Abstract:
A digital imaging system is provided that includes a digital camera and a color printer. The digital camera comprises: a housing; an image sensor adapted to capture analog image data; an analog-to-digital converter adapted to convert the analog image data; an image processor adapted to perform first processing and compression of the digital image data to create a first-processed digital image file; a digital memory in the camera housing having a plurality of the first-processed digital image files stored in the digital memory; and a color printer interface to which a digital image file, which is selected from the digital memory, is applied. The color printer comprises: a color-marking apparatus, and a digital camera interface, wherein the image processor in the digital camera is adapted to perform second processing on the selected digital image file before the selected digital image file is applied.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/800,158 filed Mar. 6, 2001 in the names of Kenneth A. Parulski et al. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to digital cameras and associated printers for producing hardcopy images captured by such cameras.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Typically, images captured by digital cameras must be processed before they are printed. This processing is carried out in the printer. Significant computing and memory resources are required to process an image for printing. Accordingly, the printer must be provided with expensive computing and memory resources. One solution known in the prior art is to provide access to a stand-alone computer that is connectable to both the camera and the printer, either directly or by portable memory. This solution is inappropriate when the printer is to be used in remote locations distanced from the computer.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     According to a feature of the present invention, we have come to appreciate that computing and memory resources, which already exist in electronic cameras in order for the camera to capture, process, compress, and store images, can be used to provide the computing and memory resources that are required to process an image for printing, particularly for printing on a portable, low cost ink jet printer.  
         [0005]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a system wherein already-existing computing and memory resources in an electronic camera are used to process an image for printing. This is possible because the existing computing and memory resources are otherwise generally idle during the printing stage. Accordingly, it is a feature of the present invention that, rather than duplicating, in printers, computing and memory resources that are already in digital cameras, the present invention provides for camera and printer systems wherein significant computing and memory resources need exist only in the camera. Because such resources are already required by the camera in order to perform the camera functions, the cost of the camera is not increased. Because the resources are no longer required in the printer, the overall system cost is greatly reduced.  
         [0006]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a digital camera that can support many different printers, each with its own set of parameters such as, for example, print size, pixel size, colorimetry, sensitometry, and artifacts compensation. Accordingly, it is a feature of the present invention to provide for uploading print drivers and printer parameters to the camera to provide a basis for image processing specific to an associated printer; whereby compensation may be done for variations in the printer characteristics which may occur as a result of printer manufacturing variations, and further so that compensation may be done for different media types which may be installed in the printer, in particular different types of ink jet media installed in an ink jet printer.  
         [0007]     According to another feature of the present invention, a digital imaging system is provided that includes a digital camera and a color printer. The digital camera comprises: a housing; an image sensor adapted to capture analog image data; an analog-to-digital converter adapted to convert the analog image data captured by the image sensor to digital image data; an image processor adapted to perform first processing and compression of the digital image data to create a first-processed digital image file; digital memory in the camera housing, a plurality of first-processed digital image files from the image processor being stored in the digital memory; and a color printer interface to which a digital image file, which is selected from the digital memory, is applied. The color printer comprises: a color marking apparatus, and a digital camera interface, wherein the image processor in the digital camera is adapted to perform second processing on the selected digital image file before the selected digital image file is applied to the color printer interface.  
         [0008]     According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, color records of the user-selected digital image file are converted to multi-tone values during the second processing.  
         [0009]     According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, color records of the user-selected digital image file are processed during the second processing to provide ink limiting. The ink limiting is effected using type of printer, ink, and receiver media information provided by the separate color printer over the interface.  
         [0010]     According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the separate color printer uses four ink colors, and the color records of the user-selected digital image file are converted to three image planes and are color corrected during said second processing to provide a set of color planes corresponding to each ink color of the separate color printer.  
         [0011]     According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a color image display provides user-observable images of first-processed digital image files stored in the removable digital memory. User controls are coupled to the processor for user-selecting a digital image file to be second processed by the image processor.  
         [0012]     According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first processing includes: interpolation to provide red, green and blue image data values to provide red, green, and blue color planes; color correction of the red, green, and blue color planes; and image compression. The second processing includes decompression of the user-selected digital image file before the user-selected digital image file is applied to the interface.  
