JP2016186690A - Print control unit, print control method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

A print control apparatus for performing printing with a specified color, and a print control apparatus for easily printing a specified area of a print target image with a desired color. A print control apparatus that transmits print data and causes a printer to execute printing includes a storage unit that stores color conversion information of a specific color, and a driver unit that generates the print data from input first image data And a spot color setting unit that sets the color conversion information, and the spot color setting unit outputs second image data based on the print data. [Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a print control apparatus and the like for performing printing with a specified color, and more particularly to a print control apparatus and the like that enables easy printing with a desired color for a specified area of a print target image.

  When printing with a printer, the portion to be printed with corporate colors or the like needs to be accurately printed with the color specified by the user in the output printed matter. In order to realize printing with such a special color (hereinafter referred to as “spot color”), conventionally, a method of processing image data of an image to be printed (an image file containing the image) itself has been taken. It was.

  Regarding the printing of such special colors, the following Patent Document 1 describes a color reproduction method for an overlapping portion of a special color and other colors. Patent Document 2 below describes that a plurality of images with different color balances are printed, and desired color matching is realized based on the image selected by the user. Patent Document 3 below describes a technique for matching a print color with a sample color.

JP 2006-173801 A JP 2001-36759 A JP 2003-134349 A

  However, in the method of processing the image data described above, the user himself / herself performs an operation of changing the color information of the target portion using the image editing application, so that the burden on the user is heavy. Further, depending on the file format of the image data to be processed, there are cases where the processing cannot be performed or the processed color changes after printing. Furthermore, in the operation of changing the color information, there is a possibility that other image data that does not need to be changed is erroneously changed.

  Moreover, the said patent document does not show the solution about these subjects.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is a print control apparatus for performing printing with a designated color, and a print control apparatus that enables easy printing with a desired color for a designated area of a print target image, Etc. is to provide.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, a print control apparatus that transmits print data and causes a printer to execute printing is input to a storage unit that stores color conversion information of a specific color. A driver unit that generates the print data from the first image data; and a spot color setting unit that sets the color conversion information. The spot color setting unit outputs the second image data based on the print data. That's it.

  Further, in the above invention, a preferred aspect is characterized in that the color conversion information stores the color value of the original color in association with the color value of the original color for the specific color.

  Furthermore, in the above invention, a preferred aspect is that the spot color setting unit displays an image based on the second image data, and obtains a color value received from an instruction of the displayed image as a color value of the original color. It is characterized by.

  Further, in the above invention, a preferred aspect is characterized in that the spot color setting unit outputs a patch image of the original color and a peripheral color of the original color.

  Furthermore, in the above invention, a preferred aspect is that the spot color setting unit acquires the patch identification information of the patch image, and sets the color value of the patch image associated with the acquired patch identification information in the color conversion information. The color value after the conversion is used.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print control method for transmitting print data and causing a printer to execute printing. Generating the print data from the data, outputting the second image data based on the print data, and setting the color conversion information according to the second image data.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to still another aspect of the present invention, a step of storing color conversion information of a specific color in a computer that transmits print data and causes a printer to execute printing, and a first input are provided. Generating the print data from the image data; outputting the second image data based on the print data; and setting the color conversion information according to the second image data. It is a program to let you.

  Further objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the embodiments of the invention described below.

1 is a configuration diagram according to an embodiment of a printing system including a printing control apparatus to which the present invention is applied. 6 is a diagram illustrating information stored in a spot color conversion list 17. FIG. It is the flowchart which illustrated the procedure of the setting process of spot color conversion information. It is the figure which showed an example of the spot color setting screen. It is a figure which shows an example of the output patch image. It is the flowchart which showed an example of the process sequence at the time of printing.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, such an embodiment does not limit the technical scope of the present invention. In the drawings, the same or similar elements are denoted by the same reference numerals or reference symbols.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram according to an embodiment of a printing system including a printing control apparatus to which the present invention is applied. A host apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a print control apparatus to which the present invention is applied. The host device 1 generates print data based on special color conversion information (special color conversion list 17, specific color conversion information) set in advance at the time of printing. Further, the host device 1 uses the image data after the rendering processing by the driver unit 12 when setting the spot color conversion information (spot color conversion list 17), and displays an image area (position) for setting a spot color for the user. ) Acquisition, printing of the color of the image area and its surrounding color patch image, and determination and storage of the spot color based on the selected patch image. With these processes, the user can set a desired spot color with an easy operation, and can print the spot color with a desired color.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printing system according to the present embodiment includes a host device 1 and a printer 2 connected to the host device 1 so as to be communicable.

