JP2001063007A - Print density designator, print density designating method and medium recording print density designating program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform color matching with a color sample easily in a short time without requiring skill by providing a relevant printer with means for calculating and designating a print density for reproducing a printed matter substantially identical to a color sample based on the characteristics and color sample designated by a characteristics designating means. SOLUTION: Based on an original plate, i.e., a film F, made at a design section D, a color correcting machine M2 at a correcting section K produces a color sample A from which a printer M3 at a print section I produces a printed matter B. A print density designating apparatus M1 comprises a characteristics designating means C1 for designating predetermined characteristics to a plurality of known printers M3, means C2 for calculating a print density for reproducing a printed matter B substantially identical to the color sample A by means of the relevant printer M3 based on specified color data of a measured color sample A and the characteristics designated by the designating means C1, and a print density designating means C3 for designating a worker to regulate the quantity of print ink before producing a printed matter B.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a print density instruction device, a print density instruction method, and a medium on which a print density instruction program is recorded. In particular, when printing substantially the same printed matter as a color sample, it is suitable for each printing machine. The present invention relates to a print density instruction device for instructing a print density, a print density instruction method, and a medium on which a print density instruction program is recorded.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Hitherto, the following method has been used as a technique for matching colors of a printed matter based on a color sample. That is, the operator in charge of the printing press prints a plurality of test prints with a color sample and the printing press using a predetermined control device that determines the print density of the printing press, and at least two of the test prints are arbitrarily extracted. More than one sheet of printing is visually compared, the amount of ink adjustment for each color of black, magenta, cyan, and yellow is judged based on experience and intuition, and the degree of opening of the ink adjustment valve of the above control device is controlled. I was

[0003]

According to the above-described conventional color matching method for a printing press, when the skill of the worker in charge is high, the amount of ink of any color of black, magenta, cyan, and yellow is adjusted to what extent. For example, it is possible to determine in a very short time whether the color sample and the color of the printing start can be matched, and how much the ink adjustment valve should be opened to match the amount of ink. It is a method, and if the skill of the worker in charge of performing this method is high, the speed and accuracy of the judgment cannot be replaced by a machine.

[0004] However, in practice, there are few skilled workers in charge of such skills, and it takes a lot of time and time to perform a color matching operation for matching a printed material with a color sample, and thus a large number of printing materials are required for printing a plurality of test printed materials. There is a problem that it is necessary to consume paper. In addition, there are usually a plurality of printing presses, and in such a case, each printing press has characteristics that affect printed matter. That is, even if the ink adjustment valve is the same, the printing result may not always be the same. There is a problem that the determination of the characteristic that differs for each printing press also depends on the intuition and experience of the operator.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and has been made in consideration of the above-described circumstances. By taking into account the characteristics and calculating the appropriate print density for each printing machine and instructing the operator, the color matching work between color samples and printing at the time of printing on the printing machine can be performed easily even by operators who are not very skilled. Printing density indicating device that can be performed in a short time
It is an object of the present invention to provide a medium in which a print density instruction method and a print density instruction program are recorded.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a characteristic designating means for designating a predetermined characteristic corresponding to at least one or more printing presses, and the characteristic designating means. A print density calculating means for calculating a print density capable of reproducing substantially the same printed matter as the color sample on the corresponding printing press, based on the predetermined characteristics designated by the above and the created color sample, Print density instructing means for instructing the print density calculated by the print density calculating means.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when printing is performed by a printing machine, printing is performed in substantially the same manner as a color sample, that is, printing of a color-matched printed material is performed. A print density indicating apparatus for instructing a print density required by the printer before printing before printing. In addition, since this instruction can be given for each printing press, the color matching operator need only indicate the characteristics for each printing press, and the color matching work can be performed easily and efficiently.

In such a case, when the print density is instructed by the print density instructing means, predetermined characteristics corresponding to at least one or more printing machines are instructed by the characteristic instructing means. Then, based on the predetermined characteristics designated by the characteristic instructing unit and the color sample prepared in advance, the print density calculating unit can reproduce substantially the same printed matter as the color sample on the corresponding printing press. Calculate the concentration. The calculated print density is instructed to a worker or the like by the print density instructing means.

