Enhanced system, method and program for converting an externally defined four dimensional colorant (CMYK) into an equivalent four dimensional colorant defined in terms of the four inks (C′M′Y′K′) that are associated with a given printer

A system for converting externally defined four dimensional colorants into equivalent four dimensional colorants printed by a printer, comprising:

• means for printing a plurality of instances of a fourth component of a four dimensional colorant;
• means for determining a first correlation for each of a plurality of fourth components of the externally defined four dimensional colorants to one of the printed fourth components, wherein a first three components of the externally defined and printed four dimensional colorants involved in the first correlation each have zero color value;
• means for printing a plurality of instances of four dimensional colorants having fourth component color values that correlate to one externally defined fourth component according to the first correlation;
• means for determining a second correlation for each externally defined four dimensional colorant with one of the plurality of printed four dimensional colorants, wherein the fourth components of each pair of correlated externally defined and printed four dimensional colorants correlate according to the first correlation;
• and
• means for using the second correlation to transform any externally defined four dimensional colorant into one printer four dimensional colorant for use by the printer.

An article of manufacture for use in programming a printing system to convert externally defined four dimensional colorants into equivalent four dimensional colorants printed by a printer, the article of manufacture comprising a computer usable medium including at least one computer program that causes the printing system to perform:

• printing a plurality of instances of a fourth component of a four dimensional colorant;
• first correlating each of a plurality of fourth components of the externally defined four dimensional colorants to one of the plurality of printed fourth components, wherein a first three components of the externally defined and printed four dimensional colorants involved in the first correlation each have zero color value;
• printing a plurality of instances of four dimensional colorants having fourth component color values that correlate to one externally defined fourth component according to the first correlation;
• second correlating each externally defined four dimensional colorant with one of the plurality of printed four dimensional colorants, wherein the fourth components of each pair of correlated externally defined and printed four dimensional colorants correlate according to the first correlation;
• and
• using the second correlation to transform any externally defined four dimensional colorant into one printer four dimensional colorant for use by the printer.