Measuring color on a moving substrate

1. An image processing apparatus for use with a printed image on a moving substrate, the image processing apparatus comprising:

a first imaging device configured to process spatial data which indicates a position of color patches printed along an edge portion of the printed image on the moving substrate;

a second imaging device configured to process at least one of densitometric data and colorimetric data of the color patches of the printed image, wherein the first imaging device and second imaging device acquire image data from substantially the same position on the substrate at substantially the same time; and

a processor configured to monitor a color of the printed image on the moving substrate based on the spatial data and the at least one of densitometric data and colorimetric data.

2. The image processing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the color patches are quadrilateral.

3. The image processing apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the color patches are rectangular and together form a rectangular color bar.

4. The image processing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second imaging device is configured to process colorimetric data of the color patches of the printed image, wherein the processor is configured to monitor the color based on the colorimetric data.

5. The image processing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second imaging device is configured to process densitometric data of the color patches of the printed image, wherein the processor is configured to generate color control signals based on the densitometric data.

6. A method for monitoring the color of a printed image on a moving substrate, the method comprising:

processing spatial data which indicates a position of color patches printed along an edge portion of the printed image on the moving substrate;

processing at least one of densitometric data and colorimetric data of the color patches of the printed image, wherein the spatial data and the at least one of densitometric data and colorimetric data are acquired from substantially the same position on the substrate at substantially the same time; and

monitoring a color of the printed image on the moving substrate based on the spatial data and the at least one of densitometric data and colorimetric data.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the color patches are quadrilateral.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the color patches are rectangular and together form a rectangular color bar.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the color is monitored based on the colorimetric data.

10. The method of claim 6 , further comprising generating color control signals based on the densitometric data.

11. A system for monitoring the color of a printed image on a moving substrate, the system comprising:

means for processing spatial data which indicates a position of color patches printed along an edge portion of the printed image on the moving substrate;

means for processing at least one of densitometric data and colorimetric data of the color patches of the printed image, wherein the spatial data and the at least one of densitometric data and colorimetric data are acquired from substantially the same position on the substrate at substantially the same time; and

means for monitoring a color of the printed image on the moving substrate based on the spatial data and the at least one of densitometric data and colorimetric data.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the color patches are quadrilateral.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the color patches are rectangular and together form a rectangular color bar.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the means for monitoring monitors the color based on the colorimetric data.

15. The system of claim 11 , further comprising means for generating color control signals based on the densitometric data.