Graphic arts process simultation system

Claim 2

A graphic arts process simulation system capable of deriving from a set of continuous-tone or half-tone color separations, a group of output signals which collectively represent the apparent color of elemental areas of a composite color print that can be obtained from said set of separations by selected adjustment of the variable parameters of a graphic arts color reproduction process wherein color pigments are deposited on a base material, comprising: electro-optical means for scanning the separations of said set to derive a corresponding set of image signals, each signal representing the image characteristics of successively scanned elemental areas of a corresponding one of said separations; means, responsive to continuous-tone image signals from said electro-optical means and having an adjustable signal translation characteristic which is an electrical analog of the actual screening portion of said color reproduction process and which is adjustable to simulate adjustments which can be made in the variable parameters of said screening portion, for processing said continuous-tone image signals to develop a corresponding set of half-tone signals each representing a half-tone image which can be derived from a corresponding one of said continuous-tone separations by means of a selected adjustment of the variable parameters of said screening portion of said color reproduction process; means, responsive to half-tone image signals from said electrooptical means and to half-tone signals from said continuoustone image signal processing means and having an adjustable signal translation characteristic which is an electrical analog of the actual printing portion of said color reproduction process and which is adjustable to simulate adjustments which can be made in the variable parameters of said printing portion, for processing said half-tone signals and half-tone image signals to develop a corresponding set of area signals each representing the fractional portion of corresponding elemental areas of a composite color print that will be occupied by an associated color pigment deposited therein by means of a selected adjustment of the variable parameters of said printing portion of said color reproduction process; and means, capable of being readily adjusted to simulate different base materials and different color pigments which can be used in said color reproduction process, for processing said area signals in accordance with a set of Neugebauer equations which define, in terms of a selected base material and a selected set of color pigments, the apparent color of each elemental area of said composite color print caused by the deposition of said color pigments therein by means of said color reproduction process, for developing a group of output signals which collectively represent the apparent color that will be exhibited by each of said elemental areas when said variable parameters of said reproduction process are so adjusted; whereby said output signals may be utilized for displaying a composite color image which simulates the actual composite color print that can be obtained from said set of color separations by using a selected base material, a selected set of coloR pigments and a selected adjustment of the other variable parameters of said color reproduction process.

Claim 3

A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said separations are transparencies which may contain continuous-tone or half-tone images and wherein said electro-optical means scans said transparencies to derive a corresponding set of image signals, each signal representing the light transmission characteristics of successively scanned elemental areas of a corresponding one of said separation transparencies.

Claim 4

A system in accordance with claim 1 which additionally includes a color image display means, responsive to said group of output signals, for displaying the composite color image which is represented by said output signals and which simulates the actual composite color print that can be obtained from said set of color separations by using a selected base material, a selected set of color pigments and a selected adjustment of the other variable parameters of said color reproduction process, whereby the effects on said color print of different adjustments in said variable parameters can be readily evaluated by viewing said displayed color image.

Claim 5

A system constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for processing area signals comprises: means for multiplying together selected combinations of said area signals in accordance with Neugebauer equations for developing a set of intermediate signals each of which represents the fractional portion of corresponding elemental areas of said composite color print that will be occupied by a predetermined one of the colors that can be produced by means of said color reproduction process; means for multiplying each of said intermediate signals by a set of component tristimulus values which represent in a chosen color representation system the color characteristics of the particular combination of said selected base material and said selected set of color pigments, for developing for each of said intermediate signals a corresponding set of tristimulus signals which define the color of the fractional area represented by each intermediate signal; and means for combining like ones of said tristimulus signals for developing a group of output tristimulus signals which collectively represent in said chosen color representation system the apparent color that will be exhibited by each of the elemental areas of said composite color print when said variable parameters of the color reproduction process are so adjusted.

Claim 6

A system constructed in accordance with claim 4 wherein said chosen color representation system is the X, Y, Z system and wherein said means for processing area signals develops a group of X, Y, Z tristimulus value representative output signals which collectively represent the apparent color that will be exhibited by each of the elemental areas of said composite color print when said variable parameters of the color reproduction process are so adjusted.

Claim 7

A system constructed in accordance with claim 4 wherein said means for processing area signals develops a group of X, Y, Z tristimulus value representative output signals which collectively represent the apparent color that will be exhibited by each of the elemental areas of said composite color print when said variable parameters of the color reproduction process are so adjusted.

