Information system for administrating and distributing color images through internet

The information system for administrating and distributing color images through the Internet ensures the consistent replication of color images, their storage - in an on-line data base - and predictable distribution, by means of a digitally distributed flow, based on Windows platform and POD (Print On Demand) technology. The consistent replication of color images inde-pendently from the parameters of the processing equipment and from the features of the programs composing the technological flow, is ensured by the standard color management sys-tem defined by ICC (International Color Consortium), which is integrated by the Windows operation system and by the POD technology. The latter minimize the noticeable differences between the colors captured, displayed or printed by various replication equipments and/or edited by various graphical applications. The system integrated web application ensures the uploading of the color images in an on-line database and their administration and distribution among the users via the Internet. For the preservation of the data expressed by the color im-ages during their transfer along a digitally distributed flow, the software application includes an original tool ensuring the accurate replication of colors on computer displays or when printing them by means of various color printers or presses. For development and use, this application employs a hardware platform based on PC support and a competitive software platform, based on: the Windows operation system, the .NET. Development medium and the C# programming language. This information system is beneficial for creators and users of color images, the success of the printed or on-line (Internet) publications depending on the sizeable, predictable and accurate replication of colors employed for the visual expression of information in every activity fields of the modern society. The herein introduced information system enables all interested persons to access the information from the on-line database, whenever they want, wherever they are, by means of the digital infrastructure, computer net-works and modern communication technologies.Color management, data bank, web application, Internet, POD, Color space, PCS, CMM, CMS, ICC, CIEXYZ, CIEL*a*b, RGB, CMYK, ICC profile.

Image-Processing Techniques for the Creation of Presentation-Quality Astronomical Images

The quality of modern astronomical data, the power of modern computers and the agility of current image-processing software enable the creation of high-quality images in a purely digital form. The combination of these technological advancements has created a new ability to make color astronomical images. And in many ways it has led to a new philosophy towards how to create them. A practical guide is presented on how to generate astronomical images from research data with powerful image-processing programs. These programs use a layering metaphor that allows for an unlimited number of astronomical datasets to be combined in any desired color scheme, creating an immense parameter space to be explored using an iterative approach. Several examples of image creation are presented. A philosophy is also presented on how to use color and composition to create images that simultaneously highlight scientific detail and are aesthetically appealing. This philosophy is necessary because most datasets do not correspond to the wavelength range of sensitivity of the human eye. The use of visual grammar, defined as the elements which affect the interpretation of an image, can maximize the richness and detail in an image while maintaining scientific accuracy. By properly using visual grammar, one can imply qualities that a two-dimensional image intrinsically cannot show, such as depth, motion and energy. In addition, composition can be used to engage viewers and keep them interested for a longer period of time. The use of these techniques can result in a striking image that will effectively convey the science within the image, to scientists and to the public.Comment: 104 pages, 38 figures, submitted to A

Pushing the Limits of 3D Color Printing: Error Diffusion with Translucent Materials

Accurate color reproduction is important in many applications of 3D printing, from design prototypes to 3D color copies or portraits. Although full color is available via other technologies, multi-jet printers have greater potential for graphical 3D printing, in terms of reproducing complex appearance properties. However, to date these printers cannot produce full color, and doing so poses substantial technical challenges, from the shear amount of data to the translucency of the available color materials. In this paper, we propose an error diffusion halftoning approach to achieve full color with multi-jet printers, which operates on multiple isosurfaces or layers within the object. We propose a novel traversal algorithm for voxel surfaces, which allows the transfer of existing error diffusion algorithms from 2D printing. The resulting prints faithfully reproduce colors, color gradients and fine-scale details.Comment: 15 pages, 14 figures; includes supplemental figure

Test Targets 3.0: A Collaborative effort exploring the use of scientific methods for color imaging and process control

Test Targets 3.0 focuses on the integration and analysis of a number of input devices, color image renderings with the use of a robust CTP system and a full-fledged web offset press … The first section is a collection of test forms … The second section is a compilation of color management practices by the class. – p. v

Test Targets 3.1: A Collaborative effort exploring the use of scientific methods for color imaging and process control.