[0009] Therefore, the worker who receives the instruction can predict how the color of the printed matter will be beforehand for each printing machine before printing the printed matter on the printing press. And it is not necessary to print test prints many times to perform color matching. For this reason, paper consumption can be reduced and cost can be reduced. Here, various methods are available for the print density calculating means to calculate the print density based on the created color sample, and may be calculated based on the halftone dot density or solid density of the color sample. In such a case, a colorimeter or a spectrophotometer may be used as a measuring device for measuring each density of the color sample.

The above-mentioned characteristic instructing means is only required to be able to indicate a predetermined characteristic which affects the printing result individually provided by at least one or more printing presses. When designating such characteristics, the characteristics corresponding to the printing press may be held in advance, and when the number of the printing press or the like is input, the held characteristics of the corresponding printing press may be acquired and instructed. Alternatively, an instruction may be given by directly inputting characteristics. The print density calculating means only needs to be able to calculate the print density when performing printing on the printing press from the predetermined characteristics and color samples of the printing press, and the calculation process may be configured by software, The calculation process may be implemented by hardware. The printing density instructing means only needs to be able to instruct the calculated printing density when printing is performed by the printing press.
For example, the calculated print density may be displayed on a display unit such as a display unit, or the print density may be output to a printer for the instruction.

When the print density instructing means instructs an operator who performs color matching work in the printing press to obtain a print density capable of obtaining substantially the same printed matter as the color sample, the instruction content calculated by the print density calculating means is specified. As a specific example, the invention according to claim 2 is the printing density indicating device according to claim 1, wherein the printing density calculation unit uses the printing ink used in the printing machine based on the calculated printing density. It is configured to calculate the amount. Claim 2 configured as described above.
In the present invention, the print density calculating means calculates the amount of printing ink used in the printing press based on the calculated print density. Then, the print density instructing means instructs the operator of the printing machine of this printing ink amount. The operator predicts a printing result to be printed using the printing machine from the designated printing ink amount, and adjusts the printing ink amount of each printing machine.

Here, the parameters representing the characteristics of at least one or more printing presses may take various forms. This parameter differs for each printing press, and corresponds to a parameter that affects the printing result. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the print density indicating apparatus according to any one of the first to second aspects, as an example of a useful parameter in expressing such characteristics of the printing press, Is configured to indicate a dot gain corresponding to at least one or more printing presses as a predetermined characteristic. In the third aspect of the present invention, the dot gain is used as a parameter expressing the characteristics of each printing press. Therefore, the characteristic instructing means instructs the print density calculating means on the dot gain. Then, the print density instructing means calculates the print density corresponding to each printing machine using the dot gain corresponding to each printing machine.

As described above, the print density indicated by the print density instructing means may specify the amount of printing ink output by the printing machine when printing a printed matter on the printing machine, and is not particularly limited. Absent. Therefore, it may be one that indicates the dot density or one that indicates the opening degree of the adjustment valve that adjusts the amount of printing ink. In such a case, the print density calculating means calculates the opening degree of the adjustment valve for adjusting the halftone dot density and the print ink amount. Here, solid density can be mentioned as an example of a suitable parameter that the print density instructing means instructs a worker who performs printing by a printing machine and performs a color matching operation. Therefore, a fourth aspect of the present invention is the print density indicating device according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the print density calculating means calculates a solid density as a print density. In the invention according to claim 4 configured as described above, the print density calculating means calculates a solid density as the print density. Then, the print density instructing means enables the solid density to be instructed to each printing press.

When printing is performed in a printing press, the inherent characteristics of the printing press have a great effect on the printing result. A configuration that indicates the characteristics of the machine was adopted. By the way, a paper element used for printing can be considered as a parameter that can affect the printing result.
That is, the color of the print result is also affected by the properties of the paper used. Therefore, it is obvious that by considering the paper element used for this printing as a characteristic, it is possible to obtain a printed matter that is substantially the same as a color sample. Therefore, according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print density indicating apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects,
The characteristic indicating means is configured to indicate, as characteristics, a paper material used when printing on the printing press, in addition to predetermined characteristics corresponding to at least one or more printing presses. In the invention according to claim 5 configured as described above, in addition to the predetermined characteristic corresponding to each of at least one or more printing presses, the characteristic indicating means includes a paper material used when printing on the printing press as a characteristic. To instruct.
Therefore, the print density calculating means calculates the print density appropriate for each printing machine using both the characteristics of the printing machine and the characteristics of the paper.

