JP7066518B2 - Program and control method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a program and a control method. In particular, it relates to a processing technique when a color matching process is performed.

Conventionally, a print preview function has been known as a function for confirming a print result before printing in printing. In particular, in a large-format printer, since printing is performed on a large paper, the cost of paper, ink, time, etc. at the time of failure is high, so it is very effective to prevent the failure by checking the print preview.

The printer driver has a print color conversion table (so-called "output profile") in consideration of color development characteristics for each paper type to be printed. Patent Document 1 proposes a preview method including a function (so-called "soft proof") for confirming an output result from a printer to which this output profile is applied on a screen.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-151468

Conventionally, in order to realize the print preview function using the image data (actual image data) generated by the image editing application, the print preview application acquires the spool file based on the actual image data and executes the print preview. Was there. More specifically, the image editing application makes a spool file generation request to the printing system which is a module of the OS, and the printing system of the OS generates the spool file. Then, triggered by the generation of this spool file, the print preview application is started with the spool file as an input file. Then, the print preview application executes a print preview using this spool file.

However, when the OS provides a spool file to a general-purpose application such as a print preview application, the output profile of the color conversion process executed by the image editing application may be missing. If the output profile is missing in this way, the printer driver may not perform appropriate processing, and the printer may not output in the desired color.

An object of the present invention is to control so that even if the output profile of the color conversion process executed by the image editing application is missing, it is processed appropriately.

The program of the present invention is a program of a preview application that executes a print preview based on the image data generated by the image editing application, and has a predetermined format generated based on the image data generated by the image editing application. A step of acquiring a file, a step of acquiring information related to print settings, a step of determining whether color matching processing has been performed by the image editing application based on the information related to the print settings, and a color matching process by the image editing application. Is performed, the step of acquiring the color matching information used for the color matching process from the image object included in the file and the acquired color matching information are registered in the information related to the print setting. The file, the file, and the print setting information in which the acquired color matching information is registered, are executed by a computer, and the file is output from the preview application. Print data is generated by the printer driver using the information related to the print setting in which the acquired color matching information is registered.

According to the present invention, even if the output profile of the color conversion process executed by the image editing application is missing, it is possible to control the process appropriately.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the print preview display system of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a host apparatus. It is a schematic diagram which showed the example of the print setting dialog. It is a schematic diagram which showed the example of the printer driver user interface. It is a schematic diagram which showed the example of the printer driver user interface. It is a schematic diagram which showed the example of the PDF menu. It is a schematic diagram which showed the example of the user interface of the print preview application. It is a flowchart of print dialog setting notification processing. It is a flowchart of the start process of the print preview application. It is a flowchart of the generation process of missing information of a print preview application. It is a flowchart of print request processing of a print preview application. It is a flowchart of the generation process of the missing information of the print preview application of Embodiment 2. It is a flowchart of print request processing of the print preview application of Embodiment 2. It is a schematic diagram which showed the example of the selection dialog of Embodiment 2. It is a flowchart of print request processing of the print preview application of Embodiment 3. It is a flowchart of the activation process of the print preview application of Embodiment 4. It is a schematic diagram which showed the example of the setting user interface of the print preview application of Embodiment 4. This is an example of the structure of a spool file. This is an example of information about print settings.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the following embodiments do not limit the present invention according to the scope of claims, and that all combinations of features described in the present embodiments are essential for the means for solving the present invention. Not exclusively. The same reference numerals are given to the parts already described, and duplicate explanations will be omitted.

<< Embodiment 1 >>
<System configuration>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printing system according to a typical embodiment of the present invention. The system of the present embodiment includes a host device 1 such as a personal computer (PC) which is an information processing device, and a printer 2 which is a recording device. The printer 2 of the present embodiment can record on a recording medium (for example, a sheet) having a large size such as A0 or B0. An Operating System (hereinafter, OS) 101 and a printer driver 103, which is software for controlling the printer 2, are installed in the host device 1. Further, the host device 1 is installed with a print preview application 106 that operates in cooperation with the OS 101 and the printer driver 103 to check the print layout and the like, and an image editing application 102 that creates and edits various documents. ..

In the host device 1, the OS 101 and the printer driver 103 operate in order to print various documents created by the image editing application 102. Further, the printer driver 103 is composed of the following two functional units. That is, the printer driver 103 includes a user interface unit 104 that accepts input from the user, and a graphics processing unit 105 that generates print data to be transmitted to the printer. In the present embodiment, the OS will be described using macOS (registered trademark) of Apple (registered trademark) as an example, and the printer driver 103 will be described using a CUPS printer driver as an example. As an image editing application, an application capable of color matching processing will be described as an example. Further, in the present embodiment, the graphics processing unit 105 of the printer driver 103 executes rendering by using the rendering module (not shown) which is a component of the OS 101, but the present embodiment is not limited to this. For example, the graphics processing unit 105 of the printer driver 103 may include a rendering module.

Further, the print preview application 106 includes two functional units, a print preview display unit 107 and a print preview control unit 108. The print preview application 106 displays a print preview screen as a print result before printing based on the spool file and print setting information. The print preview control unit 108 controls the print instruction after the print preview by using the spool file and the print setting information.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the host device 1. In FIG. 2, the CPU 301 is a processor that performs various controls for the entire host device 1. The ROM 302 stores an initialization program and various data executed by the CPU 301 when the host device is started. The RAM 303 is used as a main memory or a work area for the CPU 301. The external storage device 305 is composed of, for example, a hard disk (HDD) or the like, and stores various programs. Then, a program for realizing the process shown in the flowchart described later is loaded into the RAM 303 from the external storage device (HDD) 305. The OS, the image editing application 102, the printer driver 103, and the print preview application 106 are stored in the ROM 302 or the external storage device 305. The input unit 306 is composed of a keyboard, a mouse, and the like, and inputs various instructions to the CPU 301. The display unit 307 composed of an LCD, a CRT, or the like performs various displays under the control of the CPU 301. The communication interface 304 communicates with an external device such as a printer 2 under the control of the CPU 301.

