JP2001260496A - Printer system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a printer system in which a gradation control table can be altered easily. SOLUTION: When a card operating unit 25 is set with a memory card 29 in which a gradation control table is written, a control means 21 reads out the gradation control table from the memory card 29 and writes the gradation control table in the memory means 28 of a printer 27. Consequently, the gradation control table can be altered easily when it is required due to various causes without requiring a troublesome work, e.g. replacing an ROM by dismantling the printer 27.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a printer system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Video printers for performing multi-tone and multi-color printing of TV images have been known. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration thereof, in which 1 is a control device including a microprocessor and its peripheral circuits, 2 is a printing device,
Reference numeral 3 denotes a look-up table for gradation control (hereinafter simply referred to as LU).
4 is a frame memory, 5 is a monitor such as a CRT, 6 is a button for instructing start of printing,
A user interface (hereinafter, referred to as U / I) including buttons for various adjustments such as density adjustment, and 7 is an external device interface (hereinafter, the interface is an I / F).
, 8 denotes an external device such as a TV camera or a VTR, and 9 denotes a bus. The printing apparatus 2 may be any type of printer, and may be a color printer.
A monochrome printer may be used. Note that printing includes printing.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 13, when an instruction to capture image data is issued from the UI 6, the control device 1 captures one screen of image data input at that time from the external device 8 via the external device I / F 7. The image is developed on the frame memory 4 and the image is displayed on the monitor 5. Then, when a print start is instructed from the U / I 6, the control device 1 reads out one print line at a time from the frame memory 4 and supplies it to the printing device 2. By repeating this operation, a TV image is printed on recording paper.

[0004]

However, in the conventional printer system, when many images are continuously printed, it takes a lot of trouble. That is, the conventional printer system has only the frame memory 4 for storing image data, and when printing a TV image, about 640 pixels in the horizontal direction and about 480 pixels in the vertical direction are sufficient. Therefore, since the frame memory 4 has only such a capacity, when many images are continuously printed,
For example, after selecting one image, the operator stops the external device 8 until the printing of the image is completed.
Alternatively, it is necessary to repeatedly perform operations such as maintaining the state of the stop motion, and since it usually takes several minutes to print one image, there is a problem that an operator is restrained for a long time. Was.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 14, for example, a personal computer (hereinafter, referred to as a PC) 10 is connected to a bus 9, and image data to be printed on the PC 10 and a print job are created and stored. In advance,
When printing an image, first, the control device 1 is caused to read the print job from the PC 10. According to such a configuration, the control device 1 automatically prints a predetermined image by a predetermined number according to a print job, so that the operator is not restrained for a long time. Is a large-scale system because one PC is always required.

Further, since conventional printers are not equipped with a function for automatically printing a large number of images, a warning is issued after consumables such as ink and recording paper are exhausted. When a large number of prints are automatically performed from the outside, the recording paper may be exhausted on the way and there is a problem that the operator must always pay attention.

In the LUT 3, the pulse width of each strobe pulse is written, and the pulse width of each strobe pulse depends on the characteristics of the recording paper, the characteristics of the ink, and the characteristics of the printing head. In consideration of the above, the setting is made so as to obtain a desired γ characteristic as a whole.
Therefore, when the ink or recording paper to be used is improved, the LUT 3 also needs to be changed. However, since the conventional LUT 3 is constituted by a ROM, the printing apparatus 2 is disassembled and R
Work to replace the OM was required. In addition, there are cases where it is desired to change the gradation characteristics according to the difference in the image source, such as whether the image to be printed is an image obtained by recording a broadcast using a VTR or an image from a TV camera. In each case, it is necessary to disassemble the printing apparatus 2 and replace the LUT 3 each time, which is very troublesome.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printer system capable of easily changing a gradation control table of a printing apparatus.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, a printer system according to the present invention comprises: card reading means for reading a memory card on which a gradation control table is written; control means; A printing unit having a memory unit to which a printing table is written, wherein the control unit writes the gradation control table read from the memory card by the card reading unit to the memory unit of the printing unit. It is characterized by.

