Global Graphics Software Limited

Harlequin Group Ltd.

David John Earl

Andrew Masia

William Craig Revie

Thomas A Schuneman

Andrew William Cave

Peter W Barada

Mark Jones

John Jefferies

Andrew P Cave

A system and method for computing a run-length encoded raster in which spans are successively added to a raster or overlapping spans are flattened. Spans are temporarily expanded into a pixel array representing part of the raster, where entries in the pixel array are references to color values and other property data. Successive spans modify the pixel array. References in the array are then compared to run-length encode the partial raster. Remaining parts of the raster are processed similarly. In one embodiment, the array contains pointers referencing color and property information. In another embodiment, the array contains small indexes referencing a color palette.

System and method for flattening spans

A system and method for handling overprinting in generating a raster page for continuous tone or halftone printing. A color transformation is used to generate tints for each of the colorants for each of the colored shapes. When rendering a shape that is set for overprinting, the tints of colorant for each pixel is determined by comparing the colorant tints determined by the color transformation of the foreground shape with the colorant tints previously determined for the pixel according to the background. The pixel colorant tints are reset with the colorant tints of the foreground shape when the tints of the foreground shape are darker than the tints of the background. Where the tints of the foreground shape are lighter than the background, the background tints are left unchanged producing a transparency effect. The system and method are adaptable to colored shapes comprising a vignette. The system and method are also applicable to negative image production.

System and method for rendering printing traps with application of color transformations

A system for processing images includes an image file subsystem providing a source signal representing an input image; a color transformation subsystem coupled to the image file subsystem and accepting as input the source signal and producing a target signal therefrom, and an image forming subsystem coupled to the color transformation subsystem and forming a physical manifestation of the input image in response to the target signal, the color transformation subsystem being configured to establish a memory &ldquo;cube&rdquo; area representative of possible source signals, to define a sub-cube portion of the memory area as representative of the source signal; to determine possible target signals corresponding to the sub-cube portion; and to determine the target signal responsive to the possible target signals. If interpolation is found to be accurate for a mini-cube portion of the sub-cube, truncation or interpolation are used to derive the target signal; otherwise, the target signal is determined directly.

Color imaging system and process with high -speed rendering

A method and apparatus for addressing the problem of combining a plurality of Page Description Language (PDL) separation color files to create a display list of objects that represents the composite or combined output image as described by the PDL separation files. Furthermore, any conflicts about the z-order of the display list is resolved by correctly ordering the objects in the display list to the extent that the ordering is significant. The need to produce a display list of objects that represents the composite or combined output image arises from digital preproofing, a technique of proofing and editing the output color image for production from images obtained from a proofing device other than the actual production printer.

Method and apparatus for combining and ordering objects from a plurality of color PDL files representing separations to a display list of the appropriate order

A system for processing images includes an image file subsystem providing a source signal representing an input image; a color transformation subsystem coupled to the image file subsystem and accepting as input the source signal and producing a target signal therefrom, and an image forming subsystem coupled to the color transformation subsystem and forming a physical manifestation of the input image in response to the target signal, the color transformation subsystem being configured to establish a memory 'cube' area representative of possible source signals, to define a sub-cube portion of the memory area as representative of the source signal; to determine possible target signals corresponding to the sub-cube portion; and to determine the target signal responsive to the possible target signals. If interpolation is found to be accurate for a mini-cube portion of the sub-cube, truncation or interpolation are used to derive the target signal; otherwise, the target signal is determined directly.

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Fulbourn, United Kingdom

David John Earl