Method and associated apparatus for forming image data metrics which achieve media compatibility for subsequent imaging application

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In view of the foregoing, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved color imaging system.
A further object of the present invention is to provide methods and means for improved calibration of color imaging systems.
A further object of the present invention is to provide methods and means for novel calibration of color imaging systems which achieve media compatibility for subsequent imaging applications.
A further object of the present invention is to provide methods and means for forming intermediary image data metrics such that images in said metrics can be output onto any of a plurality of image-receptive media or image-forming devices so that the reproduced images appear appropriately rendered for the output medium or device chosen regardless of the input image origin, images may be stored for later use without requiring documentation of their origin, images or portions thereof from various media and devices may be merged together to produce composite images of homogeneous and appropriate appearance, and images may be balanced and otherwise manipulated without requiring references to their origin.
To achieve these objects, the present invention provides for a method and means to arrive at an intermediary color image processing and/or storage metric which is independent of the image source.
To that end, the red, green, and blue (RGB) image-bearing signals from a reflection or transmission scanner, or from an electronic imaging device are converted to an image manipulation and/or storage metric corresponding to the relative trichromatic exposure values that each image-capturing medium, system, or device received when it captured the original scene.
Each image-bearing medium, system, or device calibrated according to the present invention would yield, insofar as possible, identical intermediary data values for captures of the same original scene.
The present invention also provides an alternative means to arrive at an intermediary color image processing and/or storage metric which is independent of the image source