WO2009027451A1 - Système et procédé permettant de sélectionner et de produire un volume de peinture - Google Patents

Système et procédé permettant de sélectionner et de produire un volume de peinture Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2009027451A1
WO2009027451A1 PCT/EP2008/061267 EP2008061267W WO2009027451A1 WO 2009027451 A1 WO2009027451 A1 WO 2009027451A1 EP 2008061267 W EP2008061267 W EP 2008061267W WO 2009027451 A1 WO2009027451 A1 WO 2009027451A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
colour
paint
user
user interface
colours
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2008/061267
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Jean Paul Moonen
Roland M. Wams
Maurice Gelden
David Imbrechts
Sam Verhoeve
Original Assignee
Akzo Nobel Coatings International B.V.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Akzo Nobel Coatings International B.V. filed Critical Akzo Nobel Coatings International B.V.
Publication of WO2009027451A1 publication Critical patent/WO2009027451A1/fr

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06T—IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL
    • G06T1/00—General purpose image data processing
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F16/00—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
    • G06F16/50—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor of still image data
    • G06F16/58—Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
    • G06F16/583—Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually using metadata automatically derived from the content
    • G06F16/5838—Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually using metadata automatically derived from the content using colour

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method and system for selecting a colour or a colour scheme for decorative or other purposes. More particularly this invention relates to a method and system for remotely interrogating a computerized colour palette, making at least one selection from said colour palette and producing a volume of paint in accordance with said selection.
  • the suppliers of paints have presented their range of products in the form of a brochure, book or colour chart.
  • the prospective painter selects from the multiplicity of paints shown and either buys that paint in a volume sufficient to complete the design task or obtains a sample of the paint from the supplier, directly or indirectly, by post for example.
  • the samples or paint are then typically applied by the customer to the surface they wish to decorate.
  • This application will inform that customer whether that application meets or fails his design needs. Where it fails, the selection process may recommence, in which case some volume of the purchased or sampled paint is wasted.
  • GB-A-2417175 A (Wilcox) describes a method for selecting colour schemes from an interrogatable database of colours, said method comprising: providing to a data processing means preliminary colour selection information which results in the grouping of colours together in palettes; providing to said data processing means information regarding a combination of shapes or designs which may be coloured; and, applying colours selected from a single said palette to the combination of shapes or designs using a paintbrush tool, or the like.
  • the user may also be provided with information on the paint range associated with the colour and / or the combination of dyes, pigments or colourants that may be applied to a substrate to produce the selected colour. This information can then be converted into an order for transmission to a supplier or into advice to a user such as a colour mixing 'recipes'.
  • a system for producing a paint having a colour selected from a primary palette of colours comprising: a) A database for storing information: related to each colour of said primary palette; and, on a plurality of physical bodies to which said paint is typically applied; b) A user interface comprising: a display capable of distinguishing each colour of said primary palette; and, at least one signal generation means responsive to the selection by a user of at least one colour from said primary palette; c) Data processing means adapted to receive a signal generated at said user interface, to interrogate said database and to provide to said user interface with at least one image of said selected colour applied to at least one physical body; and, d) Means to produce a first volume of paint corresponding to said selected colour, said production means being in operative communication with said user interface.
  • the paint production means may be either a mechanical device for selecting a particular, premixed paint from a store of paints or it may be device for producing a tinted product
  • the physical bodies to which the paint is pictorially applied are not particularly limited but must be realistic and therefore may encompass: buildings or monuments; rooms within commercial or residential; walls, roofs and floors of rooms or other spaces; furniture; and soft furnishings.
  • the physical bodies may be provided by the user of the system himself.
  • that database can be provided with individualized images of physical objects by the user.
  • the user interface is provided with a dedicated individual section to which images may be uploaded and stored. This individual section may be further characterized by securitized access such that entry to it may require a password or alternative form of individual identification and verification. Such access arrangements will not be further discussed herein.
  • This system is intended for use either within the premises of a paint supplier or to be accessible over a communications network.
  • the user interface may be a dedicated computer screen in an outlet, mounted within a kiosk for example, or the screen of a laptop of PC operated a user from his home or office.
  • the data processing means can interrogate said database remotely over a communications network. This allows the database to be more easily updated independently from the system as a whole and would limit the space required for an operable system on a supplier's premises.
  • the production means of the system is disposed in remote, operative communication with said user interface over a communications network.
  • the first volume of paint that is produced by the system is intended to be strictly controlled with the purpose of minimizing wasted paint within the process of paint production and purchase.
  • This control can be achieved in a number of ways.
  • the system may be provided with means to calculate the volume of paint required for a design task based on dimensions or images inputted or uploaded by the user, whether the paint is to be applied in an internal or external environment and the number of coats of paint required, for example.
  • the user of the system may be provided with the option that the first volume comprises a sample of paint that is ideally provided by the production means as a flat sheet of pre-determined but small size.
  • flat sheet samples do not require dedicated receptacles for storage or transport of liquids; use only thin layers and thereby small volumes of paint; may be transmitted more safely - and at a lower energetic cost - by post to remote users; do not require specific tools for the application the paint; and, enable the effect of a colour to be presented against an article without the need to re-paint that article if the effect is undesirable.
  • the database is provided with information on those products of one or more paint suppliers which can provide the colour selected by the user of the system.
  • this information regarding the products is presented to the user on the user interface such that the user can make a product selection that is complimentary to his or her colour selection.
