JP2003140876A - Server for color matching, client for color matching, print control server, print control client, print control system and print control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problems that a plurality of items such as a hue or a chroma are required to be measured by printing a large number of color chips, and that a work for producing a gradation value correction table requires much labor. SOLUTION: A client is provided with a color measuring image print control means U11 for controlling printing of the color chips (color measuring images) having a plurality of gradations classified by a plurality of color inks (printing color agents), and a color matching information acquisition means U14 for acquiring the gradation value correction table (color matching information) from a server. The server acquires brightness data of the color chips classified by the color inks, produces the gradation value correction table based on the brightness data of the color chips classified by the color inks and brightness data of standard colors corresponding to the color inks, and outputs the table to the client. Herby, a work for matching the colors reproduced by the plurality of color inks to the standard colors is reduced, and the gradation value correction table for reproducing the standard colors can be simply acquired.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a color matching server, a color matching client, a print control server, a print control client, a print control system, and a print control method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to eliminate variations in color reproduction due to variations in ink ejection mechanism of printers used by users, the colors to be reproduced are changed to standard colors printed by standard printers installed in manufacturers. To match
Multi-tone color data such as cyan, magenta, and yellow is corrected by the tone value correction table. Where 5
Color chart of about 00 to 1000 colors (patch-like color print part)
Is printed, and the standard color and the same color chart are measured for a plurality of items such as hue and saturation to create a gradation value correction table. Also, considering the time change of color reproduction,
The gradation value correction table is also regularly created and updated.

[0003]

The above-mentioned conventional technique has the following problems. The user has to purchase expensive measuring equipment. It is necessary to print a large number of color charts and measure the colors of a plurality of items such as hue and saturation, which requires a lot of work to create the gradation value correction table. When updating the tone value correction table on a regular basis, the user who is far from the place where the standard printer is installed prints a large amount of color charts and then updates the tone value correction table. It is necessary to obtain it, and this work is very troublesome.

The calculation load when creating the gradation value correction table is large. In the following, the color material refers to a color ink or a color toner used for printing such as color toner. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to reduce the work of matching a color reproduced by a plurality of printing colorants to a standard color, and to easily obtain data for reproducing the standard color. An object is to provide a matching server, a color matching client, a print control server, a print control client, a print control system, and a print control method.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, first, on the print control client side,
The color measurement image print control means causes the color measurement image to be printed for each of a plurality of printing colorants, and the lightness data transmission means accepts input of lightness data of the color measurement image. Send to the print control server. Then, when the print control server acquires the lightness data from the print control client by the lightness data acquisition means, based on the lightness data and the lightness data stored in the standard color lightness data storage area. The color matching information creating means creates color matching information, and the created color matching information outputting means outputs the created color matching information to the print control client.

As a result, the print control client is
The color matching information acquisition unit acquires the color matching information from the print control server, and converts the print data into the color data based on the same color matching information. The multi-gradation color measurement image printed for each printing color material is a color in which light and shade are provided for each printing color material in which a plurality of printing color materials are not mixed. That is, the hue and the saturation hardly change, and the lightness greatly changes with respect to the hue and the saturation. The color to be reproduced is a color that almost matches the standard color. Therefore, by measuring the lightness data of the color measurement image for each printing colorant and obtaining the color matching information from the print control server, the color reproduced by multiple printing colorants is set as the standard color. You can do the work of matching.

Therefore, there is no need to measure a large number of color images in which a plurality of colorants for printing are combined, unlike the conventional case.
Further, since it is not necessary to measure the color of a plurality of items such as hue and saturation, the color matching work can be reduced. Further, even if the user of the print control client is far from the place where the standard printer is installed, it is easy to obtain the color matching information from the print control server that can perform bidirectional communication with the print control client. Data for reproducing the color can be easily obtained. For example, in the case of using a printer having a specification of regularly updating the color matching information, the troublesomeness is reduced, and the user can perform the updating work without hesitation.

Here, various computers can be applied to the print control server and the print control client, and the present invention can be applied to a configuration in which the print control server and the print control client are appropriately replaced. Further, the print control client may be singular or plural, and the print control server may be singular or plural. The printing colorant used for printing the color measurement image may be a color ink for an ink jet printer or a color toner for a laser printer, and various types are conceivable.

The lightness data acquisition means of the print control server only needs to be able to acquire the lightness data of the color measurement image for each color material for printing, and as an example of the configuration, the lightness data of the color measurement image is input. Lightness data sending means for receiving and sending to the print control server may be provided in the print control client, and lightness data acquisition means of the print control server may acquire the lightness data of the color measurement image from the print control client. That is, the lightness data of the image for color measurement can be measured and sent to the print control server by the communication means, which improves convenience.

Of course, the print control server may receive the color measurement image and acquire the lightness data.
In this case, the print control client prints the color measurement image, and by sending the same color measurement image to the trader who has the print control server installed, the trader measures the lightness data of the color measurement image. Input to the print control server. Further, the print control client is provided with an image data sending means for obtaining the image data from the image taking device for taking in the image data of the color measurement image and sending it to the print control server, and the lightness data obtaining means of the print control server is provided. The brightness data of the color measurement image may be acquired by converting the same image data input from the print control client into brightness data. That is, by using the image capturing device, it is not necessary to measure the lightness data for each gradation of the color measurement image, and the work of measuring the lightness data is reduced.

As an example of the image capturing device, a scanner can be used. Of course, various devices other than the scanner can be used. Further, it is also possible to use a colorimeter capable of measuring lightness as well as hue and saturation, and measure lightness data directly from a color measurement image. In this case, it goes without saying that it is not necessary to convert the measured data into lightness data. The color matching information may be any information as long as it is information for reproducing a predetermined standard color, and as an example of its configuration, the gradation value of the color data converted from the print data and the printing coloring agent corresponding to the color data. The gradation value correction table that associates the gradation values to be reproduced so as to match the standard color may be used as the color matching information. That is,
By referring to the gradation value correction table, it is possible to acquire the gradation value for color reproduction so as to match the corresponding standard color from the gradation value of the color data before correction. The key value can be corrected. here,
The gradation value correction table can be created, for example, from standard color lightness data and color measurement image lightness data.

The color data converted from the print data can have various gradation numbers. For example, 256 gradations to which 8 bits are assigned may be used, or 100 gradations that are not the nth power of 2 may be used. Of course, the configuration of correcting the gradation value of the color data using the gradation value correction table is only an example, and it is possible to correct the gradation value of the color data by creating a calculation formula, for example. Further, the color matching information may be provided in the form of a color conversion table in which the correspondence between input and output is modified. That is, the print control client acquires the modified color conversion table from the print control server, and by referring to this modified color conversion table, the print data is converted from the print data into color data for color reproduction to match the standard color. Therefore, it is possible to easily correct the gradation value of the color data. Further, by using the corrected color conversion table, it is possible to convert the print data into the color data only once.

By the way, when a plurality of print control clients are configured, one of the print control clients may print the standard color. Therefore, the print control client is composed of the first and second print control clients, and the standard color lightness data sending means of the first print control client accepts the input of the lightness data of the standard color, and the lightness of the input standard color. When the data is sent to the print control server, the standard color lightness data storage means of the print control server stores the standard color lightness data input from the first print control client in the standard color lightness data storage area. Further, the color matching information output means of the print control server is
The color matching information created based on the standard color lightness data input from the first print control client is output to the second print control client. That is, since the standard control lightness data is input from the print control client and stored in the print control server, another print control client can acquire the color matching information created based on the standard color control data. It is possible to match the colors to be reproduced by the print control clients.

At this time, the standard color lightness data storage means of the print control server stores the lightness data of the standard color input from the plurality of first print control clients individually for each first print control client. The list output means of the print control server generates a list of the first print control clients to which the brightness data of the same standard color is input and outputs the list to the second print control client. Further, in the second print control client, the specific first print control client is selected based on the list output by the selection input reception means, and the selection result output means is selected by the first print control client. To the print control server. Then, the color matching information creating means of the print control server specifies the lightness data of the standard color based on the first print control client selected and input, which is sent from the selection result output means, while performing the second print. Create color matching information corresponding to the brightness data of the control client.
In this way, since the color matching information output unit outputs the color matching information to the second print control client, the second print control client selects the first print control client to perform color matching. Since the color matching information can be acquired by doing so, convenience is improved.

Since there are various types of devices for reproducing colors with a plurality of printing coloring agents, it is preferable that the color matching information is created according to the types of the devices. Therefore, the print control client is provided with an identification information sending unit that acquires the identification information of the device to be reproduced by the plurality of colorants for printing and sends it to the print control server, and the color matching information creating unit of the print control server is The color matching information may be created based on the lightness data of the standard color corresponding to the identification information input from the print control client. That is, the lightness data of the standard color is automatically selected according to the identification information of the device that reproduces the colors by the plurality of printing coloring materials, and the color matching information is created, so that the convenience is improved.

In the above example, the print control client receives the brightness data input by the brightness data sending means and sends it to the print control server. However, the print control server acquires and stores the same brightness data. Needless to say, the print control system can be realized even if the configuration is lacking, since there are various types. That is, when inputting print data and converting it into color data corresponding to a plurality of printing colorants, a print control client that can reproduce a predetermined standard color after conversion based on predetermined color matching information, and a standard What is claimed is: 1. A print control system comprising: a print control server capable of creating the same color matching information based on color measurement data of a color and sending the same to the same print control client connected for two-way communication. Is a color measurement image print control unit that controls to print a color measurement image having a plurality of gradations for each of the plurality of printing colorants; and color matching information that acquires the color matching information from the print control server. The print control server includes a standard color lightness data storage area storing lightness data of the standard color, and the print control client. Corresponding to the lightness data acquisition means for acquiring the lightness data of the color measurement image for each printing colorant to be printed, the lightness data of the color measurement image for each printing colorant, and the printing colorant The color matching information creating means for creating the color matching information based on the lightness data of the standard color, and the color matching information created by the color matching information creating means are output to the print control client. It may be configured to include a color matching information output unit.

Also in this case, it is possible to easily obtain the data for reproducing the standard color by reducing the work of matching the color reproduced by the plurality of printing colorants to the standard color. The print control server and the print control client constitute the present print control system by being connected so as to be able to perform bidirectional communication, but it can be easily understood that they can be realized as a single unit. As described above, the method for printing the color measurement image at the print control client, obtaining the color matching information, creating the color matching information at the print control server, and outputting the color matching information to the print control client is not necessarily a real thing. It is not necessary to be limited to a certain system or device, and it goes without saying that the invention is present in the procedure at the root of proceeding with the processing in accordance with the predetermined procedure. Therefore, the present invention can be applied as a method.

Further, when implementing the present invention, a print control system or print control device may execute a predetermined program. Here, the print control program may be executed by, for example, a computer to which a printer is connected or may be executed inside the printer, and can be executed by various devices. .
Further, when implementing the present invention, it is conceivable that a medium in which the above program is recorded is distributed and the program is appropriately read from the recording medium into the print control server or the print control client.

