Msc: Internship (Applied) Mathematics - Color Management Algorithm Development

Your assignment
Developing, producing, and maintaining qualitative software and machines for production printing requires combined research in various (scientific) disciplines. One such discipline is Color Management: the process of ensuring color quality and consistency when printing on different types of paper. Color management at the same time acts as a beautiful field of study for an applied mathematician to tackle real-world problems: it involves having to decide on—and sometimes creatively invent—many appropriate (algorithmic) strategies based on the mathematical sub-fields numerical linear algebra, scientific computing, statistics, and data science. The problems we face can roughly be divided into two subprocesses of Color Management; i.e., Characterization and Separation. Below follows a short description of these processes in CMYK context; i.e., where we consider the ink types Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and a Key plate, in this case being black ink. 

Color appearance after printing is the result of an interplay between ink and paper. Putting the same combination and amounts of inks on different types of paper will often result in different colors. Hence, if color consistency is desired when printing some image on different types of paper, then the ink amounts need to be accordingly adjusted to each type of paper. To this end, the relation between CMYK ink amounts put onto a paper and the resulting colors needs to be known. The process of determining this relation is called Characterization.

Note that different CMYK combinations can produce the same color; e.g., equal amounts of Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow produce black, as would solely using black ink. Hence, once we know the relation between CMYK input and color output for a specific type of paper through Characterization, from each set of CMYK pairs that produce the same color, we have to select what CMYK pair we actually want to print with. The process of selecting the `optimal’ CMYK value from each such set, based on various criteria, is called Separation.

During the internship you will tackle a problem that we will together decide on in the context of either Characterization or Separation.

Your profile
•    You are currently studying (applied) mathematics at the Master’s level;
•    You are proficient at a prototyping language, such as Matlab or Python;
•    You can write academically in English. Either Dutch or English will suffice for daily communication;
•    You can independently consult and critique scientific literature;
•    This project is fitting for a Master’s internship or graduation assignment.

What’s in it for you?
•    A challenging assignment with skilled coaching
•    Internship/ Graduation compensation of €500,- per month
•    Travel cost compensation if you don’t have an ‘OV-weekcard’
•    The possibility to network with professionals inside and outside your field of expertise, thanks to our diversity of disciplines which you will work with
•    With our company values collaboration, innovation and ownership, we strive to bring out the best in each other, expand boundaries and feel empowered to take ownership of our work.

Interested?
Are you interested in this assignment? Please click on the button 'apply now' at the top on the page where you can upload your resume and motivation letter. 

If you would like to receive more information concerning this assignment, please contact
Anıl Dural, tel. +31 (0)6 22 56 22 80. If you have any questions about the internship in general, please contact Milou Geelen, + 31 6 25653192 

What do we stand for?

We develop and manufacture high-tech printing products and workflow software for the commercial printing market as part of Canon, a global leader in imaging technologies. With around 3,300 employees across three continents and our headquarters in Venlo, the Netherlands, we innovate to create high-quality solutions that add color to the world. Guided by the philosophy of Kyosei—living and working together for the common good—our culture is built on openness, collegiality, trust and stability. We empower our people to grow, take initiative, and make an impact.

With our company values collaboration, innovation and ownership, we strive to bring out the best in each other, expand boundaries and feel empowered to take ownership of our work.

Further information about Canon Production Printing is available at cpp.canon. #LI-DNI