JP2000153642A - Printing control method, printing control apparatus and medium with printing control program recorded - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce an amount of data for printing a plurality of patches having component data of each element color gradually changed in the case where a color balance offset is detected and solved by printing the plurality of patches and letting a user select the patch of an achromatic color. SOLUTION: In the case where a plurality of gray patches having different component data of element colors are printed and a user is let to select the gray patch of an achromatic color, thereby obtaining a deviation of an ink use amount of each element color from a reference amount and correcting print data, a skeleton file 22c1 which can store component data of each color element for pixels of each gray patch, or the like is stored beforehand. An assign data generation module 22b1 generates assign data including the component data of each gray patch. A test data generation module 22b2 stores the component data to a subject pixel on the skeleton file 22c1 based on the assign data, thereby generating test data. Printing is conducted on the basis of the test data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a print control method, a print control device, and a medium on which a print control program is recorded. Regarding the recorded medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a color printing apparatus such as an ink jet printer, three color inks of cyan (C), magenta (M) and yellow (Y) or four colors of black (K) added thereto are used. Print a color image with ink. A print head that discharges these color inks can be an integrated type that discharges all the color inks, but the yield is deteriorated, so that a plurality of print heads are often used separately for each color. . In the case of the integral type, although there is an error whether the ejection amount of the color ink is large or small as a whole, the balance between the color inks is maintained. However, when a plurality of print heads are used, the balance among the respective color inks is lost due to variations among the print heads. For this reason, in the conventional color printing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 6-79853, a drive signal can be adjusted for each drive circuit that drives the print head, and if this drive signal is set at a factory or the like, it is possible to control the color inks. Balance can be maintained. However, depending on such a configuration, a factory adjustment is required for each color printing apparatus, so that there is a problem that the number of manufacturing steps increases and the process becomes complicated.

In view of such a problem, the applicant of the present invention has a configuration capable of eliminating a color balance deviation corresponding to a print head without depending on hardware, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 9-84230. Has led to the development.
In the publication disclosed in the above publication, a first test pattern consisting of a plurality of gray patches in which the intensity balance of RGB is changed based on a gradation value of “128” is printed, and an achromatic gray patch is provided to the user. Select and input to computer. Originally, if there was no shift in the color balance, a gray patch with RGB tone values of "128" would be selected, but if the shift was large, another gray patch would be selected as an achromatic color. become. In other words, by letting the user select an achromatic gray patch, a color balance shift is found out, and it seems good to make corrections at the time of color conversion based on this.

[0004] However, even if the color balance is corrected here, only the RGB gradation value happens to be around the "128", and if the color balance is maintained linearly over all gradations. Not necessarily. Therefore, 27 gray patches were prepared by slightly changing the RGB tone values of the selected gray patches, and the RGB tone values of the gray patches were changed substantially uniformly. A second test pattern consisting of gradation-like gray patches is printed, and the user selects a gray patch that looks achromatic over all gradations. Then, based on the gray patch selected here, a shift in color balance is detected, and a correction is finally made to the color conversion table.

[0005]

The above-mentioned prior art has the following problems. Since it is unknown which patch the user selects from among a plurality of patches in the first test pattern, the second test pattern must be printable in accordance with the number of patches. Here, if the image data relating to each test pattern is stored in a computer, the amount of data becomes large and the storage capacity may be reduced.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and prints a plurality of patches in which component data of each element color is gradually changed, and allows a user to select an achromatic patch to achieve color balance. It is an object of the present invention to provide a print control method, a print control device, and a medium on which a print control program is recorded, which can reduce the amount of data for printing the same plurality of patches when detecting and eliminating the misalignment .

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, an image is represented as each pixel in a dot matrix, and print data representing a tone of each pixel is input. When printing, the original image can be printed by attaching a recording material consisting of different element colors, and the image can be printed by attaching the recording material individually according to the input of the test print data expressed by the component data of each element color And a printing control method for outputting the print data to a printing apparatus having a printing mechanism capable of causing a deviation of a used amount of the recording material from a reference amount, wherein the component data of each element color is provided. If a skeleton file capable of storing component data of each element color in pixel units of each patch is stored in advance in order to print a plurality of patches that are gradually changed in the range of the degree of possible deviation, In addition, generate assignment data including component data of each element color corresponding to each of the patches constituting the plurality of patches, read the skeleton file and, for the pixels corresponding to each patch of the skeleton file, to the assignment data Based on the stored component data, the test print data is generated, and the plurality of patches are printed by outputting the test print data to the printing device. The user selects an achromatic patch based on the plurality of printed patches. Then, a deviation from each of the element colors from the reference amount is obtained by inputting the input data, and the print data is corrected based on the obtained deviation so that an appropriate amount of recording material is applied.

In the invention according to claim 1 configured as described above, it is assumed that the invention is applied to a printing system or the like including a printing control device and a printing device, and the printing control device applies a color tone to each pixel. The print data representing the tone is output to the printing apparatus. On the other hand, the printing device to which the print control device outputs the print data includes a printing mechanism for printing the original image by attaching recording materials having different element colors when the print data is input. The configuration is such that the amount of recording material used can deviate from the reference amount. In addition, the printing apparatus can print an image by individually attaching a recording material in accordance with input of test print data expressed by component data of each element color.

When the amount of recording material used for each element color is shifted and the color balance is disturbed, the printing control device gradually changes the component data of each element color within the range of the possible deviation. The printing apparatus prints the plurality of patches that have been made. A prerequisite is that a skeleton file capable of storing component data of each element color is stored in advance for each pixel of each patch. Thereafter, the print control device generates assignment data including component data of each element color corresponding to each of the patches constituting the plurality of patches, reads out the skeleton file, and corresponds to each patch of the skeleton file. The test print data is generated by storing the component data based on the assignment data for the pixel. Then, the test print data is output to the printing device.

Then, the plurality of patches are printed from the printing apparatus. At this time, the recording materials of the respective element colors are individually applied based on the component data stored in the skeleton file. If the above shift does not occur, each patch is reproduced exactly as the component data. Therefore, in the plurality of patches printed here, when the user selects an achromatic patch and inputs it to the print control device, the print control device acquires the deviation of each element color from the reference amount,
Since the print data itself is corrected so that an appropriate amount of recording material is applied based on the deviation, the original image is faithfully reproduced and printed.

That is, even when a plurality of patches which are combinations of different component data are sequentially printed, the print control device stores the skeleton file and generates assignment data corresponding to each combination. What is necessary is just to operate the component data of each element color on the skeleton file based on the assignment data. Note that the skeleton file here is a file that can store component data of each element color for each pixel of each patch.
In the case of using CMYK four-color component data, it is sufficient that the four-color component data for each pixel unit can be stored, and the specific file format and the like are not particularly limited.