  The host device 1 is a host computer of the printer 2 that gives a print instruction to the printer 2, and is configured by a personal computer, for example. Therefore, although not shown, the host device 1 is composed of a CPU, RAM, ROM, HDD, and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the host device 1 includes an application unit 11, a driver unit 12, a spot color setting unit 15, a display unit 13, an operation unit 14, an image file 16, and a spot color conversion list 17 as functional configurations.

  The application unit 11 is a print request source for the printer 2, and when printing is requested, image data to be printed (hereinafter referred to as original image data) is sent to the driver unit 12 by an instruction operation on the host device 1 by the user. Send. The original image data is data in a standard format (for example, a format conforming to GDI (Graphical Data Interface)) in which print targets such as characters and graphics are expressed in object units. Also, in the original image data, the color of the image is expressed by RGB (red, green, blue) multivalue (for example, 256 gradations from 0 to 255) as an example. However, depending on the data format of the image data, color values such as RGB may not be easily acquired or may not be easily processed. Further, when there is transparent data, incorrect image data may be specified. Note that the application unit 11 includes a program describing processing contents, a CPU that executes processing according to the program, a RAM, and the like.

  The driver unit 12 is a part responsible for a driver function for the printer 2, performs various processes on the original image data output from the application unit 11, generates print data for the printer 2, and outputs the print data to the printer 2 to send. The driver unit 12 may perform image processing including rendering processing described later to generate print data, or may generate print data without performing image processing. When performing image processing, the driver unit 12 executes image processing for converting the image data into image data expressed by a color material (ink) used in the printer 2. In this embodiment, RGB pixel data represented by color values of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) are converted into C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black). A color conversion process to CMYK pixel data represented by the color value (ink amount) of the image is performed. Then, the driver unit 12 converts the CMYK pixel data into dot data expressed by ink dots, and converts the dot data into print data expressed by a command of the printer 2. When the driver unit 12 does not perform image processing, the printer 2 performs image processing. The driver unit 12 includes a driver program describing processing contents, a CPU that executes processing according to the program, and a RAM.

  The spot color setting unit 15 has a function of setting conversion information (spot color conversion list 17) of a spot color (specific color) that the user wants to print with an accurate color such as a corporate color. The spot color setting unit 15 is a major feature of the printing system, and the specific processing content will be described later. The spot color setting unit 15 is configured by a program describing processing contents, a CPU that executes processing according to the program, a RAM, and the like.

  The display unit 13 is a part that bears an information display function for a user, and includes a display or the like.

  The operation unit 14 is a part for inputting information by the user, and includes a keyboard, a mouse, and the like.

  The image file 16 is a file containing image data of an image to be printed, and there are various file formats. The image file 16 is stored in a memory such as an HDD.

  The spot color conversion list 17 stores color conversion information for each spot color, and is stored in a memory (storage unit) such as an HDD.

  The storage unit 18 stores the image file 16 and the spot color conversion list 17.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating information stored in the spot color conversion list 17. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the spot color conversion list 17 stores color conversion information for each “spot color set” as an example.

  “Spot color set” means a group of color conversion information associated with the color conversion information, and at the time of printing, by specifying the spot color set, processing based on the color conversion information associated with the spot color set is performed. . The spot color set has identification information, and here, as an example, has spot color set numbers [1], [2],.

  The “color conversion information” includes color values (R, G, B) (color information) of original image data of an image instructed by the user as a special color and color values after conversion (R ′, G ′, B). ') Is associated information. The converted color values (R ′, G ′, B ′) are special colors desired by the user when print data is generated using these values and printing is performed by the printer 2 based on the print data. Or it is a value printed with the color close | similar to the spot color which a user desires. Note that, as in the spot color set [2] in FIG. 2, one spot color set can have color conversion information for a plurality of spot colors.

  When the spot color conversion list 17 is used, for example, when the spot color set [1] shown in FIG. 2 is designated, the portion having the RGB value of (100, 50, 50) in the original image data is (105, 50, 45) and converted into RGB values to generate print data.

  Next, the printer 2 is, for example, a color ink jet printer that executes print processing in accordance with a print instruction from the host device 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 2 includes a controller unit 21 and a printing mechanism unit 22.

  The controller unit 21 is a part that receives print data according to a print instruction and causes the print mechanism unit 22 to execute print processing according to the print data. Specifically, it is configured by a program describing processing contents, a CPU that executes processing according to the program, a RAM, a ROM that stores the program, an ASIC, and the like.

