JP7563624B2 - Image forming system and image forming control method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming system for controlling multiple image forming devices, and an image forming control method.

In output centers and other companies that carry out printing business, multiple image forming devices using various methods, such as inkjet, offset printing, or electrophotography, are connected to a network and used. When multiple image forming devices are used to output a large number of copies of the same printed material, color calibration is performed assuming a common gamut in order to match the colors. Through this color calibration, each image forming device makes effective use of its own color gamut and prints so that the appearance of the printed materials is consistent.

The problem with this type of color calibration is that it is limited to be performed according to the image forming device that has the narrowest color gamut among multiple image forming devices. In other words, when printing needs to be performed using a wide color gamut, the number of available image forming devices is limited to high-performance image forming devices with wide color gamuts, and so the number is reduced. On the other hand, in order to increase the number of available image forming devices, it is necessary to narrow the color gamut to be used.

The present invention has been made in consideration of these circumstances, and aims to achieve highly reproducible image formation that assumes a wide color gamut, while minimizing a reduction in the number of image forming devices that can be used to form images based on the same image data.

An image forming system according to one aspect of the present invention includes a calibration processing unit that performs common color calibration for multiple image forming devices having different color reproduction areas based on the reproduction colors of multiple virtual gamuts, including a widest virtual gamut having the widest color gamut and a narrowest virtual gamut having the narrowest color gamut; an input image analysis unit that analyzes image data to be used for image formation and identifies the color gamut to be reproduced of the image data; a color management unit that determines the availability of each of the multiple image forming devices based on whether the color gamut to be reproduced can be reproduced within the color gamut of each of the multiple image forming devices assuming the widest virtual gamut; an operation display unit; a control unit that displays an operation input screen on the operation display unit that indicates the availability of each of the multiple image forming devices and that accepts a predetermined operation input for selecting one of the multiple virtual gamuts, and changes the display indicating the availability in response to the predetermined operation input input through the operation input screen; and an image forming job generation unit that generates an image forming job including a simulated profile assuming the selected virtual gamut.

An image formation control method according to another aspect of the present invention includes a calibration processing step of performing common color calibration for multiple image forming devices having different color reproduction areas based on the reproduction colors of multiple virtual gamuts including the widest virtual gamut having the widest color gamut and the narrowest virtual gamut having the narrowest color gamut; an input image analysis step of analyzing image data to identify the color gamut to be reproduced of the image data; a color management step of determining the usability of each of the multiple image forming devices based on whether the color gamut to be reproduced can be reproduced within the color gamut of each of the multiple image forming devices assuming the widest virtual gamut; a display step of displaying an operation input screen on the operation display unit that represents the usability of each of the multiple image forming devices and accepts a predetermined operation input for selecting one of the multiple virtual gamuts, and changing the display representing the usability in response to the predetermined operation input inputted through the operation input screen; and an image formation job generation step of generating an image formation job including a simulated profile assuming the selected virtual gamut.

According to the present invention, it is possible to realize highly reproducible image formation that assumes a wide color gamut while suppressing a reduction in the number of image forming devices that can be used to form images based on the same image data.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming system. 1 is a block diagram showing configurations of an image forming apparatus, a personal computer, and an integrated management server. FIG. 2 is a chromaticity diagram showing the color gamuts of a number of image forming devices. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a comparison of color gamuts of images reproduced by a plurality of image forming apparatuses. 13 is a flowchart showing the contents of a virtual gamut calibration process. 13 is a flowchart showing the contents of a common gamut calibration process. 6 is a flowchart showing the contents of an image forming process. 13 is a flowchart showing the contents of a device-to-be-used setting process. FIG. 13 illustrates an example of a user interface screen. FIG. 13 illustrates an example of a user interface screen.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image forming system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image forming device 100, a personal computer 200, and an integrated management server 700. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the image forming system 10 includes a plurality of image forming devices 100, a plurality of personal computers (hereinafter simply referred to as PCs) 200, and at least one integrated management server 700. The multiple PCs 200 function as client terminals that instruct the execution of services provided by the multiple image forming devices 100.