As a printing mechanism provided in the printing apparatus, for example, an ink jet system in which minute color ink is ejected by a piezo element or a bubble can be adopted. In this case, a separate assembly is performed for each element color or the like. It can be said that the use of the printed print head may cause a shift in the ejection amount of the recording material. In addition, a difference may occur in mechanical energy given by an individual difference of a driving circuit.
Further, as another example, an electrophotographic method in which toner is adhered by static electricity may be employed. In this case, a difference between individual drums, a driving circuit, or a mechanical arrangement of discharge wires may be used. A difference may occur in the amount of recording material used.

When a plurality of patches in which the component data of each element color is gradually changed are regularly arranged in accordance with the change, it becomes easy to select a more accurate achromatic patch. Therefore, according to a second aspect of the present invention, in the printing control method according to the first aspect, when printing the plurality of patches, a patch represented by predetermined component data is arranged at a center, and a predetermined angle from the center is set. The configuration is such that a plurality of patches in which component data of each element color of a patch located at the same center are gradually changed from the same center to the outer side while corresponding to each element color in the direction.

In the second aspect of the present invention, the patch represented by the predetermined component data is arranged at the center, and the axis is set at a predetermined angle from the center.
Each element color is made to correspond to this axis. Then, the patches in which the component data are gradually changed so as to increase the element colors from the center toward one side of the axis with the element colors corresponding to the axes are regularly arranged, and on the other side. The patches in which the component data are gradually changed so as to decrease the element colors toward the target are regularly arranged. That is, since a plurality of patches are regularly arranged and printed according to the change in the component data, the comparison work can be easily intuitively understood from the nature of human vision. In some cases, the color balance changes slightly, making it difficult to identify an achromatic patch.However, the components whose component data changes gradually are located next to each other, Can be compared, and it becomes easy to select an achromatic patch. Here, in the arrangement of the patches, the change in each element color can be integrally grasped, and the above-described embodiment is adopted from the viewpoint of facilitating comparison, but of course, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. Instead, patches in which component data are gradually changed for each element color may be arranged in a line, and can be changed as appropriate. Further, the patches arranged at the center may be those which are determined to be achromatic on the print data although there is a case where the reference amounts are shifted in each element color.

In selecting a patch that looks achromatic, it is easier to select a reference to be compared by printing it in the background. Therefore, as an example of the background print pattern, the invention according to claim 3 is the print control method according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus attaches a black-colored recording material to the image, Is printable, a reference patch represented by black horizontal stripes is printed on the background of the plurality of patches. In the invention according to claim 3 configured as described above, it is assumed that the printing apparatus can print an image with a black recording material, and in such a case, the horizontal stripes of the black color are provided on the background of the plurality of patches. Print the reference patch represented by. That is, the reference patch represented by the black horizontal stripes is suitable as a reference because a difference in luminance hardly occurs even when the weight of the black recording material discharged for each machine changes.

In order to print such a reference patch, assignment data including black component data is generated corresponding to the black pixels of the reference patch, and the corresponding pixels in the skeleton file are assigned to the corresponding pixels in the skeleton file based on the assignment data. What is necessary is just to store component data. As another example, the invention according to claim 4 is the print control method according to claim 3, wherein the skeleton file stores black component data in advance for black pixels of the reference patch. is there. That is, if the black pixels in the reference patch are fixed and the black component data is embedded in the skeleton file, the above-described reference patch can be easily printed.
Further, a title or the like may be printed on a black recording material by using a similar method.

In reading the skeleton file and storing the component data of each pixel of the skeleton file based on the generated assignment data, the skeleton file to be read is not necessarily one type. As an example, the invention according to claim 5 is based on claims 1 to 4
Wherein the plurality of skeleton files are stored in advance in correspondence with the plurality of patches arranged in different patterns, and the assignment data corresponding to the plurality of patches to be printed is assigned. And reads the skeleton file corresponding to the pattern of the plurality of patches, and stores the component data based on the assignment data for the pixels corresponding to each patch of the skeleton file to generate the test print data. .

In the invention according to claim 5 configured as described above, a plurality of patches arranged in different patterns can be printed, and a skeleton file is stored in advance for each pattern. . When printing a plurality of patches, the assignment data corresponding to the pattern to be printed is generated, the skeleton file corresponding to the pattern is read out, and the assignment data is read for the pixels corresponding to each patch of the skeleton file. Test print data is generated by storing the component data based on. For example, when different skeleton files are stored in advance when printing a plurality of circular patches and when printing a plurality of rectangular patches, and when printing a circular patch,
The skeleton file corresponding to the circular patch is read, and the assignment data corresponding to the skeleton file may be generated.

When storing the component data of each element color in the pixel corresponding to each patch on the skeleton file based on the assignment data, the correspondence relationship such as which patch the component data of each element color in the assignment data corresponds to. Is required. For example, a configuration may be used in which assignment data in which component data of each element color is associated with an address on a skeleton file is generated, and component data corresponding to a pixel on the skeleton file is stored based on the address. . As another example, the invention according to claim 6 is a print control method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein each patch is identified for a pixel corresponding to the plurality of patches in the skeleton file. In order to store identification data represented by component data of a predetermined element color to generate the assignment data corresponding to the identification data component data of each element color for printing the plurality of patches, The skeleton file is read to detect the pixel in which the identification data is stored, and the identification data stored in the pixel is replaced with the component data of each corresponding element color based on the assignment data and stored. It is configured to generate print data.

In the invention according to claim 6, the identification data represented by component data of a predetermined element color for identifying each patch in advance for pixels corresponding to the plurality of patches in the skeleton file. Is stored. Then, while generating assignment data in which the component data of each element color and the same identification data in each patch are associated, the skeleton file is read to detect the pixel in which the identification data is stored, and the pixel is stored in the pixel. The test print data is generated by replacing the stored identification data with the corresponding component data of each element color.
In other words, the identification data indicates the correspondence between the component data of each element color in the assignment data and the corresponding patch.

The identification data in this case may be any data that can be represented by component data of element colors and that can identify each patch. For example, the above CMY
In the case of using the component data of four colors of K, the component data of C and M may be combined to make each patch identifiable. Here, assuming that C and M are represented by 256 gradations, theoretically 256 × 256
= 65536 types of patches can be identified. Further, as an example of simpler identification data, the invention according to claim 7 is the print control method according to claim 6, wherein the identification data is represented by component data of a single element color. That is, instead of identifying each patch by combining a plurality of component data, each patch is identified by component data of a single element color. For example, the case where identification data is used by using only the component data of C corresponds to the case, whereby the capacity of the skeleton file is reduced as compared with the case where it is represented by a combination of a plurality of component data.

