Patent Document ID: 5416848
Application ID: 07895510
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. A method using a computer for preparing ordered sets of colors expressible in a three-dimensional color space from a source of information for use in mapping the information onto an ordered pattern in a lower dimensional image space, such as a two-dimensional physical surface, the method comprising the steps of: (a) digitizing the source of information for generating a digitized image file; thereafter (b) sampling the digitized image file for generating a color sample file; (c) converting the color sample file to obtain color value, saturation and hue terms as a set of coordinate color points in the color space; thereafter (d) storing the set of color points and its terms in a source file of a first memory means; (d) establishing black as a current reference point; thereafter (f) calculating a set of distance values in the color space between each color point of the source file and the current reference point and storing the set of distance values in a list file in a second memory means; (g) selecting the color point having the minimum distance value, storing this color point at the current bottom of an ordered color file of a third memory means and establishing this color point as the current reference point; (h) removing said current reference point from the set of color points in the source file; thereafter (i) repeating steps (f) through (h) until the source file is empty, in order to obtain a full range ordered color file in said third memory means; thereafter (j) filling a target image with colors representative of the hue, saturation and value of the ordered color file to obtain a colored image comprising a distribution of colors over the target image; and (k) presenting the colored image through an output device for observation.