System and method for print profile selection

A computer-implemented method for print profile selection, comprising:

• receiving a color document into computer memory;
• receiving print profiles into computer memory;
• using a computer processor, identifying at least one out-of-gamut region within the color document based at least in part on at least one of the print profiles;
• presenting the identified at least one out-of-gamut region to a user;
• receiving at least one color accuracy requirement from the user for at least one of the identified out-of-gamut regions;
• computing a color quality value for each of the at least one print profiles based at least in part on the received color accuracy requirements, comprising:
• for each print profile:
• for each of the at least one out-of-gamut region:
• calculating a mean difference value (Δpr) between the document color in the out-of-gamut region and the closest in-gamut color of the print profile, where p is one of the print profiles and r is an out-of-gamut region;
• determining an achieved color accuracy category for the out-of-gamut region based at least in part on the calculated mean difference value;
• calculating an indicator (I) that indicates if the received color accuracy requirements for the out-of-gamut region are satisfied;
• computing a color difference severity value (S) based at least in part on the calculated mean difference value and the received color accuracy requirements;
• and
• calculating a quality value (Q) for the out-of-gamut region based at least in part on the calculated indicator (I) and the severity value (S);
• and
• computing the color quality of the color document against the print profile based on the calculated color quality values of each out-of-gamut region;
• ranking the print profiles based at least in part according to the computed color quality value;
• and
• outputting the ranking of the print profiles.

A computer-based system for print profile selection, comprising:

• memory which stores:
• a color coverage review component which includes instructions for:
• receiving a color document into computer memory;
• receiving print profiles into computer memory;
• and
• identifying at least one out-of-gamut region within the color document based at least in part on the print profiles;
• a print options review component which includes instructions for:
• presenting the identified at least one out-of-gamut region to a user;
• after the presenting, receiving color accuracy requirements from the user for the at least one out-of-gamut region;
• computing a color quality value for each of the print profiles based at least in part on the received color accuracy requirements comprising, for each print profile, for the at least one presented out-of-gamut region:
• calculating a mean difference value (Δpr) between the document color in the out-of-gamut region and the closest in-gamut color of the print profile,
• determining an achieved color accuracy category for the out-of-gamut region based at least in part on the calculated mean difference value, and
• calculating an indicator (I) that indicates if the received color accuracy requirements for the out-of-gamut region are satisfied;
• ranking the print profiles based at least in part on the computed color quality values;
• outputting the ranking for a user to select one of the print profiles;
• and
• receiving the user's selection of one of the ranked print profiles;
• and
• a processor, in communication with the components, which executes the instructions.

A method for print profile selection, comprising:

• for an input color document, with a computer processor, providing for identifying at least one out-of-gamut region within the color document based at least in part on at least one of a plurality of stored print profiles;
• obtaining a cost of printing at least one page of the document with each of the print profiles;
• computing a color quality value for each of the print profiles based at least in part on at least one of the identified out of gamut regions and a user's color accuracy requirement specified for each of the at least one identified out of gamut region, based on the user's inspection of the region, whereby different regions are considered separately;
• ranking the print profiles at least in part according to the computed color quality value;
• separately ranking the print profiles according to the cost of printing the at least one page of the document;
• and
• providing for a user to view the rankings wherein the computing of the color quality value for each of the at least one print profiles based at least in part on the received color accuracy requirements comprises:
• for each print profile:
• for each of the at least one out-of-gamut region:
• calculating a mean difference value (Δpr) between the document color in the out-of-gamut region and the closest in-gamut color of the print profile,
• determining an achieved color accuracy category for the out-of-gamut region based at least in part on the calculated mean difference value, and
• calculating an indicator (I) that indicates if the received color accuracy requirements for the out-of-gamut region are satisfied;
• and to select a print profile based on at
• least one of the profile's color quality value and cost of printing.