As described above, an image is represented as each pixel in a dot matrix, and when print data in which the tone is expressed in gradation for each pixel is input, the original image is formed by attaching a recording material having different element colors. In addition to printing, it is possible to print images by attaching recording materials individually according to the input of test print data expressed by component data of each element color,
In addition, by outputting test print data generated using a skeleton file and assignment data to a printing apparatus having a printing mechanism that may cause a deviation from a reference amount in the usage amount of the recording material, A method of printing a patch and correcting print data according to a user's selection result is realized in a substantial device, and it can be easily understood that the device also functions as a device incorporating this method.

For this reason, according to the present invention, when an image is represented as each pixel in a dot matrix form, and when print data in which the tone is expressed in gradation for each pixel is input, a recording material comprising different element colors is used. , The original image can be printed, and an image can be printed by attaching a recording material individually according to the input of the test print data expressed by the component data of each element color. A printing control device that outputs the print data to a printing device having a printing mechanism that may cause the amount to deviate from the reference amount. A skeleton file storage means for storing a skeleton file capable of storing component data of each element color in pixel units of each patch in order to print a plurality of patches gradually changed in a range; Assignment data generating means for generating assignment data including component data of each element color corresponding to each patch constituting the patch, and reading the skeleton file and reading the assignment data for pixels corresponding to each patch of the skeleton file. Test print data output means for generating the test print data by storing the component data based on the plurality of patches, and outputting the test print data to the printing apparatus to print the plurality of patches, and a user based on the plurality of printed patches. A deviation acquisition means for acquiring a deviation from the reference amount of each element color by selecting and inputting an achromatic patch so that an appropriate amount of recording material is attached based on the acquired deviation. And a print data correcting means for correcting the print data. That is,
It is not necessarily limited to the method, and there is no difference that the method is effective for a substantial device incorporating the method.

By the way, such an image is represented as each pixel of a dot matrix, and when print data in which the color tone is expressed in gradation for each pixel is inputted, a recording material composed of different element colors is attached to the original image. And print the image by attaching recording materials individually according to the input of the test print data expressed by the component data of each element color. A plurality of patches are printed by outputting test print data generated using a skeleton file and assignment data to a printing apparatus having a printing mechanism that may cause a shift,
The method of correcting the print data according to the result of the user's selection may exist alone, or may be used in a state of being incorporated in the apparatus. Instead, it includes various aspects. Therefore, it can be changed as appropriate, such as software or hardware.

In the case where software is realized as an embodiment of the idea of the present invention, the above-described method naturally exists on a recording medium on which such software is recorded, and it cannot be said that the method is used. As an example, the invention according to claim 9 expresses an image as each pixel in a dot matrix form, and attaches a recording material having a different element color when inputting print data representing a gradation of a color tone for each pixel. In addition to printing the original image, it is possible to print the image by attaching the recording material individually according to the input of the test print data expressed by the component data of each element color, and to reduce the amount of the recording material used. For a printing apparatus having a printing mechanism capable of causing a deviation from a reference amount, a medium in which a print control program for outputting the print data is recorded, wherein component data of each element color is converted to a degree of the possible deviation. In order to print a plurality of patches that are gradually changed in the range, assign data including component data of each element color corresponding to each patch is generated, and each element color of each Reads a skeleton file capable of storing minute data from a predetermined storage medium and stores the component data based on the assign data for the pixels corresponding to each patch of the skeleton file to generate the test print data, and sends the test print data to the printing apparatus. By outputting the plurality of patches, the user can select and input an achromatic patch based on the printed plurality of patches to obtain a deviation of each element color from the reference amount. The print data is corrected so that an appropriate amount of recording material is applied based on the obtained deviation.

Of course, the recording medium may be a magnetic recording medium, a magneto-optical recording medium, or any recording medium to be developed in the future. Also, the duplication stages of the primary duplicated product, the secondary duplicated product, and the like are equivalent without any question. In addition, the present invention is not limited to the case where the present invention is used even when the supply is performed using a communication line. further,
The concept of the present invention is not completely different even when part is software and part is realized by hardware, and part is stored on a recording medium and read as needed as needed. Such a form may be adopted.

[0027]

As described above, according to the present invention, when a plurality of patches used for adjusting the color balance are printed,
A skeleton file for printing a plurality of patches is stored in advance, and assign data including component data of each element color is generated for each patch, and corresponding to the corresponding pixel of the skeleton file is generated based on the assign data. In order to store the component data and make the test print data, even when printing a plurality of patches of various combinations,
It is not necessary to store test print data according to the combination, and it is possible to provide a print control device capable of reducing the amount of data stored in advance. According to the second aspect of the present invention, a plurality of patches in which the component data of each element color is gradually changed are regularly arranged according to the change, so that a more accurate achromatic patch can be selected. Becomes Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, a reference patch is printed in a horizontal stripe pattern on the background of a plurality of patches, in which there is little difference in luminance between the devices, so that a more accurate achromatic patch can be selected. Becomes

Further, according to the invention according to claim 4,
Since the black component data is embedded in advance for the black pixels of the reference patch, the reference patch can be easily printed. Furthermore, according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, even when a plurality of patches arranged in different patterns are printed, a skeleton file corresponding to each pattern is stored, and a plurality of patches are printed on the plurality of patches. It is sufficient to generate the corresponding assignment data, read out the corresponding skeleton file and generate the test print data, and reduce the data amount. further,
According to the invention according to claim 6, since the pixels corresponding to each patch on the skeleton file and the component data of each element color in each patch are associated with the identification data of the predetermined element color, the skeleton file can be easily processed. Each component data can be stored in the corresponding pixel of the file.

Further, according to the seventh aspect of the present invention,
Since the identification data is composed of single element color component data,
Handling becomes easy. Further, according to the invention of claim 8, when a plurality of patches are printed in the same manner,
A print control device capable of reducing the amount of data stored in advance can be provided. According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, a medium on which a print control program is recorded can be provided.

[0030]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a printing system to which a printing control method according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a specific hardware configuration example. In the figure, an image input device 10 converts color image data of a color image into a print control device 20.
The print control device 20 performs predetermined image processing on the same color image data, generates print data, and outputs the print data to the printing device 30. Here, the color image data expresses the strength of each element color while separating the color image for each predetermined element color, and is a chromatic color represented by gray when mixed at a predetermined ratio. It consists of achromatic and black.

