Patent ID: 7872785

Claim:
A method for producing an output image, comprising: scanning an input image; identifying at least one object in the input image; obtaining at least one parameter associated with the identified at least one object, wherein the obtaining at least one parameter associated with the identified at least one object comprises determining a spot color for the identified at least one object and a tint value t for the identified at least one, wherein t satisfies the equation 0≦t≦1 representing a range of tint values from 0% to 100%; selecting one of a plurality of image forming paths based on the obtained at least one parameter, the plurality of image forming paths including at least one device dependent image forming path and at least one device independent image forming path; wherein, when t=1, a device dependent look-up table is referenced to obtain a rendering recipe for the identified at least one object, the device dependent look-up table including a recipe of primary colorants for a plurality of spot colors for rendering the object according to the spot color for the identified at least one object, wherein, when t≦1, a set of device independent color space components for defining the spot color is referenced, the set of device independent components is modified by the tint value, and the modified set of device independent components is converted to a recipe of primary colorants for a plurality of spot colors for rendering a tint-adjusted version of the identified at least one object according to the spot color for the identified at least one object, and producing an output image including the identified at least one object via the selected one of the plurality of image forming paths.