The image forming system 10 further includes a switching hub 500 that constitutes a wired local area network (also simply called a network) LAN. The switching hub 500 interconnects a plurality of PCs 200, a plurality of image forming devices 100, an integrated management server 700, and a router 600. The plurality of PCs 200, the plurality of image forming devices 100, and the integrated management server 700 that constitute the image forming system 10 are connected to another integrated management server 700 via the router 600 and the Internet. The switching hub 500 is also simply called a hub.

Image forming apparatus 100 is a collective term for five image forming apparatuses 100A to 100E. The multiple image forming apparatuses 100 include image forming apparatus 100A, image forming apparatus 100B, image forming apparatus 100C, image forming apparatus 100D, and image forming apparatus 100E. Image forming apparatus 100A is an inkjet type image forming apparatus that can use 12 colors of ink (i.e., a 12-color machine).

Image forming device 100B is an inkjet type image forming device capable of using 10 colors of ink (i.e., a 10-color machine). Image forming device 100C and image forming device 100D are inkjet type image forming devices capable of using 8 colors of ink (i.e., 8-color machines). Image forming device 100E is an inkjet type image forming device capable of using 6 colors of ink (i.e., a 6-color machine).

The image forming device 100 comprises a control unit 110, an image forming unit 120, an operation display unit 130, a memory unit 140, a communication interface unit 150 (hereinafter referred to as communication I/F 150), and an image reading unit 160. The control unit 110 functions as a calibration processing unit 111. The image forming unit 120 comprises a color conversion processing unit 121 and a halftone processing unit 122. The memory unit 140 stores an individual profile 141.

The image reading unit 160 reads an image of an original document, generates RGB image data, and transmits it to the image forming unit 120. The RGB image data is device-dependent (i.e., dependent on the image reading unit 160). The individual profile 141 includes an input profile, an output profile, and a device link profile for each image forming device 100. The functions of the calibration processing unit 111 will be described later.

The image reading unit 160 has characteristics defined by an input profile. By using the input profile, device-dependent RGB image data can be converted into Lab image data, which is image data in the Lab color space. This allows the image forming device 100 to convert the device-dependent RGB image data into, for example, sRGB image data via the Lab color space and output it as scan data.

The image forming unit 120 has characteristics defined by an output profile. By using the output profile, it is possible to convert Lab image data into color material image data, which is image data in a color space of 6 to 12 colors including, for example, CMYK ink colors. In the output profile, the relationship between the ink tone value of each ink such as CMYK and the ink ejection amount is registered for each printing paper.

The image forming device 100 further has a device link profile that combines an input profile and an output profile. By using the device link profile, the printing speed can be improved while reducing the burden of color conversion processing in the copying process.

When forming an image based on the input image data, the color conversion processing unit 121 of the image forming unit 120 uses the output profile to convert the Lab image data into color material image data. The color material image data is device-dependent (i.e., dependent on the image forming unit 120) image data for reproducing an image with color materials such as CMYK (ink in this example) that can be used by the image forming unit 120.

The halftone processing unit 122 of the image forming unit 120 performs RIP processing on the color material image data to generate dot data. The dot data is bitmap data that represents the state of dots formed on the printing paper with each color ink. For example, a six-color machine can use color materials such as CMYKLcLm, or CMYK+Orange+Green. Lc is a light cyan ink with a lower density than C. Lm is a light magenta ink with a lower density than M.

The image forming unit 120 forms an image on a printing sheet based on the dot data. In this example, the image forming unit 120 forms an image on a printing sheet based on an image forming job received from the PC 200. The printing sheet is also called an image forming medium.

The PC 200 comprises a control unit 210, an operation display unit 230, a memory unit 240, and a communication interface unit 250 (hereinafter referred to as communication I/F 250). The control unit 210 functions as an input image analysis unit 211. The operation display unit 230 has characteristics defined by a monitor profile. The operation display unit 230 accepts user operation input (hereinafter referred to simply as user input) to a display functioning as a touch panel, various buttons, or switches. The memory unit 240 stores an ICC profile (i.e., a monitor profile) for the display of the operation display unit 230. The function of the input image analysis unit 211 will be described later.

The integrated management server 700 includes a control unit 710, a management database (hereinafter referred to as management DB) 740, and a communication interface unit 750 (hereinafter referred to as communication I/F 750). The control unit 710 functions as a color management unit 711. The function of the color management unit 711 will be described later.

