta, and yellow values for the pixel.

28. A computer program product according to claim 27, wherein said second computer instruction means comprises means for subtracting a gray level value associated with the pixel from the red, green, and blue values prior to mapping the red, green, and blue values.

29. A computer program product according to claim 27, wherein said second computer instruction means comprises means for:

subtracting a gray level value associated with the pixel from the red, green, and blue values to define a set of intermediary red, green, and blue values;

mapping the set of intermediary red, green, and blue values to the parameters of the transforms by applying a set of weighting factors to the intermediary red, green, and blue values; and

thereafter

adding a gray level value to the mapped red, green, and blue values.

30. A computer program product according to claim 29, wherein said means for mapping the set of intermediary red, green, and blue values comprises means for:

determining a set of weighting factors, where each weighting factor is based on the amount of contribution that each red, green, and blue color makes to the mapped red, green, and blue colors of the pixel; and

applying the set of weighting factors to the set of red, green, and blue values.

31. A computer program product according to claim 30, wherein said means for determining a set of mapped red, green, and blue values comprises means for:

calculating a mapped red value by subtracting the contributions made to the color red by the green and blue colors from the contribution made by the red color;

calculating a mapped green value by subtracting the contributions made to the color green by the red and blue colors from the contribution made by the green color; and

calculating a mapped blue value by subtracting the contributions made to the color blue by the red and green colors from the contribution made by the blue color.

32. A computer program product according to claim 27, wherein said fourth computer instruction means comprises means for subtracting a gray level value associated with the pixel from the cyan, magenta, and yellow values prior to mapping the cyan, magenta, and yellow values.

33. A computer program product according to claim 27, wherein said fourth computer instruction means comprises means for:

subtracting a gray level value associated with the pixel from the cyan, magenta, and yellow values to create a set of intermediary cyan, magenta, and yellow values;

mapping the set of intermediary cyan, magenta, and yellow values by applying a set of weighting factors to the intermediary cyan, magenta, and yellow values; and

thereafter

adding a gray level value to the mapped cyan, magenta, and yellow values.

34. A computer program product according to claim 33, wherein said means for mapping the set of intermediary cyan, magenta, and yellow values comprises means for:

determining a set of weighting factors, where each weighting factor is based on the amount of contribution that each cyan, magenta, and yellow color makes to the pixel; and

applying the set of weighting factors to the set of cyan, magenta, and yellow values.

35. A computer program product according to claim 34, wherein said means for determining a set of weighting factors for the cyan, magenta, and yellow values comprises means for determining the contribution that each cyan, magenta, and yellow value makes to the pixel.

36. A computer program product according to claim 35, wherein said means for mapping a set of cyan, magenta, and yellow values comprises means for:

calculating a mapped cyan value by subtracting the contributions made to the color cyan in the pixel by the magenta and yellow colors from the contribution made by the cyan color;

calculating a mapped magenta value by subtracting the contributions made to the color magenta by the cyan and yellow colors from the contribution made by the magenta color; and

calculating a mapped yellow value by subtracting the contributions made to the color yellow by the cyan and magenta colors from the contribution made by the yellow color.

37. A computer program product according to claim 27 further comprising fifth computer instruction means for determining a strength value associated with the pixel.

38. A computer program product according to claim 37 further comprising means for scaling the mapped cyan, magenta, and yellow values, wherein said means comprises:

means for determining a strength value associated with the pixel; and

means for determining a portion of the corrected cyan, magenta, and yellow values based on the strength of the pixel; and

means for combining the portion of said corrected cyan, magenta, and yellow values with the uncorrected cyan, magenta, and yellow values.

39. A computer program product according to claim 37 further comprising means for applying a scale factor to the mapped cyan, magenta, and yellow values if the strength value of the pixel is at least as great as the strength threshold value.

40. A method for converting at least one pixel of an image from a first color gamut to a second color gamut, said method comprising:

receiving a first value that defines the color of a pixel in a first color gamut;

mapping the first value to a parameter of a transform that represents the second color gamut thereby forming a first mapped value;

converting the first mapped value to a second value that defines the color of the pixel in the second color gamut prior to mapping of the color to the parameter of the transform; and

mapping the second value to the parameter of the transform to thereby define a second mapped value for the pixel in the second color gamut.

41. A method according to claim 40, wherein said step of mapping the first value comprises:

subtracting a gray level value associated with the pixel from the first value to define an intermediary value;

mapping the intermediary value to the parameter of the transform by applying a weighting factor to create the first mapped value; and

thereafter

adding a gray level value to the first mapped value.

