JP2006315196A - Ink ribbon, printer system, multicolor photography printer, and print correction method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer system exhibiting good color reproducibility at a specific part of an image to be printed and also exhibiting good color reproducibility at other parts. <P>SOLUTION: The printer system where printing is performed by pressing a sheet against an ink ribbon and applying an external force to the ink ribbon thereby transferring ink to the sheet comprises an ink ribbon having one or more than one correction colors of different hue or chroma in addition to a plurality of basic colors or in place of any or all basic colors, a means for converting pixel data into print data by the basic colors and correction colors of the ink ribbon based on the ratio of red (R), green (G) and blue (B) components of the image data becoming a print object, and a means performing printing by selecting basic colors or correction colors of the ink ribbon based on the print data formed by the print data conversion means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink ribbon, a printer system, a multicolor photographic printing apparatus, and a print correction method in a thermal recording type printer.

  A thermal recording type printer applies a thermal head to an ink ribbon to which a dye or pigment is applied and heats the thermal head to transfer the dye or pigment to a recording medium such as paper to form an image.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a conventional ink ribbon. The ink ribbon to which the dye or pigment is applied is mainly composed of three colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) shown in FIG. 10 (a), or shown in FIG. 10 (b). The four colors are yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (Bk). Further, three colors + Lm and four colors + Lm having a laminate layer (Lm) for coating the surface of these three colors and four colors are used. Examples of these configurations are shown in FIGS. 10 (c) and 10 (d).

  FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a thermal recording type printer system. The printer driver 122 in the host computer 120 receives image data (R, G, B) from the application 121. Thereafter, image processing (data conversion processing into C, M, Y, and K image data) is performed in the printer driver 122 and transmitted to the printer 110 through the interface cable 3. The printer 110 prints the received image data (C, M, Y, K image data) in colors corresponding to the respective colors.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining a multi-color photographic printing apparatus. The multicolor-compatible photo printing apparatus shown in FIG. 12 includes four parts: a data processing unit 140, an image input unit 150, a user setting input unit 160, and a printing unit 170.

  The image input unit 150 is a reading device for a digital camera, a scanner, and various media (such as a CD and a memory card) that take a picture. The user setting input unit 160 includes input devices such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a tablet, and is used to input instruction contents for print settings of a printed material from a user who uses this system.

  The data processing unit 140 is a host computer. Inside the host computer, an application (processing unit using application software) 141 for controlling the system and a printer driver 142 for controlling the printer 110 in the printing unit 170 are incorporated.

  In the application 141, the image data obtained from the image input unit 150 is processed based on the print setting instruction data obtained from the user setting input unit 160 and transferred to the printer driver 142. The printer driver 142 converts the image data into image data for printing and transmits the image data to the printing unit 170. In the printing unit 170, the printer 110 prints data obtained from the host computer.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a processing flow of the multi-color photographic printing apparatus shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the flow of the processing will be described with reference to FIG.

  Image data taken or read from the image input unit 150 is input (step S31). The data processing unit 140 receives image data from the image input unit 150 (step S32). In addition, the user using this system performs various print settings (such as creating an image for decoration on the photographed image data and giving an instruction to a printed matter) by the user setting input unit 160 (step S33).

  Then, the image data is processed by the application 141 and transmitted to the printer driver 142 (step S34). The printer driver 142 generates image data for printing and transmits it to the printing unit 170 (step S35). The printing unit 170 transmits data to the printer 110 (step S36), and printing is performed by the printer 110 (step S37). Then, the printed matter is provided to the user.

  As described above, the conventional printer system and the multi-color photographic printing apparatus have been described. However, in the conventional system, the number of colors and the reproduction range that the system can reproduce are determined by the color development characteristics of the ink ribbon, and the system user However, there is a problem that it is difficult to obtain a satisfactory printed matter.

  For example, when an image containing human skin and lemon is printed with a conventional system, if you try to improve the color reproduction of the skin color, the lemon will be reproduced with a skin-like yellow color, and the lemon that is generally recognized The color cannot be reproduced.