Here, a specific example of the image input device 10 corresponds to the scanner 11, the digital still camera 12, or the video camera 14, and a specific example of the print control device 20 is a computer 21, a hard disk 22, a keyboard 23, a CD-ROM. A computer system including a drive 24, a floppy (registered trademark) disk drive 25, and a modem 26 corresponds to the computer system. A specific example of the printing device 30 corresponds to a printer 31 and the like. The modem 26 is connected to a public communication line, is connected to an external network via the public communication line, and can download and install software and data.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic structure of a printer 31 of a color ink jet system, and the printing inks are cyan (C), light cyan (c), magenta (M), light magenta (m), yellow (Y), and black. The six color inks (K) are used, and are composed of six print head units 31a1 having a single row of print nozzles. As described above, since the print head unit 31a1 is independent for each color, the output characteristics vary due to the machine difference of each print head unit 31a1, and the color balance is lost. In addition to the print head 31a including the six print head units 31a1, a print head controller 31b for controlling the print head 31a, a print head digit moving motor 31c for moving the print head 31a in the digit direction, and a printing paper , A print head controller 31b, a print head girder moving motor 31c, and a printer controller 31e that serves as an interface between the paper feed motor 31d and an external device.

FIG. 4 shows each print head unit 31.
A table a1 shows a correspondence table between the ink weights of the color inks used in one shot and the classification by ID. Hereinafter, when simply called an ID, the ink weight of the ID corresponding to each CcMmY is indicated. As shown in the figure, ID
Ranges from "1" to "21", and the intermediate value "11" is the reference value. In such a case, it is desired that the reference amount of the ink used in one shot be in the range of 20.0 to 20.5 nanograms (ng). Because
In the case of the printer 31, the RGB data used in the computer 21 is printed using the above-described CcMmY color ink. At this time, since the color space is different, color conversion is performed. I have. Therefore, in order to perform conversion while maintaining the same color, it is assumed that the ink weight used for one shot in the CcMmY print head unit 31a1 is a fixed predetermined amount. The output characteristics vary, and the color balance is lost. In the case of expressing gray, for example, K component data may be mixed due to color conversion. Therefore, if there is a variation in output characteristics of the K print head between the machines, the color balance is lost for the same reason. Will be. For this reason, although not shown,
It is also assumed that the K ink weights are similarly classified by ID.

Although it is possible to reduce the difference in the used amount of the ink weight, the production yield of the print head unit 31a1 is deteriorated. Therefore,
By correcting the difference between the reference amount and the ink weight of the actually specified ID in the state of the data by the print data correction unit of the print control device 20, the color balance can be improved. As can be seen from the figure, the smaller the ID, the heavier the ink weight, so that a larger amount of color ink is used. Conversely, the larger the ID, the smaller the amount of color ink used. Therefore, if the ID is large, the color balance deviation can be corrected by increasing the density represented by the data. Conversely, if the ID is small, the color balance can be corrected by decreasing the density. Become like Therefore,
As shown in FIG. 5, a function for converting between input data and output data is prepared in advance as shown in FIG. 5, and the data can be converted according to this function to achieve color balance.

The function shown in FIG. 5 is a well-known tone curve of γ correction. Assuming RGB data of 256 gradations, the γ curve is Y = 255 × (X / 25).
5) An input / output relationship that is ** γ (“**” indicates a power), and no correction is performed between input and output when γ = 1, and output is weak against input when γ> 1 And γ <
At 1 the output is stronger than the input. In the present embodiment, the γ value of the tone curve, at which the print result becomes the most linear, is previously obtained in accordance with the ID by an experiment, and the lookup tables LUT1 to LUT corresponding to each ID are obtained.
21 has been generated. Needless to say, the tone curve to be corrected according to a predetermined tendency while changing the degree of correction is not limited to the γ correction, and another method such as a spline curve may be used.

In the present embodiment, the print head units 31a1 are assigned to the six color inks, respectively, but the same print head units 31a as shown in FIG.
A configuration may be used in which six color inks are used using the two colors. Although the ink jet type color printer 31 has been described, a micro pump mechanism using a piezo element may be employed to discharge color ink, or bubbles may be generated by a heater provided on the inner wall surface of the ink discharge hole. The ink may be ejected at the expansion pressure. Of course, it is also possible to discharge the color ink by a method other than these methods,
Alternatively, the present invention can also be applied to a thermal transfer type print head that melts and transfers color ink attached to an ink ribbon by a heater instead of discharging color ink. However, in this case, the print head is different for each ink ribbon, and the present invention is applied to a print head having a machine difference for each print head.

In this embodiment, the printing device 3
Although a printer 31 capable of color printing is used as 0, it is applicable to a color facsimile machine 32 shown in FIG. 7, a color copier 33 shown in FIG. 8, and the like. That is, in the color facsimile machine 32, the color copier 33, and the like, similarly to the printer 31, there may be a deviation in the usage amount of the color ink and toner. Further, in the present embodiment, a computer system for correcting color image data for the printer 31 is used. However, as shown in FIG. A configuration in which the supplied color image data is directly input and printed is also possible.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 10, the computer 21 constituting the print control device 20 stores a color balance adjustment program 22b for determining the color balance deviation and correcting the look-up table of the printer driver 22a on the hard disk 22. Provided and executable when needed. That is, in the printer driver 22a, in response to the input of the RGB gradation data, the color conversion module 22a1 refers to a predetermined look-up table to read
After the conversion into cMmYK component data, the binarization module 22a2 converts the data into binarized data, and the spool file generation module 22a3 creates a spool file. 22b can modify the look-up table.

FIG. 11 is a schematic flowchart showing the processing procedure of the color balance adjustment program 22b. In the figure, in step S110, a custom A pattern which is a test pattern of the first stage is printed.
As shown in FIG. 12, the custom A pattern is composed of a custom A1 pattern and a custom A2 pattern that are printed in parallel with each other. Further, the custom A1 pattern has cmY component data as shown in FIG. Are slightly different circular gray patches “A1” to “D”.
18 ", and the custom A2 pattern includes circular gray patches" A1 '"to"D18'"having slightly different CMY component data as shown in FIG. In FIGS. 13 and 14, c
The component data of mY and CMY are shown in%.
15 and 16 show them in a list.

Referring to FIG. 13, the cmY component data of each gray patch is changed little by little according to a predetermined regularity.
Originally, it looks achromatic, with the red (R) component increasing toward the top of the page, decreasing the red component toward the bottom, and green (G) toward the bottom left of the page. ) Component increases, the green component decreases in the upper right direction, the blue (B) component increases in the lower right direction on the paper, and the blue component decreases in the upper left direction.

That is, the coordinate axis of the red component, which is the element color, is set in the direction from above to below, and the coordinate axis of the green component, which is the element color, is set from the lower left to the upper right. A coordinate axis of a blue component, which is an element color, is set in a direction diagonally upward and to the left from, and each component data increases or decreases in proportion to coordinates determined by these coordinate axes. Therefore, all sets in which the color balance of all element colors is changed within a certain range in the custom A1 pattern are displayed. Further, in the custom A2 pattern, the component data is CMY, but has the same tendency as the custom A1 pattern.