  The printing mechanism unit 22 is a part that executes a printing process on paper or the like of a printing medium in accordance with an instruction from the controller unit 21. Although not shown, the printing mechanism unit 22 includes a print head that ejects ink, a transport device that transports a print medium, and the like.

  Further, the printer 2 prints a patch image for setting information of the spot color conversion list 17 according to an instruction from the spot color setting unit 15.

  In the printing system according to the present embodiment having the configuration as described above, processing is executed in the following procedure.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for setting the spot color conversion information (spot color conversion list 17). In the case of setting spot color conversion information, first, the spot color setting unit 15 is activated (step S1 in FIG. 3). Next, the application unit 11 issues a print instruction for the image file 16 including the spot color to be set (step S2 in FIG. 3). The application unit 11 generates original image data (first image data) to be printed and instructs the driver unit 12 to print.

  The driver unit 12 generates print data according to the original image data. The spot color setting unit 15 performs a rendering process on the generated print data (step S3 in FIG. 3). In the rendering process, the original image data is converted into image data in units of pixels. For example, the original image data (first image data) is converted into image data (second image data) in which each pixel has RGB multi-values (for example, 256 gradations from 0 to 255). In the present embodiment, the image data for each pixel is hereinafter referred to as RGB pixel data. Note that processing means equivalent to the corresponding printer 2 is set as the processing means for rendering processing. When the driver unit 12 executes the rendering process, the spot color setting unit 15 acquires the RGB pixel data subjected to the rendering process from the driver unit 12 and reads it.

  Then, the spot color setting unit 15 generates, reads, or displays an image on the display unit 13 based on the acquired RGB pixel data (step S4 in FIG. 3).

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the spot color setting screen. The spot color setting unit 15 displays the read RGB pixel data on the display unit a of the spot color setting screen 15A shown in FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 4, image objects (character strings, circles, and rectangular graphics) indicated by x, y, and z in the figure are displayed as images included in the image file 16.

  When the spot color setting screen 15A is displayed, the user operates the menu in the part b of the spot color setting screen 15A via the operation unit 14 and inputs the spot color set number. Thereafter, an image object having a spot color to be set is instructed by the user by operating the menu in the c section of the spot color setting screen 15A.

  In response to the operation, the spot color setting unit 15 acquires the input spot color set number and the position (pixel position) of the instructed image object, and stores them. Further, the spot color setting unit 15 uses the color conversion information in the spot color conversion list 17 described above as the color value (R, G, B) (hereinafter referred to as the original color) of the pixel at the indicated position in the RGB pixel data. (R, G, B) values are stored (step S5 in FIG. 3). For example, in FIG. 4, when the position of x is instructed, the spot color setting unit 15 stores the color value of the pixel at the instructed position of the character “E”. When the character string “EPSON” displayed in FIG. 4 has the same color, the color “EPSON” is treated as a special color, and the conversion information is set.

  Next, the user operates the menu in the d section of the spot color setting screen 15A via the operation section 14 to specify the patch specification. The patch specification is a printing specification for a plurality of patch images to be printed in order for the user to select a color suitable as a special color, and inputs the pitch of color values to be selected as peripheral colors, the number of patch images to be printed, and the like. The spot color setting unit 15 acquires information on the input patch specifications (step S6 in FIG. 3).

Next, the spot color setting unit 15 generates image data of the patch image (step S7 in FIG. 3). Specifically, the spot color setting unit 15 first generates color values (R, G, B) of peripheral colors that are one less than the number of patch images specified by the patch specification. At that time, the spot color setting unit 15 generates a color value obtained by sequentially increasing / decreasing the value corresponding to the pitch specified by the patch specification for each RGB color with the original color as the center. Next, the spot color setting unit 15 generates RGB pixel data of a rectangular patch image filled with the original color and the generated peripheral color, respectively. Further, the spot color setting unit 15 adds the patch number ((1), (2),...), Which is the identification information of the patch image attached to each patch image and printed, to the RGB pixel data of the patch image. .

  The spot color setting unit 15 displays the patch image generated in this way on the display unit 13. The spot color setting unit 15 may transmit the patch image as print data to the printer 2, print it on a print medium used at the time of printing, and output it.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the output patch image. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the designated pitch is 5 and the designated number of patch images is 27. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 5, the original color patch image (the patch image located at the center of FIG. 5B) is used as a center, and the gradation value is increased or decreased by 5 from the original color for each of the RGB colors. Each color patch image is printed.