Here, when the print density is instructed, when the color sample is monochrome, the print density becomes black and white.
When the color sample is color, for example, the print density of black, magenta, cyan, and yellow is specified. Each of these colors can be considered as an element color. Therefore,
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the print density instructing device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the characteristic instructing unit is configured to instruct a predetermined characteristic for each predetermined element color. In the invention according to claim 6 configured as described above, the characteristic instructing unit instructs a predetermined characteristic for each predetermined element color. Therefore, if the color sample is monochrome,
The print density is indicated by black and white, and in the case of color, the print density is indicated by black, magenta, cyan, and yellow. Of course, the element colors are not limited to those described above, but may be any as long as they can represent the color space.

As described above, when the characteristic instructing unit instructs the characteristics of the printing press for each element color, the printing density calculating unit calculates the printing density corresponding to this element color. Therefore, a seventh aspect of the present invention is the print density indicating device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the print density calculating means calculates the print density for each predetermined element color. . In the invention according to claim 7 configured as described above, the print density calculation means calculates the print density for each predetermined element color.

When the color sample is given to the operator of the printing press, the operator must determine that the state of the color represented by the color sample is accurate. However, since the color sample is produced from an original plate such as a film, the color state expressed there is not always accurate for the film. Therefore, according to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the print density instruction device according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, the print density instruction means includes:
In consideration of the print density calculated by the print density calculator, the color sample is evaluated. In the invention according to claim 8 configured as described above, the print density instruction unit evaluates the color sample in consideration of the print density calculated by the print density calculation unit. This evaluation only needs to be able to recognize how much the color sample shows the color tone, and may be a numerical value indicating the color density or a message expression indicating the relative degree. Good.

As described above, when printing a printed matter,
It is easy to understand that the method of instructing the printing machine on the print density is not necessarily limited to a substantial device, and that it also functions as the method. For this reason, the invention according to claim 9 is a print density instruction method for instructing a printing machine to specify a print density when printing a printed matter, wherein a method for printing a predetermined printed matter with at least one or more printing machines is provided. A color sample creation step of creating a color sample serving as a sample of the printed matter; a characteristic instruction step of designating predetermined characteristics corresponding to at least one or more printing presses; Based on the characteristics and the color sample created in the color sample creation step, a print density calculation step of calculating a print density capable of reproducing substantially the same printed matter as the color sample in the corresponding printing press, A print density instructing step of instructing the calculated print density in the print density calculating step. In other words, there is no difference in that the present invention is not necessarily limited to a substantial device and is also effective as a method.

When printing such a printed matter, a print density indicating device for indicating a print density to a printing machine may exist alone or may be used in a state incorporated in a certain device. For example, the concept of the invention is not limited to this, but includes various aspects. Therefore, it can be changed as appropriate, such as software or hardware. When printing a printed matter as an embodiment of the idea of the present invention, if it is software of a print density indicating device for indicating a print density to a printing machine, it naturally exists on a recording medium on which such software is recorded, I have to say that it is used.

As one example, the invention according to claim 10 measures color data of a prepared color sample, calculates and instructs a print density for printing a print having substantially the same color data as the color data. A medium storing a print density instruction program for causing a computer to execute processing, wherein a characteristic input step of inputting predetermined characteristics corresponding to at least one or more printing presses; A print density calculating step of calculating a print density capable of reproducing substantially the same printed matter as the color sample on a corresponding printing machine based on the characteristics of the color sample and predetermined color data of the created color sample; A print density instructing step of instructing the calculated print density in the print density calculating step.

Of course, the recording medium may be a magnetic recording medium, a magneto-optical recording medium, or any recording medium to be developed in the future. Also, the duplication stages of the primary duplicated product, the secondary duplicated product, and the like are equivalent without any question. In addition, the present invention is not limited to the case where the present invention is used even when the supply is performed using a communication line. further,
The concept of the present invention is not completely different even when part is software and part is realized by hardware, and part is stored on a recording medium and read as needed as needed. Such a form may be adopted.

