Spot color controls and method

A method of color management for image marking devices through use of an automated spot color editor having a control module accessing a graphical user interface, comprising:

• receiving image data input for a marking job, wherein said image data input is in either device-dependent color space or device-independent color space;
• determining whether spot colors are present within said image data input;
• checking whether CMYK values for each of said spot colors present within said image data input are included in a marking device spot color dictionary;
• initializing operational parameters for the automated spot color editor, wherein said operational parameters include a desired performance criteria to be minimized by the automated spot color editor through selection of at least one of a plurality of possible gain matrices to identify new CMYK values;
• assessing the quality level of said new CMYK values;
• and
• transmitting said new CMYK values to at least one image printing device;
• wherein said operational parameters further include the current iteration index of the automated spot color editor and the maximum number of iterations to be performed by the automated spot color editor;
• and wherein initializing said operational parameters further comprises:
• increasing the iteration number;
• and
• determining the desired CMYK value for said iteration comprising:
• computing the gain matrix over a defined projection horizon;
• evaluating a cumulative cost function, wherein said cost function assesses at least one member selected from the group consisting of the color difference values, the control energy of the actuators used to track the color difference, or a balance between said color difference values and said control energy of said actuators;
• determining a minimum value of said cumulative cost function;
• and
• computing new CMYK values.

A system of color management for image marking devices through use of an automated spot color editor having a control module accessing a graphical user interface, comprising:

• means for receiving image data input for a marking job, wherein said image data input is in either device-dependent color space or device-independent color space;
• means for determining whether spot colors are present within said image data input;
• means for checking whether CMYK values for each of said spot colors present within said image data input are included in a marking device spot color dictionary;
• means for initializing operational parameters for the automated spot color editor, wherein said operational parameters include a desired performance criteria to be minimized by the automated spot color editor through selection of at least one of a plurality of possible gain matrices to identify new CMYK values;
• means for assessing the quality level of said new CMYK values;
• and
• means for transmitting said new CMYK values to at least one image printing device.

A system of color management for image marking devices through use of an automated spot color editor having a control module accessing a graphical user interface, comprising:

• means for receiving image data input for a marking job, wherein said image data input is in either device-dependent color space or device-independent color space;
• means for determining whether spot colors are present within said image data input;
• means for checking whether CMYK values for each of said spot colors present within said image data input are included in a marking device spot color dictionary;
• means for initializing operational parameters for the automated spot color editor, wherein said operational parameters include a desired performance criteria to be minimized by the automated spot color editor through selection of at least one of a plurality of possible gain matrices to identify new CMYK values;
• means for assessing the quality level of said new CMYK values;
• and
• means for transmitting said new CMYK values to at least one image printing device,
• wherein said operational parameters further include the current iteration index of the automated spot color editor and the maximum number of iterations to be performed by the automated spot color editor;
• and wherein selection of said at least one gain matrix comprises:
• obtaining measured L*a*b* values;
• determining whether a gain matrix index is less than or equal to the number of gain matrices available, wherein said gain matrix index identifies the gain matrix being evaluated;
• determining a cumulative cost function value and updating said CMYK values if said gain matrix index exceeds the number of said gain matrices available;
• computing a selected available gain matrix from said gain matrices available;
• determining whether the number of iterations performed during a projection is less than a defined projection horizon;
• if said number of iterations performed during said projection is not less than said projection horizon, computing cumulative cost function, incrementing said gain matrix index, resetting said look ahead index, and computing a new selected available gain matrix from said gain matrices available;
• and
• if said number of iterations performed during said projection is less than said projection horizon, executing a projection for the CMYK values over said projection horizon, evaluating said cumulative cost function, and increasing said look ahead index.

A computer-readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied in said medium which, when said program code is executed by a computer causes said computer to perform method steps for color management for image marking devices through use of an automated spot color editor having a control module accessing a graphical user interface, comprising:

• receiving image data input for a marking job, wherein said image data input is in either device-dependent color space or device-independent color space;
• determining whether spot colors are present within said image data input;
• checking whether CMYK values for each of said spot colors present within said image data input are included in a marking device spot color dictionary;
• initializing operational parameters for the automated spot color editor, wherein said operational parameters included a desired performance criteria to be minimized by the automated spot color editor through selection of at least one of a plurality of possible gain matrices to identify new CMYK values;
• assessing the quality level of said new CMYK values;
• and
• transmitting said new CMYK values to at least one image printing device.