Method and apparatus for color selection and production

• US 4,721,951 A
• Filed: 04/27/1984
• Issued: 01/26/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ampex Corporation (Delta Information Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ampex Corporation (Delta Information Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Holler, Peter B.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/605,023
• Time in Patent Office: 1,369 Days
• Field of Search: 340/703, 358/75, 358/80
• US Class Current: 345/603
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/462 Computing operations in or between colour spaces; Colour management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/02 characterised by the way in which colour is displayed details of colour display specific for CRTs G09G1/28; specific for flat matrix panels other than liquid crystal displays G09G3/2003; specific for liquid crystal displays G09G3/3607
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/622 with simulation on a subsidiary picture reproducer

Abstract

A color selection apparatus and method wherein a color is selected on the basis of one color characteristic system for implementation in another color characteristic system. A display is generated which is indicative of possible values of one color characteristic from the first color characteristic system, from which a value is chosen. A display is generated which is indicative of a relationship between values of a second color characteristic and the first color characteristic selected. A value for the second color characteristic is selected. The color characteristics, from the first color characteristic system, that have been selected are converted to the second color characteristic system, which is then implemented.

Claims

1. Apparatus for selecting a color as a function of a first set of color characteristics for implementation as a function of a second set of color characteristics, said apparatus comprising:

first display means for generating a display indicative of a plurality of values of one color characteristic included in said first set and a constant value of at least one other color characteristic of said first set;

means for selecting a value of said displayed one color characteristic;

second display means for generating a display indicative of a relationship between values of an other color characteristic included in said first set and said selected value of said one color characteristic;

means for selecting a value of said displayed other color characteristic;

means for converting said selected values to values of said second set of color characteristics defining said color; and

means for implementing said color as a function of the values of said second set of color characteristics.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, including:

means for generating a display indicative of a relationship between values of a third color characteristic included in said first set and the selected values of said first and second color characteristics; and

means for selecting a value of said displayed third color characeristics.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, including:

means for generating a display indicative of values of a third color characteristic included in said first set; and

means for selecting a value of said displayed third color characteristic.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said one color characteristic has a range of values, and said first display means generate a display indicative of said range of values.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said one color characteristic has a range of values, and said first display means generates a display indicative of a portion of said range of values.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 including means for scrolling said first display means for generating a display indicative of an additional portion of said range of values.

7. Apparatus for selecting a color as a function of a first set of color characteristic of hue, saturation and brightness for implementation as a function of a second set of color characteristics, said apparatus comprising:

means for generating a display indicative of a plurality of values of hue; and

a constant value of at least one of saturation or brightness;

means for selecting a value of said displayed values of hue;

means for generating a display indicative of a relationship between values of saturation and said selected value of hue;

means for selecting a value of said displayed values of saturation;

means for selecting a value of brightness;

means for converting said selected values to values of said second set of color characteristics defining said color; and

means for implementing said color as a function of the values of said second set of color characteristics.

8. Apparatus for selecting a color as a function of a first set of color characteristics of hue, saturation and brightness for implementation as a function of a second set of color characteristics, said apparatus comprising:

means for generating a display indicative of a plurality of values of hue and a constant value of at least one of saturation or brightness;

means for selecting a value of said displayed values of hue;

means for generating a display indicative of a relationship between values of saturation and said selected value of hue;

means for selecting a value of said displayed values of saturation;

means for generating a display indicative of values of brightness;

means for selecting a value of said display values of brightness;

means for converting said selected values to values of said second set of color characteristics defining said color; and

means for implementing said color as a function of the values of said second set of color characteristics.

9. A method for selecting a color as a function of a first set of color charateristics for implementation as a function of a second set of color characteristics, said method comprising the steps of:

generating a display indicative of a plurality of values of one color characteristic included in said first set and a constant value of at least one other color characteristic of said first set;

selecting a value of said displayed one color characteristic;

generating a display indicative of a relationship between values of an other color characteristic included in said first set and said selected value of said one color characteristic;

selecting a value of said displayed other color characteristic;

converting said selected values to values of said second set of color characteristics defining said color; and

implementing said color as a function of the values of said second set of color characteristics.