The printer 2 of the present embodiment includes a roll paper feeding unit (not shown), and can print a document (image) of an arbitrary length within a range allowed by the printer driver. Further, it is provided with a paper feed port (not shown) for cut paper, and can print not only on roll paper but also on cut paper.

<Overview of display screen>
Next, the screen displayed in this embodiment will be described. In particular, the screen and procedure until the print preview display using the print preview application 106 will be described. First, the image editing application 102 creates an image file (image data) including an image drawn by the user. Then, a print instruction is given via a display item such as a menu displayed by the image editing application 102, and the print setting dialog of FIG. 3 is activated.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the print setting dialog 401 provided by the image editing application 102. In the image editing application 102 of the present embodiment, the application itself has a color matching function. In that case, it is possible to select whether the image editing application 102 manages the color matching process at the time of printing or the printer driver 103 manages the color matching process in the color process selection pop-up menu 402. The color matching process is a process for appropriately matching the difference in color tone at the time of output caused by the difference in the color space of the device, and is also called color management. In the color matching process, a profile showing information on the color space of the device is used as the color matching information. Generally, an ICC profile defined by an ICC (International Color Consortium) is used as the color matching information. When the color matching process is performed, the profile used for the color matching process is registered (stored) in the OutputIntents key of the spool file as an output profile. Further, the profile used for the color matching process is also registered (stored) in the object input profile in the image object. The structure of the spool file will be described in detail later with reference to FIGS. 18A and 18B. The image object includes data (drawing image) indicating the image itself generated by the user using the image editing application 102 and information related to the image (information indicating the color space of the image, etc.). Further, these functions are functions in which the OS 101, the image editing application 102, and the printer driver 103 operate in cooperation with each other. When the image editing application 102 performs the color matching process via the printing system which is a module of the OS 101, the printer driver 103 is notified not to perform the color matching process. This enables printing with a desired color.

In FIG. 3, when the user selects “color management by application” in the “color processing” selection pop-up menu 402, the image editing application 102 performs color matching processing. Specifically, in the drawing process at the time of printing instruction, the image editing application performs the color matching process by using the printer profile selected in the pop-up menu 403 of the printer profile of FIG. Then, the printing system, which is a module of the OS 101, is notified that the color matching process has been performed by the image editing application 102. When the user selects "color management by the printer driver" in the "color processing" selection pop-up menu 402, the image editing application 102 does not perform the color matching processing, but the printer driver 103 performs the color matching processing. When the driver setting 405 is selected after any one is selected in the "color processing" selection pop-up menu 402, the print dialog provided by the OS 101 is displayed. On the other hand, when Cancel 404 is selected on the screen of FIG. 3, the screen returns to the image editing screen provided by the image editing application, which is the screen before the print instruction is given.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a print dialog 501 provided by OS 101. In this print dialog 501, the functions provided by the OS 101 and the functions provided by the printer driver 103 can be set. The setting of the function provided by the printer driver 103 is controlled by the user interface unit 104 of the printer driver 103.

The "printer" pop-up menu 502 is a control item that allows you to specify a printer for printing. The printer displayed here is a printer registered in the printing system of OS101. When the file of the predetermined printer driver is stored in the OS 101 by the installer, the print queue of the corresponding printer can be registered.
Then, when the print queue is actually registered, it is registered in the printing system of OS101 as a printer that uses the printer driver. In the "paper size" pop-up menu 503, the paper size that can be used by the printer specified in the "printer" pop-up menu 502 is displayed, and the user can specify the desired paper size. The "print dialog" pop-up menu 504 is a menu on which the functions provided by the OS 101 and the functions of the printer driver 103 corresponding to the printer specified in the "printer" pop-up menu 502 can be specified.

The "Quality and Paper Type" menu selected in the "Print Dialog" pop-up menu 504 of FIG. 4 is a menu for setting the functions of the printer driver 103. The "paper type" pop-up menu 505 is a menu for selecting the type of paper to be printed. You can specify the type of paper such as plain paper, coated paper, and fine art paper. The "paper type" pop-up menu 505 displays the types of paper that can be used by the printer specified in the "printer" pop-up menu 502. The "print quality" pop-up menu 506 is a menu for selecting the quality at the time of printing. You can specify quality such as standard, clean, and best. The "print quality" pop-up menu 506 displays the print quality that can be used with the printer specified in the "printer" pop-up menu 502.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a print dialog 501 when the “color matching” menu is selected in the “print dialog” pop-up menu 504. The "matching type" selection radio button 510 is a menu for selecting either the color matching process provided by the OS 101 or the color matching process provided by the printer driver 103. If the print dialog 501 is displayed after selecting "Color management by application" in the "Color processing" selection pop-up menu 402 of FIG. 3, the "matching type" selection radio button 510 of FIG. 5 cannot be selected. It has become. That is, the printing system of the OS 101 invalidates both the color matching provided by the OS 101 (corresponding to "OS color matching") and the color matching provided by the printer driver 103 (corresponding to "driver color matching"). Further, when the print dialog 501 is displayed after selecting "color management by the printer driver" in the "color processing" selection pop-up menu 402 of FIG. 3, the selection of the "matching type" selection radio button 510 is valid. .. That is, the color matching provided by the OS 101 (corresponding to "OS color matching") or the color matching provided by the printer driver 103 (corresponding to "driver color matching") can be selected. In FIG. 5, when the cancel button 508 is pressed, the print dialog 501 of FIG. 5 is closed, and the screen returns to the screen of FIG. 3, which is the screen before the image editing application 102.

