JP2006197410A - Color printer system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a color printer system capable of always obtaining a target color by adjusting colors managed in a color profile in accordance with variation. <P>SOLUTION: When a color adjustment execution button 300 is pressed down, a color adjustment sheet 400 with colors subjected to color conversion and a pattern in a prescribed shape are printed is printed out. On the color adjustment sheet 400, hues (six sectoral hues indicated by 1 to 6 obtained by dividing each circle) obtained by equally dividing a hue circle into each of six circular stages of C1, C2 to C6 (for graphic) and C7, C8 to C12 (for photographic image) and further equally dividing each hue into six stages respectively indicated by 1 to 6 numbers are printed. Colors of a color profile are adjusted by comparing the color adjustment sheet 400 with a target color sheet on which target colors of hues corresponding to the C1, C2 to C6 and C7, C8 to C12 are printed with visual observation and inputting the numbers being the closest to the target colors. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a color printer system, and more particularly to a method for adjusting the color of output data.

  In conventional color printers, color matching profile data is generally fixed, and adjustments according to the output environment of the printer and reflection of user's favorite colors are basically performed in the item of “color adjustment”. . Color adjustment generally changes the contrast, brightness, and saturation of the entire color, but the target is not clear. Also, it is difficult to adjust only a part of the image. On the other hand, at present, for example, when printing by connecting several printers in parallel, even if the same image is printed out, the color may change due to machine differences between printer bodies, etc. There are many cases where the difference in color due to fluctuations is a concern. The cause is considered to be a deviation from the color design time, and it is considered that the difference disappears by correcting it.

Conventionally, a technique for returning the gradation of each CMYK single color to that at the time of design has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 4). Further, although there is a technique related to color adjustment when using a scanner (see, for example, Patent Document 5), it is not color adjustment for a single printer that does not have a scanner.
JP 2001-130056 A JP 2002-120405 A JP 2002-142116 A JP 2002-283680 A Japanese Patent No. 3241986

Regarding the printer color adjustment, there are examples proposed in the system using the scanner as described above, and regarding the monochrome gradation correction for correcting the machine difference and the aging change of the printer, the sheet output is performed. Sometimes it is done in the form of a comparison of printed matter. However, there is a problem that even if only the gradation of a single color is adjusted, there is a part that cannot be adjusted for the color created by superimposing them.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a color printer system that can always obtain the same color as that at the time of color design by adjusting to the original intended color.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a color printer system comprising: a plurality of colors specified by lightness, hue, and saturation input; a plurality of pattern images having a predetermined shape; color profile information having arrangement information thereof; and the input Color processing means for performing color processing using the color profile according to information and generating output image information using a plurality of current colors obtained by the color processing, and printing means for printing out the output image information And is provided.

A color printer system according to a second aspect of the present invention is the color printer system according to the first aspect, wherein a plurality of image patterns are provided at positions corresponding to the arrangement of the plurality of image patterns, and each image pattern is a target color for each color in the output image information. It is characterized by having the printed matter which has each.
A color printer system according to a third aspect of the present invention is the color printer system according to the second aspect, wherein the output image information is printed by comparing the color of the printed matter with the output image information with the target color of the printed matter having the target color. The arrangement information of the color closest to the target color among the colors of the object is input, and the color processing means performs color adjustment targeting the target color corresponding to the input arrangement information. .

A color printer system according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in any one of the first to third aspects, the number of colors near each input color in the color profile information can be switched.
A color printer system according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that in any one of the first to fourth aspects, the number of the input colors can be switched.
A color printer system according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that in any one of the third to fifth aspects, the state before the color adjustment can be restored.

A color printer system according to a seventh aspect of the invention is characterized in that, in any one of the third to sixth aspects, whether or not the color adjustment is automatically performed at regular intervals.
The color printer system according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is the color printer system according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, wherein the output image information printed and the object having the target color are each in sheet form. is there.

According to the first aspect of the invention, the same color (target color) as that at the time of color design can always be obtained. Further, the color information can be obtained by dividing the color space substantially evenly, and the color for the photographic information and the color information for the graphics information can be obtained at a time.
According to the invention of claim 2, by making the layout of the printed matter easy to see when combined with the invention of claim 1, it is possible to easily compare the target color with the current color and the candidate color as the target color. Can do.

