CCM calculating system, CCM calculating method and recording medium

• US 7,148,900 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2001
• Issued: 12/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dainichiseika Color & Chemicals Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Danichisekia Color and Chemicals Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Osamu, Sano, Kazuo, Saito, Fumiyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Tung, Kee M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): AMINI, JAVID A
• Application Number:
  US09/879,958
• Publication Number:
  US 20010052904A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,007 Days
• Field of Search: 345/589, 345/590, 345/591, 345/593, 345/600
• US Class Current: 345/589
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/02 using printers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2215/0094 Colour printing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/6011 with simulation on a subsidiary picture reproducer H04N1/622 takes precedence; matching two or more picture reproducers H04N1/6052
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/6022 Generating a fourth subtractive colour signal, e.g. under colour removal, black masking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/603 controlled by characteristics of the picture signal generator or the picture reproducer

Abstract

The object of the invention is to provide a CCM calculating system being relatively inexpensive and alleviating the necessity of a spectrophotometer, a CCM calculating method and a recording medium. A CCM calculating system according to the invention calculates a blending ratio of colorants based on stored color data 16. The system has an input device 5(20b) for inputting data of color specification values corresponding to a desired target color; and a data operation unit 1(20c) for calculating a blending ratio of colorants for reproducing the target color, based on the input data of color specification values and stored color data. Since the blending ratio of colorants for reproducing the desired target color may be calculated based on the input color specification value data and stored color data, such CCM calculation may be performed without the necessity of a spectrophotometer.

Claims

1. A CCM calculating system for calculating a blending ratio of colorants based on stored color data including data of color chips and data of colorants, and for presenting information of said blending ratio to a user, said system comprising:

a data receiving means for receiving data identifying a color chip selected by a user and data of differences of color specification values between color specification values corresponding to the selected color chip and color specification values corresponding to a desired target color;

a calculating means for calculating a target blending ratio of colorants for reproducing said desired target color based on said data of colorants and data of said color specification values corresponding to said desired target color; and

a means for supplying data of said calculated target blending ratio to be presented to a user;

wherein said differences color specification values are specified by a user based on an image in a display and a visual perception of a color of said selected color chip and said desired target color.

2. The CCM calculating system as claimed in claim 1, comprising a server storing said stored color data, wherein said calculating means calculates said target blending ratio using said server.

3. The CCM calculating system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a color specification value displaying means for displaying said differences of color specification values included in said received data.

4. The CCM calculating system as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a correcting means for correcting said differences of color specification values displayed on said displaying means.

5. The CCM calculating system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising blending ratio displaying means for displaying said calculated target blending ratio of colorants.

6. The CCM calculating system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said color data includes data of costs of colorants, said calculating means provides a plurality of said calculated target blending ratios of colorants and calculates a total cost of each of calculated target blending ratios of colorants based on said data of costs of colorants, and said blending ratio displaying means displays said plurality of calculated target blending ratios arranged in a descending order or an ascending order in terms of said total cost.

7. The CCM calculating system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first difference of hues, lightness or chromas of said desired target color and a test sample for toning with one light irradiated is different from a second difference of hues, lightness or chromas of said desired target color and said test sample with another light irradiated, and wherein said system further comprises means for calculating a plurality of calculated target blending ratios of colorants which may decrease a difference between first difference and said second difference.

8. The CCM calculating system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stored color data is provided based on data obtained by a measurement using a spectrophotometer.

9. The CCM calculating system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stored color data is provided based on data obtained by a measurement using a colorimeter.

10. The CCM calculating system of claim 1, wherein said image includes scales for specifying said differences of color specification values.

11. The CCM calculating system of claim 1, wherein said image includes portions for colors arranged in a descending or an ascending order of said differences of color specification values.

12. A CCM calculating method for calculating a blending ratio of colorants based on stored color data including data of color chips and data of colorants and for presenting information of said blending ratio to a user, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving input data identifying a color chip selected by a user and data of differences of color specification values between color specification values corresponding to the selected color chip and color specification values corresponding to a desired target color; and

calculating a target blending ratio of colorants for reproducing said desired target color based on said data of colorants and data of said color specification values corresponding to said desired target color; and

supplying data of said calculated target blending ratio to be presented to a user,

wherein said differences of color specification values between color specification values are specified by a user based on an image in a display and a visual perception of a color of said selected color chip and said desired target color.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said calculated target blending ratio is calculated using a server storing said stored color data.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of displaying differences of color specification values included in said input data using an input data displaying means.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of correcting said differences of color specification values being displayed on said input data displaying means.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein said stored color data includes data of colorants, resins or applications.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of displaying said calculated target blending ratio of colorants in a blending ratio displaying means.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said color data includes data of costs of colorants, a plurality of said calculated target blending ratios of colorants are provided and a total cost of each of said calculated target blending ratios of colorants is calculated based on said data of costs of colorants, and said blending ratio displaying means displays said plurality of calculated target blending ratios arranged in a descending order or an ascending order in terms of said total cost.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein a first difference of hues, lightness or chroma of said desired target color and a test sample for toning with one light irradiated is different from a second difference of hues, lightness or chroma of said desired target color and said test sample with another light irradiated, and wherein said calculated target blending ratios of colorants are calculated which may decrease a difference between said first difference and said second difference.

20. The method of claims 19, wherein said stored color data is provided based on data obtained by a measurement using a spectrophotometer.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein said stored color data is provided based on data obtained by a measurement using a colormeter.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein said image includes scales for specifying said differences of said color specification values.

23. The method of claim 12, wherein said image includes portions for colors arranged in a descending or an ascending order of said differences of color specification values.

24. A computer-readable medium having a program of instructions for execution by a computer to perform a CCM calculation processing for providing a blending ratio of colorants based on stored color data including data of color chips and data of colorants and for presenting information of said blending ratio to a user, said CCM calculation processing comprising the steps of:

receiving data identifying a color chip selected by a user and data of differences between color specification values corresponding to the selected color chip and color specification values corresponding to a desired target color; and

calculating a target blending ratio of colorants for reproducing said desired target color based on said data of colorants and data of said color specification values corresponding to said desired target color; and

supplying data of said calculated target blending ratio to be presented to a user,

wherein said differences between color specification values are specified by a user based on an image in a display and a visual perception of a color of said selected color chip and said desired target color.