Here, the recording medium may be a magnetic recording medium or a magneto-optical recording medium, and any recording medium developed in the future can be considered in exactly the same manner. Also, part of it is software,
Even when a part is realized by hardware, the idea of the present invention is not different at all, and a part of which is recorded on a recording medium and appropriately read when necessary is also included. Furthermore, the duplication stage of the primary duplication product, the secondary duplication product, and the like is absolutely the same.

The invention is also realized in that such color matching information is not created on the client side but on the server side. That is, on the client side, in order to reproduce a predetermined standard color, the color data is converted based on predetermined color matching information, and on the side of the server communicably connected to this client, the standard A color matching system that creates the color matching information based on color measurement data corresponding to a color and sends the color matching information to the client, wherein the client sends data relating to an actual color in the environment of the client to the server. And a means for acquiring the color matching information from the server, wherein the server acquires a storage area in which the data of the standard color is stored and data regarding an actual color sent from the client. Means, means for creating the color matching information based on the acquired data and the standard color data , It can be realized the created color matching information as a color matching system comprising: means for outputting to said client.

In the invention having such a configuration, when the client sends data relating to an actual color to the server, the server, based on the data from the client and the stored data,
The color matching information is created and output to the client. Then, the client acquires the color matching information from the server and converts the color data based on the same color matching information.

[0022]

As described above, according to the present invention, the load on the client side can be reduced by creating the color matching information on the server side rather than on the client side. The present invention also has the following effects. Data for reproducing the standard color can be easily obtained by reducing the work of matching the color reproduced by a plurality of printing colorants to the standard color. Moreover, since the brightness data of the color measurement image can be measured and sent to the server by the communication means, the convenience can be improved.

Further, it is possible to reduce the work of measuring the lightness data of the image for color measurement, and to provide a specific example thereof. Furthermore, the gradation value of the color data can be easily corrected. Furthermore, it becomes possible to convert the print data into the color data once. Furthermore, since it is possible to match the colors to be reproduced by the clients, it is possible to improve the convenience. Furthermore, since the second client can select the first client that is the partner for color matching and acquire the color matching information, the convenience can be improved.

Further, since the standard color lightness data is automatically selected and the color matching information is created, the convenience can be improved. Further, even if the user of the print control client is far from the place where the standard printer is installed, it is easy to obtain the color matching information from the print control server that can perform bidirectional communication with the print control client. Data for reproducing the color can be easily obtained. For example, in the case of using a printer having a specification of regularly updating the color matching information, the troublesomeness is reduced, and the user can perform the updating work without hesitation.

[0025]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in the following order. (1) Hardware configuration of print control system: (2) Configuration of various means of print control system: (3) Operation of print control system: main embodiment (4) First modified example: (5) Second modified example : (6) Third modified example: (7) Other various modified examples:

(1) Hardware Configuration of Print Control System: FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a print control system PCS1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, an Internet network 10 includes a server 20 and a plurality of personal computers (PC) 3 that are clients.
0 and 60 are connected. That is, the server 20 and P
The C30 and C60 are connected via the Internet network 10 so that bidirectional communication is possible. In addition, each PC 30,60
A printer 40 and a standard printer 70 capable of color printing are connected to the printer. This print control system P
CS1 users include a trader who owns a printer standard machine, and a customer who uses the printer standard machine owned by this trader as a standard to perform color matching for a printer that he owns.
That is, the present system PCS1 is a system in which the customer determines a partner (a trader) with which color matching is performed and the printer performs color matching. Then, the trader uses the PC 60, which is the first client, to register the printer standard machine 70 as the owning company, and sends the lightness data of the standard color printed by the printer standard machine to the server 20. Can be memorized. On the other hand, the customer can use the second client PC 30 to obtain from the server 20 a gradation value correction table for reproducing a standard color when printing with the printer 40.

Here, there are various conceivable vendors, such as a maker of a printer and a printer driver, a shop for the printer, a printer, and the like. The system PCS1 is a system that realizes a so-called remote proof, which reproduces a standard color by a printer standard machine at a remote place. Since there is only a difference between the printer 40 and the printer standard machine 70 as to whether the owner is a customer or a trader, the printer standard machine 70 is changed to a printer 40 that performs color matching with another printer standard machine 70. It is also possible to change the printer 40 for color matching to another printer standard machine 70 to the printer standard machine 70. Therefore, it is possible to adopt a usage mode in which the printer standard machine 70 and the printer 40, which performs color matching with the printer standard machine, are appropriately interchanged among a plurality of printers.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the hardware configuration of the server 20. In the figure, the server 20 includes a CPU 21 which is the center of the arithmetic processing.
Reference numeral 21 controls the entire server 20 via the system bus 20a. The system bus 20a has a ROM 22, R
An AM 23, a hard disk drive 24, a communication interface (communication I / F) 25, etc. are connected. A hard disk 24a is connected to the hard disk drive 24, and a PC 30,
A program such as a CGI program that realizes various functions of the present invention in cooperation with the computer 60 and various data such as lightness data of standard colors are stored. The communication I / F 25 is connected to the Internet network 10 and can obtain various data such as brightness data from the PCs 30 and 60 and output various data such as color matching information via the communication I / F 25. it can. That is, the server 20 constitutes the print control device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the hardware configuration of the PC 30. Although the PC 60 is not shown, the hardware difference between the PC 30 and the PC 60 is only the owner, and therefore the PC 30 will be described as an example. In the figure, a PC 30 includes a CPU 31 which is the center of arithmetic processing.
1 controls the entire PC 30 via the system bus 30a. The system bus 30a has a ROM 32 and RA.
M33, hard disk drive 34, peripheral device interface 35 (PIF), input interface 36 (input I / F), and CRT interface 37
(CRTI / F), communication interface 38 (communication I / F), printer interface 39 (printer I / F), etc. are connected.

The PC 30 of the present embodiment is a so-called desktop PC, and the structure is simplified and described. Of course, the PC 30 may be a computer having a general configuration, and may be a notebook type or a mobile type. A computer applicable to the print control system of the present invention is a PC
It is not limited to. Hard disk drive 3
An operating system (OS), an application program (APL) capable of creating document information and image information, and the like are stored as software in the hard disk 34a connected to the hard disk 34a. Transferred to. Then, the CPU 31 executes various programs while appropriately accessing the RAM 33 as a temporary work area. Here, a browser is installed as one of the APLs, and the communication I / F 38
It is possible to download the HTML file from the server 20 via the and display it on the display 37a. In addition, the operation input is accepted using the keyboard 36a and the mouse 36b, and the operation input data is transmitted to the server 2
It is also possible to send to 0.

The PIF 35 includes a color scanner 50,
A digital camera (not shown) or the like is connected. A keyboard 36a and a mouse 36b are connected to the input I / F 36 as operation input devices. Also,
A display 37a for display is connected to the CRT I / F 37. Further, the printer I / F 39 is connected to the printer 40 via a parallel interface cable.
Are connected. Of course, the connection interface with the printer 40 does not need to be limited to the parallel interface, but may be a serial interface, SCSI, or US.
Various connection modes such as B connection can be adopted, and the same applies to any connection modes developed in the future.

The recording medium capable of storing the above software is not limited to the hard disk, and may be, for example, a CD-ROM or a flexible disk. The software recorded on these recording media is read via a CD-ROM drive or a flexible disk drive (not shown), installed in the hard disk 34a, read by the CPU 31 into the RAM 33, and various processes are executed. . Also,
The recording medium is not limited to these, and may be a magneto-optical disk or a non-volatile memory which is a semiconductor device. Furthermore, the server 20 is accessed via the communication I / F 38 such as a modem connected to the Internet network 10,
It is also possible to download each software.

The hardware configuration of the network composed of the server and the client described above does not need to have special specifications, and can be realized by general hardware. Also, instead of the PC 30, a LAN (Local Area N) in which a plurality of PCs and the like are local servers is used.
network) may be used. Then, the Internet network 10 can be accessed from a plurality of PCs or the like in the same LAN. The printer 40 used in this embodiment,
Reference numeral 70 denotes an inkjet printer, and in order to make it easy to understand, four color inks, cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K), are used in color printing. . These color inks
It is the colorant for printing referred to in the present invention. In the specification and drawings, the colors of ink are simply described as C, M, Y, and K.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the printer 40.
Shown with C30. The standard printer 70
Although not shown in the figure, since the difference between the hardware of the printers 40 and 70 is only the owner, the printer 40 will be described as an example. Further, in the following description, the configuration of a relatively large-sized printer is taken as an example, but it goes without saying that small-sized machines can be adopted as the printers 40 and 70.

Bus 40a provided inside printer 40
CPU41, ROM42, RAM43, ASIC
44, a control IC 45, a communication I / O 46, an interface (I / F) 47 for transmitting image data and drive signals, etc. are connected. And C
The PU 41 controls each unit according to the program written in the ROM 42 while using the RAM 43 as a work area. The printer 40 of the present embodiment is an inkjet printer that uses four color inks. However, as the printer 40, a printer that uses six color inks or seven color inks can be used, or a plurality of color inks can be used. A laser printer that uses toner can also be used.
In addition, even inkjet printers that use the same number of types of color inks can adopt models of various grades, such as higher-ranking models and lower-ranking models. In order to identify these models, identification information according to the model is stored in a predetermined area of the ROM 42.

The ASIC 44 is an IC customized for driving a print head (not shown), and the CPU 4
A process for driving the print head is performed while transmitting and receiving a predetermined signal to and from 1. Also, the applied voltage data is output to the head drive unit 49. The head drive unit 49 is a circuit including a dedicated IC, a driving transistor, a heat sink, and the like. The head drive unit 49 generates an applied voltage pattern to the piezo element incorporated in the print head based on the applied voltage data input from the ASIC 44. The print head includes a cartridge holder 4 in which ink cartridges 48a to 48d filled with four different color inks are mounted.
8 is connected to each color ink by a tube for each color ink so that each color ink is supplied. Then, the piezo element is driven in the ink chamber that communicates from the tube to the ejection port to eject the ink.

On the ink ejection surface of the print head, four sets of nozzle rows for ejecting each of four types of color ink are formed so as to be aligned in the main scanning direction of the print head, and each nozzle row has a plurality of nozzles ( For example, 48 pieces) are linearly arranged at regular intervals in the sub-scanning direction. The cartridge holder 48 includes an ink supply needle, and the ink supply needle comes into contact with an ink supply port (not shown) provided in each of the ink cartridges 48a to 48d to form an ink supply path. Ink is supplied to the print head via a tube.

The control IC 45 is an IC mounted to control a cartridge memory which is a non-volatile memory mounted on each ink cartridge 48a to 48d.
Is. The ink cartridge is the cartridge holder 48
When installed in the cartridge memory
It is electrically connected to C45. CPU
The reference numeral 41 transmits / receives a predetermined signal to / from the control IC 45, and updates the ink remaining amount information recorded in the cartridge memory.