[0022]

As described above, according to the present invention, when a printed matter substantially the same as a created color sample is printed out by a printing machine, each printing machine is considered in consideration of the color sample and the characteristics of each printing machine. By calculating the appropriate print density and instructing the operator, the color matching work between the color sample and the printing start can be easily and quickly performed by a less skilled operator when printing on a printing press. Can be provided. According to the second aspect of the present invention, the printing ink amount used in each printing press can be used as the printing density. Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to present a preferable specific example of the characteristics of the printing press when creating a printed matter substantially the same as the color sample in each printing press. Further, according to the invention of claim 4, it is possible to present a specific example of the designated print density. Furthermore, according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the characteristics of the individual printing presses, the characteristics of the paper used for printing are taken into account in the specification of the characteristics. It becomes possible.
Furthermore, according to the invention of claim 6, since the print density is calculated for each predetermined element color, it is possible to calculate the print density according to the color tone of the color sample.

Further, according to the invention according to claim 7,
It is possible to issue an instruction based on the print density calculated for each element color. Furthermore, according to the invention of claim 8, it is possible to grasp the essential color of the color sample. Furthermore, according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, when a printed matter substantially the same as the created color sample is printed out by the printing press, an appropriate color sample and the characteristics of each printing machine are taken into consideration. Calculates the appropriate print density and instructs the operator so that color matching between color samples and printing can be performed easily and in a short time by operators with low skills when printing on a printing press. It is possible to provide a simple print density instruction method. Furthermore, according to the tenth aspect of the present invention, when printing out substantially the same printed matter as the created color sample by a printing machine, the color sample and the characteristics of each printing machine are taken into consideration, and the appropriate Calculates the appropriate print density and instructs the operator so that color matching between color samples and printing can be performed easily and in a short time by operators with low skills when printing on a printing press. It is possible to provide a medium in which a suitable print density instruction program is recorded.

[0024]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a claim correspondence diagram of a print density indicating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
In the figure, the present print density instruction device M1 comprises a characteristic instruction means C1, a print density calculation means C2, and a print density instruction means C3. In printing a predetermined printed matter, a design of the printed matter is created in a predetermined design section D, used as an original, and brought into a proofreading section K.
The original is usually brought in the form of a film F, and the proofreading department K prepares a color sample A using the color proofing device M2 based on the film F.

When the preparation of the color sample A is completed, the color sample A is handed over to the printing department I, and the printing department I prints out a printed matter in which the color sample is reproduced by using a printing device M3 such as an offset printing machine. Here, since a plurality of printing apparatuses M3 are usually provided, when printing is performed based on the same color sample A in each printing apparatus M3, the printing apparatus M3 is used.
If the same setting is made for the amount of printing ink and the like because different printing characteristics are obtained for each printing device, a different printed matter B is printed for each printing device M3.

Therefore, the print density indicating device M1 is provided by the characteristic indicating means C1.
3 is given a predetermined characteristic. And
The print density calculation unit is configured to perform printing on the corresponding printing apparatus M based on predetermined color data of the color sample A measured by a predetermined colorimeter or the like and predetermined characteristics designated by the characteristic designating unit C1.
In step 3, a print density capable of reproducing a print B substantially the same as the color sample A is calculated. Then, the print density indicating means C
Reference numeral 3 designates the print density calculated by the print density calculation means C2 to the operator who performs the color matching work between the color sample A and the printed matter B in the printing department I. The operator receiving this instruction adjusts the amount of printing ink, starts the printing press, and starts printing.

As described above, the present invention usually uses the calibration section K
Is passed to the printing department I as it is, and in the printing department I, a skilled worker performs trial and error on each printing device M3 to create a printed matter B substantially identical to the color sample A. By taking into account the predetermined color data of the sample A and the characteristics of the printing device M3, calculating and instructing a printing density at which each printing device M3 can obtain a printed matter B substantially the same as the color sample A, The present invention provides a print density indicating device M1 that can obtain a desired printed matter B by a simple method without relying on a skilled worker.

FIG. 2 shows a computer system 10 to which a print density indicating device M1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
Is shown in a block diagram, and FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic software configuration of the computer system 10. 1, a computer system 10 includes a computer main body 11 as a main component.
The computer main body 11 roughly includes a RAM 14, an EEPROM 14a,
A display I / O 15, an input / output I / O 16,
F17 is connected. In the present embodiment, a printer 17a is connected to the I / F 17 to print out and display a predetermined calculation result. In this case, the printer 17a may be connected by an LPT port, or may be connected by a USB port or SCSI.