The management DB 740 stores resource information and image characteristic information. The resource information includes the content of the service provided by each of the multiple image forming devices 100 (e.g., color inkjet printing) and the amount provided per unit time (e.g., print size and number of pages printed per unit time). The resource information includes schedule information that indicates the operation status (including reservation status) of the multiple image forming devices 100. The control unit 710 updates the resource information based on the operation status, maintenance status, available time zone, or resource status such as material inventory including materials or printing paper of the multiple image forming devices 100. The image characteristic information includes a common profile that is used in common by at least some of the multiple image forming devices 100.

The control units 110, 210, and 710 each include a main memory such as a RAM and a ROM, and a control unit such as an MPU (Micro Processing Unit) or a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The control units 110, 210, and 710 each include controller functions related to interfaces such as various I/O, USB (Universal Serial Bus), buses, and other hardware. The control units 110, 210, and 710 each control the entire image forming device 100, PC 200, and integrated management server 700, respectively.

The storage units 140 and 240 are storage devices such as hard disk drives or flash memory that are non-transient recording media. The storage units 140 and 240 store control programs (e.g., image formation control programs) and data executed by the control units 110 and 210, respectively.

Figure 3 is a chromaticity diagram showing the color gamuts of image forming devices 100A to 100E. Image forming device 100A, which is a 12-color machine, has the widest color gamut CGA. Image forming device 100B, which is a 10-color machine, has the second widest color gamut CGB. Image forming device 100C, which is an 8-color machine, has the third widest color gamut CGC. Image forming device 100D, which is an 8-color machine, has almost the same color gamut CGD as image forming device 100B. Image forming device 100E, which is a 6-color machine, has the narrowest color gamut CGE.

In order to form an image that is visually identical to the original image (i.e., an image that looks the same) within the range of each image's color gamut (gamut), image forming devices 100A to 100E perform gamut mapping that focuses on color difference to set the output profile. Here, color difference refers to the relative color difference within an image. The output profile is set for each image forming device 10 as part of an individual profile.

Gamut mapping is set from the perspective of reproducing the original image by effectively utilizing the color gamuts of each of the multiple image forming devices 100. Therefore, it is not assumed that images based on the same image data will be formed using multiple image forming devices 100 with different color reproduction areas. Therefore, when images based on the same image data are formed using multiple image forming devices 100 with different color gamuts, and the formed images are compared side by side, the colors appear different. The inventors of the present application believe that this problem will be a major issue when printing a large number of copies using multiple image forming devices 100 in on-demand printing.

Figure 4 is a diagram showing a comparison of color gamuts (gamuts) of images reproduced by image forming apparatuses 100A to 100E. Figure 4 shows gamuts GC1 to GC3 of other image forming apparatuses 100B to 100E, based on the widest gamut GR possessed by image forming apparatus 100A, which is a 12-color machine. Color gamut ID1 indicates the color gamut to be reproduced of the first image data, which is the image data to be formed into an image. The color gamut to be reproduced indicates the color gamut of colors reproduced by the image data. Color gamut ID2 indicates the color gamut to be reproduced of the second image data, which is the image data to be formed into an image. Color gamut ID1 and color gamut ID2 are color gamuts that can be reproduced by image forming apparatus 100A, which is a 12-color machine. In this embodiment, image forming apparatus 100A, which is a 12-color machine, is used as the reference device.

The color gamut ID1 of the first image data is composed of colors within the color gamut that can be reproduced by image forming device 100A, which is a 12-color machine, and image forming device 100B, which is a 10-color machine. On the other hand, color gamut ID1 includes colors that cannot be reproduced by the other image forming devices 100C to 100E. Color gamut ID2 of the second image data is reproducible by all of image forming devices 100A to 100E. However, the gamut mapping of image forming devices 100A to 100E is set from the perspective of reproducing the original image by effectively utilizing the color gamuts of each of image forming devices 100A to 100E. Therefore, when multiple images formed by image forming devices 100A to 100E based on the same image data are compared side by side, the colors may appear different.

