Patent ID: 6522338
Filing Date: 2003-02-18
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A method of effecting color matching between external color data of a first image processing device and external color data of a second image processing device connected to said first image processing device, said external color data representing a color image as viewed by an observer and being distinguished from internal color data which represent a color image to be reproduced, said method comprising:a first interpolating and inverse-estimating step of (a) applying to said first image processing device, as a first number of input color data sets, one of a first batch of measured external color data and a first batch of internal color data of said first image processing device, for operating said first image processing device, to obtain a relationship between said first number of input color data sets and a first number of output color data sets which correspond to said first number of said input color data sets and which constitute the other of said first batch of measured external color data and said first batch of internal color data, (b) generating a second number of output color data sets by interpolation of said first number of output color data sets, such that said second number of output color data sets have a substantially constant color difference interval, said second number being larger than said first number, and (c) effecting an inverse estimation to obtain a second number of input color data sets corresponding to said second number of output color data sets, to obtain a first high-resolution input-output relationship between said second number of input color data sets and said second number of output color data sets which respectively constitute one and the other of a second batch of measured external color data and a second batch of internal color data; a second interpolating and inverse-estimating step of (a) applying to said second image processing device, as a first number of input color data sets of said second image processing device, one of a first batch of measured external color data and a first batch of internal color data of said second image processing device, for operating said second image processing device, to obtain a relationship between said first number of input color data sets of said second image processing device and a first number of output color data sets which correspond to said first number of said input color data sets of said second image processing device and which constitute the other of said first batch to external color data and said first batch of internal color data of said second image processing device, (b) generating a second number of output color data sets of said second image processing device, by interpolation of said first number of output color data sets of said second image processing device, such that said second number of output color data sets of said second image processing device have a substantially constant color difference interval, said second number of said output color data sets of said second image processing device being larger than said first number of output color data sets of said second image processing device, and (c) effecting an inverse estimation to obtain a second number of input color data sets corresponding to said second number of output color data sets of said second image processing device, to obtain a second high-resolution input-output relationship between said second number of input color data sets and said second number of output color data sets of said second image processing device which respectively constitute one and the other of a second batch of measured external color data and a second batch of internal color data of said second image processing device; a color data correlation generating step of generating, according to said first and second high-resolution input-output relationships, a color data correlationship for converting said first batch of internal color data of said first image processing device into said second batch of internal color data of said second image processing device; and a data converting step for converting said first batch of internal color data of said first image processing device directly into said second batch of internal color data of said second image processing device, according to said color data correlationship generated in said color data correlation generating step, such that colors represented by said second batch of measured external color data of said second image processing device match colors represented by said second batch of measured external color data of said first image processing device.