JP2007184829A - Image processor, image processing system, image processing method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processor capable of distinguishing an area of pure color of an input image from an area different from the area of pure color and displaying the area regardless of a color conversion mode. <P>SOLUTION: A pure color range adjusting picture 30 is a picture displayed to the image processor 1 and includes a range adjusting part 32 and a preview part 36. The range adjusting part 32 is an adjusting means for adjusting the range of pure color. The preview part 36 displays areas of pure color, yellow, magenta, and cyan, extracted on the basis of input image data and stored pure color information in their own pure colors. For example, an area of pure color of extracted black is displayed in red and areas other than those of pure color are displayed in gray. When the range of pure color (for example, a hue and its width) are adjusted in the range adjusting part 32, the preview part 36 displays the area of pure color extracted further on the basis of the adjusted pure color range. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus that adjusts the color of an image.

  In an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a multifunction peripheral, a color displayed on a display device such as a display is required to match a color output from the image forming apparatus. However, when primary colors such as yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) are printed, these colors are not reproduced in a single color and other colors are mixed. There is.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a method of resetting unnecessary data of CMYK-CMYK three-dimensional LUT (LookUp Table) grid points corresponding to input primary color coverage when pure color reproduction is selected. . However, this method relates to a printer having a CMYK print path, and CMYK coverage needs to be acquired. In the case of an RGB printer in which drawing processing is performed via GDI or the like, the CMYK image is converted into an RGB image, so CMYK coverage cannot be acquired, and this method is not effective. In an application that can handle CMYK images, the CMYK images are converted into RGB data based on the print ink profile for color reproduction matching. For this reason, the converted RGB data deviates from the pure color data of normal RGB data, and pure color reproduction is impossible.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 discloses a method of obtaining a hue / saturation from input RGB, determining a necessary color and an unnecessary color for a color to be reproduced from the hue, and deleting the unnecessary color by a one-dimensional LUT. However, with this method, when black (K) data is deviated from R = G = B, it is impossible to reproduce K with pure color.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 discloses a method of performing RGB correction with both adjustment functions by interlocking a hue instruction and an RGB instruction while displaying and confirming images before and after the change. However, since this method linearly corrects the hue, when the input RGB data has a non-linear shift from the pure color data, it is not possible to reproduce all the regions in pure colors.

  Further, since the printer normally performs optimum color conversion (for example, RGB-CMYK conversion) such as standard, photograph, CAD, etc., corresponding to the type of document of the input image, the RGB value for pure color reproduction is Different for each specified color conversion mode. However, the methods disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3 do not consider this point.

JP 2001-152543 A Japanese Patent No. 2751256 JP 2000-231624 A

  The present invention is made from the background described above, and provides an image processing apparatus capable of displaying a pure color area of an input image separately from an area different from the pure color area regardless of the color conversion mode. Objective.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes an extraction unit that extracts a pure color region of an input image, and a display unit that displays the pure color region of the input image extracted by the extraction unit.

Preferably, the extraction unit extracts a pure color area of the input image based on the input image data and the stored pure color information.
Preferably, the apparatus further includes an adjusting unit for adjusting the pure color range.

Preferably, the adjusting means adjusts the hue and its width.
Preferably, the adjusting unit adjusts the hue, saturation, hue, and saturation width as a pure black color range.
Preferably, the extraction unit extracts a pure color area further based on the pure color range adjusted by the adjustment unit.

Preferably, the image forming apparatus further includes designation means for designating an image area from which a pure color area is extracted.
Preferably, the designation unit accepts designation of an image element included in the input image.
Preferably, the extraction unit extracts a pure color area included in the designated image area.
Preferably, the apparatus further includes pure color information storage means for storing pure color information.

Preferably, one of a plurality of color conversion modes is set in the input image, and the pure color information includes information corresponding to each of the plurality of color conversion modes.
Preferably, the pure color information includes at least one of RGB data and Lab data.

