JP2000233496A5 - - Google Patents

Description

Patent application title: PRINT CONTROL METHOD, PRINT CONTROL DEVICE, MEDIUM CONTAINING PRINT CONTROL PROGRAM, AND PRINT DEVICE
[Claim of claim]
1. A print control method for printing a calibration pattern including a plurality of patches having different densities of color inks which are element colors in order to correct a color balance deviation,
A printing control method comprising: a calibration pattern printing step of printing the calibration patterns in parallel in the main scanning direction.
2. Printing data is input to a printing apparatus provided with a printing head corresponding to a printing material of element color, and a printing material of a required element color is applied on a printing medium to reproduce an original image A printing control method for printing,
A calibration pattern printing step of printing a calibration pattern for detecting whether the deviation of the ink ejection amount from the reference amount is dependent on the printing position;
A deviation acquiring step of acquiring the deviation depending on the printing position based on the calibration pattern printed in the calibration pattern printing step;
And a print data correction output step of correcting the print data so as to eliminate the deviation depending on the print position acquired in the deviation acquisition step, and outputting the print data to the printing apparatus.
3. The printing control method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the calibration pattern printing step corresponds to each printing position obtained by dividing the printing medium into predetermined area units. And printing the calibration pattern.
4. The printing control method according to claim 3, wherein the calibration pattern printing step prints the calibration pattern corresponding to each printing position subdivided in the main scanning direction. Print control method.
5. The printing control method according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the printing apparatus is capable of printing using a black-colored recording material.
In the calibration pattern printing step, reference is made to a plurality of gray patches in which the density data of each element color changes substantially uniformly with reference to predetermined density data, and a horizontal stripe pattern reference using the black colored recording material on the background of the gray patches. Placing the patch at a plurality of printing positions and printing the calibration pattern,
The deviation acquisition step causes the user to select a gray patch whose luminance matches the reference patch at each print position, and acquires the deviation depending on the print position based on the density data of the actually selected gray patch. Printing control method characterized by the above.
6. The printing control method according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the printing apparatus comprises a plurality of independent print heads for each recording material of each element color,
The calibration pattern printing step causes the print head corresponding to each element color to print the calibration pattern for detecting the deviation of the usage amount of the recording material from the reference value.
The deviation acquiring step acquires the deviation based on the calibration pattern, and
A print control method, wherein the print data correction output step corrects the print data so as to eliminate the deviation acquired in the deviation acquisition step.
7. A print data is input to a printing apparatus having a print head corresponding to a recording material of element color, and a recording material of a required element color is applied on a print medium to reproduce an original image. A printing control device for printing,
Calibration pattern printing means for printing a calibration pattern for detecting whether the deviation of the ink ejection amount from the reference amount is dependent on the printing position;
A deviation acquiring unit that acquires the deviation dependent on the printing position based on the calibration pattern printed by the calibration pattern printing unit;
A print control apparatus comprising: print data correction output means for correcting the print data so as to eliminate the deviation depending on the print position acquired by the deviation acquisition means and outputting the print data to the printing apparatus.
8. Printing data is input to a printing apparatus provided with a printing head corresponding to a printing material of element color, and a printing material of a required element color is applied on a printing medium to reproduce an original image. A medium storing a print control program to be printed,
A calibration pattern printing step of printing a calibration pattern for detecting whether the deviation of the ink ejection amount from the reference amount is dependent on the printing position;
A deviation acquiring step of acquiring the deviation depending on the printing position based on the calibration pattern printed in the calibration pattern printing step;
A print data correction output step of correcting the print data so as to eliminate the deviation depending on the print position acquired in the deviation acquisition step, and outputting the print data to the printing apparatus; Recorded media.