10. The method of claim 9, including the additional steps of:

generating a display indicative of a relationship between values of a third color characteristic included in said first set and the selected values of said first and second color characteristics; and

selecting a value of said displayed values of said third color characteristic.

11. The method of claim 9, including the additional steps of:

generating a display indicative of values of a third color characteristic included in said first set; and

selecting a value of said displayed third color characteristic.

12. Apparatus for selecting a color as a function of a first set of color characteristic for implementation as a function of a second and third set of color characteristics, said apparatus comprising:

means for generating a display indicative of a plurality of values of one color characteristic included in said first set and a constant value of at least one other color characteristic of said first set;

means for selecting a value of said displayed one color characteristic;

means for generating a display indicative of a relationship between values of an other color characteristic included in said first set and said selected value of said cone color characteristic;

means for selecting a value of said displayed other color characteristic;

means for converting said selected values to values of said second set of color characteristic defining said color;

means for implementing said color as a function of the values of said second set of color characteristics;

means for converting said selected values to values of said third set of color characteristics defining said color; and

means for implementing said color as a function of the values of said third set of color characteristic.

13. In a computer graphics system, apparatus for selecting a color as a function of hue, saturation and brightness for implementation as a function of red, green and blue, said apparatus comprising:

means for generating a first display indicative of a plurality of values of hue and a constant value of at least one of saturation or brightness;

means for selecting a value of said displayed values of hue;

means for generating a second display indicative of a relationship between values of saturation and said selected value of hue;

means for selecting a value of said displayed values of saturation from said second display;

means for generating a third display indicative of a relationship between values of brightness and said selected values of hue and saturation;

means for selecting a value of said displayed value of brightness from said third display;

means for converting said selected values of hue, saturation and brightness to values of red, green and blue; and

means for displaying said color as a function of the values of red, green and blue.

14. In a computer graphic system, apparatus for selecting a color as a function of hue, saturation and brightness for implementation as a function of red, green and blue, said apparatus comprising:

means for generating a first display indiative of a plurality of values of hue and a constant value of at least one of saturation or brightness;

means for selecting a value of said displayed values of hue;

means for generating a second display indicative of a relationship between values of saturation and said selected value of hue;

means for selecting a value of said displayed values of saturation;

means for generating a third display indicative of values of brightness;

means for selecting a value of said displayed values of brightness;

means for converting said selected values of hue, saturation and brightness to values of red, green and blue defining said color; and

means for displaying said color as a function of the values of red, green and blue.

15. Apparatus for the selection of a color as defined by a set of color characteristics belonging to a single color characteristic system, said apparatus comprising:

means for displaying a first range of colors defined by a range of values of a first color characteristic from a first color characteristic system, where a second and a third color characteristic in the first color characteristic system are constant;

means for selecting a color from the first range of colors, said color defining a value for said first color characteristic;

means for displaying a second range of colors defined by a range of values of said second color characteristic from the first color characteristic system, where the first color characteristic is the value selected and the third color characteristic is constant;

means for selecting a color from the second range of colors, said color defining a value for said second color characteristic;

means for displaying a third range of colors defined by a range of values of said third color characteristic from the first color characteristic system, where the first and second color characteristics are the values selected;

means for selecting a color from the third range of colors, said color defining a value for said third color characteristic;

means for converting the selected values of the first color characteristic system to values of a second color characteristic system defining said color; and

means for selecting said color according to the values of the second color characteristic system.

