Video image display for predicting color hardcopy image quality

A method of presentation and interaction with a video color display device and of controlling said device for color image display, the method permitting a user to accurately predict, solely from the video rendition of the image(s), the density, color balance and contrast of the image(s) to be printed on a hardcopy printing device, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing the image on the video color display device with a uniform surround of controllable luminance and chrominance levels, the uniform surround being large enough in proportion to the image to mimic the viewing conditions of the final hardcopy;
• (b) integrating the presentation of user controls for image manipulation on the same video color display device, with controllable brightness as compared to the controlled, uniform surround, to minimize disruption of the user's visual system of density, color balance and contrast;
• (c) fading the user controls away, into the controlled, uniform surround for critical judgment of the video image;
• (d) subsequently restoring the user controls to their original, controlled brightness;
• (e) controlling the rate of the fade in and fade out of the user controls;
• (f) saving multiple versions of the image(s) in a memory device;
• and
• (g) providing easy recall of individual versions of the image(s) from the memory device for toggled comparison among such recalled image versions.