Local correction apparatus for a color previewer

Claim 2

In a graphic arts color previewer wherein a set of color component signals are developed by successively scanning elemental areas of an input image, said signals being individually representative of corresponding elemental areas of color separations in the actual graphic arts process being previewed, and wherein said color component signals are processed to provide on a display a preview image simulating a color reproduction of said input image, apparatus for adjusting the color content of a selected local area of said preview image, comprising: means for generating a series of pulse-type signals in synchronism with the scanning of said input image, the number of pulses, pulse duration and time of occurrence of said pulsetype signals in said series being selected to define a series of time intervals corresponding to a local area of said preview image; and means responsive to saiD pulse-type signals for adjusting the color content of at least one of said color component signals during said time intervals defined by said pulse-type signals to form a locally corrected color component signal; thereby causing an adjustment in the color content of said selected local area in said preview image.

Claim 3

In a graphic arts color previewer wherein a set of color component signals are developed by successively scanning elemental areas of an input image, said signals being individually representative of corresponding elemental areas of color separations in the actual graphic arts process being previewed, and wherein said color component signals are processed to provide on a display a preview image simulating a color reproduction of said input image, apparatus for adjusting the color content of a selected local area of said preview image, comprising: means for generating a series of pulse-type signals in synchronism with the scanning of said input image, the number of pulses, pulse duration and time of occurrence of said pulse-type signals in said series being selected to define a series of time intervals corresponding to a local area of said preview image; means responsive to said pulse-type signals for generating an adjustable correction signal during said time intervals defined by said pulse-type signals; and means for combining said correction signal with at least one of said color component signals to form a locally corrected color component signal, thereby causing an adjustment in the color content of said selected local area in said preview image.

Claim 4

In a graphic arts color previewer wherein a set of color component signals are developed by successively scanning elemental areas of an input image, said signals being individually representative of corresponding elemental areas of color separations in the actual graphic arts process being previewed, and wherein said color component signals are processed to provide on a display a preview image simulating a color reproduction of said input image, apparatus for adjusting the color content of a selected local area of said preview image, comprising: means for generating a series of pulse-type signals in synchronism with the scanning of said input image, the number of pulses, pulse duration and time of occurrence of said pulse-type signals in said series being selected to define a series of time intervals corresponding to a local area of said preview image; means responsive to said pulse-type signals for generating an adjustable correction signal during said time intervals defined by said pulse-type signals; and means for combining said correction signal with at least one of said color component signals to form a locally corrected color component signal, thereby causing an adjustment in the color content of said selected local area in said preview image.

Claim 5

Apparatus as specified in claim 2, wherein the time of occurrence of said pulse-type signals is adjustable, thereby permitting the selection of a local area at a different location in said preview image.

Claim 6

Apparatus as specified in claim 3, wherein the number of pulses and pulse duration of said pulse-type signals is adjustable, thereby permitting different size local areas to be selected.

Claim 7

Apparatus as specified in claim 2, wherein said correction signal is adjustable in amplitude.

Claim 8

Apparatus as specified in claim 5, wherein said correction signal comprises a series of constant voltage pulses.

Claim 9

Apparatus as specified in claim 2, wherein said means for combining comprises means for adding said correction signal and at least one of said color component signals.

Claim 10

Apparatus as specified in claim 2, wherein said input image is scanned by a raster scanner and wherein said pulse-type signals are generated during a selected identical portion of each of a selected set of adjacent line scans of said raster.

Claim 11

Apparatus as specified in claim 2, which additionally includes means for measuring the color content of that portion of said locally corrected color component signal corresponding to said selected local area.

Claim 12

Apparatus as specified in claim 2, which additionally includes means responsive to said pulse-type signals for generating a corresponding set of signals appropriate for causing a visual indication on said displayed preview image corresponding to said selected local area.

