Simple mechanism for profile selection
View Patent ↗In a system where the color space conversion process uses color profile look-up tables to select a profile for each of the possible attribute value combinations, assigning a value of wildcard to one or more attributes. In this case, if all of the values of one of the attributes can not be exactly matched, and that attribute has a wildcard value, the wildcard value is selected. The profile associated with the wildcard is designed to enable a reasonable color conversion in any case where an attribute calls for a particular value and the printer does not have a corresponding profile. The result is that the printer will most likely still print a reasonable image in the case where there is no matching profile.
1. A printing process responsive to a print job query including at least one printing attribute value, each printing attribute having two or more values associated with it, one of the values being a wildcard value, the printing process having the steps of converting input color pixels of an original color space into output color pixels of a different color space that is used by a printer, and printing the resultant pixels, the converting step comprising:
providing a set of printing profiles for the printer, wherein each printing profile of the printer has a plurality of printing attribute values associated with it;
identifying a printing profile from the set having the at least one printing attribute value in the print job query; and
if the identified printing profile does not include the at least one printing attribute value in the print job query, selecting a printing profile from the set whose printing attribute values either match the at least one printing attribute values in the print query or have wildcard value, wherein a wildcard value means the printing profile is good for handling of any value in the printing attribute.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the original color space comprises red, green and blue and the output color space comprises cyan, magenta and yellow.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein a printing attribute comprises one of media type, media type reflection, media type glossiness, dither; rendering intent, and viewing illuminant.
4. In a printing process responsive to at least two printing attributes, the process having the steps of converting input color pixels of an original color space into output color pixels of a different color space which is used by a printer, each printing attribute having a number of values, and printing the resultant pixels, the converting step comprising:
determining at least first and second printing attributes, each of the first and second printing attributes having at least first and second values, the second value of the second attribute being a wildcard value, wherein a wildcard value means a printing profile is good for handling of any value in the second printing attribute,
generating at least four printing profiles, one associated with each possible combination of printing attribute values of the at least first and second printing attributes, such that a first printing profile will have the first value of the first printing attribute and the first value of the second printing attribute, a second printing profile will have the first value of the first printing attribute and the second value of the second printing attribute, a third printing profile will have the second value of the first printing attribute and the first value of the second printing attribute and a fourth printing profile will have the second value of the first printing attribute and the second value of the second printing attribute, and
using a printing profile having the second value of the second printing attribute for the converting step if one of two input printing attribute values matches one of the printing attribute values of the first printing attribute, and none of the input printing attribute values matches the first value of the second printing attribute.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the original color space comprises red, green and blue and the output color space comprises cyan, magenta and yellow.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein a printing attribute comprises one of media type, media type reflection, media type glossiness, dither, rendering intent, and viewing illuminant.
7. A printing method responsive to first and second printing attributes, each of the first and second printing attributes having at least two values, comprising the steps of:
assigning to the second value of the second printing attribute a value of wildcard, wherein a wildcard value means a printing profile is good for handling of any value in the second printing attribute,
generating printing profiles for a plurality of combinations of first and second printing attribute values,
one printing profile associated with each possible combination of printing attribute values of the first and second printing attributes,
selecting a printing profile having the wildcard value for the second printing attribute for a color space conversion of input pixels to generate output pixels if one of two input printing attribute values matches one of the values of the first printing attribute, and none of the printing attribute values matches the first value of the second attribute, and
printing the output pixels.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the original color space comprises red, green and blue and the output color space comprises cyan, magenta and yellow.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein a printing attribute comprises one of media type, media type reflection, media type glossiness, dither, rendering intent, and viewing illuminant.