In-process color management system and method for digital color printing

Abstract

In-process color management system and method for digital color printing are disclosed. An example method includes generating a color target during a production run of a printing operation; measuring first color space values of the color target; in response to measuring the first color space values, comparing the first measured color space values to reference color space values to identify a difference between the first measured color space values and the reference color space values; comparing the difference to a threshold range; and in response to the difference being outside of the threshold range, adjusting color values during the production run to enable a difference between second measured color space values and the reference color values to be within the threshold range.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 printing, using a printer, a color target on a substrate during a production run of a printing operation;   measuring first color space values of the color target using a spectrophotometer;   in response to measuring the first color space values, comparing the first measured color space values to reference color space values to identify a difference between the first measured color space values and the reference color space values;   comparing the difference to a threshold range;   in response to the difference being outside of the range, adjusting color values during the production run to enable a difference between second measured color space values and the reference color values to be within the threshold range.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the printing of the color target includes controlling the printer using a digital front end. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the color target is a first color target and the substrate is a first substrate, further including determining an interval at which a second color target is to be printed to a second substrate during the production run. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further including printing, using the printer, the second color target on the second substrate at the determined interval. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further including measuring the second color space values using the spectrophotometer. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the interval is based on time, a sheet count, or a product type. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is a first substrate, further including executing a print job during the production run by printing indicia on a second substrate and moving the second substrate to a stacker. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the second substrate includes a web. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the second substrate includes multiple-separate sheets. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate includes a proof tray. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the measuring of the first color space values includes automatically measuring the first color space values of the color target. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a printer to print a color target on a substrate during a production run of a printing operation;   a spectrophotometer to measure first color space values of the color target; and   a processor to:
 compare the first measured color space values to reference color space values to identify a difference between the first measured color space values and the reference color space values; 
 compare the difference to a threshold range; and 
 in response to the difference being outside of the threshold range, adjust color values during the production run to enable a difference between second measured color space values and the reference color values to be within the threshold range. 
   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further including a digital front end to cause the printer to print a color target on a substrate. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the color target is a first color target and the substrate is a first substrate, wherein the processor is to determine an interval at which a second color target is to be printed to a second substrate during the production run. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the printer is to print the second color target on the second substrate at the determined interval. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the spectrophotometer is to measure the second color space values. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the interval is based on time, a sheet count, or a product type. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the substrate includes a proof tray. 
     
     
         19 . A method, comprising:
 generating a color target during a production run of a printing operation;   measuring first color space values of the color target;   in response to measuring the first color space values, comparing the first measured color space values to reference color space values to identify a difference between the first measured color space values and the reference color space values;   comparing the difference to a threshold range; and   in response to the difference being outside of the threshold range, adjusting color values during the production run to enable a difference between second measured color space values and the reference color values to be within the threshold range.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the generating of the color target during the production run includes generating the color target using a user interface.