In such a case, in the conventional system, one of the following settings is performed and a printed matter is provided to the user.
As a first setting method, a system setting that improves the color reproducibility of a specific part in an image (in the above example, specialized in reproduction of skin color or specialized in reproduction of lemon) is performed.
As a second setting method, one of the methods is set in the system, such as setting to reduce the overall color reproduction performance without specializing so as to improve the color reproducibility of a specific part in the image. It was.

However, these two setting methods also have the following problems.
In the case of the first setting method, the color balance is lost and the color reproducibility tends to be deteriorated in areas other than the specialized portion.
In the case of the second setting method, since it is a setting that does not specialize anywhere and reduces the overall color reproduction performance, the color balance does not break, but the difference between the actual color and the color of the print result tends to be large Become.

  For this reason, there has been a need for a printer system with good color reproducibility in a portion other than the specialized portion, and a multi-color compatible photographic printing apparatus using the printer system.

  Note that there are conventional photography apparatuses and image printing apparatuses (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). An object of the prior art photography apparatus and image printing apparatus is to provide a photography apparatus capable of further overwriting an image of a subject. For this purpose, a camera is provided that captures a subject and converts the captured image into an electrical image signal, and a printer that receives an image signal related to the image of the subject captured by the camera and prints the captured image on a print medium. The printer includes a first recording head for recording a photographed image photographed by the camera on a print medium, and a second recording head for printing an overwrite image on the print medium. As a result, only one printer can be housed in the housing, so the printer housing space can be reduced, the housing itself can be made smaller, and a conventional paper feed mechanism is not required. Paper errors hardly occur, and there is no printing failure in which the apparatus is stopped or the image printing position is shifted.

However, the present invention provides a printer system and the like that can improve the color reproducibility for other portions even when specialized to improve the color reproducibility of a specific portion of an image to be printed. Therefore, the object and configuration of the invention are different from those of the conventional photography apparatus and image printing apparatus.
JP 2003-63049 A JP 2003-63050 A

  As described above, in a system using a conventional printer, the number of colors and the reproduction range that the system can reproduce are determined by the color development characteristics of the ink ribbon. There was a problem that it was difficult to obtain.

  The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and its purpose is to specialize so as to improve the color reproducibility of a specific part of an image to be printed (for example, to improve the reproduction of skin color). Even in the case of specialization, it is possible to improve the color reproducibility for the other portions, and without performing the print setting for improving the color reproducibility for the specific portion, An object of the present invention is to provide an ink ribbon, a printer system, a multi-color photographic printing apparatus, and a print correction method that can improve color reproducibility.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and the ink ribbon of the present invention transfers ink to paper by pressing the paper against the ink ribbon and applying an external action to the ink ribbon. An ink ribbon used in a printer that performs printing, and has one or more correction colors having different hues or saturations in addition to a plurality of basic colors or instead of any or all of the basic colors It is characterized by that.
With such a configuration, a correction color having a hue and saturation different from the basic color is added to the ink ribbon in addition to or in place of the basic color of the conventional ink ribbon.
As a result, even if specialization is made to improve the color reproducibility of a specific part of the image to be printed (for example, specialization is made to improve the reproducibility of skin color), the color reproducibility is also applied to other parts. Can be improved.

In the ink ribbon of the present invention, the basic colors are three colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C), or yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black. The four colors (Bk) have yellow (Y1) and yellow (Y2) as correction colors having different hues or saturations instead of the yellow (Y).
With such a configuration, an image is printed by replacing the basic color yellow (Y) with two kinds of correction colors yellow (Y1) or yellow (Y2) having different hues or saturations.
Thereby, for example, even when specialized to improve skin color reproducibility in an image to be printed, color reproducibility can be improved for other portions.

In the ink ribbon of the present invention, the basic colors of the ink ribbon are three colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C), or yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C ) And black (Bk), and in addition to the yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C), yellow (YL) is used as a correction color in which the density is set low for each basic color. , Magenta (ML), and cyan (CL).
With such a configuration, in addition to the basic colors, an image is printed using yellow (YL), magenta (ML), and cyan (CL) whose density is set low for each basic color.
Thereby, it is possible to improve the color reproducibility and stability at a low density portion in the image to be printed.

