WO2005019958A2

WO2005019958A2 - Method and apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2005019958A2
Application number: PCT/GB2004/003611
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Arthur John Wilcox
Original assignee: Full Gamut Printing Limited
Priority date: 2003-08-22
Filing date: 2004-08-23
Publication date: 2005-03-03
Also published as: WO2005019958A3

Abstract

A method and apparatus for selecting colour schemes, for instance for decorative or environmental purposes, as well as to means and elements useful in this method and apparatus. The method for selecting colour schemes comprises the steps of displaying at least one pre-selected colour combination,receiving at a data processing means colours from a displayed combination data processing means information grouping together in a palette, receiving at a information regarding a combination of shapes or designs which may be subject to decoration and applying colours to the combination of shapes or designs in the data processing means wherein the colours are selected from said palette.

Description

Method and Apparatus

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for selecting colour schemes, for instance for decorative or environmental purposes, as well as to means and elements useful in this method and apparatus. Currently devices exist on the market which enable the placing of colours onto a blank area of a computer screen or into outlined areas on a computer screen.

The blank area on the screen approach: This would normally be for the use of artists and others who wish to pre-decide the colour arrangements and layout of a painting or other piece of artwork. Colours are typically selected from the range available from the computer software program in use. This range can extend to several million individual hues. It is entirely up to the user of the program to decide on the selection of the colours to use. Guidance is not provided towards the selection of colour combinations found by many either to harmonise or contrast or have visual appeal to many for other reasons. Colours are selected from the 'pool' and are 'applied' using a simulated brush, pencil or other similar device. The colours are normally interchangeable and can be altered as the work progresses. The finished 'colour plan' is then either printed or referred to in some other way.

The outlined area approach: It is possible to create any type of artwork or design in outline form on the computer. It is also possible to select an area within such outlined artwork and designate the outlined area as a 'field'. If, for example, four squares were created in outline form on the screen and one of the squares selected, that particular square could be designated as a ^Λfield' . Other terms, apart from 'field' might be used to describe the selected area. A colour can be selected from the 'pool' of colours which are available within the software program in use. Typically the computer mouse would be used to 'click' the cursor onto the colour. The cursor would then be moved to a selected 'field' within the design and again 'clicked' to place the colour. The 'field' would then be coloured within its boundaries by the colour that had been selected. This process would continue until as much of the design that was required had been completed. Again, there is no guidance towards the selection of colour combinations found by many either to harmonise or contrast or have visual appeal to many for other reasons. It is entirely the decision of the user as to what colour combinations to use and the user has the entire "pool" of colours available within the software program to choose from. It is also known to allow a user to customise an initial pool of colours to include further colours. The range of further colours offered can be very great and there is still no guidance towards the selection of colour combinations. There is a known software application which offers the user not one colour but a set of colours for use in combination, for colouring graphic material on screen. That is, Microsoft offers a business card design package in which the user can select such aspects as font style as well as content. The user can also select the colour palette used for the business card. The user selects a palette rather than a single colour and the colours of the palette are applied to different features of the card. According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for selecting colour schemes, said method comprising the steps of: a. displaying at least one pre-selected colour combination; b. receiving at a data processing means information grouping colours from a displayed combination together in a palette; c. receiving at a data processing means information regarding a combination of shapes or designs which may be subject to decoration; d. applying colours to the combination of shapes or designs in (b) wherein the colours are selected from said palette. A colour scheme selected using the above method of the invention might for example be used for decorative or environmental purposes. Embodiments of the present invention can utilise the main characteristics of the "blank area on the screen" and the

