System and method for printing color samples to match a target color
AssigneeLexmark International, Inc.
InventorRaymond Clark
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for printing color samples in a desired color space to match a user selected target color includes a printer including a controller configured to generate instructions for printing a first set of color samples such that the samples in the first set have a first color spacing and define a first volume in the color space. The controller generates instructions for printing a subsequent set of color samples according to user selections. User selections including a closest match to the target color are communicated to the controller, and the printer prints a subsequent set of color samples according to the user selections until an acceptable match to the target color is achieved.
Claims22
A system for printing color samples in a desired color space to match a user selected target color, the system comprising:
- a printer for printing sets of color samples and including a controller configured to generate instructions for printing a first set of color samples such that the samples in the first set have a first color spacing and define a first volume in the color space and configured to generate instructions for printing a subsequent set of color samples according to user selections;
- and
- a user interface for communicating user selections to the printer, wherein the user selections include a closest match to the target color selected from a prior set of printed color samples and a desired color spacing of samples in a subsequent set,
- wherein the printer prints a subsequent set of color samples according to the user selections until an acceptable match to the target color is achieved.
In a printer, a method of matching a target color, comprising:
- generating in a controller printing instructions for the printer regarding printing sets of color samples, including the color spacing of the samples and the volume of the samples in a selected color space;
- printing a first set of color samples;
- selecting a color sample from the printed first set as the closest match to the target color,
- communicating information relating to the selected color sample to the controller along with a desired color spacing of samples for a second set of color samples;
- printing a second set of color samples having the desired color spacing and that spans a smaller volume in the color space than the first set;
- and
- if necessary, printing one or more additional sets of color samples spanning successively smaller volumes in the color space, under the control of the controller, until a color sample in a successive set acceptably matches the target color.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.