9. A printing apparatus comprising a print head corresponding to a recording material of an element color and applying the recording material of a required element color on a printing medium based on input of print data to reproduce and print an original image And
Calibration pattern printing means for printing a calibration pattern for detecting whether the deviation of the ink ejection amount from the reference amount is dependent on the printing position;
A deviation acquiring unit that acquires the deviation dependent on the printing position based on the calibration pattern printed by the calibration pattern printing unit;
And a recording material adjusting means for adjusting the amount of recording material to be actually attached so as to eliminate the deviation depending on the printing position acquired in the deviation acquiring step.
Detailed Description of the Invention
[0001]
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a print control method, a print control device, a medium storing a print control program, and a printing device, and in particular, a print control method for adjusting and printing colors on a print medium, a print control device, and a print control program The present invention relates to a recorded medium and a printing apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior Art]
In a color printing apparatus such as an ink jet printer, a color image is formed using three color inks of cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y), or four colors of ink obtained by adding black (K) thereto. Print. The print head that discharges these color inks can be an integral type that discharges all color inks, but since the yield is degraded, a plurality of print heads are often used separately for each color . In the case of the integral type, the balance among the color inks is maintained although there is an error as to whether the ejection amount of the color ink is generally large or small. However, when using a plurality of print heads, the balance among the color inks is broken due to the variation among the print heads.
Therefore, in the conventional color printing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 6-79853, the drive signal can be adjusted for each drive circuit that drives the print head, and if this drive signal is set in a factory, etc. It is possible to maintain the balance of
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The prior art described above has the following problems.
Certainly, it is possible to balance the colors among the respective color inks, and thereby the original color is reproduced, but even when the same object or the like is printed, a color difference occurs depending on the printing position It was not possible to eliminate the color shift depending on the printing position. Such color shift depending on the printing position is mainly caused by the fact that the distance between the print head and the paper is not constant. That is, the longer the distance between the print head and the paper, the smaller the dot area of the color ink applied on the paper, and conversely, the shorter the same distance, the larger the dot area of the color ink. By changing the distance between the sheets, shades of color appear.
[0004]
Of course, in a general color printing apparatus, the distance between the print head and the sheet is kept substantially constant, and the influence of the change in the distance can be almost ignored. However, in a color printing apparatus capable of printing on a large sheet of paper such as "A1" or "A2" size, the apparatus is naturally large, and therefore, a sheet of paper is caused due to a problem such as manufacturing accuracy or curvature of the platen. Even in this case, the distance between the head and the paper may differ to an extent that can not be ignored depending on the printing position. Therefore, in such a case, color misregistration occurs according to the printing position for the reason described above.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a print control method, a print control device, a medium storing a print control program, and a printing device capable of eliminating color misregistration depending on printing position. I assume.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is a print control method for printing a calibration pattern including a plurality of patches having different densities of color inks which are element colors in order to correct a color balance deviation. And a calibration pattern printing step of printing the calibration patterns in parallel in the main scanning direction. That is, the color misregistration depending on the printing position can be grasped by this calibration pattern.
In order to achieve the above object, according to the second aspect of the present invention, in a printing apparatus provided with a print head corresponding to the recording material of the element color, the recording material of the required element color is attached on the printing medium A printing control method for reproducing and printing an image, which detects whether or not a deviation occurring between an expected amount of recording material and an amount of actually applied recording material has a dependency on a printing position. Calibration pattern printing step of printing a calibration pattern for printing, a deviation acquiring step of acquiring the deviation depending on the printing position based on the calibration pattern printed in the calibration pattern printing step, and acquiring the deviation A print data correction output step of correcting the print data so as to eliminate the deviation depending on the print position acquired in the process and outputting the print data to the printing apparatus There as.
[0007]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the deviation between the amount of recording material scheduled according to the printing position on the printing medium and the amount of recording material actually applied is changed to the printing position. It is suitable for use in a printing apparatus in which a dependency occurs, whereby color misregistration may occur depending on the printing position. In order to eliminate the actual color misregistration, first, a predetermined calibration pattern is printed in a calibration pattern printing process. Then, the deviation which is dependent on the printing position is acquired based on the calibration pattern in the next deviation acquiring step, and the printing data is corrected so that the deviation is eliminated in the printing data correction output step. Output. Then, on the side of the printing apparatus, the recording material of the required element color is applied on the printing medium and printed based on the printing data.
