What is meant with print quality, what makes people perceive the quality of an image in a certain way? An inquiry was made about what the parameters are that strongly affect the perception of digital printed images. A subjective test and some measurements make the basis for the thesis. The goal was to find a tool to predict perceived image quality when investigating the connections between the subjective test and the measurements. Some suitable images were chosen, with a variety of motifs. A test panel consisting of people that are used to observe image quality answered questions about the perception of the quality. Measurements were made on a special test form to get information about the six different printers used in the investigation. One of the discoveries was made when two images with the same colorful motif were compared. The first image got a much higher grade for general quality than the second image, even though the second image was printed with a printer that had a larger color gamut. The reason of this is that the first image consists of more saturated colors, and the second image has more details. The human eye perceives the more saturated image to be better than the image with more details. Another discovery was the correlation between the perceived general quality of a colored image and the perceived color gamut. One conclusion was that a great difference between two calculated color gamuts resulted in a large difference in perception of the color gamuts. A discovery of an image with very few colors and many glossy surfaces was that print mottle and sharpness are strictly connected to the general quality.

In this diploma thesis the current methods of color fastness evaluation of color digital prints were solved. The theoretical part provides basic information needed to understand the experiment. Samples of inkjet prints were subjected to accelerated and long-term lightfastness test. The long-term test took place in the spaces of the Faculty of Chemistry, Brno University of Technology, which fulfilled the condition of direct light in a closed room. For one year, samples were exposed and their reflection spectra were measured at monthly intervals. An accelerated lightfastness test was performed in a solar chamber with a xenon lamp. Only some samples were selected for this test because of the small space in the chambre and thw failure of the instrument. At regular intervals were measured again their reflection spectra from which the colorimetric values were calculated. After completion of the testing, the rate parameter was determined from the dependence of the loss of the normalized gamut volume on different doses of irradiation. In the case of long-term testing, it was based on data from the Hydrometeorological Institute, which gave values of direct outdoor solar radiation. In the accelerated test, the irradiation dose of the sample up to 800 nm was determined. Finally, the lightfastness of each sample was examined and compared with each other and the relevance of the accelerated test was assessed.

This diploma thesis deals with recent methods of lightfastness evaluation of both classic and digitally printed photographs. It summarizes the experimental methods used for colour change measurements. Primarily, it studies an influence of additional protection on lightfastness enhancement. Lightfastness testing of colour prints was carried out by accelerated ageing. Samples were prepared by 3 types of inkjet printers and 3 different print media. The surface of photographs was left untreated or modified by varnishing or lamination. A set of samples, thus achieved, was used to monitor a print behaviour during the light exposure. In conclusion effects of used receiving layer, ink or additional surface treatment were discussed. Colour changes were evaluated on the basis of measured reflectance spectra from which colorimetric quantities were calculated. Results were processed using VolGa application. An actual print-life was calculated from the plot of the normalized gamut volume loss and the exposure.

<p>Predmet disertacije jeste optimizacija digitalne slike kada<br />ograničenje nije vezano za način reprodukcije već za samog posmatrača,<br />odnosno optimizacija opaženog kvaliteta digitalne slike od strane<br />osoba sa poremećajima viđenja boja. Predloženi model optimizacije<br />slike poboljšava distinkciju boja i opseg boja slike za korisnike sa<br />različitim težinama poremećaja viđenja boja uz očuvanje prirodnosti<br />slike. Metodološki okvir ispitivanja, koji uključuje kvantitativnu<br />analizu računarskih simulacija, analizu eye-tracking podataka i<br />subjektivno ocenjivanje poboljšanja opaženog kvaliteta test slika,<br />daje sistematičnu i pouzdanu verifikaciju efektnosti predloženih<br />metoda adaptacije boja slike.</p> / <p>The subject of the thesis was the digital image optimization when an<br />observer represents the main image reproduction limitation or, in other<br />words, the optimization of the perceived image quality by individuals with<br />colour vision deficiencies. The proposed image optimization model enhances<br />colour distinction and gamut for users with different severities of colourblindness<br />while preserving the image naturalness. The used methodological<br />framework, including a quantitative analysis of computer simulations, an<br />analysis of eye-tracking data and a subjective evaluation of the perceived<br />image quality, provides systematic and reliable effectiveness verification of<br />the proposed colour adaptation methods.</p>