A hard disk 18 is connected to the bus 13 and the hard disk 18 is connected to a printer 17.
a printer driver 17a1 for driving the application a.
The print data relating to the print request from a can be input via the operating system 18b and output to the printer 17a. The application 18a stored on the hard disk 18 includes an application that realizes various functions, but in the present embodiment, the calibration section K
Print density instruction program 18 having a function of calculating and instructing the print density in each printing device M3 when printing substantially the same printed matter B on the color sample A created in
a1 is stored.

A keyboard 16a and a mouse 16b are connected via the input / output I / O 16, and the operator activates the print density instruction program 18a1 using the keyboard 16a and the mouse 16b, and executes the printing operation described above. It is possible to input various items required for calculating the concentration. The calculated print density can be printed out from the printer 17a, and this print output allows the operator of the printing apparatus M3 to instruct the print density.

On the other hand, the computer main body 11 has a floppy disk drive 19a as an external auxiliary storage device.
And the CD-ROM drive 19b are connected,
Necessary programs and the like can be read from the floppy disk 19a1 and the CD-ROM 19b1 as needed. The modem 1 is used as a communication device for connecting the computer main body 11 to an external network or the like.
9c is connected to an external network via the same public communication line, and software and data can be downloaded and introduced. In this example, modem 1
Although the outside is accessed via the telephone line at 9c, it is also possible to adopt a configuration for accessing the network via the LAN adapter.

Therefore, by connecting to a predetermined host computer located at the factory where the printing apparatus M3 is installed via this public communication line, the printout output by the printer 17a can be sent without being sent. It is also possible to send the density directly to the host computer via the modem 19c and output the print density to a printer or display connected to the host computer, thereby instructing a factory worker of the print density. . If such a mode is adopted, the site where the color sample A is created and the site where the printed matter B is printed can be connected online, and the operation can be further simplified.

The above-described print density instruction program 1
8a1 is stored in the hard disk 18 in advance,
The computer is started by a predetermined operation using the keyboard 16a or the mouse 16b, and is read and operated by the computer main body 11 at the time of the start. When the print density instruction program 18a1 is introduced into the computer main body 11, it is recorded on a medium such as a CD-ROM 19b1 or a floppy disk 19a1 and installed. Therefore, these media constitute the media on which the print density instruction program 18a1 is recorded.

Next, the printing apparatus M using the print density indicating apparatus M1 configured as the computer system 10 will be described.
3 will be described. First, the operator operates the keyboard 16a or the mouse 16
The print density instruction program 18a1 stored in the hard disk 18 is started using b. Then, after the predetermined opening screen is displayed, the parameter input screen 20 shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the display 15a. In the drawing, a parameter setting screen 20 includes a customer 21, a machine 22, a total 23, and a gray% designation 24.
, A paper specification 25, a black dot gain% specification 26, a cyan dot gain% specification 27, a magenta dot gain% specification 28, and a yellow dot gain% specification 29 as characteristics of the individual printing apparatus M3. Are located in

Here, the customer 21 receives the created color sample A
And input the name of a customer such as a printing company that creates a printed matter B based on the color sample A. This customer name may be the name of the printing company, or if the customer is managed by a predetermined number, the corresponding number may be input. No. 22 is a printing device M installed in the printing company input to the customer 21.
Enter No.3. When the customer 21 and the car 22 are specified in this way, the printing apparatus M3 that prints the created color sample A can be uniquely specified. At 23,
Whether to set the print density according to the color sample A in the printing apparatus M3 or to set the printing density with priority given to the printing apparatus M3;
Enter the setting as to whether to perform print density setting with priority on color sample printing. This enables setting in consideration of various circumstances such as the aging of the printing apparatus M3. Ami% designation 24
In this case, the net percentage of the film created by the design department D is input. The net percentage of this film may be measured by a colorimeter and the net percentage may be acquired and input, or the net percentage specified by the design department D may be input.