         [0013]     The invention, and its objects and advantages, will become more apparent in the detailed description of the preferred embodiments presented below. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]      FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram of a digital camera according to the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is a schematic block diagram of a digital printer according to the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is a schematic block diagram of a camera-printer system according to another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 4  is a detailed block diagram of a digital camera according to the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 5  is a flow diagram depicting the camera-related image processing operations provided by the digital camera of  FIG. 3  in the process of capturing and storing images; and  
         [0019]      FIG. 6  is a flow diagram depicting the printer-related image processing provided by the digital camera of  FIG. 3  in the process of reading and printing images. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0020]     The present description will be directed in particular to elements forming part of, or cooperating more directly with, apparatus in accordance with the present invention. It is to be understood that elements not specifically shown or described may take various forms well known to those skilled in the art.  
         [0021]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a digital camera  10  provides significant image processing and memory resources to capture, process, compress, and store images. An imager  12  includes an array of image sensors such as, for example, light sensitive photoelements. Conventionally, a complete image frame is available in digital form from imager  12 , only for a short time interval. Thus, the captured image is temporarily stored in raw form in a volatile memory  14 . Various image processing algorithms are stored in a program memory  16 , and are executed by an image processor  18  in order to process the image data stored in volatile memory  14 . For example, the image processing algorithms may include all or some of the processes of image sensor tone scale compensation, color filter array interpolation, color space transformation, re-sizing, spatial filtering, and compression, as will be described in greater detail later in reference to  FIG. 5 . The resulting processed image data is then typically stored in a nonvolatile memory  20 .  
         [0022]     This stored image must be further processed prior to printing. Such further processing may include some or all of the steps of decompression, color space transformation into color planes that coincide with the process colors of the particular printer, re-sizing, rotation, and compensation for the printing process, as will be described in greater detail later in reference to  FIG. 6 . In prior art systems, this further processing has been effected by computing and memory resources in the printer or in a stand-alone computer. According to the present invention, this further processing is performed using the resources which are already in camera  10 . It is advantageous to perform all of the processing using the resources in camera  10  in order to avoid the additional expense of including similar resources in the printer. To effect such image processing in camera  10 , the camera is provided with a parameter memory  22  and a printer interface  24 , both to be further described hereinafter.  
         [0023]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a printer  30  includes a camera interface  32 , an inexpensive simple processor  34 , a media transport mechanism  36 , an image memory  38 , a program memory  40 , and a marking apparatus  42 . A processed image, received from camera  10  of  FIG. 1  via interface  32 , may be stored by printer  30  in image memory  38  for subsequent printing by marking means  42  under the control of simple processor  34  and a program stored in program memory  40 , or the processed image may be printed immediately. Simple processor  34  need not be capable of executing printer compensation algorithms.  
         [0024]     Parameters, which may vary as a result of manufacturing variations in the printer, may be measured by an external means  44  at the time of manufacture. The parameters may then be stored in a variable parameter table  46 , which is part of the printer. Camera  10  may query printer  30  to establish whether the printer will perform compensation for the variable parameters, or whether the camera should request and accept the variable parameters from the printer, and subsequently perform compensation for said variable parameters. The printer provides both fixed parameters from a fixed parameter table  48  and variable parameters from its variable parameter table  46  to the camera by means of camera and printer interfaces  24  and  32 , respectively. The camera stores these parameters in local parameter memory  22 .  
         [0025]     When an image in either volatile memory  14  or nonvolatile memory  20  is selected for printing, image processor  18  processes the selected image, using the fixed and variable parameters which are stored in parameter memory  22 , and transmits the processed image to the printer by means of interfaces  24  and  32 . Processing may include all or part of the operations of image sensor tone scale compensation, color filter array interpolation, decompression, color space transformation, re-sizing, rotation, cropping, spatial filtering, and compensation for the printing process, but is not limited to these specific operations.  
         [0026]     In addition, parameters which can vary during printing may also be transmitted by the printer to the camera during the printing process and used by image processor  18  to further compensate the image for printing process variations during the printing operation. The parameters may include temperature, ink viscosity, measured density, and any other parameters which are known to vary with the specific printing process employed by the printer.  
