Methods and systems for encoding over-range color values using in-range values

A computer program product, encoded on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

• receiving an input file including input color values, wherein at least one input color value has a corresponding value in an output color space that is outside of a range of values supported by an output file format and the input color values are included within a range of color values;
• dividing the range of color values in to a plurality of sub-ranges;
• encoding each of the input color values based on a level of accuracy assigned to a sub-range that the input color falls within, wherein each input color value is encoded as a value supported by the output file format to provide each encoded color value;
• and
• generating an output file having the output file format, wherein the output file includes the encoded color values and includes an indicator that the output file includes encoded color values representing input color values having corresponding values in the output color space that are outside of a range of values supported by the output file format, wherein the indicator is included in an International Color Consortium (ICC) profile.

A system comprising:

• a memory operable to store a first electronic document comprising input color component values corresponding to a first color space including a set of in-range values in the first color space that correspond to a set of over-range values in a second color space;
• and
• a processor communicatively coupled to the memory operable to:
• divide the set of in-range color values into a plurality of sub-ranges;
• encode each of the input color component values including the set of in-range values in the first color space that correspond to a set of over-range values in the second color space based on a level of accuracy assigned to a sub-range that the input color component value falls within, wherein each encoded color value is encoded as an in-range value in the second color space;
• and
• generate a second electronic document comprising the encoded color component values and a color profile, wherein the color profile provides information for decoding the encoded color component values and includes an indicator that the encoded color values include values corresponding to over-range values in the second color space.