16. Apparatus for the selection of a color as defined by a set of color characteristics belonging to a single color characteristic system, said apparatus comprising:

means for displaying a first range of colors defined by a range of values of a first color characteristic from a first color characteristic system, where a second and a third color characteristic in the first color characteristic system are constant;

means for selecting a color from the first range of colors, said color defining a value for said first color characteristic;

means for displaying a second range of colors defined by a range of values of said second color characteristic from the first color characteristic system, where the first color characteristic is the value selected and the third color characteristic is constant;

means for selecting a color from the second range of colors, said color defining a value of said second color characteristic;

means for displaying a third range of colors defined by a range of values of said third color characteristic from the first color characteristic system, where the first color characteristic is the value selected and the second color characteristic is constant;

means for selecting a color from the third range of colors, said color defining a value for said third color characteristic;

means for converting the selected values of the first color characteristic system to values of a second color characteristic system defining said color; and

means for selecting said color acording to the values of the second color characteristic system.

17. Apparatus for the selection of a desired color defined by values of a set of color characteristics of a single color characteristic system, said apparatus comprising:

means for generating a display of first colors defined by a plurality of values of a first color characteristic of said set of color characteristics and a constant value of at least one other color characteristic of said set of color characteristics;

means for selecting one of the displayed first colors defined by one of said values of said first color characteristic;

means for generating a display of second colors defined by a plurality of values of a second of said set of color characteristics and said value selected defining one of the displayed first colors;

means for selecting one of the displayed second colors defined by one of said values of said second color characteristics; and

means for selecting said desired color according to the values defining said selected colors.

21. Apparatus of claim 17 wherein said plurality of values of said first of said set of color characteristics is a range of values.

22. Apparatus of claim 17 wherein said plurality of values of said second of said set of color characteristics is a range of values.

23. Apparatus of claim 17 wherein said means for generating said display of first colors generates said display of first colors further defined by a fixed value of said second of said set of color characteristics.

24. Apparatus of claim 17 further comprising:

means for generating a display of third colors defined by a plurality of values of a third of said set of color characteristics and said value selected defining one of the displayed first colors; and

means for selecting one of the displayed third colors defined by one of said values of said third color characteristic.

25. Apparatus of claim 17 further comprising:

means for generating a display of third colors defined by a plurality of values of a third of said set of color characteristics and said values selected defining one of the displayed first and second colors; and

means for selecting one of the displayed third colors defined by one of said values of said third color characteristic.

18. Apparatus for the selection of color as defined by values of hue, saturation and brightness for implementation as values of red, blue and green, said apparatus comprising:

means for displaying a first range of colors defined by a range of values of hue, where values for saturation and brightness are constant;

means for selecting a color from the first range of colors, said color defining a value of hue;

means for displaying a second range of colors defined by a range of values of saturation, where the value of hue is the value selected and the value of brightness is constant;

means for selecting a color from the second range of colors, said color defining a value of saturation;

means for displaying a third range of colors defined by a range of values of brightness, where the values of hue and saturation are the values selected;

means for selecting a color from the third range of colors, said color defining a value of brightness;

means for converting the selected values of hue, saturation and brightness to values of red, blue and green defining said color; and

means for implementing the values of red, blue and green.

19. Apparatus for the selection of a color as defined by values of hue, saturation and brightness implementation as values of red, blue and green, said apparatus comprising:

means for displaying a first range of colors defined by a range of values of hue, where values for saturation and brightness are constant;

means for selecting a color from the first range of colors, said color defining a value of hue;

means for displaying a second range of colors defined by a range of values of saturation, where the value of hue is the value selected and the value of brightness is constant;

means for selecting a color from the second range of colors, said color defining a value of saturation;

means for displaying a third range of colors defined by a range of values of brightness, where the value of hue is the value selected and the value of saturation is constant;

means for selecting a color from the third range of colors, said color defining a value of brightness;

means for converting the selected values of hue, saturation and brightness to values of red, blue and green defining said color; and

means for implementing the values of red, blue and green.