According to the invention of claim 3, by selecting a color close to the target color, the stored color information corresponding to the selected color is used to change the color profile to an appropriate one that matches the target color, Thereafter, by using it, appropriate color reproduction becomes possible.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to finely select a candidate to be a target color for color adjustment, so that accuracy is improved.
According to the invention of claim 5, since the input color used for color adjustment can be taken more finely, the color space can be divided more finely and more accurate color adjustment can be performed.

According to the invention of claim 6, when color adjustment fails, it can be restored.
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the printer can always be kept in a constant color state by displaying a screen that prompts color adjustment at regular intervals.
According to the invention of claim 8, by making the printed material into a sheet shape, it is possible to obtain an easy-to-handle product.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a color printer system to which the present invention can be applied.
In FIG. 13, 100 is a host computer and 102 is a printer. In the printer 102, reference numeral 103 denotes an image processing apparatus which receives data from the host computer 100 or the like, converts the data into a format that can be output, and writes it in the image buffer. An image output device 104 prints out an image written in the image buffer on an output medium (mostly paper) 110.

  The host computer 100 includes an application 108 used by a user, an OS drawing control unit 109 that controls the whole, and a printer driver 101. The printer driver 101 includes a control unit 105, a color analysis device 106, a color adjustment device 107, and a drawing command analysis device (not shown).

The printing process is generally performed according to the following flow.
The printer driver 101 receives data from the application 108 via the OS drawing control unit 109, converts the data into a data format that can be processed by the printer 102, and sends the converted data to the printer 102. The printer 102 processes the data with the image processing apparatus 103, sends the processed data to the image output apparatus 104, and the image output apparatus 104 prints out the data onto a paper 110 or the like.

  Of the above processes, a color-related process will be described. The drawing command received from the OS drawing control unit 109 is analyzed by the color analysis device 106 in the printer driver 101, and compared with the user settings to the printer driver 101, an appropriate color profile is specified and the color data is color. Passed to the adjustment device 107.

FIG. 14 shows a conventional color adjustment apparatus 107.
In FIG. 14, a color fine adjustment device 202 performs overall color fine adjustment based on RGB based on fine adjustment of an input color designated by the user. The color conversion apparatus 201 converts the color that can be seen on the monitor into a color that can be realized by the printer 102 by referring to the specified color of the color profile 203, and returns the processed output color data to the control unit 105.

  In the present invention, a color adjustment sheet, which will be described later, is printed out when this color adjustment is performed. FIG. 6 shows an image quality adjustment screen according to the third level of the driver screen according to the present invention, which is provided with a color adjustment execution button 300 for outputting a color adjustment sheet. 4 and 5 show driver screens according to levels 1 and 2 up to level 3 in FIG. 6, FIG. 4 shows a property push screen, and FIG. 5 shows a user setting check screen.

  In the color fine adjustment device 202 in the conventional color adjustment device 107 of FIG. 14, the image quality adjustment screen of FIG. 6 does not have the color adjustment execution button 300 according to the present invention, and the brightness, contrast, saturation, and color balance can be easily set. It was something to be adjusted. Further, this color adjustment is uniformly applied to the entire printing operation, and is applied to the entire screen or for each object, so that a delicate adjustment cannot be performed. Also, when there are multiple printers, even if the target color is the same, the color and density of each printer may change unintentionally, or even if one printer has been used for a while, The concentration may change. In that case, it is possible to adjust the density to the target value using the gradation correction sheet. However, even when the density of the CMYK single color matches the target value, the color at the time of color mixing may differ from the target value.

  Therefore, the color adjustment according to this embodiment is intended to adjust to the target color by adjusting the color managed in the color profile according to the variation. For this reason, in this embodiment, the user prints out a color adjustment sheet on which a color adjustment pattern is printed using the current color profile, and the target color is printed on the color adjustment sheet. By comparing with the target color sheet, the user selects and sets a visually good one, and the correction according to this setting is reflected in the color profile, so that the same color as the color design (target color) ) Is always available.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the color adjustment apparatus 107 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The parts corresponding to those in FIG.
The color adjustment apparatus 107 according to the present embodiment is obtained by newly adding a color adjustment sheet control apparatus 205 and a new color profile 204 as shown in the figure. The color adjustment sheet control device 205 creates a new color profile 204 in which the adjusted color is reflected in the old color profile 203 when color adjustment is performed using the color adjustment sheet, details of which will be described later.

