Perception of color quality for natural images viewed, edited, and printed within the context of a home digital color imaging system

Within the home environment there exits a host of digital color imaging (DCI) system configurations. The combination of devices and software at the consumer's desktop with devices and services at a remote location (e.g., Print at Kodak), creates a complex interaction of device, contextual, and observer characteristics. The complexity of the system may result in a disparity between the consumer's expectations and the final product. In particular, the cathode-ray tube (CRT) display has the potential to influence consumers' perceptions of image quality and their subsequent image manipulation activities. Depending on the inherent color bias and apparent contrast of the CRT, extensive image manipulation may occur, significantly altering the digital values of the image. Output generated by Print at Kodak will reflect any image manipulation undertaken by the consumer. Unaware of the calibration of their display, consumers can be expected to measure Print at Kodak output against their memory of the CRT "original". If manipulation was extensive, what the consumer receives from Print at Kodak will appear quite different from the softcopy version and thus, may be deemed unacceptable.;This research was designed to address the softcopy-hardcopy matching issues that arise from the home DCI system configuration just described. To this effect, four primary objectives were formed. The first of these objectives was to outline the pertinent contextual, observer, and display related factors that contribute to the generation and perception of color within a home DCI system. The remaining objectives were to determine the influence of CRT color balance on; (i) perceived color quality for softcopy and hardcopy photographs, (ii) softcopy editing behavior, and (iii) print acceptance. To meet these objectives, two experiments were conducted.;Results from this research may be applied to the development of monitor calibration tools, scene balancing algorithms, and software, for the purpose of accommodating consumer image manipulation behavior, in the context of the home DO system presented herein. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)*;*This research was supported by Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, New York.