Color control using neural networks and its application

A method is proposed for solving the mapping problem from the 3D color space to the 4D CMYK space of printer ink signals by means of neural network. The CIE-L*a*b* color system is used as the color space. The color reproduction problem is considered as the problem of controlling an unknown static system with four inputs and three outputs. A controller finds the CMYK signals necessary to produce the desired L*a*b* values from a printer. Our solution method for this control is based on a two-phase procedure. Validity of our method is shown in an experiment using a dye sublimation printer.