"outlined area" approaches described above but can introduce a range of colour combinations for selection. Rather than the user having to rely on his or her own decisions as to the colour combination to select from the 'pool' of individual colours that the program allows, embodiments of the invention can make available a range of suggested colour combinations. Embodiments of the present invention can then provide considerably increased design flexibility compared with the business card design package provided by Microsoft, mentioned above. Rather than just providing a choice of fixed colour combinations, the colours within a palette can be selected. Thus the user can benefit from guidance towards colour schemes which might for example be known from previous experience to be pleasing to a wide audience while still maintaining significant design control. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of generating a colour palette for use in selecting colour schemes, said method comprising the steps of: a. storing data for use in grouping colours together in a plurality of displayable colour combination swatches; b. selecting one or more of said colour combination swatches from said plurality for display; c. receiving a swatch selection signal identifying at least one displayed swatch; and d. generating a palette for use in the selection of at least one colour scheme, said palette being based at least in part on said swatch selection signal. A colour combination swatch in the context of the present invention is a set of two or more colours, each of the colours being shown, when displayed, in a range of at least two different saturations (samples of a colour at different strengths) . Preferably, the step of generating a palette comprises the step of displaying at least one colour mixing reference chart for two or more colours from a swatch identified by the swatch selection signal. A palette may thus comprise at least one swatch, together with at least one colour mixing reference chart for colours selected from the at least one swatch. Preferably, the step of generating a palette further comprises the step of receiving at least two colour selection signals identifying colours in a swatch and said at least one colour mixing reference chart is for the colours so identified. This enables a user to pick colours from a swatch and to add their colour mixing reference chart, or colours selected therefrom, to a palette being generated. Embodiments of the invention allow the user to select a colour scheme in a multi-stage process. In an example of such a process, the user is initially offered one or more swatches representing pre-existing colour combinations. The user chooses one or more of the swatches and, optionally, two or more colours from their chosen swatch (es) . They then create their own palette from their chosen swatch (es) and, optionally, colour mixing reference charts based on the two or more colours (or colours selected therefrom) . To select a colour scheme, the user then works from the palette they have created. The pre-grouping of colours into colour combination swatches on which palettes are to be based enables a system embodying this aspect of the invention to guide the user towards a palette having certain characteristics. For example, a swatch might be a "co-ordinating swatch", comprising a selection of colours which appear well together. The colours may be similar in tone or nature, or they may contrast with each other but in a manner that may be appealing in a particular situation. Preferably, at least some of the displayable colour combination swatches comprise a relatively low number of different colours as this gives more guidance to the user in creating their palette. For example, at least some of the displayable swatches may each comprise not more than ten, or not more than five, different colours. An optimum number for display and selection purposes, using a personal or desktop computer monitor, has been found to be only three or perhaps four different colours. It is not necessary that colours are shared between swatches, although they may be. That is, at least two displayable colour combination swatches may have no shared colour and at least two displayable colour combination swatches may have at least one shared colour. Preferably, a method according to the second aspect of the invention further comprises the steps of: e. storing data relating at least one swatch to at least one colour scheme illustration; and f. receiving an illustration selection signal. Preferably, the selection in step b. of one or more of said colour combination swatches from said plurality for display may be determined by a received illustration selection signal. This allows a user to view an illustration of a potential colour scheme in use, for instance as an artwork which may be electronic or otherwise, and then to obtain guidance by use of an embodiment of the invention in generating a palette which is derived from the illustration. Alternatively or additionally, a method according to the second aspect of the invention may further comprise the step of receiving a colour selection signal. The selection in step b. may then be at least partially determined by a received colour selection signal, all colour combination swatches selected for display comprising the selected colour. The method of the invention thus guides a user to generate a particular colour palette which will suit their particular design needs before embarking on decorative activity. It is suitably carried out electronically using a computer. The data processing means may therefore comprise a means for programming a computer, or it may comprise a computer programmed to contain the data. The method is suitably a computerised method. In a particular embodiment, colour scheme illustrations as referred to above may show colour palettes in real-life situations. The user may make at least a preliminary selection for their own palette from these illustrations. These illustrations may be stored on a data processing means, so that they may be viewed on a computer screen, or presented in physical form, such as in a book, which is intended to be used in conjunction with the interrogation of the data processing means . The combination of shapes or designs may be of any combination of items which may be decorated. Thus, for instance, the shapes or designs may represent buildings including houses, museums, monuments or the like. In a particularly useful embodiment of the invention, the combination of shapes or designs might represent rooms within a building. The combination of shapes may include shapes representing furniture in the room. The combination of shapes may represent a particular room and the particular furniture it contains, or it may represent a "typical" room such as a typical dining room. Various shapes of room and combinations of furniture can be put together, to allow a user to select a shape and style of room most close to that they are intending to decorate. Thus in operation, using an embodiment of the invention, a user requiring to decorate a particular room could select a palette of colours with the assistance of colour scheme illustrations as described above. These will give an indication of the overall impression given by combining the colours in a real-life situation. They may then select a particular combination of shapes or designs, which either represents the room they are intending to decorate, or which most closely represents said room. Using a method according to an embodiment of the invention, the user can then apply, suitably electronically, to the various shapes within the representation, different colours from within a palette they have created, to gain an insight as to how a room decorated in these colours would look. Electronic application of colour to the various shapes can be readily carried out using a suitable computer program. By including lighter and darker shades of each colour within the palette, the user can alter the effect given. Furthermore, colours can be moved from one shape to another as required. However, by limiting the initial selection of colours to those within particular coordinating combinations, selections that are unsatisfactory or inappropriate can be avoided. Once a satisfactory colour scheme has been selected in this way, suitable decorating materials, such as paints, fabrics and wallcoverings, may be selected in accordance with the chosen scheme. In a particular embodiment, this is also done by way of a data processing means. Thus, suitably further data processing means are provided which contains information as to which one of a manufacturer's products, such as the particular colour within an available paint range, will produce the selected colour. Alternatively, the data processing means may be provided with information as to the combination of dyes, pigments or colourants, that may be applied to a substrate, such as a tin or paint, to produce the desired colour, for instance in one of the many commercially available paint mixing systems. Once a colour scheme has been selected, this further data corresponding to the selected colour may be retrieved. In a particular embodiment, it is transferred into a suitable order with a supplier automatically. In a final step, a user may apply or arrange to have the products applied to the items or areas within a room, to produce the desired result. According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus comprising data processing means arranged to: a. contain information grouping colours together in pre- selected combinations; b. contain information grouping a selection of colours from one or more of said pre-selected combinations in a palette; c. contain information regarding a combination of shapes or designs which may be subject to decoration; d. apply a colour to each of the shapes or designs within (c) , but with the limitation that the colours are selected from a single said palette within (b) . Suitably data processing means may comprise a machine readable data storage means such as a diskette or compact disc (CD) , or a computer programmed appropriately. In an embodiment of the invention, the apparatus further comprises one or more of the following

