Real-time three-dimensional color look-up table interactive editor system and method

Claim 2

In a computer system having at least a first device and a second device for displaying color, said system employing a color look-up table (LUT) to translate color data corresponding to said first device into color data corresponding to said second device, a system for on-line editing of said color LUT comprising: a means for displaying color images; a means for causing said display means to display a set of different color reference images, each of said images representing an image type wherein the manner in which colors are visually perceived within each image is dependent on each image's type, said set of color reference images being displayed in a manner characterized by said first display device, said reference images having corresponding color data information; means for generating an inverted color LUT corresponding to said color LUT; a means for causing said display means to display a set of color sample images by processing said reference image's color data information through said color LUT and said inverted color LUT such that said set of color sample images are displayed in a manner characterized by said second display device; means for causing said display means to display a graphic representation of said color LUT, which comprises elements respectively represent colors in said color LUT and which are connected together by axes that are respectively disposed in at least three dimensions; means for performing input/output (I/O) interfacing with said display means, said (I/O) interface means changing said graphical representation of said LUT, wherein when said graphical representation of said LUT is changed, said color LUT is updated.

Claim 3

The system as described in claim 1 wherein said display means displays said graphical representation of said color LUT in a color space other than color spaces corresponding to said first or second device.

Claim 4

The system as described in claim 2 wherein said graphical representation is a lattice structure including a multiplicity of elements, each of said elements corresponds to color values associated with said color LUT.

Claim 5

The system as described in claim 1 wherein said graphical representation has an associated resolution and said associated resolution is dependent on the number of said elements said graphical representation comprises.

Claim 6

The system as described in claim 4 wherein said first device is a computer monitor and said second device is a printer.

Claim 7

The system as described in claim 4 wherein said first and second devices are printers.

Claim 8

In a computer system having at least a first device and a second device for displaying color, said system employing a color look-up table to translate color data corresponding to said first device into color data corresponding to said second device, a method for on-line editing of said color LUT essentially comprising the steps of: providing a display screen for editing said color LUT; providing a color LUT, said color LUT translating color data corresponding to said first device into color data corresponding to said second device, said color LUT storing color values corresponding to said second device; generating an inverted color LUT using said color LUT, said inverted color LUT translating color data corresponding to said second device into color data corresponding to said first device; displaying a graphical representation of said color LUT, said graphical representation including a multiplicity of elements, each of said elements corresponding to at least one of said color values stored in said color LUT, and being connected together by axes that are respectively disposed in at least three dimensions; displaying a set of different references images, each of said images representing an image type wherein the manner in which colors are visually perceived within each image is dependent on each image's type, and each of said set of reference images being defined by color data information; displaying a set of sample images, said set of sample images being displayed by processing said reference image's color data information through said color LUT and said inverted color LUT; editing said color LUT to generate an edited color LUT by changing the position of at least one of said elements in said graphical representation, wherein changing said element's position causes a corresponding change in said at least one of said color data values associated with said color LUT; generating a new inverted color LUT corresponding to the edited color LUT; displaying a new set of sample images, said new set of sample images being displayed by reprocessing said reference image's color data information through said edited color LUT and said new inverted color LUT.

Claim 9

In a computer system having at least a first device and a second device for displaying color, said system employing a color look-up table to translate color data corresponding to said first device into color data corresponding to said second device, a method for on-line editing of said color LUT essentially comprising the steps of: providing a display screen for editing said color LUT; providing a color LUT, said color LUT translating color data corresponding to said first device into color data corresponding to said second device, said color LUT storing color values corresponding to said second device; generating an inverted color LUT using said color LUT, said inverted color LUT translating color data corresponding to said second device into color data corresponding to said first device; displaying a graphical representation of said color LUT, said graphical representation including a multiplicity of elements, each of said elements corresponding to at least one of said color values stored in said color LUT, and being connected together by axes that are respectively disposed in at least three dimensions; displaying a set of different references images, each of said images representing an image type wherein the manner in which colors are visually perceived within each image is dependent on each image's type, and each of said set of reference images being defined by color data information; displaying a set of sample images, said set of sample images being displayed by processing said reference image's color data information through said color LUT and said inverted color LUT; editing said color LUT to generate an edited color LUT by changing the position of at least one of said elements in said graphical representation, wherein changing said element's position causes a corresponding change in said at least one of said color data values associated with said color LUT; generating a new inverted color LUT corresponding to the edited color LUT; displaying a new set of sample images, said new set of sample images being displayed by reprocessing said reference image's color data information through said edited color LUT and said new inverted color LUT.

Claim 10

The method as described in claim 7 wherein the step of displaying a set of sample images by processing said reference image's color data information through said color LUT and said inverted color LUT also includes the steps of first translating said color data information associated with said set of reference images into color data associated with a human visual system (HVS) color space, next processing said color data associated with said HVS color space through said color LUT to generate color data associated with said second device, next processing said color data associated with said second device through said inverted color LUT to generated color data associated with said HVS color space and finally translating said color data associated with said HVS color space into color data associated with said display means color space.

Claim 11

The method as described in claim 8 wherein said editing step further includes the step of adjusting the resolution of said graphical representation by adjusting the number of said elements in said graphical representation.

Claim 12

The method as described in claim 9 wherein said each of said color values of said color LUT comprises at least three components and wherein said graphical representation comprises at least three axes, and wherein said at least three axes corresponds to said at least three components.

Claim 13

The method as described in claim 10 wherein said display means displays said graphical representation of said color LUT in a color space other than color spaces corresponding to said first or second device.

Claim 14

The method as described in claim 11 wherein said graphical representation is a lattice structure including a multiplicity of elements, each of said elements corresponds to color values associated with said color LUT.

Claim 15

The method as described in claim 7 wherein said graphical representation has an associated resolution and said associated resolution is dependent on the number of said elements said graphical representation comprises.

Claim 16

The method as described in claim 13 wherein said first device is a computer monitor and said second device is a printer.

Claim 17

The method as described in claim 13 wherein said first and second devices are printers.