In the custom A1 pattern shown in FIG. 13, the gray patch is “A1” in the center, “B1” to “B6” outside the center, and “C1” to “C1” outside the center.
It is composed of “C12” and the outermost “D1” to “D16”.
1 "to" C12 ". Nevertheless, the printing of "D1" to "D16" can be accurately determined by comparing the gray patches on both sides in a plurality of gray patches whose component data is shifted with a certain tendency when selecting an achromatic color. In view of the fact, it is to ensure that there are gray patches on both sides.
It goes without saying that the same applies to the custom A2 pattern in FIG.

If there is a bias in the amount of ink used in the print head unit 31a1, the color ink is not ejected as expected, so the gray patch "A1" or "A
Instead of 1 ′ ”, the color balance becomes normal in other gray patches, that is, an achromatic patch. FIG. 17 shows an example of the correspondence obtained by calculating the relation back. For example, in the custom A2 pattern, the gray patch “A
If “1 ′” looks achromatic, the ID of the amount of cyan ink used is “11”, the ID of the amount of magenta used is “11”, and the amount of used yellow ink is “11”. Since the ID is “11”, the usage amounts of the element colors are exactly balanced. However, if the gray patch “C4” looks achromatic, the usage ID for the cyan ink is “11”, the usage ID for the magenta ink is “15”, and the yellow ink is It can be seen that the ID of the usage amount for is “7”. That is, the weight of the ink ejected in the order of yellow, cyan, and magenta gradually decreases, and the strength of the actual ejection amount between the component colors can be seen.

By the way, if many gray patches are arranged in the custom A pattern, it may be difficult to determine whether the color is achromatic. For this reason, FIG. 13 and FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, a reference patch having a horizontal stripe pattern having a predetermined luminance by black ink on the background of the gray patch and hardly causing a difference in luminance between the units is printed, and the background and the gray patch are compared to obtain an achromatic color. Is selected while checking the In such a case, it is possible to improve the accuracy in selecting an achromatic patch from the gray patches. The reference patch “REF1” of the custom A1 pattern is
The line width of the black line in the horizontal stripe pattern is narrower than that of the two reference patches “REF2” so that the luminance is compatible with the gray patch printed by light element colors as a whole.

Here, the printing process of the custom A pattern will be described in detail. In FIG. 10, when the color balance adjustment program 22b is started, first, the assignment data generation module 22b1 generates assignment data in a text format. For example, in the custom A pattern described above, gray patches “A1” to “D18” and “A18”
For 1 ′ ”to“ D18 ′ ”, cmY component data shown in the correspondence relationship in FIG. 15 and CMY component data shown in the correspondence relationship in FIG. 16 are generated. The identification data “tagC” in FIGS. 15 and 16 will be described later in detail, but is data for identifying each gray patch, and is also generated as assignment data. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the software configuration and the hardware configuration that execute the assignment data generation module 22b1 constitute an assignment data generation unit.

When the assignment data is generated in this manner, the assignment data generated by the test data generation module 22b2 and the skeleton file 22c1 for the custom A (D) pattern recorded on the hard disk 22 in advance. Are read, and the test data to be printed is generated by appropriately operating the data on the skeleton file 22c1 based on the assignment data. As shown in FIG. 18, the skeleton file 22c1 is a skeleton file capable of storing CcMmYK component data for pixels corresponding to each patch of the custom A pattern, and corresponds to each gray patch of the skeleton file 22c1. As for the pixel, as shown in FIG.
Are stored in advance, and K component data is also stored in advance for the black line portions of the reference patches “REF1” and “REF2”. Of course, in the original skeleton file 22c1, the component data of C is not stored in the pixels other than the gray patch, so each gray patch can be identified by referring to the component data of C,
In this sense, the component data of C is “tagC” as the identification data described above. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the hard disk 22 that stores the skeleton file 22c1 and the like constitutes a skeleton file storage unit.

The test data generation module 22b2
In generating the test data, the skeleton file 22c1 is scanned in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction to detect the component data of C, and the detected component data of C is shown in FIG.
And the component data of cmY or CMY according to the correspondence relationship of the assignment data shown in FIG. For example, when a pixel of C = 3 is detected on the skeleton file 22c1, the pixel constitutes a gray patch “A1”, and its component data is represented by (c, m, Y) = (76, 10).
2, 33). Thereafter, the same process is performed for all pixels on the skeleton file 22c1.

When the generation of the test data is completed in this way, the binarization module 22b3 binarizes the test data, and then the spool file generation module 22b4 generates the spool file and generates the spool file. It is stored in a predetermined area. Then, the spool file is transferred to the printer 31 by the operating system, and the printer 31 prints the custom A pattern. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a test print data output unit is configured by a software configuration and a hardware configuration that execute the test data generation module 22b2, the binarization module 22b3, and the spool file generation module 22b4.

Incidentally, in the color balance adjustment program 22b of the present embodiment, the component data of CcMmYK is stored directly in the skeleton file 22c1, but this configuration is based on the following reasons. That is, like the printer driver 22a, the RG
This is because, when performing color conversion by referring to the lookup table in accordance with the input of the gray scale data of B, color conversion cannot be performed using only required color ink. For example,
When certain RGB gradation data is input, it is not always represented by only cmY or CMY component data.

Therefore, the assignment data generation module 2
2b1 calculates cmY or CMY component data from required RGB gradation data to generate assign data, and expresses the data as CcMmYK component data based on the assign data. Furthermore, the reference patch “R
The black line portions of “EF1” and “REF2” cannot be represented by desired dots because the ink duty is usually restricted during color conversion. Therefore,
Such a black line portion is also expressed as a desired dot by storing it in advance as K component data. In the custom A pattern, since the above-described assignment data is always constant, previously generated assignment data may be stored in the hard disk 22 and read out when necessary.

When the custom A pattern is printed as described above, the custom A1 pattern and the custom A pattern
The user selects a symbol of a gray patch that looks achromatic for each of the two patterns, and inputs the symbol to the computer 21 from the keyboard 23 in step S120.
In the next step S130, custom B and C patterns, which are test patterns of the second stage, are printed using the gray patch symbols input in step S120. As shown in FIG. 20, the custom B and C patterns are composed of a custom B pattern and a custom C pattern that are printed in parallel with each other.
The pattern is composed of a custom C1 pattern and a custom C2 pattern.

Here, as shown in FIG. 21, the custom B pattern is composed of a plurality of black patches “1” to “11” which are printed in a strip shape in a monotone pattern having slightly different densities with respect to the component data of the black ink. And a reference patch "REF1" of a horizontal stripe pattern printed with black ink on the background. In addition,
The numbers described in each of the black patches “1” to “11” represent the density data of the K ink, and the density becomes lower and lower as going upward with respect to the paper with respect to the center black patch “6”. The density is increasing as it goes.

On the other hand, the custom C1 pattern and the custom C2 pattern are each configured as shown in FIG. Referring to the figure, it can be seen that a plurality of strip-shaped patches are also printed in this case, and there is no difference in this meaning from the custom B pattern described above.
In the custom C1 pattern and the custom C2 pattern, each strip-shaped patch is a gray patch “1” to
It differs by being composed of “11”.

