Combining Intelligent Image Processing and Color Management in Paper Printing

In recent years, more and more applications for color management solutions have become increasingly popular. Not only the printing industry, but also the photographic image processing departments require manufacturers to provide the market with a color management system (CMS). Applications can range from calibrated monitors to applications such as digital camera and scanner image input systems, Minilab's RGB applications and image processing systems, to workflow management systems and output units such as exposure systems and printers.

To this end, last year Fujifilm introduced a color management system software module called "ColourKit Profiler Suite." The program software includes tools for generating, optimizing, and processing ICC files for RGB and CMYK output devices as well as LCD and CRT monitors.

Adjusted to industry-specific requirements

The photographic industry has a series of uses for processing digital RGB data. For example, photo data of a photo is processed by copying a photo from a photo film by a digital Minilab Frontier or by Fujifilm Pictrography. Fujifilm Corporation holds an important technology for the intelligent color processing of RGB data from these applications. The company has obtained this knowledge through continuous research and development in terms of professional photography, the evaluation of reversal film colors in the photo lab and the development of digital Minilab for the photography market.

The requirements of the printing industry are also special, and CMYK colors are usually considered and processed in the printing industry. The CMS module is provided within the "ColourKit Profiler Suite" program, which includes a series of special RIP and proofing solutions. So users can handle color management for Postscript and PDF data within the production workflow. In this way, besides making "contact proofing", it is also possible to make "ROOM proofing" (RIP one time, output multiple times) with the correct color, and at the same time, ICC calibration for printing presses.

Next generation products

Drupa 2004 exhibited the next generation of products for digital image processing. These products not only include precise color management, but also win a wide range of color smart technology capabilities.
These products have broken the boundaries between the photo and print industries, and rely on their core technologies to bring together all products within the digital image processing range—from digital cameras to digital printers and Minilabs, to traditional presses and digital presses. .

Why is an RGB workflow

The proliferation of digital cameras used by professional photographers has led to a dramatic increase in the number of RGB images used in digital workflows. In addition, there is a growing need for media-neutral data—a single image needs the same data as a layout or an entire PDF file.

Fujifilm's product manager said, "When the image is still mainly scanned, people work in accordance with the CMYK color space, so the RGB output is just the application of choice. Today, many images as RGB data are from digital cameras, in order to achieve a stable high-quality output Color management without the support of additional color intelligence cannot optimize image data."

RGB data is increasingly looking for solutions in layout design programs such as Quark Xpress or Adobe InDesign. Therefore, the image data must be automatically generated with the help of intelligent color processing to prepare a printed PDF document.

RGB master data

In the new generation of color management, the existing image technology is integrated with the new development in digital publishing. Its purpose is to produce digital, versatile and applicable RGB master data. For digital image data producers, it does not take a long time to become familiar with the application of their products. Fujifilm has promised that Fujifilm's image optimization technology has nothing to do with future uses, and always guarantees the best image quality.
A single image or complex design containing RGB data can be prepared for later individual applications by using two image processing methods. Two methods are: "Intelligent image processing" as an intelligent image and "Image dependent image processing" as image-related image processing.

Intelligent image processing

The "Intelligent Image Processing" method includes special algorithms for color space conversion through dynamic "gamut conversion" and automatic matching of digital image color gamut. In addition, its focus is on the best sharpness adjustment.

The image sharpness function developed by Fujifilm can store all the sharpness parameters of the scanner or digital camera in a supplementary file and add it to its own image data.
With this technology, special output processes or different scalar data can be optimized at any time.

Image-related image processing

In order to see all the optimization possibilities, this technology can analyze each image separately and automatically. For example, Automatic Face Recognition can optimize the tone of skin tones in clearly defined image areas. Other image sections can be obtained. There is a choice of image optimization.

Unlike digital cameras, digital cameras do not provide “manuscripts” that contrast the authenticity of colors. Therefore, the purpose of the software is not to produce a “1:1 copy” of the data, but rather a visually compelling effect. Image effects are not only mathematical but also perfect.

Content optimization

The beginning of this kind of "intelligent image processing" can enable users to get rid of the existing defects and obstacles and realize RGB data reusability in different fields. For specific printing applications, Fujifilm offers more than just color management for general image data. As included in the workflow and PDF/X3 data, image intelligence can even be used to color-optimize RGB content.

Source; CA800 Search