The color gamuts of the multiple image forming devices 100 are generally set based on ink duty limitations. Ink duty limitations refer to limitations on the amount of ink that can be applied to the image forming medium. In inkjet printing, the image forming unit 120 reproduces colors using subtractive color mixing by applying multiple colors of ink to the image forming medium. The fewer the types of ink colors that can be used, the greater the proportion of color mixing, so the color gamut tends to become narrower due to ink duty limitations. In other words, the fewer the ink colors that can be used, the narrower the color gamut of the image forming device 100. In this example, the image forming device 100A, which can use 12 colors of ink, has the widest color gamut.

Figure 5 is a flowchart showing the contents of the virtual gamut calibration process. The virtual gamut calibration process is a process for performing calibration based on a virtual gamut that is set assuming a virtual image forming device 100. The virtual gamut is used in common by multiple image forming devices 100. In this example, virtual gamuts that differ from one another in width are used in common by at least some of the multiple image forming devices 100.

In step S10, the user executes a target device setting process. In the target device setting process, the user operates the operation display unit 230 of the PC 200 to select and set a target device that is to be the subject of the virtual gamut calibration process from among the image forming devices 100A to 100E. In this example, it is assumed that the user has selected and set all of the image forming devices 100A to 100E as target devices.

In step S20, the control unit 211 of the PC 200 executes a reference device setting process. In the reference device setting process, the control unit 211 selects the image forming device 100 (in this example, image forming device 100A) that has the widest color gamut among the image forming devices 100A to 100E, and sets it as the reference device.

The outer edge of the color gamut of the reference device is defined as EPT (End Point Target) 100%. EPT indicates the amount of ink that is set due to ink duty limitations. In this example, the EPT of image forming device 100B is 98%, the EPT of image forming device 100C and image forming device 100D is 97%, and the EPT of image forming device 100E is 95%. The EPTs of image forming devices 100B to 100E are registered in management database 740.

In step S30, the control unit 211 sets the narrowest virtual gamut. In this example, the control unit 211 sets a virtual gamut with an outer edge of 95% EPT as the narrowest virtual gamut. The user repeatedly executes the common gamut calibration process (step S40) in the image forming system 10 (step S40). That is, the user executes the common gamut calibration process for each of the six virtual gamuts corresponding to each EPT of 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% and 100% (steps S40, S50, S60). Hereinafter, for example, a virtual gamut corresponding to 95% EPT may be referred to as a 95% virtual gamut.

In this example, the calibration processing unit 111 of the image forming devices 100A to 100E performs common color calibration based on the reproduced colors of multiple virtual gamuts, including the widest virtual gamut (100% virtual gamut) having the widest color gamut and the narrowest virtual gamut (95% virtual gamut).

Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the contents of the common gamut calibration process. The common gamut calibration process is a process for generating a simulated profile for simulating image formation of a reference device (in this example, image forming device 100A) within the color gamut that can be reproduced by each of image forming devices 100B to 100E.

In step S41, the control unit 110 of the image forming apparatus 100A set as the reference apparatus causes the image forming unit 120 to output a predetermined color chart for color calibration as a reference image forming process. In step S42, the user measures the colors on the color chart using, for example, a colorimeter as a color measurement process. In step S43, the user operates the operation display unit 130 of each of the image forming apparatuses 100B to 100E as a reference color setting process to set a reference color using, for example, the measurement value of the colorimeter.

In step S44, the user selects the image forming device 100 to be calibrated from among image forming devices 100B to 100E in order. In this example, it is assumed that the user first selects image forming device 100B. In step S45, the calibration processing unit 111 of the selected image forming device 100B performs calibration processing based on the reference color and generates a simulated profile.

The control unit 110 of the image forming device 100B sends the generated simulated profile to the integrated management server 700 via the communication I/F 150. When the control unit 710 of the integrated management server 700 receives the simulated profile via the communication I/F 750, it registers the simulated profile in the management DB 740 as a common profile for the image forming device 100B. The user causes the other image forming devices 100C to 100E to execute the processes of steps S44 and S45 in sequence. When all of the image forming devices 100B to 100E have executed the processes of steps S44 and S45 (YES in step S46), the common gamut calibration process ends.

The common gamut calibration process allows image forming devices 100B to 100E to simulate images that are physically (not visually) identical to those of the reference device, using the simulated profiles set for each device. However, while image forming devices 100B to 100E can use the simulated profiles to reproduce colors similar to those of image forming device 100A, which serves as the reference device, they have the characteristic of reproducing visually degraded colors due to saturation of color reproduction in the unreproducible range.

