Desktop scanning to sRGB

To achieve high image quality throughout a digital imaging system, the first requirement is to ensure the quality of the device that captures real-world physical images to digital images, for example a desktop scanner. Several factors have influence on this quality: optical resolution, bit depth, spectral sensitivities, and acquisition noise, to mention a few. In this study we focus on the colorimetric faculties of the scanner; that is, the scanner’s ability to deliver quantitative device-independent digital information about the colors of the original document. We propose methods to convert from the scanner’s device-dependent RGB color space to the standard device-independent color space sRGB. The methods have been evaluated using several different desktop scanners. Our results are very good: mean CIELAB E ab color errors as low as 1.4. We further discuss advantages and disadvantages of a digital color imaging system using the sRGB space for image exchange, compared to using other color architectures.