Eastman-kodak Company

Geoffrey John Woolfe

Kevin Edward Spaulding

Karin Topfer

Douglas W Couwenhoven

John D Buhr

Gustav J Braun

John R D'Errico

Robert E Cookingham

Peter VanderBrook

Andrew Charles Gallagher

Richard P Szajewski

Edward B Gindele

Allan Francis Sowinski

Bruce Harold Pillman

Edward J Giorgianni

Lois A Buitano

Rajan L Joshi

Michael James Barry

Jonathan B Phillips

A method for correcting the color balance of an input digital color image in an input color space captured under a capture illuminant to produce a balanced digital color image includes transforming the input digital color image to a balancing color space, wherein the balancing color space has three color channels corresponding to three color space primaries, the color space primaries being chosen so that minimal color errors can be produced when correcting the color balance for a set of one or more capture illuminants relative to aim colors that would be produced if the digital color image were captured under reference conditions; and correcting the color balance of the input digital color image in the balancing color space to produce a balanced digital color image having minimal color errors relative to aim colors that would be produced if the digital color image were captured under reference conditions.

Producing a balanced digital color image having minimal color errors

A method of selecting a preferred colorant control signal vector for a color output device for reproducing a desired output color, the color output device producing output colors using four or more colorants, wherein the amount of each colorant is controlled by the colorant control signal vector, includes determining a device model for the color output device relating the colorant control signal vector to the corresponding output color; using the device model to determine a set of valid colorant control signal vectors whose corresponding output color substantially matches the desired output color; and selecting the preferred colorant control signal vector from the set of valid colorant control signal vectors using a cost function responsive to one or more cost attribute(s) that vary as a function of the colorant control signal vector.

Calibrating a digital printer using a cost function

A method of generating a reduced color gamut boundary for a color output device using three or more colorants, wherein the amount of each colorant is controlled by a colorant control signal vector, including determining a forward device model for the color output device relating the colorant control signal vector to the corresponding output color; determining a complete color gamut boundary for the color output device, comprising a set of color gamut boundary points; and determining a set of candidate colorant control signal vectors for each point in the complete color gamut boundary. The method also includes selecting a preferred colorant control signal vector.

Color gamut mapping using a cost function

A system and method of offering photofinishing services involves receiving an exposed photographic film from a customer; developing and scanning the film to produce a digital image; displaying examples of a plurality of looks on a color display medium to a customer; receiving a selection of a preferred look from the customer; and applying the selected look to the digital image to produce a processed digital image having the preferred look.

Plurality of picture appearance choices from a color photographic recording material intended for scanning

A method for providing a user access to an extended color gamut digital image and for obtaining payment therefor, comprising the steps of representing the extended color gamut digital image with a limited color gamut digital image and one or more associated residual image(s) representing a difference between the extended color gamut digital image and the limited color gamut digital image; storing the limited color gamut digital image and the associated residual images(s) in an electronic memory; providing the user or user's designee access to the limited color gamut digital image in the electronic memory to provide a preview image; obtaining a payment identifier from the user and making payment using such payment identifier to permit the user or user's designee access to the associated residual image(s); and providing the user or user's designee access to the associated residual image(s) in the electronic memory.

Method for providing access to an extended color gamut digital image and providing payment therefor

A file of digital color data representing a color image is transformed into a new file of digital color data where one or more colors have been transformed to one or more new color locations where their reproduction is known to be preferred. The digital color data is provided in a multi-dimensional color space where the color locations to be operated on in the color space are designated as color magnets. The color space distance is then calculated between the color locations of the digital color data in the color space and the color magnets. A particular activity is prescribed for each color magnet that affects nearby color locations in the color space; this activity includes one or more activity selected from the group including attraction, repulsion, shielding and dragging. Then, the digital color data is mapped to new locations in the multi-dimensional color space as a function of the color space distance and the selected activity, wherein the degree or strength of activity is a function of the color space distance or direction in color space.

Color transform method for the mapping of colors in images

A method for generating a transform for converting a digital color image signal expressed as color values in a first color space having a first color gamut to code values for driving an output device having a second color gamut different from the first color gamut includes the steps of: transforming the color values of the first color space to color values in an intermediate color space; specifying one or more predefined color regions in an intermediate color space; preferentially mapping the color values in the intermediate color space into the second color gamut by smoothly translating the color values to fit the second color gamut while restricting the mapping to regions outside of the predefined color regions to produce enhanced modified color values in the intermediate color space; and transforming the modified color values to code values for driving the output device.

Color transform method for preferential gamut mapping of colors in images

A method for determining information parameter(s) useful in processing a digital image having color values with an extended color gamut, includes the steps of: adjusting the color values of the extended color gamut digital image to fit within a limited color gamut to form a limited color gamut digital image; determining a residual image representing a difference between the extended color gamut digital image and the limited color gamut digital image; and analyzing the residual image to determine one or more image information parameter(s) related to the information contained in the residual image such parameter(s) being useful in processing the digital image.

Method for processing an extended color gamut digital image using an image information parameter

A method for enhancing the hue and lightness characteristics of a digital color image, the digital color image having pixel values from which digital luminance and color difference values can be deduced, includes the steps of: deducing digital luminance and digital color difference values for pixels of the digital color image; using the pixels of the digital color image to calculate an image dependent transform; using the image dependent transform to modify the digital luminance values for pixels of the digital color image to form modified luminance values; calculating a color transform that modifies the original digital color difference values in a manner that consistently and smoothly moves the values toward or away from predetermined digital color difference values; and using the color transform to modify the original color difference values for pixels of the digital color image to produce modified color difference values.

Color image reproduction of scenes with preferential color mapping and scene-dependent tone scaling

An apparatus for calibrating a printer of a photofinishing system includes a reference film strip carrying at least one reference image; a reference chart carrying multiple renderings of the reference image representing different printer exposures; and a substrate carrying printer correction factors needed to change a photographic print obtained from the reference image on the reference film strip, to match any desired rendering on the reference chart. A method of producing the above reference chart, and a method of calibrating a printer of a photofinishing system, are also provided.

Method for calibrating a photofinishing system and components for use in such a method

A method for representing a digital image having color values with an extended color gamut in a storage color space having a limited color gamut comprising the steps of: adjusting the color values of the extended color gamut digital image to fit within the limited color gamut to form a limited color gamut digital image; representing the limited color gamut digital image in the storage color space; determining a clipped limited color gamut digital image in which highly quantized regions in the limited color gamut digital image have been clipped; determining a residual image representing a difference between the extended color gamut digital image and the clipped limited color gamut digital image; and associating the residual image with the limited color gamut digital image in the storage color space such that the associated residual image and the limited color gamut digital image in the storage color space are adapted to be used to form a reconstructed extended color gamut digital image.

Using a residual image formed from a clipped limited color gamut digital image to represent an extended color gamut digital image

An apparatus for calibrating a printer of a photofinishing system, comprising:

Method for calibrating a photofinishing system and components for use in

A method of restoring a color image comprised of one or more colorants and which image may have faded over time, which image is represented by an image signal. The method uses both a restoration model and provides a means which enable a user to readily interact with the restoration process to obtain a final restoration. In a second aspect, the restoration model is used in conjunction with a lightness distribution mapping to provide a high quality restoration. The restoration model is a function of a variable time, and is the inverse of a model representing the fade rate of at least one of the colorants as a function of at least a variable time (and preferably also as a function of the other colorants). An apparatus for performing the method is provided. A computer readable medium has computer readable code means which can execute the method in a suitable computer.

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Penfield, NY, United States of America

Geoffrey John Woolfe