When the setting in FIG. 5 is completed and the user presses the print button 509, the printing system of the OS 101 requests information regarding the print setting from the user interface unit 104 of the printer driver 103. In response to this request, the user interface unit 104 of the printer driver 103 transmits information regarding the print settings to the printing system of the OS 101 based on the settings made in the print dialog 501. After that, the printing system of OS 101 requests the image editing application 102 to call a drawing command at the time of printing. That is, the printing system of OS 101 requests the image editing application 102 to perform drawing processing at the time of printing. In response to this request, the image editing application 102 executes a color matching process on the image data.

When the color matching process is completed, the image editing application 102 passes the image data after the color matching process to the printing system of the OS 101 and requests that a spool file be generated. In response to this request, the printing system of OS101 generates a spool file based on the input image data. The spool file is a Portable Document Form (PDF) file based on the image data generated by the image editing application 102.

In the OutputIntents key of the spool file generated by pressing the print button 509 of FIG. 5, the profile information (color matching information) used for the color matching process is registered as the output profile information. Further, the color matching information is also registered in the object input profile of the image object.

FIG. 18A shows an example of the structure of the spool file generated when the print button 509 is pressed. In FIG. 18A, the “/ T: OutputIntents” key is a tag indicating that the output profile used for the color matching process is described. Then, the output profile information used in the color matching process is described as an element of the "DestOutputProfile".

Further, in FIG. 18A, the “T: Pages” key is a tag indicating that information for one page in which an image such as an image object generated by a user using the image editing application 102 is drawn is described. Is. Then, an image object (Image Object) is embedded as an element of the "/ T: Xoject / S: Image" key. Further, an input profile indicating the color space of this image object is described as an element of "ICC Profile Stream".

When such a spool file is generated by the printing system of the OS 101, the printing system of the OS transmits the spool file and information regarding print settings to the CUPS, which is a module of the OS, and requests a print process. In response to this request, CUPS activates the graphic processing unit 105 of the printer driver 103. The graphic processing unit 105 of the printer driver 103 is activated by inputting a spool file and information related to print settings as a trigger. Then, the graphic processing unit 105 of the printer driver 103 generates print data to be transmitted to the printer 2 based on the spool file, the information indicating the print setting, and the information. The format of the print data is a format that can be interpreted by the destination printer.

The above is the sequence for generating print data when the print button 509 in FIG. 5 is pressed. In this sequence, the spool file generated by the printing system of OS 101 is sent directly to the printer driver 103.

On the other hand, in FIG. 5, in the sequence when the PDF button 507 is pressed, the destination of the spool file of the printing system of the OS 101 is different. Details of this sequence will be described later, and an outline will be described here.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a PDF menu displayed in response to pressing the PDF button 507 in FIG. In FIG. 6, when the user selects an application name displayed in the menu list 601 the printing system of the OS 101 requests information regarding print settings from the user interface unit 104 of the printer driver 103. In response to this request, the user interface unit 104 of the printer driver 103 transmits information regarding the print settings to the printing system of the OS 101 based on the settings made in the print dialog 501. After that, the printing system of OS 101 requests the image editing application 102 to call a drawing command at the time of printing. In response to this request, the image editing application 102 executes a color matching process on the image data. Then, when the color matching process is completed, the image editing application 102 passes the image data after the color matching process to the printing system of the OS 101 and requests that a spool file be generated. In response to this request, the printing system of OS101 generates a spool file based on the input image data. The spool file generated by pressing the PDF button 507 in FIG. 6 does not include the OutputIntents key. That is, the ICC profile information (color matching information) used for the color matching process is not registered as the output profile information. However, color matching information is registered in the object input profile of the image object. The contents of the spool file generated by pressing the PDF button will be described later with reference to FIG. 18B.

When the spool file is generated by the printing system of the OS 101, the printing system of the OS launches the print preview application selected in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the UI of the print preview application 106 launched from the menu list 601 of FIG. The print preview application 106 provides a print preview display view 702 as a print preview display area on the print preview application window 701. The print preview display unit 107 draws a print preview of the spool file on the print preview display view 702 based on the spool file received when the print preview application 106 is started and the information related to the print settings. In the print preview, the image generated by the image editing application 102 is displayed on the image showing the paper having the roll paper width specified by the roll paper width pop-up menu 703. Therefore, the user can recognize how the created image is laid out and printed.

As a result of the print preview, when the user selects the print button 704, the print preview control unit 108 passes the spool file and the print setting to the printer driver 103 via the OS 101, and the printer driver 103 generates print data. If printing is not performed as a result of checking the print preview, the print preview application 106 is terminated by selecting the cancel button 705.

<Detailed procedure>
Hereinafter, an example in which print preview is executed by the print preview application after color matching is performed by the image editing application and then print data is generated will be described in more detail.

First, when an image data file is created by the image editing application 102 having a color matching function and a print instruction is given from a predetermined menu displayed by the image editing application 102, the print setting dialog 401 of FIG. 3 is displayed. Here, since the image editing application 102 performs color matching processing, "color management by application" is selected from the "color processing selection" pop-up menu 402. As the profile for the color matching process, the profile "CCC Fine Art Photo" is selected in the "Printer Profile" pop-up menu 403. The profile "CCC Fine Art Photo" is a virtual profile name for explaining this embodiment.

Next, by selecting the driver setting button 405, the print dialog 501 of FIG. 4 is displayed. As the printer for printing, "CCC PRO series", which is a printer already registered in OS 101, is selected from the "Printer" pop-up menu 502. Next, it is assumed that "A2" is selected in the "Paper size" pop-up menu 503 as the paper size to be printed.

