Patent ID: 8451495

Claim:
A method for generating a color inconstancy guide for spot color print applications in a print/copy job environment, the method comprising: selecting spot colors of interest from a library of spot colors for a reference color marking device; obtaining at least one color value for each spot color of interest, said at least one color value being defined by at least one illumination and at least one observer angle; calculating, using a color inconstancy metric, a color inconstancy value for each spot color of interest, said color inconstancy value being based upon each spot color's respective at least one color value; sorting said color inconstancy values to obtain a sorted list of color inconstancy values and their respective spot colors of interest; dividing said sorted list of color inconstancy values into at least a first and second section, said first section comprising spot colors of interest with lower color inconstancy values such that the respective spot colors will appear substantially similar when viewed under different illuminants when rendered on different image output devices, and said second section comprising spot colors with higher color inconstancy values such that the respective spot colors will have an increased likelihood of color inconstancy; generating a color inconstancy guide using said color inconstancy values and respective spot colors of interest from at least said first section of said sorted list for spot color print applications; and communicating said color inconstancy guide to a storage device.