Field calibration method and apparatus for color image reproduction system

Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co

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Filing: 1995-03-21

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Granted: —

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Expires: 2015-03-21

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Abstract

Abstract A method of calibrating a color image reproduction system in the field is provided. The color image reproduction system includes a color input scanner for generating a color digital image, a digital image processor for applying a color transform to the color digital image to produce a transformed color digital image and, and a digital color printer for printing the transformed color digital image. The calibration method includes the steps of: a) providing a set of calibration tools developed on a representative system, the tools including a scanning target, a first reference file recording the response of a scanner to the scanning target in the representative system, an image file for producing a test pattern, and a second reference file recording the response of the scanner in the representative system to the test pattern printed on the printer in the representative system; and b) employing the calibration tools to calibrate the color image reproduction system in the field, by: 1) scanning the scanning target in the color scanner to produce a first test file; 2) employing the first test file and the first reference file, to generate a scanner calibration table; 3) sending the image file to the color printer to produce a second test pattern; 4) scanning the second test pattern in the color scanner and processing the output of the color scanner through the scanner calibration table to produce a second test file; and 5) employing the second test file and the second reference file to generate a printer calibration table.

Inventors

👤 Shijie C/O Eastman Kodak Co Wan
👤 Anthony J. C/O Eastman Kodak Co Leone

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —

Jurisdiction EP

Data Source google_patents

Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 14:05

CPC Classifications

H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/46; H04N1/56; H04N1/60; H04N1/603; H04N1/6033

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6

Claim 1

Independent Claim 244 words

A method of calibrating a color image reproduction system in the field, said color image reproduction system having components including a color scanner for generating a color digital image, a digital image processor for applying a color transform to the color digital image to produce a transformed color digital image, and a digital color printer for printing the transformed color digital image, comprising the steps of: a) providing a set of calibration tools developed on a representative system including a scanning target, a first reference file recording the response of the scanner in the representative system to the scanning target, an image file for producing a test pattern on a printer, and a second reference file recording the response of the scanner in the representative system to the test pattern produced by the printer in the representative system; and b) employing the calibration tools to calibrate the color image reproduction system, by: 1) scanning said scanning target in the color scanner to produce a first test file; 2) employing said first test file and said first reference file, to generate a scanner calibration table; 3) printing said image file in the color printer to produce a test pattern; 4) scanning said test pattern in the color scanner and processing the output of the color scanner through said scanner calibration table to produce a second test file; and 5) employing said second test file and said second reference file to generate a printer calibration table.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 130 words

The method claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of providing said set of calibration tools, comprises the steps of: a) setting up a representative color image reproduction system to operate in a desired manner, the representative system having components similar to those of the system to be calibrated; b) providing said scanning target having a set of neutral density patches; c) scanning the scanning target in the color scanner of the representative system to generate said first reference file; d) providing said image file for producing a test pattern; e) printing said image file in the color printer of the representative system to produce a representative test pattern; and f) scanning said representative test pattern in the color scanner of the representative system to produce said second reference file.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 41 words

The method claimed in claim 1, wherein said scanner calibration table comprises a 1D lookup table, said color transform comprises a 3D lookup table and said printer calibration table comprises a 1D lookup table, arranged in series in said image processor.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method claimed in claim 1, wherein said calibration tables are generated by piece-wise linear interpolation.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method claimed in claim 1, wherein said scanning target is provided on the type of media that will be the input to the system.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 233 words

A color image reproduction system comprising: a) a color input scanner for generating a color digital image; b) a digital image processor for applying a color transform to the color digital image to produce a transformed color digital image; c) a digital color printer for printing the transformed color digital image; d) a set of calibration tools developed on a representative system including a scanning target, a first reference file recording the response of a scanner in the representative system to the scanning target, an image file for producing a test pattern, and a second reference file recording the response of the scanner in the representative system to the test pattern produced by the printer in the representative system; and e) means for employing the calibration tools to calibrate the color image reproduction system, including: 1) means for scanning said scanning target in the color scanner to produce a first test file; 2) means employing said first test file and said first reference file, for generating a scanner calibration table; 3) means for sending said image file to the printer to produce a test pattern; 4) means for scanning said test pattern in the color scanner and processing the output of the color scanner through said calibration table to produce a second test file; and 5) means employing said second test file and said second reference file for generating a printer calibration table.

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