That is, in the custom C1 pattern, based on the gray patch symbol selected by the user in the custom A1 pattern, a gray patch “6” having the same brightness as the gray patch is arranged, and the gray patch “6” is placed above the paper. The component data of cmY are printed by changing the component data of cmY substantially uniformly so that the density decreases as it goes down and the density increases as it goes down, and the reference patch of the horizontal stripe pattern with black ink on the background. RE
F1 "is printed. On the other hand, in the custom C2 pattern, a gray patch “6” having the same luminance as the gray patch is arranged based on the symbol of the gray patch selected by the user in the custom A2 pattern, and the density increases as going upward in the drawing. Are printed with the CMY component data substantially uniformly changed so that the density becomes higher as the density decreases and goes downward. Further, a reference patch “REF2” of a horizontal stripe pattern is printed with black ink on the background. Printed. FIG. 23 and FIG.
4 shows the component data of each gray patch of the custom C1 pattern and the custom C2 pattern in the form of a table when the gray patches “B4” and “A1 ′” are selected in the custom A1 pattern and the custom A2 pattern, respectively. I have. Referring to these figures, it can be seen that each component data of cmY or CMY increases or decreases substantially uniformly within a range of about ± 20% based on the gray patch “6”.

In the present embodiment, such custom B and C patterns are also performed in the same manner as the printing of the custom A pattern described above. That is, in FIG. 10, the assignment data generation module 22b1 generates the assignment data shown in FIG. 23 and FIG. 24 based on the symbol of the gray patch selected by the user in the custom A pattern. Thereafter, the test data generation module 22b2 reads the assignment data, and the skeleton file 22c for the custom B and C patterns stored in the hard disk 22 in advance.
2, test data is generated by replacing pixels corresponding to the gray patch with cmY or CMY component data based on the assignment data.

Of course, the correspondence such as which pixel corresponds to which gray patch is determined by embedding the identification data such as “tagC” in the skeleton file 22c2 in advance and adding the identification data to the component data when generating the assignment data. Such identification data may be generated.
Since the custom B pattern portion and the black lines of the reference patches “REF1” and “REF2” are fixed values based on the K component data, the K component data is embedded in the skeleton file 22c2 in advance for these corresponding pixels. It is good to put it.

When the custom B and C patterns are printed in this manner, the black patch symbol whose luminance matches the background for the custom B pattern, and the background matches the luminance for the custom C1 pattern and the custom C2 pattern. The user is caused to select the symbols of the gray patches, and to input the symbols to the computer 21 from the keyboard 23 in step S140. In the next step S150, a custom D pattern, which is a third-stage test pattern, is printed using the gray patch symbol input in step S140. This custom D pattern is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the custom D1 pattern and the custom D2 pattern are printed in parallel with each other.
In the custom D1 pattern and the custom D2 pattern, a plurality of gray patches “A1” to “D
18 "and" A1 '"to"D18'"are the same as the custom A1 pattern and the custom A2 pattern described above. However, the component data of cmY or CMY in each gray patch is different.

That is, in the custom D1 pattern and the custom D2 pattern, the gray patches equivalent to the gray patches selected by the user in the custom C1 pattern and the custom C2 pattern are “A1”,
It is arranged at “A1 ′”. The component data is changed according to the same regularity as the custom A1 pattern and the custom A2 pattern, but the degree of change at this time is made smaller. For example, FIGS. 25 and 26 show the component data of the custom D1 pattern and the custom D2 pattern when the gray patches “6” and “3” are selected in the custom C1 pattern and the custom C2 pattern, respectively, in a table format. I have. Here, comparing FIGS. 15 and 25 or FIGS. 16 and 26, it can be seen that the degree of change of component data between the gray patches is smaller in FIGS. 25 and 26.

The printing of the custom D pattern is performed in the same manner as the printing of the custom A pattern. That is, in FIG.
The assignment data generation module 22b1
The assignment data shown in FIGS. 25 and 26 is generated based on the symbol of the gray patch selected by the user in the pattern. After that, the test data generation module 22b2 reads the assignment data and also reads the skeleton file 22c1 for the custom A (D) pattern stored in the hard disk 22 in advance, and the pixels corresponding to the gray patches are based on the assignment data. c
Test data is generated by substituting mY or CMY component data.

When the custom D pattern is printed in this way, the custom D1 pattern and the custom D2
The user selects a gray patch symbol that looks achromatic for each of the patterns, and inputs the symbol to the computer 21 from the keyboard 23 in step S160. In the next step S170, a correction look-up table is determined according to the ID of K corresponding to the symbol of the black patch input in step S140, and the printer driver 2
2a is set to be incorporated in a color conversion lookup table used for color conversion. At the same time, step S1
C corresponding to the symbols of the two gray patches entered at 60
The correction look-up table is determined according to the ID of each color of cMmY, and is similarly set in the printer driver 22a.

Then, when the color conversion module 22a1 in the printer driver 22a performs color conversion from RGB gradation data to CcMmYK component data, the correction lookup table is referenced for each component, and correction is performed. The color conversion is performed with reference to the original color conversion look-up table, and the variation in the ink discharge amount is eliminated. Of course, if the contents of the look-up table for color conversion are rewritten in advance with the contents of the look-up table for correction, the correction and color conversion are executed only by referring to the look-up table for color conversion. The configuration may be appropriately changed. Needless to say, in the present embodiment, the deviation acquisition means is constituted by a software configuration and a hardware configuration in the sense of acquiring the ID of each color ink of CcMmYK in step S170,
A print data correction unit is configured by a software configuration and a hardware configuration in which a correction look-up table is determined according to the ID and set in the printer driver 22a.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the user is allowed to select a patch using the first to third test patterns, thereby detecting the variation in the ink ejection amount for each print head and correcting it. Although the configuration is such that the lookup table is determined, the meaning of each test pattern is as follows. First, the first test pattern, Custom A
By selecting an achromatic gray patch in the pattern, the variation in the ink ejection amount of each color of CcMmY is roughly detected. Then, although the degree of the variation is felt, the brightness of the gray patch is not always optimal. Therefore, custom B and C patterns, which are second test patterns in which the luminance is changed by changing the component data of each color substantially equally, are printed.

Here, in the custom B pattern,
By selecting a black patch whose luminance matches that of the background reference patch, the deviation of the ink ejection amount from the reference amount for the K ink is acquired. Further, in the custom C pattern, luminance matching is performed by selecting a gray patch whose luminance matches that of the background reference patch. Then, a gray patch in which each component data is slightly changed based on the CcMmY component data after the luminance adjustment in the third test pattern is printed, and the achromatic gray patch is again selected by the user. Then, a deviation of the ink ejection amount from the reference amount for each color ink of CcMmY is obtained. Then, the color conversion table of the printer driver 22a is corrected based on the obtained deviation of each color of CcMmYK.