The communication I / O 46 is the printer I / O of the PC 30.
The printer 40 is connected to the F39 and the communication I / O4
A print job composed of CMYK-converted data, a page description language, and the like, which is transmitted from the PC 30 via the PC 6, is received. When various requests are received from the PC 30, the communication I / O uses the identification information stored in the ROM 42, the remaining ink amount information from the control IC 45, and the like.
Output to. A carriage mechanism 47a and a paper feed mechanism 47b are connected to the I / F 47. Paper feed mechanism 47
Reference numeral b denotes a paper feed motor, a paper feed roller, and the like, which sequentially feeds a print recording medium such as print paper to perform sub scanning. The carriage mechanism 47a is composed of a carriage on which a print head is mounted, a carriage motor that runs the carriage via a timing belt, and the like, and causes the print head to perform main scanning. In the print head provided with a plurality of nozzles in the sub-scanning direction, the piezo element is driven by a drive signal output from the head drive unit 49 based on the head data consisting of bit strings, and ink droplets are ejected in dot units from each nozzle. Let

In the PC 30, the BIOS is executed based on the above hardware, and the OS and APL are executed in the upper layer. Basically, the OS accesses the hardware via BIOS or directly, and the APL is the OS.
Data is exchanged with the hardware via.
Various drivers for controlling the hardware of the PC 30 are incorporated in the OS, and become a part of the OS to execute various controls. These drivers are CRTI / F37
Driver for controlling the printer and printer I / F3
9 is a printer driver for controlling 9 or the like.

The printer driver is composed of a plurality of modules, and can realize a predetermined function based on the control of the function control module and cooperate with each other to create a print job. The printer driver is APL
The printer is activated when the print function is executed, and bidirectional communication with the printer 40 is possible via the printer I / F 39. The printer driver receives print data from the APL via the OS, creates a print job, and sends it to the printer 40. Also, via the printer I / F 39,
Sends a request for information regarding color ink to the printer 40,
Obtain the corresponding information from the printer 40. For this reason,
The OS has a GDI (Graphic) that realizes a graphic user interface function between the APL and the OS for graphics such as drawn image information and document information.
s Device Interface) or print data obtained from APL is stored as an intermediate file in a predetermined area of the hard disk 34a as appropriate, a print job is created by a predetermined process for the intermediate file, and the port driver is sent to the printer 40. , Etc. are also incorporated.

In the present embodiment, the intermediate file is created from the print data so that another program can be executed while the printer 40 is executing printing. However, the intermediate file is created directly from the print data without creating the intermediate file. Color data may be created. (2) Configuration of various means of print control system: As described above, the print control program according to the present invention is stored in the hard disks of the server 20 and the PCs 30 and 60, and the print control program is the server 20. And PC
The various means referred to in the present invention will be realized in 30, 60. FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram showing main means constituting the system PCS1.

In the figure, means U1 to U8 are added to the server 20.
Are provided, the means U11 to U17 are provided to the PC 60 which is the first client, and the means U21 to U24 are provided to the PC30 which is the second client. Further, the hard disk 24a of the server is provided with a standard color lightness data storage area M1, an ICC profile storage area, a vendor storage area, a customer storage area, a registered vendor storage area, and the like. The outline of the operation of various means is as follows.

The color measurement image print control means U11, U21 of the client controls to print a color chart which is a color measurement image having a plurality of gradations for each color ink. The brightness data acquisition unit U2 of the server acquires the brightness data of the color chart for each color ink printed by the client. In the standard color lightness data storage area M1, lightness data of a predetermined standard color corresponding to the color ink, that is, the standard color printed by the printer standard machine is stored. The color matching information creating unit U3, based on the brightness data of the color chart for each color ink printed by the client and the brightness data of the standard color stored in the standard color brightness data storage area M1,
A gradation value correction table that is color matching information is created. Then, the color matching information output unit U4 outputs the created gradation value correction table to the client.

In the second client, the color matching information acquisition means U14 acquires this gradation value correction table. Then, as described later, the printer 40 can reproduce the standard color based on the same gradation value correction table. Here, the lightness data acquisition unit U2 can acquire the lightness data of the color chart printed by the second client from the first or second client via the Internet network 10. The client is provided with lightness data sending means U12 and U22, which can accept the input of the lightness data of the color chart and send it to the server. Further, the lightness data acquisition unit U2 can also acquire the lightness data of the color chart by acquiring the image data of the color scanner from the client and converting the image data into the lightness data. The image data sending means U13 of the client can obtain the same image data from a color scanner which is an image taking-in device for taking in the image data of the color chart and send it to the server.

Further, the trader storage means U5 stores a list of traders in a trader storage area (not shown), and the list output means U6 acquires the stored list of traders and outputs it to the second client. In the second client, the selection input receiving unit U15 receives the selection input of the trader from the list of the traders input from the server, and the selection result output unit U16 sends the trader selected and input to the server. Then, the color matching of the printer is performed with the selected and input trader as a partner.

Further, the first client connected to the printer standard machine can acquire the lightness data of the color patch of the standard color by the standard color lightness data sending means U23 and send it to the server 20. In the present embodiment, in order to match the color reproduced by the standard printer with the predetermined color standard, the ICC profile is added to the print data delivered to the printer driver. Therefore, the ICC profile sending means U24 can also send the ICC profile for the standard printer to the server 20.

In the server 20, the input standard color lightness data is stored in the standard color lightness data storage area M1 by the standard color lightness data storage unit U1, and the input ICC profile for the printer standard machine is stored in the ICC profile. It can be stored in the ICC profile storage area by the means U7. Then, the ICC profile output means U8 can output the ICC profile for the standard printer to the second client. In the second client, the ICC profile acquisition means U17 can acquire the ICC profile.

The printer drivers of the PCs 30 and 60 control the printing of the printers 40 and 70. FIG. 6 schematically shows the schematic configuration of the printer driver of the PC 30 which is the second client. While performing the print control while reproducing the standard color by the various functions shown in the figure,
It is possible to control to print the color chart. In addition,
Although the configuration of the printer driver of the PC 60, which is the first client, is not shown, it is the same as the configuration of the printer driver of the PC 30 except that the gradation value correction function is not used according to a predetermined print setting.

In the figure, the print setting acquisition function P7 transfers the color data from the gradation value correction function P3 or the monochromatic printing color data from the gradation value creation function P6 to the halftone processing function P4. It has a role of a changeover switch for changing over. The print setting acquisition function P7 has a color chart print instruction acquisition function, and realizes the function of switching the changeover switch according to the instruction acquired by the color chart print instruction acquisition function.

When a normal print process is realized, the changeover switch by the print setting acquisition function P7 is a gradation value correction function P.
It is on the 3rd side. In this case, the outline of the operation of the printer driver is as follows. That is, when the printer driver obtains print data such as color image data, the resolution conversion function P1 converts the print data into bitmap data of 256 gradations to which 8 bits of RGB are assigned.
Of course, the gradation of the RGB bitmap data can be various gradations other than this.

Next, the color data conversion function P2 obtains the print data converted into the RGB bit map data and C
The color data corresponding to each of the MYK color inks is converted. At that time, a color conversion table called an LUT (look-up table) is referred to and converted into color data. This LUT is a table in which 256-level RGB bitmap data is associated with 256-level color data for each of CMYK. Is equipped with.

In this embodiment, the number of gradations of color data is 256 gradations to which 8 bits are assigned, but it goes without saying that various gradations can be used. Further, the gradation value correction function P3 corrects the gradation value of the color data with reference to the gradation value correction table. In the case of a printer that prints by ejecting color ink,
In order to eliminate variations in the color reproduction of the printer due to variations in the ink ejection mechanism, it is necessary to match the colors to be reproduced with the predetermined standard colors printed by the printer standard machine.
Multi-tone color data such as YK is corrected by the tone value correction table. Therefore, this gradation value correction table is a table for matching the color reproduced by the printer 40 with the standard color. As will be described later, the gradation value correction table is a table in which the lightness data of colors reproduced by the standard printer of the printer and the printer user machine used by the customer are associated with each other.

As shown in FIG. 7, the gradation value correction table shows the gradation value of the color data converted by the color data conversion function P2 and the standard color of the color ink corresponding to the color data for each color ink. And the gradation value for color reproduction so as to match with are stored correspondingly. Therefore, even the printers of the same model may have different tone value correction tables. After that, the halftone processing function P4 performs halftone processing by an error diffusion method or the like to convert the corrected color data into two gradations corresponding to the print dots of the printer 40. Then, the rasterization processing function P5 performs rasterization processing for rearranging the bit data of the color data having two gradations based on the scanning width of the print head of the printer 40 and adds a page description language to create a print job. .

As a result, the printer 40 can obtain a print job and eject the CMYK color inks to perform printing. Here, since the gradation value of the color data is corrected by the gradation value correction function P3 so that the color reproduced separately for each color ink matches a predetermined standard color, the printer 40 reproduces the standard color. You can By the way, in order to create a gradation value correction table, a color is selected from a color space formed by a plurality of color inks, a color chart is printed, and the same color chart is measured together with a standard color. It is necessary to create a correspondence table so that the colorimetric data of the printer and the standard printer can match. Conventionally, a gradation value correction table is created by measuring the color chart of about 500 to 1000 colors for a plurality of items such as hue and saturation. Therefore, there is a problem that the work of creating the gradation value correction table is troublesome. In particular, when updating the tone value correction table regularly considering the time change of color reproduction, etc., a customer far from the place where the standard printer is installed prints a large number of color charts. It was necessary to obtain the gradation value correction table updated in, and this work was very troublesome.

Therefore, the color matching work is reduced by printing a color chart of a plurality of gradations using each color ink independently and measuring only the brightness data of each gradation of the color chart. Here, the color gradation of a plurality of gradations printed for each color ink is a color in which light and shade are provided for each color ink in which a plurality of color inks are not mixed. Therefore, while the hue and the saturation hardly change, the lightness greatly changes with respect to the hue and the saturation. Therefore, by matching the lightness of the color reproduced for each color ink with the lightness of the standard color, the color reproduced will be a color that substantially matches the standard color. That is, since it is only necessary to measure the lightness data for the color chart for each color ink, the color matching work can be reduced, and the gradation value correction table can be easily obtained from the server 20.