Claim 13

In a graphic arts color previewer, wherein a set of color component signals are developed by successively scanning elemental areas of an input image, said signals being individually representative of corresponding elemental areas of color separations in the actual graphic arts process being previewed, and wherein said color component signals are processed to provide on a display a preview image simulating a color reproduction of said input image, apparatus for adjusting the color content of a selected local area of said preview image, comprising: means for generating a series of pulse-type signals in synchronism with the scanning of said input image, the number of pulses, pulse duration and time of occurrence of said pulse-type signals in said series being selected to define a series of time intervals corresponding to a local area of said preview image; means responsivE to said pulse-type signals for generating a plurality of individually adjustable correction signals, one for each of said color component signals, during said time intervals defined by said pulse-type signals; and means for combining each of said correction signals with a corresponding one of said color component signals to form a locally corrected color component signal, thereby causing an adjustment in the color content of said selected local area of said preview image.

Claim 14

In a graphic arts color previewer, wherein a set of color component signals are developed by successively scanning elemental areas of an input image, said signals being individually representative of corresponding elemental areas of color separations in the actual graphic arts process being previewed, and wherein said color component signals are processed to provide on a display a preview image simulating a color reproduction of said input image, apparatus for adjusting the color content of a selected local area of said preview image, comprising: means for generating a series of pulse-type signals in synchronism with the scanning of said input image, the number of pulses, pulse duration and time of occurrence of said pulse-type signals in said series being selected to define a series of time intervals corresponding to a local area of said preview image; means responsivE to said pulse-type signals for generating a plurality of individually adjustable correction signals, one for each of said color component signals, during said time intervals defined by said pulse-type signals; and means for combining each of said correction signals with a corresponding one of said color component signals to form a locally corrected color component signal, thereby causing an adjustment in the color content of said selected local area of said preview image.

Claim 15

In a graphic arts color previewer, wherein a set of four color component signals are developed by raster scanning an input image, said signals being individually representative of corresponding elemental areas of color separations in the actual graphic arts process being previewed, and wherein said color component signals are processed to provide on a display a preview image simulating a color reproduction of said input image, apparatus for adjusting the color content of a selected local area of said preview image, comprising: means for generating a series of pulse-type signals in synchronism with said raster scanning of said input image, said pulse-type signals occurring during a selected identical portion of each of a selected set of adjacent line scans of said raster, the number of pulses, pulse duration and time of occurrence of said pulse-type signals in said series being adjustable, and defining a series of time intervals corresponding to a selected local area of said preview image; means responsive to said pulse-type signals for generating four individually adjustable, constant voltage correction signals during said time intervals defined by said pulse-type signals; and means for individually adding each of said correction signals and a corresponding one of said color component signals to form a set of locally corrected color component signals; thereby causing an adjustment in the color content of said selected local area in said preview image.

Claim 16

In a graphic arts color previewer, wherein a set of four color component signals are developed by raster scanning an input image, said signals being individually representative of corresponding elemental areas of color separations in the actual graphic arts process being previewed, and wherein said color component signals are processed to provide on a display a preview image simulating a color reproduction of said input image, apparatus for adjusting the color content of a selected local area of said preview image, comprising: means for generating a series of pulse-type signals in synchronism with said raster scanning of said input image, said pulse-type signals occurring during a selected identical portion of each of a selected set of adjacent line scans of said raster, the number of pulses, pulse duration and time of occurrence of said pulse-type signals in said series being adjustable, and defining a series of time intervals corresponding to a selected local area of said preview image; means responsive to said pulse-type signals for generating four individually adjustable, constant voltage correction signals during said time intervals defined by said pulse-type signals; and means for individually adding each of said correction signals and a corresponding one of said color component signals to form a set of locally corrected color component signals; thereby causing an adjustment in the color content of said selected local area in said preview image.

Claim 17

Apparatus as specified in claim 12, which additionally includes means for measuring the color content of that portion of said locally corrected color component signal corresponding to said selected local area.

Claim 18

Apparatus as specified in claim 12, which additionally includes means responsive to said pulse-type signals for generating a corresponding set of signals appropriate for causing a visual indication on said displayed preview image corresponding to said selected local area.