Incidentally, there are theoretically 37 × 37 = 1369 combinations of gray patches that can be selected by the user in the custom A pattern, so that 1369 patterns can be expressed in the custom B and C patterns. Must. Further, when the number of patterns that must be expressible in the custom D pattern is calculated in the same manner, 1369 × 11 × 11 = 1
65649 ways. Here, it is not advisable to prepare test data corresponding to each pattern in advance, since the data amount becomes large. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, a file or a program related to color balance adjustment includes a skeleton file 22c1 for a custom A (D) pattern, a skeleton file 22c2 for a custom B and C pattern, and a color balance adjustment program 22.
Since only b is sufficient, the storage capacity of the hard disk 22 is not squeezed.

The printer driver 22a, the color balance adjustment program 22b, the skeleton files 22c1 and 22c2, and the like are recorded on a program recording medium such as a floppy disk or a CD-ROM together with the installation program and distributed. After connecting the floppy disk, set the floppy disk in the floppy disk drive 25,
The ROM is set in the CD-ROM drive 24 and installed. That is, after the setup, the installation program is executed as an application, and the printer driver, the color conversion lookup table, and the like are developed on the hard disk 22. Needless to say, the installation is not limited to a specific medium such as a floppy disk or a CD-ROM, but may be performed via a modem 26 via a public communication line or the like.

Next, the operation of this embodiment having the above configuration will be described. When the printer 31 is installed for the first time, or when the user notices a color balance deviation, the color balance adjustment program 22b is executed according to a predetermined operation procedure. Then, the computer 21 proceeds to step S110
Causes the printer 31 to print the custom A pattern shown in FIGS. That is, the assignment data generation module 22b1 of the color balance adjustment program 22b generates the assignment data shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, and the test data generation module 22b2 reads the skeleton file 22c1 for the custom A (D) pattern and generates the assignment data. Based on the assigned data, the test data is generated by replacing the pixels corresponding to the gray patches on the skeleton file 22c1 with cmY or CMY component data.

After that, the binarizing module 22b3 binarizes based on the test data, and the spool file generating module 22b4 generates a spool file in a predetermined area of the hard disk 22. Then, the spool file is stored in the printer 31 by the operating system.
And the printer 31 prints the custom A pattern. It is assumed that K component data is embedded in the skeleton file 22c1 in advance for pixels corresponding to the black lines of the reference patches "REF1" and "REF2" printed on the background of the custom A pattern. In this custom A pattern, the user sees each gray patch and selects a gray patch that does not have an effect of the element color, that is, a gray patch that looks achromatic.
At 20, the symbol is input to the computer 21. At this time, in the custom A pattern, since the arrangement of the gray patches and the degree of change of the component data have regularity, if one of the two arrangements is close to an achromatic color or it is difficult to understand, a straight line in the arrangement direction is drawn. It is also possible to compare two distant gray patches and select the middle.

When the user inputs the symbol of the gray patch,
At step S130, the computer 21 causes the printer 31 to print the custom B and C patterns shown in FIGS. That is, the assignment data generation module 22b1 generates the assignment data shown in FIG. 23 and FIG. 24 based on the component data of the gray patch selected by the user in the custom A pattern. Then, the test data generation module 22b
2 is a skeleton file 2 for custom B and C patterns
2c2 is read, and test data is generated by replacing pixels corresponding to gray patches with cmY or CMY component data based on the above-mentioned assignment data. Then, the custom B and C patterns are printed from the printer 31 in the same manner.

Of course, the correspondence such as which pixel corresponds to which gray patch is determined by embedding the identification data such as “tagC” described above in the skeleton file 22c2 in advance, and adding the identification data to the component data when the assignment data is generated. Such identification data may be generated.
Note that K component data is embedded in the skeleton file 22c2 in advance for the custom B pattern portion and the pixels corresponding to the black lines of the reference patches "REF1" and "REF2". CmY for the custom A pattern
Alternatively, only the color balance in the vicinity of a specific gradation value can be determined for CMY, but in the custom B and C patterns, the total luminance of each of the component colors that are color balanced can be corrected. The user selects, from the custom B pattern, a black patch symbol having the same luminance as the background, and from the custom C pattern, selects a gray patch symbol having the same luminance as the background, at step S1.
At 40, those symbols are input to the computer 21.

When the user inputs the symbols of the black patch and the gray patch, the computer 21 proceeds to step S150
Causes the printer 31 to print the custom D pattern shown in FIG. 20 based on the gray patch symbol. That is, the assignment data generation module 22b1 of the color balance adjustment program 22b generates the assignment data shown in FIG. 25 and FIG. 26 based on the input gray patch symbol, and the test data generation module 22b2 generates the custom A (D) pattern. Skeleton file 22 for
c1 is read and test data is generated by replacing pixels corresponding to gray patches on the skeleton file 22c1 with cmY or CMY component data based on the generated assignment data. Then, the custom D pattern is printed from the printer 31 in the same manner.

Here, the user selects the symbol of the gray patch that looks achromatic in the custom D pattern, and proceeds to step S
At 160, an input is made to the computer 21. In this custom D pattern, the arrangement of the gray patches and the degree of change in the component data are regular, and the degree of change is smaller than that of the custom A pattern. This makes it possible to select a gray patch that is closer to achromatic. Then, the computer 21 determines in step S1
At 70, an ID is determined for each of the CcMmYKs,
A correction look-up table with the best overall color balance is selected and set in the printer driver 22a.
Therefore, if the correction look-up table is set in the printer driver 22a, the color conversion is performed by the color conversion module 22a1 so as to cancel out the deviation of the output characteristic of the printer 31 when printing the image data.
Therefore, after binarization by the binarization module 22a2,
When a spool file is generated and printed by the spool file generation module 22a3, colors are faithfully reproduced as originally intended.

