Applying traps to a printed page specified in a page description language format

摘要

This invention relates to a method of electronically trapping a printed color page including a plurality of color regions, wherein some of the color regions may include existing trap areas (734) that were generated prior to determining a trap for a color region of interest, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) creating, according to a set of trapping rules, a proposed trap area (736) for the color region of interest;
(b) comparing the proposed trap area (736) to color regions to determine if there are any intersections between the two areas and, if one or more intersections are present, modifying the proposed trap area (736) to exclude the color region or regions from the proposed trap area (736);
(c) comparing the proposed trap area (736) to existing trap areas (734) to determine if there are any intersections between the two areas and, if one or more intersections are present, modifying one of the trap areas according to a set of trapping rules;
(d) creating a proximity area adjacent the proposed trap area (736) for determining the proximity of color regions and comparing the proximity area to the color regions;
(e) modifying the proposed trap area (736) based upon the proximity area, if one or more color regions are in such close proximity to the color region of interest that an undesirable trap would result without the modification; and
(f) creating an existing trap area (734) for the color region of interest which is equivalent to the proposed trap area (736) less any modifications made to the proposed trap area (736).