The printer system of the present invention is a printer system that performs printing by transferring paper onto paper by pressing the paper against the ink ribbon and applying an external action to the ink ribbon. In addition, or instead of any or all of the basic colors, an ink ribbon having one or more correction colors having different hues or saturations, and red (R) of pixel data of image data to be printed, Based on the ratio of the green (G) and blue (B) components, the pixel data is generated by the print data conversion means that converts the pixel data into data for printing with the basic color and the correction color of the ink ribbon, and is generated by the print data conversion means Printing means for selecting and printing the basic color or correction color of the ink ribbon based on the printed data.
With such a configuration, in the printer system, an ink ribbon having a correction color having a different hue or saturation is used in addition to or in place of a plurality of basic colors, and the pixel data of the input image data is changed. Based on the ratio of the red (R), green (G), and blue (B) components, the input image data is converted into data for printing with the basic color and correction color of the ink ribbon, and based on the data for printing. Then, printing is performed by selecting the basic color or correction color of the ink ribbon.
As a result, even if specialization is made to improve the color reproducibility of a specific part of the image to be printed (for example, specialization is made to improve the reproducibility of skin color), color reproducibility is also applied to other parts Can be improved.

In the printer system of the present invention, the basic colors of the ink ribbon are yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C), or yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C ) And black (Bk), and instead of the yellow (Y), yellow (Y1) and yellow (Y2) are provided as correction colors having different hues or saturations.
With such a configuration, an ink ribbon in which the basic color yellow (Y) is replaced with two types of correction colors Y1 and Y2 having different hues or saturations is used in the printer system. Then, in addition to the basic color (excluding yellow (Y)), printing data using the correction colors Y1 and Y2 is generated, and the basic color (excluding yellow (Y)) is generated based on the printing data. ) Or select the correction colors Y1 and Y2 and print the image. This makes it possible to improve the color reproducibility for the other portions even when specialized to improve the skin color reproducibility in the image. can do.

In the printer system of the present invention, the basic colors of the ink ribbon are yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C), or yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C ) And black (Bk), and in addition to the yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C), yellow (YL) is used as a correction color in which the density is set low for each basic color. , Magenta (ML), and cyan (CL).
With such a configuration, in the printer system, in addition to the basic colors, ink ribbons having yellow (YL), magenta (ML), and cyan (CL) as correction colors whose density is set low for each basic color. use. Then, in addition to the basic color, print data using the correction colors yellow (YL), magenta (ML), and cyan (CL) is generated, and the basic color or the correction color is generated based on the print data. Printing an image by selecting yellow (YL), magenta (ML), and cyan (CL). This makes it possible to improve color reproducibility and stability in a low-density part of the printed image. .

Also, the multi-color photographic printing apparatus of the present invention is capable of multi-color printing using a printer that presses a sheet against an ink ribbon and transfers the ink to the sheet by applying an external action to the ink ribbon. In the photographic printing apparatus, in the printer, in addition to a plurality of basic colors, or in place of any or all of the basic colors, an ink ribbon having one or more correction colors having different hues or saturations is provided. In the multicolor-compatible photo printing apparatus to be used, image data input means for inputting image data to be printed, user setting input means for inputting print setting instruction information, and input by the image input means Image data processing means for processing the processed image data based on print setting instruction information input by the user setting input means, and the image data processing means Print data to be converted into data for printing with the basic color and correction color of the ink ribbon based on the ratio of the red (R), green (G), and blue (B) components of the pixel data of the processed image data The image forming apparatus includes: a conversion unit; and a printing unit that performs printing by selecting a basic color or a correction color of the ink ribbon based on printing data generated by the print data conversion unit.
With such a configuration, the multi-color photographic printing apparatus incorporates a printer using an ink ribbon having a correction color having a different hue or saturation in addition to the basic color or instead of the basic color. The image data to be printed is processed according to the print setting instruction information, and the ink is based on the ratio of the red (R), green (G), and blue (B) components of the pixel data of the processed image data. The data is converted into data for printing using the basic color and the correction color of the ribbon, and printing is performed by selecting the basic color or the correction color of the ink ribbon based on the data for printing.
As a result, even if specialization is made to improve the color reproducibility of a specific part of the image to be printed (for example, specialization is made to improve the reproducibility of skin color), the color reproducibility is also applied to other parts. Can be improved.