[0008]
Therefore, although a deviation may occur depending on the printing position between the amount of recording material scheduled on the printing medium and the amount of recording material actually applied, the recording depending on such printing position Since correction is made at the time of printing data so as to eliminate material deviation, as a result, color misregistration corresponding to the printing position is eliminated, and the original image is faithfully reproduced.
As a printing mechanism provided in the printing apparatus in this case, for example, an inkjet method in which a minute amount of color ink is ejected by a piezo element or bubble can be adopted, and in this case, a so-called platen gap differs depending on the printing position. As a result, the dot area of the color ink applied on the print medium is deviated, and the color misregistration corresponding to the print position is generated. The deviation of the platen gap depending on the printing position often occurs particularly in a large printing apparatus. That is, if the apparatus becomes large, it can be said that the influence of the manufacturing accuracy tends to appear, and also that the bending of the platen tends to occur. Furthermore, as another example, an electrophotographic method may be adopted in which toner is electrostatically attached, and in this case, the amount of toner applied on the print medium due to factors such as individual differences of individual drums Depending on the situation, color shifts may occur as well.
[0009]
In the calibration pattern printing step, a calibration pattern for detecting whether or not the deviation between the amount of recording material scheduled and the amount of recording material actually applied is dependent on the printing position According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing control method according to any one of the first and second aspects, wherein the printing is performed, but as a specific example for detecting the dependency on the printing position. The pattern printing step is configured to print the calibration pattern corresponding to each printing position obtained by dividing the printing medium into predetermined area units.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the printing medium to be printed is subdivided in predetermined area units, and a calibration pattern is printed corresponding to each subdivided area. Of course, in this case, the deviation is acquired in each area unit in the deviation acquisition process, and the print data is corrected so as to eliminate the deviation acquired in each area unit in the print data correction output process. become.
[0010]
When subdividing the print medium here, various aspects can be considered. For example, the print medium may be simply subdivided into strip-like regions in the longitudinal direction, or may be subdivided into lattice-like regions. Also, if there is regularity in the deviation that occurs depending on the printing position, it is effective to subdivide according to this regularity. For example, in many inkjet printing apparatuses, printing is performed by moving the print head in the main scanning direction and conveying the printing medium while applying the color ink while transporting the printing medium in the sub-scanning direction. Is likely to occur in the main scanning direction. Therefore, in the printing control method according to the third aspect of the present invention, in the printing control method according to the third aspect, the calibration pattern printing step prints the calibration pattern in correspondence with each printing position subdivided in the main scanning direction. As a configuration.
That is, the printing medium is subdivided in predetermined area units, and the calibration pattern is printed corresponding to each area, but is subdivided in predetermined area units in the main scanning direction in which a difference in platen gap easily occurs.
[0011]
In the case of acquiring the deviation dependent on the printing position in the deviation acquiring step, for example, a calibration pattern is printed by applying a recording material of a predetermined element color on a printing medium based on density data as a reference, This may be read by a color measurement device to acquire actual measurement data, and a difference between the actual measurement data according to the printing position and density data as a reference may be acquired. Moreover, it is also possible to obtain such deviation by visual observation of the user without using the color measurement device. As an example of the specific configuration, in the invention according to claim 5, in the printing control method according to any one of claims 2 to 4, the printing apparatus can print using a black-colored recording material. In the calibration pattern printing step, a plurality of gray patches in which the density data of each element color changes substantially uniformly with reference to predetermined density data, and a horizontal stripe pattern using the black color recording material on the background of the gray patches The calibration pattern is printed by arranging the reference patch of the present invention at a plurality of printing positions, and the deviation acquiring step causes the user to select a gray patch whose brightness matches the reference patch at each printing position, The deviation depending on the printing position is acquired based on the density data of the selected gray patch.
