A reference device for setting color biasing mechanisms on a camera and achieving a consistent color biasing in different environmental situations, and a method of making the same. The reference device comprises a reflective media having a surface that has had its spectral characteristics analyzed and its surface treated with colored droplets, wherein each of the droplets is less than 5 picoliters in volume, to achieve a degree of desired white neutrality or color bias of different spectral quality than that which was analyzed as aforesaid. A method for producing a standardized white or color-biased surface on reflective media for use with a camera with color balance setting mechanisms includes selecting a media with a surface that is suitable for modification to colorimetrically neutral reference surface, analysing the spectral characteristics of the reference surface, and treating the surface of the media with colored droplets, with each of the droplets being less than 5 picoliters in volume to achieve the degree of desired white neutrality or color bias.

A color conversion table as a LUT is generated easily in a simple operation by merging a printing condition profile for color conversion and a printer condition profile. When a file under the title "SLIGHTLY COATED PAPER PRINTING" as a printing condition profile is dragged and dropped (moved) onto a folder "USED FOR OUTPUT" in a file selection image for selecting a not-to-be-merged printing condition profiles, it is automatically merged with the file of a printer condition profile into a new color conversion table relative to "SLIGHTLY COATED PAPER PRINTING". The color conversion table thus generated converts input image data to image data for a proofer such as a printer, and the printer outputs a hard copy based on the converted image data. The user can easily confirm the colors of a finished printed material according to "SLIGHTLY COATED PAPER PRINTING" with the colors of the image on the hard copy. Thus, the hard copy can be used as a color proof.

One single-stage proofer RIP replaces a conventional setup of two proofer RIP stages in series. Preliminary profile and data processing usually performed at the first of the conventional RIP stages, and source input terminal of the second, are instead performed in a preprocessor at the image-originating or production-hardcopy-printer station. The preprocessor combines production-printer forward and inverse profiles with a profile for the monitor, associated computer or graphics program--to form a single profile that converts monitor signals to perceptual data representing appearance of the predicted production copy. This three-way composite profile is applied to the source terminal of the single-stage proofer RIP.

There is provided a method of providing color matching between two output devices, which includes providing gradation matching between the two output devices, and providing color matching between the two output devices after providing the gradation matching.

A method for correcting digitized image data in the prepress stage when using printing presses having a device-independent color profile in the main printing stage, having the following method steps: colorimetric measurement of a reference sheet and production of an image file in a device-independent color space, conversion of an image file belonging to the reference sheet in a device-dependent color space into a further image file in a device-independent color space using the device-independent color profile belonging to the printing press to be used, comparison of the two device-independent image files. performing alterations on the device-dependent image file associated with the reference sheet or alteration of the printing process in the selected printing press if tolerance limits are exceeded.