Next, select "Quality and Paper Type" in the "Print Dialog" pop-up menu 504. In the "paper type" pop-up menu 505, fine art (photo), which is the type of paper to be printed, is selected, and in the "print quality" pop-up menu 506, "highest", which is the print quality, is selected.

Next, when "color matching" is selected in the "print dialog" pop-up menu 504, the "matching type selection" radio button 510 in FIG. 5 cannot be selected.

When the PDF button 507 is selected to launch the print preview application 106, the menu list 601 of FIG. 6 is displayed. Here, it is assumed that "CCC PRO series" is selected as the print preview application 106.

In FIG. 6, when the user selects the print preview application 106, the user interface unit 104 of the printer driver 103 is requested to provide information regarding print settings. In response to this request, the user interface unit 104 of the printer driver 103 transmits information regarding the print settings to the printing system of the OS 101 based on the settings made in the print dialog 501. After that, the printing system of OS 101 requests the image editing application 102 to call a drawing command at the time of printing. That is, the printing system of OS 101 requests the image editing application 102 to perform drawing processing at the time of printing. In response to this request, the image editing application 102 executes a color matching process on the image data.

When the color matching process is completed, the image editing application 102 passes the image data after the color matching process to the printing system of the OS 101 and requests that a spool file be generated. In response to this request, the printing system of OS101 generates a PDF spool file based on the input image data.

The spool file generated by pressing PDF 507 in FIG. 6 does not include the OutputIntents key. That is, the ICC profile information (color matching information) used for the color matching process is not registered as the output profile information. However, color matching information is registered in the object input profile of the image object.

FIG. 18B shows an example of the structure of the spool file generated when the PDF button 507 is pressed. In FIG. 18B, unlike FIG. 18A, there is no “/ T: OutputIntents” key. That is, the output profile information used in the color matching process is not described. On the other hand, in FIG. 18B, as in FIG. 18A, there is a “T: Pages” key in which information about an image generated by a user using the image editing application 102 is described. An image object (Image Object) is stored as an element of the "/ T: Xoject / S: Image" key, and information indicating the color space of this image object is described as an element of the "ICC Profile Stream". The object.

As described above, the spool file generated when the PDF button 507 is pressed lacks the item to describe the output profile used in the color matching process. The reason for this will be explained below.

Normally, the OS has security measures taken to prevent files from being lost or rewritten or personal information from being leaked due to unintended installation of software. As an example, the printing system of the OS operates with the system authority which is a special authority in the OS. However, general purpose applications such as print preview applications can operate with user privileges. Therefore, it is not appropriate from the viewpoint of security that the print preview application operating with the user authority acquires the spool file generated by operating with the system authority. Therefore, when passing a spool file to such a general-purpose application, a workflow called PDF Workflow Options is used as a mechanism of macOS. Specifically, first, the printing system of the OS makes a drawing processing request to the image editing application and causes the drawing editing application to perform the drawing processing. After that, when the spool file generation request is received, the spool file is generated by using PDF Workflow Options. The spool file generated by this workflow is different from the spool file generated in the normal driver printing sequence (the sequence in which the spool file generated by the OS is passed directly to the printer driver), and some information may be missing. .. Specifically, the output profile information, which is the color matching information used in the color matching process performed by the image editing application having the color conversion function, may be missing.

This is the reason why the "/ T: OutputIntents" key shown in the structure example of the spool file in FIG. 18B does not exist. When a spool file lacking such output profile information is passed to the print preview application, the print preview application performs preview processing using this spool file and then passes the spool file to the printer driver. Normally, when the printer driver acquires the spool file, it determines whether the output profile in the spool file and the input profile registered in the image object in the spool profile match. However, if the printer driver gets the spool file via the print preview application, the spool file is missing output profile information. Therefore, the printer driver determines that the output profile and the input profile do not match, and the printer driver itself performs the color matching process. That is, there is a possibility that the color matching process is performed again and the desired color is not output.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, even if the output profile information is missing from the spool file, the printer driver is controlled so that the color matching process is not performed by utilizing the input profile information. Hereinafter, the control method will be described in detail.

<Notification flow of information about print settings>
First, the processing flow related to the notification of print settings will be described. FIG. 8 is a flow performed by the printer driver 103 when the print preview application 106 is selected from the menu list 601 in FIG. Specifically, it is a flowchart showing the print dialog setting notification process performed in the user interface unit 104 of the printer driver 103. For example, the CPU 301 is realized by reading the program of the printer driver stored in the ROM 302 or the external storage device 305 into the RAM 303 and executing the program. Hereinafter, the user interface unit 104 of the printer driver 103 may be described as the main body of each process, but in reality, the corresponding function is realized by executing the corresponding program by the CPU 301. It should be noted that all the processes are not necessarily executed sequentially on one process, and there may be a case where the processes are once transferred to the OS side and then called again from the OS. To the last, it is a flow showing the main processing of the printer driver 103 in an easy-to-understand manner for convenience.

First, in S101, the user interface unit 104 acquires the setting values set for the control items corresponding to the print settings of the print dialog 501.

Next, in S102, the user interface unit 104 determines whether the print dialog 501 is displayed in the state where the image editing application 102 that has displayed the print dialog 501 on the OS 101 is set to perform color matching. This determination is determined based on the selection state of the "matching type selection" radio button 510. If the print dialog 501 is displayed after "Color management by application" is selected in the "Color processing selection" pop-up menu 402, the selection of the "Matching type selection" radio button 510 is invalid. On the other hand, when "management by the printer driver" is selected in the "color processing selection" pop-up menu 402, the selection of the "matching type selection" radio button 510 becomes effective. That is, it is possible to select either "OS color matching" or "driver color matching". When the selection of the "matching type selection" radio button 510 is invalid, YES is determined in S102. That is, it is determined that the image editing application 102 is set to perform the color matching process, and the process proceeds to S103. Then, in S103, the user interface unit 104 sets the value of the application matching setting to "TRUE". On the other hand, when the selection of the "matching type selection" radio button 510 is enabled, NO is determined in S102. That is, it is determined by the image editing application 102 that the color matching process is not performed, and the process proceeds to S104. Then, the user interface unit 104 sets the value of the application matching setting to "FALSE".