This thesis has focused on color reproduction processes in the graphics field and is based on theoretical research and practical studies. The purpose of this thesis was to investigate how new tools and tools adapted to a specific production set-up can be used to raise awareness regarding the quality and workflow of images and image processing for sheet-fed offset within the graphic industry. The work is divided in to the following three study areas with several sub-studies: 1) The first research goal of the thesis is to identify knowledge levels regarding color separation of images and demand specifications within printing houses. 2) The second research goal is to investigate whether novel tools and new terminology can help to increase the knowledge level regarding color management 3) The third goal is to investigate whether process specific adaptation of key color control tools can improve quality levels Three surveys about color reproduction (focusing on level of knowledge concerning color separation, the use of ICC-profiles and demand specifications for controlled color reproduction) at printing companies in Sweden were made between 2000 and 2004. The surveys indicated a serious problem in the graphic arts industry, involving both an insufficient understanding of color management and a lack of communication. An important part of the work was to assist in make color management understandable for users and thereby optimize printing. For this purpose, digital test forms have been developed. The developed tools, together with descriptive material, will facilitate the understanding of color management issues. Definitions within the field of color separations have been examined, and changes have been suggested. A new term for separation “Compensation by Black”, CB, has been suggested, instead of e.g. GCR and UCR. Is it possible to adapt the different parts of the process chain in order to achieve an improved production? Yes! This work has developed the method for adaptation of the scanne rtest chart, the printing test chart for image categorization and the control strip forsheet-fed offset using gray balance. This thesis suggests that it is possible to produce a custom-made IT8 target test chart for scanners and achieve a result at least similar to or even better than the standard test charts on the market. This work has also shown that itis possible to adapt the test chart for printing to image category. The result showed that low-key image separated by the image-adapted test chart showed more detail in the dark areas than a low-key image separated by the standard test chart, in the prints on a coated paper. The result from the adaptation of a control strip for sheet-fed offset showed that gray balance can be used as a control parameter for quality control in sheet-fed offset. / QC20100617

EFI Colorproof XF was found to be more convenient from a user’s aspect, and had features which are covered in the ISO 12647-7 standard (e.g. the ability to simulate screening and print margin information), which Photoshop CS3 lacked. None of the proofing systems distinguished itself in a clear way from the other; sometimes, on certain substrates, Photoshop CS3 produced most accurate colours, sometimes EFI Colorproof XF did. Further investigations need to be carried out to tell more exactly which system produce most accurate colours. Only 6 out of 34 simulation-combinations had colours within the tolerances in the standard. The result also shows that the production substrates should not be used as proofing substrates. Instead the proofing papers especially made for ink jet should be used to obtain more colour-accurate prints.

It was investigated the colour reproduction on prints made in ink-jet printer. Experimentally investigated gradation characteristics of CMYK colours. It was made a 26 step strip with raster dots from 0 to 100 %. Prints were made at different printing regimes on papers with different whiteness. Zone optical densities were measured, compared with theoretical density values and gradational distortions were determined. Also were measured 100% raster strips in CIE L*a*b* coordinate system and defined the maximum reproduction of colours in ink-jet printer.

Low power consumption is a critical requirement for all liquid crystal display (LCD) devices. A field sequential color (FSC) LCD was proposed by using red (R), green (G) and blue (B) LEDs and removing the lossy component of color filters which only transmits ~30% of the incoming white light. Without color filters, FSC LCDs exhibit a ~3X higher optical efficiency and 3X higher resolution density as compared to the conventional color filters-based LCDs. However, color breakup (CBU) is a most disturbing defect that degrades the image quality in FSC displays. CBU can be observed in stationary or moving images. It manifests in FSC LCDs when there is a relative speed between the images and observers’ eyes, and the observer will see the color splitting patterns or rainbow effect at the boundary between two different colors. In Chapter 2, we introduce a five-primary display by adding additional yellow(Y) and cyan(C) colors. From the analysis and simulations, five primaries can provide wide color gamut and meanwhile the white brightness is increased, as compared to the three-primary. Based on the five-primary theorem, we propose a method to reduce CBU of FSC LCDs by using RGBYC LEDs instead of RGB LEDs in the second section. Without increasing the sub-frame rate as three-primary LCDs, we can reduce the CBU by utilizing proper color sequence and weighting ratios. In addition, the color gamut achieves 140% NTSC and the white brightness increases by more than 13%, as compared to the three-primary FSC LCDs. Another strategy to suppress CBU is using higher field frequency, such as 540 Hz or even up to 1000 Hz. However, this approach needs liquid crystals with a very fast response time (

The thesis deals with colors - their representation in digital devices and how to provide the best color preservation accross different devices. In the first part of the work, the knowledge of colors and human vision is briefly summarized. Then color models and color spaces are elaborated, mainly those device independent. Spectrum of colors viewable or printable on a device - the gamut - is different for every device and there's a need of precise reproduction or record of color. That's why the system of color management is described further and especially the gamut mapping approaches and algorithms are mentioned. In the second part of the work, the implementation of how two algorithms of color gamut mapping (HPMINDE, SCLIP) can be implemented in MATLAB is described. In the third and last part of the work, the results of implemented algorithms are presented and discussed. These results are compared to results of commonly used color gamut mapping technique (Adobe Photoshop).