In the multi-color photographic printing apparatus of the present invention, the basic color of the ink ribbon is three colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C), or yellow (Y) and magenta (M). , Cyan (C), and black (Bk), and yellow (Y1) and yellow (Y2) are provided as correction colors having different hues or saturations instead of yellow (Y). And
With such a configuration, an ink ribbon in which the basic color yellow (Y) is replaced with two kinds of correction colors Y1 and Y2 having different hues or saturations is used in the printer in the multicolor-compatible photo printing apparatus. Then, in the multi-color compatible photo printing apparatus, in addition to the basic colors (except yellow (Y)), print data using the correction colors Y1 and Y2 is generated, and based on the print data, The basic color and the correction colors Y1 and Y2 are selected and printed by the printer.
Thereby, for example, even when specialized to improve skin color reproducibility, color reproducibility can be improved for other portions as well.

In the multi-color photographic printing apparatus of the present invention, the basic color of the ink ribbon is three colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C), or yellow (Y) and magenta (M). , Cyan (C), and black (Bk), and in addition to the yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C), as correction colors in which the density is set low for each basic color, It has yellow (YL), magenta (ML), and cyan (CL).
With such a configuration, the printer in the multicolor-compatible photo printing apparatus has, in addition to the basic colors, yellow (YL), magenta (ML), and cyan (CL) in which the density is set low for each basic color. Use an ink ribbon. In addition, in the multi-color photographic printing apparatus, in addition to the basic colors, printing data using yellow (YL), magenta (ML), and cyan (CL) in which the density is set low for each basic color is stored. Generate and print.
As a result, color reproducibility and stability at a low density portion in an image to be printed can be improved.

The print correction method of the present invention is a print correction method in a printer system that presses a paper against an ink ribbon and transfers the ink to the paper by applying an external action to the ink ribbon to perform printing. In addition to a plurality of basic colors, or in place of any or all of the basic colors, a procedure for using an ink ribbon having one or more correction colors having different hues or saturations, and image data to be printed Print data conversion procedure for converting the pixel data into data for printing with the basic color and the correction color of the ink ribbon based on the ratio of the red (R), green (G), and blue (B) components of the pixel data of And a printing procedure for performing printing by selecting a basic color or a correction color of the ink ribbon based on the printing data generated by the printing data conversion procedure. It is characterized in.
By such a procedure, in the printer system, in addition to the plurality of basic colors or instead of the basic colors, an ink ribbon having a correction color having a different hue or saturation is used, and the pixel data of the input image data is changed. Based on the ratio of the red (R), green (G), and blue (B) components, the input image data is converted into data for printing with the basic color and correction color of the ink ribbon, and based on this printing data, Select the basic color or correction color of the ink ribbon and perform printing.
As a result, even if specialization is made to improve the color reproducibility of a specific part of the image to be printed (for example, specialization is made to improve the reproducibility of skin color), the color reproducibility is also applied to other parts. Can be improved.

  In the present invention, even when the color reproduction of a specific part of an image to be printed is specially improved (for example, specially specified to improve the reproduction of skin color), the color reproduction is also performed for other parts. Therefore, it is effective for printing a printed matter having good reproducibility of the entire color.

  In addition, the color reproducibility of the specific portion can be improved without performing print settings that improve the color reproducibility of the specific portion, and the color reproducibility can also be improved in areas other than the specific portion. As a result, the system user can obtain a satisfactory printed matter.

  Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First Example of Ink Ribbon According to the Present Invention]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a first configuration example of an ink ribbon according to the present invention.
The example shown in FIG. 1 shows an example of the ink ribbon 1 that can improve the color reproducibility for other portions while specializing to improve the skin color reproducibility of an image to be printed. As shown in FIG. 1, the ink ribbon 1 has the same yellow color, such as yellow (Y1) specialized for skin color reproduction and yellow (Y2) specialized for color reproduction of other parts. Use a hue that compensates for the disadvantages. In this way, the multi-color ink ribbon 1 is used, and the color of the ink ribbon 1 is properly used according to the area of the image.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an example of the effect of using the ink ribbon of the present invention. The result of printing using the ink ribbon 1 shown in FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the yellow component of human skin is printed using the Y1 side, and the yellow component of other parts (background, lemon, clothes, etc.) is printed using the Y2 side. To do.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a first configuration example of the printer system according to the present invention.
A printer driver (print data conversion unit) 21 in the host computer 20 receives image data (R, G, B) from the application 21. Thereafter, in the printer driver 22, components specialized for the data portion relating to the specific area (for example, skin color area) are extracted from the image data (R, G, B) (Y1, Y2 in the example shown in FIG. 2). The image data is converted into print image data (Y1, Y2, C, M in the above example) including the specialized component. Thereafter, the converted data is transmitted from the printer driver 22 to the printer 10 through the interface cable 3.

  In the printer driver 22, for example, when the pixels in the image data are represented by R, G, and B (data represented by ratios of 256 levels), the ratio of R, G, and B is “R, In the case of “G, B = 1.25 to 1.40: 1.1 to 1.2: 1”, it is determined to be a skin color region, and data conversion is performed so that yellow (Y1) is assigned to this region. If the ratio of R, G, B is not “R, G, B ≠ 1.25 to 1.40: 1.1 to 1.2: 1”, data conversion is performed so that yellow (Y2) is assigned.

  The printer 10 prints the converted print image data received from the printer driver 22 in colors (Y1, Y2, M, C) corresponding to the respective colors. The printer 10 includes a thermal head 11, an ink ribbon 1, an ink ribbon roll (winding side) 12, an ink ribbon core (winding side) 13, a platen 14, a printing paper 15, and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a printer driver 22 is provided in the printer 10, and processing for converting data from image data (R, G, B) to image data for printing (Y1, Y2, M, C) is performed. It may be performed on the printer 10 side.

[Second Example of Ink Ribbon According to the Present Invention]
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a second configuration example of the ink ribbon according to the present invention.
A printer using a conventional ink ribbon has poor color reproducibility and stability at a low density portion. For this reason, printing is performed using a multi-color ink ribbon 2 in which yellow (YL), magenta (ML), and cyan (CL) are added to the conventional color, which is specific to color reproducibility and stability at low density. To do. As a result, it is possible to obtain a print having good color reproducibility and stability in a low density portion.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a second configuration example of the printer system of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 6, the printer driver 22a receives image data (R, G, B) from the application 21a, and extracts image data (Y, YL, M, ML, C, CL). The printer driver 22 a transmits the converted image data to the printer 10 through the interface cable 3. The printer 10 corresponds to this image data format, and prints the received converted image data in colors corresponding to each color (Y, YL, M, ML, C, CL).

[First Configuration Example of Multicolor Photographic Printing Apparatus]
Next, an example of a multicolor photographic printing apparatus using the printer according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a multi-color photographic printing apparatus according to the present invention. The multicolor-compatible photo printing apparatus shown in FIG. 7 includes four parts: a data processing unit 40, an image input unit (image data input means) 50, a user setting input unit 60, and a printing unit 70. The basic configuration is the same as that of the conventional multi-color photographic printing apparatus shown in FIG. 12, but the internal operation is different.

  A user setting input unit (user setting input means) 50 is a reading device for various media such as a digital camera 51 for taking a picture, a CD drive 52, a memory card reader 53, and a scanner 54. The user setting input unit 60 includes input devices such as a keyboard 61, a mouse 62, and a tablet 63, and is used to input contents of print setting instructions from a user who uses this system.

  The data processing unit 40 is a host computer. Inside the host computer, an application 41 for controlling the system and a printer driver 42 for controlling the printer 10 in the printing unit 70 are incorporated.

