A Simple Alternative to the Neugebauer Equations for Computing Dot Area and Dot Gain Colorimetrically

抄録

The method herein for determining dot area colorimetrically differs substantially from modified Neugebauer-based methods, and from the Neugebauer approach in general in that they involve all three CIE XYZ values in solving multiple equations simultaneously. This new method demonstrates the use of tristimulus values normalized to the substrate as the reference white to determine the white component present and to use the white component to indirectly determine the effective area of the colorant. This method is not concerned with the hue of the colorant but rather with determining how much relative area of the pixel element's white substrate is occupied by a colorant, or, from another perspective, simply is not white. Thus, any binary halftone-like or dithered tint of a colorant can be considered to comprise only two areas: (1) the substrate (“white”) and (2) the colorant (“not-white”). Since the sum of their relative percent areas at any gradation equals 100, the effective, relative area of the colorant can be determined from a metric of the relative amount of the substrate (“white”), regardless of the hue of the colorant.