         [0027]     Further, parameters characteristic of particular media material at media transport mechanism  36  may be determined by simple processor  34  over an interface  50  and transmitted to the camera. The media parameters may include parameters which vary with media type and parameters which vary between different batches of media due to manufacturing variations. Thus, compensation for the media parameters may be done by image processor  18  in the camera.  
         [0028]     Any such media parameters, fixed parameters, and variable parameters may be transferred from printer  30  to camera  10  by means of a removable non-volatile memory cartridge  52  shown in  FIG. 3 . The memory cartridge may also be used to transfer images between the camera and the printer. As used herein, the phrases “camera interface and printer interface” are intended to include cable connections, transferable memory, radiation transmission (light, microwave, infrared, etc.), and other forms of information transfer between components.  
         [0029]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram showing portable digital camera  10  depicted in more detail than was shown in  FIG. 1 . Digital camera  10  stores images on a removable flash memory card  330 , which is a specific type of non-volatile memory  14  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). Digital camera  10  includes a zoom lens  312  having zoom and focus motor drives  310  and an adjustable aperture and shutter (not shown). Zoom lens  312  focuses light from a scene (not shown) on image sensor  12 . Image sensor  12  may be, for example, a single-chip color CCD image sensor, such as a Toshiba model TCD5603D CCD sensor, available from Toshiba America Electronic Components, Irvine, Calif., U.S.A. The model TCD5603D sensor has approximately 1536 columns and 1024 rows of photoelements, and uses the well-known Bayer color filter pattern. Other CCD or CMOS image sensors, having various image array sizes and color filter patterns, may alternatively be used.  
         [0030]     Image sensor  12  is controlled by clock drivers  306 . Zoom and focus motors  310  and clock drivers  306  are controlled by control signals supplied by a control processor and timing generator circuit  304 . The control processor and timing generator  304  receives inputs from autofocus and autoexposure detectors  308  and controls a flash  302 . The analog output signal from image sensor  12  is amplified and converted to digital data by the analog signal processing (ASP) and analog-to-digital (A/D) converter circuit  316 . The A/D converter may alternatively be included a part of image sensor  12 , particularly if a CMOS image sensor is used. The digital data is stored in a DRAM buffer memory  318 , which is a specific type of volatile memory  14  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). The digital image data stored in DRAM buffer memory  318  is subsequently processed by a processor  18  controlled by the firmware stored in program memory  16 , which can be provided by a flash EPROM memory  328 . Flash EPROM memory  328  can be a single memory chip which can also provide parameter memory  22 .  
         [0031]     The processed digital image file is provided to a memory card interface  324  which stores the digital image file on removable memory card  330 . Removable memory cards are known to those skilled in the art. For example, removable memory card  330  may be adapted to the Compact Flash interface standard, such as described in the CompactFlash Specification Version 1.3, published Aug. 5, 1998 by the CompactFlash Association, Palo Alto, Calif., U.S.A. Alternatively, removable memory card  330  can be adapted to the PCMCIA card interface standard, as described in the PC Card Standard, Release 2.0, published September 1991 by the Personal Computer Memory Card International Association, Sunnyvale, Calif., U.S.A. Removable memory card  330  can also be adapted to the well known secure digital (SD), solid state floppy disk card (SSFDC) or Memory Stick formats. Other types of non-volatile digital memory devices, such as magnetic hard drives, magnetic tape, or optical disks, could alternatively be used to store the digital images.  
         [0032]     Processor  18  performs color interpolation followed by color and tone correction, in order to produce rendered sRGB image data as defined in IEC 61966-2-1 Multimedia systems and equipment—Color measurement and management—Part 2-1: Color management—Default RGB color space—sRGB available from the International Electrotechnical Commission, Geneva, Switzerland. The rendered sRGB image data is then JPEG compressed and stored as a JPEG image file on removable memory card  330  using an JPEG/Exif version 2.1 image file as defined in Digital Still Camera Image File Format Standard (Exchangeable Image File Format for Digital Still Camera: Exif), version 2.1, JEIDA-49-1998 available from the Japan Electronic Industry Development Association, Tokyo, Japan. The JPEG/Exif image files can be utilized by many different image capable devices, such as computers and imaging kiosks.  
