Color CLU-DBS Halftoning based on Neugebauer Primary Area Coverage: Improving the Breed

Abstract

Though a color aperiodic, clustered-dot, halftoning (NPACMS-MP-CLU-DBS) algorithm can overcome the visible moire and rosette artifacts in conventional color halftoning methods, it still has some disadvantages, such as the color mismatch caused by the initial stage color management method, and texture artifacts caused by the concentric-ring cluster structure. In this paper, first, a new color gamut mapping method is used during the color management process, that is an image-dependent mapping method, which can make the most use of the printer color gamut, in order to reduce the color mismatch between the continuous-tone original and printed halftone images. Secondly, a new color, clustered-DBS halftoning algorithm with separated-cluster structure is developed. As a color halftoning method based on the clustered-DBS algorithm, not only it can overcome the visible moire and rosette artifacts, but also the separated-cluster structure is more stable, compared with the concentric-ring cluster structure. It can also reduce the texture artifacts significantly.