Spectrally matched print proofer

1. A method of creating an image using a device for soft proofing image data for printing, the device comprising a light source for producing light, a converter for converting the image data to form converted data, and a viewing screen for displaying an image according to the converted data, the method comprising:

determining at least one characteristic of the printed material according to at least one of a spectrum of a set of inks and a color reflection characteristic of a material for receiving said set of inks;

sliding or rotating a first filter set for selecting a correction filter according to the at least one characteristic of the printed material;

producing spectrally-corrected light using the correction filter and using the light source;

filtering the spectrally-corrected light to produce colored light;

spatially modulating the colored light according to the converted data for producing modulated colored light; and

projecting the modulated colored light onto the viewing screen to form the image.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the filtering the spectrally-corrected light includes rotating a second filter set.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a path for light of each primary color according to the converted data; and

combining the light of each primary color in an additive linear combination according to the path for generating the image.

4. A method for soft proofing image data colors that is used for forming a printed material, the method comprising:

producing colored light of at least four colors, the producing including generating spectrally-corrected light using a correction filter including a first component for correcting a spectrum of a light with regard to an illumination condition and a second component for correcting the spectrum of the light with regard to a reflectance spectrum of a printing substrate, the producing further including rotating a first filter set, using a device, for filtering the spectrally-corrected light to produce the colored light, wherein the first filter set includes a first-color filter, a second-color filter, a third-color filter, and a fourth-color filter;

spatially modulating the colored light for generating modulated colored light according to at least one of the image data and converted data generated using the image data; and

displaying an image using the modulated colored light.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the producing the colored light is performed using a projective light system, the projective light system including a light source for producing the source light.

6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising providing a color system for printing the printed material, the color system including a plurality of colored materials, each colored material of the plurality of colored materials being subtractive, such that the colored material has a color by blocking at least a portion of a spectrum of light impinging on the colored material.

7. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

sliding a second filter set to select the correction filter; and

filtering source light using the correction filter to generate the spectrally-corrected light.

8. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

rotating a second filter set to select the correction filter; and

filtering source light using the correction filter to generate the spectrally-corrected light.

9. The method of claim 4 , further comprising using a plurality of LEDs to generate the spectrally-corrected light.

10. A method for soft proofing image data colors that is used for forming a printed material, the method comprising:

selecting, a device, a correction filter;

filtering source light using the correction filter to generate spectrally-corrected light;

rotating a first filter set for filtering the spectrally-corrected light to produce colored light;

spatially modulating the colored light for generating modulated colored light according to at least one of the image data and converted data generated using the image data; and

displaying an image using the modulated colored light.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising sliding a second filter set for performing the selecting.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising rotating a second filter set for performing the selecting.