Method, apparatus and technique for enabling individuals to create and use color

• US 8,405,868 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2006
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Andrew Jackson
• Original Assignee: Andrew Jackson
• Inventors: Jackson, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Madelein A
• Application Number:
  US11/535,643
• Publication Number:
  US 20080079965A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,372 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.9, 358/504, 358/515, 358/516, 358/518, 358/520, 358/521, 358/526, 358/530, 358/538, 358/539, 382/165, 382/164, 382/167, 382/162, 347/19, 347/115, 347/116, 345/589, 345/593, 345/594
• US Class Current: 358/1.9
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/52 using colour charts
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/522 circular colour charts

Abstract

A person can create a desired color through use of a visual aid or tool. The aid or tool may include a plurality of color lines, provided on a medium, on which color can be blended. The plurality of color lines may include: (i) a primary set of color lines, each providing a corresponding primary color that is different than a primary color of another color line in the primary set, and (ii) a secondary set of lines, where each color line in the secondary set is for a corresponding secondary color. Each color line in the primary set includes a plurality of color formations, and each color formation may have a common range of hues that are different of hues of the other color lines in the primary set. The plurality of color formations of each color line are arranged from a highest intensity to a lowest intensity. Each color line in the secondary set includes a plurality of color formations for the corresponding secondary color. The plurality of colors for each color line in the primary set and in the secondary set are arranged from a lowest intensity to a highest intensity. One of the color lines may be identified as either containing the desired color or containing a first primary component of the desired color. Once identified, one of two actions may take place: adjacent color formations from a single color line may be mixed, or color formations from adjacent color lines of relatively equivalent intensity are mixed.

Claims

1. A method for creating a desired color, the method comprising:

using a plurality of color lines on a physical medium on which paint can be mixed by a user, wherein the plurality of color lines include;

(i) a primary set of color lines, including a first color line, a second color line, and a third color line, wherein each color line in the primary set is for a corresponding primary color that is different than a primary color of another color line in the primary set, and wherein each color line in the primary set includes a plurality of color formations that each have a common range of hues that are different of hues of the other color lines in the primary set,

(ii) a secondary set of color lines, wherein each color line in the secondary set is for a corresponding secondary color, wherein at least one color line from the secondary set is provided to transition from one color line in the primary set to another color line in the primary set, and wherein each color line in the secondary set includes a plurality of color formations for the corresponding secondary color,

wherein the plurality of color formations for each color line in the primary set and in the secondary set are arranged from a lowest intensity to a highest intensity; and

cross-color line mixing a paint of each of two or more color formations to achieve a mixed paint of the desired color, wherein cross-color line mixing includes;

(i) forming a first mixture by in-line mixing the paint of each of two or more color formations of a first selected color line, the first selected color line corresponding to one of the primary or secondary color lines; and

(ii) mixing the first mixture and a paint of each of one or more color formations of a second selected color line that is adjacent to the first selected color line to achieve the mixed paint of the desired color.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the physical medium is selected from a group consisting of:

(i) a tray on which paint is grouped, and (ii) a kit on which the color lines of the primary and secondary set are provided a plurality of repositories to collect a paint corresponding to each color in each color line of the primary and secondary set.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the primary colors for the primary set of color lines is red, blue and yellow.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

for the desired color, determining that the desired color includes a tint or a tone; and

adding white to either of the paint of the desired color or the first mixture to achieve the tint or the tone.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein adding white includes adding white to the paint of the highest intensity color of either the primary or secondary set of color lines to achieve the tint.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein adding white includes adding white to the paint of the lowest intensity color of the primary of secondary set of color lines to achieve the tone.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores instructions for enabling a person to create a desired color, wherein the instructions include instructions, that when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform steps comprising:

displaying a plurality of color lines, the plurality of color lines including;

(i) a primary set of color lines, the primary color lines including a first color line, a second color line, and a third color line, wherein each color line in the primary set is for a corresponding primary color that is different than a primary color of another color line in the primary set, and wherein each color line in the primary set includes a plurality of color formations that each have a common range of hues that are different of hues of the other color lines in the primary set, wherein the plurality of color formations of each color line are arranged from a highest intensity to a lowest intensity,

(ii) a secondary set of color lines, wherein each color line in the secondary set is for a corresponding secondary color, wherein at least one color line from the secondary set is provided to transition from one color line in the primary set to another color line in the primary set, and wherein each color line in the secondary set includes a plurality of color formations for the corresponding secondary color,

detecting an input action by the person corresponding to the person selecting (i) a first color formation from a first color line that is one of the primary or secondary set of color lines, and (ii) a second color formation that is adjacent to the first color line;

cross-color line mixing two or more color formations to achieve the desired color, including;

(i) in-line mixing two or more color formations of a first selected color line in order to form a first component of the desired color, the first selected color line corresponding to one of the primary or secondary color lines;

(ii) determining a second component of the desired color using one or more color formations of a second selected color line that is adjacent to the first selected color line; and

(iii) mixing the color formations of the first component and the second component to achieve the desired color.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, further comprising instructions that when executed, cause the one or more processors to identifying one or more coloring materials that a person can use to mix and form the desired color.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the coloring materials identified are paint tubes.