Two error diffusion algorithms, based on Pappas's printer model accoun
ting for dot-overlapping and ink distortion, are presented to achieve
good color reproduction. The basic idea is to combine printer and colo
r models on the perceptually uniform Commission Internationale de l'Ec
lairge (CIE) La*b* (CIE 1976) color space. The models, derived from t
he Neugebauer equations and color matching theories, are designed to a
chieve the minimization of the human visual color distortions between
the colors of original pixels and those of a halftoned image. The effe
ctiveness of our approaches is shown by comparison and examination of
two error diffusion algorithms with previous methods: the error diffus
ion based models and the window based minimization algorithm. Experime
ntal results of the error clipping technique, focused on the real appl
ication of the nonseparable algorithm, and the desired range of error
clipping, where an image produced by the nonseparable algorithm can be
stable without additional color distortion are reported. (C) 1997 SPI
E and IS&T. [S1017-9909(97)00102-5].