[0010]

When the memory card in which the gradation control table is written is set in the card reading means, the control means reads the gradation control table from the memory card and stores the read gradation control table in the memory card. Writing to the memory means of the printing means. Therefore, even when the gradation control table needs to be changed due to various factors, it can be easily performed without performing a troublesome operation such as disassembling the printing means and replacing the ROM.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a printer system according to the present invention.
20 is a bus, 21 is a control device, 22 is a U / I, 23 is a display controller, 24 is a monitor, 25 is a card operating device, 26 is a frame memory, 27 is a printing device, 28 is a memory, 29 is a memory card, 30 Is the external device I / F, 3
Reference numeral 1 denotes an external device.

In FIG. 1, a control device 21 controls and manages the operation of each part of the printer system, and is composed of a microprocessor and its peripheral circuits. The details of the operation will be described later.

The U / I 22 is for instructing the control device 21 to perform various operations, and includes, for example, various operation buttons as shown in FIG. The function of each button will be described in detail later, but is roughly as follows. The memory button 32 and the print button 33 are buttons for performing the same print processing as in the related art. For example, an image to be printed from images input from the external device 31 is stored in the frame memory 2 by the memory button 32.
6, the image data can be printed by pressing the print button 33.

The card print button 34 is a button for instructing execution of a program print described later.
The program button 35 is a button for calling a program print setting screen on the monitor 24. The multi button 36 is a button for calling the monitor 24 a multi print setting screen for printing a plurality of images on one recording sheet. The image quality button 37 is a button for calling the image quality correction setting screen on the monitor 24 when performing image quality correction when printing an image. The system button 38 is a button for calling a print mode or other system setting screen on the monitor 24. A record (REC) button 39 is a button for writing image data written in the frame memory 26 to the memory card 29. The monitor button 40 is for switching the source of the video signal to be displayed on the monitor 24.
, An image stored in the memory card 29, or an image from the external device 31 can be selectively displayed on the monitor 24. The forward button 41 is a button for frame-forwarding the screen to be reproduced and displayed when the image data read from the memory card 29 is displayed on the monitor 24, and the reverse button 42 is for the reverse direction. This is a button for frame advance. The selection button 43 is a button for confirming numerical values of various parameters input on various setting screens. The execution button 44 is a button for confirming all items set on various setting screens and terminating the process. 4
Reference numerals 5 to 48 denote buttons for moving the cursor displayed on the screen of the monitor 24 to the left, right, upward, and downward, respectively. Reference numeral 45 denotes a value used when performing numerical input or the like on the setting screen. Is also provided with a function of a so-called down button, and a function of a so-called up button is also provided.

The display controller 23 controls display of various screens such as a menu screen and a screen requesting an input from the U / I 22 on a screen of a monitor 24 composed of a color CRT or a color liquid crystal display device. A known configuration may be used.

The card operating device 25 includes a memory card 29
And reads the data stored in the memory card 29 and writes the print job created by the U / I 22 in the memory card 29. As will be described later, in this embodiment, the image data stored in the memory card 29 is assumed to be data compressed by an appropriate high-efficiency encoding method. It has a means for extending.

The frame memory 26 is a memory for temporarily storing image data to be printed by the printing apparatus 27, and can store, for example, image data of about 640 pixels (horizontal direction) × 480 pixels (vertical direction). It is composed of memory.

The printing device 27 prints image data supplied from the frame memory 26, and may be of any type, and may be a color printer or a monochrome printer.

The memory 28 is for writing a gradation control table, and is composed of an EPROM, an EEPROM, a nonvolatile RAM, a RAM with a power supply backed up, or the like.

As the memory card 29, a so-called IC card on which a CPU and a semiconductor memory are mounted, a card-shaped memory on which only a semiconductor memory is mounted, an optical card, or the like can be used. Digital still camera system (Digital Still Ca)
It is assumed that a device equipped with an 8 Mbit static RAM used in a mera system is used.

The memory card 29 is set in a digital still camera and is used for photographed image data.
There is a case where the image data written in is stored and used as an image memory card, and a case where a gradation control table is written. The memory structure when the image data is stored is shown in FIG. 3A. Seems, ID
Information, image information address information, image information related information,
An area in which print program information and image information are written is set.

