Abstract: A method for processing black point compensation parameters for a color image to be printed so as to enhance image quality of the color image is provided. The method includes converting a received color image to a gray scale image; determining, using the received color image and the gray scale image, a performance attribute to estimate the effect of the black point compensation parameters on the image quality of the received color image, respectively; deriving a model to estimate relationships between the black point compensation parameters and the determined performance attribute; maximizing the performance attribute of the derived model so as to process the black point compensation parameters for the color image; and using the processed black point compensation parameters to construct output device profiles.

Abstract: Methods and systems receive a print job and determine whether the print job specifies one or more extended gamut color marking materials. The extended gamut color marking materials comprise marking materials having colorants other than standard colorants. The standard colorants consist of cyan, magenta, yellow, black (CMYK). When the print job does not specify one or more of the extended gamut color marking materials, the methods and systems determine whether the print job will perform better with one or more of the extended gamut colorants in addition to the standard colorants. The methods and systems print the print job use the extended gamut colorant(s) and the standard colorants when the print job specifies the extended gamut color marking material, and when the print job will perform better with one or more of the print system's extended gamut colorants in addition to the standard colorants.

Abstract: A method for processing black point compensation parameters for a color image to be printed so as to enhance image quality of the color image is provided. The method includes converting a received color image to a gray scale image; determining, using the received color image and the gray scale image, a performance attribute to estimate the effect of the black point compensation parameters on the image quality of the received color image, respectively; deriving a model to estimate relationships between the black point compensation parameters and the determined performance attribute; maximizing the performance attribute of the derived model so as to process the black point compensation parameters for the color image; and using the processed black point compensation parameters to construct output device profiles.

Abstract: Methods and systems receive a print job and determine whether the print job specifies one or more extended gamut color marking materials. The extended gamut color marking materials comprise marking materials having colorants other than standard colorants. The standard colorants consist of cyan, magenta, yellow, black (CMYK). When the print job does not specify one or more of the extended gamut color marking materials, the methods and systems determine whether the print job will perform better with one or more of the extended gamut colorants in addition to the standard colorants. The methods and systems print the print job use the extended gamut colorant(s) and the standard colorants when the print job specifies the extended gamut color marking material, and when the print job will perform better with one or more of the print system's extended gamut colorants in addition to the standard colorants.

Abstract: Methods of performing print engine calibration create a color space conversion equation for a scanner of a class of printing devices, print test patches on a sheet, and scan the test patches using a scanner of the printing device to produce a scanned RGB value for each test patch. Such methods convert each scanned RGB value to an XYZ pseudo space using the color space conversion equation to produce XYZ values. These methods compare the XYZ values to second XYZ values of white paper to generate DeltaE curves for each of the test patches relative to white paper. The DeltaE curves are interpolated to form an equivalent aim curve. After the equivalent aim curve is determined, the methods periodically calibrate the same or an additional printing device that is within the class of printing devices using the color space conversion equation to produce second XYZ values.

Abstract: Methods of performing print engine calibration create a color space conversion equation for a scanner of a class of printing devices, print test patches on a sheet, and scan the test patches using a scanner of the printing device to produce a scanned RGB value for each test patch. Such methods convert each scanned RGB value to an XYZ pseudo space using the color space conversion equation to produce XYZ values. These methods compare the XYZ values to second XYZ values of white paper to generate DeltaE curves for each of the test patches relative to white paper. The DeltaE curves are interpolated to form an equivalent aim curve. After the equivalent aim curve is determined, the methods periodically calibrate the same or an additional printing device that is within the class of printing devices using the color space conversion equation to produce second XYZ values.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an image processing method for producing enhanced halftone edges, particularly suited to those edges which only lie upon the background as apposed to those edges which abut other halftone screens. It utilizes a step of defining border pixels and a step of halftoning those border pixels in a different manner than the halftoning applied to the interior region of the tint or image segment. The preferred halftone for the border pixels will be related to the interior halftone by some number of common spatial frequency harmonics.

Abstract: Test image data is introduced into the image processing path of a marking device, at various points prior to the marking engine. Comparison of output of the marking engine from various sources of image data is made to diagnose imaging path component failure. Imaging data at various points in the image processing path is captured for analysis as part of component failure diagnosis. Various memory devices are used to both introduce test data at various points in the image processing path and capture data at various points of the image processing path.

Abstract: Test image data is introduced into the image processing path of a marking device, at various points prior to the marking engine. Comparison of output of the marking engine from various sources of image data is made to diagnose imaging path component failure. Imaging data at various points in the image processing path is captured for analysis as part of component failure diagnosis. Various memory devices are used to both introduce test data at various points in the image processing path and capture data at various points of the image processing path.

Abstract: Method, system and computer-readable medium containing instructions for performing halftone gamma correction in a printing environment to achieve and maintain high print quality. The system includes one or more subsystems, including a tone reproduction subsystem that creates one or more print calibration pages, each having a tone curve defining a relationship between a plurality of input color levels, output color levels and a level of measured darkness. A pixel adjustment subsystem associates each input color level with one of the output color levels based on a desired percentage change in the level of measured darkness. Further, a gamma correction system performs gamma correction on a selected tone curve of one of the print calibration pages by associating each input color level with one of the output color levels based on the desired percentage change in the level of measured darkness in a substantially flat region of the selected tone curve.

Abstract: Method, system and computer-readable medium containing instructions for performing halftone gamma correction in a printing environment to achieve and maintain high print quality. The system includes one or more subsystems, including a tone reproduction subsystem that creates one or more print calibration pages, each having a tone curve defining a relationship between a plurality of input color levels, output color levels and a level of measured darkness. A pixel adjustment subsystem associates each input color level with one of the output color levels based on a desired percentage change in the level of measured darkness. Further, a gamma correction system performs gamma correction on a selected tone curve of one of the print calibration pages by associating each input color level with one of the output color levels based on the desired percentage change in the level of measured darkness in a substantially flat region of the selected tone curve.