System and method for smart color halftoning

A method for halftoning a color image, the color image including a plurality of color separations, comprising:

• parsing the color image into image objects;
• examining each image object to determine its color content;
• for each color separation:
• determining a dominant colorant of the image object;
• and
• selecting an initial halftone screen having a halftone screen angle that is optimized for the dominant image object colorant;
• determining a dot separation distance between dots printed in one colorant and dots printed in another colorant using the initial halftone screens;
• if the dot separation distance is greater than a misregistration specification of an output device, selecting a halftone screen having a halftone screen angle and a halftone screen offset that compensates for the difference between the dot separation distance and the misregistration specification;
• and
• halftoning the image object using the selected halftone screens.

A halftoning system, for use in a reproduction device printing a plurality of separations comprising:

• a separation input, receiving said plurality of separations for printing, each separation representing a distinct printer colorant, and including a plurality of image signals described;
• a parsing circuit for parsing the color image into image objects;
• a memory storing a plurality of halftone screens;
• a color analysis module for examining each image object to determine its color content;
• for each color separation:
• for determining a dominant colorant of the image object, wherein a dominant colorant of an image object is determined in accordance with a predetermined relationship based on a desired output image characteristic;
• and
• for selecting a halftone screen property to optimize for the desired output image characteristic;
• and
• a halftone selection module for selecting a halftone screen from memory having the halftone screen property that is optimized for the dominant image object colorant and the desired image output characteristic;
• and
• a halftoner for halftoning the image object using the selected halftone screens.

A method for halftoning a color image, the color image including a plurality of color separations, comprising:

• parsing the color image into image classes;
• examining each image class to determine its color content;
• for each image class:
• determining a dominant colorant of the image class, wherein a dominant colorant of an image class is determined in accordance with a predetermined relationship based on a desired output image characteristic;
• selecting a halftone screen property to optimize for the desired output image characteristic;
• and
• selecting a halftone screen having the halftone screen property that is optimized for the dominant image object colorant and the desired image output characteristic;
• and
• halftoning the image class using the selected halftone screens.