In FIG. 3A, information indicating that the memory card is a memory card storing image data is written in the ID information area, and each stored image is stored in the address information of the image information. Information indicating from which address in the memory space of the memory card the address is stored is written. The image information is an area in which image data captured by a digital still camera is stored. As shown in FIG. 3B, image reproduction information is stored in addition to the image data. The image data may be written directly to the memory card 29 without performing data compression. However, in this case, a high-efficiency encoding method such as, for example, It is assumed that data is compressed by a high-efficiency coding method using an adaptive discrete cosine transform and a Huffman coding method. As shown in FIG. 3C, the image reproduction information includes an ID number indicating the order of the image data, the data amount after data compression,
In addition, reproduction information that determines the hue, brightness, sharpness, contrast, and the like when the image is printed is written.

It is important that the hue, brightness, sharpness, contrast, etc., can be set for each image when printing. That is, there is a case where it is necessary to correct the image quality when performing printing due to the difference in the source of the image data or the quality of exposure even when shooting with a digital still camera. In such a case, conventionally, it is necessary to set the content of the correction each time, or to leave the information of the image quality correction by writing a memo or the like. Since the content of the correction is stored, the image quality is always corrected with the same content and the image is printed, so that the labor required for the image quality correction can be greatly reduced.

The related information of the image information is an area in which grouping information in the case of performing multi-printing, that is, information indicating the combination and arrangement of images in the case of performing multi-printing is written.
4, for example, as shown in FIG. 4A, the first stored image on the memory card 29 is on the upper left of the recording paper, the third stored image is on the upper right, and the seventh stored image is on the upper right. 4B, the image stored in the memory card 29 is set to be printed at the lower left and the sixth stored image at the lower right, as shown in FIG. 4B. The number of the next image to be arranged is written in the item of each image. In FIG. 4B, “0” written in the item of the image 6 indicates that it is the last image to be grouped. Here, it is assumed that the next arrangement is set in order from left to right and from top to bottom. Further, although FIG. 4B shows that only one grouping information for multi-print can be set, it is natural that a plurality of grouping information can be set.

The print program information is an area in which a print job indicating which images are to be printed in what order and how many are to be printed is written. FIG.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a print job set by the U / I 22 and written in the print program information area. According to this example, first, the first image is printed five times, and then the tenth image is printed. The third image is printed three times, then the second image is printed one, then the one set as multi-print 1 is printed three, and then the one set as multi-print 2. Is printed, and finally three indexes are printed, and the print job is completed. When executing the print job, when executing the job 4, the control device 21 determines which image is assigned to which position based on the grouping information written in the multi-print 1 item of the related information of the image information. It is natural to determine whether to place them. The same applies to multi-print 2 of job 5. In FIG. 5, the index is a job for multi-printing all the images stored in the memory card 29 in numerical order, for example, by dividing one recording sheet into 16 or 25, and by this index job, All images stored in the memory card 29 can be listed.

The memory structure in the case where image data is stored has been described above. In the case of a memory card in which a gradation control table is written, as shown in FIG. At the same time, an ID indicating that the memory card has the gradation control table written therein is written.

When the memory card 29 is set in the card operation device 25, the control device 21 reads the ID of the memory card 29, and when the memory card recognizes that the image data is stored, U / I2
2 is operated, and when it is recognized that the gradation control table has been written, the contents are read and written into the memory 28.

Next, the operation of each part of the configuration shown in FIG. 1 will be described together with the operation performed by the operator. First, a case where a print job is created will be described. First, the operator inserts a predetermined memory card 29 into the card operating device 25.
And press the program button 35 of the U / I 22. When detecting that the program button 35 has been pressed, the control device 21 instructs the card operation device 25 to read out the first image data among the image data stored in the memory card 29, and The display controller 23 is instructed to display a program print setting screen. As a result, the card operating device 25 reads out the first image data, decompresses the data, and transfers it to the display controller 23. Display controller 2
Reference numeral 3 combines the image data transferred from the card operation device 25 with a screen for setting a predetermined print job and displays the screen on the monitor 24. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the screen. The monitor 24 requests the monitor 24 to set whether the job 1 is a job for printing the image 1 as the first image together with the first image. Character information is displayed. The number of pixels of the image read and expanded from the memory card 29 is 640 pixels (horizontal direction) ×
This image is about 480 pixels (vertical direction).
4 will be displayed in a predetermined area.
Therefore, the image displayed on the monitor 24 is enlarged or reduced according to the number of pixels in the image display area of the monitor 24. In FIG. 7A, reference numeral 50 denotes a cursor.