  When the user presses (clicks) the color adjustment execution button 300 shown in FIG. 6, a screen for selecting whether or not to print the color adjustment sheet shown in FIG. 7 is displayed. When “Yes” is pressed, the image quality shown in FIG. A color adjustment sheet 400 as shown in FIG. 1 on which a color-converted color and a pattern having a predetermined shape are printed is printed out using the image processing method specified on the adjustment screen.

  FIG. 1 shows a color adjustment sheet 400 according to the first embodiment. In this color adjustment sheet 400, the hue circle is equally divided into six stages of circles C1, C2 to C6 and C7, C8 to C12, and each hue is equally divided into six stages indicated by numbers 1 to 6, respectively. Hue divided into six (six fan-shaped hues indicated by 1 to 6 obtained by dividing each circle) are printed. In general, since the color is different between processing for a photographic image and processing for a graphics system, the formats of the color adjustment sheet 400 are for graphics (C1, C2-C6) and for photographic images (C7, C8-C12). ) In one page. In the present embodiment, the printed color adjustment sheet 400 is adjusted to a target color by comparing it with a target color sheet 500 as shown in FIG.

FIG. 2 shows a target color sheet 500 according to this embodiment.
The target color sheet 500 has circles corresponding to C1, C2-C6 and C7, C8-C12 of the color adjustment sheet 400 as shown in the figure, and a hole 501 is formed in each circle. Around each circular hole 501, target colors (design colors) of hues corresponding to C1, C2 to C6 and C7, C8 to C12 in the color adjustment sheet 400 are applied. Such a target color sheet 500 is created in advance by printing or the like. The hole 501 is concentric with the circle in the color adjustment sheet 400 and slightly smaller than the circle.

  When the target color sheet 500 of FIG. 2 is overlaid on the color adjustment sheet 400 of FIG. 1, the color of the color adjustment sheet 400 can be seen from each hole 501, so that the color of the color adjustment sheet 400, that is, at the present time of this printer. It is possible to easily compare the output color and the target colors around the output color. If the current output color does not match the target color, a color that matches or corresponds to the corresponding target color is selected from the six candidate colors (fan-shaped colors), and the number (for example, C1) is selected. 2 and C7, 5 etc .: arrangement information).

  FIG. 8 shows an example of the screen for the input. In this example, the numbers 3, 2, 3, 5, 4, and 6 are input as arrangement information for the colors C1, C2 to C6. When the selection is completed, the color adjustment is executed by pressing the input end button.

In the color adjustment device 107 in FIG. 3, the color adjustment sheet control device 205 changes the corresponding change from the input number and the output value of the color of the color adjustment sheet 400 when the color is created. Changes to be embedded in the color profile 203 are made and stored as a new color profile 204. At this time, the original profile is saved separately.
According to the present embodiment, in the future printing operation, by using the new color profile 204, it becomes possible to continue printing in a state close to the target color. Further, since the color obtained by equally dividing the hue circle is used as an input, the entire color space can be adjusted substantially uniformly.

Next, a second embodiment will be described.
In the first embodiment, the number of divisions for one input number is 6 including the current color, but in the present embodiment, this can be changed within a certain range. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the processing for that purpose.

  In FIG. 9, first, it is determined whether the type of input color is standard or more (S1). If standard, a standard color adjustment sheet (for example, FIG. 1) is printed (S2). In the case of increasing the number, a color adjustment sheet composed of different colors is printed (S3). The target color candidate number of the same color on the color adjustment sheet printed as described above is designated (S6). When the standard is designated, the color adjustment sheet is printed with the standard number of divisions (for example, 6 in FIG. 1) (S7). If not standard, a specified number of divisions (for example, 8) of color adjustment sheets are printed (S8).

