Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide a color matching profile generating device that, in an apparatus having an input device and an output device, performs a color matching for the input device and the output device and reproduces favorable colors without depending on color characteristics of the devices. The color matching profile generating device can use an input device profile and an output device profile, in addition to a color conversion profile which defines color conversion characteristics in an absolute color space and generates a color matching profile for the input device and the output device. Since the color conversion profile defines the color conversion characteristics in the absolute color space, color conversion can be performed to image data obtained from the input device without depending on characteristics of the input device.

Abstract: An imaging technique permits selective flattening of objects within page description files. The selective aspect of the flattening may pertain to the selection of particular objects to be flattened, selection of the degree of flattening to be applied to objects, or both. In some embodiments, selective flattening of objects in a page description file may be permitted based on an assessment of color correction efficacy. For example, the degree of flattening may be iteratively adjusted to achieve acceptable color correction results. Alternatively a user may be notified in the event acceptable color correction results have not been achieved. A color error between bitmap files generated from a color corrected, unflattened page description file and from a color corrected, flattened page description file may be measured. When the measured error between the two bitmaps exceeds a predetermined value, an amount of file flattening may be adjusted to reduce the measured error.