If the job 1 is sufficient to print the image 1, the operator presses the selection button 43 while the display shown in FIG. 7A is displayed, but if the user wants to print the third image first, The image is advanced by the forward button 41. At this time, the control device 21
Every time 1 is pressed, the card operating device 25 is instructed to read the next screen. When the image 3 is displayed on the monitor 24 in this way and the selection button 43 is pressed in that state,
The control device 21 determines the printing of the image 3 as the job 1, and then instructs the display controller 23 to display a screen requesting the input of the number of prints. Thereby, the monitor 2
For example, a screen shown in FIG. When the select button 43 is pressed in this screen state, the number of prints is set to one. However, by inputting a desired value with the up button 46 and pressing the select button 43, the number of prints is set to the desired value. Can be. FIG.
In B, illustration of the image 3 is omitted. Hereinafter, the same applies.

When the setting of the image and the number of prints is completed as described above, the setting of the job 1 is completed. At this time, when the execution button 44 is pressed, the setting of the print job is completed, and the monitor 24 displays a predetermined value. The initial screen will be displayed, but when the select button 43 is pressed, FIG.
A screen for setting the job 2 is displayed as shown in FIG.

The above is an operation for setting a job for printing one image on one sheet of recording paper. When performing a multi-print job or an index job, for example, the operation is performed in the state shown in FIG. 7A or FIG. 7C. Press the button 45 or the up button 46. As a result, for example, a screen in which a multi-print job can be selected as shown in FIG. 8A or a screen in which an index job can be selected as shown in FIG. 8B can be displayed, and the multi-print job or index job is selected on this screen. It has been made possible.

When the execution button 44 is pressed after a desired job is set by repeatedly performing the above operations, the control device 21 determines all the set jobs and stores the contents of the determined job in the memory card 29. Is written in the print program information area, and the print job setting process ends.

Next, an operation and an operation for selecting an image and setting an arrangement in setting multi-printing will be described. First, the operator operates the specified memory card 2
9 is set in the card operating device 25 and the multi button 36 of the U / I 22 is pressed. The control device 21 is a multi-button 36
Is detected, the card operating device 25 is instructed to read out all the image data stored in the memory card 29, and the display controller 23 displays the multi-print setting screen. To instruct. Thereby, the card operation device 25 reads out all the image data stored in the memory card 29,
The data is decompressed and transferred to the display controller 23. On the other hand, the display controller 23 operates the card operating device 2.
5 is displayed on the multi-screen, and a cursor is displayed at a predetermined image position, for example, the position of image 1. FIG. 9A is a diagram showing an example of the screen. The screen of the monitor 24 is divided into 16 parts, and although not shown in the figure, images 1 to 16 are displayed in each area and displayed at the upper left corner. A rectangular cursor 51 is displayed in the column of the image 1 to be displayed. At this time, it is needless to say that each image is reduced to a predetermined size. In FIG. 9A, the screen of the monitor 24 is 16
Although it is divided, it is clear that it may be divided into 25.
9A, when 17 or more images are stored in the card memory 29, the first 16 images are displayed as the first page, and the subsequent images are displayed on the second page. , And the page of the divided screen can be turned by the forward button 41 or the backward button 42.

Now, in the state of the screen shown in FIG. 9A,
By operating the cursor buttons 45 to 48, the cursor 51 is moved to a desired image position,
By pressing, an image to be multi-printed and its position can be set. For example, now image 1,
Assuming that four images are selected in the order of image 3, image 7, and image 6, the monitor 24 displays a numerical value indicating the selected order in the area of the selected image as shown in FIG. 9B. Then, when the execution button 44 is pressed in the state shown in FIG. 9B, the control device 21 recognizes which image is arranged and how, and creates grouping information, and as shown in FIG. Write to the related information area of the image information.

In the above description, a case where four images are printed on one sheet of recording paper is taken as an example. However, multi-printing is also possible in which more images are printed on one sheet of recording paper. It is natural.

Next, the operation and operation when setting parameters for image quality correction will be described. First, the operator sets a predetermined memory card 29 in the card operating device 25 and presses the image quality button 37 of the U / I 22. When the control device 21 detects that the image quality button 37 has been pressed,
It instructs the card operation device 25 to read out the image data of the image 1 from the memory card 29 and instructs the display controller 23 to display the image quality correction setting screen. As a result, the card operating device 25 reads the image data of the image 1, decompresses the data, and transfers the data to the display controller 23. Further, the display controller 23 combines the image data transferred from the card operation device 25 with a predetermined screen for image quality correction and displays the image on the monitor 24. FIG. 10A is a diagram showing an example of the screen. The monitor 24 displays a menu for setting correction values of hue, brightness, sharpness, and contrast together with the image 1 (not shown). Here, it is assumed that the correction value of each item is set by determining the correction amount from the standard value.