(i) data processing means arranged to display illustrations of particular colour schemes, derived from single palettes; (ii) data processing means containing information as to which one of a manufacturer' s products will produce one or more colours; (iii) data processing means containing information as to which combination of dyes, pigments or colourants, that may be applied to a decorative substrate to produce the desired colour; (iv) data processing means allowing selected products in selected colours to be ordered from a supplier. A combination of a book of illustrations and a data processing means as described above forms a further aspect of the invention. In yet a further embodiment, the invention provides a method for selecting a decorative colour scheme, which method comprises interrogating an apparatus as described above, and selecting a scheme for a particular decorative purpose. The method may comprise the additional step of applying suitable products to achieve the desired result. Yet a further embodiment of the invention provides a method for marketing decorative materials, which method comprises making available to customers, apparatus as described above, allowing customers to select colour schemes using the method as described above, and making available products which will result in the production of a selected colour scheme in a particular decorative situation.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided palette generation apparatus for generating colour palettes for use in selecting colour schemes, each palette comprising data grouping colours together, said apparatus comprising: a. a display output; b. a colour combination swatch data store for storing data identifying two or more colours for concurrent display as a colour combination swatch, each of said two or more colours being displayed in a range of saturation levels; c. a swatch selector for selecting at least one swatch for display; and d. a user interface for receiving colour selection signals identifying at least one colour and saturation level from a displayed swatch for use in generating a palette. A colour scheme generator will now be particularly described as an embodiment of the invention, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a block diagram of a network context in which the colour scheme generator is provided;