Next, in S105, the user interface unit 104 adds the value of this application matching setting to the information regarding the print setting notified to the printing system of the OS 101.

Then, in S106, the user interface unit 104 notifies the printing system of the OS 101 of the information regarding the print settings.

According to the flow of FIG. 8, when the user interface unit 104 of the printer driver 103 notifies the print dialog setting, the printing system of the OS 101 requests the image editing application 102 to call a drawing command at the time of printing. That is, the printing system of OS 101 requests the image editing application 102 to perform drawing processing at the time of printing. In response to this request, the image editing application 102 executes a color matching process on the image data. That is, the image editing application 102 performs color matching using the CCC Fine Art Photo selected in the printer profile pop-up menu 403 as an output profile.

When the color matching process is completed, the printing system of OS101 generates a spool file. Specifically, a spool file having the structure described with reference to FIG. 18B is generated. Then, the print preview application 106 is started by inputting the generated spool file and the information about the print settings.

Here, an example of information regarding print settings will be described with reference to FIG. The information regarding the print setting is a text format dictionary type information called CUPS OPTIONS. In FIG. 19, in the "Destination Printer ID", information (CCC PRO series) of the printer selected on the screen of FIG. 4 is described. In "PageSize", the paper size (A2) selected on the screen of FIG. 4 is described. In "CNIJMediaType", the paper type (FineArtPhoto) selected on the screen of FIG. 4 is described. In "CNIJPPrint Quality", the print quality (Highest) selected on the screen of FIG. 4 is described. Further, in "CNIJColorMatchingMode", the value of the application matching setting added in S105 of FIG. 8 is described. In the case of this example, "True" is described for the setting that the color matching process is performed by the image editing application 102.

Regarding the information related to the print settings in FIG. 19, if the setting contents in FIGS. 3 to 5 are the same, the information generated when the print button 509 is pressed and the information generated when the PDF button 507 is pressed are the same. ..

<Print preview processing flow>
Next, the processing flow related to the print preview will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 11. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the processing of the print preview control unit 108 when the print preview application 106 is started. For example, the CPU 301 is realized by reading the program of the print preview application 106 stored in the ROM 302 or the external storage device 305 into the RAM 303 and executing the program. Hereinafter, the print preview application 106 may be described as the main body of each process, but in reality, the corresponding function is realized by executing the corresponding program by the CPU 301. It should be noted that all the processes are not necessarily executed sequentially on one process, and there may be a case where the processes are once transferred to the OS side and then called again from the OS. It is a flow that shows the main processing of the print preview application 106 in an easy-to-understand manner for convenience.

First, in S201, the print preview application 106 acquires a spool file (see FIG. 18B). Next, in S202, information indicating the print setting (see FIG. 19) is acquired. Although S202 is executed after S201, this may be reversed or may be performed at the same time.

In S203, the print preview application 106 disables the print button 704. The reason why the print button 704 is disabled here is to prevent the print instruction after the preview from being accepted because the confirmation of the information in the spool file has not been completed and the print preparation is not completed. The invalidation process of this control is particularly performed by the print preview display unit 108 of the print preview application 106.

In S204, the print preview application 106 performs a print preview display based on the acquired information regarding the print settings and the spool file. In particular, the print preview display unit 108 performs processing on this preview display. Then, the print preview image is displayed in the print preview display view 702. Here, it is assumed that 24 inches is selected in the roll paper width pop-up menu 703. In this case, the print preview display unit 108 displays a print preview showing how an A2 size image is printed on a paper showing a roll paper width of 24 inches in the print preview display view 702 (see FIG. 7).

In S205, the print preview application 106 determines whether the application matching setting is TRUE based on the acquired information regarding the print setting. If YES is determined in S102 of FIG. 8, since TRUE is registered as shown in FIG. 19, the process proceeds to S206. On the other hand, if the application matching setting is not TRUE, the process proceeds to S208.

In S206, the print preview application 106 determines whether or not the color matching information is missing as the output profile information of the spool file. As described with reference to FIG. 18B, the spool file generated in response to the PDF button 507 does not have the OutputIntents key and does not store the output profile information. Therefore, in this case, it is determined that the product is missing (YES), and the process proceeds to S207. If the output profile information is stored in the OutputIntents key, the process proceeds to S208.

In S207, the print preview application 106 performs a process of generating missing information. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the details of the missing information generation process of S207.

First, in S301, the print preview application 106 acquires an image object of the spool file. Then, in S302, the input profile information is acquired from the acquired image object. Here, it is assumed that the CCC Fine Art Photo, which is the profile used when the image editing application 102 performs the color matching process, has been acquired.

Next, in S303, the print preview application 106 sets the acquired input profile (CCC Fine Art Photo) as a missing information generation candidate. This prepares for printing.

When the process of FIG. 10 is completed, the process proceeds to S208 of FIG. 9, and the print button 704 is enabled. Then, when the print button 704 is selected by the user, the process proceeds to the flow of FIG.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the processing performed when the print button 704 of the print preview application 106 is selected, and in particular, is a flowchart showing the print preview print processing of the print preview control unit 108.

First, in S401, the print preview application 106 determines whether or not there is a missing information generation candidate. If the missing information generation candidate (CCC Fine Art Photo) is set in S303 of FIG. 10, the process proceeds to S402. On the other hand, if there is no missing information generation candidate, the process proceeds to S403.

