Color image mapping within output device reproduction range

• US 6,108,008 A
• Filed: 09/18/1995
• Issued: 08/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Ohta, Takatoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph H.
• Application Number:
  US08/529,857
• Time in Patent Office: 1,800 Days
• Field of Search: 395/131, 358/501-518, 345/431, 345/199, 707/527
• US Class Current: 345/590
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/6058 Reduction of colour to a range of reproducible colours, e.g. to ink- reproducible colour gamut

Abstract

An image formed by a predetermined image device is previewed by an image processor. Information of a processing condition of the image forming is entered, and a stored profile according to a processing condition and a type of image forming device is read-out. The profile according to the processing condition corresponds to the information and the type of the predetermined image forming device, and the image processor performs preview processing in accordance with the read-out profile.

Claims

1. An image processing method comprising the steps of:

entering information of a type of a predetermined image forming means and a type of quantization processing method for image formation;

reading out, from a storing means which stores plural profiles, a one of the profiles corresponding to the information of the type of the predetermined image forming means and the type of quantization processing method;

when a preview mode, in which image data for previewing an image formed by a predetermined image forming means is generated, is set, performing preview processing by using the profile read out in said reading-out step; and

when an image forming mode is set, performing color matching by using the profile read out in said reading-out step,

wherein the profiles each include a preview processing condition and a color matching condition which respectively correspond to information of a type of image forming means and a type of quantization processing method.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the quantization processing method is a binarizing method.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the preview processing includes color processing according to the predetermined image forming means.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of executing quantization processing on the image data to which the color matching is performed, according to the type of quantization processing method corresponding to the read out profile.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of converting the generated image data into RGB data based on the characteristic of a monitor to which said RGB data is to be output.

6. An image processing method, comprising the steps of:

entering information on a processing condition and an output device type;

reading out a profile in accordance with the processing condition and the output device type from a storing means which stores a plurality of profiles each including gamut data and a color matching condition according to a processing condition and an output device type;

judging whether or not input color image data is within a gamut according to the entered processing condition and the entered output device type, on the basis of the gamut data included in the profile; and

notifying a user when the input color image data is outside the gamut.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the processing condition is related to quantization processing.

8. A method according to claim 6, wherein the processing condition is related to a recording medium.

9. An image processing apparatus comprising:

entering means for entering information of a type of a predetermined image forming means and a type of quantization processing method for image formation;

reading means for reading out, from storing means which stores plural profiles, a one of the profiles corresponding to the information of the type of said predetermined image forming means and the type of quantization processing method;

means for, when a preview mode, in which image data for previewing an image formed by a predetermined image forming means is generated, is set, performing preview processing by using the profile read out by said reading means; and

when an image forming mode is set, performing color matching by using the profile read out by said reading means,

wherein the profiles each include a preview processing condition and a color matching condition which respectively correspond to information of a type of image forming means and a type of quantization processing method.

10. An image processing apparatus comprising:

entering means for entering information of a processing condition and an output device type;

reading means for reading out a profile in accordance with the processing condition and the output device type from storing means which stores a plurality of profiles each including gamut data and a color matching condition according to a processing condition and an output device type;

judging means for judging whether or not input color image data is within a gamut according to the entered processing condition and the entered output device type, on the basis of the gamut data included in the profile; and

notifying means for notifying a user when the input color image data is outside the gamut.

11. A storage medium which stores, in a computer readable state, a program for executing an image processing method, comprising the steps of:

entering information of a type of a predetermined image forming means and a type of quantization processing method for image formation;

reading out, from a storing means which stores plural profiles, a one of the profiles corresponding to the information of the type of the predetermined image forming means and the type of quantization processing method;

when a preview mode, in which image data for previewing an image formed by a predetermined image forming means is generated, is set, performing preview processing by using the profile read out in said reading-out step; and

when an image forming mode is set, performing color matching by using the profile read out in said reading-out step,

wherein the profiles each include a preview processing condition and a color matching condition which respectively correspond to information of a type of image forming means and a type of quantization processing method.

12. A storage medium which stores, in a computer readable state, a program for executing an image processing method comprising the steps of:

entering information of a processing condition and an output device type;

reading out a profile, in accordance with the processing condition and the output device type, from a storing means which stores a plurality of profiles each including gamut data and a color matching condition according to a processing condition and an output device type;

judging whether or not input color image data is within a gamut according to the entered processing condition and the entered output device type, on the basis of the gamut data included in the profile; and

notifying a user when the input color image data is outside the gamut.