  According to the present embodiment, since the number of colors that are candidates other than the current color for the input can be designated, the number of candidates is increased, more detailed settings are possible, and highly accurate color adjustment can be performed. In addition, since the types of input colors can be increased by switching to the detailed mode, sheets with the same sheet shape and different input colors can be additionally printed out. In this case, a corresponding target color sheet is prepared in advance. As described above, color adjustment can be performed in more detail.

In the third embodiment, the state before color adjustment can be restored.
For example, by displaying as shown in FIG. 10 and pressing “Yes”, it is displayed as shown in FIG. 11 and the previous data is saved at the time of color adjustment. Process by returning to.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart according to this embodiment.
When a predetermined time has elapsed since the initial screen of the printer driver was opened (S11, Yes), a screen for prompting color adjustment is displayed (S12). Next, it is determined whether or not to perform color adjustment (S13). Also, the process proceeds to S13 while the predetermined time does not elapse in S11. Next, it is determined whether or not to print the color adjustment sheet (S14). If printing is not performed, the original color adjustment value is restored (S15), the original color profile is restored (S16), and the process ends. When printing is performed, the sheet is printed (S17). Then, a screen for prompting input of a number for selecting a color that matches or is considered to be the same as the target color is displayed (S18). Is determined (S20). If they are the same, the process ends. If they are different, color adjustment is performed, and the default value is reflected in the new color profile. At this time, the original color profile is stored (S21).

  According to the processing of FIG. 12, when a certain time (or a certain number of times) has elapsed when the printer driver initial screen is opened, the user himself / herself has a screen on which the color adjustment execution button 300 of FIG. Even if it does not go to, it is possible to prompt the user to adjust the color by displaying the meaning of “a certain time has passed. It is recommended to perform color adjustment”.

It is a block diagram which shows the color adjustment sheet | seat by the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the target color sheet by the 1st Embodiment of this invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a color adjustment device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the driver screen of the hierarchy 1. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the driver screen of the hierarchy 2. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the driver screen of the hierarchy 3 which provided the color adjustment execution button by embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows a color adjustment display execution confirmation screen. It is a block diagram which shows a color adjustment input screen. It is a flowchart which shows the process by the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the confirmation screen for returning to the original color adjustment state. It is a block diagram which shows the display screen of returning to the original color adjustment state. It is a flowchart which shows the process by the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating a color printer system to which the present invention can be applied. It is a block diagram which shows the conventional color adjustment apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Host computer 101 Printer driver 102 Printer 103 Image processing apparatus 104 Image output apparatus 105 Control part 106 Color analysis apparatus 107 Color adjustment apparatus 108 Application 109 OS drawing control part 110 Paper etc. 201 Color conversion apparatus 202 Color fine adjustment apparatus 203 Color profile 204 New color profile 205 Color adjustment sheet control device 300 Color adjustment execution button 400 Color adjustment sheet 500 Target color sheet 501 Hole

Claims (8)

Color profile information having a plurality of pattern images made up of a plurality of colors and predetermined shapes specified by input brightness, hue, saturation, and arrangement information thereof,
Color processing means for performing color processing using the color profile according to the input information, and generating output image information using a plurality of current colors obtained by the color processing;
A color printer system comprising printing means for printing out the output image information.   2. The printed matter having a plurality of image patterns at positions corresponding to the arrangement of the plurality of image patterns, each image pattern having a target color for each color in the output image information. Color printer system.   The color of the object printed with the output image information is compared with the target color of the printed object having the target color, and the arrangement information of the color closest to the target color among the colors of the object printed with the output image information is obtained. 3. The color printer system according to claim 2, wherein the color processing unit performs input color adjustment and the target color corresponding to the input arrangement information is targeted.   4. The color printer system according to claim 1, wherein the number of colors near each input color in the color profile information can be switched.   The color printer system according to claim 1, wherein the number of the input colors can be switched.   6. The color printer system according to claim 3, wherein the color printer system can be returned to a state before the color adjustment.   7. The color printer system according to claim 3, wherein whether or not the color adjustment is automatically performed at regular intervals is confirmed.   The color printer system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the output image information printed and the object having the target color are each in the form of a sheet.

Images