For example, assuming that the brightness of the image 3 is to be corrected, the forward button 41 is pressed twice in the state of FIG. 10A. As a result, a menu for setting the image 3 and the correction value is displayed on the monitor 24 as in FIG. 10A. Therefore, the cursor 52 may be moved to the item of brightness by using the cursor buttons 47 and 48, and a desired correction value may be input by using the down button 45 or the up button 46. FIG. 10B is a diagram showing a state in which the correction value of the brightness is set to +3. When the execution button 44 is pressed in this state, the control device 21 determines the correction value, and sets the determined correction value to the image 3. Write to the area of the image reproduction information.

Next, the operation and operation during image printing will be described. First, operations and operations for selecting and printing an image to be printed each time as in the related art are as follows. When printing an image from the external device 31, the source is switched by the monitor button 40, the image from the external device 31 is displayed on the monitor 24, and the stop motion and frame advance functions of the external device 31 are used. The image to be printed is displayed on the monitor 24 as a still image. When the memory button 32 is pressed in this state, the control device 21 writes the image data of the screen in the frame memory 26. Thereafter, when the print button 33 is pressed, a message requesting the setting of the selected image (not shown) and the number of prints is displayed on the monitor 24, for example, as shown in FIG. In this state, when the number of prints is set by the down button 45 or the up button 46 and the execution button 44 is pressed, the control device 21 first obtains the number of recording sheets stored in the printing device 27,
It is determined whether the stored number is larger or smaller than the set number of prints. If more recording sheets are stored than the set number of prints, it is determined that printing is possible, and a print start is instructed to the printing device 27, and
The image data is transferred from the frame memory 26 to the printing device 27 one by one printing line. By this, memory button 3
The image selected in 2 is printed.

However, if the number of recording papers is smaller than the number of prints, it is necessary to replenish the recording papers during printing, so that it is determined that printing is not possible and an instruction to start printing is given to the printing device 27. Instead, a warning message requesting replenishment of the recording paper is displayed on the monitor 24. In this case, when the control device 21 determines that the recording paper has been supplied and the number of sheets stored is larger than the number of prints, the control device 21 instructs the printing device 27 to start printing, and the frame memory 26 outputs
The image data is transferred to the printing device 27 for each printing line.
As a method of detecting the number of recording sheets, for example, a method of detecting the weight or thickness of the stored recording sheets and obtaining the number of sheets currently stored from the weight or thickness of one recording sheet, or a method of detecting the number of recording sheets. And a cassette for storing recording paper, there is a method of calculating the remaining amount of recording paper from the remaining amount of ink sheets.

When printing the image stored in the memory card 29, the source is switched by the monitor button 40, the image from the card operating device 25 is displayed on the monitor 24, and the forward button 41 and the reverse button 41 are displayed. By operating the feed button 42, the image to be printed is displayed on the monitor 24. When the memory button 32 is pressed in this state, the control device 21 writes the image data of the screen in the frame memory 26. At this time, the control device 21 also takes in the image reproduction information set for the image and stores it in an internal memory (not shown in FIG. 1). Thereafter, when the print button 33 is pressed, a message requesting the setting of the selected image and the number of prints is displayed on the monitor 24 as in FIG. In this state, when the number of prints is set by the down button 45 and the up button 46 and the execution button 44 is pressed, the control device 21
The number of recording papers stored in 7 is obtained, and it is determined whether the number of stored papers is larger or smaller than the set number of prints.
If the number of recording sheets is smaller than the number of prints, the printing apparatus 27 is not given an instruction to start printing,
A warning message requesting replenishment of recording paper is displayed on the monitor 24. If more recording paper is stored than the set number of prints, image reproduction information is given to the printing device 27 to start printing. And transfers the image data from the frame memory 26 to the printing device 27 one by one printing line. Thereby, each part of the printing apparatus 27 is set to a state that satisfies the given image reproduction condition,
Printing is performed.