When printing a color chart, the changeover switch by the print setting acquisition function P7 is on the gradation value correction function P3 side. And a part of the same function P7 and the functions P6, P4 and P5
Means to configure the color measurement image printing control function P11 according to the present invention. In this case, the outline of the operation of the printer driver is as follows. That is, the gradation value creation function P6 creates color data for single-color printing, which separately reproduces a plurality of gradations corresponding to each of the CMYK color inks. In the present embodiment, the number of gradations of the color data for monochrome printing is the same as that of the color data, that is, 256 gradations, but it may be different from the number of gradations of the color data. Here, the gradation values of CMYK at a certain point in the color data for monochromatic printing are (C, M,
Y, K), for example, when color reproduction is performed for the C color ink, the color data for monochrome printing is (n, 0, 0,
0). However, n is an integer value of 0 or more and 255 or less. Further, in the case of reproducing the color of the M color ink, the color data for single color printing is (0, n, 0, 0).

Here, the color data for monochromatic printing can have various gradations, and the number of gradations (for example, 17 gradations) is smaller than the gradation number of the color data (256 gradations). Data, or 256 gradations, which is the same as the number of gradations of color data. Further, the gradation intervals of the color data for monochromatic printing may be appropriately determined according to the characteristics of the color ink, such as substantially equal intervals. After that, the halftone processing function P4 performs halftone processing to convert the monochromatic printing color data into two gradations corresponding to the printing dots of the printer 40. Then, the rasterization processing function P5 performs rasterization processing to create a print job. The printer 40 obtains the print job and prints a color chart, which is a color measurement image having a plurality of gradations using CMYK color inks alone, as shown in FIG. In the example shown in the figure, C,
The color chart uses M, Y, and K color inks. Each color chart has a gradation of 17 gradations for each color ink, and the gradation value of the color component of the corresponding color data increases toward the right side. Considering that the printer is the standard printer 70, it is also possible to print a color chart having 256 gradations, which is the same number of gradations as the color data.

Therefore, by measuring the lightness data of each gradation of the color chart with a colorimeter or the like, it is possible to obtain the lightness data for creating the gradation value correction table. At this time, since only the color chips of a plurality of gradations in which each color ink is used alone are printed, the number of colors to be measured can be reduced as compared with the conventional case. Further, unlike the conventional case, it is not necessary to measure the color of a plurality of items such as hue and saturation, and only the lightness data needs to be measured, which further reduces the work of creating the gradation value correction table.

In the present embodiment, the color measurement image print control function P1 is utilized by utilizing the halftone processing function P4 and the rasterization processing function P5 for realizing normal printing processing.
However, the configuration may be realized by another flow. By the way, in order to create the gradation value correction table, for example, the following procedure may be followed.
First, under the print control of the client to which the printer standard machine is connected, for example, 2 is set for each color ink in the printer standard machine.
Print a 56-level color chart. Then, for example, the lightness data of the color chart printed for each color ink is measured for each gradation using a colorimeter based on the Lab color system.

As shown in FIG. 9, the brightness data of a color chart of 256 gradations printed by the printer standard machine is stored in the standard brightness table T11 in association with the gradation value for each color ink. The figure shows the standard lightness table T11 corresponding to the color ink of C, and the standard lightness table corresponding to the other color inks is also created. That is, the lightness data for each gradation stored in these standard lightness tables becomes data representing a predetermined standard color. In addition,
When the color chart is printed with less than 256 tones and the lightness data is obtained, the lightness data of the colors of the unprinted tones may be obtained by interpolation calculation.

Next, by the print control of the client to which the printer user machine that tries to match the standard color is connected, the printer user machine prints a color chart for each color ink as shown in FIG. Obtain brightness data. Then, as shown in FIG. 9, the brightness table T12 is created by associating the gradation values for each color ink. The brightness table T12 in the figure is also a table corresponding to the color ink of C, and the brightness table corresponding to the other color inks is also created. Here, when the number of gradations of the color chart printed for 256 gradations of color data is small, for example, 17 gradations, only the gradation value and the brightness data corresponding to the printed color are stored in the brightness table T12. Will be done. Hereinafter, it is assumed that the number of gradations of the color chart to be printed is 17 gradations.

Further, a gradation value correspondence table T13 shown in FIG. 9 is prepared for each color ink from the standard brightness table T11 and the brightness table T12. At that time, the brightness data stored in the brightness table T12 and the standard brightness table T1
The gradation value correspondence table T13 is created by associating the gradation values that are the same as the brightness data stored in 1. The gradation values before correction in the gradation value correspondence table T13 in the figure are the gradation values stored in the brightness table T12, and the corrected gradation values for color reproduction to match the standard color are the standard brightness table. It is the gradation value stored in T11.

Since only 17 gradations of data are stored in the brightness table T12, the gradation values of the brightness table T12 are first stored in the gradation value correspondence table T13, and then in the brightness table T12. A gradation value that becomes brightness data corresponding to the gradation value is acquired from the standard brightness table T11 and stored in the gradation value correspondence table T13. When the gradation value that becomes the brightness data is not stored in the standard brightness table T11, the gradation value closest to the brightness data is acquired from the standard brightness table T11 and stored in the gradation value correspondence table T13.

In the example of FIG. 9, lightness data "42.0" is stored in the lightness table T12 corresponding to the tone value "128" of the printer user machine, and the standard lightness table T1 is stored.
1 corresponds to the gradation value “110” of the standard printer, and “4
2.0 "is stored, the gradation value correspondence table T
The gradation value "110" after correction is stored in 13 in correspondence with the gradation value "128" before correction. Since the gradation value correspondence table T13 created in this way stores only data for 17 gradations, the corrected gradation corresponding to the gradation value of the color data that the printer 40 has not reproduced. Values are obtained by interpolation calculation and a gradation value correction table is created. For example, continuous gradation values A1 and A2 before correction
When the corrected tone values corresponding to (A1 <A2) are B1 and B2, the uncorrected tone value A3 between A1 and A2 (A1 <A3 <A2)
The corrected gradation value B3 corresponding to can be calculated by the following formula.

B3 = B1 + {(B2-B1) × (A3-A1) / (A2-A1)} (1) Of course, the above calculation formula is only an example, and various interpolation operations such as spline interpolation are performed. Thus, it is possible to obtain the corrected gradation value. In this way, as shown in FIG. 7, a gradation value correction table can be created for each color ink. Note that the gradation value correction table T1 in the figure is a table corresponding to the color ink of C, and the gradation value correction table corresponding to the other color inks may be created.

The server 20 may automatically perform the above-described processing to create the gradation value correction table, or the above-described processing may be separately performed to accept an input and create the gradation value correction table. You may do it. And
When the gradation value correction table created by the color matching information output means U4 is output to the client, the color matching information acquisition means U14 of the client acquires the same gradation value correction table and incorporates it in the printer driver. Then, the gradation value correction function P3 corrects the color data with reference to the same gradation value correction table, so that the color reproduced by the printer 40 is the one matched with the standard color.

(3) Operation of Print Control System: Main Example The operation of the print control system PCS1 having the above-mentioned configuration will be described below with reference to a flowchart. In the following description, as an example of the usage mode of the system PCS1, a printing company owns a printer standard machine of an inkjet printer, and a color reproduced by an inkjet printer used by a customer can be reproduced by the printer standard machine. It is intended to be used in situations that match the standard colors to be printed. A user name, which is identification information, is given to the trader and the customer in advance. Then, according to a flow not shown, the trader storage unit U5 of the server obtains the trader name, the user name, and the password by accepting an operation input, and stores them in the trader storage area of the hard disk 24a. Further, the customer storage means (not shown) obtains the customer name, the user name, and the password by receiving an operation input, and stores them in the customer storage area of the hard disk 24a in association with each other.

FIG. 10 shows an outline of the processing of the printer drivers of the PCs 30 and 60. APL of PC is APL
When the print execution menu displayed on the display 37a is selected by this APL print function, a process of displaying a print interface main screen (not shown) is executed by the printer driver program (step S105). On the same screen, only the information such as the paper type selection area, the print button, the color chart print button, various color matching buttons, etc., which can correspond to the normal print instruction, is displayed.

Next, the process is branched in response to the mouse operation on the button provided on the print interface main screen (step S110). When the color matching button is clicked, the process proceeds to step S115, various color matching processes described later are performed, and the present flow ends. In various color matching processes, the process for each trader or customer is performed while accessing the server 20. When the print button is clicked,
In step S120, normal print control processing is sequentially performed.

In step S120, the resolution conversion function P
1, the resolution conversion process is performed. First, the print data created by APL is acquired via GDI, an intermediate file is created based on the acquired print data, and is temporarily stored in the hard disk 34a. Here, the above-mentioned ICC profile is added to the input print data. Then, the intermediate file is read out and 256-gradation RGB bitmap data is created on the RAM 33. If the print data itself is RGB gradation data of 256 gradations, the resolution is not converted and the RAM 33
The 256-level RGB bitmap data is created as it is.

In step S125, the color data conversion function P2 performs color data conversion processing for converting color data corresponding to each color ink. That is, uncorrected color data of four types of CMYK is created from RGB bitmap data. This process refers to the LUT described above,
Bit map data of 256 gradations of RGB is CMYK
This is performed by converting the color data into 256 gradations. Since this LUT is a table that reproduces a standard color for a standard machine of the same model as the printer 40, the color data created in the same step is the color data before correction by the gradation value correction table. Is. Therefore, when the color data is directly subjected to the halftone process and the rasterize process, the standard color may not be reproduced.

In step S130, the gradation value correction function P
According to 3, gradation value correction processing is performed by referring to the gradation value correction table that is the color matching information and converting the uncorrected color data into color data capable of reproducing the corrected standard color. Since the gradation value correction table is created for each color ink of CMYK, each gradation value correction table is sequentially referred to, and only the color component corresponding to the referenced gradation value correction table in the color data before correction is referred to. Are sequentially converted. For example, CM
Assuming that the color data is converted in the order of YK components, first, the cyan gradation value correction table is referred to, and only the C component of the color data before correction is converted. next,
By referring to the gradation value correction table for magenta, only the M component of the color data before correction is converted. Similar processing is performed for Y and K components. That is, since the conversion process may be performed for each component, the processing time is short.

Thus, steps S120 to S130
In the process (1), when the print data is input and converted into the color data corresponding to the plurality of printing color materials, the predetermined standard color can be reproduced after the conversion based on the predetermined color matching information. In step S135, the halftone processing function P4 performs halftone processing for binarizing the corrected color data. Thereafter, the rasterization processing function P5 performs rasterization processing for rearranging the binarized data (step S140), creates a print job, and ends this flow.

Then, the printer 40 obtains a print job and drives the print head based on the print job to form dots of each color ink, thereby performing color printing. Then, the color reproduced by the color ink by the gradation value correction function P3 is matched with the standard color.
By the way, when the color chart print button on the print interface main screen is clicked, the process proceeds from step S110 to step S145 to perform a process of creating color data for single color printing.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the monochromatic printing color data creation processing performed in step S145. First, a color chart print setting screen (not shown) is displayed (step S205), and the setting of predetermined items for color chart printing is acquired (step S210). Then, the process branches depending on whether the printer setting is a printer standard machine used by a trader or a printer user machine used by a customer (step S215).

