Determination of the relationship between transmission and reflection densities solely from measured values of reflection density—a useful method for the prediction of reproduced colour of reflection-type prints

The relationship between transmission and reflection densities is essential to the research and design of colour reproduction systems, but, historically, this relationship has been so difficult to determine in actual systems that researchers have been forced to turn to methods that sacrifice accuracy for practicality. In response, a method has been developed by which this relationship, in practical colour reproduction systems, can be obtained solely from reflection density values. In this method, differences in reflection density resulting from small additions of dye are measured, the increments in reflection density are numerically integrated and, from this, the relationship between transmission and reflection densities is obtained. When applied to actual systems, this method provides results that are virtually identical to directly measured values.