Preferably, the apparatus further includes pure color conversion means for performing pure color conversion on the pure color area of the input image extracted by the extraction means.
Preferably, the pure color information includes a pixel value of a pure color, and the pure color conversion unit converts the pixel value included in the pure color region of the input image extracted by the extraction unit into the pure color included in the pure color information. To the pixel value.

  An image processing system according to the present invention includes an extraction unit that extracts a pure color region of an input image, a display unit that displays the pure color region of the input image extracted by the extraction unit, and a pure color region extracted by the extraction unit. On the other hand, it has color conversion means for performing color conversion using a method different from the color conversion method used in a region different from the pure color region.

  In the first image processing method according to the present invention, a pure color area of the input image is extracted, and the pure color area of the extracted input image is displayed.

  Further, the second image processing method according to the present invention extracts a pure color area of the input image, displays the pure color area of the extracted input image, and the pure color area for the extracted pure color area. Color conversion is performed using a method different from the color conversion method used in a different region.

  Further, the first program according to the present invention is an image processing apparatus including a computer, wherein an extraction step of extracting a pure color area of an input image and a display step of displaying the pure color area of the extracted input image are performed. The computer of the processor is executed.

  The second program according to the present invention includes an extraction step of extracting a pure color area of the input image, a display step of displaying the pure color area of the extracted input image, and the extraction in an image processing system including a computer. For the pure color area, the computer of the image processing system executes a color conversion step of performing color conversion using a technique different from the color conversion technique used in an area different from the pure color area.

  According to the image processing device of the present invention, it is possible to display the pure color area of the input image separately from the area different from the pure color area regardless of the color conversion mode.

First, in order to facilitate understanding of the present invention, the background of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating color processing in an RGB printer.
As shown in FIG. 1, the application unit 2 converts an image in the CMYK color space (hereinafter also referred to as a CMYK image) into RGB data and outputs it to the driver unit 4. In the application unit 2, RGB conversion is performed based on the set CMYK profile and RGB profile. Here, the CMYK profile converts a CMYK image into CIELAB (L *, a *, b *), which is a device-independent color space. The RGB profile is for converting the Lab data into RGB data.

  The driver unit 4 is, for example, a printer driver, and transmits the RGB data received from the application unit 2 to the image forming apparatus 10 together with information on the color conversion mode specified by the user. At this time, if processing such as saturation / brightness adjustment is designated by the user, the driver unit 4 performs processing on the RGB data and transmits it.

  In the image forming apparatus 10 (for example, a printer), the controller unit 6 switches the DLUT (color conversion table; Direct LookUp Table) for each designated color conversion mode, such as for standard use and for photo use, and transmits the transmitted RGB data. Convert to CMYK data.

  In such a process, the application unit 2 may deviate the pure color RGB data from the original RGB pure color line. Also, pure color RGB data differs depending on the setting profile. Further, in the controller unit 6, RGB data for pure color reproduction may differ depending on the designated color conversion mode. Therefore, the primary color may not be reproduced as a single color, for example, black is printed not as a single color black (K) but as a process K (CMYK mixed color) or other colors are mixed with yellow (Y).

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating RGB values input to the driver unit 4.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the data of 100%, 60%, and 20% coverage for black (K), yellow (Y), and magenta (M) are the CMYK profiles (profile A) set in the application unit 2, respectively. Depending on the difference in profile B), it is converted into different RGB data and input to the driver unit 4. In this example, the RGB profile of the application unit 2 is fixed.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating RGB values that are reproduced with pure colors by the image forming apparatus 10 for each color conversion mode set in the driver unit 4. As illustrated in FIG. 3, for yellow (Y) and magenta (M) data, the RGB values for pure color reproduction may differ depending on the color conversion mode that is set.
Therefore, in order to reproduce a pure color, it is necessary to convert the RGB data input to the driver unit shown in FIG. 2 into pure color RGB data in each color conversion mode shown in FIG.

