Method and apparatus for preparing color screens in a halftone image

Claim 3

A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: creating the cyan and magenta screens having printing areas in light tones formed as dots which are increasingly elongated with darkening tones.

Claim 4

A method according to claim 2, further comprising: joining the dots in two distinct stages as tone darkens or lightens respectively.

Claim 5

A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: creating the cyan and magenta screens having non-printing areas in dark tones formed as dots which are increasingly elongated with lightening tones.

Claim 6

A method according to claim 4, further comprising: joining the dots in two distinct stages as tone darkens or lightens respectively.

Claim 7

A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: creating cyan and magenta screens which are relatively offset.

Claim 8

A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: creating cyan and magenta screens having printing areas which in light tones are inwardly curved on every edge.

Claim 9

A method according to claim 1; further comprising the step of: creating every primary color screen having printing areas with inwardly curved edges.

Claim 10

A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: creating a black screen having printing areas with inwardly curved edges.

Claim 11

A method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of: orienting yellow and black screens at approximately 90° to each other.

Claim 12

A method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of: orienting the black screen at an angle which is approximately a multiple of 45° to any other screen.

Claim 13

A method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of: creating the black screen with a screen ruling which is reduced by a factor of approximately 0.71 relatively to the cyan and magenta screens.

Claim 14

A method according to claim 1; further comprising the step of: orienting the cyan and magenta screens at approximately 90° to each other.

Claim 17

A method according to claim 14, further comprising the steps of: receiving information representing a black halftone screen, orienting the black halftone screen at an angle which is approximately a multiple of 45° to any other screen, and printing the oriented black color screen with the primary color screens to form the colored image.

Claim 18

A computer controlled apparatus for preparing halftone screens representing a colored image, comprising: means for scanning a previously recorded scene to produce information representing color and tone variation in the scene, means for processing the information to create halftone screens representing the primary colors and black tone variation in the scene; and means for producing the halftone screens in or on an output medium; wherein the means for processing includes means for creating cyan and magenta screens having printing areas with inwardly curved edges, and means for orienting each primary color screen at an angle which is approximately a multiple of 45° to any other primary color screen.

Claim 19

A computer controlled apparatus for preparing halftone screens representing a colored image, comprising: means for scanning a previously recorded scene to produce information representing color and tone variation in the scene, means for processing the information to create halftone screens representing the primary colors and black tone variation in the scene; and means for producing the halftone screens in or on an output medium; wherein the means for processing includes means for creating cyan and magenta screens having printing areas with inwardly curved edges, and means for orienting each primary color screen at an angle which is approximately a multiple of 45° to any other primary color screen.

Claim 20

Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the means for processing further comprises means for producing tone variation in the primary color halftone screens by creating printing areas which vary in elongation between light and dark tones.

Claim 21

Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the means for processing further comprises includes means for producing tone variation in the primary color halftone screens by creating non-printing areas which vary in elongation between dark and light tones.

Claim 22

A computer controlled apparatus for preparing halftone screens representing a colored image, comprising: (a) means for receiving information representing color and tone variation in a previously recorded scene; (b) means for processing the information to create halftone screens representing primary colors in the scene; and (c) means for producing halftone screens representing primary colors in a form appropriate for subsequent printing of the colored image; wherein the means for processing includes means for creating cyan and magenta screens having printing areas with inwardly curved edges, and means for orienting: each primary color screen at an angle which is approximately a multiple of 45° to any other primary color screen.

Claim 23

A computer controlled apparatus for preparing halftone screens representing a colored image, comprising: (a) means for receiving information representing color and tone variation in a previously recorded scene; (b) means for processing the information to create halftone screens representing primary colors in the scene; and (c) means for producing halftone screens representing primary colors in a form appropriate for subsequent printing of the colored image; wherein the means for processing includes means for creating cyan and magenta screens having printing areas with inwardly curved edges, and means for orienting: each primary color screen at an angle which is approximately a multiple of 45° to any other primary color screen.

Claim 24

Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the means for processing includes means for producing tone variation in the primary color halftone screens by creating printing areas which vary in elongation between light and dark tones.

Claim 25

Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the means for processing includes means for joining the printing areas in two distinct stages as tone darkness or lightens respectively.

Claim 26

Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the means for processing includes means for producing tone variation in the primary color halftone screens by creating non-printing areas which vary in elongation between dark and light tones.

Claim 27

Apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the means for processing includes means for joining the non-printing areas in two distinct stages as tone darkness or lightens respectively.

Claim 28

A process of preparing a halftone image wherein tone variation in cyan and magenta screens is produced by creating the steps of: creating printing areas which have inwardly curved edges; and placing each primary color screen at an angle of approximately 45° to any other primary color screen.

Claim 29

A process of preparing a halftone image wherein tone variation in cyan and magenta screens is produced by creating the steps of: creating printing areas which have inwardly curved edges; and placing each primary color screen at an angle of approximately 45° to any other primary color screen.