42. A method according to claim 40, wherein said step of mapping the second value comprises:

subtracting a gray level value associated with the pixel from the second value to create an intermediary value;

mapping the intermediary value by applying a weighting factor to the intermediary value to create a second mapped value; and

thereafter

adding a gray level value to the second mapped value.

43. A method according to claim 40 further comprising:

determining a strength value associated with the pixel;

comparing the strength value of the pixel to a strength threshold value;

if the pixel strength is less than the threshold value, determining a portion of the second mapped value based on the strength of the pixel; and

combining the portion of the second mapped value with the second value.

44. A method according to claim 40, wherein the first value that defines the color of a pixel in a first color gamut is a set of red, green, blue values, and the second value that defines the color of a pixel in a second color gamut is also a set of red, green, blue values.

45. A method according to claim 40, wherein the first value that defines the color of a pixel in a first color gamut is a set of red, green, blue values, and the second value that defines the color of a pixel in a second color gamut is a set of cyan, magenta, and yellow values.

46. A method according to claim 40, wherein the first value that defines the color of a pixel in a first color gamut is a set of cyan, magenta, and yellow values, and the second values that defines the color of a pixel in a second color gamut is a set of red, green, blue values.

47. A method according to claim 40, wherein the first value that defines the color of a pixel in a first color gamut is a set of cyan, magenta, and yellow values, and the second values that defines the color of a pixel in a second color gamut is also a set of cyan, magenta, and yellow values.

48. A system for converting at least one pixel of an image from a first color gamut to a second color gamut, said system comprising a processor that:

receives a first value that defines the color of a pixel in a first color gamut;

maps the first value to a parameter of a transform that represents the second color gamut thereby forming a first mapped value;

converts the first mapped value to a second value that defines the color of the pixel in the second color gamut prior to mapping of the color to the parameter of the transform; and

maps the second value to the parameter of the transform to thereby define a second mapped value for the pixel in the second color gamut.

49. A system according to claim 48, wherein when said processor maps the first value, said processor:

subtracts a gray level value associated with the pixel from the first value to define an intermediary value;

maps the intermediary value to the parameter of the transform by applying a weighting factor to create the first mapped value; and

thereafter

adds a gray level value to the first mapped value.

50. A system according to claim 48, wherein when said processor maps the second value. said processor:

subtracts a gray level value associated with the pixel from the second value to create an intermediary value;

maps the intermediary value by applying a weighting factor to the intermediary value to create a second mapped value; and

thereafter

adds a gray level value to the second mapped value.

51. A system according to claim 48 wherein said processor:

determines a strength value associated with the pixel;

compares the strength value of the pixel to a strength threshold value;

if the pixel strength is less than the threshold value, determines a portion of the second mapped value based on the strength of the pixel; and

combines the portion of the second mapped value with the second value.

52. A system according to claim 48, wherein the first value that defines the color of a pixel in a first color gamut is a set of red, green, blue values, and the second value that defines the color of a pixel in a second color gamut is also a set of red, green, blue values.

53. A system according to claim 48, wherein the first value that defines the color of a pixel in a first color gamut is a set of red, green, blue values, and the second value that defines the color of a pixel in a second color gamut is a set of cyan, magenta, and yellow values.

54. A system according to claim 48, wherein the first value that defines the color of a pixel in a first color gamut is a set of cyan, magenta, and yellow values, and the second values that defines the color of a pixel in a second color gamut is a set of red, green, blue values.

55. A system according to claim 48, wherein the first value that defines the color of a pixel in a first color gamut is a set of cyan, magenta, and yellow values, and the second values that defines the color of a pixel in a second color gamut is also a set of cyan, magenta, and yellow values.

56. A computer program product for converting at least one pixel of an image from a first color gamut to a second color gamut, said computer program product comprising:

a computer-readable storage medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium, said computer-readable program code means comprising;

first computer instruction means for receiving a first value that defines the color of a pixel in a first color gamut;

second computer instruction means for mapping the first value to a parameter of a transform that represents the second color gamut thereby forming a first mapped value;

third computer instruction means for converting the first mapped value to a second value that defines the color of the pixel in the second color gamut prior to mapping of the color to the parameter of the transform; and

fourth computer instruction means for mapping the second value to the parameter of the transform to thereby define a second mapped value for the pixel in the second color gamut.

