Until recently

printing technology has been a kind of mainstream technology for color image reproduction. Printer characterization aims at establishing the relationship between the input control values of the printer and its output colors. It is the core of color accuracy controlling for each image pixel during the printing process. Spectral-based printer characterization conquers the metamerism problem of colorimetric characterization and thus can achieve unconditional matched color reproduction

which represents the highest level of color reproduction in the state of the art. Based on the extensive and in-depth investigation of existing articles

in this paper we review the research development of the main topics of spectral-based printer characterization and present a comprehensive survey of various existing methods

with more than 60 related reviewed pieces of literature. This review employs the famous Yule-Nielsen modified spectral Neugebauer model as an example; critically reviews the research of spectral-based printer characterization from the aspects of ink limitation algorithm development

spectral prediction model establishment

spectral separation method development

and image color match evaluation metric optimization; and discusses future research trends according to the existing problems of the current study. Based on the comprehensive survey of the current research situation

significant progress has been made in the field of ink limitation algorithm development

spectral prediction modeling

and spectral separation algorithm development. However

in spite of more than 20 years of research and development in this field

the general problem of how to precisely and efficiently conduct spectral-based printer characterization still exists

not only because of the high dimensionality of spectral data but also because of the variety of actual applications. Therefore

in many aspects

such as improving modeling efficiency

enhancing model applicability

interpreting the model's physical meaning

and optimizing evaluation metrics

further work is still needed. Spectral-based printer characterization is an essential means for high-fidelity color reproduction and will continue to play an important role in the image reproduction workflow. However

because of its interdisciplinarity among several subjects

which involve spectroscopy and colorimetry theory

halftone color rendering theory

optimization theory

human vision theory

and digital halftoning technology

difficulties surely exist. This paper introduces the main topics and analyzes the current research situation of spectral-based printer characterization. This overview aims to help researchers in this area to have a more intuitive understanding of existing spectral-based printer characterization methods and to attract more researchers' attention in this field. Given the space limitation

some issues are not discussed in detail.