Next, the outline of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating adjustment of the pure color range and display of the pure color area of the input image in the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 (A) shows the input image, and FIG. ) Shows a method for adjusting a pure color range, and FIG. 4C shows a method for displaying a pure color region extracted from an input image.
As shown in FIG. 4B, the pure color range adjustment screen 30 includes a range adjustment unit 32, a target selection unit 34, and a preview unit 36. The range adjustment unit 32 is an adjusting unit for adjusting the pure color range, and the pure color range is determined by, for example, the hues of cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) and their widths. The pure color range of black (K) is determined by the hue, saturation, hue, and saturation width. The hue, width, and the like may be directly input to the range adjustment unit 32, may be input with a value selected by an arrow key or the like, or may be selected by a so-called pop-down menu.

  The object selection unit 34 is a designation unit that designates, for each color, an image element that the user desires to convert to a pure color among image elements included in the input image. For example, the object selection unit 34 includes radio buttons, a button for designating “all” components, a button for designating “character, line, graphic”, and a designating “character, line”. Buttons, buttons for not specifying pure color display, and the like. The user designates an image element by pressing one of the buttons included in the target selection unit 34 for each color.

  The preview unit 36 displays a pure color area of the extracted input image. More specifically, the preview unit 36 displays the pure color area of the input image extracted based on the input image data and the stored pure color information, and when the pure color range is adjusted by the range adjusting unit 32. Displays a pure color area extracted based on the adjusted pure color range. In the preview unit 36, the extracted yellow, magenta, and cyan pure color regions are displayed in pure colors, the black pure color region is displayed in red, for example, and the regions other than the pure color region are displayed in gray. In addition, the preview unit 36 displays the pure color area of the image element for which the conversion to the pure color is designated by the target selection unit 34 in a pure color.

  For example, black and yellow pure color reproduction targets are “character, line, graphic”, hue, saturation, and width are all stored as 0 as a black pure color range, and hue and width are each as a yellow pure color range. When 60 and 5 are stored, since the pure color area is not extracted, the pure color area is not displayed in the preview section 36, and the input image shown in FIG. 4A is displayed in gray.

When the user adjusts the width of the black pure color area to 5 and the hue and width of the yellow pure color area to 65 and 10, respectively, as illustrated by the arrow S in FIG. The yellow pure color region is extracted and displayed as indicated by an arrow U in the figure, and is extracted and displayed as indicated by an arrow T in the middle. Here, the black pure color region may be displayed with a thick line.
In this way, the image processing apparatus displays the extracted pure color area, so that the user can check the pure color area with the preview unit 36, and adjust the pure color range while checking the displayed pure color area. Can do.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating pure color information for each color conversion mode stored in the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
As illustrated in FIG. 5, the pure color information is a pure color reproduction RGB value for each coverage of each color of YMCK for each color conversion mode. For example, when the color conversion mode is the photo mode and the coverage is 100%, the magenta (M) pure color information is stored as 208, 0, and 134 for RGB, respectively.

  The pure color information is not limited to RGB values, and may be Lab data in the sRGB space. The pure color information may not be stored every 1% coverage, and may be stored every 10% coverage or 1/255 units, for example. The pure color information is not limited to the primary color (CMYK), but may be secondary colors R (Y + M), G (C + Y), and B (M + C).

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a modification of the pure color range adjustment method in the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
As illustrated in FIG. 6, the target selection unit 34 illustrated in FIG. 4 may be included in a screen different from the preview unit 36. In the object selection unit 34, the object selection method and its user interface are not particularly limited.

  7A and 7B are diagrams for explaining a method for designating an image area from which a pure color area is extracted. FIG. 7A shows a preview section 36 on which a pure color area is displayed, and FIG. 7B shows a preview section. 36 shows an image area designated for extracting a pure color area, and FIG. 7C shows a pure color area extracted in the designated image area. As illustrated in FIG. 7A, the preview unit 36 displays an area other than the pure color area in gray.