  • the system further comprises a printer adapted to provide printed information on the user's selected colour(s).
  • Such information may include a product name, a description, and a required amount of a product.
  • the printer may be connected to the dedicated computer terminal in the premises of a paint supplier or be an office or domestic printer connected to a laptop or PC.
  • the printed information comprises a bar code and more preferably the printed information is readable by at least the production means of the system.
  • the system is provided as a dedicated terminal within the premises of a paint supplier and is further provided with means to read information provided by a user of the system.
  • Such means may include, for example, a scanner capable of detecting, reading and / or uploading colours and images provided by the user or a bar code reader.
  • a method of producing a paint having a colour selected from a primary palette of colours comprising the steps of: a) Providing a interrogatable, first palette of colours; b) Selecting a colour from said primary palette; c) Providing a representation of said selected colour applied to a first physical body; and d) Providing means to select or deselect that colour, wherein, if selected, information regarding said colour is transmitted to at least one paint production means which produces a first volume of paint corresponding to said selected colour.
  • database herein includes any machine readable data storage means and in particular diskettes, compact discs (CD), or an appropriately programmed computer.
  • the date is typically stored therein in compressed format.
  • the size of files in the database may be reduced by appropriate use of the Joint
  • the level of compression for an individual image - and on an image by image basis - should be selected to moderate data file size with the loss of image quality as is known in the art.
  • the "primary palette" stored within the database of the claimed system includes that range of colours which is presently available to prospective painters or decorator. This range of colours may be referenced to a comprehensive colour standard system.
  • the primary palette may also include those colours or hues which may become available over time due to: either the development new premixed paints, tints, pigments or other components of the paint; or, the use of new tinting methods or as yet untried volumetric dosing of tints or pigments.
  • information related to a colour includes not only the spectrophotometric data required to accurately reproduce said colour on a user interface or computer screen but may further include: (i) information as to which one of a manufacturer's products will produce one or more colours; (ii) the availability of said product(s) from a manufacturer or supplier within a geographical range of a given user; (iii) information as to which combination of dyes, pigments or colourants may be applied to produce the desired colour; (iv) information on the substrates to which a particular colour or paint product of said colour may be suitably applied; and, (v) spectrophotometric data on patterns in which a given colour is present.
  • the "user interface" of this system comprises known types and employs standard interaction mechanisms such as forms, menus, previews and help displays. Said user interface should also enable access for processes such as uploading and updating data.
  • the user interface should be appropriately calibrated for displaying images in high resolution and in full colour. As is known in the art, photosensor methods, using photosensitive probes for example, may be used for this calibration.
  • the “data processing means” may be supplied as software downloadable from a server or carried on a compact disc or other storage device for loading onto a desktop computer, a laptop computer or a dedicated terminal.
  • the "Communications network” comprises local networks and public access networks such as the Internet.
  • a "colour combination swatch” is an arrangement of colour samples placed side by side, each of the one or more colours typically being shown in a range of different saturations.
  • Fig.1 illustrates a unit which may be mounted in a store or commercial outlet, for example, and which comprises the system according to this invention.
  • the unit (1 ) here comprises a user interface (10) and a button (11 ) which can be employed by the user to navigate within the user interface and also to select or deselect colours and / or products as required.
  • the unit (1 ) here further comprises a combined printer and scanner (12).
  • the primary palette of colours is presented to the user of the system is not intended to be a limiting feature of this invention. It is conceivable that the primary palette may comprise a single screen in which all possible colours may be shown. This form of presentation will be limited by the resolution of the colours on a given, pixilated screen. Alternatively, therefore, it is envisaged that the primary palette may be provided as a subset of colours within which sample colours from across the entire spectrum are presented.
  • the "clicking" of a user on a colour from a subset may first present to that user a more extensive range of similar colours or hues than was evident in the original subset.
  • clicking on that blue colour will present to the user a further selection of colours comprising at least lighter and darker shades of that blue.
  • this subdivision of the presented colour types may occur to a plethora of levels.
  • the interface of the system should therefore provide the user with the ability to navigate backwards and forwards within these levels prior to making a colour selection.
  • the navigation tools may be provided by touch-screen functionality or as buttons mounted on the periphery of a screen.
  • the palette itself may be presented within a blank area on the screen or within an outlined area that, in turn, may be a pop-up area.
  • the palette may also be presented on an individual screen with additional images being presented to the user on one or more further but adjacent screens. This would enable the in-store user to observe larger colour palettes or individual colours that cover a larger screen area than would normally be possible on a PC or laptop screen.
  • the selection of a colour by the user of the system may be achieved, for example, by double clicking the relevant colour, by clicking on a dedicated selection icon or, for in-store units, by touching or depressing a select button mounted on or adjacent to the user interface.
  • the selection by the user initiates the transmission of a signal from the user interface to the data processing means.
  • This data processing means then interrogates the database of the system and retrieves from that database at least one image of the selected colour applied to a physical article. This image is then displayed on the user interface.
  • the image may comprise a painting or photograph, presenting an existing colour scheme in use.
  • the selected colour is presented to the user on the computer screen or interface in a "real-life" situation or as close an approximation to such a situation as possible.
  • These situations may include any combination of items which may be decorated, for instance buildings or monuments or rooms within office buildings or houses. It is perceived that the user may be presented with a plurality of such situations and can select which situation best corresponds to his design needs.
  • that user can be asked to select: whether the colour will be applied to the inside or outside of a building; from a list of "typical" rooms such as commercial offices, domestic offices, dining rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms and living rooms; and, from a list of various shapes of room and / or combinations of furniture which he knows may exist in that room he wishes to decorate or which he intends to include therein.