Figure 2 shows a functional block diagram of the colour scheme generator;

Figure 3 shows a colour combination swatch displayed in use of the colour scheme generator of Figure 2;

Figure 4 shows a colour mixing reference chart displayed in use of the colour scheme generator of Figure 2; Figure 5 shows an example of data content supporting a palette generated in use of the colour scheme generator of Figure 2; and

Figure 6 shows an example of data content supporting a supplier order triggered by use of the colour scheme generator of Figure

2. Referring to Figure 1, although embodiments of the invention might be provided as standalone, for instance supplied as software downloadable from a server or carried on a compact disc for loading on a user's desktop or laptop computer, it is preferable that it is accessible over at least a local network 110 and more preferably over a public access network such as the Internet 120. For example, a colour scheme generator might comprise software installed on a locally networked server 100 or on a server 135 directly connected to the Internet 120. Access to the colour scheme generator will normally be required by both users and a system operator. This access can be provided from computing devices 115, 125, 100, 135 which also support the colour scheme generator, or over the local network 110 and/or over the public access network 120 by conventional means, with or without security measures such as authentication. Access arrangements are not therefore further discussed herein. The colour scheme generator requires data storage to support its own processes and this can be provided for instance on a server 100, 135 or other data storage equipment 105, 140, again accessible locally and/or over the public access network 120. A feature of the colour scheme generator is its potential use of supplier data both in generating a colour scheme and in responding to a generated colour scheme by outputting an order to a supplier. Advantageously, access to supplier data can be provided directly to a supplier' s own data storage facility, for instance over the public access network 120, since this streamlines the updating process as a supplier makes changes for example in their colour ranges or in their referencing systems. Referring to Figure 2, the colour scheme generator 200 comprises a real time palette generator 220, a colour scheme selector 225 and an order generator 230 which responds to a generated colour scheme by outputting an order to a supplier.

Three interfaces are provided, these being a user interface 205, a system operator interface 210 and a supplier interface 215. The interfaces are of known type and provide access for running processes of the generator such as loading and updating data as well as generating colour schemes, using interaction mechanisms such as forms, menus and preview displays. The supplier interface potentially allows the generator to access up to date suppliers' colour data in a supplier data store 140 and supports automated ordering of products in response to a finished colour scheme. The generator also has access to a data store 105 containing data supporting the process of colour scheme generation.

The colour scheme generator 200 operates in use as follows. User Interaction: Palette Generation At the initial (optional) , stage the user will have reference to a range of representations to select from. These might be fine art paintings, photographs of room interiors, graphic artworks or representations from any subject where colour use is of interest. This initial (optional) , selection is to show examples of each basic colour group in use. It might be the interior of a room in various blues and oranges, or a craft design in different greens. Once a design, photograph or other representation of pleasing colour arrangement has been selected the next stage is to view one or more 'colour combination swatches' . Referring additionally to Figure 3, a "colour combination swatch" 300 is an arrangement of colour samples, usually placed side by side. Preferably, each of the one or more colours is shown in a range of different saturations. A colour combination swatch will typically show saturation ranges (samples of a colour at different strengths) for between one and four individual colours but any number could be used. The swatch 300 shown in Figure 3 shows saturation ranges for three colours, for example an orange 305 and two blues 310, 315. To provide the above, the colour scheme generator 200 has responded to inputs via the user interface 205 to run the real time palette generator 220. This process allows the user to view a representation such as a painting or photograph, providing an illustration of an existing colour scheme in use. Each colour scheme illustration has associated with it one or more colour combination swatches. This can be implemented by, for example, including or referencing one or more sets of pointers to colour data in a data store 105 for each illustration. The user can then choose to view the colour combination swatches associated with their selected representation, for example by entering an identifier for the relevant illustration.