In general, test targets represent known values from an object or in a digital file, e.g., color patches, digital dots, lines with known dimensions, etc. The Macbeth ColorChecker is an analog target with 24 physical color patches. When captured by an input device and reproduced by an imaging system, we can compare tone and color relationships between the source target and its reproduction. On the other hand, the IT8.7/3 target is a digital file consisting of hundreds of patches with known CMYK digital values. When printed along side a signature, we can assess print quality quantitatively with the use of optical instruments and associated analysis techniques. - p. ii

An Improved Approach To Watercolor Reproduction By Profile Editing

Fine art is usually produced on paper or canvas as a one-of-a-kind artwork. Fine art may be reproduced in limited editions and put up for sale as art. Different printing technologies have been used in fine art reproduction such as lithography, screenprinting, and most recently inkjet. The research aspect of watercolor reproduction has been the question of how good is good enough. In this case, the artists demand the exact match between the original watercolor and its reproduction. While there are difficulties in quantifying the degree of color image match, the initial testing of watercolor reproduction using a colormanaged approach with an inkjet printer showed that there is a need to improve the reproduction quality. The objective of this study is to see if accuracy of watercolor reproduction can be improved by using profile editing tools. The significance of the research is the potential to achieve higher reproduction quality in watercolor by means of profile editing. In addition, we can put control back in the hands of content creators for limited editions. This research begins with a literature review. The review discusses how artworks are being digitized and reproduced by museums. It points out the wide adoption of International Color Consortium (ICC) color management practices in printing and publishing. It also covers how a color image match between an original and its reproduction is assessed quantitatively and qualitatively. The quantitative analyses of Macbeth ColorChecker between a generic ICC profile and a custom ICC profile were used to test first hypothesis, i.e., if there is any significant difference in measured color accuracy of watercolor reproductions between a generic ICC profile and a custom ICC profile. The results indicate that there is a significant difference in color accuracy of watercolor reproduction between using generic ICC profile and the custom ICC profile state findings. To our surprise, the custom ICC profile performed worse than the generic ICC profile. A possible cause of the large color differences was attributed to the accuracy of the scanner profile. A paired comparison method was used to test the second hypothesis, i.e., if there is any significant visual difference in color accuracy of watercolor reproductions between an unedited ICC profile and an edited ICC profile. The results indicate that there is no significant difference in color accuracy of watercolor reproduction between an unedited ICC profile and an edited ICC profile state findings. To our surprise once again, edited profiles did not perform color matching any better than unedited profiles. A major factor is that editing of tone reproduction and gray balance are treated as two separate events in the profile editing process. In fact, tone reproduction and gray balance are dependent on each other

Investigation into the use of the World Wide Web as an interface for distributing electronic documents to and from a remote digital color printing site

The World Wide Web and Internet are the most talked-about and fastest-growing mediums for information and electronic document distribution. Their growth has, and will continue to have, a great impact on all forms of media, due to their potential to reach millions of individuals. This project demonstrates the capabilities of the World Wide Web to perform, not only as a publishing vehicle, but as a means for communication and document distribution to a digital color printing facility. In order to show this, a Web site was built that incorporated the utilities needed for the successful exchange of data, such as links to additional software applications available on the Web, downloadable ICC Color Management profiles of the digital color press, a hypertext job estimate/information form, an uploadable FTP server, and directions on how to use the service and create the appropriate files. The result is a functional Web-based printing facility that eliminates the restrictions associated with geographical boundaries. The test to see if this site functioned properly was the successful implementation of the aforementioned applications and tools to create actual documents. Those documents, when put through the developed workflow, must exhibit the designers\u27 original intent when reproduced on a remote digital press and when compared to their originals reproduced on that same press. The written portion of this thesis documents the procedures and rationale behind the methodology used