  In each of the groups (A), (B), and (C) of FIG. 5, the color value of the patch image is in the direction indicated by the arrow A, and the gradation value of B (blue) is 5 units (pitch). In the direction indicated by the arrow B, the gradation value of G (green) increases by 5 units. Further, in the group units of (A), (B), and (C) of FIG. 5, the color value of the patch image increases in the direction indicated by the arrow C by the gradation value of R (red) by 5 units. To do.

  Specifically, the color value of the original color patch image (the patch image located at the center of FIG. 5B) is (100, 50, 50), and is located at the upper left in FIG. The color value of the patch image is (95, 45, 45), and the color value of the patch image located at the lower right in FIG. 5C is (105, 55, 55).

  Also, in each patch image, the patch number ((1), (2),...) That is identification information of the patch image is displayed on the corresponding patch image.

  When such a patch image is displayed, the user visually selects a patch image having a color suitable as a special color from the patch images. Specifically, the user operates the menu of section e on the spot color setting screen 15A in FIG. 4 and inputs the patch number (patch image identification information) of the selected patch image.

  In response to the input operation, the spot color setting unit 15 acquires the patch number of the selected patch image (step S9 in FIG. 3), and the color value (R, G, B) of the patch image corresponding to the acquired patch number. ) Are determined as the converted color values (R ′, G ′, B ′), and the color values are stored (step S10 in FIG. 3). For example, in FIG. 5, when the patch image with the patch number (22) is selected, the color values of (105, 50, 45) are determined as (R ′, G ′, B ′).

  Next, the spot color setting unit 15 changes the display of the part of the spot color (original color) determined by the converted color in the image displayed on the display unit a of the spot color setting screen 15A (step in FIG. 3). S11). Specifically, the spot color setting unit 15 visually displays the portion in a color completely different from the original color. In other words, it is displayed in a color that allows the user to easily identify that the color has changed. In FIG. 4, for example, when the location indicated by x is instructed as a target for setting a spot color, if the character string “EPSON” is the same color, at least the display color of the character string “EPSON” is changed. The In addition, the color may be switched and displayed so as to blink instead of simply changing the color.

  The user changes the display color on the display section a of the spot color setting screen 15A to recognize a spot color setting completion point, and determines whether or not to end the spot color setting operation at this point. to decide.

  When continuing, the user determines whether to continue the spot color setting operation for the image file 16 currently displayed on the spot color setting screen 15A or to perform the setting operation for the new image file 16. .

  In the former case, that is, when setting is made for the same image file 16 ("continuation" in step S12 in FIG. 3), the user further sets as the same spot color set or different spot colors. Determine whether to set as a set. In the case of setting as the same spot color set, the user performs from the menu operation of part c of the spot color setting screen 15A. And the process from step S5 is performed.

  On the other hand, when setting as a different spot color set, the user performs the menu operation in the part b of the spot color setting screen 15A. Similarly, the processing from step S5 is performed.

  When the user performs a setting operation for the new image file 16 (“other file” in step S12 in FIG. 3), the user performs a menu operation on the f section of the spot color setting screen 15A. Thereafter, the process returns to step S <b> 2, and the user performs a print instruction operation on the new image file 16 with respect to the application unit 11. Thereafter, the processing from step S2 is performed.

  When the user determines that the setting operation is to be ended (“END” in step S12 in FIG. 3), the user performs a menu operation on the g portion of the spot color setting screen 15A. In response to the operation, the spot color setting unit 15 stores the color values (R, G, B) of the original colors of the spot colors and the converted color values (R ′, G ′, B ′) stored in steps S5 and S10. Are set in the spot color conversion list 17 in association with the spot color set number stored in step S5. For example, when the information of the patch number (22) in FIG. 5 is acquired in step S9, the spot color set [1] in FIG. 2 and the corresponding color conversion information are set.

  As described above, the spot color conversion information (spot color conversion list 17) is set.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure during printing. First, the user opens (loads) an image file 16 to be printed in the application unit 11 and performs a print instruction operation on the image file 16 (step S21 in FIG. 6). At that time, a spot color set number (spot color set identification information) used in the current printing is given to the application unit 11.

  In response to the instruction, the application unit 11 transmits printing conditions such as a spot color set number and original image data to the driver unit 12.

  The driver unit 12 performs a rendering process on the transmitted original image data to generate RGB pixel data (step S22 in FIG. 6).

  Next, the driver unit 12 accesses the spot color conversion list 17 and acquires color conversion information stored in association with the spot color set number transmitted from the application unit 11. Then, the driver unit 12 obtains the acquired color values for the pixels having the same color value as the original color value (R, G, B) of the acquired color conversion information among the RGB pixel data. The converted color values (R ′, G ′, B ′) of the conversion information are changed (step S23 in FIG. 6).

