Process for creating and for comparing color profiles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12088775-B2
Application number	US-202118038301-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 22, 2021
Priority date	Nov 24, 2020
Publication date	Sep 10, 2024
Grant date	Sep 10, 2024

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for comparing a reference colour profile or the color space value of the reference color profile of an analogue reference pattern with a decorative-element-specific color profile or the color space value of the decorative-element-specific color profile of a digital or analogue decorative element. In the course of the process, a reference color profile is created by reading in and storing measurement data of at least one portion of an analogue reference pattern by means of a hyperspectral area measuring device. According to the invention, a decorative-element-specific color profile is created either from the digital data of a digital decorative element or using hyperspectral area measurement of at least one portion of an analogue decorative element.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for comparing a reference color profile or a color space size of the reference color profile of an analog reference pattern with a decoration-specific color profile or a color space size of the decoration-specific color profile of a digital or analog decoration, wherein a color space is determined in a linear color system, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
a. reading in and storing measurement data of at least one segment of the analog reference pattern with a hyperspectral two-dimensional measuring instrument;
b. compiling the reference color profile by means of software, wherein the reference color profile comprises one or more average values of the measurement data of the at least one segment;
c. determining and storing the color space size of the reference color profile by the means of software;
d. compiling and storing the decoration-specific color profile either from digital data of a digital decoration or by hyperspectral two-dimensional measurement of at least one section of the analog decoration, wherein the decoration-specific color profile comprises the one or more average values of the measurement data of the at least one section;
e. determining and storing the color space size of the decoration-specific color profile by the means of software; and
f. comparing the color space size of the reference color profile and the color space size of the decoration-specific color profile, wherein the analog reference pattern comprises at least one color profile target and is generated by:
compiling and storing at least one digital color profile target; and
outputting the at least one digital color profile target onto a printing substrate with a digital printer under defined printing parameters.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the analog reference pattern has at least one color profile target and is generated as follows:
compiling and storing at least one digital color profile target by the means of a software.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the analog reference pattern has from 1 to 10,000 color profile targets, preferably from 1,000 to 5,000, particularly preferably from 2,500 to 3,500 color profile targets.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the method comprises the steps of:
compiling and storing the at least one color profile target by the means of software;
outputting the at least one color profile target onto the printing substrate with the digital printer under defined printing parameters, the at least one color profile target output onto the printing substrate representing the analog reference pattern;
measuring and storing the measurement data of the at least one segment of the analog reference pattern with the hyperspectral two-dimensional measuring instrument;
compiling the at least one reference color profile by the means of software;
determining and storing the color space size of the reference color profile by the means of software;
compiling and storing a digital decoration, the digital decoration having at least one decoration-specific color profile target;
compiling a decoration-specific color profile from digital data of the digital decoration;
determining and storing the color space size of the decoration-specific color profile by the means of software; and
comparing the reference color profile and the decoration-specific color profile or the color space size of the reference color profile and the color space size of the decoration-specific color profile.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the digital decoration is compiled from the digital data of a decoration template or by hyperspectral two-dimensional measurement of the at least one segment of the analog decoration.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the analog reference pattern is selected from a group containing:
the digital decoration printed onto printing substrate; and
the digital decoration processed further and printed onto printing substrate;
wherein further processing comprises the steps of impregnating, pressing and/or profiling the printing substrate, either individually or in combination.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a comparison of the reference color profile and the decoration-specific color profile or of the color space size of the reference color profile and the color space size of the decoration-specific color profile is carried out in an automated fashion by the means of software or manually.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein an event of deviations of the reference color profile from the decoration-specific color profile or of the color space size of the reference color profile from the color space size of the decoration-specific color profile:
a signal is output; and/or
indications take place for changes to be carried out of one or more printing parameters in a subsequent printing process; and/or
printing data of the digital decoration are automatically modified; and/or
a corrected decoration-specific color profile is calculated.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a similarity index is output as a result of a comparison of the reference color profile and the decoration-specific color profile or of the color space size of the reference color profile and the color space size of the decoration-specific color profile.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein, if the similarity index lies below a predetermined setpoint value, the method furthermore comprises the steps of:
outputting a signal;
outputting an indication for changes to be carried out of the one or more printing parameters in a subsequent printing process;
automatically modifying the printing data of the digital decoration; or
calculating a corrected decoration-specific color profile.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the analog reference pattern and/or the analog decoration is located on a printing substrate or is output onto a printing substrate, the printing substrate being selected from a group containing paper, glass, metal, films, wood-based materials, MDF panels, HDF panels, WPC panels, veneers, lacquer layers, plastic panels, or inorganic carrier panels.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a quality certificate is compiled as a result of a comparison of the reference color profile and the decoration-specific color profile or of the color space size of the reference color profile and the color space size of the decoration-specific color profile, the measurement data of the decoration-specific color profile being compared with the measurement data of the reference color profile and output as corroboration.

13. A device, in particular a digital printer, configured to compare a reference color profile or a color space size of the reference color profile of an analog reference pattern with a decoration-specific color profile or the color space size of the decoration-specific color profile of a digital or analog decoration, comprising:
at least one hyperspectral two-dimensional measuring instrument; and
at least one means for printing a decoration template, a digital color profile target and/or a digital decoration; or
at least one means for further processing the decoration template printed onto a printing substrate or the decoration printed onto the printing substrate, the device further configured to:
a. read in and store measurement data of at least one segment of the analog reference pattern with a hyperspectral two-dimensional measuring instrument;
b. compile the reference color profile by means of software, wherein the reference color profile comprises one or more average values of t

Assignees

• SWISS KRONO Tec AG

Inventors

• Dicke Sebastian

Classifications

• H04N1/6008

  with primary colour signals, e.g. RGB or CMY(K) · CPC title

• G01J3/463

  Colour matching · CPC title

• G06T7/90

  Determination of colour characteristics · CPC title

• H04N1/6097 Primary

  depending on the characteristics of the output medium, e.g. glossy paper, matt paper, transparency or fabrics · CPC title

• H04N1/6033 Primary

  using test pattern analysis (H04N1/6055 takes precedence) · CPC title