Image processing apparatus and method, and image processing system

An image processing method of performing color adjustment for image data, comprising the steps of:

• designating, a reference color, an adjusted color of the reference color, and an adjustment region in a color space, wherein the adjustment region has an interior portion and a boundary, wherein the adjustment region is contained within the color space such that the adjustment region is only a part of the color space, and wherein the adjustment region includes the reference color and the adjusted color;
• determining whether a pixel value of input image data is in the adjustment region;
• calculating an adjusted pixel value of the image data on the basis of a function of the reference color, the adjusted color and the boundary of the adjustment region, if it is determined in the region determination step that the pixel value of the image data is in the adjustment region,
• wherein said adjusted value calculating step includes deriving an intersection of a straight line which connects the reference color and the pixel value of the image data and the boundary of the adjustment region, and calculating the adjusted pixel value of the image data on the basis of the adjusted color of the reference color and the intersection;
• and
• an output step, of outputting the adjusted pixel value.

An image processing system for performing color matching based on a color correction table in an image processing apparatus in which a monitor and a printer are connected, wherein said image processing apparatus comprises:

• designating means for designating, a reference color, an adjusted color of the reference color, and an adjustment region in a color space, wherein the adjustment region has an interior portion and a boundary, wherein the adjustment region is contained within the color space such that the adjustment region is only a part of the color space, and wherein the adjustment region includes the reference color and the adjusted color;
• region determining means for determining whether a pixel value of input image data is in the adjustment region;
• adjusted value calculating means for calculating an adjusted pixel value of the image data on the basis of a function of the reference color, the adjusted color and the boundary of the adjustment region, if said region determining means determines that the pixel value of the image data is in the adjustment region,
• wherein said adjusted value calculating means derives an intersection of a straight line which connects the reference color and the pixel value of the image data and the boundary of the adjustment region, and calculates the adjusted pixel value of the image data on the basis of the adjusted color of the reference color and the intersection;
• and
• an output section for outputting the adjusted pixel value.

A computer-readable storage medium, storing a program that performs color adjustment of image data and can be executed on a computer, the program comprising:

• a code of a designation step of designating, a reference color, an adjusted color of the reference color, and an adjustment region in a color space, wherein the adjustment region has an interior portion and a boundary, wherein the adjustment region is contained within the color space such that the adjustment region is only a part of the color space, and wherein the adjustment region includes the reference color and the adjusted color;
• a code of a region determination step of determining whether a pixel value of input image data is in the adjustment region;
• and
• a code of an adjusted value calculation step of calculating an adjusted pixel value of the image data on the basis of a function of the reference color, the adjusted color and the boundary of the adjustment region, if it is determined in the region determination step that the pixel value of the image data is in the adjustment region,
• wherein the adjusted value calculating step includes deriving an intersection of a straight line which connects the reference color and the pixel value of the image data and the boundary of the adjustment region, and calculating the adjusted pixel value of the image data on the basis of the adjusted color of the reference color and the intersection.