  The application (image data processing means) 41 processes the image data obtained from the image input unit 50 based on the print setting data obtained from the user setting input unit 60 and transfers it to the printer driver (print data conversion means) 42. The printer driver 42 converts the image data into image data for printing and transmits it to the printing unit 70. In the printing unit 70, the printer 10 prints image data received from the printer driver 42. The printer 10 uses the ink ribbon 1 shown in FIG. 1 or the ink ribbon 2 shown in FIG. 5, and the printer driver 42 depends on the number of colors and the color characteristics of the ink ribbon 1 or ink ribbon 2. Data conversion processing is performed.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a processing flow of the multi-color photographic printing apparatus shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the flow of the process will be described with reference to FIG.
Image data taken or read from the image input unit 50 is input (step S11), and the data processing unit 40 receives the image data from the image input unit 50 (step S12). In addition, the user who uses this system performs various print settings (such as creating an image for decoration on photographed image data and giving an instruction to a printed matter) (step S13). After the setting is completed, the image data obtained from the image input unit 50 is processed by the application 41 in the data processing unit 40 (step S14).

  After processing the image data, the printer driver 42 converts the data into data corresponding to the number of colors and the color characteristics of the ink ribbon (step S15). For example, in the example shown in FIG. 2, the yellow component of the flesh-colored portion and the yellow component of the lemon portion are separated from the original RGB image data and converted into Y1Y2CM.

  Thereafter, the printer driver 42 transmits the converted data to the printing unit 70 (step S16). The printing unit 70 that has received the data transmits the data to the printer 10 (step S17), and prints an image by the printer 10 (step S18). Then, a printed material is provided to a user who uses the system.

[Second Example of Multicolor Photo Printing Apparatus]
Next, an example will be described in which a multi-color ink ribbon is used on a printing press and a user wants to faithfully specify a color reproduction portion when inputting image data into the system. In this example, when the original image is converted into data corresponding to the number of colors and color characteristics of the ink ribbon, by converting the data into the data that takes into account the contents of the user's instructions, it is possible to provide a print that satisfies the user. . The system configuration is basically the same as that of the first configuration example shown in FIG. 7, and the processes in the application 41 and the printer driver 42 are different.

FIG. 9 shows a processing flow of the second configuration example of the multicolor-compatible photo printing apparatus. Hereinafter, the flow of the process will be described with reference to FIG.
Image data taken or read from the image input unit 50 is input (step S21). Further, the user designates a part to be faithfully reproduced from the user setting input unit 60 (step S22).

  The data processing unit 40 receives image data from the image input unit 50 (step S23). In addition, the user performs various print settings (such as creating an image for decoration on photographed image data and giving an instruction to a printed material) (step S24). After the setting is completed, the image data obtained from the image input unit 50 is processed by the application 41 in the data processing unit 40 (step S25).

  After processing the image data, the printer driver 42 converts the data into data corresponding to the number of colors and color characteristics of the ink ribbon. Further, at the time of data conversion, the color component of the point that the user wants to faithfully reproduce the color is converted according to the number of colors and the color characteristics of the ink ribbon (step S26).

  Thereafter, data is transmitted from the printer driver 42 to the printing unit 70 (step S27). The printing unit 70 that has received the data transmits the data to the printer 10 (step S28), prints it (step S29), and provides the printed matter to the user who uses this system.

  By the procedure described above, when the original image is converted into data according to the number of colors and color characteristics of the ink ribbon, it is possible to provide prints that satisfy the user by converting the data into data that takes into account the user's instructions. It becomes.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described above. However, the printer system and the multicolor photographic printing apparatus of the present invention are not limited to the above-described illustrated examples, and do not depart from the gist of the present invention. Of course, various changes can be made.

  In the present invention, even when the color reproduction of a specific part of an image to be printed is specially improved (for example, specially specified to improve the reproduction of skin color), the color reproduction is also performed for other parts. Therefore, the present invention is useful for an ink ribbon, a printer system, a multicolor photographic printing apparatus, a printing correction method, and the like.

It is a figure which shows the 1st structural example of the ink ribbon by this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the example of the effect using the ink ribbon of this invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating a first configuration example of a printer system according to the present invention. FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a printer driver is provided in a printer. It is a figure which shows the 2nd structural example of the ink ribbon by this invention. It is a figure which shows the 2nd structural example of the printer system of this invention. It is a figure which shows the 1st structural example of the multi-color corresponding | compatible photo printing apparatus by this invention. It is a figure which shows the processing flow of the multi-color corresponding | compatible photo printing apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the processing flow of the 2nd structural example of a multi-color corresponding | compatible photo printing apparatus. It is a figure which shows the example of the conventional ink ribbon. It is a figure for demonstrating a thermal recording type printer system. It is a figure for demonstrating a multi-color corresponding | compatible photo printing apparatus. It is a figure which shows the processing flow of the multi-color corresponding | compatible photo printing apparatus shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1, 2 Ink ribbon 3 Interface cable 10 Printer 11 Thermal head 12 Ink ribbon roll (unwinding side)
13 Ink ribbon core (winding side)
14 Platen 15 Printing paper 20 Host computer 21, 21a Application 22, 22a Printer driver 40 Data processing unit 41 Application 42 Printer driver 50 Image input unit 60 User setting input unit 70 Printing unit