         [0033]     Processor  18  also creates a “thumbnail” size image that is stored in RAM memory  326  and supplied to color LCD image display  332 , which displays the captured image for the user to review. Electronic camera  300  is controlled by user controls  303 , such as a series of user buttons including a shutter release (e.g., capture button) (not shown) which initiates a picture taking operation. The graphical user interface displayed on color LCD image display  332  is controlled by the user interface portion of the firmware stored in program memory  16 . The graphical user interface is also used to select images for printing, and can optionally be used to select the number of copies and the print layout (e.g. the number images printed on one page). The images selected for printing may be immediately printed, if digital camera  10  is connected to printer  30 . If not, image processor  18  creates an “image utilization” file listing the image to be printed, the number copies for each image, and the print size, as described in commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/977,382, filed by Parulski on Nov. 24, 1997, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. This “image utilization” file, which can conform to the well-known digital print order format (DPOF) is stored on removable flash memory card  330  along with the digital images captured by digital camera  10 .  
         [0034]      FIG. 5  is a flow diagram depicting the image processing operations that are performed by image processor  18  in digital camera  10  in order to process the images from image sensor  12  stored in DRAM buffer memory  318 .  
         [0035]     The Bayer pattern color filter array data (block  500 ) which has been digitally converted by A/D converter  16  is interpolated in block  510  to provide red, green and blue (RGB) image data values at each pixel location in order to provide complete RGB color planes. Color filter array interpolation in block  510  can use the luminance CFA interpolation method described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,652,621, entitled “Adaptive color plane interpolation in single sensor color electronic camera” to Adams et al., the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. The color filter array interpolation in block  510  can also use the chrominance CFA interpolation method described in commonly assigned U.S. Patent No.  4 , 642 , 678 , entitled “Signal processing method and apparatus for producing interpolated chrominance values in a sampled color image signal”, to Cok, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference.  
         [0036]     A color space transformation is applied to the interpolated RGB color planes in order to provide color correction, prior to image storage. The RGB color planes are color corrected in block  520  using, for example, the 3×3 linear space color correction matrix  20  depicted in  FIG. 4  of commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,189,511, entitled “Method and apparatus for improving the color rendition of hardcopy images from electronic cameras” to Parulski et al., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The color correction matrix coefficients which are stored in program memory  16  in digital camera  10  can be, for example:
 
Rout=1.50 Rin−0.30 Gin−0.20 Bin
 
Gout=−0.40 Rin+1.80 Gin−0.40 Bin
 
Bout=−0.20 Rin−0.20 Gin+1.40 Bin
 
         [0037]     The color corrected color planes are tone corrected in block  530 . This tone correction  530  can use, for example, the lookup table corresponding to  FIG. 2  of U.S. Pat. No. 5,189,511 cited above. This lookup table is stored in program memory  16  in digital camera  10 . Alternatively, color correction image processing operations  520  and tone correction image processing operations  530  can be provided by a three-dimensional lookup table (3D LUT). An example of such a 3D LUT is described in commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/540,807 filed Mar. 31, 2000 in the names of Geoffrey Woo et al., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The 3D LUT is more complex than the 3×3 matrix and single-channel LUT approach described above. However, it allows better control of color saturation. For example, it allows increased color saturation for most memory colors without increasing the saturation of flesh tone colors and near-neutral colors.  
         [0038]     The image sharpening provided in block  540  of  FIG. 5  can utilize the method described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,962,419 (&#39;419 patent), entitled “Detail processing method and apparatus providing uniform processing of horizontal and vertical detail components” to Hibbard et al., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0039]     The image compression provided in block  550  of  FIG. 6  can use the method described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,774,574 (the &#39;574 patent), entitled “Adaptive block transform image coding method and apparatus” to Daly et al., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0040]     The compressed image files are stored on removable flash memory card  330  as Exif image files. After a series of images have been taken and stored on removable memory card  330 , removable memory card  330  can optionally be inserted into a memory card reader in the user&#39;s host computer (not shown) in order to transfer the images captured by the digital camera to the host computer, where they can be viewed, e-mailed via the Internet, etc. To print images without using a host computer, an interface cable  342  can be used to connect between printer interface  24  in digital camera  10  and the corresponding camera interface in digital printer  30 . Printer interface  24  may conform to, for example, the well-know universal serial bus (USB) interface specification. Alternatively, printer interface  24  may conform to the RS-232 interface specification, the IEEE 1394 (Firewire) interface specification, or other cable interface specifications. Alternatively, the interface may utilize a wireless interface such as the well-known IrDA (Infrared Data Association) interface or an RF (radio frequency) interface such as the well-known Bluetooth RF interface.  
