Systems and methods are provided for color management in connection with a variety of computing devices having different color display characteristics. The X11 graphics platform is augmented to support color management systems, such as ICC, sRGB and scRGB, which begin and end with device dependent colors. CMYK color spaces as well as extended RGB color spaces within X11r6 are also supported, thus extending the X11r6 graphics platform to support any modem color management standard.

The method of the invention adaptively assigns an image data color management action to a component of a computing system. The computing system includes control programs such as an application program and a peripheral driver program. The computing system further includes a peripheral device that may have both software color management capability and hardware color management capability. The method of the invention initially examines received image data to determine at least one characteristic thereof. The method then compares the characteristic with one or more decision parameters that enable an assessment of the complexity of the color management actions required for the image data. Thereafter, based upon the result of the comparing action, the image data is subjected to a color management action by a selected one of the control programs or by the peripheral device, dependent upon the determined complexity of the image data.

Methods and apparatuses, including computer program products for generating a plurality of color processing module fingerprints are described. A set of input colors represented in an input color space is generated. Sets of output colors represented in an output color space are generated, wherein each set of output colors is generated by transforming the set of input colors using a respective one of a plurality of color processing modules. A new color is iteratively added to the set of input colors and the plurality of sets of output colors is regenerated when each set of output colors does not uniquely identify its corresponding color processing module. Each set of output colors is identified as a color processing module fingerprint when each set of output colors uniquely identifies its corresponding color processing module.

A method for determining and assigning colorimetry and authorship device information to an image of unknown colorimetry includes iteratively displaying the image on a display device and selecting possible source device profiles for transforming the image. When a possible source device is indicated or selected, the source device is emulated on the display device and the image is displayed through the emulation. A user can then evaluate the indicated source device and if necessary indicate a new possible source device. When the most likely source device is selected, further image processing is enabled. The method can be carried out on a color image processor comprising a source device emulator and display device interface. The display device interface can use a display device profile for profile connection space to display device transformation.

The method of the invention adaptively assigns an image data color management action to a component of a computing system. The computing system includes control programs such as an application program and a peripheral driver program. The computing system further includes a peripheral device that may have both software color management capability and hardware color management capability. The method of the invention initially examines received image data to determine at least one characteristic thereof. The method then compares the characteristic with one or more decision parameters that enable an assessment of the complexity of the color management actions required for the image data. Thereafter, based upon the result of the comparing action, the image data is subjected to a color management action by a selected one of the control programs or by the peripheral device, dependent upon the determined complexity of the image data.