  At this time, as illustrated in FIG. 7B, the user designates an image region indicated by a region V in the drawing by using a pointing device such as a mouse. In this case, the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention extracts a pure color area included in the designated image area. For this reason, as illustrated in FIG. 7C, the black pure color area in the designated image area is extracted as indicated by an arrow X in the figure and displayed, for example, in red or as a thick line. Then, the yellow pure color region is extracted as indicated by an arrow Y in the drawing and displayed in a yellow pure color.

Next, an image processing apparatus 1 that realizes such an image processing method will be described.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration centering on the control device of the image processing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 8, the image processing apparatus 1 includes a control device 12 including a CPU 14 and a memory 16, a liquid crystal display device or a CRT display device, a display / input device 18 including a keyboard and a mouse, and image formation via a network. A communication device 20 that communicates with the device 10 and a recording device 22 such as an HDD, CD, or DVD device are included.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing functional configurations of the image processing apparatus 1 and the image forming apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
As illustrated in FIG. 9, the image processing apparatus 1 includes an application unit 2 and a driver unit 4. The driver unit 4 includes a PDL conversion unit 40, a mode setting unit 42, a pure color conversion unit 44, and a color adjustment unit 46. Have. The image forming apparatus 10 includes a controller unit 6 and an image output unit. The controller unit 6 includes a color conversion unit 60, a color conversion parameter storage unit 62, a gradation correction unit 64, a gradation correction parameter storage unit 66, A screen unit 68 and a screen parameter storage unit 70 are provided. 9 that are substantially the same as those shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.
In the image processing apparatus 1 and the image forming apparatus 10, these functions may be realized by either software or hardware. For example, the functions are supplied to the control device 12 via the storage medium 24 (FIG. 8) or the network, and the memory 16 is loaded and executed.

In the driver unit 4 of the image processing apparatus 1, the PDL conversion unit 40 receives print data from the application unit 2 via an OS drawing processing unit (not shown). The PDL conversion unit 40 performs print mode setting, pure color conversion, and other color adjustments described later on the print data, converts the processed print data into a page description language (PDL), and outputs the image forming apparatus. 10 to the controller unit 6.
The mode setting unit 42 gives information related to the color conversion mode set by the user, such as a standard mode, a photo mode, a WEB mode, a presentation mode, and a CAD mode, to the print data.

The pure color conversion unit 44 extracts a pure color region of the image (input image) of the print data, and displays the pure color region of the extracted input image on the display / input device 18. Further, the pure color conversion unit 44 displays a pure color range adjustment screen 30 (FIG. 4) for adjusting the pure color range on the display / input device 18, accepts the adjustment of the pure color range from the user, and sets the adjusted pure color range to the adjusted pure color range. Further, based on this, a pure color area is extracted and displayed. The pure color conversion process by the pure color conversion unit 44 will be described in detail later.
The color adjustment unit 46 receives a predetermined color adjustment process adjusted by the user and reflects the color adjustment in the print data.

In the controller unit 6 of the image forming apparatus 10, the color conversion parameter storage unit 62 stores a color conversion table (3DLUT) for color conversion. Here, the color conversion table is a three-dimensional LUT indicating the correspondence between the data in the two color spaces. For example, the color conversion table indicates the correspondence between the data in the RGB color space and the data in the CMYK color space.
The color conversion unit 60 is based on the print mode and color conversion mode set by the driver unit 4 of the image processing apparatus 1, and a color conversion table such as 3DLUT stored in the color conversion parameter storage unit 62. The image data input from one driver unit 4 is color-converted from, for example, RGB color space data to CMYK color space data, and output to the gradation correction unit 64.

The gradation correction parameter storage unit 66 stores a color conversion table (1DLUT) for gradation correction. Here, the color conversion table is a one-dimensional LUT for correcting the gradation of each color included in a predetermined color space (for example, CMYK color space).
The gradation correction unit 64 performs gradation correction on each color of the image data input from the color conversion unit 60 based on a color conversion table such as 1DLUT stored in the gradation correction parameter storage unit 66, and Output to the screen unit 68.

