Patent ID: 7724392

Claim:
A system for calibrating a digital color imaging device to a printing press, the printing press comprising a color profile having a plurality of colorant values and associated colorimetric values, the system comprising: the digital color imaging device for printing an image source comprising a test pattern, the test pattern comprising a plurality of strips, each strip comprising a plurality of patches, each patch comprising a colorant value; an instrument that colorimetrically measures the patches in the printed test pattern; and a processor that: (a) receives colorimetric measurements from the instrument and calculates therefrom a tonal response for the digital color imaging device; (b) receives a plurality of colorimetric values from the color profile; and (c) calibrates the digital color imaging device to the printing press by calculating: a total colorant limit by identifying a patch in each strip with a minimum L-value, and from each patch in each strip with the minimum L-value, identifying a patch with a maximum total area coverage, and setting the total colorant limit to the maximum total area coverage, a per-channel colorant limit by determining a minimum limit for each colorant, a maximum limit for each colorant, and an optimal per channel colorant limit between the minimum and the maximum limit for each colorant, and a linearized table for each colorant by determining a tonal response for the printing press, and mapping the tonal response of the digital color imaging device to the tonal response for the printing press.