Where a colour scheme illustration is in electronic form, such as a digital photograph or plan, the illustration itself can be stored for display but this is not essential. The user may simply choose the illustration by looking at a separate item such as a catalogue, or indeed from memory. It might be that an initially selected representation comprises a painting of a scene, or perhaps a room interior, showing two types of blue and an orange. A set of 'colour combination swatches' are then presented, using the pointers associated with that representation. A 'colour combination swatch' may for instance, in practice, be made up of a saturation range for each of the two types of blue 310, 315 and a saturation range for the orange 305. Such a colour combination swatch is shown in Figure 3, the orange saturation range for example being shown as boxes 300a to 300f. The 'colour combination swatches' can thus give further suggestions over colours present in the initially selected representation. It is not essential that the user starts from a representation. It would be possible to commence the colour selection process directly from one or more colour combination swatches rather than viewing representations first. In one arrangement for selecting these initial colour combination swatches, it is possible for the user to identify one or more

"fixed" colours, these being colours the user particularly wants to incorporate in a palette. This may be done for example by selecting a colour from the whole or part of the "pool" of colours available to the colour scheme generator 200 or by direct entry of an identifier for a colour. The colour scheme generator 200 may then display for the user a selection of colour combination swatches 300 which each contain the fixed colour (s) . Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the next stage is to select one or more of the 'colour combination swatches' 300 for further use. The colours of a selected 'colour combination swatch' 300 are displayed to the user, together with at least one 'colour mixing reference chart' 400. A 'colour mixing reference chart' as shown in Figure 4 might typically be a range of basic mixes available from a combination of a single orange 305d and a single blue 310c from the colour combination swatch 300, together with the tints that are available as each of the basic mixes is further blended with white in one form or the other. (Figure 4 shows only one such set of tints 405.) There might be any number of 'colour mixing reference charts' on the screen at one time but typically they will number between one and four. The colour mixing reference charts selected for display might be based on user selections of pairs of colours from a colour combination swatch or might be predetermined, for instance by rules of the real time palette generator 220. The colours shown in the selected 'colour combination swatch' will all be highlighted (for example by the use of bold outlines as shown for the colours orange and blue 305d, 310c in Figure 4) on the 'colour mixing reference charts'. These, that is one or more swatches and associated mixing reference charts, are the suggested starting points for the completion of the colour planning stage. A palette 235 has thus been generated which, on screen, comprises one or more swatches 300 and one or more associated mixing reference charts 400. This palette is now made available to the colour scheme selector 225 which supports the process of creating a colour scheme for a particular design task. Alternatively, the user can limit the generated palette further by selecting one or more specific colours from the swatches 300 and/or from the associated mixing reference charts 400. Referring to Figure 5, although a generated palette appears on screen as swatches 300 and associated mixing reference charts 400, it is stored by the real time palette generator 220 as sets of colour data 235 associated with screen graphics. In order to support automated order generation, the colour data of a palette might comprise specific supplier data for the relevant colours. However, to maintain flexibility of supplier choice, the colour data of a palette might preferably follow a supplier-independent format which is then easily translatable to colour data used by any one of several different suppliers. An example of this follows . As shown in Figure 5, the colour data supporting a palette might be provided as a table or the like, identifying for example the colour combination swatches 300 selected, shown here by identifiers "32" and "94", and the colours in each swatch which have been highlighted and for which colour mixing reference charts 400 are included in the palette, shown here by identifiers "32.3", "32.6" and "94.5". A third column of the table 235 is available for the user to choose to restrict the palette to specific colours from the swatches and/or colour mixing reference charts. As shown, in this case the third column is partially populated and the palette is therefore restricted to two specific colours and a colour mixing reference chart, the colours being shown by identifiers "32.3c" and "94.5" in the third column, and the colour mixing reference chart being shown by the identifier "32.6" for a highlighted colour in the second column.

User Interaction: Colour Scheme Selection Having generated a palette, the user can use it to select a colour scheme for a design task such as decorating an existing room. To do this, the user preferably works from a schematic plan of the design task. Hence, for use in room decoration, the data store 105 preferably holds room schema elements which the user can put together into a screen presentation of the design task, using a process of the colour scheme selector 225. Examples of room schema elements might comprise for example outlines of pieces of furniture such as sofas and chairs, floor and wall areas for painting or wall-papering, and curtains. For other design tasks of course, the data store 105 might hold other graphic elements for putting together as a screen presentation.