[0012]
In the invention as set forth above, in the calibration pattern printing step, a plurality of gray patches in which density data of each element color changes substantially uniformly with reference to predetermined density data, and the gray patches A calibration pattern is printed by arranging reference stripes of a horizontal stripe pattern using a black-colored recording material as a background at a plurality of printing positions. Then, in the deviation acquisition step, the user visually recognizes the printed calibration pattern, and selects a gray patch whose luminance matches the reference patch of the background at each print position, the density data of the actually selected gray patch The above-mentioned deviation depending on the printing position is acquired based on.
[0013]
That is, the horizontal stripe pattern using a black-colored recording material looks purely achromatic, and further, it is difficult to cause a difference in luminance between print positions and machines, and thus is suitable as a reference. Then, a reference patch having such a constant brightness and a plurality of gray patches in which density data of each element color is substantially uniformly changed are compared at each printing position, and a gray patch having a brightness matching the reference patch is selected. Thus, it can be determined whether or not the recording material is attached as planned at each printing position. Then, when the recording material is not attached as scheduled, the deviation appears as a deviation between the density data of the actually selected gray batch and the density data as a reference, so each printing position is based on this deviation. If the print data is corrected each time, the substantial total luminance converges to a predetermined value, so that the color misregistration depending on the print position is eliminated.
[0014]
Thus, by eliminating the deviation between the amount of recording material scheduled depending on the printing position and the amount of recording material actually applied, it is possible to eliminate color misregistration depending on the printing position. If the amount of recording material of each element color used in the print head deviates from the reference value, the original color may not be reproduced. For example, in the ink jet printing apparatus, the use of a print head assembled separately for each color ink may cause a deviation in the discharge amount of the recording material, but if such a deviation occurs, The level is not reproduced as scheduled. Therefore, in the invention according to claim 6, in the printing control method according to any one of claims 2 to 5, the printing apparatus is provided with a plurality of printing heads independent for each recording material of each element color. The calibration pattern printing step causes the printing head corresponding to each element color to print the calibration pattern for detecting the deviation of the usage of the recording material from the reference value, and the deviation acquiring step The deviation is acquired based on the calibration pattern, and the print data correction output step is configured to correct the print data so as to eliminate the deviation acquired in the deviation acquisition step.
[0015]
In the invention according to claim 6 configured as described above, the printing apparatus is provided with a plurality of print heads independent for each recording material of each element color, and the reference value for the amount of use of the recording material between each print head It is possible that the color balance may be disturbed due to a deviation from Therefore, a calibration pattern for detecting the same deviation is printed in the calibration pattern printing process, and the same deviation is acquired in the deviation acquiring process, and printing is performed so as to eliminate the same deviation in the print data correction and output process. Correct the data. Then, the color shift according to the printing position and the shift of the color balance among the element colors are simultaneously eliminated, and the original color is faithfully reproduced.
[0016]
Note that, as an example of the calibration pattern in this case, a gray patch that should appear achromatic and a plurality of gray patches in which density data of each element color of this gray patch is individually changed in minute units In this case, let the user select a gray patch that looks achromatic. In other words, if a gray patch that should originally appear to be achromatic is selected, the amount of recording material used for each element color will not deviate from the reference value, and if another gray patch is selected. From the density data, it is known from the density data that which element color is strong or weak, and the print data may be corrected to eliminate this.