  • "typical" rooms such as commercial offices, domestic offices, dining rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms and living rooms
  • various shapes of room and / or combinations of furniture which he knows may exist in that room he wishes to decorate or which he intends to include therein.
  • the illustrations of the rooms, buildings and monuments must, of course be stored in the interrogatable database.
  • Said database may therefore comprise each such illustration in each of the colours of the primary palette.
  • said database may comprise said illustrations in a few standard but modifiable forms and the data processing means can apply different selected colours to those standard forms.
  • the display will preferably also illustrate at least one further colour which could be employed as an alternative to or in combination with the selected colour.
  • the image of the selected colour is presented alongside a colour combination swatch wherein a plurality of colours is displayed in a range of saturation levels.
  • the swatch may be illustrated as at least one of: a small palette of colours presented separately from said image within the display as an enclosed area; and, one or more physical articles alongside that physical article bearing the selected colour.
  • these colour combination swatches are presented as particular items or substrates to which the colours have been applied.
  • the selected colour has been presented as being applied to the wall of a room
  • the similar and / or complimentary colours may be depicted in the form of curtains, carpets, cushions and the like.
  • the system may make available a set of representations, such as paintings, photographs and finished room layouts and, for each representation, associate a selected set of swatch identifiers.
  • colour combination swatches will have a significant impact on the user experience. Therefore, although the make-up of such swatches can be random or deliberate, it is intended that to present such swatches on a deliberate basis with the intention of relieving the user of the system from the task of making initial colour selections for whatever work is in mind.
  • Colours may be displayed which are known from previous consumer experience to be a complimentary or coordinating colour to the selected colour. This includes colours which may appear appealing when placed together with the selected colour in a particular situation due to the contrasts between the tone and nature of the colours.
  • the complimentary and similar colours of the swatches may be selected by the computer system using an appropriate algorithm.
  • Such an algorithm would preferably be modifiable using data from prior consumer selections.
  • this invention may be modified to allow electronic replacement of any of the illustrated colours by another.
  • a colour from said colour combination swatch may be clicked upon, establishing a cursor which may then be moved to the selected 'field' within the design. That '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.
  • the user may be provided with a menu within the system which would enable the addition or removal of features from the presented image. For example, decorating materials, such as fabrics and wall coverings could be added to any room so presented.
  • a user may move fields within the image such that colours and products are positioned in the manner which he desires.
  • the user may upload to the database of the system an image of a design task he wishes to perform and it is this image that the data processing means retrieves and colours appropriately on selection of a colour by the user.
  • a user might submit a representation of a room in a house in the form of a digital photograph, with or without measurements of that room.
  • the room could be scanned or otherwise entered into a computer using techniques known in the art.
  • the representation would then be divided into suitable 'fields' and presented to the user with a colour interpretation.
  • Such an interpretation could comprise a least mean square computation to find the colour(s) stored in the system which are closest to the scanned colour(s).
  • the dedicated in-store units may be provided with a better calibrated image scanner than would typically be available to a remote, domestic user of the system. Therefore the images entered into the in-store unit would be more accurately assigned colours in the representations of the images provided on the user interface. Those representations and the results of their adaptation by the user may be stored ephemerally or permanently within the system database.
  • the user may be presented with any other information related to said selected colour which is available from the database.
  • This information may include the commercial products of one or more paint supply companies which can be provided in the colour selected.
  • the information provided with the imagery should preferably include the location of the selected colour and / or commercial product within the outlet.
  • the database of the system must further comprise interrogatable data sets on the layout of the outlet and the stock of each selected colour or commercial product. These data sets should preferably be updatable.
  • the user has created a set of colour data that identifies elements of a design task and associates colours with at least some of those elements.
  • the paint production means may be either a mechanical device for selecting a particular, premixed paint from a store of paints or it may be device for producing a tinted product by blending specific amounts of pigments into base paints.
  • the instruction submitted from the user interface to the paint production means must comprise sufficient data on the type and amount of tints required to be blended with white or other base paints.
  • the paint production means may be adapted to prepare said first volume of paint as a coated sheet of predetermined size.
  • the user interface may be adapted to provide the user with a choice of sizes for the sheet, but preferably all such choices render the eventual sheet suitable for postage to said user after production. Therefore it is envisaged that default sizes within the system should comprise conventional A5, A4 and A3 sized sheets.
  • the data processing means may be adapted to calculate from said integers the quantity of paint the user requires in terms of volume and / or tins of paint provided by a given manufacturer. This adaptation of the data processor of the system to comprise a calculator tool may further
  • the user interface may also be provided with a dedicated troubleshooting portal or sub-screen.
  • a dedicated troubleshooting portal or sub-screen There the user can interrogate the system and be provided with guidance on general problems associated with painting and design and preferably also on problems that the user has individually encountered in performing design tasks.
  • the user should be enabled to upload such individual problems from his personal computer, laptop or at the dedicated in-store kiosks. Any information inputted in this way may be stored temporarily or permanently in the database of the system; an updatable and therefore current troubleshooting portal may serve to still further reduce the paint wasted by the user in completion of his design task.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Library & Information Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Data Mining & Analysis (AREA)
  • Databases & Information Systems (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)