The paper designation 25 is used to input the type of paper used for printing by the printing device M3. Examples of the paper type include coated paper, high quality paper, and new age paper. When such a paper type is input, the print density is calculated based on the gray density. Needless to say, the paper type is not particularly limited, and another paper type may be used. When such another paper type is used, the method of calculating the print density may be changed. Here, the halftone dot density indicates the ratio of the area of the halftone dot to the whole area, and the halftone dot having the halftone density of 50% has the halftone dot area to the whole area of 1/2.
The area of the halftone dot is equal to the area of the part without the halftone dot. Those with a net concentration of 100% are completely solid.

Black dot gain% designation 26 Cyan dot gain% designation 27 Magenta dot gain% designation 28
The yellow dot gain% designation 29 inputs a dot gain which is a characteristic of the printing apparatus M3 for each element color. As this dot gain, a numerical value between 1% and 32% is input. The dot gain% designations 26 to 29 are corrected according to the setting of the paper designation 25 described above. This makes it possible to specify the print density in consideration of the dot gain and the paper type.

Here, the above-mentioned dot gain% designation 26
When inputting .about.29, referring to the dot gain correspondence table shown in FIG. 5, the corresponding company name and the number of the printing apparatus may be specified, and then the corresponding dot gain% may be manually input. As described above, the table data corresponding to the dot gain correspondence table 40 may be stored in the hard disk 18. In FIG. 5, the dot gain correspondence table 40 is
A customer name column 41, a unit number column 42, and a dot gain column 43 are provided, and the dot gain column 43 has a black dot gain column 43.
a, a cyan dot gain column 43b, a magenta dot gain column 43c, and a yellow dot gain column 43d. Therefore, the operator who performs the input operation on the parameter input screen 20 corresponds to the customer name 41 input to the customer 21 and the unit 42 input to the unit 22 while referring to the dot gain correspondence table 40. Dot gain 4
3a to 43d are extracted, and dot gain% designation 26 to 29
Will be entered.

Of course, as described above, the input of the dot gain% is not limited to such a manual input operation, but the database 4 corresponding to the dot gain correspondence table 40 is used.
0a may be stored in the hard disk 18. In such a case, as shown in FIG. 6, the print density instruction program 18a receiving the input of the customer 21 and the machine 22
1 searches the database 40a, extracts the corresponding dot gain%, and specifies the dot gain% 26 to 2
9 will be input. This makes it possible to automate the operation of inputting the dot gain% designations 26 to 29 while referring to the dot gain correspondence table 40, thereby simplifying the operation and managing an enormous dot gain% in the database 40a. It becomes possible.

Next, a parameter input screen 50 shown in FIG.
Is displayed on the display 15a, and the color data of the color sample A measured using a predetermined colorimeter is input. The color data measured using the colorimeter is the halftone density and solid density of the color sample A. This measurement is performed based on a general method, and is not particularly described in the present embodiment. In the figure, the parameter input screen 30 displays the black data 51
, Cyan data 52, magenta data 53, and yellow data 54 are arranged on the screen.
1 to 54 are solid density and net density 51a, 51b to 5
4a and 54b. Accordingly, the operator inputs the solid density and the halftone density measured for each element color by the colorimeter to the solid densities 51a to 54a and the solid densities 51b to 54b. When the input operation on the parameter input screens 20 and 50 is completed as described above, each input item is stored in the hard disk 18 or the RAM 14 or the EEOR.
The information is stored in a predetermined area of the OM 15 in a form that can be used by the CPU 12.

Here, a predetermined calculation process for calculating the print density based on each of the input contents is executed, and a print density instruction screen 60 shown in FIG. 8 is displayed on the display 15a. In the drawing, a print density instruction screen 40 is read out from a predetermined area in which a customer name 61 and a car number 62 input on a parameter input screen 20 for which print density is to be instructed are displayed. At the same time, for the calculated print density 63, the print density 63a for black, the print density 63b for cyan, the print density 63c for magenta, and the print density 63d for yellow are displayed. Similarly, regarding the printing ink amount 64 calculated as a prediction of the printing ink amount used in the printing apparatus M3, the black printing ink amount 64 is similarly calculated.
a, 64b of cyan printing ink, 64c of magenta printing ink, and 64d of yellow printing ink.

