Functional color selection system

A system for producing a color palette data structure including a plurality of generated colors;

• the system comprising
• input means for receiving request signals from a user;
• the request signals including a key color request, a color function request and a save palette request;
• key color selection means, responsive to the key color request received from the user, for selecting a key color from a key color source;
• the key color and each of the plurality of generated colors being defined by a set of cylindrical colorimetric coordinates in a uniform color space, the set of cylindrical colorimetric coordinates including a hue-angle coordinate, a lightness coordinate, and a chroma coordinate;
• color function selection means, responsive to the color function request received from the user, for selecting a color function from a plurality of color functions;
• each color function producing at least one of the plurality of generated colors;
• the plurality of color functions including,
• an analogous harmony color function relating the key color to an analogous harmony color;
• the analogous harmony color function producing the set of cylindrical colorimetric coordinates of the analogous harmony color by varying the hue-angle coordinate of the key color in the uniform color space by a first angle value;
• and
• a complement color function relating the key color to a complement color;
• the complement color function producing the set of cylindrical colorimetric coordinates of the complement color by varying the hue-angle coordinate of the key color in the uniform color space by a third angle value;
• color generation means, responsive to the color function selection means, for generating the set of cylindrical colorimetric coordinates for the at least one generated color using the set of cylindrical colorimetric coordinates for the key color according to the selected color function, and for storing the set of cylindrical colorimetric coordinates for the at least one generated color in the color palette data structure;
• display means, cooperatively associated with and responsive to the key color selection means and the color generation means, and including a display device having a display screen, for converting the set of cylindrical colorimetric coordinates of the key color and of each generated color stored in the color palette data structure to color output signals representing colors producible on the display device;
• the display means further displaying concurrently on the display screen the key color and each generated color stored in the color palette data structure;
• and
• memory means for storing the color palette data structure in response to the save palette request received from the user.

A method of operating a machine to produce a color palette data structure including a plurality of generated colors;

• the machine including a user input device for providing signals indicating requests from a machine user, a processor, a display, and a memory;
• the method comprising the steps of
• receiving a first user request signal from the user input device indicating a selection of a key color by the machine user from a key color source;
• the key color and each generated color being defined by a set of colorimetric coordinates defining a color location in a uniform color space;
• displaying the key color on the display in response to the selection of the key color;
• the step of displaying the key color including converting the set of colorimetric coordinates defining the key color to color output signals representing a color reproducible on the display;
• storing the set of colorimetric coordinates of the key color in the color palette data structure;
• receiving a second user request signal from the user input device indicating a selection of a color function by the machine user;
• the color function defining a predetermined color relationship relating the color location of the key color in the uniform color space to color locations of at least two generated colors in the uniform color space;
• the color function computing the set of colorimetric coordinates of the at least two generated colors using the set of colorimetric coordinates for the key color;
• in response to the second user request signal indicating the selection of the color function,
• generating the set of colorimetric coordinates for at least two generated colors using the set of colorimetric coordinates for the key color according to the predetermined color relationship defined by the color function selected;
• storing the set of colorimetric coordinates of each generated color in the color palette data structure;
• converting the set of colorimetric coordinates for each generated color into color output signals representing a color producible on the display, and
• displaying the key color and each generated color stored in the color palette data structure concurrently on the display;
• and
• storing the color palette data structure in the memory of the machine.

A method of operating a machine to produce a color palette data structure including a plurality of generated colors;

• the machine including a user input device for providing signals indicating requests from a machine user, a processor, a display, and a memory;
• the method comprising the steps of
• colorimetrically measuring a plurality of colors producible by the display to produce a measured color gamut for the display, and storing the measured color gamut in the memory;
• receiving a first user request signal from the user input device indicating a selection by the machine user of a key color from a key color source;
• the key color, each generated color and the plurality of colors in the measured color gamut being defined by a set of colorimetric coordinates defining a color location in a uniform color space;
• the set of colorimetric coordinates for each color including a hue-angle coordinate, a chroma coordinate, and a lightness coordinate;
• in response to the selection of the key color, converting the set of colorimetric coordinates defining the key color to color output signals representing a color in the measured color gamut of the display and displaying the key color on the display;
• storing the set of colorimetric coordinates of the key color in the color palette data structure;
• receiving a second user request signal from the user input device indicating a selection of a color function by the machine user selected from a plurality of color functions including
• an analogous harmony color function relating the key color to first and second analogous harmony colors;
• the analogous harmony color function producing the set of colorimetric coordinates of the first analogous harmony color by incrementing the hue-angle coordinate of the key color in the uniform color space by a first angle value;
• the analogous harmony color function producing the set of colorimetric coordinates of the second analogous harmony color by decrementing the hue-angle coordinate of the key color in the uniform color space by the first angle value;
• a direct complement color function relating the key color to a direct complement color;
• the direct complement color function producing the set of colorimetric coordinates of the direct complement color by varying the hue-angle coordinate of the key color in the uniform color space by a second angle value;
• a lightness variation color function relating an input color to at least one lightness variation color;
• the lightness variation color function producing the set of colorimetric coordinates of the at least one lightness variation color by varying the lightness coordinate of the input color by a lightness change quantity defined by creating an interval scale in the uniform color space;
• one end of the interval scale being determined from the lightness coordinate of the input color;
• the other end of the interval scale being at an edge of the measured color gamut;
• wherein the second user request signal further indicates the input color;
• the input color being selected from the key color, the first and second analogous harmony colors, and the direct complement color;
• and
• a chroma variation color function relating the input color to at least one chroma variation color;
• the chroma variation color function producing the set of colorimetric coordinates of the at least one chroma variation color by varying the chroma coordinate of the input color by a chroma change quantity determined using a line segment passing through the input color and an achromatic axis in the uniform color space, and extending to an edge of the measured color gamut;
• in response to the selection of the color function, generating the set of colorimetric coordinates for at least one generated color according to the color function;
• storing the set of colorimetric coordinates of each generated color in the color palette data structure;
• converting the set of colorimetric coordinates for each generated color stored in the color palette data structure into respective color output signals representing a displayable generated color in the measured color gamut of the display, and displaying the displayable generated color using the respective color output signals concurrently with the key color on the display;
• receiving a third request signal indicating a save palette request by the machine user;
• and
• storing the color palette data structure in the memory of the machine in response to the save palette request.