[0017]
As described above, the method of acquiring the deviation of the amount of recording material depending on the printing position and correcting the printing data so as to eliminate this deviation is realized in a substantial apparatus, and this method is adopted. It can be easily understood that it also functions as a device. Therefore, according to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the recording material of the required element color is applied on the printing medium to reproduce the original image with respect to the printing apparatus provided with the printing head corresponding to the recording material of the element color. Calibration for detecting whether the deviation between the amount of planned recording material and the amount of recording material actually applied is dependent on the printing position Calibration pattern printing means for printing a pattern, deviation acquisition means for acquiring the deviation depending on the printing position based on the calibration pattern printed by the calibration pattern printing means, and acquisition by the deviation acquisition means A print data correction output unit is provided which corrects the print data so as to eliminate the deviation depending on the print position and outputs the corrected print data to the printing apparatus.
That is, the present invention is not necessarily limited to the method, and the present invention is also effective in a device having an entity incorporating the method.
[0018]
By the way, the method of acquiring the deviation of the amount of recording material depending on the printing position and correcting the printing data so as to eliminate this deviation may exist alone or may be used in a state of being incorporated in the apparatus. The idea of the invention is not limited to these, and may include various aspects. Therefore, it is possible to change as appropriate, such as software or hardware.
[0019]
In the case of software as an embodiment of the concept of the invention, the above method naturally exists on a recording medium on which such software is recorded, and it can not be said that it is used.
As an example thereof, the invention according to claim 8 reproduces the original image by applying the recording material of the required element color on the printing medium to the printing apparatus provided with the print head corresponding to the recording material of the element color A recording control program to be printed on the recording medium, and it is detected whether or not the deviation between the planned amount of recording material and the amount of recording material actually applied is dependent on the printing position Calibration pattern printing step for printing a calibration pattern for printing, a deviation acquiring step for acquiring the deviation dependent on the printing position based on the calibration pattern printed in the calibration pattern printing step, and the deviation A printing device that corrects the print data and outputs it to the printing apparatus so as to eliminate the deviation depending on the print position acquired in the acquisition step. A configuration equipped with a motor modified output step.
[0020]
Of course, the recording medium may be a magnetic recording medium or a magneto-optical recording medium, and any recording medium developed in the future can be considered in the same way. In addition, the replication stages of the primary copy, the secondary copy, etc. are the same without any doubt. In addition, even when the communication method is used as the supply method, the present invention is still used.
Furthermore, even when a part is software and a part is realized by hardware, the concept of the invention is not completely different, and a part is stored on a recording medium and appropriately used as needed. It may be in a form to be read.
[0021]
As described above, if the deviation of the amount of recording material depending on the printing position is acquired and the printing data is corrected so as to eliminate this deviation, the color misregistration depending on the printing position will be eliminated. It is also possible to eliminate color misregistration in the same manner by other methods. As an example, the invention according to claim 9 is provided with a print head corresponding to the recording material of the element color, and applies the recording material of the required element color on the printing medium based on the input of the print data to make the original image A printing apparatus that reproduces and prints, and is a calibration for detecting whether a deviation that occurs between the amount of planned recording material and the amount of recording material actually applied is dependent on the printing position. A calibration pattern printing unit for printing the printing pattern, a deviation acquiring unit for acquiring the deviation depending on the printing position based on the calibration pattern printed by the calibration pattern printing unit, and the deviation acquiring step A recording material adjusting unit is provided which adjusts the amount of recording material to be actually attached so as to eliminate the deviation depending on the acquired printing position.
[0022]
That is, if the amount of recording material actually applied by the printing apparatus is adjusted according to the printing position instead of correcting the printing data, it is possible to eliminate the color misregistration corresponding to the printing position as described above. In addition, in order to print the calibration pattern by the calibration pattern printing unit here, predetermined printing data may be held on the printing apparatus side, and the printing data may be read out and printed as necessary. Alternatively, predetermined print data may be supplied from the outside for printing.
[0023]
【Effect of the invention】
As described above, according to the invention of claim 1, it is possible to grasp the color shift depending on the printing position.
