Color image information processing system, using color image information to which achromatic color information is appended, and input device and output device employed in same

• US 6,198,552 B1
• Filed: 02/09/1998
• Issued: 03/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Nagae, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Coles, Edward L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WALLERSON, MARK E
• Application Number:
  US09/020,851
• Time in Patent Office: 1,121 Days
• Field of Search: 382/162, 382/167, 358/518, 358/520, 358/523, 358/515, 358/519, 358/536
• US Class Current: 358/518
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/6027 Correction or control of colour gradation or colour contrast H04N1/6058 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/603 controlled by characteristics of the picture signal generator or the picture reproducer

Abstract

Disclosed is a color image processing system making it easy to carry out color management while taking account of the use environment and tastes of a user of any device. The color image processing system comprises a color image information input device, a color image information output device, an inherent color space-to-common color space conversion feature for converting color image information produced by the color image information input device and expressed in a color space inherent to the color image information input device into color image information expressed in a given color space, a first achromatic color information processing feature for adjust color image information converted to be expressed in the given color space by means of the inherent color space-to-common color space conversion feature so that an achromatic-color portion of the color image information will have a value indicating an achromatic color in the given color space, a common color space-to-inherent color space conversion feature for converting color image information expressed in the given color space into color image information expressed in the color space inherent to the color image information output device, and a second achromatic color information processing feature for adjusting color image information to be converted by the common color space-to-inherent color space conversion feature and expressed in the given color space so that a portion of the color image information having a value indicating an achromatic color will represent the achromatic color.

Claims

1. A color image information processing system, comprising:

at least one color image information input device for producing color image information;

at least one color image information output device for producing a color image on the basis of the color image information;

an inherent color space-to-common color space conversion feature for converting color image information produced by said color image information input device and expressed in a color space inherent to said color image information input device into color image information expressed in a given color space;

a common color space-to-inherent color space conversion feature for converting color image information expressed in the given color space into color image information expressed in the color space inherent to said color image information output device;

a first achromatic color information processing feature for adjusting color image information converted to be expressed in the given color space by means of said inherent color space-to-common color space conversion feature so that an achromatic portion of the color image information will have a value indicating a color with only an achromatic component in the given color space; and

a second achromatic color information processing feature for adjusting a portion of the converted color image information that should only indicate a color with an achromatic component, the color image information to be converted by said common color space-to-inherent color space conversion feature and expressed in the given color space, so that if the converted color has non-achromatic components, it is adjusted such that the image information will represent a color with only an achromatic component.

2. A color image information processing system according to claim 1, wherein said given color space is the uniform color space.

3. A color image information processing system according to claim 2, further comprising:

an input image conversion pre-adjustment feature for adjusting color image information not converted by said inherent color space-to-common color space conversion feature and expressed in the color space inherent to said color image information input device;

an input image conversion post-adjustment feature for adjusting color image information adjusted by said first achromatic color adjustment feature and expressed in the uniform color space;

an output image conversion pre-adjustment feature for adjusting color image information not adjusted by said second achromatic color adjustment feature and expressed in the uniform color space; and

an output image conversion post-adjustment feature for adjusting color image information converted to be expressed in the color space inherent to said color image information output device by means of said common color space-to-inherent color space conversion feature.

4. A color image information processing system according to claim 2, further comprising:

a first color domain calculation feature for calculating a first color domain, which is a color domain in the given color space, corresponding to color image information output from said first achromatic color adjustment feature;

a second color domain calculation feature for calculating a second color domain, which is a color domain expressed in a second color space, indicating a color that can be output by said color image information output device; and

a first compression feature for compressing color image information according to a given algorithm on the basis of the first color domain and second color domain.

5. A color image information processing system according to claim 4, further comprising a second compression feature that when a color domain corresponding to color image information compressed by said first compression feature exceeds the second color domain, further compresses a portion of the color image information corresponding to an exceeding element of the color domain according to a second given algorithm.

6. A color image information processing system according to claim 5, wherein said second color domain calculation feature includes an in-range judgment feature for detecting if a value obtained by converting color image information by means of said common color space-to-inherent color space conversion feature associated with said color image information output device falls within a defined range;

and said first compression feature and second compression feature adjust magnitudes of compression thereof on the basis of the result of detection performed by said in-range judgment feature.

7. A color image information processing system according to claim 4, wherein said second color domain calculation feature calculates the second color domain using a domain in the uniform color space defined by inversely converting an output of said common color space-to-inherent color space conversion feature that converts an input of said color image information output device.

8. A color image information processing system according to claim 4, wherein said first color domain calculation feature includes a color domain setting feature for use in arbitrarily setting the first color domain, and outputs the first color domain set using said color domain setting feature.

9. A color image information processing system according to claim 4, wherein said first compression feature includes a lightness domain calculation feature for calculating a first lightness domain defined with a maximum level and minimum level of lightness serving as an element of the first color domain, and a second lightness domain defined with a maximum level and minimum level of lightness serving as an element of the second color domain, and a lightness conversion feature for converting color image information so that the first and second lightness domains will agree with each other.

