Method and apparatus for simulating colored material

A method for simulating a colored material, the method comprising:

• obtaining a character reference pattern having at least one desired character property of the material-to-be-simulated, the character reference pattern being stored as an array, a plurality of elements of the array having at least a corresponding lightness coordinate value;
• for a selected element of the array, using the lightness coordinate value of the selected element to determine transformation non-lightness coordinate values to be assigned to the selected element, the transformation non-lightness coordinate values to be assigned to the selected element being determined by referencing a predefined set of points in color space, the determination utilizing, as the transformation non-lightness coordinate values for the selected element, non-lightness coordinate values of a matched one the points in the set, the matched point in the set having a lightness coordinate value which fulfills a predetermined criteria with respect to the lightness coordinate value of the selected element;
• transforming the array by assigning the non-lightness coordinate values of the matched point to the selected element of the array whereby, together with the lightness coordinate values of the selected element of the array, the selected element of the transformed array is representable in color space;
• and
• using the array with the transformation non-lightness coordinate values for the selected element to provide a visual output representative of the material-to-be-simulated.

A method for simulating a range of shade variations for a colored target material, the method comprising:

• selecting a point in color space corresponding to a desired constituent color of the colored target material;
• determining a three dimensional volume of acceptable color variation about the target point;
• selecting a plurality of shade variation representation points in color space on a surface of the three dimensional volume, thereby forming a set of color candidate representation points comprising the selected point and the shade variation representation points;
• generating a visually-perceptible simulation for a plurality of representation points, thereby forming a set of visually-perceptible simulations depicting a range of predetermined shade variation.

A method for simulating a colored target material expected to result from at least one color-affecting treatment, the target material being composed of a first constituent element and a second constituent element, the method comprising:

• (a) obtaining spectral data from a colored reference material, the colored reference material being composed of the first constituent element and the second constituent element;
• (b) obtaining spectral data from a first test material, the first test material being composed only of the first constituent element;
• (c) obtaining spectral data from a second test material, the second test material being composed of the first constituent element and the second constituent element, the first constituent element of the second test material being the same as that of the first test material;
• (d) subjecting the color reference material, the first test material, and the second test material to at least one color-affecting treatment;
• (e) obtaining spectral data from each of the color reference material, the first test material, and the second test material after the at least one color-affecting treatment;
• (f) using the spectral data from steps (a)-(c) and (e) to determine a selected point in color space which corresponds to the color for the first constituent element, after the at least one color-affecting treatment.

Apparatus for simulating a colored target material, the apparatus comprising:

• a memory wherein is stored a character reference pattern having at least one desired character property of the target material, the character reference pattern being stored in the memory as an array, a plurality of elements of the array being assigned a corresponding initial lightness value;
• an image processor which uses a lightness coordinate value of a selected point in color space to form adjusted lightness values for each of the elements of the array, the selected point having both the lightness coordinate value and non-lightness coordinate values, the image processor further transforming the array by assigning the non-lightness coordinate values of the selected point to the elements of the array whereby, together with the adjusted lightness values the non-lightness coordinate values of the selected point, the elements of the transformed array are representable in color space;
• and
• an output device which uses the transformed array to provide a visual output representative of the target material.

Apparatus for simulating a colored target material, the apparatus comprising:

• a first memory wherein is stored a character reference pattern having at least one desired character property of the target material, the character reference pattern being stored in the memory as an array, each of a plurality of elements of the array being assigned a corresponding initial lightness value;
• a second memory wherein is stored a predefined set of points in color space, each point in the set having a lightness coordinate value and non-lightness coordinate values;
• an image processor which uses, for a selected element of the array, the lightness coordinate value of the selected element to determine transformation non-lightness coordinate values to be assigned to the selected element, the transformation non-lightness coordinate values to be assigned to the selected element being determined by referencing the predefined set of points in color space, the determination utilizing, as the transformation non-lightness coordinate values for the selected element, non-lightness coordinate values of a selected one the points in the set, the selected point in the set having a lightness coordinate value which fulfills a predetermined criteria with respect to the lightness coordinate value of the selected element, the image processor further transforming the array by assigning the non-lightness coordinate values of the selected point to the selected element of the array whereby, together with the lightness coordinate values of the selected element of the array, the selected element of the transformed array is representable in color space;
• and
• an output device which uses the transformed array to provide a visual output representative of the target material.

Apparatus for simulating a colored target material, the apparatus comprising:

• a memory for storing therein a set of points in color space, each point having a lightness coordinate value and non-lightness coordinate values;
• a processor which determines a selected point in color space corresponding to a desired color of the colored target material
• an input device for inputting criteria for developing a three dimensional volume of acceptable color variation about the selected point;
• and wherein the processor uses the inputted criteria to further select a plurality of shade variation representation points in color space, the shade variation representation points being on a surface of the three dimensional volume, thereby forming a set of representation points comprising the selected point and the plurality of shade variation representation points;
• and
• an output device for generating a simulation output for a plurality of representation points, thereby forming a set of simulation outputs depicting a range of predetermined shade variation.