When the printer is set to the printer user machine, the color data for monochromatic printing is separately generated for each of the CMYK color inks so as to reproduce the color in 17 gradations at substantially equal intervals (step S220). . On the other hand, if the printer is set to the standard printer, 25 colors are set for each color ink.
Color data for monochromatic printing that reproduces colors with 6 gradations is created (step S225). After completion of steps S220 and S225, this flow ends.

After that, the process proceeds to step S135 in FIG. 10, binarizes the color data for monochromatic printing by the functions P4 and P5, rearranges the binarized data to create a print job, and ends this flow. To do. Of course, such a flow configuration is merely an example. For example, step S13
The processing of S5 and S140 is set as a subroutine, and when the corrected color data is created in step S130, the subroutine is called and executed.
The subroutine may be called and executed even when the color data for monochromatic printing is created at 45.

Then, the printer 40 obtains a print job based on the color data for single-color printing, drives the print head by this print job, and forms dots for each color ink, as shown in FIG. Print the color chart. Since the example of FIG. 8 is a color chart of 17 gradations (color measurement image) printed by the printer user machine, when the color chart for measuring the lightness data of the standard color is printed by the printer standard machine. Two
A color chart of 56 gradations will be printed.

In this way, steps S145, S135
The processes from S140 to S140 constitute the color measurement image print control means U11 and U21 for performing control to print the color measurement image having a plurality of gradations for each of the plurality of printing colorants. As a result, a plurality of gradations of color chips are printed for each of CMYK color inks, and the number of colors to be measured can be reduced. Further, when a color chart is printed by the printer user machine, the number of gradations of the color chart to be printed is smaller than the number of gradations of the color data, so the colorimetry is troublesome. It is possible to reduce the number, and since the gradation values of the color data for monochromatic printing that prints the color chart are almost evenly spaced, there is no unevenness in the gradation change of the color chart, and interpolation calculation is performed when creating the gradation value correction table There is little error due to.

12 and 13 are flowcharts showing various color matching processes performed in step S120. This flow is executed by being called from the printer driver, but it can be executed by directly calling from the APL. When the user name is input on the login screen displayed by the flow not shown, the PCs 30 and 60 access the server 20, and if the user name of the business operator who owns the printer standard machine is the one for the business operator in FIG. Various color matching processes are performed, and if the user name is a customer, various color matching processes for the customer in FIG. 13 are performed.

In the PC 60 used by the trader, first,
In step S305 of FIG. 12, the operation input of the password is accepted. The PC 60 sends the received password to the server 20, and the server 20 outputs the predetermined menu screen display data to the PC 60 if the user name and the password match. That is, if the user name and password do not match, step S310.
The operation input of the password is repeatedly accepted without proceeding to.

When the data for displaying the menu screen is output from the server 20, the PC 60 obtains the data and displays the menu screen (not shown) (step S310).
On the menu screen, "Send standard color lightness data" button,
An "ICC profile transmission" button, a "customer brightness data input" button, an "end" button, etc. are provided.
Then, it is determined whether or not the selection input to the button is performed by the mouse operation (step S315), and step S315 is repeated until the selection input is performed. Then, the processing is branched according to the type of the selected and input button.

When the "send standard color lightness data" button is clicked, the standard color to be stored in the server 20 upon receiving the input of the lightness data of the color chart of the standard color printed by the printer standard machine owned by the trader. The brightness data transmitting means process is performed (step S320), and the process returns to step S310 to display the menu screen again. When the "send ICC profile" button is clicked, an ICC profile for the printer standard machine is stored in the server 20.
C profile transmission processing is performed (step S325),
It returns to step S310. When the "customer lightness data input" button is clicked, a customer lightness data transmission process of receiving the lightness data of the color chart sent from the customer and transmitting it to the server 20 is performed (step S330), and the process returns to step S310. . When the "end" button is clicked, this flow is ended by a flow not shown.

The details of steps S320 to S330 will be described later. On the other hand, the PC 30 used by the customer first accepts the operation input of the password in step S355 of FIG. Then, if the user name and the password match, the predetermined data for displaying the menu screen is obtained from the server 20 and the menu screen (not shown) is displayed (step S360). The menu screen is provided with a "registered trader" button, a "color matching (send color chart)" button, a "color matching (brightness input)" button, a "color matching (scanner)" button, an "end" button, etc. ing. Then, it is determined whether or not the button is selected and input by the mouse operation (step S365), and the process is branched according to the type of the button that is selected and input.

When the "Register trader" button is clicked, a trader registration process of selecting and registering a trader who owns the standard printer is performed (step S370), and the process returns to step S360 to display the menu screen again. To do. When the "Color Match (Send Color Chart)" button is clicked,
The gradation value correction table acquisition process (1) of acquiring the gradation value correction table created based on the color chart sent to the trader from the server 20 is performed (step S375), and the process returns to step S360. When the “color matching (brightness input)” button is clicked, the input of the brightness data of the color chart is accepted, and the gradation value correction table created based on the same brightness data is acquired from the server 20. A table acquisition process (No. 2) is performed (step S380), and the process returns to step S360. When the “color matching (scanner)” button is clicked, the image data of the color chart is read from the color scanner, and the tone value correction table created based on the image data is obtained from the server 20. A table acquisition process (3) is performed (step S38).
5) and returns to step S360. When the "end" button is clicked, this flow is ended by a flow not shown.

[Color matching (send color chart)] button,
The “color matching (brightness input)” button and the “color matching (scanner)” button can be selected and input when the trader is selected in step S370, and when the trader is not selected, the step is performed. The processes of S375 to S385 are not performed. Hereinafter, details of the operation of the print control system PCS1 according to various usage modes will be described. First, when performing a color matching operation to a standard color using the system PCS1, the trader needs to send the brightness data of the standard color and the ICC profile to the server 20, and the customer needs to select and register the trader. There is.

FIG. 14 shows the standard color lightness data transmission processing executed in step S320, together with the standard color lightness data storage processing of the server 20. As a premise for performing this flow, it is assumed that the printer standard machine 70 prints color patches of standard colors of 256 gradations for each color ink. The PC 60 of the trader accepts the input of the lightness data of the standard color (step S402). Here, although the input of the brightness data of 256 gradations for each color ink is accepted, it may be accepted by the operation input, or may be accepted by automatically entering the brightness data transmitted from the colorimeter. Good. Next, the received standard color lightness data is sent to the server 20 (step S404), and the present flow ends. That is, steps S402 to S404
This processing constitutes the standard color lightness data transmission means U23.

The work such as measuring the brightness data is
A printer maker or the like may perform instead of the trader. On the other hand, when the server 20 acquires the standard color lightness data from the PC 60 (step S422), the server 20 creates a standard lightness table T11 in which the standard color lightness data for each color ink is stored for each gradation value, as shown in FIG. Yes (step S424). Then, since the user name input on the login screen is transmitted from the PC 60, the standard color lightness data storage area M1 in the area corresponding to the user name of the trader.
The standard brightness table T11 is stored in (step S42).
6) and this flow ends. That is, step S42
The processes of 2 to S426 configure the standard color lightness data storage unit U1 that stores the lightness data of the standard color input from the client. At that time, the brightness data input from the plurality of first clients is individually stored for each first client.

FIG. 15 shows the ICC profile transmission processing performed in step S325, which is performed by the ICC of the server 20.
It is shown together with the profile storing process. PC of trader
In 60, by the ICC profile sending means U24,
The ICC profile is read from the hard disk 34a (step S452), this ICC profile is sent to the server 20 (step S454), and this flow ends. On the other hand, when the server 20 acquires the ICC profile from the PC 60 by the ICC profile storage unit U7 (step S472), the server 20 stores the ICC profile in the ICC profile storage area of the area corresponding to the user name of the trader (step S474). This flow ends.

FIG. 16 shows the customer-side trader registration processing performed in step S370, together with the server-side trader registration processing of the server 20. The customer PC 30 first acquires the identification information from the printer 40 (step S).
502). That is, when a request to acquire the printer identification information from the PC 30 is output to the printer 40, the printer 40 reads the printer identification information from the ROM 42 and outputs it to the PC 30, so that the PC 30 can acquire the printer identification information. it can. Next, the acquired printer identification information is sent to the server 20 (step S5).
04).

When the server 20 acquires the printer identification information (step S522), it acquires a list of traders stored in the hard disk 24a, searches the standard color lightness data storage area M1, and searches for the standard printer of the same model. A list of traders who input the brightness data of the standard color printed by is generated and output to the PC 30 (step S52).
4). That is, the process of step S524 constitutes the list output unit U6 that generates the list of the first clients to which the brightness data of the standard color is input and outputs the list to the second client. Note that in step S524, a list of companies that use the same combination of printing colorants may be acquired and output to the PC 30.

The PC 30 obtains this list of traders (step S506) and accepts the selection input of the traders based on the list (step S508). Then, the selectively input trader is sent to the server 20 (step S51).
0), this flow ends. That is, step S50
In 6 to S508, the selection input reception means U15 for selecting the specific first client based on the list output from the server is configured, and in step S510, the selection input selected first client is transmitted to the server. The result output means U16 is configured. When the server 20 acquires the selected and input trader (step S526), the server 20 stores the user name of the selected and input trader in the registered trader storage area of the hard disk 24a in association with the user name of the customer who selected and input the same trader. (Step S528), this flow ends.

When the customer selects and registers a trader, it becomes possible to perform a color matching operation to the standard color in various usage modes. As an example of its usage, it is conceivable that a customer prints a color chart for color matching from a printer, sends the same color chart to a trader to measure lightness data, and downloads a gradation value correction table from the server 20. . In this case, the trader to whom the color chart for color matching is sent selects and inputs the "customer brightness data input" button on the menu screen, measures the brightness data with the colorimeter, and inputs it to the PC 60. Will do the work. FIG. 17 shows the above step S.
The customer brightness data transmission processing performed at 330 is shown together with the gradation value correction table creation processing of the server 20.

The PC 60 of the trader accepts the operation input of the user name of the customer who sent the color chart (step S55).
2). Next, the input of the brightness data of the sent color chart is accepted (step S554). Here, the 17-gradation lightness data for each color ink is accepted, but it may be accepted by operation input, or by automatically entering the lightness data transmitted from the colorimeter. Good. Then, the received user name of the customer and the brightness data of the color chart are transmitted to the server 20 (step S55).
6) and this flow ends.

