An image processing control apparatus includes a hardware processor. The hardware processor obtains: read image data obtained through reading a color sample and shown in a first color system; original image data corresponding to the color sample and shown in a second color system; and region-by-attribute information indicating a first region corresponding to spot-color printing and a second region corresponding to decoration printing, the first and second regions being in the original image data. The hardware processor determines a color conversion parameter for color conversion of the first region and a color conversion parameter for color conversion of a third region different from the first and second regions in the original image data by using the read image data. The hardware processor determines a color conversion parameter for color conversion of the second region according to predetermined values shown in the second color system.

A method of printing comprises executing an output settings calibration procedure, the procedure comprising: depositing, by one or more printing elements, ink onto a first substrate according to respective output settings. The procedure further comprises measuring, by a sensor, an actual color value of the ink deposited onto the first substrate at each of a plurality of locations. The procedure further comprises determining a difference between the actual color value and a target color value for each of the plurality of locations and determining adjusted respective output settings for each of the plurality of locations based on the determined difference. The method further comprises depositing, by the one or more printing elements, ink onto a second substrate according to the adjusted respective output settings.

Pixel blocks of a user-generated print job raster page are clustered into raster color clusters, and pixel blocks of a corresponding scanned page are clustered into scanned color clusters. For each raster color cluster, if a color difference between the cluster and a corresponding scanned color cluster is greater than a threshold, color fading of the cluster is determined from simulated depletion of each colorant of a printing device, and a likely depleted colorant is determined based on the corresponding scanned color cluster and the determined color fading. A most likely depleted colorant is determined from the likely depleted colorant predicted for each raster color cluster for which the determined color difference is greater than the threshold.

The invention provides a colour standard, assembled from a graphic digital input file, in which one or a combination of CMYK, RGB, Lab or spot colour builds are contained. The colour standard comprises a colour target calibration strip which is indicative of the calibration status of a printing press; an output image which is indicative of the digital input file; and a grid chart of spot colour builds, built-in process inks, with their respective process build values available for each spot colour in the digital input file. The colour standard is configured to capture the calibrated state of the press for a particular digital input file in order to achieve a particular colour-managed output image, so that product print runs of the output image can be repeated accurately and consistently over time.

An information processing apparatus is configured to perform: acquiring target image data representing a target image made up of a plurality of partial images; determining whether a specific condition is met for each of the plurality of partial images; selecting a direction-determining method of a printing direction for each of the plurality of partial images in accordance with a determination result; determining whether the selected direction-determining method matches a correct method; and adjusting condition data for controlling a printing device so as to increase selectability of the correct method in response to determining that the selected direction-determining method differs from the correct method. The specific condition indicates that an image evaluation value be greater than or equal to a threshold. The image evaluation value represents an expected color difference between a first image printed by a first-directional partial print and a second image printed by a second-directional partial print.

System and methods for matching color and appearance of a target coating are provided herein. The system includes an electronic imaging device configured to receive a target image data of the target coating. The target image data includes target coating features. The system further includes one or more feature extraction algorithms that extracts the target image features from the target image data. The system further includes a machine-learning model that identifies a calculated match sample image from a plurality of sample images utilizing the target image features. The machine-learning model includes pre-specified matching criteria representing the plurality of sample images for identifying the calculated match sample image from the plurality of sample images. The calculated match sample image is utilized for matching color and appearance of the target coating.

An image processing apparatus includes a reflection characteristic detector, and a gradation characteristic correction unit. The reflection characteristic detector is configured to detect reflective characteristics of respective output images on respective print media formed in a temporarily shifted manner among print media on which output images corresponding to input image data are formed. The gradation characteristic correction unit is configured to correct gradation characteristics of the input image data such that the reflection characteristics of the respective output images on the respective print media detected by the reflection characteristic detector match.

An image processing control apparatus includes a hardware processor. The hardware processor obtains: read image data obtained through reading a color sample and shown in a first color system; original image data corresponding to the color sample and shown in a second color system; and region-by-attribute information indicating a first region corresponding to spot-color printing and a second region corresponding to decoration printing, the first and second regions being in the original image data. The hardware processor determines a color conversion parameter for color conversion of the first region and a color conversion parameter for color conversion of a third region different from the first and second regions in the original image data by using the read image data. The hardware processor determines a color conversion parameter for color conversion of the second region according to predetermined values shown in the second color system.

Systems and methods for a sample database are provided, where the sample database is for matching a target coating. In one embodiment, the system comprises a sample database stored on a storage device. The sample database includes a sample coating formula and a sample image feature with at least one sample coating formula linked to at least one sample image feature. At least one sample image feature includes a spatial micro-color analysis that includes a value determined by a sample pixel feature difference between at least two sample pixels.

The invention provides a colour standard, assembled from a graphic digital input file, in which one or a combination of CMYK, RGB, Lab or spot colour builds are contained. The colour standard comprises a colour target calibration strip which is indicative of the calibration status of a printing press; an output image which is indicative of the digital input file; and a grid chart of spot colour builds, built-in process inks, with their respective process build values available for each spot colour in the digital input file. The colour standard is configured to capture the calibrated state of the press for a particular digital input file in order to achieve a particular colour-managed output image, so that product print runs of the output image can be repeated accurately and consistently over time.