Further, when the print density is calculated, when the printed matter B is printed with this print density (solid density),
With respect to the solid density of the printed matter B, the evaluation of shading with respect to the solid density of the color sample A is displayed on the actual printing evaluation 65. This rating is “too dark”, “dark”, “slightly dark”, “OK”
It is expressed by seven levels of "light", "slightly light" and "too light". In the present embodiment, the configuration of the arrangement of each item on each screen shown in FIGS. 4, 7, and 8 is not particularly limited, and the workability of input work, appearance, and the like are taken into consideration. Needless to say, it can be changed as appropriate.

Here, equations for calculating the above-described print density 63 and print ink amount 64 are shown. First, a standard net density is calculated by the following equation (1). Standard net density = dot gain% * Log (1−net% (10 ** (− data density / dot gain%))) (1) Next, using the calculated standard net density, The print density 63 is calculated by equation (2). Print density = -data solid density / (Log ((1-10 ** (standard net density / data net density)))) (2) Further, the printing ink amount 64 is calculated by the following equation (3). Is calculated. Printing ink amount 64 = Round ((data density / standard density) * 100, 0) (3)

In the present embodiment, a printed matter B substantially identical to the color sample A created by the proofreading department K can be printed.
By giving an appropriate print density instruction in consideration of the characteristics of the dot gain for each printing device M3 of the printing department I, the printing work in the printing department I, particularly the color matching work between the color sample A and the printed matter B, can be performed. A configuration that achieves the effect of simplification is adopted. On the other hand, in order to obtain an accurate printed matter B, predetermined data may be fed back to the design department D, which is a plate making source, based on the color sample A created from the film F by the proof department K. In such a case, the data to be fed back can be indicated by an appropriate net density that can be calculated by the following equation and an appropriate DOT. The appropriate net density can be calculated by the following equation (4). Proper density = -gain characteristic * Log (1-ami% * (1-10 ** (-data solid density / gain characteristic))) (4) Further, the proper DOT and the proper DOT are given by It can be calculated by 5). Proper DOT = 1− (10 ** (data density / gain characteristic number)) / (1-10 ** (− data solid density / gain characteristic number)) (5)

The above-described calculation processing of the print density or the like or instruction processing by a predetermined method is executed under the control of the CPU 12. A series of these processes is a print density instruction process,
The processing content is shown in the flowchart of FIG. In the figure, the process waits until each parameter is input on the parameter input setting screen 20 (step S100). When the input is completed, the customer 21 and the car 22 are acquired, and the database 40a is searched using the input data as a key (step S105). Then, the dot gain% of each corresponding element color is obtained (step S110).

When the acquisition of the dot gain% is completed, the process stands by until each parameter is input on the parameter input setting screen 50 (step S115). When the input is completed, the print density 63 is calculated based on the equations shown in Expressions 1 and 2.
Is calculated (step S120). Next, the printing ink amount 64 is calculated based on the equation shown in Expression 3 (Step S1).
25). When the print density 63 is calculated in step S120, the print density 63 (63a to 63d)
Solid density 51a-54 of color sample A measured by colorimeter
In a, the difference between the corresponding densities is calculated, and the sample print evaluation 65 is determined based on the magnitude of the difference.

As described above, when the print density 63 and the print ink amount 64 are calculated, and the sample print evaluation 65 is determined, these contents are displayed on the print density instruction screen 60 to enable the instruction ( Step S130). Then, it may print out and instruct the printer 17a according to the situation (step S135). The content of the print density instruction screen 60 instructed in this way is passed to an operator who performs printing work in the printing department I, and is used when performing color matching work between the color sample A and the printed matter B, and the like. Become.

As described above, the keyboard 16a of the input means for receiving the input of the dot gain% regarding the printing apparatus M3 from the operator, and the CPU 12 or the hard disk 18 which receives the input from the keyboard 16a and makes it available for predetermined calculations. Database 40a
And a function of instructing the characteristics of the printing apparatus M3 to constitute the characteristic instructing means C1 according to the present invention.
A predetermined calculation process is executed based on the characteristics, and the print density 63
CPU 1 and the amount of printing ink 64 are calculated.
2 and the components of the computer main body 11 used by the CPU 12 at the time of calculation constitute the print density calculation means C2 according to the present invention.