10. A color image information processing system according to claim 9, wherein said color image information output device is a device for outputting an image on paper, and said lightness domain calculation feature specifies the level of lightness of the paper as the maximum level of lightness.

11. A color image information processing system according to claim 4, wherein said compression feature includes a chroma conversion feature for converting color image information so that a maximum level of chroma relative to each hue expressed in the first color space will agree with a maximum level of chroma relative to each hue expressed in the second color space.

12. A color image information processing system according to claim 4, wherein two or more color image information output devices exhibit similar characteristics;

and when one of the two or more color image information output devices is used to output color image information, color image information compressed by said first and second compression features associated with another color image information output device exhibiting a similar characteristic is input to said second compression feature associated with the one color image information output device.

13. A color image information processing system according to claim 4, wherein two or more color image information output devices exhibit similar characteristics;

and when one of the two or more color image information output devices is used to output color image information, color image information compressed by said first and second compression features associated with another color image information output device exhibiting a similar characteristic and adjusted by said second achromatic color adjustment feature is input to said second compression feature associated with the one color image information output device.

14. A color image information processing system according to claim 12, wherein said second compression feature changes a portion of color image information representing a color image and being compressed by said second compression feature, of which the width is equal to or larger than a given value, into a given value.

15. A color image information processing system according to claim 13, wherein said second compression feature changes a portion of color image information representing a color image and being compressed by said second compression feature, of which the width is equal to or larger than a given value, into a given value.

16. A color image information processing system according to claim 2, further comprising a simultaneous conversion feature having the capabilities of both said inherent color space-to-common color space conversion feature and first achromatic color information adjustment feature associated with said color image information input device, and a selection feature for designating whether or not said simultaneous conversion feature is to be operated.

17. A color image information processing system according to claim 16, wherein said simultaneous conversion feature appends information provided by said inherent color space-to-common color space conversion feature and first achromatic color information conversion feature to color image information converted by said simultaneous conversion feature.

18. A color image information input device for producing color image information expressed in a given color space, comprising:

an inherent color space-to-common color space conversion feature for converting color image information produced by said color image information input device and expressed in a color space inherent to said color image information input device into color image information expressed in the given color space; and

an achromatic color information processing feature for adjusting a portion of the converted color image information that should only indicate a color with an achromatic component, the color image information converted to be expressed in the given color space by means of said inherent color space-to-common color space conversion feature, so that if the converted color has non-achromatic components, it is adjusted such that the image information will have a value indicating a color with only an achromatic component in the given color space.

19. A color image information input device according to claim 18, wherein said given color space is the uniform color space.

20. A color image information input device according to claim 19, wherein said achromatic color adjustment feature uses magnitudes of correction of levels of hue and chroma relative to any input levels of lightness to interpolate magnitudes of correction of levels of hue and chroma relative to each level of lightness, and appends the calculated magnitudes of correction of levels of hue and chroma relative to each level of lightness to color image information expressed in the uniform color space.

21. A color image information input device according to claim 19, wherein said inherent color space-to-common color space conversion feature has a plurality of transformation expressions used to convert the inherent color space to the given color space, and it can be designated which of the transformation expressions are to be used.

22. A color image information input device according to claim 18, further comprising an input image conversion pre-adjustment feature for adjusting color image information not converted by said inherent color space-to-common color space conversion feature and expressed in the color space inherent to said color image information input device, and an input image conversion post-adjustment feature for adjusting color image information adjusted by said first achromatic color adjustment feature and expressed in the uniform color space.

23. A color image information input device according to claim 22, wherein said input image conversion post-adjustment feature includes a lightness conversion feature for arbitrarily changing an output level of lightness expressed in the uniform color space in relation to an input level thereof.

24. A color image information input device according to claim 22, wherein said input image conversion post-adjustment feature includes an adjustment feature for adjusting the levels of lightness, hue, and chroma of any color, and an interpolation feature for interpolating an intermediate color using any colors adjusted by said adjustment feature according to a given algorithm.

25. A color image information input device according to claim 22, wherein said input image conversion post-adjustment feature includes a feature for arbitrarily changing a curve plotted using values of perceptive attributes of hue and chroma expressed in the uniform color space.

26. A color image information input device according to claim 22, wherein said input image conversion post-adjustment feature includes a plurality of different adjustment features, and a selection feature for selecting and arbitrarily combining any of said plurality of different adjustment features.

27. A color image information input device according to claim 18, further comprising a simultaneous conversion feature having the capabilities of both said inherent color space-to-common color space conversion feature and first achromatic color information adjustment feature associated with said color image information input device, and a selection feature for designating whether or not said simultaneous conversion feature is operated.

28. A color image information input device according to claim 27, wherein said simultaneous conversion feature appends information provided by said inherent color space-to-common color space conversion feature and first achromatic color information adjustment feature to color image information converted by said simultaneous conversion feature.

