Method and associated apparatus for forming image data metrics which achieve media compatibility for subsequent imaging application

Claim 3

The method according to claim 1 and further comprising the step of: f) applying said formed transformation to the image-bearing signals derived from the image-capturing means to form intermediary image-bearing signals which include relative exposure values.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein at least one set of transformations is formed for at least one of a plurality of image-capturing means and at least one set of said formed transformations is applied to the image-bearing signals of at least one image-capturing means.

Claim 7

The method according to claim 4 and further comprising the step of: g) applying said formed transformation to the image-bearing signals derived from the image-capturing means to form intermediary image-bearing signals which include reference image-capturing means' relative exposure values.

Claim 8

The method of claim 4 and claim 5 wherein at least one set of transformations is formed for at least one of a plurality of image-capturing means and at least one set of said formed transformations is applied to the image-bearing signals of at least one image-capturing means.

Claim 11

The method according to claim 7 and further comprising the step of: h) applying said formed transformation to the image-bearing signals derived from the image-capturing means to form intermediary image-bearing signals which include chromatic values formed by a reference image-producing means.

Claim 12

The method of claim 7 or claim 8 wherein at least one set of transformations is formed for at least one of a plurality of image-capturing means and at least one set of said formed transformations is applied to the image-bearing signals of at least one image-capturing means.

Claim 15

The method according to claim 10 and further comprising the step of: g) applying said formed transformation to the image-bearing signals derived from the image-capturing means to form intermediary image-bearing signals which include chromatic signals for producing preferred color images on a reference image-producing means.

Claim 16

The method of claim 10 or claim 11 wherein at least one set of transformations is formed for at least one of a plurality of image-capturing means and at least one set of said formed transformations is applied to the image-bearing signals of at least one image-capturing means.

Claim 17

Apparatus for forming at least one transformation for transforming image-bearing signals derived from an image-capturing means to intermediary image-bearing signals which include image-capturing means' relative exposure values, comprising: a) means for determining an exposure range of said image-capturing means; b) means for specifying patterns of calibration exposures for producing image-capturing means' exposures which sample said exposure range of said image-capturing means; c) means for forming test images with said image-capturing means using said calibration exposures; d) means for sensing said test images and forming image-bearing signals; and e) means for forming at least one transformation by relating said image-bearing signals to corresponding said image-capturing means' relative exposure values.

Claim 18

Apparatus for forming at least one transformation for transforming image-bearing signals derived from an image-capturing means to intermediary image-bearing signals which include image-capturing means' relative exposure values, comprising: a) means for determining an exposure range of said image-capturing means; b) means for specifying patterns of calibration exposures for producing image-capturing means' exposures which sample said exposure range of said image-capturing means; c) means for forming test images with said image-capturing means using said calibration exposures; d) means for sensing said test images and forming image-bearing signals; and e) means for forming at least one transformation by relating said image-bearing signals to corresponding said image-capturing means' relative exposure values.

Claim 19

The apparatus according to claim 13 and further comprising: f) means for applying said formed transformation to the image-bearing signals derived from the image-capturing means to form intermediary image-bearing signals which include relative exposure values.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 13 or claim 14 wherein at least one set of transformations is formed for each of a plurality of image-capturing means and at least one formed transformation is applied to at least one of the image-bearing signals.

Claim 21

Apparatus for forming at least one transformation for transforming image-bearing signals derived from an image-capturing means to intermediary image-bearing signals which include relative exposure values for a reference image-capturing means, comprising: a) means for determining an exposure range of said image-capturing means; b) means for specifying patterns of calibration exposures for producing image-capturing means' exposures which sample said exposure range of said image-capturing means; c) means for determining reference image-capturing means exposures from said specified patterns of calibration exposures d) means for forming test images with said image-capturing means using said calibration exposures; e) means for sensing said test images and forming image-bearing signals; and f) means for forming at least one transformation by relating said image-bearing signals to corresponding said reference image-capturing means' relative exposure values.

Claim 22

Apparatus for forming at least one transformation for transforming image-bearing signals derived from an image-capturing means to intermediary image-bearing signals which include relative exposure values for a reference image-capturing means, comprising: a) means for determining an exposure range of said image-capturing means; b) means for specifying patterns of calibration exposures for producing image-capturing means' exposures which sample said exposure range of said image-capturing means; c) means for determining reference image-capturing means exposures from said specified patterns of calibration exposures d) means for forming test images with said image-capturing means using said calibration exposures; e) means for sensing said test images and forming image-bearing signals; and f) means for forming at least one transformation by relating said image-bearing signals to corresponding said reference image-capturing means' relative exposure values.

Claim 23

The Apparatus according to claim 16 and further comprising: g) means for applying said formed transformation to the image-bearing signals derived from the image-capturing means to form intermediary image-bearing signals which include reference image-capturing means' relative exposure values.

Claim 24

The apparatus according to claim 16 and claim 17 wherein at least one set of transformations is formed for each of a plurality of image-capturing means and at least one formed transformation is applied to at least one of the image-bearing signals.