Next, in S402, the print preview application 106 registers the acquired missing information generation candidate in the information related to the print settings. That is, in the item of FIG. 19, “CCC Fine Art Photo”, which is a candidate for generating missing information, is described as output profile information. More specifically, the description of "CNClastomFileDictionaryStr = CCC Fine Art Photo" is added in FIG. Information regarding this print setting is referred to in the rendering process of the graphics processing unit 105 of the printer driver 103.

Next, in S403, the print preview application 106 requests the printer driver 103 to perform a process for generating print data via the printing system of the OS 101. Specifically, the spool file and the information regarding the print setting to which the missing information generation candidate is added are sent to the printer driver 103.

When the flow of FIG. 11 ends, the graphics processing unit 105 of the printer driver 103 performs rendering processing based on the spool file and the information regarding the print setting to which the missing information generation candidate is added, and print data. To generate. When the output profile information is described in the information related to the print settings, the printer driver 103 sets the output profile information in the information related to the print settings and the input profile information in the image object of the spool file. Compare. That is, in this case, in the rendering process, both the output profile in the information regarding the print settings and the input profile in the spool file are CCC Fine Art Photo. Therefore, it is judged that they match. Therefore, even if there is no item of output profile information in the spool file, the color matching process is not performed by the printer driver 103.

As described above, in the present embodiment, even if the output profile information of the spool file is missing, the printer driver 103 can appropriately acquire and utilize the input profile information in the image object of the spool file. Processing is done. Therefore, in the rendering process, the color matching process is not performed and appropriate print data is generated, so that the image is printed with a desired color.

In order to solve the problem of lack of color matching information, it is conceivable that the printer driver 103 passes the paper type information at the time of processing by the print preview application 106. Specifically, the printer driver notifies the print preview application 106 of the information of the paper type based on the "paper type" specified by the user on the screen of FIG. Then, the print preview application 106 acquires the ICC profile corresponding to the paper type. However, in the case of this method, the acquired ICC profile information may not be correct. For example, the user may customize the profile used in the color matching process. In this case, the custom profile information is input to the "printer profile" on the screen of FIG. However, the printer driver 103 cannot know the custom profile used for the color matching process of the image editing application 102. Therefore, the printer driver notifies the print preview application 106 of the information of the paper type specified on the screen of FIG. 4 instead of the custom profile. Therefore, in this case, the custom profile and the ICC profile corresponding to the paper type are different. Then, the print preview application 106 adds the wrong profile to the output profile information in the information about the print settings and passes it to the printer driver 103. Therefore, the printer driver determines that the output profile and the input profile do not match, and the printer driver itself performs the color matching process. If it is determined that they do not match, the printer driver performs color matching processing using the ICC profile corresponding to the "paper type" specified by the user on the screen of FIG. 4, so that the color tones desired by the user are used. Is not output.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, as described above, the input profile information in the image object of the spool file is acquired and added to the information related to the print settings. Therefore, processing is appropriately performed by the printer driver 103, color matching processing is not performed in the rendering processing, and appropriate print data is generated, so that printing is performed with a desired color.

<Embodiment 2>
Next, the second embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, an example is shown in the case where a plurality of missing information generation candidates are acquired. Since the other configurations and processes are the same as those in the first embodiment, the description of the configurations and processes common to those described in the first embodiment will be omitted.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of the missing information generation process in the present embodiment. The process of FIG. 12 is a process performed after it is determined in S206 of FIG. 9 that the color matching information of the spool file is missing, and corresponds to the process of generating the missing information in S207. For example, the CPU 301 is realized by reading the program of the print preview application 106 stored in the ROM 302 or the external storage device 305 into the RAM 303 and executing the program. Hereinafter, the print preview application 106 may be described as the main body of each process, but in reality, the corresponding function is realized by executing the corresponding program by the CPU 301. It should be noted that all the processes are not necessarily executed sequentially on one process, and there may be a case where the processes are once transferred to the OS side and then called again from the OS. It is a flow that shows the main processing of the print preview application 106 in an easy-to-understand manner for convenience.

First, in the loop of S501 to S502, each step of S301 to S303 is executed for all the image objects in the spool file. The processing for each step from S301 to S303 is the same as the processing for each step from S301 to S303 of the first embodiment. In this embodiment, it is assumed that a spool file including three image objects is used. That is, in FIG. 18B, there are three "/ T: Xobject / S: Image" keys. Regarding the input profile information of each image object, "CCC FineArt Photo" is registered in the first image object and the second image object, and "SRGB" is registered in the third image object. "Is assumed to be registered.

First, in S301, the print preview application 106 acquires the first image object in the spool file. Then, in S302, the print preview application 106 acquires the input profile "CCC Fine Art Photo" from the acquired first image object. In S303, the print preview application 106 adds "CCC Fine Art Photo" as a candidate for generating missing information.

After that, the print preview application 106 also executes the processes S301 to S303 for the second object and the third object. By these processes, S207 ends with two "CCC Fine Art Photo" and one "sRGB" set as missing information generation candidates, and the print button is enabled in S208.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a print preview print process of the print preview control unit 108 when the print button 704 is selected in this state.

First, similarly to FIG. 11 of the first embodiment, the print preview application 106 determines in S401 whether or not there is a missing information generation candidate. In this case, since there is a missing information generation candidate, the process proceeds to S601. If there is no missing information generation candidate here, the process proceeds to S403.

Next, in S601, the print preview application 106 determines whether or not there are a plurality (two or more) missing information generation candidates. In this case, since there are two missing information generation candidates, the process proceeds to S602. Here, if there is only one missing information generation candidate, the process proceeds to S402.