  For example, in the example of FIG. 2, when the received spot color set number is [1], the pixels having the color values of (100, 50, 50) have their color values set to (105, 50, 45). Converted.

  Next, the driver unit 12 performs color conversion processing on the converted RGB pixel data to CMYK as ink colors, halftone processing for dot data, and command generation processing expressed by commands for the printer 2. Are sequentially performed to generate print data (step S24 in FIG. 6).

  Thereafter, the driver unit 12 transmits the generated print data to the printer 2 (step S25 in FIG. 6).

  The printer 2 receives the transmitted print data, and executes print processing by the operations of the controller unit 21 and the print mechanism unit 22 according to the print data (step S26 in FIG. 6). By the printing process, a printed matter with the spot color set by the user is output.

  Printing in this printing system is executed by the processing procedure as described above.

  In the above-described exemplary embodiment, the spot color conversion process is performed on the RGB pixel data. However, the spot color conversion process may be performed on the CMYK pixel data that is the ink color of the printer 2. . In this case, in the special color setting process, the special color setting unit 15 corresponds to the original color value (R, G, B) of the special color, the converted color value (R ′, G ′, B ′), and the corresponding color value. , (C, M, Y, K) and after conversion (C ′, M ′, Y ′, K ′), the spot color conversion list 17 is set. During image processing, (R, G, B) is converted to (C ′, M ′, Y ′, K ′).

  When the driver unit 12 does not perform image processing, the spot color conversion list 17 set by the spot color setting unit 15 is sent to the printer 2, and the printer 2 performs image processing using the spot color conversion list 17.

  As described above, in the printing system according to the present embodiment, the conversion information to the spot color previously confirmed by the user is stored, and the spot color setting unit for setting the color conversion information is equivalent to the image processing at the time of printing. Since the processing is performed and the result is output, the user can easily realize printing with a desired spot color by selecting a specific color from the resulting image. Also, RGB values can be easily obtained for images in a data format in which values such as RGB of image data cannot be easily obtained. In addition, the value of the spot color including the reflection result of the transmission data can be selected.

  Further, since the conversion information is set using image data in the process of generating print data, it is not necessary to handle image files having different formats.

  In addition, a user interface screen for the conversion information setting operation is provided, and the user can specify a target by specifying an image portion for setting a spot color with respect to the displayed image.

  In addition, after the user's instruction operation, a patch image including peripheral colors is displayed or printed, and the user can set a desired color by selecting the printed patch image.

  The present invention can also be applied to a case where image data is expressed in a color space different from the above description and printing is performed with an ink color different from the above description.

The present invention can also be applied to a printing system that performs image processing such as rendering processing and color conversion processing on the printer side. In this case, the same information as the spot color conversion list 17 is provided on the printer side.

  The protection scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but covers the invention described in the claims and equivalents thereof.

1 host device, 2 printer, 11 application section, 12 driver section, 13 display section, 14 operation section, 15 spot color setting section, 15A spot color setting screen,
16 image files, 17 spot color conversion list, 18 storage unit, 21 controller unit, 22 printing mechanism unit

Claims (7)

A print control apparatus that transmits print data and causes a printer to execute printing,
A storage unit for storing color conversion information of a specific color;
A driver unit that generates the print data from the input first image data;
A spot color setting unit for setting the color conversion information,
The spot color setting unit outputs second image data based on the print data. In claim 1,
The color conversion information stores the color value of the original color in association with the color value after conversion for the specific color. In claim 2,
The special color setting unit displays an image based on the second image data, and obtains a color value received an instruction of the displayed image as the color value of the original color. In claim 3,
The print control apparatus, wherein the spot color setting unit outputs a patch image of the original color and peripheral colors of the original color. In claim 4,
The spot color setting unit acquires the patch identification information of the patch image, and sets the color value of the patch image associated with the acquired patch identification information as the color value after the conversion in the color conversion information. The printing control device. A print control method for sending print data and causing a printer to execute printing,
Stores color conversion information for a specific color,
Generating the print data from the input first image data;
Based on the print data, the second image data is output,
The print control method, wherein the color conversion information is set according to the second image data. To a computer that sends print data and causes the printer to print,
Storing color conversion information of a specific color;
Generating the print data from the input first image data;
Outputting the second image data based on the print data;
Setting the color conversion information according to the second image data;
A program characterized by having executed.