As described above, by printing a plurality of gray patches having different component data of element colors and allowing the user to select an achromatic gray patch, the deviation of the ink usage of each element color from the reference amount can be reduced. When the print data is acquired and corrected, a skeleton file 22c1 or the like capable of storing component data of each element color for each pixel of each gray patch is stored in advance, and the assignment data generation module 22
In b1, assignment data including component data of each gray patch is generated, and the test data generation module 22
In b2, test data is generated by storing component data in corresponding pixels on the skeleton file 22c1 based on the assignment data, and printing is performed based on the test data. Therefore, a plurality of patches of various combinations are printed. Even in this case, it is not necessary to prepare test data corresponding to the combination, and the amount of data stored in advance can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system to which a printing control method according to an embodiment of the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a specific hardware configuration example of the printing system.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a printer as a printing apparatus for determining color misregistration in the printing system.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing correspondence between ink weights of color inks ejected by the printer and their classification.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an input / output correspondence in a correction look-up table corresponding to the classification;

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram showing a modified example of the printer.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a color facsimile as another printing apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a color copier as another color image output device.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a color printer connectable to a network or the like as another color image output device.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing input and output of a color balance adjustment program.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the same color balance adjustment program.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an arrangement of a pattern in a custom A (D) pattern.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a custom A1 pattern by component data in a cmY mode.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a custom A2 pattern using CMY mode component data.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a correspondence relationship between component data of a custom A1 pattern.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a correspondence relationship between component data of a custom A2 pattern.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an ID corresponding to a gray patch selected by a custom A2 pattern.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a skeleton file.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a value of tagC given to each gray patch in a custom A (D) pattern.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an arrangement of patterns in custom B and C patterns.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a custom B pattern.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a custom C pattern.

FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating an example of a correspondence relationship between component data in a custom C1 pattern.

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating an example of a correspondence relationship between component data in a custom C2 pattern.

FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating an example of a correspondence relationship between component data in a custom D1 pattern.

FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating an example of a correspondence relationship between component data in a custom D2 pattern.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Image input apparatus 20 ... Printing control apparatus 21 ... Computer 22 ... Hard disk 22a ... Printer driver 22b ... Color balance adjustment program 22c1, c2 ... Skeleton file 23 ... Keyboard 24 ... CD-ROM drive 30 ... Printing apparatus 31 ... Printer 32 ... Display 33 ... Color copier 34 ... Color printer

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C056 EA04 EA11 EB27 EC76 EE03 2C087 AA03 AA15 AA16 AC02 AC07 BA07 BB10 BB16 BC07 BC14 BD35 CB04 2C262 AA02 AA18 AA24 AA26 AA27 AB17 AC02 AC04 AC08 BA02 BB03 GA01 LL19 MP08 NN01 PP37 TT05 5C079 HA19 KA03 KA04 LA23 NA03 PA03

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An image is represented as dots in a dot matrix, and when inputting print data in which a tone is expressed for each pixel, an original image is printed by attaching a recording material having a different element color. At the same time, it is possible to print images by attaching recording materials individually according to the input of test print data expressed by component data of each element color, and the used amount of the recording materials may deviate from the reference amount A printing control method for outputting the print data to a printing apparatus having a printing mechanism, wherein a plurality of patches in which the component data of each element color is gradually changed within the range of the possible deviation. A skeletal file capable of storing component data of each element color for each pixel of each patch for printing is stored in advance, and the composition of each element color corresponding to each of the patches constituting the plurality of patches is stored. Generates assignment data including data, reads the skeleton file, stores component data based on the assignment data for pixels corresponding to each patch of the skeleton file, generates the test print data, and outputs the test print data to the printing device. By printing the plurality of patches, the user can select and input an achromatic patch based on the plurality of printed patches to obtain the deviation of each element color from the reference amount, A print control method comprising: correcting the print data so that an appropriate amount of recording material is applied based on the obtained deviation. 2. The printing control method according to claim 1, wherein when printing the plurality of patches, a patch represented by predetermined component data is arranged at a center, and each element is arranged in a predetermined angle direction from the center. A print control method characterized by printing a plurality of patches in which component data of each element color in a patch located at the same center is gradually changed from the same center to the outer side while corresponding colors. 3. The printing control method according to claim 1, wherein when the printing apparatus is capable of printing an image with a black-colored recording material, the plurality of patches may be printed. A printing control method, characterized by printing a reference patch represented by black horizontal stripes on a background. 4. The print control method according to claim 3, wherein the skeleton file stores black component data for black pixels of the reference patch in advance. 5. The printing control method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of skeleton files are stored in advance corresponding to a plurality of patches arranged in different patterns. Generate assignment data corresponding to the pattern of a plurality of patches to be read, read out a skeleton file corresponding to the pattern of the plurality of patches, and extract component data based on the assignment data for pixels corresponding to each patch of the skeleton file. A print control method comprising storing and generating the test print data. 6. The printing control method according to claim 1, wherein component data of a predetermined element color for identifying each patch for a pixel corresponding to the plurality of patches in the skeleton file. Is generated, assignment data is generated by associating the component data of each element color for printing the plurality of patches with the identification data, and the skeleton file is read and the identification data is stored. Detecting the stored pixels, and generating the test print data by storing the identification data stored in the pixels based on the assignment data, replacing the identification data with the component data of the corresponding element colors. Printing control method. 7. The print control method according to claim 6, wherein the identification data is represented by component data of a single element color. 8. An original image is printed by attaching a recording material composed of different element colors when inputting print data representing a tone in each pixel while representing the image as pixels in a dot matrix. At the same time, it is possible to print images by attaching recording materials individually according to the input of test print data expressed by component data of each element color, and the used amount of the recording materials may deviate from the reference amount A print control device that outputs the print data to a printing device having a printing mechanism that includes a plurality of patches in which component data of each element color is gradually changed within the range of the possible deviation. Skeleton file storage means for storing a skeleton file capable of storing component data of each element color in pixel units of each patch for printing, and each element corresponding to each patch constituting the plurality of patches Assignment data generating means for generating assignment data including the component data of the above, and reading the skeleton file and storing the component data based on the assignment data for pixels corresponding to each patch of the skeleton file to generate the test print data Test print data output means for printing the plurality of patches by outputting to the printing apparatus; and causing the user to select and input an achromatic patch based on the plurality of printed patches. A deviation acquisition unit that acquires a deviation of the element color from the reference amount; and a print data modification unit that modifies the print data so that an appropriate amount of recording material is attached based on the acquired deviation. A print control device characterized by the above-mentioned. 9. When an image is represented as each pixel in a dot matrix form and print data in which the tone is expressed in gradation for each pixel is input, the original image is printed by attaching a recording material having different element colors. At the same time, it is possible to print images by attaching recording materials individually according to the input of test print data expressed by component data of each element color, and the used amount of the recording materials may deviate from the reference amount A printing medium having a printing control program for outputting the printing data for a printing apparatus having a printing mechanism, wherein the component data of each element color is gradually changed within the range of the possible deviation. A skeleton capable of generating assignment data including component data of each element color corresponding to each patch in order to print a plurality of patches, and storing component data of each element color in pixel units of each patch The test print data is generated by reading the file from a predetermined storage medium and storing the component data based on the assignment data for the pixel corresponding to each patch of the same skeleton file, and outputting the test print data to the printing apparatus. A patch is printed, and a user selects and inputs an achromatic patch based on the plurality of printed patches, thereby obtaining a deviation from the reference amount of each element color. A medium storing a print control program, wherein the print data is modified so that an appropriate amount of recording material is attached based on the print data.