57. A computer program product according to claim 56, wherein said second computer instruction means second computer instruction means comprises means for:

subtracting a gray level value associated with the pixel from the first value to define an intermediary value;

mapping the intermediary value to the parameter of the transform by applying a weighting factor to create the first mapped value; and

thereafter

adding a gray level value to the first mapped value.

58. A computer program product according to claim 56, wherein said fourth computer instruction means comprises means for:

subtracting a gray level value associated with the pixel from the second value to create an intermediary value;

mapping the intermediary value by applying a weighting factor to the intermediary value to create a second mapped value; and

thereafter

adding a gray level value to the second mapped value.

59. A computer program product according to claim 56 further comprising fifth computer instruction means for:

determining a strength value associated with the pixel;

comparing the strength value of the pixel to a strength threshold value;

if the pixel strength is less than the threshold value, determining a portion of the second mapped value based on the strength of the pixel; and

combining the portion of the second mapped value with the second value.

60. A computer program product according to claim 56, wherein the first value that defines the color of a pixel in a first color gamut is a set of red, green, blue values, and the second value that defines the color of a pixel in a second color gamut is also a set of red, green, blue values.

61. A computer program product according to claim 56, wherein the first value that defines the color of a pixel in a first color gamut is a set of red, green, blue values, and the second value that defines the color of a pixel in a second color gamut is a set of cyan, magenta, and yellow values.

62. A computer program product according to claim 56, wherein the first value that defines the color of a pixel in a first color gamut is a set of cyan, magenta, and yellow values, and the second values that defines the color of a pixel in a second color gamut is a set of red, green, blue values.

63. A computer program product according to claim 56, wherein the first value that defines the color of a pixel in a first color gamut is a set of cyan, magenta, and yellow values, and the second values that defines the color of a pixel in a second color gamut is also a set of cyan, magenta, and yellow values.

64. A method for converting at least one pixel of an image from a first color gamut to a second color gamut, said method comprising:

receiving a first set of values that define the color of a pixel in a first color gamut;

mapping the first set of values to a set of transforms that represent the second color gamut thereby forming a first set of mapped values, said mapping step comprising;

subtracting a gray level value associated with the pixel from the first set of values to define a set of intermediary values;

mapping the intermediary values to the transforms to create a first set of mapped values; and

adding the gray level value to the first set of mapped values;

converting the first set of mapped values to a second set of values that define the color of the pixel in the second color gamut prior to mapping of the color to the transforms; and

mapping the second set of values to the set of transforms to thereby define a second set of mapped values for the pixel in the second color gamut.

65. A method for converting at least one pixel of an image from a first color gamut to a second color gamut, said method comprising:

receiving a first set of values that define the color of a pixel in a first color gamut;

mapping the first set of values to a set of transforms that represent the second color gamut thereby forming a first set of mapped values;

converting the first set of mapped values to a second set of values that define the color of the pixel in the second color gamut prior to mapping of the color to the transforms; and

mapping the second set of values to the set of transforms to thereby define a second set of mapped values for the pixel in the second color gamut, said mapping comprising;

subtracting a gray level value associated with the pixel from the second set of values to define a set of intermediary values;

mapping the intermediary values to the transforms to create a second set of mapped values; and

adding the gray level value to the second set of mapped values.

66. A method for converting at least one pixel of an image from a first color gamut to a second color gamut, said method comprising:

receiving a first set of values that define the color of a pixel in a first color gamut;

mapping the first set of values to a set of transforms that represent the second color gamut thereby forming a first set of mapped values, said step comprising applying a set of weighting factors to the first set of values, where each weighting factor is based on the amount of contribution that each value of the first set of values makes to the first set of mapped values of the pixel;

converting the first set of mapped values to a second set of values that define the color of the pixel in the second color gamut prior to mapping of the color to the transforms; and

mapping the second set of values to the set of transforms to thereby define a second set of mapped values for the pixel in the second color gamut.

67. A method for converting at least one pixel of an image from a first color gamut to a second color gamut, said method comprising:

receiving a first set of values that define the color of a pixel in a first color gamut;

mapping the first set of values to a set of transforms that represent the second color gamut thereby forming a first set of mapped values;

converting the first set of mapped values to a second set of values that define the color of the pixel in the second color gamut prior to mapping of the color to the transforms; and

mapping the second set of values to the set of transforms to thereby define a second set of mapped values for the pixel in the second color gamut, said step comprising applying a set of weighting factors to the second set of values, where each weighting factor is based on the amount of contribution that each value of the second set of values makes to the second set of mapped values of the pixel.