         [0041]      FIG. 6  is a flow diagram depicting the printer-related image processing provided by image processor  18  in digital camera  10  in the process of reading and printing images on an ink jet printer. The images to be printed are selected by the user as described earlier. In block  600 , the image file to be printed is retrieved from non-volatile memory  20  in  FIG. 1 , such as removable flash memory card  330  in  FIG. 4 . If digital camera  10  compressed images prior to storage, for example by creating the JPEG/Exif image files described earlier, the image file is decompressed in block  605  to provide red, green and blue (RGB) color planes. In block  610 , each decompressed RGB color plane is sharpened in order to compensate for the sharpness degradation of the ink jet printing process. A preferred sharpening algorithm uses the well-known unsharp masking technique to produce a sharpened color plane Xs by creating a blurred version Xb of the original decompressed color plane Xo, and then computing:
   Xs= 1 +k ( Xo−Xb ) 
 where X is each of the R, G, and B color planes, and k is a gain factor. Gain factor k can be a parameter stored in fixed parameter table  48  in printer  30  for all printers of a given model, or alternately in variable parameter table  46  for a particular printer, which is measured for each batch of printers as they are manufactured. The gain factor is provided from printer  30  to digital camera  10  by means of camera and printer interfaces  24  and  32  respectively, when printer  30  is connected to camera  10 . The camera stores the gain factor k in camera parameter memory  22 . 
 
         [0042]     The sharpened RGB color planes are color corrected in block  615 . The color correction block preferably uses a 3D LUT. The input to the 3D LUT is the RGB color plane, and the output is, for example, cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (CMYK) color planes corresponding to the color inks used as the process colors for printer  30 . This 3D LUT is preferably provided using the ICC profile format defined by the International Color Consortium. The 3D LUT profile values can be parameters stored in fixed parameter table  48  in printer  30  for all printers of a given model, or alternately in variable parameter table  46  for a particular printer, which is measured for each batch of printers as they are manufactured. The ICC profile is provided from printer  30  to digital camera  10  by means of camera and printer interfaces  24  and  32  respectively, when printer  30  is connected to camera  10 . The camera stores the ICC profile values in camera parameter memory  22 .  
         [0043]     If printer  30  is an ink jet printer using more than four color inks, the CMYK color planes are further processed in block  615  to provide color planes corresponding to each ink. This processing preferably uses ink rendering processing to convert a single color plane (e.g. the cyan channel C) into two color planes (e.g. light cyan Cl and dark cyan Cd). Therefore, the output of color correction block  615  is set of color planes corresponding to the color inks used in the inkjet printer, which may for example use light cyan, dark cyan, light magenta, dark magenta, yellow, and black color inks as the process colors.  
         [0044]     In block  620 , the color records are calibrated in order to correct for variations in tone scale. These variations may be may be the result of manufacturing variations in printer  10  or media (e.g. ink jet head or paper receiver) used by the printer. The calibration is provided by a one-dimensional lookup table applied to each color plane. The lookup table can be provided by parameters stored in variable parameter table  46  for a particular printer, which is measured for printer  30  as it is manufactured. Alternatively, the lookup table can be created by image processor  18  in digital camera  10  using parameters or settings provided by printer  30 . The parameters or settings can include, for example, data indicating the type of media (e.g. ink jet head or paper receiver) used by the printer, or data such as the ink viscosity, humidity, etc. The lookup tables, parameters, or settings are provided from printer  30  to digital camera  10  by means of camera and printer interfaces  24  and  32  respectively, when printer  30  is connected to camera  10 . The camera stores this data in camera parameter memory  22 .  
