2014

Toyo Ink Introduces New Version of UDing™ Color Universal Design Software with Added Feature

Announced: Jun. 19, 2014

Published: Jun. 19, 2014

Toyo Ink Co., Ltd.

Toyo Ink Co., Ltd. (President: Katsumi Yamazaki; Chuo-ku, Tokyo) has developed a new “dithering” function to ensure that the color combinations used in images on packaging or display materials, for instance, comply with color universal design (CUD) without visibly altering the coloration, as part of a joint industrial-academic project. Toyo Ink commenced distribution of UDing™ Dither software for Mac OS® X equipped with this new function in June 2014, as an addition to the company’s existing UDing™ series of freely distributed CUD support tools.

Conventional CUD image processing involves identifying color combinations in the original image that would be difficult for people with color vision deficiency^*1 to distinguish due to their level of color vision (indistinguishable parts) and then altering the hue of the relevant parts. This produces CUD compatible images that can be distinguished by people with color vision deficiency. As this processing method involves altering color combinations in the original image however, there is a risk that graphic designers, clients and other concerned parties could be reluctant to take CUD compatibility on board. That has been one of the factors preventing CUD from taking off to date.
The newly developed dithering function is based on a unique concept that originated from collaboration with the Department of Mechanical Engineering of the Tokyo University, Graduate School of Engineering (Professor Tamotsu Murakami). The dithering technique involves taking a color from an indistinguishable part of an image and producing two different colors, with slightly higher and lower levels of lightness. The indistinguishable part is then filled with these two colors in a pattern, such as checks or stripes (horizontal or vertical). The patterned combination of these two colors creates a mixed visual effect, so that the coloration appears the same as the original image. As people with color vision deficiency can recognize the pattern more emphatically, due to the difference in lightness, this makes it possible to produce a CUD compatible image.
Having added UDing™ Dither software to its existing series, as a new product combining the existing UDing™ Simulator CUD support tool with dithering functionality, Toyo Ink commenced free distribution^*2 of the new version in June 2014. This is expected to help promote CUD compatibility, by overcoming users’ reluctance to accept CUD.

As part of the company’s commitment to contributing to society through its business, Toyo Ink has been carrying out CUD research and development, and distributing application software free of charge, since 2004 and has continued to promote and raise awareness of CUD as a key component of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities. Toyo Ink will continue to provide support in the future too, in an effort to create a society in which everyone can effortlessly engage in color communication.

1. *1 Term used by the NPO Color Universal Design Organization (CUDO) to refer to people with congenital color blindness or other conditions whereby their level of color vision affects their ability to distinguish between colors
2. *2 Please contact the dedicated inquiry line for details of free distribution methods for UDing™ Dither.

UDing™ Dither Specifications

• Operating Environment
  • OS: Mac OS® x 10.8 and 10.9
    * Does not run on iPad® and iPhone®.
  • CPU: Intel® 64-bit processor
  • Memory: 4GB or greater recommended
• Supported Image File Formats
  • Read: TIFF(LZW compressed), JPEG (compressed/uncompressed), PNG, PDF, EPS (Adobe® Photoshop® required)
  • Write: TIFF (uncompressed or LZW compressed), JPEG (uncompressed), PNG, PDF, EPS (Adobe® Photoshop® required)
  • Compatible Color Spaces: RGB (supports sRGB, Adobe® RGB and ProPhoto RGB), CMYK (Adobe® Photoshop® required)
    * UDing™ does not support color space images other than those listed above.

Outline of UDing™ Dither

The user opens the image they wish to make CUD compatible. The software then displays the image as it appears to people with normal color vision (left) and to people with color vision deficiency (right).
As people with color vision deficiency perceive the color of the design (pink) to be the same as the background color (blue), the design is indistinguishable.

The software automatically selects indistinguishable colors, based on the level of color vision or type of color vision deficiency.
Indistinguishable parts then flash in black.

The software takes the color from the indistinguishable parts and produces two colors with varying levels of lightness. It then processes the image by filling the part with a pattern (dithering).
The software displays a simulation of the dithered image, as it will appear to people with normal color vision and to people with color vision deficiency.
The pattern created by the difference in lightness (checks, stripes, etc.) enables people with color vision deficiency to distinguish the design.

UDing™ Website

Additional information about UDing™ Dither is available on the following website.

http://www.toyo-uding.com/tool/uding_dither.html (in Japanese)

UDing™ Series CUD Support Tools

UDing™ series CUD support tools have been distributed free of charge to over 15,000 devices to date, including both PC and iPhone app versions. UDing™ software provides design support to prevent inconvenience stemming from different types of color vision, from the planning stages onwards.
The series now consists of four software titles, namely UDing™ CFUD, UDing™ Simulator, UDing™ Dither and UDing™ Tools for iPhone. Toyo Ink will continue to distribute software free of charge, as part of its commitment to contributing to society through its business.

1. * UDing and the UDing logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Toyo Ink SC Holdings Co., Ltd.
2. * Mac OS, iPad and iPhone are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. (USA).
3. * Intel is the registered trademark of Intel Corporation (USA).
4. * Adobe and Photoshop are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems Inc. (USA).

[Inquiries]
UDing™ dedicated inquiry line
Graphic Solution Center
Toyo Ink. Co., Ltd.
uding@toyoinkgroup.com

[Press, publishers and the general public]
Mayumi Mizutani
Corporate Communication Department
Toyo Ink SC Holdings Co., Ltd.
TEL +81-3-3272-5720

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Update: Jun. 19, 2014