Having put together a screen presentation of the design task, such as a schematic room layout, the user now selects areas or elements of their screen presentation and inputs selections from the palette in order to view a colour scheme as they create it. Techniques are known for colour selection and display in this manner and it is not therefore further described here . The highlighted colours from the selected 'colour combination swatch' might be found suitable for the completion of the 'colour plan'. Alternatively nearby colours on the 'colour mixing reference chart' can be selected and placed onto the design without loss of cohesion. Referring to Figures 2 and 6, the output of the colour scheme selector 225 is colour data 240 which comprises a combination of screen elements and colours. This might be represented by the first two columns of the table of Figure 6 which contain identifiers for the elements of the screen presentation (that is, the "design task") listed against colour identifiers .

User Interaction: Order Generation Referring again to Figure 2, having arrived at a satisfactory colour scheme, the user has created a set of colour data 240 which identifies elements of a design task and associates colours with at least some of those elements. The order generator 230 then responds to receipt of a set of colour data 240 by running a process for converting it to an order suitable for sending to one or more suppliers. The elements of a design task might fall in different categories, such as furniture and wall paints, and might be available in each case from two or more alternative suppliers. It is therefore preferable that the user can select a supplier in respect of each element. User selections can then be used to populate a third column of an ordering table 600 for the design task. The order generator 230 receives for example two supplier selections from the user, for example "Supplier X" for a wall paint element "17" and "Supplier C" for an upholstered sofa element "25". The order generator 230 then accesses supplier data, stored locally or by the relevant supplier, to find the supplier reference for the closest product in their product range to satisfy the colour requirement. This supplier data is used by the order generator 230 to populate the third column of the ordering table 600, as shown. In the example shown in Figure 6, wall paint element 17 in the selected palette colour 32.2. c is most closely equivalent to Supplier X' s product having the supplier reference "Sat24.6" which might be a satin finish wall paint numbered 24 in the satin range, using tint 6. The upholstered sofa element 25 meanwhile, in the selected palette colour 94.5. f, is most closely equivalent to Supplier C s product having the supplier reference "HR.S3.Cin" which might be a sofa numbered S3 in the household range and coloured cinnamon. The last integer necessary for making an order is quantity and this can be entered in the fourth column of the ordering table 600, for instance based on a user input.

System Operator Interaction: Loading System Data The loading of data to the system by an operator, such as supplier data, the colour scheme illustrations and colour data, can generally be done using known techniques. However, the choice of the colour combination swatches 300 and their combinations can have a significant impact on the user experience. The make-up of the 'colour combination swatches' 300 can be random or deliberate. The intended use is to select on a deliberate basis. Colours, which are found acceptable to many if not most people, have been identified. These can be further modified by reference to the colours in nature and then by reference to the effects of the after-image. However, any combination of colours can be used as long as the aim is to relieve the user of the program from the task of making initial colour selections for whatever work is in mind. To aid the user as above, the system operator can make available a set of colour scheme illustrations, such as paintings, photographs and finished room layouts and, for each representation, associate a selected set of swatch identifiers. Where the illustrations are in electronic form, they may be loaded to the system and can be called up for viewing by the user. However, the illustrations may alternatively be external to the system, for example in a book. All that is necessary for the system operator to ensure is that the user can select an illustration by identifying it to the colour scheme generator 200, for example by clicking on a list or a thumbnail version on screen or by entering an identifier for the illustration, and the colour scheme generator 200 can access a selected set of swatch identifiers. These are used to populate the first column, headed "Swatch ID", of the data table 235 supporting a palette, as shown in Figure 5.

