Patent ID: 8964175
Filing Date: 2015-02-24
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A colorant identification method for identifying a colorant used in generating a color image, comprising steps of: storing in a database a fluorescence emission spectrum of a colorant of particular color and Raman spectra of plural kinds of colorants of a color which is equivalent to the particular color and of different compositions; projecting a monochromatic light onto a color image, then measuring fluorescence generated in each portion of the color image, and thereby acquiring distribution of a fluorescence emission spectrum in the color image; from the acquired distribution of the fluorescence emission spectrum, identifying a portion containing a fluorescence emission spectrum which is equivalent to the fluorescence emission spectrum of the colorant of the particular color stored in the database and thereby identifying a portion of the color image corresponding to the portion identified from the acquired distribution of the fluorescence emission spectrum; projecting monochromatic light onto the identified portion of the color image and thereby acquiring a Raman spectrum; and comparing the acquired Raman spectrum with the Raman spectra stored in the database and thereby identifying the colorant.