On the other hand, the server 20 acquires the user name of the customer and the lightness data of the color chart transmitted (step S57).
2). That is, the process of step S572 constitutes the lightness data acquisition unit U2 that acquires the lightness data of the color measurement image for each printing color material printed by the client.
Next, based on the acquired lightness data, as shown in FIG. 9, a lightness table T12 in which the lightness data of the color chart is stored for each gradation value for each color ink is created (step S57).
4). Furthermore, the standard brightness table T11 for each color ink corresponding to the user name of the trader is acquired from the standard color brightness data storage area M1, and as described above, based on this standard brightness table T11 and brightness table T12, each color ink Separately, a gradation value correspondence table T13 is created (step S576). That is, the gradation value of the brightness table T12 is stored in the gradation value correspondence table T13, and then, the gradation value that becomes the brightness data corresponding to the gradation value in the brightness table T12 or the floor closest to the brightness data. The tone value is acquired from the standard lightness table T11 and stored in the tone value correspondence table T13. Then, the corrected gradation value corresponding to the gradation value of the color data that has not been color-reproduced by the printer 40 is obtained by interpolation calculation, and a gradation value correction table that is color matching information as shown in FIG. 7 is obtained. Create (step S578). After that, the gradation value correction table is stored in the hard disk 24a together with the user name of the dealer and the user name of the customer.
(Step S580), and the present flow ends.

That is, in the processing of steps S572 to S580, color matching information is created based on the lightness data of the color measurement image of the printing colorant and the lightness data of the standard color corresponding to the printing colorant. Color matching information creating means U3
Make up. According to the flow of FIG. 17, the gradation value correction table for each customer is created and the hard disk 24a of the server
The standard color can be reproduced on the printer 40 by the customer's operation of downloading the gradation value correction table from the server 20. At that time, the customer selects and inputs the “color matching (send color chart)” button on the menu screen to download the gradation value correction table.

FIG. 18 shows the gradation value correction table acquisition processing (part 1) performed in step S375, which is executed by the server 2
It is also shown together with the gradation value correction table output process of 0 (No. 1). In the flow shown in the figure, processing for acquiring a gradation value correction table for reproducing standard colors by the printer standard machine owned by the trader registered in step S370 is performed. First, since there may be a plurality of registered traders, the customer's PC 30 obtains the list of registered traders stored in the registered trader storage area from the server 20, and accepts the selection input of the traders based on this list. (Step S
602). Next, a gradation value correction table acquisition request for requesting output of the gradation value correction table together with the selectively input trader is sent to the server 20 (step S604).

Upon obtaining the gradation value correction table acquisition request or the like (step S622), the server 20 corrects the gradation value corresponding to the user name of the customer sent at the time of login and the user name of the selected and input trader. The table is read from the hard disk 24a (step S624). This gradation value correction table is the table created in step S578. Then, the read gradation value correction table is output to the corresponding customer's PC 30 (step S626), and this flow ends.

The PC 30 acquires the same gradation value correction table (step S606) and incorporates it in the printer driver (step S608). After that, I for the standard printer
A message to confirm whether to acquire the CC profile is displayed on the display 37a, and an operation input from the mouse 36b or the like is accepted to determine whether to acquire the ICC profile (step S610). When acquiring an ICC profile, an ICC profile acquisition process described later is performed (step S612), and this flow ends. If the ICC profile is not acquired, the process of step S612 is not performed and the present flow ends.

That is, the processing of steps S602 to S608 constitutes the color matching information acquisition means U14 for acquiring the color matching information from the server, and steps S622 to S62.
The process of 6 constitutes the color matching information output unit U4 which outputs the color matching information created by the color matching information creating unit U3 to the client. At that time, the color matching information corresponding to the second client is created while specifying the brightness data of the standard color based on the selectively input first client sent from the second client. Will be output to.

Then, the above steps S120 to S140.
Thus, when the normal print control process is performed, the standard color can be reproduced by converting the color data based on the gradation value correction table that is the color matching information. In addition, when the trader measures the color chart sent from the customer, it is sufficient to measure the lightness data of the color chart having a plurality of gradations for each color ink. It is not necessary to measure the color chart, and it is not necessary to measure a plurality of items such as hue and saturation. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the color matching work to the standard color. further,
Even if the customer is away from the place where the standard printer is installed, the customer can easily obtain the gradation value correction table from the server. For this reason, even if the customer uses a printer having a specification of regularly updating the gradation value correction table, the customer can carry out the updating work by reducing the inconvenience.

As another example of usage, a customer prints a color chart for color matching from a printer, the customer measures the brightness data, inputs the brightness data into the PC 30, and the gradation value is input from the server 20. It is possible to download the correction table. In this case, the customer selects and inputs the “color matching (brightness input)” button on the menu screen, measures the lightness data with the colorimeter, and inputs it to the PC 30. FIG. 19 shows the above step S38.
Gradation value correction table acquisition process (No. 2)
Is shown together with the gradation value correction table output processing (No. 2) of the server 20.

The PC 30 accepts the input of the lightness data of the printed color chart (step S652). Here, the input of the brightness data of 17 gradations for each color ink is accepted. However, as described in step S554 above, the brightness data may be accepted by the operation input, or the brightness data transmitted from the colorimeter may be accepted. You may accept by inputting automatically. Next, the list of registered traders stored in the registered trader storage area is obtained from the server 20, and the selection input of the traders is accepted (step S654). And
The server 20 is used to store the color data of the color chart that has been selected and input.
(Step S656). That is, the processes of steps S652 to S656 configure the lightness data sending unit U12 that receives the lightness data of the color measurement image and sends it to the server.

On the other hand, the server 20 uses the brightness data acquisition unit U2 to acquire the brightness data of the color chart and the trader that has been selected and input (step S672). Next, based on the acquired lightness data, a lightness table T12 in which the lightness data of the color chart is stored for each gradation value for each color ink is created (step S674). Further, the standard color lightness data storage area M
The standard brightness table T11 for each color ink corresponding to the user name of the trader selected and input from 1 is acquired, and based on the standard brightness table T11 and the brightness table T12,
A gradation value correspondence table T13 is created for each color ink (step S676). Then, the tone value after correction corresponding to the tone value of the color data that has not been color-reproduced by the printer 40 is obtained by interpolation calculation, and a tone value correction table is created (step S678). After that, the created gradation value correction table is output to the corresponding customer's PC 30 (step S680), and this flow ends.

That is, the processing of steps S672 to S678 constitutes color matching information creating means in another meaning, and the processing of step S680 constitutes color matching information outputting means in another meaning. The PC 30 has a color matching information acquisition unit U.
The same gradation value correction table is acquired by step 14 (step S658) and is incorporated in the printer driver (step S658).
660). After that, similarly to steps S610 to S612, it is determined whether or not an ICC profile is to be acquired (step S662), and when an ICC profile is to be acquired, an ICC profile acquisition process described later is performed (step S664), and the present flow ends. To do.

Then, when performing normal print control processing,
The standard color can be reproduced by converting the color data based on the gradation value correction table. At that time, when the customer measures the color chart, it is sufficient to measure the lightness data of the color chart having a plurality of gradations for each color ink. Since it is not necessary to measure the color of the item, it is possible to reduce the color matching work to the standard color.

Further, as another example of usage, a customer prints a color chart for color matching from a printer, the customer uses a color scanner to capture image data of the color chart, and sends it to the server 20. It is preferable that the gradation value correction table can be downloaded from the server 20. In this case, the customer selects and inputs the "color matching (scanner)" button on the menu screen, and the color scanner 50 takes in the image data of the color chart. Figure 2
0 indicates the gradation value correction table acquisition processing (No. 3) performed in step S385, together with the gradation value correction table output processing (No. 3) of the server 20.

On the customer's PC 30, the color scanner 50
To obtain the image data of the color chart, and obtain the image data from the color scanner 50 (step S702). Since image data is usually multi-gradation data consisting of RGB, RGB multi-gradation data is obtained for each color ink and each gradation of the color chart. Next, the list of registered traders stored in the registered trader storage area is obtained from the server 20, and the selection input of the traders is accepted (step S70).
4). Then, the selected and input trader and the acquired image data are sent to the server 20 (step S706). That is, the processes of steps S702 to S706 constitute the image data sending unit U13 that obtains the image data from the image capturing device and sends it to the server.

On the other hand, the server 20 acquires the image data of the color chart with the selectively input trader (step S72).
2). Next, the acquired image brightness data is converted into brightness data (step S724). Here, since the acquired image data includes gradation data of each color of R, G, and B, each gradation data may be converted into lightness data.
For example, each gradation data of R, G, B is converted into R, G,
When represented by B, the lightness data L can be roughly calculated by the following arithmetic expression (2).

L = 0.30 × R + 0.59 × G + 0.11 × B (2) Of course, this brightness data can be obtained by various methods. For example, each tone data is averaged or added. Alternatively, the brightness data may be obtained. If the image data has separated brightness data, the process of converting to brightness data can be omitted. That is, the processes of steps S722 to S724 constitute a lightness data acquisition unit in the sense that the lightness data of the color measurement image is acquired by converting the image data input from the client into the lightness data.

Then, based on the converted lightness data,
A brightness table T12 in which the brightness data of the color chart is stored for each gradation value for each color ink is created (step S726). Thereafter, similar to steps S676 to S680, the standard lightness table T11 is acquired and the gradation value correspondence table T13 is created (step S728), and the gradation value correction table for each color ink is created (step S730). The created gradation value correction table is output to the corresponding customer's PC 30 (step S732), and this flow ends.

The PC 30 acquires the same gradation value correction table (step S708) and incorporates it in the printer driver (step S710). Then, the above step S610
Similar to S to S612, it is determined whether or not to acquire the ICC profile (step S712), and when acquiring the ICC profile, the ICC profile acquisition process described later is performed (step S714), and the present flow ends. As described above, by using the image capturing device such as the color scanner, it is not necessary to measure the lightness data for each gradation of the color chart, and the work of measuring the lightness data is reduced. Needless to say, as the image capturing device, a digital camera may be used instead of the color scanner, or a device capable of capturing monochrome image data may be used.

The customer's PC 30 uses the above-mentioned step S.
By using steps 612, S664, and S714, the ICC profile for the standard printer of the printer owned by the selected vendor can be downloaded and installed in the hard disk 34a. FIG. 21 shows the ICC profile acquisition processing together with the ICC profile output processing of the server 20. First, the PC 30 obtains the list of registered traders stored in the registered trader storage area from the server 20 by the ICC profile acquisition means U17, and accepts the selection input of the trader (step S752). next,
An ICC profile acquisition request for requesting output of the ICC profile with the selectively input trader is sent to the server 20 (step S754).

When the server 20 obtains the ICC profile acquisition request or the like by the ICC profile output means U8 (step S772), the ICC profile corresponding to the user name of the selected and input trader is read from the ICC profile storage area (step S774). ). Then, the customer's P corresponding to the read ICC profile
The data is output to C30 (step S776), and this flow ends. The PC 30 acquires the ICC profile (step S756), installs it on the hard disk 34a (step S758), and ends this flow.

