Color estimation from a single surface color

This paper estimates illumination colors by using only a single surface color taken under multiple illumination colors. Past researchers have found that there is a difficulty in estimating illumination colors using a single surface color. However, the method presented here overcomes the problem. Surface color is estimated by considering four characteristics of illumination and surface color spaces. First, the outdoor-illumination colors exist in a specific color range. Second, multiple illuminations give constraints for the surface color. Third, multiple illuminations also give constraints for the color range. Fourth, each color component affects those constraints in a different manner. Based on those characteristics, a novel method can be designed. The proposed method produces consistently accurate results when multiple illumination colors are used, because the constraint (possible range of illumination colors) on illumination colors refines the estimated illumination colors, effectively.