20. Apparatus for selecting a desired color as a function of a first set of color characteristics of hue, saturation and brightness for implementation as a function of a second set of color characteristics, said apparatus comprising:

means for generating a display bar of colors defining a plurality of values of hue and a constant value of at least one of saturation or brightness;

means for selecting a color defining a value of hue;

means for generating a display bar of colors defining a plurality of values of saturation and said selected value of hue;

means for selecting a color defining a value of saturation;

means for generating a display bar of colors defining a plurality of values of brightness;

means for selecting a color defining a value of brightness;

means for converting said values defining said selected colors to values of said second set of color characteristics defining said desired color; and

means for implementing said desired color as a function of the values of said second set of color characteristics.

26. Method for the selection of a desired color defined by values of a set of color characteristics of a single color characteristic system comprising the steps of:

generating a display of first colors defined by a plurality of values of a first color characteristic of said set of color characteristics and a constant value of at least one other color characteristic of said set of color characteristics;

selecting one of the displayed first colors defined by one of said values of said first color characteristics;

generating a display of second colors defined by plurality of values of a second of s aid set of color characteristics and said value selected defining one of the displayed first colors;

selecting one of the displayed second colors defined by one of said values of said second color characteristic; and

selecting said desired color according to the values defining said selected colors.

27. Method of claim 26 comprising the additional steps of:

generating a display of third colors defined by a plurality of values of a third of said set of color characteristics and said value selected defining one of the displayed first colors; and

selecting one of the displayed third colors defined by one of said values of said third color characteristic.

28. Method of claim 26 comprising the additional steps of;

generating a display of third colors defined by a plurality of values of a third of said set of color characteristics and said values selected defining one of the displayed first and second colors; and

selecting one of the displayed third colors defined by one of said values of said third color characteristic.

29. Apparatus for the selection of a color defined by values of a set color characteristic of a single color characteristic system, said apparatus comprising:

means for generating a display of first colors indicative of a plurality of values of a first color characteristic of said set of color characteristics and a constant valve of at least one other color characteristic of said set of color characteristics;

means for selecting a displayed first color to obtain a value of said first color characteristic;

means for generating a display of second colors indicative of both (i) a plurality of values of a second of said set of color characteristics, and (ii) of said obtained value of said first color characteristic;

means for selecting a displayed second color to obtain a value of said second color characteristic; and

means for coupling the obtained values of the color characteristics for selection of the color defined thereby.

30. Apparatus of claim 29 wherein said plurality of values of said first of said set of color characteristics is a range of values.

31. Apparatus of claim 29 wherein said plurality of values of said second of said set of color characteristics is a range of values.

32. Apparatus of claim 29 further comprising:

means for generating a display of third colors indicative of both (i) a plurality of values of a third of said set of color characteristics, and (ii) of said obtained value of said first color characteristic; and

means for selecting a displayed third color to obtain a value of said third color characteristic.

33. Apparatus of claim 29 further comprising:

means for generating a display of third colors indicative of both (i) a plurality of values of a third of said set of color characteristics, and (ii) of said obtained values of said first and second color characteristics; and

means for selecting a displayed third color to obtain a value of said third color characteristic.

34. Method for the selection of a color defined by values of a set of color characteristics of a single color characteristic system comprising the steps of:

generating a display of first colors indicative of a plurality of values of a first color characteristic of said set of color characteristics and a constant value of at least one other color characteristic of said set of color characteristics;

selecting a displayed first color to obtain a value of said first color characteristic;

generating a display of second color indicative of both (i) a plurality of values of a second of said set of color characteristics, and (ii) of said obtained value of said first color characteristic;

selecting a displayed second color to obtain a value of said second color characteristic; and

coupling the obtained values of the color characteristics for selection of the color defined thereby.

35. The method of claim 34 comprising the additional steps of:

generating a display of third colors indicative of both (i) a plurality of values of a third of said set of color characteristics, and (ii) of said obtained value of said first color characteristic; and

selecting a displayed third color to obtain a value of said third color characteristic.

36. The method of claim 34 comprising the additional steps of:

generating a display of third colors indicative of both (i) a plurality of values of a third of said set of color characteristics, and (ii) of said obtained values of said first and second color characteristics; and

selecting a displayed third color to obtain a value of said third color characteristic.