  The screen unit 68 generates a binary image by performing screen processing on the image data in the CMYK color space input from the gradation correction unit 64 based on the screen parameter stored in the screen parameter storage unit 70. . The generated binary image is output to the image output unit, and the image is printed on a recording sheet.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the pure color conversion unit 44 shown in FIG.
As illustrated in FIG. 10, the pure color conversion unit 44 includes a pure color region comparison unit 440, a display data generation unit 442, a pure color region display / selection unit 444, a conversion execution unit 446, and a pure color information storage unit 448.
In the pure color conversion unit 44, the pure color information storage unit 448 stores the pure color information shown in FIG. The stored pure color information is referred to and used by a pure color area comparison unit 440 and a conversion execution unit 446 described later.

  The pure color area comparison unit 440 refers to pure color information related to the mode selected by the user and set by the mode setting unit 42 (FIG. 9) from the pure color information storage unit 448, and receives the input first RGB data And the pure color information are extracted, and a pure color region of the first RGB data (input image) is extracted. Here, the pure color range is set in advance. For example, the pure color range of black (K) is 0 for each of hue, saturation, and width, and the pure color range of yellow (Y) is for each of hue and its width. 60 and 5. Further, the pure color area comparison unit 440 receives the adjusted pure color range from the pure color area display / selection unit 444 described later, and extracts the pure color area of the first RGB data within the adjusted pure color range. The pure color area comparison unit 440 outputs the extracted pure color area to the display data generation unit 442.

  The pure color area comparison unit 440 receives an image area designated by the user from the pure color area display / selection unit 444. At this time, the pure color area comparison unit 440 may accept designation of image elements (characters, lines, graphics, etc.) included in the first RGB data. In this case, the pure color area comparison unit 440 extracts a pure color area included in the designated image area and image element.

  The display data generation unit 442 generates display image data based on the comparison result by the pure color area comparison unit 440 and outputs the generated image data to the pure color area display / selection unit 444. Here, the display image data is data for displaying the pure color area extracted by the pure color area comparison unit 440 in the extracted yellow, magenta, and cyan pure colors, and the extracted black pure color area is, for example, red Is the data to be displayed. Note that the display data generation unit 442 generates data for displaying a region different from the pure color region in, for example, gray.

  The pure color area display / selection unit 444 displays the display data generated by the display data generation unit 442 on the preview unit 36 of the pure color range adjustment screen 30. More specifically, the pure color area display / selection unit 444 displays the pure color area in a pure color such as yellow in the preview unit 36, and displays an area different from the pure color area in gray. The display is performed so that a region different from the region is distinguished.

  The pure color area display / selection unit 444 receives designation of a pure color range and image elements (characters, lines, graphics, etc.) adjusted by the user via the range adjustment unit 32 and the object selection unit 34 of the pure color range adjustment screen 30. The pure color area display / selection unit 444 may receive an image area that is designated by the user via a mouse or the like and from which the pure color area is extracted. The pure color area display / selection unit 444 outputs the received adjusted pure color range, image element, and image area to the pure color area comparison unit 440.

  The conversion execution unit 446 performs pure color conversion processing on the pure color region from which the first RGB data is extracted, and generates second RGB data. At this time, the conversion execution unit 446 converts the pixel values included in the pure color area of the first RGB data extracted by the pure color area comparison unit 440 into the pure color information included in the pure color information stored in the pure color information storage unit 448. Convert to pixel value. More specifically, the conversion execution unit 446 compares the pixel value of the extracted pure color area with the pixel value of the pure color included in the pure color information, and the pixel value included in the pure color area is the pure color information closest to ΔRGB. Convert to RGB value.