Claims (10)

An ink ribbon used in a printer that presses a sheet against an ink ribbon and transfers the ink onto the sheet by applying an external action to the ink ribbon to perform printing,
An ink ribbon having one or more correction colors having different hues or saturations in addition to a plurality of basic colors or in place of any or all of the basic colors. The basic colors are three colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C), or four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (Bk). The ink ribbon according to claim 1, wherein instead of the yellow (Y), correction colors having different hues or saturations include yellow (Y1) and yellow (Y2). The basic color of the ink ribbon is three colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C), or four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (Bk). In addition to the yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C), yellow (YL), magenta (ML), cyan (CL) 3. The ink ribbon according to claim 1, wherein the ink ribbon is provided. A printer system that performs printing by pressing a paper against an ink ribbon and transferring the ink to the paper by applying an external action to the ink ribbon,
In addition to a plurality of basic colors or instead of any or all of the basic colors, an ink ribbon having one or more correction colors having different hues or saturations;
Based on the ratio of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) components of pixel data of image data to be printed, the pixel data is converted into data for printing with the basic color and correction color of the ink ribbon. Print data conversion means for conversion;
A printer system comprising: a printing unit that selects and prints a basic color or a correction color of the ink ribbon based on printing data generated by the print data conversion unit. The basic color of the ink ribbon is three colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C), or four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (Bk). The printer system according to claim 4, wherein, instead of the yellow (Y), the correction colors having different hues or saturations include yellow (Y1) and yellow (Y2). The basic color of the ink ribbon is three colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C), or four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (Bk). In addition to the yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C), yellow (YL), magenta (ML), cyan (CL) 6. The printer system according to claim 4, wherein the printer system includes: A multi-color photographic printing apparatus using a printer that presses a sheet against an ink ribbon and transfers the ink onto the sheet by applying an external action to the ink ribbon to perform printing. In a multicolor photographic printing apparatus using an ink ribbon having one or two or more correction colors having different hues or saturations in addition to or in place of any or all of the basic colors,
Image data input means for inputting image data to be printed;
User setting input means for inputting print setting instruction information for printed matter;
Image data processing means for processing the image data input by the image input means based on print setting instruction information input by the user setting input means;
Data for printing with the basic color and the correction color of the ink ribbon based on the ratio of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) components of the pixel data of the image data processed by the image data processing means Print data conversion means for converting to
A multicolor-compatible photographic printing apparatus comprising: a printing unit that performs printing by selecting a basic color or a correction color of the ink ribbon based on printing data generated by the printing data conversion unit. The basic color of the ink ribbon is three colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C), or four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (Bk). The multicolor photographic printing according to claim 7, further comprising: yellow (Y1) and yellow (Y2) as correction colors having different hues or saturations instead of the yellow (Y). apparatus. The basic color of the ink ribbon is three colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C), or four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (Bk). In addition to the yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C), yellow (YL), magenta (ML), cyan (CL) 9. The multicolor-compatible photographic printing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: A printing correction method in a printer system that presses a sheet against an ink ribbon and transfers the ink to the sheet by applying an external action to the ink ribbon to perform printing,
Using an ink ribbon having one or more correction colors having different hues or saturations in addition to a plurality of basic colors or instead of any or all of the basic colors;
Based on the ratio of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) components of pixel data of image data to be printed, the pixel data is converted into data for printing with the basic color and correction color of the ink ribbon. The print data conversion procedure to convert,
And a printing procedure for performing printing by selecting a basic color or a correction color of the ink ribbon based on printing data generated by the printing data conversion procedure.

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