Patent ID: 8040568

Claim:
An image forming device including a 5 or more color management system for outputting 5 or more color separation signals to a 5 or more color print engine in the image forming device, the system comprising: an image source; a 4-color management unit that converts an input source color obtained from the image source into virtual intermediate CMYK separation signals; a 5 or more color transformation unit that receives the virtual intermediate CMYK separation signals as inputs and outputs at least 5 output color separation signals for reception by the 5 or more color print engine, wherein the 5 or more color transformation unit passes at least one of the input separation signals through as at least one of the output color separation signals without transformation, transforms at least one different one of the input separation signals into two or more separate output color separation signals that collectively have a same tonal quality, one of the two or more separate output color separation signals being a normal colorant and at least one other of the separate output color separation signals being a light version of the normal colorant, computes a total sum of colorants, compares the total sum of the colorants to a predetermined threshold, and when it is determined the predetermined threshold is exceeded from the comparison, scales down a blend of the colorants represented by the separate output color signals proportionately so that the total sum of the colorants is below the predetermined threshold, wherein the 5 or more color print engine outputs an output image based on the at least 5 output color separation signals.