  When Lab data in the sRGB space is stored in the pure color information storage unit 448, the conversion execution unit 446 converts the first RGB data into Lab data, and selects the Lab value of the pure color information with the closest ΔE. Then, the second RGB data is generated by converting the Lab value into the RGB value. Further, the conversion execution unit 446 may perform a pure color conversion process on the pixels in the image region designated by the user and input via the pure color region display / selection unit 444.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a pure color conversion process (S10) performed in the image processing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 11, in step 100 (S100), the pure color conversion unit 44 of the image processing apparatus 1 determines whether the user has selected a pure color conversion mode on a predetermined mode selection screen (not shown) for print image data. Determine. The pure color conversion unit 44 proceeds to the process of S102 when the pure color conversion mode is selected by the user, and ends the process otherwise.

In step 102 (S102), the pure color area comparison unit 440 of the pure color conversion unit 44 refers to the pure color information storage unit 448 and acquires pure color information corresponding to the color conversion mode specified by the user.
In step 104 (S104), the pure color area comparison unit 440 compares the input first RGB data with the acquired pure color information, and the pure color area of the first RGB data within a preset pure color range. To extract.

In step 106 (S106), the display data generation unit 442 generates image data for display based on the comparison / extraction result input from the pure color area comparison unit 440.
In step 108 (S108), the pure color area display / selection unit 444 displays the preview part 36 of the pure color range adjustment screen 30 so that the extracted pure color area can be distinguished from the non-existing color area.

  In step 110 (S110), the pure color area display / selection unit 444 determines whether an adjustment of the pure color range or the like has been received from the user via the pure color range adjustment screen 30. Here, the user selects a pure color range (hue, its width, etc.) and the like while confirming the preview portion 36 and the like of the pure color range adjustment screen 30. The pure color area display / selection unit 444 proceeds to the process of S112 when the adjustment by the user is accepted, and ends the pure color conversion process otherwise.

In step 112 (S112), the pure color area comparison unit 440 extracts the pure color area of the first RGB data based on the pure color range and the like adjusted by the user.
In step 114 (S114), the display data generation unit 442 generates display image data based on the comparison / extraction result by the pure color region comparison unit 440, and the pure color region display / selection unit 444 newly extracts the display data. The preview section 36 of the pure color range adjustment screen 30 is displayed so that the pure color area and the non-pure color area can be distinguished.

In step 116 (S116), the pure color area display / selection unit 444 determines whether or not a conversion area has been determined by designating an image area that the user wants to convert to a pure color using a mouse or the like. If the conversion area is determined, the pure color area display / selection unit 444 proceeds to the process of S118, and otherwise returns to the process of S114.
In step 118 (S118), the conversion executing unit 446 performs pure color conversion processing on the pure color area based on the extracted pixel value of the pure color area and the pure color information, and generates second RGB data. The second RGB data is generated by converting pixel values included in the pure color region into pure color RGB data corresponding to the color conversion mode set by the user.

  As described above, the image processing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes the extraction unit that extracts the pure color region of the input image and the display unit that displays the pure color region of the input image extracted by the extraction unit. Have. Accordingly, the image processing apparatus 1 can display the pure color area of the input image separately from the area different from the pure color area regardless of the color conversion mode.

Further, the image processing apparatus 1 extracts a pure color area of the input image based on the input image data and the stored pure color information. Thereby, the image processing apparatus 1 can display the pure color area of the input image regardless of the color conversion mode.
The image processing apparatus 1 further includes an adjusting unit for adjusting the pure color range. Accordingly, the user can make an adjustment while confirming the pure color area on the preview screen, and can easily correct the desired area to the pure color without performing unnecessary printing for confirmation.

  Furthermore, the image processing apparatus 1 further includes pure color conversion means for storing pure color information including at least one of RGB data and Lab data and performing pure color conversion on the pure color area of the extracted input image. As a result, even when a CMYK image is printed by an RGB printer driver, it is possible to easily reproduce pure colors.

