Process for the production of a color palette

• US 7,280,118 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2002
• Issued: 10/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: X-Rite Switzerland GmbH (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Gretagmacbeth, LLC (Danaher Corporation)
• Inventors: Ehbets, Peter, Zimmermann, Bruno, Senn, Thomas, Van Aken, Harold R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bella; Matthew C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cunningham; Greg F.
• Application Number:
  US10/116,394
• Publication Number:
  US 20020167527A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,014 Days
• Field of Search: 283/91, 283/114, 345589-595, 345/FOR.122, 345/FOR.169, 345/FOR.212, 358/1.9, 358/318, 427/2.17, 427/2, 427/68, 427/212, 427/268, 427/2.68
• US Class Current: 345/594
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/462 Computing operations in or between colour spaces; Colour management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/52 using colour charts

Abstract

A system and method are provided for producing a color palette including a multitude of color patterns for a predetermined coloring process with a multitude of defined base colors and for a predetermined substrate. The individual color patterns are systematically, especially equidistantly, defined in a mathematically defined color space by the way of color coordinates describing the color space. The spectrum of the color pattern is synthesized by calculation for each color pattern in the color space by way of a color mixing model representing the predetermined coloring process and the predetermined substrate, whereby that spectrum is selected having the highest color constancy. The spectra synthesized by calculation are stored in relation to the color coordinates of the underlying color patterns. Through use of a mathematical/physical basis (such as the CIE-system), it is possible to define a visually equidistant color space and assign a spectral curve to individual points having the best color constancy.

Claims

1. A method of producing colors based on base colors, comprising the steps of:

a) defining a plurality of color patterns in a color space by color coordinates, wherein each color pattern represents a mixture of a plurality of base colors, wherein the color patterns are independent from a particular print process and a particular substrate;

b) providing color mixing modeling data relating to the particular color print process and a particular substrate;

c) calculating spectral data associated with the particular color print process and the particular substrate for each color pattern of the plurality of color patterns using the color mixing modeling data; and

d) generating a color palette including a plurality of color patterns resulting from the calculated spectral data.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of storing the spectral data for each color pattern and the associated color coordinates in a database.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of selecting the spectral data for each color pattern associated with the highest color constancy.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing color mixing modeling data relating to the particular color print process and the particular substrate further comprises entering calibration information for each base color.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of defining a plurality of color patterns in a color space by color coordinates, wherein each color pattern represents a mixture of a plurality of base colors further comprises defining the color patterns equidistantly.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of defining a plurality of color patterns in a color space by color coordinates, wherein each color pattern represents a mixture of a plurality of base colors further comprises defining the color patterns in a CIE-L,a,b color space with cartesian color coordinates.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of defining a plurality of color patterns in a color space by color coordinates, wherein each color pattern represents a mixture of a plurality of base colors further comprises defining the color patterns in a CIE-L,c,h color space with polar color coordinates.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of calculating spectral data for each color pattern of the plurality of color patterns using the color mixing modeling data further comprises using color mixing modeling data based on a color formulation algorithm.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of calculating spectral data for each color pattern of the plurality of color patterns using the color mixing modeling data further comprises using color mixing modeling data based on a color formulation algorithm selected from the group consisting of an algorithm according to Kubelka-Munk, Hoffman-Schmelzer, and Mudgett-Richards.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of calculating spectral data for each color pattern of the plurality of color patterns using the color mixing modeling data further comprises using color mixing modeling data based on a raster formulation algorithm.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of calculating spectral data for each color pattern of the plurality of color patterns using the color mixing modeling data further comprises using color mixing modeling data based on a raster formulation algorithm according to Emmel-Hersch.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said calculation is based on spectral data of reflectance for each color pattern.