Then, the above steps S120 to S140.
When performing normal print control processing by
A standard color can be reproduced by adding a CC profile and converting the same print data into color data based on the LUT and the gradation value correction table. in this way,
The print control system can reduce the work of matching the color reproduced by the printer with the standard color printed by the printer standard machine according to various usage modes. That is, since it is only necessary to measure the lightness data of the color patches of multiple gradations printed for each color ink and obtain the gradation value correction table from the server via the Internet network, it is possible to combine multiple color inks. In addition, it is not necessary to measure a large number of color images, and it is not necessary to measure a plurality of items such as hue and saturation. Even if the customer is far from the place where the standard printer is installed, the gradation value correction table can be easily obtained from the server via the Internet. Further, the colors to be reproduced by the clients can be matched, and the ICC profile for the printer standard machine can be obtained by the communication means, which is very convenient.

(4) First Modification: The print control system of the present invention may have various configurations. 22 shows a schematic configuration of the print control system PCS2 according to the first modified example of the present invention, and FIG. 23 shows main means constituting the print control system PCS2 by a schematic block diagram.
The same components as those in FIGS. 1 and 5 are designated by the same reference numerals. The system PCS2 is a system for performing color matching with a standard color determined by a server administrator such as a printer maker. Therefore, a PC for a trader is not provided, the server 20 stores brightness data of standard colors for a plurality of printer models, and the client PC 3 is used.
The gradation value correction table is automatically created and output in response to a request from 0. That is, since the user does not need to register a trader, the present system PCS2 is suitable for reproducing standard colors on a large number of printers at the same time.

Since a PC for a trader is not provided, a trader storage means, a list output means, a selection input acceptance means, and a selection result output means are not provided. Then, the lightness data acquisition unit U2 can acquire the lightness data and image data of the color chart sent from the PC 30, and at the same time, the server 20.
Directly accept the input of the brightness data of the color chart from the administrator of
It is possible to obtain brightness data. Further, the standard color lightness data storage unit U1 stores the standard color lightness data in the standard color lightness data storage area M1 by directly receiving an input for each printer model from the administrator of the server 20, and at the same time, the ICC profile storage unit U7. The ICC profile is stored in the ICC profile storage area by directly receiving an input for each printer model from the administrator. Of course, in order for the administrator of the server 20 to input the lightness data of the color chart to the server, a client is provided through the Internet network 10, and the client receives and inputs the lightness data of the color chart. You may employ | adopt the structure which sends out lightness data etc. to a server.

Here, the processing of the printer driver performed by the PC 30 can be performed by the flow shown in FIG. Further, the various color matching processes can be performed according to the flow shown in FIG. 13 except for the flow of the trader registration process of step S370. However, since the user of the system PCS2 uses various types of printers, it is necessary to determine the printer type when creating the gradation value correction table. Therefore, the PC 30 is provided with the identification information sending means U18 so that the printer identification information can be sent to the server 20. Then, the color matching information creating unit U3 creates a gradation value correction table corresponding to the identification information.

FIG. 24 shows step S38 in FIG.
Gradation value correction table acquisition process (No. 2)
Is shown together with the gradation value correction table output processing (No. 2) of the server 20. First, the PC 30 accepts the input of the lightness data of the printed color chart (step S8).
02). Next, the identification information is acquired from the printer 40 (step S804). That is, when a request for obtaining printer identification information from the PC 30 is output to the printer 40, the printer 40 reads the printer identification information from the ROM 42 and outputs it to the PC 30, and the PC 30 obtains the printer identification information. Next, the acquired printer identification information and the input lightness data are sent to the server 20 (step S806). That is, step S804
The processes from S806 to S806 constitute the identification information sending unit U18 that obtains the identification information of the printer, which is a device that reproduces the colors with the plurality of printing coloring materials, and sends the identification information to the server.

When the server 20 acquires the identification information of the printer and the lightness data of the color chart (step S822), the server 20 determines whether a gradation value correction table can be created based on the identification information (step S824). . For example, referring to a model correspondence table (not shown) in which printer identification information and model are associated with each other, the printer model is acquired, and the brightness data of the standard color corresponding to the acquired printer model is stored in the standard color brightness data storage area M1. You can check whether it is stored in. When the brightness data of the standard color corresponding to the same model is not stored because the model of the printer is very old, the fact that the gradation value correction table cannot be created is created and output to the corresponding PC 30 ( Step S82
6) and this flow ends.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S824 that the gradation value correction table can be created, the standard brightness table T11 corresponding to the acquired printer model is acquired from the standard color brightness data storage area M1 (step S82).
8). After that, although not shown, a brightness table T12 is created based on the acquired brightness data of the color chart, a gradation value correspondence table T13 is created, and then a gradation value correction table for each color ink is created. Corresponding customer's PC 30
Is output (step S830), and the present flow ends.

That is, the processes of steps S822 to S830 constitute color matching information creating means for creating the color matching information based on the lightness data of the standard color corresponding to the identification information input from the client. PC30
Indicates that the gradation value correction table created in step S826 cannot be created, or acquires the gradation value correction table output in step S830 (step S808).
Then, it is judged whether or not the fact that the gradation value correction table cannot be created is acquired (step S810), and if the condition is satisfied, the fact that the gradation value correction table cannot be created is displayed (step S812), and this flow is executed. finish. On the other hand, step S
If the condition is not satisfied in step 810, the above step S658-
Similar to S660, the same gradation value correction table is acquired, incorporated in the printer driver, and this flow ends.

Even in the present system PCS2, it is sufficient to measure only the lightness data of the color patches of a plurality of gradations printed for each color ink and obtain the gradation value correction table from the server via the Internet. By reducing the work of matching the colors reproduced by the printer with the standard colors, it is possible to easily obtain the gradation value correction table. Further, unlike the first embodiment, the user does not need to register a trader, and thus the system PCS2 is suitable for reproducing standard colors at the same time by a large number of printers.

(5) Second Modified Example: In the first and first modified examples, the gradation value correction table is used as the color matching information, but a calculation formula is used instead of the gradation value correction table. You may. In this case, for example, a standard lightness table corresponding to the printer standard machine shown in FIG. 9 and a lightness table corresponding to the printer user machine are created, and the gradation value correspondence table is replaced by multivariate analysis such as regression analysis. It is possible to create a calculation formula that associates a gradation value for each color ink. Then, when the created formula for each color ink is downloaded and incorporated into the printer driver of the PC 30, the color data can be corrected by referring to the formula.

Further, the LUT itself used in step S125 of FIG. 10 may be modified to use the modified LUT as the color matching information. FIG. 25 shows an example of a corrected color conversion table output process for correcting and outputting the LUT. Note that this flow is performed instead of the gradation value correction table output processing (No. 2) of FIG. 19 performed by the server 20. First, the server 20 uses the brightness data acquisition unit U2 to acquire the brightness data of the color chart from the PC 30 (step S902). Next, the above step S674-
Similar to 678, based on the acquired brightness data, a brightness table T12 in which the brightness data of the color chart is stored for each gradation value for each color ink is created, and the corresponding standard brightness table T11 is created.
And a gradation value correspondence table T13 for each color ink is created based on the standard brightness table T11 and the brightness table T12 (step S904). Further, the LUT of the model corresponding to the printer 40 used by the customer is acquired from the predetermined color conversion table storage area provided in the hard disk 24a (step S906).

Then, the LUT is corrected for each CMYK component of the LUT based on the gradation value correction table for each color ink (step S908). For example, assuming that the LUT is modified in the order of CMYK components, first, the cyan gradation value correction table is referred to, and the LUT before modification is referenced.
Of these, only the C component is converted. Next, the gradation value correction table for magenta is referred to, and only the M component of the LUT before correction is converted. Similar processing is performed for the Y and K components. The gradation value correction table is L before correction.
Since it is a table that associates the gradation values of the color data converted by the UT with the gradation values that are reproduced so as to match the standard color, the modified LUT is converted from the print data and the print data. In addition, it becomes a table in which the color data corresponding to the standard color of the color ink is reproduced. The corrected LUT becomes the color matching information.

When modifying the LUT in step S908, the LUT may be modified based on the gradation value correspondence table instead of the gradation value correction table. After that, the created modified LUT is output to the corresponding customer's PC 30 (step S910), and this flow ends.
On the PC 30, the L corrected by the flow not shown
Incorporate the UT into the printer driver. Then, when converting the print data into the color data, the color data corresponding to each color ink can be created by referring to the LUT so as to match the standard color. That is, the color conversion table can be provided in the form of a color conversion table in which the correspondence between input and output is modified. Then, by using the corrected color conversion table, it becomes possible to convert the print data into the color data once.

(6) Third Modification: By the way, the server 20
When the color matching information creating unit U3 creates the color matching information such as the gradation value correction table, the brightness data of the standard color,
The lightness data of the color measurement image printed by the printer user machine may be output to a predetermined display or printing device, and the input of the data for color matching may be accepted to create the color matching information. FIG. 26 shows an example of the processing. Note that this flow is performed by the server 20 shown in FIG.
This is performed instead of the gradation value correction table creation processing of.

First, the server 20 acquires the lightness data of the color chart by the lightness data acquisition means U2 (step S1002). Next, based on the acquired brightness data,
The brightness table T12 for each color ink as shown in FIG.
Is created (step S1004). Further, the standard brightness table T11 for each corresponding color ink is acquired from the standard color brightness data storage area M1, and the standard brightness table T11 is acquired.
11 and the brightness table T12 are output to a display or the like (step S1006). Then, the input of the gradation value correction data which is the data of the gradation value after the correction corresponding to the gradation value before the correction is received (step S1008). The gradation value correction data may be the corrected gradation value data stored in the gradation value correspondence table T13, or may be the corrected gradation value data stored in the gradation value correction table. Good. For example, when the corrected gradation value data stored in the gradation value correspondence table T13 is input, the person who inputs the same data inputs the gradation value data for 17 gradations for each color ink. .

After that, a gradation value correction table as shown in FIG. 7 is created based on the input gradation value correction data. At that time, if there is no corrected gradation value correction data corresponding to the uncorrected gradation value, the corrected gradation value corresponding to the uncorrected gradation value is obtained by interpolation calculation to obtain the gradation value. A value correction table is created (step S1010). And
The gradation value correction table is stored in the hard disk 24a (step S1012), and this flow ends.

That is, steps S1006 to S101.
The color matching information creating unit U3 can also be configured by the process of 2. When inputting / outputting data to / from the server 20, a display, a keyboard or the like may be directly connected to the server 20 to input / output data, or a predetermined connection to the Internet network 10 may be performed. Data may be input and output from a computer. (7) Other various modifications: The print control system of the present invention may have various configurations.

For example, the printer may be integrated with a computer. In addition to the printer using a piezo element that ejects color ink to form dots, for example, a bubble printer that ejects color ink by generating bubbles in the ink passage may be used. Further, a printer in which the size of dots to be formed is variable, such as a so-called variable printer, may be used. Of course, in addition to the inkjet printer, a laser printer using color toner or the like may be used. In this case, the color toner serves as the printing colorant according to the present invention.

