Apparatus and method for processing a color image

Claim 3

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said inputting means inputs a combination of the colors of the density signals and a chromaticity value corresponding to the combination; said color-calculating means performs the color calculation in accordance with the combination and the chromaticity value; and said converting means sets parameters for performing conversion in accordance with the density signals.

Claim 4

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said inputting means inputs a combination of the colors of the density signals and a first chromaticity value corresponding to the combination; said color-calculating means interpolates the density signals in accordance with the combination and the first chromaticity value so as to determine a second chromaticity value; and said converting means determines the luminance signals or the excitation values in accordance with the second chromaticity value.

Claim 5

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the density signals corresponding to the colors are yellow, magenta, cyan and black signals.

Claim 6

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the luminance component signals of the plurality of colors are red, green and blue signals.

Claim 9

A color image processing apparatus where a color correction parameter is used in color correction means for a subject output device such that an output image of said subject output device is matched with an output image of a standard output device, comprising: storage means for storing first data representing the characteristics of said standard output device and second data representing the characteristics of said subject output device; calculating means for calculating said color correction parameter based on said first and second data; and setting means for setting said color correction parameter into said color correction means.

Claim 10

A color image processing apparatus where a color correction parameter is used in color correction means for a subject output device such that an output image of said subject output device is matched with an output image of a standard output device, comprising: storage means for storing first data representing the characteristics of said standard output device and second data representing the characteristics of said subject output device; calculating means for calculating said color correction parameter based on said first and second data; and setting means for setting said color correction parameter into said color correction means.

Claim 11

A color image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said first and second data is obtained by measuring a color of a color patch formed by said output devices.

Claim 12

A color image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said first and second data is a plurality of combinations of a density value and a chromaticity value indicating a predetermined color patch.

Claim 13

A color image processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said density value is composed of four color components, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (K).

Claim 14

A color image processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said chromaticity value is composed of the components, L*, a* and b*.

Claim 15

A color image processing apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising image forming means for forming an image by said subject output device.

Claim 16

A color image processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said image forming means is an electrophotographic printer.

Claim 17

A color image processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said image forming means is an ink-jet printer.

Claim 18

A color image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said calculating means calculates said color correction parameter based on a limiting value of color mixture.

Claim 19

A color image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said calculating means calculates said color correction parameter by an optimization method based on said first and second data.

Claim 22

A method of processing a color image according to claim 17, wherein the components composing the input image data include yellow, magenta, cyan and black.

Claim 23

A method of processing a color image according to claim 17, wherein in the outputting step the color-corrected image data is output to a printer.

Claim 24

A method of processing a color image according to claim 19, wherein said printer is an electrophotographic printer.

Claim 25

A method of processing a color image according to claim 19, wherein said printer is an ink-jet printer.

Claim 26

A method of processing a color image according to claim 17, wherein said predetermined value is a limiting value of color mixture.

Claim 27

A method of processing a color image according to claim 17, wherein, in the setting step, a color correction parameter is calculated based on color data obtained by measuring a color of a formed color patch.

Claim 28

A method of processing a color image according to claim 17, wherein, in the setting step, the color correction is automatically set.

Claim 29

A color image processing method where a color correction parameter is used for color correction for a subject output device such that an output image of said subject output device is matched with an output image of a standard output device, comprising: a storage step for storing first data representing the characteristics of said standard output device and second data representing the characteristics of said subject output device; a calculating step for calculating said color correction parameter based on said first and second data; and a setting step for setting said color correction parameter for the color correction.

Claim 30

A color image processing method where a color correction parameter is used for color correction for a subject output device such that an output image of said subject output device is matched with an output image of a standard output device, comprising: a storage step for storing first data representing the characteristics of said standard output device and second data representing the characteristics of said subject output device; a calculating step for calculating said color correction parameter based on said first and second data; and a setting step for setting said color correction parameter for the color correction.

Claim 31

A color image processing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting first density data, that depends on an output device, composed of a plurality of color components including a black color component; matrix calculating means for executing a matrix calculation of the density data by using a matrix coefficient based on color characteristics of said output device and for outputting second density data composed of a plurality of color components including no black color component; converting means for performing a density/luminance conversion of the second density data; primary converting means for performing a primary conversion of luminance data; and output means for outputting the primary converted luminance data on a display unit.

Claim 32

A color image processing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting first density data, that depends on an output device, composed of a plurality of color components including a black color component; matrix calculating means for executing a matrix calculation of the density data by using a matrix coefficient based on color characteristics of said output device and for outputting second density data composed of a plurality of color components including no black color component; converting means for performing a density/luminance conversion of the second density data; primary converting means for performing a primary conversion of luminance data; and output means for outputting the primary converted luminance data on a display unit.

Claim 33

A color image processing apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the first density color image data is composed of yellow, magenta, cyan and black color components.

Claim 34

A color image processing apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the luminance data is composed of red, green, and blue color components.

Claim 35

A color image processing method comprising the steps of: calculating conversion data based on a first color reproduced from predetermined density data by a standard output device and a second color reproduced from the predetermined density data by a subject output device; setting the conversion data in accordance with a combination of the standard output device and the subject output device; converting density data composed of a plurality of color components including a black color component, that depends on said standard output device, to luminance data based on the conversion data; and outputting the luminance data on said subject output device.

Claim 36

A color image processing method comprising the steps of: calculating conversion data based on a first color reproduced from predetermined density data by a standard output device and a second color reproduced from the predetermined density data by a subject output device; setting the conversion data in accordance with a combination of the standard output device and the subject output device; converting density data composed of a plurality of color components including a black color component, that depends on said standard output device, to luminance data based on the conversion data; and outputting the luminance data on said subject output device.

Claim 37

A color image processing method according to claim 29, wherein said subject output device is a display device.

Claim 38

A color image processing method according to claim 29, wherein said standard output device is a printer.

Claim 39

A color image processing method according to claim 29, wherein the first color reproduced from predetermined density data is composed of yellow, magenta, cyan and black color components.

Claim 40

A color image processing method according to claim 29, wherein the luminance data is composed of red, green and blue color components.