Figure 7 is a flowchart showing the contents of the image formation process. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the image formation process is performed by a business that performs on-demand printing. On-demand printing is a service that provides printed materials in small lots with short delivery times. In this embodiment, the user is an employee of the business that performs on-demand printing.

In step S100, the user executes an image data input process. In the image data input process, the user inputs image data obtained from a customer online or via a storage medium into one of multiple PCs 200. In this example, it is assumed that a customer has placed an order requesting the use of multiple image forming devices 100 in terms of the number of copies to be printed, delivery date, etc.

In step S200, the control unit 210 of the PC 200 to which the image data has been input executes a device search process. In the device search process, the control unit 210 searches for an image forming device 100 with which it can communicate, and obtains data indicating the gamut of the searched image forming device 100. In this example, the control unit 210 obtains data indicating the reference gamut GR and each of the gamuts GC1 to GC3.

In step S300, the input image analysis unit 211 of the control unit 210 executes image data analysis processing. In the image data analysis processing, the input image analysis unit 211 launches a predetermined application program and executes image data analysis processing. In the image data analysis processing, the input image analysis unit 211 converts the image data of the image formation target into Lab image data. The input image analysis unit 211 achieves the conversion by processing image data in the sRGB color space or AdobeRGB color space using a predetermined conversion program. In this way, the input image analysis unit 211 acquires the Lab image data.

In the image data analysis process, the input image analysis unit 211 further determines whether the color gamut represented by the Lab image data is within the range of each of the reference gamut GR and gamuts GC1 to GC3. The reference gamut GR is the color gamut of the image forming device 100A that is selected as the reference device because it has the widest color gamut. Specifically, when the Lab image data represents color gamut ID1, the input image analysis unit 211 determines that only the reference gamut GR and gamut GC1 contain color gamut ID1. When the Lab image data represents color gamut ID2, the input image analysis unit 211 determines that the reference gamut GR and all of the gamuts GC1 to GC3 contain color gamut ID2.

In step S400, the input image analysis unit 211 queries the integrated management server 700 via a local area network (LAN) as to whether all image forming devices 100 support color reproduction of Lab image data. In this example, if the input image analysis unit 211 receives first image data to be reproduced in color gamut ID1, the process proceeds to step S500. If the input image analysis unit 211 receives second image data to be reproduced in color gamut ID2, the process proceeds to step S700.

In step S500, the color management unit 711 of the integrated management server 700 executes a device extraction process. In the device extraction process, when the first image data is input, the color management unit 711 extracts the image forming device 100A having the reference gamut GR and the image forming device 100B having the gamut GC1, and transmits the extraction results to the PC 200. When the control unit 210 of the PC 200 receives the extraction results, the process proceeds to step S600.

Figure 8 is a flowchart showing the contents of the device-to-be-used setting process. The device-to-be-used setting process is a process for setting an image forming device 100 to be used for image formation processing based on information such as the number of copies to be printed, delivery date, or availability status of multiple image forming devices 100.

In step S610, the control unit 210 of the PC 200 executes a simulated image generation process for multiple image forming devices 100. In this example, in the simulated image generation process, the control unit 210 first obtains from the integrated management server 700 the latest simulated profile (i.e., the simulated profile after the last calibration process) for simulating image formation of the reference device, image forming device 100A, in image forming device 100B. The control unit 210 uses the obtained simulated profile to generate simulated image data for image forming device 100B that shows a simulated image based on the input image data. The control unit 210 further performs similar processes for image forming devices 100C to 100E.

In step S620, the control unit 210 uses the monitor profile to cause the operation display unit 230 to display the user interface screen D1 shown in FIG. 9A, which includes a reproduced image of the image forming device 100A based on the input image data and a reproduced image of each of the image forming devices 100B to 100E based on the simulated image data.

The control unit 210 causes the operation display unit 230 to display, on the user interface screen D1, five reproduction images including a reproduction image of the image forming device 100A and four mock images as reproduction images of each of the image forming devices 100B to 100E. The control unit 210 further causes the operation display unit 230 to display, on the user interface screen D1, text T1 stating "The number of image forming devices can be increased or decreased by operating the slide bar," a slide bar SB1, and the number of available devices (2 in this example).

