Method and apparatus for selecting a color palette

• US 8,634,640 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2010
• Issued: 01/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Bhatti, Nina, Susstrunk, Sabine, Baker, Henry Harlyn, Marguier, Joanna
• Primary Examiner(s): SHAH, UTPAL D
• Application Number:
  US12/909,378
• Publication Number:
  US 20120099788A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,188 Days
• Field of Search: 382/167
• US Class Current: 382/167
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/462 Computing operations in or between colour spaces; Colour management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/463 Colour matching
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/528 using colour harmony theory
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/90 Determination of colour characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/6036 involving periodic tests or tests during use of the machine
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/6066 dependent on the gamut of the image to be reproduced

Abstract

A method for selecting a color palette includes receiving a feature from an image of an object and a reference color chart, calculating a transform to correct a color in the imaged reference color chart, correcting a color in the feature using the transform, and selecting a color palette based on the corrected feature color. The reference color chart includes reference colors, and the transform corrects the color in the imaged reference color chart to substantially equal a corresponding reference color. An apparatus for selecting a color palette is also described.

Claims

1. A method for selecting a color palette, comprising:

receiving a feature from an image of an object and a calibrated reference color chart, the calibrated reference color chart including reference colors and selected from among a plurality of reference charts;

calculating a transform to correct a color in the calibrated reference color chart within the image to be coordinated with or to be the closest matching shade to a corresponding reference color;

correcting a color in the feature using said transform; and

from a plurality of color palettes, each color palette comprising a plurality of complementary colors, selecting the color palette having a color that most closely matches the corrected feature color.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting comprises to be coordinated with or to be the closest matching shade to the corrected feature color to a color in a database.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the matched database color is included as part of the color palette.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said selecting is performed using a color appearance model or color space.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said color palette is used in decorating.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said color palette is used in fashion or apparel.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing feedback to a user to choose the reference color chart.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said reference color chart is one of a plurality of reference color charts chosen by a user.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said reference color chart includes color patches that are to be coordinated with or include a color spectrum.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-readable program code embodied therein for performing the method of claim 1.

11. A method for selecting a color palette, comprising:

extracting color-corrected pixels;

minimizing a color difference between said color-corrected pixels and a database of finish samples to find the closest matching finish; and

from a plurality of sets of complementary finishes, selecting the set of complementary finishes that has a finish most closely matching the closest matching finish.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising converting color values of said color-corrected pixels to those of another color appearance model or color space to minimize the color difference.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein minimizing the color difference comprises using a combination of lightness and hue.

14. An apparatus for selecting a color palette, comprising:

a color corrector for receiving a feature from an image of an object and a calibrated reference color chart, the calibrated reference color chart including reference colors and selected from among a plurality of reference charts, calculating a transform to correct a color in the reference color chart within the image to be coordinated with or to be the closest matching shade to a corresponding reference color, correcting a color in the feature using said transform, and generating a corrected feature color; and

a palette selector for selecting, from a plurality of color palettes that each comprise a plurality of complementary colors, the color palette having a color that most closely matches the corrected feature color.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said palette selector matches the corrected feature color to a finish in a finish database.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said selected color palette is a color palette including the finish in the finish database matching the corrected feature color.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said palette selector 5 minimizes a color difference in a color appearance model or color space between the corrected feature color and finishes in a finish database.

18. A system for selecting a color palette comprising the apparatus of claim 14 and an imaging apparatus.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said system resides as at least part of a mobile phone or computer application.

20. A system for selecting a color palette comprising the apparatus of claim 14 and an image analyzer for analyzing an image and providing a selection of features to match.