Abstract

Cette invention concerne un système permettant de produire une peinture ayant une couleur choisie dans une palette primaire de couleurs. Ce système comprend: a) une base de données pour stocker des informations associées à chacune des couleurs de la palette primaire; sur plusieurs corps physiques sur lesquels ladite peinture est généralement appliquée; b) une interface utilisateur comprenant un écran d'affichage capable de différencier chaque couleur de la palette primaire; et, au moins un moyen de production de signal qui réagit à la sélection par un utilisateur d'au moins une couleur dans la palette primaire; c) un moyen de traitement de données conçu pour recevoir un signal produit par l'interface utilisateur afin d'interroger la base de données et de fournir à l'interface utilisateur au moins une image de la couleur sélectionnée appliquée à au moins un corps physique; et d) un moyen permettant de produire un premier volume de peinture correspondant à la couleur sélectionnée, lequel moyen de production est relié de manière à pouvoir communiquer avec l'interface utilisateur.
PCT/EP2008/061267 2007-08-31 2008-08-28 Système et procédé permettant de sélectionner et de produire un volume de peinture WO2009027451A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP07115405 2007-08-31
EP07115405.8 2007-08-31
US97354007P 2007-09-19 2007-09-19
US60/973,540 2007-09-19

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2009027451A1 true WO2009027451A1 (fr) 2009-03-05

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PCT/EP2008/061267 WO2009027451A1 (fr) 2007-08-31 2008-08-28 Système et procédé permettant de sélectionner et de produire un volume de peinture

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10940452B2 (en) 2018-06-06 2021-03-09 Walmart Apollo, Llc Automated paint machine with custom order capability

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6122391A (en) * 1994-08-18 2000-09-19 Autodesk, Inc. Spectrally coordinated pattern search-imaging system and method
US20050149411A1 (en) * 2003-11-11 2005-07-07 Colwell Felton T. System and method for creating individualized product and color palettes

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6122391A (en) * 1994-08-18 2000-09-19 Autodesk, Inc. Spectrally coordinated pattern search-imaging system and method
US20050149411A1 (en) * 2003-11-11 2005-07-07 Colwell Felton T. System and method for creating individualized product and color palettes

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10940452B2 (en) 2018-06-06 2021-03-09 Walmart Apollo, Llc Automated paint machine with custom order capability

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