The five reproduced images represent the availability of multiple image forming devices 100. That is, the control unit 210 causes the operation display unit 230 to mark each of the simulated images of image forming devices 100C to 100E with an X, indicating that the simulated images are unavailable, among the simulated images of image forming devices 100B to 100E. Therefore, the user interface screen D1 indicates that only image forming device 100A and image forming device 100B are capable of image formation processing within the virtual gamut. In this example, the initial allowable EPT is set to 98% in the image forming system 10, and the color management unit 711 extracts image forming device 100A (EPT = 100%) and image forming device 100B (EPT = 98%).

In step S630, the control unit 210 executes a device selection process. In the device selection process, the control unit 210 accepts a user selection of the image forming device 100A and the image forming device 100B via the user interface screen D1.

In step S640, the control unit 210 executes a delivery date estimation process. In the delivery date estimation process, the control unit 210 acquires schedule information indicating the planned use of the selected multiple image forming devices 100 from the management database 740 of the integrated management server 700. The control unit 210 executes a simulation of the image forming process based on the schedule information, and calculates the time required to complete the image forming process, i.e., the delivery date. The control unit 210 calculates the delivery date in real time as described above according to the selection state of the image forming device 100 via the user interface screen D1 as an operation input screen and the number of copies to be printed, and displays the calculation result on the operation display unit 230.

In step S650, the user determines, in consultation with the client, for the multiple image forming devices 100 selected via the user interface screen D1, whether the order specifications can be met in terms of the number of copies to be printed, delivery date, etc.

If the user determines that the client's request can be met (in this example, if the delivery deadline is met), the user clicks on the icon N (next screen) indicating "next screen" to confirm the selection of multiple image forming devices 100 (YES in step S650). In step S670, the control unit 210 causes the operation display unit 230 to display the next user interface screen.

On the other hand, if the user determines that they cannot meet the client's request (in this example, if the delivery deadline is not met), they can increase the number of selectable image forming devices 100 by operating slide bar SB as shown in Figure 9B (NO in step S650). The control unit 210 proceeds to the processing of step S660 in response to the operation of slide bar SB. In step S660, the control unit 210 executes a reproduction range adjustment process.

In the user interface screen D1 shown in Figure 9A, the slide bar SB indicates that 98% EPT is set as the initial value. In the reproduction range adjustment process, the user operates the slide bar SB while checking the image quality with the simulated image to lower (switch or change) the narrowest allowable virtual gamut (narrowest allowable virtual gamut) to 97% virtual gamut. When the control unit 210 accepts the above operation on the slide bar SB, it causes the operation display unit 230 to display image forming apparatus 100C and image forming apparatus 100D as selectable on the user interface screen D1, as shown in Figure 9B.

When the control unit 210 receives an instruction to secure the schedules of the selected multiple image forming devices 100 via the next user interface screen, it sends an image formation job to the integrated management server 700 via the communication I/F 250. When the control unit 710 of the integrated management server 700 receives the image formation job via the communication I/F 750, it executes reservation processing for the selected multiple image forming devices 100. The control unit 710 sends the image formation job to the selected multiple image forming devices 100 as scheduled via the communication I/F 750.

In addition, the control unit 210 may be configured to actually perform test printing on at least some of the image forming devices 100 when user input for performing test printing is received via the operation display unit 230.

In step S700 shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 710 of the integrated management server 700 functions as an image formation job generation unit. The control unit 710 transmits image formation jobs to the multiple reserved image forming devices 100 according to the reservation status. The image formation job includes a simulated profile for each image forming device 100 that corresponds to the assumed virtual gamut.

In step S800, the control units 110 of the image forming devices 100 use the simulated profiles to perform image formation processing assuming a virtual gamut. Specifically, for example, when the allowable EPT is switched to 97% by operating the slide bar SB, the image forming devices 100A to 100D output the same printed matter using the simulated profiles calibrated by a common gamut calibration process assuming a virtual gamut (EPT = 97%). Although the four image forming devices 100A to 100D have different color gamuts, the image forming process is based on gamut mapping assuming a common virtual gamut, and image reproduction with high reproducibility can be achieved not only when viewed individually, but also when compared with each other.