Next, an image processing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating functional configurations of the image processing apparatus 1 and the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment.
The driver unit 4 of the image processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a pure color area selection unit 48 instead of the pure color conversion unit 44, and the controller unit 6 of the image forming apparatus 10 includes an image composition unit 72 and a pure color conversion unit 74. Is different from the image processing apparatus 1 and the image forming apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment. Of the components shown in FIG. 12, those substantially the same as those shown in FIG. 9 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  In the driver unit 4 of the image processing apparatus 1, the pure color area selection unit 48 extracts a pure color area based on the pure color range and the like adjusted by the user, and displays the pure color area on the display of the display / input device 18. The pure color area selection unit 48 adds information related to the pure color area to the image data. The pure color area selection unit 48 will be described in detail later.

  In the controller unit 6 of the image forming apparatus 10, the pure color conversion unit 74 performs pure color conversion processing on the pure color area based on the pure color area information transmitted from the driver unit 4 of the image processing apparatus 1. At this time, the pure color conversion unit 74 converts the pixel value included in the pure color region of the transmitted RGB data into a pure color pixel value included in the pure color information. Further, the pure color conversion unit 74 performs color conversion on the RGB data whose pixel values have been converted into image data in the CMYK color space. As described above, the pure color conversion unit 74 performs color conversion on a pure color region using a method different from the color conversion method used in a region different from the pure color region (that is, the color conversion method by the color conversion unit 60). Color conversion means is configured.

  The image synthesizing unit 72 synthesizes the image data input from the color conversion unit 60 and the image data related to the pure color area input from the pure color conversion unit 74, and outputs them to the gradation correction unit 64. More specifically, the image composition unit 72 selects the pixel value input from the pure color conversion unit 74 for the pixels included in the pure color region, and the color conversion unit for the pixels included in a region different from the pure color region. The pixel value input from 60 is selected to generate image data.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the pure color area selection unit 48 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 13, the pure color area selection unit 48 includes a pure color area determination unit 486 instead of the conversion execution unit 446 among the components of the pure color conversion unit 44 shown in FIG. 10. Of the components shown in FIG. 13, components that are substantially the same as those shown in FIG. 10 are given the same reference numerals.
In the pure color area selection unit 48, the pure color area determination unit 486 adds information on the pure color area compared and extracted by the pure color area comparison unit 440 and the like to the first RGB data.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a pure color conversion process (S20) performed in the image processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. Note that among the processes shown in FIG. 14, substantially the same processes as those shown in FIG. 11 are denoted by the same reference numerals.
As shown in FIG. 14, in the processing of S <b> 100 to S <b> 116, the pure color conversion unit 44 of the image processing apparatus 1 selects a pure color area based on pure color information and adjustment content input from the user.
In step 200 (S200), the pure color area determination unit 486 of the pure color area selection unit 48 adds information about the pure color area to the first RGB data, and the PDL conversion unit 40 adds the information to a predetermined page description language (PDL). ) And output to the controller unit 6 of the image processing apparatus 10.
The controller unit 6 of the image forming apparatus 10 performs color conversion on the extracted pure color region using a method different from the color conversion method used in a region different from the pure color region, and performs color conversion using each of these methods. The converted image data is synthesized.

As described above, the image processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention extracts the pure color area of the input image, displays the pure color area of the extracted input image, and displays the pure color area extracted by the extraction unit. On the other hand, color conversion is performed using a method different from the color conversion method used in a region different from the pure color region.
As a result, even in an environment where the image processing apparatus 1 and the image forming apparatus 10 are connected via a network, the image processing apparatus 1 sets the pure color area of the input image different from the pure color area regardless of the color conversion mode. The image forming apparatus 10 can reproduce a pure color.