In addition to the combination of CMYK, a plurality of color inks include CMY and low density cyan (c).
CMYKcm etc. which also used low concentration magenta (m),
Various combinations are possible. Of course, the plurality of color inks may be filled in a plurality of ink cartridges, or may be filled in one ink cartridge. Furthermore, the flow shown in FIG. 10 may be executed not only in the PC but also in part or in whole by a printer or a dedicated image processing apparatus.

As described above, according to the present invention, data for reproducing the standard color by reducing the work of matching the color reproduced by a plurality of printing coloring agents with the standard color according to various modes. It is possible to provide a print control system that can easily obtain the. Further, the server functions as an apparatus that performs the above-mentioned processing and outputs information by being connected to the client so that the server can perform bidirectional communication. Therefore, the present invention can also be applied as a print control apparatus. Furthermore, this print control system and print control device
It is also applicable as a print control method, a print control program, and a medium in which the program is recorded.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a print control system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a hardware configuration of a server.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a hardware configuration of a PC.

FIG. 4 is a block configuration diagram showing a block configuration of a printer together with a PC.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of main means constituting a print control system.

FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing a schematic configuration of a printer driver of a PC.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of a gradation value correction table.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printed color chart.

FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically showing how a gradation value correspondence table is created from a standard brightness table and a brightness table.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an outline of processing of a printer driver of a PC.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a monochromatic printing color data creation process.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an outline of various color matching processes performed by a PC of a trader.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an outline of various color matching processes performed by a customer's PC.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing standard color lightness data transmission processing together with standard color lightness data storage processing of the server.

FIG. 15 shows an ICC profile transmission process performed by the server I
It is a flowchart shown together with a CC profile storage process.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a customer-side trader registration process together with a server-side trader registration process.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing customer brightness data transmission processing together with gradation value correction table creation processing of the server.

FIG. 18 shows a gradation value correction table acquisition process (No. 1)
It is a flowchart shown with the gradation value correction table output process (the 1) of a server.

FIG. 19 shows a gradation value correction table acquisition process (No. 2)
It is a flowchart shown with a gradation value correction table output process (the 2) of a server.

FIG. 20 shows a gradation value correction table acquisition process (part 3)
It is a flowchart shown with the gradation value correction table output process (the 3) of a server.

FIG. 21 shows an ICC profile acquisition process performed by the server I
It is a flow chart shown with CC profile output processing.

FIG. 22 is a schematic configuration diagram of a print control system according to a first modification of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of main means constituting a print control system.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing a gradation value correction table acquisition process (No. 2) together with a server gradation value correction table output process (No. 2) in the first modified example.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing modified color conversion table output processing of a server in the second modified example.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing a gradation value correction table creation process of a server in a modified example.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Internet network 20 ... server 30,60 ... Personal computer (PC) 40 ... Printer 50 ... Color scanner 70 ... Standard printer PCS1, PCS2 ... Printing control system U1 ... Standard color lightness data storage means U2 ... Brightness data acquisition means U3 ... Color matching information creation means U4 ... Color matching information output means U5 ... Merchant storage means U6 ... List output means U7 ... ICC profile storage means U8 ... ICC profile output means U11, U21 ... Image print control means for color measurement U12, U22 ... Brightness data transmitting means U13 ... Image data sending means U14 ... Color matching information acquisition means U15 ... Selection input acceptance means U16 ... Selection result output means U17 ... ICC profile acquisition means U18 ... Identification information transmitting means U23 ... Standard color lightness data transmission means U24 ... ICC profile sending means M1 ... Standard color brightness data storage area T1 ... Gradation value correction table T11 ... Standard brightness table T12 ... Brightness table T13 ... Tone value correspondence table

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F term (reference) 2C087 AA15 AC07 AC08 BA03 BA12                       BD36 BD53                 5B021 AA01 BB01 BB04 BB09 CC05                       EE04 LL05                 5C062 AA05 AA14 AA25 AA29 AB38                       AC34 AC56 AE03 AF14                 5C077 MP08 PP15 PP32 PP33 PP37                       PQ12 PQ22 PQ23 SS05 TT05                 5C079 HA02 HB01 HB03 HB12 KA15                       LA12 LB01 MA01 MA04 MA10                       MA11 MA19 PA03

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. In order to reproduce a predetermined standard color, a two-way communication is connected with a client that converts color data based on predetermined color matching information, and the same color matching information is created and created. A server for color matching sent to a client, wherein the means for acquiring data relating to the actual color sent from the client, and the color matching information based on the acquired data and the standard color data And a means for outputting the created color matching information to the client. 2. A color matching server for creating and transmitting color matching information for reproducing a predetermined standard color is connected so as to be capable of bidirectional communication, and color data conversion is performed based on the same color matching information. A client for performing color matching, a means for sending data on the actual color in the environment of the client to the server, a means for acquiring the color matching information from the server, and the color data based on the same color matching information. And a means for converting the color matching client. 3. A printing method, in which print data is input and converted into color data corresponding to a plurality of printing coloring materials, based on predetermined color matching information so that a predetermined standard color can be reproduced. A print control server that is connected to the control client so that it can perform bidirectional communication, creates the same color matching information based on the measurement data of the print control client, and sends it to the print control client. Measurement data acquisition means for acquiring measurement data of a color measurement image having a plurality of gradations for each of the plurality of printing colorants, and measurement data of the color measurement image for each printing colorant, which are acquired in advance. A color matching information creating means for creating the color matching information based on the measured data of the standard color corresponding to the printed coloring material, and the color matching information. A print control server comprising: color match information output means for outputting the color match information created by the creating means to the print control client. 4. A plurality of printing coloring agents, which are connected to a print control server for creating and transmitting color matching information for reproducing a predetermined standard color so as to be capable of bidirectional communication and for inputting print data. When converting to color data compatible with
A print control client that performs color data conversion based on the same color matching information, and performs control for printing a color measurement image of a plurality of gradations for each of the plurality of printing colorants described above. Means, a data sending means for receiving the input of the measurement data of the color measurement image and sending it to the print control server, a color matching information acquiring means for acquiring the color matching information from the print control server, and the same color matching information And a means for converting the print data into the color data based on the above. 5. The measurement data of the print control client is lightness data of a color measurement image having a plurality of gradations for each of the plurality of printing colorants, and the measurement data of the standard color is also lightness data, 4. The print control server according to claim 3, wherein the color matching information creating unit creates the color matching information based on the lightness data of both. 6. The color measurement image measurement data is lightness data, and the data sending means receives the lightness data of the color measurement image and sends it to the print control server. The print control client according to item 4. 7. When inputting print data and converting it into color data corresponding to a plurality of printing colorants, a predetermined standard color is reproduced so that a predetermined standard color can be reproduced when printing is performed using the same color data. And a print control server that is connected to the print control client so as to be capable of bidirectional communication and that creates the color match information and sends it to the print control client. A print control system, wherein the print control client includes a color measurement image print control unit that controls printing of a plurality of gradations of color measurement images for each of the plurality of printing color materials, and the color measurement. Brightness data sending means for receiving input of brightness data of the image for sending to the print control server, and the color matching information from the print control server The print control server includes a standard color lightness data storage area in which the lightness data of the standard color is stored, and the printing colorant printed by the print control client. Lightness data acquisition means for acquiring the lightness data of the color measurement image for each, the lightness data of the color measurement image for each printing colorant, and the lightness data of the standard color corresponding to the printing colorant And a color matching information output unit for outputting the color matching information created by the color matching information creating unit to the print control client. The print control client causes the color measurement image print control means to print the color measurement image for each of a plurality of printing colorants, and sends the lightness data. Means for receiving the lightness data of the color measurement image and sending it to the print control server, and when the print control server acquires the lightness data from the print control client by the lightness data acquisition means, Color matching information is created by the color matching information creating means based on the brightness data and the brightness data stored in the standard color brightness data storage area, and the created color matching information is used for the color matching. The information output means outputs to the print control client, the print control client acquires the color matching information from the print control server by the color matching information acquiring means, and prints based on the same color matching information. A print control system characterized by converting data into the color data. 8. The print control client includes image data sending means for obtaining the image data of an image data for the color measurement image from an image loading device and sending the image data to the print control server, and obtaining the lightness data. 8. The print control system according to claim 7, wherein the means acquires the lightness data of the color measuring image by converting the same image data input from the print control client into lightness data. 9. The print control system according to claim 8, wherein the image capturing device is a scanner. 10. The color matching information is a gradation value of color data converted from the print data and a gradation value for color reproduction to match the standard color with a printing colorant corresponding to the color data. The print control system according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the print control system is a gradation value correction table that associates and. 11. The print control system according to claim 7, wherein the color matching information is provided in the form of a color conversion table in which the correspondence between input and output is modified. . 12. The print control client comprises a first print control client and a second print control client. The first print control client accepts input of lightness data of the standard color and outputs the standard color of the input standard color. A standard color lightness data sending unit for sending lightness data to the print control server is provided, wherein the print control server stores the lightness data of the standard color input from the first print control client in the standard color lightness data storage area. The color matching information output means stores the color matching information created based on the brightness data of the standard color input from the first print control client. 12. The print control system according to claim 7, wherein the print control system outputs the print control system to the second print control client. Mu. 13. The standard color lightness data storage means of the print control server can individually store the lightness data input from a plurality of the first print control clients for each first print control client. At the same time, the print control server includes a list output unit that generates a list of the first print control clients to which the same brightness data is input and outputs the list to the second print control client. The control client includes a selection input receiving means for selecting a specific first print control client based on the list output from the list output means, and the first print control client selected and input to the print control server. Selection result output means for sending, and the color matching information creating means receives the selection input sent from the selection result output means. Creating the color matching information corresponding to the lightness data of the second print control client while specifying the lightness data of the standard color based on the first print control client; 13. The print control system according to claim 12, wherein the matching information is output to the second print control client. 14. The print control client includes identification information sending means for acquiring the identification information of an apparatus for color reproduction by the plurality of printing colorants and sending it to the print control server, and the color matching information creating means. 14. The printing according to claim 7, wherein the color matching information is created based on the brightness data of the standard color corresponding to the identification information input from the print control client. Control system. 15. A printing method in which, when inputting print data and converting it into color data corresponding to a plurality of printing colorants, conversion is performed based on predetermined color matching information so that a predetermined standard color can be reproduced. A print control method, wherein the print control server is connected to a control client so as to be able to perform two-way communication, creates the same color matching information based on the measurement data of the print control client, and sends the print information to the print control client. A measurement data acquisition step of acquiring measurement data of a color measurement image having a plurality of gradations for each of the plurality of printing colorants printed by the print control client; Color matching information for creating the color matching information based on the measurement data and the measurement data of the standard color corresponding to the printing coloring material obtained in advance. Formation process and the printing control method characterized by comprising a color matching information output step of outputting the color matching information created in this color matching information generating step to said print control client.