Claim 25

Apparatus for forming at least one transformation for transforming image-bearing signals derived from an image-capturing means to intermediary image-bearing signals which include chromatic values formed by a reference image-producing means, comprising: a) means for determining an exposure range of said image-capturing means; b) means for specifying patterns of calibration exposures for producing image-capturing means' exposures which sample said exposure range of said image-capturing means; c) means for forming test images with said image-capturing means using said calibration exposures; d) means for sensing said test images and for forming image-bearing signals; e) means for forming reference images with said reference image-producing means using said calibration exposures; f) means for determining said chromatic values from said reference images; and g) means for forming at least one transformation by relating said image-bearing signals to corresponding said reference image-producing means' chromatic values.

Claim 26

Apparatus for forming at least one transformation for transforming image-bearing signals derived from an image-capturing means to intermediary image-bearing signals which include chromatic values formed by a reference image-producing means, comprising: a) means for determining an exposure range of said image-capturing means; b) means for specifying patterns of calibration exposures for producing image-capturing means' exposures which sample said exposure range of said image-capturing means; c) means for forming test images with said image-capturing means using said calibration exposures; d) means for sensing said test images and for forming image-bearing signals; e) means for forming reference images with said reference image-producing means using said calibration exposures; f) means for determining said chromatic values from said reference images; and g) means for forming at least one transformation by relating said image-bearing signals to corresponding said reference image-producing means' chromatic values.

Claim 27

The apparatus according to claim 19 and further comprising: h) means for applying said formed transformation to the image-bearing signals derived from the image-capturing means to form intermediary image-bearing signals which include chromatic values formed by a reference image-producing means.

Claim 28

Apparatus according to claim 19 or claim 20 wherein at least one set of transformations is formed for each of a plurality of image-capturing means and at least one formed transformation is applied to at least one of the image-bearing signals.

Claim 29

Apparatus for forming at least one transformation for transforming image-bearing signals derived from an image-capturing means to intermediary image-bearing signals which include chromatic signals for producing preferred color images on a reference image-producing means, comprising: a) means for determining an exposure range of said image-capturing means; b) means for specifying patterns of calibration exposures for producing image-capturing means' exposures which sample said exposure range of said image-capturing means; c) mean for forming test images with said image-capturing means using said calibration exposures; d) means for sensing said test images nd forming image-bearing signals; e) means for determining patterns of chromatic signal values, corresponding to patterns of said calibration exposures, which produce a preferred color image on said reference image-producing means; and f) means for forming at least one transformation by relating said image-bearing signals to corresponding said reference image-producing means' chromatic signal values.

Claim 30

Apparatus for forming at least one transformation for transforming image-bearing signals derived from an image-capturing means to intermediary image-bearing signals which include chromatic signals for producing preferred color images on a reference image-producing means, comprising: a) means for determining an exposure range of said image-capturing means; b) means for specifying patterns of calibration exposures for producing image-capturing means' exposures which sample said exposure range of said image-capturing means; c) mean for forming test images with said image-capturing means using said calibration exposures; d) means for sensing said test images nd forming image-bearing signals; e) means for determining patterns of chromatic signal values, corresponding to patterns of said calibration exposures, which produce a preferred color image on said reference image-producing means; and f) means for forming at least one transformation by relating said image-bearing signals to corresponding said reference image-producing means' chromatic signal values.

Claim 31

Apparatus according to claim 22 and further comprising: g) means for applying said formed transformation to the image-bearing signals derived from the image-capturing means to form intermediary image-bearing signals which include chromatic signals for producing preferred color images on a reference image-producing means.

Claim 32

Apparatus according to claim 22 or claim 23 wherein at least one set of transformations is formed for each of a plurality of image-capturing means and at least one formed transformation is applied to at least one of the image-bearing signals.

Claim 37

The method according to claim 25 or 26 and further comprising the step of: e) further converting the intermediary image-bearing signals of step d) to include relative exposure values of a reference image-capturing means.

Claim 42

Apparatus for transforming scanner-generated image-bearing signals, produced by scanning an image-capturing means, to intermediary image-bearing signals which include image-capturing means' relative exposure values, comprising: a) means for converting said scanner-generated image-bearing signals to scanner-density signals; b) means for forming adjusted density signals by correcting said scanner-density signals for differences among scanners; c) removing means for converting said adjusted density signals to independent signals by removing signal-interdependencies produced by image-capturing means' inter-layer chemical interactions and unwanted colorant absorptions by three-dimensional signal transformations; and d) means for converting said independent signals from said removing means to intermediary image-bearing signals which include said image-capturing means' relative exposure values.

Claim 43

Apparatus for transforming scanner-generated image-bearing signals, produced by scanning an image-capturing means, to intermediary image-bearing signals which include image-capturing means' relative exposure values, comprising: a) means for converting said scanner-generated image-bearing signals to scanner-density signals; b) means for forming adjusted density signals by correcting said scanner-density signals for differences among scanners; c) removing means for converting said adjusted density signals to independent signals by removing signal-interdependencies produced by image-capturing means' inter-layer chemical interactions and unwanted colorant absorptions by three-dimensional signal transformations; and d) means for converting said independent signals from said removing means to intermediary image-bearing signals which include said image-capturing means' relative exposure values.