29. A color image information output device for producing a color image on the basis of color image information expressed in a given color space, comprising:

a common color space-to-inherent color space conversion feature for converting color image information expressed in the given color space into color image information expressed in a color space inherent to said color image information output device; and

an achromatic color information processing feature for adjusting a portion of the color image information expressed in the given color space that should indicate a color with only an achromatic component, the color image information to be converted by said common color space-to-inherent color space conversion feature, so that if the image information has non-achromatic components, it is adjusted such that the image information will represent a color with only an achromatic component.

30. A color image information output device according to claim 29, wherein said given color space is the uniform color space.

31. A color image information output device according to claim 30, wherein said achromatic color adjustment feature uses magnitudes of correction of levels of hue and chroma relative to any input levels of lightness to interpolate magnitudes of levels of hue and chroma relative to each level of lightness, and appends the calculated magnitudes of correction of levels of hue and chroma relative to each lightness to color image information expressed in the uniform color space.

32. A color image information output device according to claim 30, wherein said common color space-to-inherent color space conversion feature has a plurality of transformation expressions used to convert the inherent color space to the given color space, and it can be designated which of the transformation expressions are used.

33. A color image information output device according to claim 30, further comprising an output image conversion pre-adjustment feature for adjusting color image information not adjusted by said achromatic color adjustment feature and expressed in the uniform color space, and an output image conversion post-adjustment feature for adjusting color image information converted to be expressed in the color space inherent to said color image information output device by means of said common color space-to-inherent color space conversion feature.

34. A color image information output device according to claim 33, wherein said output image conversion pre-adjustment feature includes a lightness conversion feature for arbitrarily changing an output level of lightness expressed in the uniform color space in relation to an input level thereof.

35. A color image information output device according to claim 33, wherein said output image conversion pre-adjustment feature includes an adjustment feature for adjusting the levels of lightness, hue, and chroma of any color, and an interpolation feature for interpolating an intermediate color using any colors adjusted by said adjustment feature according to a given algorithm.

36. A color image information output device according to claim 33, wherein said output image conversion pre-adjustment feature includes a feature for arbitrarily changing a curve plotted using values of perceptive attributes of hue and chroma expressed in the uniform color space.

37. A color image information processing system, comprising:

a color space conversion section converting color image information expressed in a first color space into converted color image information expressed in a second color space; and

a processing section adjusting a portion of the converted color image information that should only indicate a color with an achromatic component, so that if the converted color has non-achromatic components, it is adjusted such that the image information will represent a color with only an achromatic component in the second color space.

38. A color image information processing system, comprising:

a color space conversion section converting color image information expressed in a first color space into converted color image information expressed in a second color space; and

a processing section adjusting a portion of the color image information that should only indicate a color with an achromatic component, so that if the image information has non-achromatic components, it is adjusted such that the image information will represent a color with only an achromatic component.

39. A color image information input device, comprising:

a color space conversion section converting color image information expressed in a first color space inherent to said device into converted color image information expressed in a second color space; and

a processing section adjusting a portion of the converted color image information that should only indicate a color with an achromatic component, so that if the converted color has non-achromatic components, it is adjusted such that the image information will represent a color with only an achromatic component in the second color space.

40. A color image information output device, comprising:

a color space conversion section converting color image information expressed in a first color space into converted color image information expressed in a second color space inherent to said device; and

a processing section adjusting a portion of the color image information that should only indicate a color with an achromatic component, so that if the image information has non-achromatic components, it is adjusted such that the image information will represent a color with only an achromatic component.

41. A method for producing color image information expressed in a given color space, comprising:

converting color image information produced by a color image information input device and expressed in a color space inherent to the color image information input device into converted color image information expressed in the given color space; and

adjusting a portion of the converted color image information that should only indicate a color with an achromatic component, so that if the converted color has non-achromatic components, it is adjusted such that the image information will have a value indicating a color with only an achromatic component in the given color space.

42. A method for producing a color image on the basis of color image information expressed in a given color space, comprising:

converting color image information expressed in the given color space into converted color image information expressed in a color space inherent to a color image information output device; and

adjusting a portion of the color image information expressed in the given color space that should only indicate a color with an achromatic component, so that if the image information has non-achromatic components, it is adjusted such that the image information will represent a color with only an achromatic component.

43. A computer-readable medium encoded with a program for producing color image information expressed in a given color space, said program comprising functions for:

converting color image information produced by a color image information input device and expressed in a color space inherent to the color image information input device into converted color image information expressed in the given color space; and

adjusting a portion of the converted color image information that should only indicate a color with an achromatic component, so that if the converted color has non-achromatic components, it is adjusted such that the image information will have a value indicating a color with only an achromatic component in the given color space.

44. A computer-readable medium encoded with a program for producing a color image on the basis of color image information expressed in a given color space, said program comprising functions for:

converting color image information expressed in the given color space into converted color image information expressed in a color space inherent to a color image information output device; and

adjusting a portion of the color image information expressed in the given color space that should only indicate a color with an achromatic compound, so that if the image information has non-achromatic components, it is adjusted such that the image information will represent a color with only an achromatic component.