OPTIMISING PROCESSING GAMUTS FOR COLOUR CONVERSION CHAINS

Disclose are various methods for optimizing conversions between color spaces (FIG. 1). A set of atomic mathematical ((a)-(f)) functions are identified which, when performed in sequence, implement the conversions. Specific (first) sequences of the mathematical functions are then identified which when performed convert colors between particular color spaces. A set of computational operations ((g)-(i)) are then established for evaluation using a computing device, the operations, when performed in (second) sequences cause the color conversions. A particular one of the first sequences required for converting from a first color space to a second color space is then identified and transformed into a (third) sequence of computational operations chosen from the computational operations ((g)-(i)) having substantially the same transformation effect as the particular sequence. Also disclosed is a method of sequentially combining a first color conversion list (FIG. 2A) with a second color conversion list (FIG. 2B) to form a single output conversion list (FIG. 2C) having a corresponding conversion function, each conversion list traversing a chain of color spaces comprising at least a corresponding source color space and a corresponding terminal color space. Also disclosed is a method of determining a processing gamut for intermediate color spaces (304, 306) traversed in a color conversion chain (300) from a source color space (302) to a target color space (308).