Claim 44

Apparatus for transforming scanner-generated image-bearing signals, produced by scanning an image-capturing means, to intermediary image-bearing signals which include relative exposure values, comprising: a) means for converting said scanner-generated image-bearing signals to scanner-density signals; b) means for forming adjusted density signals by correcting said scanner-density signals for differences among scanners; c) removing means for converting said adjusted density signals to independent signals by removing signal-interdependencies based on a similar image capturing means' inter-layer chemical interactions and unwanted colorant absorptions by three-dimensional signal transformations; and d) means for converting said independent signals from said removing means to intermediary image-bearing signals which include relative exposure values based on a similar image capturing means' density to exposure characteristics.

Claim 45

Apparatus for transforming scanner-generated image-bearing signals, produced by scanning an image-capturing means, to intermediary image-bearing signals which include relative exposure values, comprising: a) means for converting said scanner-generated image-bearing signals to scanner-density signals; b) means for forming adjusted density signals by correcting said scanner-density signals for differences among scanners; c) removing means for converting said adjusted density signals to independent signals by removing signal-interdependencies based on a similar image capturing means' inter-layer chemical interactions and unwanted colorant absorptions by three-dimensional signal transformations; and d) means for converting said independent signals from said removing means to intermediary image-bearing signals which include relative exposure values based on a similar image capturing means' density to exposure characteristics.

Claim 46

The apparatus according to claim 30 or 31 and further comprising: e) means for further converting said intermediary image-bearing signals to include relative exposure values of a reference image-capturing means.

Claim 47

Apparatus for transforming scanner-generated image-bearing signals, produced by scanning an image-capturing means, to intermediary image-bearing signals which include chromatic values of a reference image-capturing means comprising: a) means for converting said scanner-generated image-bearing signals to scanner density signals; b) means for forming adjusted density signals by correcting said scanner-density signals for differences among scanners; c) removing means for converting said adjusted density signals to independent signals by removing signal-interdependencies produced by image-capturing means' inter-layer chemical interactions and unwanted colorant absorptions by three-dimensional signal transformations; d) means for converting said independent signals to corresponding independent signals for said reference image-capturing means wherein neutral scale signals of said image-capturing means are converted to corresponding neutral scale signals of said reference image-capturing means; and e) means for converting said independent signals for said reference image-capturing means to intermediary image-bearing signals which include chromatic values of said reference image-capturing means.

Claim 48

Apparatus for transforming scanner-generated image-bearing signals, produced by scanning an image-capturing means, to intermediary image-bearing signals which include chromatic values of a reference image-capturing means comprising: a) means for converting said scanner-generated image-bearing signals to scanner density signals; b) means for forming adjusted density signals by correcting said scanner-density signals for differences among scanners; c) removing means for converting said adjusted density signals to independent signals by removing signal-interdependencies produced by image-capturing means' inter-layer chemical interactions and unwanted colorant absorptions by three-dimensional signal transformations; d) means for converting said independent signals to corresponding independent signals for said reference image-capturing means wherein neutral scale signals of said image-capturing means are converted to corresponding neutral scale signals of said reference image-capturing means; and e) means for converting said independent signals for said reference image-capturing means to intermediary image-bearing signals which include chromatic values of said reference image-capturing means.

Claim 49

Apparatus for transforming scanner-generated image-bearing signals, produced by scanning an image-capturing means, to intermediary image-bearing signals which include chromatic values of a reference image-capturing means comprising: a) means for converting said scanner-generated image-bearing signals to scanner-density signals; b) means for forming adjusted density signals by correcting said scanner-density signals for differences among scanners; c) removing means for converting said adjusted density signals to independent signals by removing signal-interdependencies based on like image-capturing means' inter-layer chemical interactions and unwanted colorant absorptions by three-dimensional signal transformations; d) means for converting said independent signals to corresponding independent signals for said reference image-capturing means based on conversion of neutral scale signals of like image-capturing means to corresponding neutral scale signals of said reference image-capturing means; and e) means for converting said independent signals for said reference image-capturing means to intermediary image-bearing signals which include chromatic values of said reference image-capturing means.

Claim 50

Apparatus for transforming scanner-generated image-bearing signals, produced by scanning an image-capturing means, to intermediary image-bearing signals which include chromatic values of a reference image-capturing means comprising: a) means for converting said scanner-generated image-bearing signals to scanner-density signals; b) means for forming adjusted density signals by correcting said scanner-density signals for differences among scanners; c) removing means for converting said adjusted density signals to independent signals by removing signal-interdependencies based on like image-capturing means' inter-layer chemical interactions and unwanted colorant absorptions by three-dimensional signal transformations; d) means for converting said independent signals to corresponding independent signals for said reference image-capturing means based on conversion of neutral scale signals of like image-capturing means to corresponding neutral scale signals of said reference image-capturing means; and e) means for converting said independent signals for said reference image-capturing means to intermediary image-bearing signals which include chromatic values of said reference image-capturing means.