Apparatus for use with a color-affecting material treatment processor for simulating a colored target material expected to result from at least one color-affecting treatment, the target material being composed of a first constituent element and a second constituent element, the apparatus comprising:

• a spectral analyzer for obtaining spectral data from material including:
• (a) a colored reference material, the colored reference material being composed of the first constituent element and the second constituent element;
• (b) a first test material, the first test material being composed only of the first constituent element;
• (c) a second test material, the second test material being composed of the first constituent element as the first test material and the second constituent element, the first constituent element of the second test material being the same as that of the first test material;
• (d) the colored reference material after undergoing the color-affecting treatment, the first test material after undergoing the color-affecting treatment, and the second test material after undergoing the color-affecting treatment;
• a processor which uses the spectral data for materials (a) - (d) to determine a selected point in color space which corresponds to the suitable pre-processing color for the first constituent element in order to achieve a desired appearance of the target material after the at least one color-affecting treatment.

A method for simulating a colored target material expected to result from at least one color-affecting treatment, the target material being composed of a first constituent element and a second constituent element, the method comprising:

• (a) obtaining spectral data from a plurality of test materials, including a first test material and a second test material, the first test material being composed only of the first constituent element, the second test material being composed of the first constituent element and the second constituent element, the first constituent element of the second test material being the same as that of the first test material;
• (b) subjecting the color reference material, the first test material, and the second test material to at least one color-affecting treatment;
• (c) obtaining spectral data from the first test material and the second test material after the at least one color-affecting treatment;
• (d) using the spectral data from steps (a) and (c) to determine a selected point in color space which corresponds to the color for the first constituent element, after the at least one color-affecting treatment.

Apparatus for use with a color-affecting material treatment processor for simulating a colored target material expected to result from at least one color-affecting treatment, the target material being composed of a first constituent element and a second constituent element, the apparatus comprising:

• a spectral analyzer for obtaining spectral data from:
• (a) a plurality of test materials including a first test material and a second test material, the first test material being composed only of the first constituent element, the second test material being composed of the first constituent element as the first test material and the second constituent element, the first constituent element of the second test material being the same as that of the first test material;
• (b) the first test material after undergoing the color-affecting treatment, and the second test material after undergoing the color-affecting treatment;
• a processor which uses the spectral data for materials (a)-(b) to determine a selected point in color space which corresponds to the suitable pre-processing color for the first constituent element in order to achieve a desired appearance of the target material after the at least one color-affecting treatment.

A method for simulating a colored target material, the method comprising:

• selecting a point in color space and generating signals therefor, including a lightness coordinate value signal of the selected point and non-lightness coordinate value signals of the selected point;
• obtaining signals for a character reference pattern, the character reference pattern having at least one desired character property of the target material, the character reference pattern comprising an array of elements, wherein a corresponding initial lightness signal is obtained for the plurality of elements of the array;
• using a processor to generate simulation signals which simulate the colored target material by:
• using the lightness coordinate value signal of the selected point to obtain adjusted lightness signals for the elements of the array;
• using the non-lightness coordinate value signals of the selected point as non-lightness coordinate value signals for the elements of the array;
• and
• driving an output device with the simulation signals to obtain a visually-perceptible image of the colored target material.

A method for simulating a colored material, the method comprising:

• obtaining signals for a character reference pattern, the character reference pattern having at least one desired character property of the material-to-be-simulated, the character reference pattern comprising an array of elements, wherein a corresponding lightness signal is obtained for the plurality of elements of the array;
• for a selected element of the array, using the lightness signal of the selected element to determine transformation non-lightness signals to be assigned to the selected element, the transformation non-lightness signals assigned to the selected element being determined by referencing signals corresponding to a predefined set of points in color space, the determination utilizing, as the transformation non-lightness signals for the selected element, non-lightness signals of a matched one the points in the set, the matched point in the set having a lightness coordinate signal which fulfills a predetermined criteria with respect to the lightness signal of the selected element;
• assigning the non-lightness signals of the matched point to the selected element of the array whereby, together with the lightness coordinate signals of the selected element of the array, the selected element of the transformed array is representable in color space by transformed element signals;
• and
• using the transformed element signals to drive an output device and thereby provide a visual output representative of the material-to-be-simulated.

A method for simulating a range of shade variations for a colored target material, the method comprising:

• (1) inputting into a processor signals indicative of a selected point in color space, the selected point corresponding to a desired constituent color of the colored target material;
• (2) inputting into the processor signals indicative of a three dimensional volume of acceptable color variation about the target point;
• (3) using a processor to generate, from the signals input in steps (1) and (2), signals for a plurality of shade variation representation points in color space on a surface of the three dimensional volume, thereby generating a set of signals for a corresponding set of color candidate representation points comprising the selected point and the shade variation representation points;
• (4) using the set of signals generated at step (3) to drive an output device and thereby provide a corresponding set of a visually-perceptible simulation outputs for each representation point, and thereby depicting a range of predetermined shade variation.