Claim 8

A graphic arts process simulation system capable of deriving from a set of continuous-tone or half-tone color separations, a group of output signals which collectively represent the apparent color of elemental areas of a composite color print that can be obtained from said set of separations by selected adjustment of the variable parameters of a graphic arts color reproduction process wherein color pigments are deposited on a base material, comprising: electro-optical means for scanning the separations of said set to derive a corresponding set of image signals, each signal representing the image characteristics of successively scanneD elemental areas of a corresponding one of said separations; means responsive to continuous-tone image signals from said electro-optical means and having an adjustable signal translation characteristic which is an electrical analog of the actual screening portion of said color reproduction process and which is adjustable to simulate adjustments which can be made in the variable parameters of said screening portion, for processing said continuous-tone image signals to develop a corresponding set of half-tone signals each representing a half-tone image which can be derived from a corresponding one of said continuous tone separations by means of a selected adjustment of the variable parameters of said screening portion of said color reproduction process; means responsive to half-tone image signals from said electro-optical means and to half-tone signals from siad continuous-tone image signal processing means and having an adjustable signal translation characteristic which is an electrical analog of the actual printing portion of said color reproduction process and which is adjustable to simulate adjustments which can be made in the variable parameters of said printing portion for processing said half-tone signals and half-tone image signals to develop a corresponding set of area signals each representing the fractional portion of corresponding elemental areas of a composite color print that will be occupied by an associated color pigment deposited therein by means of a selected adjustment of the variable parameters of said printing portion of said color reproduction process; means for multiplying together selected combinations of said area signals in accordance with Neugebauer equations for developing a set of intermediate signals each of which represents the fractional portion of corresponding elemental areas of said composite color print that will be occupied by a predetermined one of the colors that can be produced by means of said color reproduction process; means for multiplying each of said intermediate signals by a set of component tristimulus values which represent in a chosen color representation system the color characteristics of the particular combination of said selected base material and said selected set of color pigments, for developing for each of said intermediate signals a corresponding set of tristimulus signals which define the color of the fractional area represented by each intermediate signal; means for combining like ones of said tristimulus signals for developing a group of output tristimulus signals which collectively represent in said chosen color representation system the apparent color that will be exhibited by each of the elemental areas of said composite color print when said variable parameters of the color reproduction process are so adjusted; and a color image display means, responsive to said group of output signals, for displaying the composite color image which is represented by said output signals and which simulates the actual composite color print that can be obtained from said set of color separations by using a selected base material, a selected set of color pigments and a selected adjustment of the other variable parameters of said color reproduction process; whereby the effects on said color print of different adjustments in said variable parameters can be readily evaluated by viewing said displayed color image.

Claim 9

A graphic arts process simulation system capable of deriving from a set of continuous-tone or half-tone color separations, a group of output signals which collectively represent the apparent color of elemental areas of a composite color print that can be obtained from said set of separations by selected adjustment of the variable parameters of a graphic arts color reproduction process wherein color pigments are deposited on a base material, comprising: electro-optical means for scanning the separations of said set to derive a corresponding set of image signals, each signal representing the image characteristics of successively scanneD elemental areas of a corresponding one of said separations; means responsive to continuous-tone image signals from said electro-optical means and having an adjustable signal translation characteristic which is an electrical analog of the actual screening portion of said color reproduction process and which is adjustable to simulate adjustments which can be made in the variable parameters of said screening portion, for processing said continuous-tone image signals to develop a corresponding set of half-tone signals each representing a half-tone image which can be derived from a corresponding one of said continuous tone separations by means of a selected adjustment of the variable parameters of said screening portion of said color reproduction process; means responsive to half-tone image signals from said electro-optical means and to half-tone signals from siad continuous-tone image signal processing means and having an adjustable signal translation characteristic which is an electrical analog of the actual printing portion of said color reproduction process and which is adjustable to simulate adjustments which can be made in the variable parameters of said printing portion for processing said half-tone signals and half-tone image signals to develop a corresponding set of area signals each representing the fractional portion of corresponding elemental areas of a composite color print that will be occupied by an associated color pigment deposited therein by means of a selected adjustment of the variable parameters of said printing portion of said color reproduction process; means for multiplying together selected combinations of said area signals in accordance with Neugebauer equations for developing a set of intermediate signals each of which represents the fractional portion of corresponding elemental areas of said composite color print that will be occupied by a predetermined one of the colors that can be produced by means of said color reproduction process; means for multiplying each of said intermediate signals by a set of component tristimulus values which represent in a chosen color representation system the color characteristics of the particular combination of said selected base material and said selected set of color pigments, for developing for each of said intermediate signals a corresponding set of tristimulus signals which define the color of the fractional area represented by each intermediate signal; means for combining like ones of said tristimulus signals for developing a group of output tristimulus signals which collectively represent in said chosen color representation system the apparent color that will be exhibited by each of the elemental areas of said composite color print when said variable parameters of the color reproduction process are so adjusted; and a color image display means, responsive to said group of output signals, for displaying the composite color image which is represented by said output signals and which simulates the actual composite color print that can be obtained from said set of color separations by using a selected base material, a selected set of color pigments and a selected adjustment of the other variable parameters of said color reproduction process; whereby the effects on said color print of different adjustments in said variable parameters can be readily evaluated by viewing said displayed color image.

Claim 10

A system constructed in accordance with claim 7 wherein said means for processing area signals develops a group of X, Y, Z tristimulus value representative output signals which collectively represent the apparent color that will be exhibited by each of the elemental areas of said composite color print when said variable parameters of the color reproduction process are so adjusted.