A color calibration method between different digital cameras

Abstract In order to achieve the same color information for any digital cameras under the same environment, a color calibration method for adjusting the digital inputs between different digital cameras was presented and then verified by an experiment. This method is based on the accurate prediction of color information via colorimetric characterization modeling. In the process, the tristimulus values XYZ of the ColorChecker colors are obtained from their spectral reflectance and the spectral power distribution (SPD) of a lighting condition. Afterwards, these tristimulus values XYZ are converted to the coordinates in the CIELAB color space using the white point of test lighting condition, i.e. (L*, a*, b*). The relationships between (L*, a*, b*) values and digital inputs for individual digital cameras are described mathematically by the forward and inverse colorimetric characterization models, respectively. Thus, by the proposed procedure, any designated digital camera could get its calibrated color information that is the same as that from a target digital camera, involving the forward colorimetric characterization modeling for the designated test camera and the inverse colorimetric characterization modeling for the target camera. The method can overcome the influences of various environments on color information achieved by different digital cameras.