         [0045]     In block  625 , the calibrated color planes corresponding to the inks of the ink jet printer are processed to provide ink limiting. This processing reduces the amount of ink that is deposited on the receiver media in high ink laydown areas. This is required in order to minimize deglossing and ink bleeding problems that reduce the image quality. It also reduces the stickiness, long drying time and delamination problems caused by laying down too much ink. The ink limiting step typically limits the total ink provided by all ink color planes to a maximum of 2 to 3 times the maximum amount of ink provided by a single color plane. The exact limit depends on the combination of the printer, ink, receiver media, and, to some extent, the humidity. To determine the appropriate limit to make a print, the type of printer, ink, and receiver media can be communicated from printer  30  to digital camera  10 . In some embodiments, a humidity sensor in printer  30  can be used to sense the approximate humidity. A corresponding humidity parameter can be communicated, along with the type of printer, ink, and receiver media, from printer  30  to digital camera  10  by means of camera and printer interfaces  24  and  32  respectively, when printer  30  is connected to camera  10 . The camera stores this data in camera parameter memory  22 .  
         [0046]     In block  630 , the color records corresponding to the process colors of the ink jet printer are resized and rotated if necessary. This converts the pixels captured by the digital camera (e.g. the 1536 columns×1024 rows) to the appropriate number of pixels required by printer  30  in order to produce a selected image size. To perform this conversion, the number of pixels per inch used by printer  30  is communicated to digital camera  10 , when printer  30  is connected to camera  10 . The camera stores this data in camera parameter memory  22 .  
         [0047]     In block  635 , the color records are converted to multi-tone values. Multi-toning is the process of reducing the bit depth of the image in a manner that reduces the spatial resolution while increasing the density resolution. Multi-toning is required in ink jet printers because the ink jet printers have few density levels (e.g. two density levels corresponding to ink or no ink, or four density levels corresponding to various ink drop sizes). Multi-toning using two density levels is also known as half-toning. Multi-toning may be provided using a variety of algorithms, such as the well-known “error diffusion” and “blue noise dithering” algorithms. In order for image processor  18  in digital camera  10  to provide multi-toning appropriate for printer  30 , the number of density levels, and the density of each level, is provided by printer  30 . More specifically, the density levels for each multi-tone level are stored in fixed parameter table  48  in printer  30  for all printers of a given model. The density levels are provided from printer  30  to digital camera  10  by means of camera and printer interfaces  24  and  32  respectively, when printer  30  is connected to camera  10 . The camera stores the density levels in camera parameter memory  22 .  
         [0048]     In step  650 , the multi-tone color records corresponding to the inks used in printer  30  are communicated from digital camera  10  to printer  30  by means of camera and printer interfaces  24  and  32  respectively. Printer  30  produces an ink jet print using the multi-tone color records by controlling the marking apparatus  42  and media transport mechanism  36  using simple processor  34 .  
         [0049]     In an alternative embodiment, some or all of the printer parameters are provided on a removable media, such as a floppy disk (not shown) or removable flash memory card  330 , rather than being stored in fixed parameter table  48  or variable parameter table  46 . The removable media is provided along with printer  30 , and is inserted into digital camera  10  so that the parameters can be downloaded and stored in parameter memory  22 . In the case of a floppy disk, the disk may be inserted into a separate host computer (not shown) and downloaded to the camera using a computer interface. The computer interface can use the same type of connection (e.g. USB, RS-232, IEEE 1394) as printer interface  24 . Alternatively, the parameters may be included as part of a printer driver which performs all of the processing described in relation to  FIG. 6 . In this case, the printer driver firmware is downloaded from the removable media (supplied along with printer  30 ) and stored in the program memory  16  of digital camera  10 .  
         [0050]     In another alternative embodiment, some or all of the printer parameters, such as an ICC profile appropriate for particular “printer consumables” sold as a package, are provided as part of the printer consumables package. The printer consumables package can include, for example, printer receiver media (e.g. a quantity of photo grade ink jet paper) and a replacement color ink jet head for a particular type of printer. This printer consumables package can be provided with a nonvolatile digital memory, such as an EPROM, provided as part of the replacement color ink jet head. The parameters, such as the ICC profile, can be read from the EPROM memory by the simple processor  34  via the interface to the marking apparatus  42  when the color ink jet head is inserted into the printer  30 , and transferred to the digital camera  10  via the interface  32 .  
         [0051]     The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.