Document background suppression performed during color space conversion

A method comprising:

• obtaining an electronic image in RGB color space;
• converting said electronic image into L*a*b* color space to produce a L*a*b* image;
• performing corrections to said L*a*b* image to produce a corrected L*a*b* image without performing background suppression;
• and
• converting said corrected L*a*b* image into CMYK color space to produce a CMYK image, said converting said corrected L*a*b* image into said CMYK color space includes performing background suppression.

A printing device comprising:

• an optical scanner obtaining an electronic image in a first color space;
• a processor electrically connected to said optical scanner, said processor converting said electronic image into a second color space to produce a second color space image, said second color space having a gamut that exceeds said first color space, said processor performing corrections to said second color space image to produce a corrected image without performing background suppression, said processor converting said corrected image into a third color space to produce a third color space image, and said converting said corrected image into said third color space includes performing background suppression;
• and
• a printing engine electrically connected to said processor, said printing engine printing said third color space image to produce a printed document.

A system comprising:

• an image acquisition device obtaining an electronic image in a first color space;
• a processor directly or indirectly connected to said image acquisition device, said processor converting said electronic image into a second color space to produce a second color space image, said second color space having a gamut that exceeds said first color space, said processor performing corrections to said second color space image to produce a corrected image without performing background suppression, said processor converting said corrected image into a third color space to produce a third color space image, and said converting said corrected image into said third color space includes performing background suppression;
• and
• a printer directly or indirectly connected to said processor, said printer printing said third color space image to produce a printed document.