Next, in S602, the print preview application 106 displays a list of selection candidates with the missing information generation candidate having the largest number as the default state. Here, "CCC Fine Art Photo" is the most missing information generation candidate, and the list is displayed with this profile as the default.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing a dialog (selection screen) for selecting one missing information generation candidate from a plurality of missing information generation candidates. The profile selected in the missing information generation candidate pop-up menu 802 of the missing information generation candidate selection dialog 801 is set as the final missing information generation candidate. Here, "CCC Fine Art Photo" is displayed as the default selection state in the missing information generation candidate pop-up menu 802. That is, "CCC Fine Art Photo" is preferentially displayed. It is also possible to select the second selection candidate "sRGB" by using the missing information generation candidate pop-up menu 802. Here, it is assumed that the OK button 803 is selected with "CCC Fine Art Photo" selected.

Next, in S603, the print preview application 106 sets the “CCC Fine Art Photo” selected in the missing information generation candidate selection dialog 801 as the final missing information generation candidate.

Next, in S402, the print preview application 106 registers "CCC FineArt Photo", which is a candidate for generating missing information, as output profile information in the information related to the print settings referred to in the rendering process of the printer driver 103 (. Store.

Then, in S403, the print preview application 106 makes a print request to the printer driver 103 via the printing system of OS101, inputting information about the spool file and print settings, as in S403 of the first embodiment.

By the above processing, even if there are a plurality of missing information generation candidates, even a user who does not have knowledge of color matching can easily select the missing information. Therefore, in the rendering process of the graphics processing unit of the printer driver 103, the output profile information is not lost, and the printer is printed in a desired color.

<Embodiment 3>
Next, the third embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, as in the second embodiment, an example in which there are a plurality of missing information generation candidates is shown. The configuration and processing common to those described in the second embodiment will be omitted. Further, also in this embodiment, it is assumed that a spool file containing the same three image objects as in the second embodiment is used.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the processing after the print preview in the present embodiment. Also in this embodiment, S207 in FIG. 9 ends in S208 with two “CCC Fine Art Photo” and one “sRGB” set as missing information generation candidates by the process of FIG. The print button is enabled. Then, in this state, when the print button 704 is selected, the process of FIG. 15 is performed.

In FIG. 15, S401 and S601 are the same as those in FIG. 13 of the second embodiment. In S401, the print preview application 106 determines whether there is a missing information generation candidate. In this case, since there is a missing information generation candidate, the process proceeds to S601. If there is no missing information generation candidate here, the process proceeds to S704. Next, in S601, the print preview application 106 determines whether there are a plurality (two or more) of missing information generation candidates. In this case, since there are two missing information generation candidates, the process proceeds to S701. Here, if there is only one missing information generation candidate, the process proceeds to S402.

Next, in S701, the print preview application 106 reads the missing information generation candidate used last time. Here, it is assumed that the file is read from the application setting file held by the print preview application 106. Further, in this case, it is assumed that "CCC Fine Art Photo" is read as the missing information generation sign used last time.

Next, in S702, the print preview application 106 determines whether or not there is a missing information generation candidate used last time. In this case, since "CCC Fine Art Photo" has been read, it is assumed that the process proceeds to S703. Here, if there is no missing information generation sign used last time, the process proceeds to S602, and as in the second embodiment, the maximum number of missing information generation candidates is defaulted and the selection candidates are displayed in a list.

Next, in S703, the print preview application 106 displays a list of the previously used missing information generation candidate "CCC Fine Art Photo" as the default selection state. That is, "CCC Fine Art Photo" is preferentially displayed. Regarding the display of the selection candidate list, it is assumed that the display is the same as that of the missing information generation candidate selection dialog 801 shown in FIG. 14 described in the second embodiment.

Here, the list is displayed in the missing information generation candidate pop-up menu 802 with "CCC Fine Art Photo" as the default selection state. It is also possible to select the second selection candidate "sRGB" using the missing information generation candidate pop-up menu 802. Here, it is assumed that the OK button 803 is selected with "CCC Fine Art Photo" selected.

Next, in S603, the print preview application 106 sets the “CCC Fine Art Photo” selected in the missing information generation candidate selection dialog 801 as the missing information generation candidate.

Then, in S402, the print preview application 106 registers (stores) "CCC FineArt Photo", which is a candidate for generating missing information, as output profile information in the information related to the print settings referred to in the rendering process of the printer driver 103. ..

In S704, the print preview application 106 writes the registered missing information generation candidate to the application setting file held by the print preview application 106. This makes it possible to use it as a candidate for generating missing information that was used last time.

Then, in S403, the print preview application 106 makes a print request to the printer driver 103 via the printing system of the OS 101, inputting information about the spool file and print settings.

By the above processing, even if there are a plurality of missing information generation candidates, even a user who does not have knowledge of color matching can easily select the missing information. Therefore, in the rendering process of the graphics processing unit of the printer driver 103, the output profile information is not lost, and the printer is printed in a desired color.

<Embodiment 4>
Next, the fourth embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, a method of switching whether or not to automatically set the missing information generation candidate will be described. The process of this embodiment is a process performed after the color matching process is performed by the image editing application 102 based on the first embodiment and the print preview is confirmed. The description of the configuration and processing common to those described in the first embodiment will be omitted.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a missing information generation process of the present embodiment, and is performed when it is determined in S206 of FIG. 9 that the color matching information of the spool file is missing, the missing information of S207 is generated. Corresponds to processing.

