Color adjusted printing

• US 6,995,867 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2001
• Issued: 02/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CognitiveTPG LLC (Blue Edge Technology LLC)
• Original Assignee: ATSI Holdings, Inc.
• Inventors: Nye, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, II, Jerome
• Application Number:
  US09/861,417
• Publication Number:
  US 20020171851A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,723 Days
• Field of Search: 358/518, 358/298, 358/1.9, 358/3.1, 358/3.13, 358/3.23, 358/1.15, 358/1.16, 358/1.18, 358/5.3, 358/539, 382/1.66, 382/167
• US Class Current: 358/1.9
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/02 using printers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2215/0082 Architecture adapted for a particular function
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2215/0094 Colour printing

Abstract

A program method of converting a multiple color file to a two-color, or limited color file, so that an image contained therein can be printed upon a receipt, Point Of Sale, or two-color printer. Most multiple color files that contain logos and graphics cannot be successfully reduced in color by automatic or computer generated methods. The programmatic method of this invention contains a second-stage routine that requests viewer participation and input. The resulting printed or displayed image is visually acceptable by reason of this viewer input.

Claims

1. A method of converting a multi-colored image, logo, or graphic contained in a file to an alternate color image, logo, or graphic having fewer colors, so that it will be printable upon a limited-color printer, said method comprising the steps of:

a) loading a file containing an image, logo, or graphic into a program;

b) programmatically reducing the colors of said image, logo, or graphic to a predetermined number of colors and then;

c) manually changing color regions of said image, logo, or graphic.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the step of:

d) resizing said image, logo, or graphic to fit said limited-color printer.

3. The method in accordance with claim 2, further comprising the step of:

e) printing said image, logo, or graphic upon a limited-color, two-color, receipt, or Point Of Sale printer.

4. The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the step of:

d) printing said image, logo, or graphic upon a limited-color, two-color, receipt, or Point Of Sale printer.

5. The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the step of:

d) saving said image, logo, or graphic in a computer file.

6. The method in accordance with claim 5, further comprising the step of:

e) saving said image, logo, or graphic in a different format from said file.

7. The method in accordance with claim 2, further comprising the step of:

e) saving said image, logo, or graphic in a computer file after the steps of reducing and changing the colors of said image, logo, or graphic and resizing said image, logo, or graphic.

8. The method in accordance with claim 7, further comprising the step of:

f) saving said image, logo, or graphic in a different format from said file after the steps of reducing and changing the colors of said image, logo, or graphic and resizing said image, logo, or graphic.

9. The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the step of:

d) selecting the number of colors for said image, logo, or graphic corresponding to a limited color printer.

10. The method in accordance with claim 9, further comprising the step of:

d) selecting a conversion speed for said image, logo, or graphic corresponding to said limited-color printer.

11. A method of converting a multi-colored bitmap contained in a file to an alternate color bitmap representation having fewer colors, so that it will be printable upon a limited-color printer, said method comprising the steps of:

a) loading a file containing a bitmap into a program;

b) programmatically reducing the colors of said bitmap to a predetermined number of colors; and

then

c) manually changing color regions of said bitmap.

12. The method in accordance with claim 11, further comprising the step of:

d) printing said bitmap upon a limited-color, two color, receipt, or Point Of Sale printer.

13. The method in accordance with claim 11, further comprising the step of:

d) saving said bitmap in a computer file.

14. The method in accordance with claim 13, further comprising the step of:

e) saving said bitmap in a different format from said file.

15. The method in accordance with claim 11, further comprising the step of:

e) selecting the number of colors for said bitmap corresponding to a limited-color printer.

16. The method in accordance with claim 15, further comprising the step of:

d) selecting a conversion speed for said bitmap corresponding to said limited-color printer.

17. The method in accordance with claim 11, further comprising the step of:

d) resizing said bitmap to fit said limited-color printer.

18. The method in accordance with claim 17, further comprising the step of:

e) printing said bitmap upon a limited-color, two-color, receipt, or Point Of Sale printer.

19. The method in accordance with claim 17, further comprising the step of:

e) saving said bitmap in a computer file.

20. The method in accordance with claim 19, further comprising the step of:

f) saving said bitmap in a different format from said file.