Next, the case of performing a program print will be described. When the memory card 29 is set in the card operation device 25 and the card print button 34 is pressed,
The control device 21 reads the print program information of the memory card 29, first obtains the total number of prints set for each job, obtains the number of recording papers stored in the printing device 27, and determines the total number of prints. It is determined whether or not the number is larger than the number. If more recording sheets are stored than the total number of prints, the jobs set by this print program are executed in the order of the job numbers.

At this time, if the job is a job for printing one image on one recording sheet, the control unit 21
Reads out the image data selected in the job from the memory card 29 and writes it in the frame memory 26, reads out the image reproduction information and gives it to the printing device 27,
Instruct print start. As a result, the number of images set in the job is printed as set in the image reproduction information.

When the job is multi-print, the control device 21 first reads out the relevant information of the image information in the memory card 29, and recognizes the image set in the multi-print job and its arrangement. Next, those images are sequentially read from the memory card 29 and written in a predetermined area of the frame memory 26. At that time, it is natural that each image is reduced to a predetermined magnification. Thereafter, the control device 21 instructs the printing device 27 to start printing, and transfers the image data from the frame memory 26 to the printing device 27 one by one printing line. As a result, a multiprint in which the images set by the related information of the image information are arranged as set is obtained.

When the job is an index job, the control device 21 sequentially reads out all the images from the memory card 29, reduces the image at a predetermined magnification, develops it in the frame memory 26, and Instruct print start. If all the images stored in the memory card 29 cannot be printed on one sheet of recording paper, for example, while 20 images are stored in the memory card 29, 16 images are stored in the index job. Is set to multi-print, the control device 21 first reduces the first 16 images and writes them in the frame memory 26, and after a predetermined number of prints of the index have been completed, the remaining four images are copied. The data is read, reduced, written into the frame memory 26, and printed.

The operation of the operator and the operation of the printer system in the case where the memory card storing the image data is used have been described above. Next, the case where the memory card in which the gradation control table is written will be described. .

When the memory card 29 is set in the card operating device 25, the control device 21
Read ID No. 9. When the memory card 29 recognizes from the read ID that the gradation control table has been written, the written gradation control table is read out and written into the memory 28 of the printing apparatus 27. As a result, the gradation control table written in the memory card is set in the memory 28, and thereafter, the gradation is expressed by the gradation control table. Therefore, by preparing a memory card in which various gradation control tables are written, desired gradation characteristics can be easily obtained.

The above is a case where one gradation control table is written in one memory card.
When a plurality of gradation control tables are written in one memory card, for example, a selection menu screen of the gradation control table may be displayed on the monitor 24 so as to be selectable with the U / I 22. .

As shown in FIG. 12, for each image data, LUT data, ie, a gradation control table, can be recorded on the same memory card as the related information. When the printing of the image data is instructed, the control device 21 first reads the gradation control table attached to the image data and
8 and then instruct the start of printing of the image data. Therefore, it is possible to switch the gradation control table for each image.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible. For example, the types and arrangement of buttons provided on the U / I are not limited to those shown in FIG. 2 and can be variously set. In the above-described embodiment, the menu for setting the print job or setting the correction value of the image quality correction is displayed so as to be superimposed on the image, but the window may be displayed. The warning when the recording paper is insufficient is not limited to the message display, and a warning sound may be emitted.

[0050]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, since the gradation control table can be easily changed, it is possible to change the source of the video signal, change the ink and recording paper of the printing apparatus, and the like. This can be easily handled.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a U / I operation button.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a memory structure of a memory card in which image data is stored.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating multi-printing.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating print program information.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a memory structure of a memory card into which a gradation control table is written.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating print program settings.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating print program settings.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating multi-print settings.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating image quality correction settings.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a menu screen when printing is performed.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating another example of a memory structure of a memory card in which image data is stored.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a conventional printer system.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating another configuration example of a conventional printer system.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 20 bus, 21 control device, 22 U / I, 23 display controller, 24 monitor, 25 card operation device, 26 frame memory, 27 printing device, 28 memory, 29 memory card, 30 ... External device I / F, 3
1. External equipment.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A printer system comprising at least card reading means for reading a memory card on which a gradation control table is written, control means, and printing means having a memory means on which the gradation control table is written. And a controller for writing the gradation control table read from the memory card by the card reading means to the memory means of the printing means.