Abstract: A reference color selection system is provided for creating a palette of colorimetrically measured colors. Palettes of colorimetrically measured colors representing naturally occurring objects and specified using a standard device independent color specification, such as the CIE color specification, are arranged in a data base. A simple-to-use color selection user interface permits a user to retrieve, view, and modify each palette. The palette of colors is displayed in a simple arrangement on a display screen such as a color monitor. Each color is transformed into coordinates in a uniform color space, such as the CIELAB space. The user may delete colors not needed, and may create new colors for the palette by mixing two existing palette colors together. The mixing function simulates an artist's "color wash", and is a linear interpolation, or interval scale, in the uniform color space between two end colors selected by the user. A color from the range of intermediate colors may be added by the user to the selected palette, and the new palette may be stored for future use in a wide variety of color presentation systems.

US.Class: 345150 345199

IPC: G09G00128

US Patents Cited: 4496968 4524421 4683466 4694286 4721951 4794382 4907075