It is a figure which shows the color processing in a RGB-type printer. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating RGB values input to the driver unit 4. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating RGB values that are reproduced as pure colors by the image forming apparatus 10 for each color conversion mode set in the driver unit 4. 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating adjustment of a pure color range and display of a pure color area of an input image in an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, where FIG. 4A shows an input image and FIG. 4B is a pure color range. FIG. 4C shows a method for displaying a pure color area extracted from the input image. It is a figure which illustrates the pure color information for every color conversion mode memorize | stored in the image processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which illustrates the modification of the adjustment method of the pure color range in the image processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams for explaining a method for designating an image area from which a pure color area is extracted. FIG. 7A shows a preview unit 36 on which a pure color area is displayed, and FIG. An image area designated for extraction is shown, and FIG. 7C shows a pure color area extracted in the designated image area. It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions centering on the control apparatus of the image processing apparatus 1 which concerns on embodiment of this invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating functional configurations of an image processing apparatus 1 and an image forming apparatus 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of the pure color conversion part 44 shown by FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the pure color conversion process (S10) performed in the image processing apparatus 1 which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of the image processing system containing the image processing apparatus 1 and the image forming apparatus 10 which concern on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of the pure color area | region selection part 48 shown by FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the pure color conversion process (S20) performed in the image processing apparatus 1 which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image processing apparatus 2 Application part 4 Driver part 6 Controller part 10 Image forming apparatus 12 Control apparatus 14 CPU
16 Memory 18 Display / input device 20 Communication device 22 Recording device 30 Pure color range adjustment screen 32 Range adjustment unit 34 Target selection unit 36 Preview unit 44 Pure color conversion unit 48 Pure color region selection unit 72 Image composition unit 74 Pure color conversion unit 440 Pure color region comparison Unit 442 display data generation unit 444 pure color region display / selection unit 446 conversion execution unit 448 pure color information storage unit 486 pure color region determination unit

Claims (19)

Extracting means for extracting a pure color area of the input image;
An image processing apparatus comprising: display means for displaying a pure color area of the input image extracted by the extraction means. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the extraction unit extracts a pure color area of the input image based on the input image data and the stored pure color information. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an adjusting unit for adjusting a pure color range. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the adjustment unit adjusts a hue and a width thereof. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the adjustment unit adjusts the hue, saturation, hue, and saturation width as a pure black color range. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the extraction unit extracts a pure color area based further on the pure color range adjusted by the adjustment unit. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a designation unit for designating an image area from which a pure color area is extracted. The image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the designation unit receives designation of an image element included in the input image. The image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the extraction unit extracts a pure color area included in a designated image area. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising pure color information storage means for storing pure color information. One of multiple color conversion modes is set for the input image,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pure color information includes information corresponding to each of the plurality of color conversion modes. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pure color information includes at least one of RGB data and Lab data. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a pure color conversion unit that performs pure color conversion on a pure color region of the input image extracted by the extraction unit. Pure color information includes pure color pixel values,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the pure color conversion unit converts a pixel value included in a pure color region of the input image extracted by the extraction unit into a pure color pixel value included in pure color information. Extracting means for extracting a pure color area of the input image;
Display means for displaying a pure color area of the input image extracted by the extraction means;
An image processing system comprising: a color conversion unit that performs color conversion on a pure color region extracted by the extraction unit using a method different from a color conversion method used in a region different from the pure color region. Extract the pure color area of the input image,
An image processing method for displaying a pure color area of the extracted input image. Extract the pure color area of the input image,
Displaying the pure color area of the extracted input image;
An image processing method for performing color conversion on the extracted pure color region using a method different from a color conversion method used in a region different from the pure color region. In an image processing apparatus including a computer,
An extraction step for extracting a pure color area of the input image;
A program for causing a computer of the image processing apparatus to execute a display step of displaying a pure color area of the extracted input image. In an image processing system including a computer,
An extraction step for extracting a pure color area of the input image;
A display step for displaying a pure color region of the extracted input image;
A program for causing the computer of the image processing system to execute a color conversion step of performing color conversion on the extracted pure color area using a technique different from a color conversion technique used in an area different from the pure color area.

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