Establishing ink usage of process channels
AssigneeOnyx Graphics, Inc.
InventorsMaxim Wasyl Derhak, Rohit A. Patil
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for establishing ink usage of process channels are provided. Separation curves are generated that determine how multiple ink channels are used to render a corresponding process channel of an image. The separation curves are generated using process values and density measurements or estimations. A PVR curve is established to identify target densities. When a combination of ink channels are used, the model is accessed based on one of the ink channels to determine a contribution of the other ink channel to achieve the target density. Each ink channel has a corresponding curve and all of the curves collectively provide a smooth and predictable progression from zero coverage to full coverage for the ink channels.
Claims20
A method for establishing ink usage of process channels in a printing system that includes multiple inks, the method comprising:
- printing a swatch that includes multiple patches for each ink in the printing system and combination patches for at least some of the inks;
- measuring a spectral reflectance for each of the patches;
- converting each spectral reflectance to a density;
- determining a maximum ink use;
- establishing a PVR curve that establishes a relationship between a process value and a target density;
- defining a model for determining densities for combinations of the inks in the printing system;
- and
- determining ink separations for the multiple inks using the PVR curve and the model.
In an system that includes multiple inks for at least one process channel, a method for determining ink separation curves for purposes of processing and printing that determine ink amounts for an image, the method comprising:
- identifying a target density for each of a plurality of points on a PVR (a process to desired density relationship) curve;
- identifying first density ink amounts for an initial set of inks, wherein the first density ink amounts correspond to a portion of the plurality of points;
- and
- accessing a model using the target density and the corresponding first density ink amounts for the portion of the plurality of points to determine an additional channel ink amounts for the portion of the plurality of points, wherein the first ink amounts and the additional channel ink amounts achieve the target densities for the portion of the plurality of points and wherein the first ink amounts establish at least a portion of first ink separation curves and the additional ink amounts establish at least a portion of the additional ink separation curve.
A method for determining ink separation curves for processing and printing, the method comprising:
- for each process channel in a printing system:
- determining ink channels;
- converting spectral reflectance values for the ink channels, wherein the spectral reflectance values are converted to densities;
- generating a PVR (a process to desired density relationship) curve to establish a relationship between target densities and ink coverage values for the process channel;
- converting ink combinations to densities using a model, wherein the model determines a contribution of a second ink when a contribution of a first ink is known such that the combinations achieve the target densities;
- and
- defining ink separation curves for the ink channels using the PVR curve and the model.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.