Common-Resolution Convolution Kernels for Space- and Ground-Based Telescopes

Multi-wavelength study of extended astronomical objects requires combining images from instruments with differing point spread functions (PSFs). We describe the construction of convolution kernels that allow one to generate (multi-wavelength) images with a common PSF, thus preserving the colors of the astronomical sources. We generate convolution kernels for the cameras of the Spitzer Space Telescope, Herschel Space Observatory, Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX), Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), ground-based optical telescopes (Moffat functions and sum of Gaussians), and Gaussian PSFs. These kernels allow the study of the Spectral Energy Distribution (SED) of extended objects, preserving the characteristic SED in each pixel. The convolution kernels and the IDL packages used to construct and use them are made publicly available

Test Targets 4.0: A Collaborative effort exploring the use of scientific methods for color imaging and process control

Test Target 4.0 (TT4.0) is the result of student teamwork to publish a technical journal for a graduate-level course titled: Advance Color Management (Course no. 2081-735-03). Offered by the School of Print Media (SPM) at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), the course is a platform to experiment and to realize a new digital imaging paradigm and the dynamics of teamwork.... Team members learn scientific methodology in process control for repeatable color as well as apply ICC-based color management practices in digital workflows. They plan and conduct press run analyses reported in TT4.0, which is printed using facilities available at RIT. In producing this publication, the team learns to integrate design, content creation, digital media, and print production in a seamless workflow.... -p. 4

A Study of the color management implementation on the RGB-based digital imaging workflow: digital camera to RGB printers

An RGB (red, green, and blue color information) workflow is used in digital photography today because a lot of the devices digital cameras, scanners, monitors, image recorders (LVT or Light Value Technology), and some types of printers are based on RGB color information. In addition, rapidly growing new media such as the Internet and CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read-Only Memory) publishing use an RGB -based monitor as the output device. Because color is device-dependent, each device has a different method of representing color information. Each has a different range of color they can reproduce. Most of the time, the range of color, color gamut, that devices can produce is smaller than that of the original capturing device. As a result, a color image reproduction does not match accurately with its original. Therefore, in typical color image reproduction, the task of matching a color image reproduction with its original is a significant problem that operators must overcome to achieve good quality color image reproduction. Generally, there are two approaches to conquer these problems. The first method is trial-and-error in the legacy-based system. This method is effective in a pair-wise working environment and highly depended on a skill operator. The second method is the ICC-based (ICC or International Color Consortium) color management system (CMS) which is more practical in the multiple devices working environment. Using the right method leads to the higher efficiency of a digital photography produc tion. Therefore, the purpose of this thesis project is to verify that ICC-based CMS with an RGB workflow has higher efficiency (better utilized of resource and capacity) than a legacy-based traditional color reproduction workflow. In this study, the RGB workflows from digital cameras to RGB digital printers were used because of the increasing num ber of digital camera users and the advantages of using an RGB workflow in digital pho tography. There were two experimental image reproduction workflows the legacy-based system and the ICC-based color management system. Both of them used the same raw RGB images that were captured from digital cameras as their input files. The color images were modified with two different color matching methods according to each workflow. Then, they were printed out to two RGB digital printers. Twenty observers were asked to evaluate the picture quality as well as the reproduction quality. The results demonstrated that the two workflows had the ability to produce an accept able picture quality reproduction. For reproduction quality aspect, the reproductions of the ICC-based CMS workflow had higher reproduction quality than the legacy-based workflow. In addition, when the time usage of the workflow was taken into account, it showed that the ICC-based CMS had higher efficiency than the legacy-based system. However, many times, image production jobs do not start with optimum quality raw images as in this study; for example, they are under/over exposure or have some defects. These images need some retouching work or fine adjustment to improve their quality. In these cases, the ICC-based CMS with skilled operators can be implemented to these types of production in order to achieve the high efficiency workflow