Further Features of Embodiments of the Invention A further feature of embodiments of the invention is the provision of information and suggested colours to be used with certain known and/or fixed colours. It might be that the interior of a room is being designed. If, for example the colour of the curtains, carpet, furniture or any other item in any design or colour plan layout is to play a part, that colour can be identified one way or the other in use of the real time palette generator 220 or the colour scheme selector 225. Colours which are felt to harmonise or contrast with the 'fixed' colour are suggested. The placing of the colours then continues as with the rest of the program. This can be done in response to user input, for example selecting an element of a representation as a "fixed colour" input or otherwise directly selecting a colour. For example, as mentioned above, the user might alternatively select a colour from the whole or part of the "pool" of colours available to the colour scheme generator 200 or by direct entry of an identifier for a colour. The palette generator 220 might then apply the constraint that any colour combination swatch 300 presented to the user includes the fixed colour. Where the initial selection of swatches for display by the colour scheme generator 200 is based on user selections such as a fixed colour or a colour scheme illustration, it is not necessary that this should be the only factor used by the generator 200 for selecting swatches for display. There may be other criteria brought into play, such as product availability. If for example, a furniture supplier supporting the system cannot supply furniture satisfying a potential colour choice, it is possible to bar swatches containing that colour, or to delete the colour from relevant swatches, for the period that availability is compromised. Alternatively, discounted colours could be added to an initial selection of swatches. These alternatives could be flagged to the colour scheme generator 200 by an operator or supplier quite simply by entering a colour identifier plus a code indicating a status for the colour such as unavailable or discounted. A further feature of embodiments of the invention is that advice on colour mixing can be provided in various ways. Such advice might be in the form of which colour to mix with which or it might be in the form of colour mixing ^Λrecipes' as used in paint stores and similar outlets where colours can be pre-mixed. A further feature of embodiments of the invention is that a potential user could supply a third party with a design that they wish to work on further at a later date. This could be in the form of a photograph, a list of room measurements or a design of any form. The third party could then create a series of 'fields' relating to the particular design. This modified design can then be returned to the user in one way or the other for completion. For example a user might submit a representation of a room in a house, with or without measurements. The room could be scanned or entered into a computer by any means. The representation would then be divided into suitable 'fields' and presented to the user for their own colour interpretation. It will be clear to those skilled in the art that various aspects of embodiments of the invention described might be varied. For example, the arrangement and correlation of data supporting swatches and orders might be done differently. Instead of using tables, the data might be cross-referenced or mapped or simply stored in predetermined locations in the data store 105. The data store 105 itself might be located on one data storage device or distributed over two or more.

Claims

1. A method for selecting colour schemes, said method comprising the steps of: a. displaying at least one pre-selected colour combination; b. receiving at a data processing means information grouping colours from a displayed combination together in a palette; c. receiving at a data processing means information regarding a combination of shapes or designs which may be subject to decoration; d. applying colours to the combination of shapes or designs in (b) wherein the colours are selected from said palette.

2. A method according to Claim 1, further comprising the step of retrieving information for producing at least one selected colour.

3. A method according to Claim 2 wherein said information for producing at least one selected colour identifies at least one colour in a paint range. . A method according to either one of Claims 2 or 3 wherein said information for producing at least one selected colour identifies at least one combination of dyes, pigments and/or colourants that may be applied to a substrate to produce the at least one selected colour.

5. A method according to any one of Claims 2, 3 or 4, further comprising the step of transferring said information for producing at least one selected colour into an order suitable for transfer to a supplier.

6. Apparatus for selecting colour schemes, the apparatus comprising data processing means arranged to: a. contain information grouping colours together in preselected combinations; b. contain information grouping a selection of colours from one or more of said pre-selected combinations in a palette; c. contain information regarding at least one combination of shapes or designs; and d. apply a colour to each of two or more of the shapes or designs of a received combination, so as to select a colour scheme, the applied colours being selected from a single said palette .

7. Apparatus according to Claim 6, wherein the data processing means is further arranged to display a selected colour scheme.

8. Apparatus according to either one of Claims 6 or 7, wherein the data processing means is further arranged to receive colouring product information as to which one or more of a manufacturer' s colouring products will produce one or more selected colours.

9. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 6, 7 or 8, wherein the data processing means is further arranged to receive combination information as to which combination of dyes, pigments or colourants may be applied to a substrate to produce a selected colour.

10. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 6 to 9, wherein the data processing means is further arranged to allow selected colouring products in selected colours to be ordered from a supplier.

11. A method for selecting a colour scheme, which method comprises the use of apparatus according to any one of Claims 6 to 10, and selecting a scheme.

12. A method for marketing decorative materials, which method comprises making available to customers apparatus according to any one of Claims 6 to 10, allowing customers to select colour schemes using a method according to Claim 11, and making available products which will result in the production of a selected colour scheme.

13. Palette generation apparatus for generating colour palettes for use in selecting colour schemes, each palette comprising data grouping colours together, said apparatus comprising: a. a display output; b. a colour combination swatch data store for storing data identifying two or more colours for concurrent display as a colour combination swatch, each swatch comprising one or more colours displayable in a range of saturation levels; c. a swatch selector for selecting at least one swatch for display; and d. a user interface for receiving colour selection signals identifying at least one colour from a displayed swatch for use in generating a palette.

14. Palette generation apparatus according to Claim 13 wherein the user interface is also adapted to receive user colour scheme selection signals identifying one or more colours for use in a colour scheme, the colours being selected from a single palette.

15. Apparatus according to either one of Claims 13 or 14, further comprising: e. an illustration data store for storing data relating at least one swatch to at least one colour scheme illustration, wherein the user interface is also adapted to: i) receive an illustration selection signal identifying an illustration; and ii) output for display one or more colour combination swatches related to the identified representation.

16. Apparatus according to Claim 15, wherein the data store is adapted to store one or more of said colour scheme illustrations for display. I 23

17. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 13 to 16, further comprising: f. a reference chart store for storing at least one colour mixing reference chart for display in association with at least two different colours identified by received colour selection signals .

18. Apparatus according to Claim 17 wherein said at least one colour mixing reference chart comprises a range of tints for at least one colour of the chart.

19. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 13 to 18, wherein said apparatus further comprises a swatch selector adapted to respond to a received colour selection signal identifying at least one colour by selecting and displaying one or more swatches, each displayed swatch including said at least one colour, for use in selecting a colour scheme.

20. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 13 to 19, wherein said apparatus further comprises an order generator for generating an order signal for transmission to one or more product suppliers, said order generator being operable to respond to selection of a colour scheme by generating an order signal comprising data identifying a supplier's product determined at least in part by a colour of said colour scheme.

21. A method of generating a colour palette for use in selecting colour schemes, said method comprising the steps of: a. storing data for use in grouping colours together in a plurality of displayable colour combination swatches; b. selecting one or more of said colour combination swatches from said plurality for display; c. receiving a swatch selection signal identifying at least one displayed swatch; and d. generating a palette for use in the selection of at least one colour scheme, said palette being based at least in part on said swatch selection signal.

22. A method according to Claim 21, wherein the step of generating a palette comprises the step of displaying at least one colour mixing reference chart for two or more colours from a swatch identified by the swatch selection signal.

23. A method according to either one of Claims 22, wherein the step of generating a palette further comprises the step of receiving at least two colour selection signals identifying colours in a swatch and said at least one colour mixing reference chart is for the colours so identified.

24. A method according to any one of Claims 21 to 23, wherein at least some of the displayable swatches comprise not more than ten different colours.

25. A method according to any one of Claims 21 to 23, wherein at least some of the displayable swatches comprise not more than five different colours.

26. A method according to any one of Claims 21 to 25, further comprising the steps of: e. storing data relating at least one swatch to at least one colour scheme illustration; and f. receiving an illustration selection signal.

27. A method according to Claim 26, wherein the selection in step b. of one or more of said colour combination swatches from said plurality for display is at least partially determined by a received illustration selection signal.

28. A method according to any one of Claims 21 to 27, further comprising the step of receiving a colour selection signal, the selection in step b. of one or more of said colour combination swatches from said plurality for display being at least partially determined by a received colour selection signal.