In this way, the image forming system 10 can realize highly reproducible image formation assuming a wide color gamut while suppressing a reduction in the number of image forming devices 100 that can be used to form images based on the same image data. Note that in the above embodiment, the necessity for operating the slide bar SB is explained with a focus on the delivery date of the printed matter. However, the purpose of using the slide bar SB is not limited to such factors. The slide bar SB can be used for various purposes, such as avoiding concentration of load on a specific image forming device 100.

The present invention can be implemented not only in the above embodiment, but also in the following modified examples.

First variant: In the above embodiment, the calibration processing unit 110 sets the color gamut of the reference device having the widest reproducible color gamut among the multiple image forming devices 100 as the widest virtual gamut, but the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. The calibration processing unit 110 may set, for example, the color gamut of the image forming device having the second or third widest reproducible color gamut as the widest virtual gamut. However, if the color gamut of the reference device is set as the widest virtual gamut, color reproduction assuming a wider color gamut becomes possible, making it possible to form images with even higher reproducibility.

Second variant: In the above embodiment, multiple image forming devices 100 within the same local area network (i.e., within the same shop) are targeted, but the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. For example, the targets may include not only multiple image forming devices 100 within the same shop, but also image forming devices in other shops connected via the integrated management server 700. In this case, in the target device setting process (step S10), the user can operate the operation display unit 230 of the PC 200 to select an image forming device in another shop connected via the integrated management server 700 as the target device.

Third Modification: In the above embodiment, the image forming system 10 is realized by a combination of the control unit 210 of the PC 200, the control units 210 of the multiple image forming devices 100, and the control unit 710 of the integrated management server 700, but the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. For example, the image forming system 10 may be realized by only one of the control units provided in the image forming system 10.

Claims (5)

a calibration processing unit that performs common color calibration for a plurality of image forming apparatuses having mutually different color reproduction regions, using each of reproduced colors of a plurality of virtual gamuts including a widest virtual gamut having a widest color gamut and a narrowest virtual gamut having a narrowest color gamut as a reference;
an input image analysis unit that analyzes image data to be used for image formation and specifies a color gamut to be reproduced of the image data;
a color management unit that determines the availability of each of the plurality of image forming devices based on whether the target color gamut can be reproduced within a color gamut range of each of the plurality of image forming devices assuming the widest virtual gamut;
An operation display unit;
a control unit that displays, on the operation display unit, an operation input screen that indicates the availability of each of the plurality of image forming devices and that receives a predetermined operation input for selecting one of the plurality of virtual gamuts, and changes a display indicating the availability in response to the predetermined operation input inputted through the operation input screen;
an image forming job generating unit that generates an image forming job including a simulated profile that assumes the selected virtual gamut. 2. The image forming system according to claim 1,
The calibration processing unit sets, as the widest virtual gamut, the color gamut of a reference device that has the widest reproducible color gamut among the plurality of image forming devices. 2. The image forming system according to claim 1,
the control unit acquires schedule information indicating a usage schedule for each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses;
When the control unit receives, via the operation input screen, an operation input for selecting an image forming device that is indicated as available on the operation input screen, the control unit calculates the time required to complete the image formation process for the selected image forming device based on the schedule information, and displays the calculation result on the operation display unit. 2. The image forming system according to claim 1,
The calibration processing unit performs the color calibration based on a reference color output by a reference device, and generates, for each of the multiple image forming devices, a simulated profile for simulating image formation of the reference device within the color gamut that each image forming device can reproduce. a calibration processing step of performing common color calibration for a plurality of image forming apparatuses having mutually different color reproduction regions, using each of reproduced colors of a plurality of virtual gamuts including a widest virtual gamut having a widest color gamut and a narrowest virtual gamut having a narrowest color gamut as a reference;
an input image analysis step of analyzing image data to be used for image formation and specifying a color gamut to be reproduced of the image data;
a color management step of determining usability of each of the plurality of image forming devices based on whether the target color gamut can be reproduced within a color gamut range of each of the plurality of image forming devices assuming the widest virtual gamut;
a display process for displaying, on an operation display unit, an operation input screen that indicates the availability of each of the plurality of image forming devices and that receives a predetermined operation input for selecting one of the plurality of virtual gamuts, and changing the display indicating the availability in response to the predetermined operation input inputted through the operation input screen;
an image forming job generating step of generating an image forming job including a simulated profile that assumes the selected virtual gamut.

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