Since the calculated print density and the like are displayed on the display 15a and instructed, or the printer 17a prints out and instructs, the CPU 12 or the printer driver 17a1 which performs display and print output processing is provided. Display 15a and printer 17
“a” constitutes the print density indicating means C3 according to the present invention.

As described above, when printing based on the color sample A is performed by the printing apparatus M3, the halftone density and solid density of the color sample A are measured by the colorimeter, and the dot gain% of each printing apparatus M3 is determined. Then, the print density 63 and the print ink amount 64 are calculated and instructed to the operator. The operator can predict in advance the amount of printing ink that can reproduce the color sample A in the printing apparatus M3 based on this instruction. If the printing ink amount is adjusted based on this prediction, the color sample A In addition to shortening the time required for the color matching work with the printer, a large number of printed materials are not printed as test prints at the time of the color matching work, thereby preventing waste of paper and reducing costs. . Further, since the print density 63 and the print ink amount 64 are uniquely determined from the halftone density and solid density of the color sample A and the dot gain% of the printing apparatus M3, the optimum printed matter B can be obtained without relying on skilled workers. It becomes possible to start printing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram corresponding to a claim of a print density instruction apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a computer system 10 to which a print density instruction device M1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic software configuration of the computer system 10;

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a screen configuration of a parameter input screen 20.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a dot gain correspondence table 40;

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing a system configuration when a database 40a is used.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram showing a screen configuration of a parameter input screen 50.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram showing a screen configuration of a print density instruction screen 60.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating processing contents of a print density instruction process executed by a CPU 12;

[Explanation of symbols]

 A: color sample B: printed matter C1: characteristic instructing means C2: print density calculating means C3: print density instructing means D: design department I: printing department K: calibration department M1: print density instructing device M2: color calibration device M3: printing apparatus

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A characteristic instructing means for instructing a predetermined characteristic corresponding to at least one or more printing presses, respectively, based on the predetermined characteristic instructed by the characteristic instructing means and a created color sample. A print density calculating means for calculating a print density capable of reproducing substantially the same printed matter as the color sample on a printing press; and a print density instructing means for instructing the print density calculated by the print density calculating means. A print density indicating device. 2. The printing density indicating device according to claim 1, wherein the printing density calculating means calculates a printing ink amount used in the printing press based on the calculated printing density. Printing density indicating device. 3. A print density indicating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said characteristic indicating means indicates a dot gain corresponding to at least one or more printing presses as a predetermined characteristic. A print density indicating device, characterized in that: 4. The print density indicating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said print density calculating means calculates a solid density as a print density. 5. The print density indicating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said characteristic indicating means includes a predetermined characteristic corresponding to at least one or more printing presses, and a print characteristic. A print density indicating apparatus for indicating as a characteristic a paper material used when printing on a printing machine. 6. A print density indicating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said characteristic indicating means indicates a predetermined characteristic for each predetermined element color. Pointing device. 7. The print density indicating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said print density calculating means calculates a print density for each of predetermined element colors. Pointing device. 8. The print density indicating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said print density indicating means takes into account the print density calculated by said print density calculating means, and A print density indicating device for evaluating a sample. 9. A print density instructing method for instructing a printing machine on a print density when printing a printed matter, wherein at least one or more printing machines print a predetermined printed matter with a sample of the printed matter. A color sample creation step of creating a color sample, a characteristic instruction step of designating predetermined characteristics corresponding to at least one or more printing presses, a predetermined characteristic designated by the characteristic instruction step, and the color sample creation. A print density calculation step of calculating a print density capable of reproducing substantially the same printed matter as the color sample on the corresponding printing machine based on the color sample created in the process; and A print density instructing step of instructing the calculated print density. 10. A print density instruction program for measuring the color data of a created color sample, calculating a print density for printing a printed matter having substantially the same color data as the color data, and instructing the computer to execute a process of instructing the computer. A characteristic input step of inputting predetermined characteristics respectively corresponding to at least one or more printing presses; and a predetermined characteristic input by the characteristic input step and a predetermined color sample created. A print density calculation step of calculating a print density capable of reproducing substantially the same printed matter as the color sample on the corresponding printing machine based on the color data of the printing machine; and a print density calculated by the print density calculation step. And a print density instructing step of instructing the medium.