First, in S801, the print preview application 106 reads the missing information generation processing method. Here, it is assumed that the application setting file held by the print preview application 106 is read. Further, the print preview application 106 displays the print preview application setting dialog 901 shown in FIG. 17 by selecting the application setting menu. As a method of missing information generation processing, either "automatic" or "selection from available profiles" is read. Specifically, in FIG. 17, the selection radio button 902 for "processing of missing color matching information" selects either "automatic" or "select from available profiles". Then, when the OK button 903 is selected, the missing information generation processing method is written in the setting file of the application. Here, it is assumed that the print preview application 106 reads "select from available profiles" as the missing information processing method from the application setting file.

Next, in S802, the print preview application 106 determines whether or not the read missing information generation processing method is automatically generated. In the case of automatic generation, the steps from S301 to S302 similar to those in the first embodiment are executed. Here, since the missing information generation processing method was "select from available profiles", the process proceeds to S806.

In S806, first, the print preview application 106 acquires all the profiles available in the system. Then, the missing information generation candidate selection dialog shown in FIG. 14 is displayed, and the acquired profile is set in the list of the missing information generation candidate pop-up menu 802. Here, it is assumed that the OK button 803 is selected with "CCC Fine Art Photo" selected in the list of the missing information generation candidate pop-up menu 802.

Next, in S807, the print preview application 106 sets the selected profile “CCC Fine Art Photo” as a missing information generation candidate, and ends this process. Subsequent processing follows the first embodiment.

As described above, also in this embodiment, even if the output profile information of the spool file is missing, the printer driver 103 can appropriately acquire and utilize the input profile information in the image object of the spool file. Processing is done. Therefore, in the rendering process, the color matching process is not performed and appropriate print data is generated, so that the image is printed with a desired color. Further, in the present embodiment, it is possible to execute a mode in which the missing profile is automatically registered and a mode in which the missing profile is manually registered (a mode selected by the user from the list). In addition, the two modes can be switched based on the user's instruction. Therefore, it is highly convenient because the control can be switched between a user who has knowledge of color matching and a user who does not have knowledge of color matching.

<Other embodiments>
Each of the above-described embodiments is also executed by executing the following processing. That is, a recording medium on which the program code of the software that realizes each function of the above-described embodiment is recorded is supplied to the system or the device. Then, the computer (CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or the device reads and executes the program code stored in the recording medium. Thereby, the above-mentioned purpose can be achieved. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the function of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As the storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a non-volatile memory card, a ROM, a DVD, or the like can be used. can.

Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized. It is also included that the OS running on the computer performs a part or all of the actual processing based on the instruction of the program code, and the processing realizes the function of the above-described embodiment.

Further, the program code read from the storage medium may be written in the memory provided in the function expansion board inserted in the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer. Then, based on the instruction of the program code, the function expansion board, the CPU provided in the function expansion unit, or the like may perform a part or all of the actual processing. By the processing, the function of the above-described embodiment is realized.

1 Host device 2 Printer 101 OS
102 Application 103 Printer driver 104 User interface unit 105 Graphics processing unit 106 Print preview application 107 Print preview display unit 108 Print preview control unit 301 CPU
302 ROM
303 RAM
304 Communication interface 305 External storage device (HDD)
306 Input section 307 Display section

Claims (11)

A preview application program that executes a print preview based on image data generated by an image editing application.
A step of acquiring a file of a predetermined format generated based on the image data generated by the image editing application, and
Steps to get information about print settings and
A step of determining whether or not color matching processing has been performed by the image editing application based on the information regarding the print settings, and
A step of acquiring color matching information used in the color matching process from an image object included in the file when the color matching process is performed by the image editing application.
A step of registering the acquired color matching information in the information related to the print setting, and
A step of outputting the file and information related to the print setting in which the acquired color matching information is registered, and
Let the computer run
A program characterized in that print data is generated by a printer driver using the file output from the preview application and information related to the print setting in which the acquired color matching information is registered. The program according to claim 1, wherein the input profile information stored in the image object of the file is acquired as the color matching information. The program according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the predetermined format of the file is a Portable Document Form (PDF) format. Based on the above file, the step to display the preview image and
A step for requesting a process for generating the print data for the printer driver, and
Let the computer do more,
A step of acquiring the color matching information from the image object of the file is executed after the step of displaying the preview image and before the step of requesting the process for generating the print data. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the program is characterized by. The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein when the color matching process by the image editing application is not performed, the color matching information used for the color matching process is not acquired from the file. Program. Further, the computer is made to perform a step of determining whether the output profile information is included in the file.
The aspect according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein when the information regarding the print setting does not include the output profile information, the color matching information is acquired from the image object of the file. program. When a plurality of color matching information used for the color matching process is acquired from the image object of the file, a step of displaying a selection screen for selecting one color matching information from the plurality of color matching information is performed. Let the computer do more,
The program according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein one color matching information selected on the selection screen is registered in the information related to the print setting. The program according to claim 7, wherein the color matching information having the largest number among the plurality of color matching information is preferentially displayed on the selection screen. The program according to claim 7, wherein the color matching information used last time is preferentially displayed on the selection screen among the plurality of color matching information. A mode in which color matching information acquired from the image object in the file is automatically registered in the information related to the print settings, and a mode in which the user selects the color matching information to be registered in the information related to the print settings. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the program is feasible. A method of controlling a device that can operate a preview application that executes a print preview based on image data generated by an image editing application.
A step of acquiring a file of a predetermined format generated based on the image data generated by the image editing application, and
Steps to get information about print settings and
A step of determining whether or not color matching processing has been performed by the image editing application based on the information regarding the print settings, and
A step of acquiring color matching information used in the color matching process from an image object included in the file when the color matching process is performed by the image editing application.
A step of registering the acquired color matching information in the information related to the print setting, and
A step of outputting the file and information related to the print setting in which the acquired color matching information is registered, and
Equipped with
A control method characterized in that print data is generated by a printer driver using the file output by the output step and information related to the print setting in which the acquired color matching information is registered.

Images