An image forming apparatus includes an image former configured to form a first image on a first recording medium; a feeder configured to feed the first recording medium to the image former; a reader configured to read the first image formed on the first recording medium; a process executor configured to execute a predetermined process based on a first read image that is obtained by the reader by reading the first image; and a corrector configured to correct the reader based on a second read image that is obtained by the reader by reading a second image formed on a second recording medium fed by the feeder, and a predetermined read reference image.

The embodiments herein relate to a method performed by a system (100) for handling variations in a mark (110) printed by a group (105) of industrial printers (101). The system (100) obtains images of the printed mark (110) printed by each of the printers (101) in the group (105). The system (100) creates a composite image from the obtained images. The printed marks (110) appear as a repeating pattern in the composite image. The system (100) compares the printed marks (110) in the composite image to each other or to another mark. The system (100) detects variations with a first resolution in the printed marks (110) in the composite image as a result of the comparison. The system (100) creates an augmented image in which the detected variations are augmented to a second resolution. The first resolution is lower than the second resolution.

Systems and methods for color calibrating an image are described herein. In some embodiments, a method includes disposing a unique identifier and a fiducial marker that includes a plurality of color regions on an object. A first image of the object is captured with a first camera and a second image of the object that is captured with a second camera is received. The second image is associated with the first image based on the unique identifier and spectral information of at least a portion of the fiducial marker in the second image is compared with spectral information of at least the portion of the fiducial marker in the first image. Based on the comparison, the second image is resampled to substantially match at least the portion of the fiducial marker in the second image to at least the portion of the fiducial marker in the first image.

The embodiments herein relate to a method performed by a system (100) for handling variations in a mark (110) printed by a group (105) of industrial printers (101). The system (100) obtains images of the printed mark (110) printed by each of the printers (101) in the group (105). The system (100) creates a composite image from the obtained images. The printed marks (110) appear as a repeating pattern in the composite image. The system (100) compares the printed marks (110) in the composite image to each other or to another mark. The system (100) detects variations with a first resolution in the printed marks (110) in the composite image as a result of the comparison. The system (100) creates an augmented image in which the detected variations are augmented to a second resolution. The first resolution is lower than the second resolution.

An image processing apparatus includes circuitry that estimates a first geometric transformation parameter for aligning first output image data with the original image data, the first output image data being acquired by reading a first output result, and a second geometric transformation parameter for aligning second output image data with the original image data, the second output image data being acquired by reading a second output result; associates, based on the first and the second geometric transformation parameters, combinations of color components of the first and the second output image data, corresponding to pixels of the original image data, to generate pixel value association data; determines, based on the pixel value association data, a mapping for estimating color drift between the first output image data and the second output image data from the original image data; and subjects the original image data to color conversion based on the mapping.

The profile creation method creates a color conversion profile for a printer by causing the printer to output a color chart including patch images having colors corresponding to combinations of values of a plurality of basic colors. The method includes acquiring colorimetric values of the patch images included in the color chart output from the printer; creating a color conversion profile from the acquired colorimetric values by using a calculation formula according to a degree of variation in a color of each patch image obtained from data of colorimetric values accumulated regarding the each patch image; and when the data of the colorimetric values increases by a predetermined amount, creating a new color conversion profile from the acquired colorimetric values by using a calculation formula according to the degree of the variation obtained from the data after the increase.

In an example, a print target may be printed with a calibration target. The calibration target may comprise a first printing fluid figure printed on the print target and a second printing fluid figure printed on the print target. A geometric figure may be defined by the second printing fluid figure. The geometric figure may be negatively outlined in the second printing fluid figure. In an example, the calibration target may be processed to define a geometric relationship between a first printing fluid reference point and a second printing fluid reference point.

On a recording sheet of a first size, an image combined with gradation patches of a plurality of colors is printed, on a recording sheet of a second size smaller than the first size, images combined with the gradation patches of the plurality of colors are divided and printed into a plurality of recording sheets, color measurement is performed on each of the gradation patches, and gradation correction data is generated.

Image data mapping is described in which a patch image with patch image parameters including a patch image identifier relating to the patch image is generated; the production of the patch image on a recorded medium in a first printing environment is initiated; the produced patch image with the patch image parameters to determine patch image data of the produced patch image is analysed; and the patch image data is mapped to the patch image identifier to generate an information resource.

An image forming apparatus includes: a scanner to read each of a first output product serving as a model and a second output product output from the image forming apparatus; a memory that stores a color conversion lookup table to be used when color conversion is performed from a RGB color system into a CMYK color system; and circuitry to correct the color conversion lookup table based on a number of pixels and an amount of change per hue, using read information on the first output product, and re-correct the corrected color conversion lookup table, using read information on the second output product.