Extensible system for color management

• US 20070052985A1
• Filed: 08/24/2005
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Stokes, Michael, Chen, Marilyn, Presley, Anthony, Bourgoin, Michael, Bloomfield, Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 7,706,020 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.900
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/6058 Reduction of colour to a range of reproducible colours, e.g. to ink- reproducible colour gamut
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/6088 by viewing conditions, i.e. conditions at picture output

Abstract

A color engine supports extensibility by allowing plug-ins. The color engine transforms an image file associated with a source device for consumption by a destination device. Within the color engine, a device model operates over a device model profile to generate a gamut boundary shell, which describes the range of colors a device is capable of producing. A color appearance model operates over a color appearance model profile to compensate for external viewing conditions. A gamut map model accepts as input gamut boundary shells describing the source device and the destination device, and operates over a gamut map model profile to generate a transform, which is used to transform the image file for consumption by the destination device. The device model profiles and gamut map model profiles may be extended using XML plug-ins, and the device models and gamut map models may be extended using DLL plug-ins.

Claims

1. A method for generating a transform, the method comprising:

identifying a reference to a first plug-in device model in a first device model profile;

receiving a first gamut boundary shell generated by the referenced first plug-in device model; and

generating a transform based on the first gamut boundary shell.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first gamut boundary shell is a source gamut boundary shell.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a first color appearance model alters the first gamut boundary shell based on data contained in a first color appearance model profile.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a reference to a second plug-in device model in a second device model profile; and

receiving a second gamut boundary shell generated by the referenced second plug-in device model,

wherein the transform is generated based on the first gamut boundary shell and the second gamut boundary shell.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second gamut boundary shell is a destination gamut boundary shell.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein a second color appearance model alters the second gamut boundary shell based on data contained in a second color appearance model profile.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the first plug-in device model and second plug-in device model are in direct communication.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein generating a transform comprises:

providing a gamut map model plug-in; and

using the gamut map model plug-in to generate a transform.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein generating a transform comprises:

providing a gamut map model profile plug-in; and

;

generating the transform based on data stored in the gamut map model profile plug-in.

10. One or more computer-readable media storing instructions thereon, the instructions being executable to cause a computer to perform a method comprising:

identifying a reference to a first plug-in device model in a first device model profile;

receiving a first gamut boundary shell generated by the referenced first plug-in device model; and

generating a transform based on the first gamut boundary shell.

11. The computer-readable media of claim 10, wherein the first gamut boundary shell is a source gamut boundary shell.

12. The computer-readable media of claim 10, wherein a first color appearance model alters the first gamut boundary shell based on data contained in a first color appearance model profile.

13. The computer-readable media of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

identifying a reference to a second plug-in device model in a second device model profile; and

receiving a second gamut boundary shell generated by the referenced second plug-in device model,

wherein the transform is generated based on the first gamut boundary shell and the second gamut boundary shell.

14. The computer-readable media of claim 13, wherein the second gamut boundary shell is a destination gamut boundary shell.

15. The computer-readable media of claim 13, wherein a second color appearance model alters the second gamut boundary shell based on data contained in a second color appearance model profile.

16. The computer-readable media of claim 13, wherein the first plug-in device model and second plug-in device model are in direct communication.

17. The computer-readable media of claim 10, wherein generating a transform comprises:

providing a gamut map model plug-in; and

;

generating the transform based on data stored in the gamut map model profile plug-in.

18. The computer-readable media of claim 10, wherein generating a transform comprises:

providing a gamut map model profile plug-in; and

;

generating the transform based on data stored in the gamut map model profile plug-in.