According to the invention of claim 2, according to the present invention, while printing a predetermined calibration pattern, the amount of recording material scheduled using this calibration pattern and the amount of the recording material to be actually applied. Since the deviation depending on the print position of the amount is acquired and the print data is corrected so as to eliminate the deviation, it is possible to provide a print control method capable of eliminating color misregistration corresponding to the print position. it can. According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is easy to handle the printing by printing the calibration pattern corresponding to each printing position obtained by dividing the printing medium into predetermined area units.
Furthermore, according to the invention of claim 4, the calibration pattern is printed corresponding to each printing position subdivided in the main scanning direction, and the deviation corresponding to each printing position is acquired. It is suitable for eliminating color misregistration depending on the printing position due to the difference in platen gap that occurs in
[0024]
Furthermore, according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide an example of a calibration pattern suitable for obtaining a deviation depending on the printing position by visual observation of the user.
Furthermore, according to the invention of claim 6, when the printing apparatus includes the independent print head for each element color, the deviation of the usage amount of the recording material from the reference value in each print head is eliminated. Because of this, it is possible to eliminate the color balance deviation between element colors.
Furthermore, according to the seventh aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a print control device capable of eliminating color misregistration corresponding to the printing position in the same manner. According to the eighth aspect of the present invention The medium which recorded the control program can be provided.
Furthermore, according to the invention of claim 9, since the amount of the recording material to be actually attached is adjusted according to the printing position so as to eliminate the deviation depending on the printing position, the color according to the printing position It is possible to provide a printing apparatus capable of eliminating misalignment.
[0025]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a printing system to which a print control method according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a specific hardware configuration.
In the figure, the image input device 10 inputs color image data of a color image to the print control device 20, and the print control device 20 performs predetermined image processing on the same color image data to generate print data and send it to the printing device 30. Output. Here, the color image data represents the strength of each color of the color image while performing color separation of the color image for each predetermined color, and is represented by gray when it is colored and mixed at a predetermined ratio. It consists of achromatic and black.
[0026]
Here, a specific example of the image input device 10 corresponds to the scanner 11, the digital still camera 12 or the video camera 13, and a specific example of the print control device 20 is the computer 21, the hard disk 22, the keyboard 23, the CD-ROM drive 24, and the like. A computer system including a floppy disk drive 25 and a modem 26 corresponds, and a printer 31 etc. corresponds to a specific example of the printing apparatus 30. The modem 26 is connected to a public communication line, connected to an external network via the public communication line, and can download and introduce software and data.
[0027]
The computer 21 is provided with a CPU 21a which is central to arithmetic processing, a ROM 21b for recording a non-rewritable program, a RAM 21c for securing a work area, and electronic devices such as a predetermined I / O 21d. It can be used to access external devices and execute programs. Among these programs, the operating system (OS) 21e operating as a basic program is a display on the display 32 and a printer driver (PRT DRV) 21f that causes the printer 31 to print out. And a display driver (DSP DRV) 21g for performing the above. The types of the drivers 21f and 21g depend on the models of the printer 31 and the display 32, and can be additionally changed to the operating system 21e according to the respective models. In addition, additional functions beyond standard processing can be realized depending on the model. That is, it is possible to realize various additional processes within an allowable range while maintaining a common processing system on the standard system of the operating system 21e. Furthermore, the application (APL) 21 h or the like is executed on the operating system 21 e as a basic program, and the processing result etc. is output from the printer 31 or the display 32 as described above.
[0028]
On the other hand, FIG. 3 shows a schematic configuration of the color ink jet printer 31. As printing ink, cyan (C), light cyan (c), magenta (M), light magenta (m), yellow (Y), black (black The six color inks of K) are used, and are constituted by six print head units 31a1 having a single row of print nozzles. As described above, since the print head units 31a1 are independent for each color, the output characteristic varies due to the machine difference for each print head unit 31a1, which causes the balance among the color inks to be broken.
[0029]
Here, each print head unit 31a1 is configured to discharge a minute color ink droplet by a micro pump mechanism using a piezo element distorted by applying a predetermined drive voltage. Then, in addition to the print head 31a including the six print head units 31a1, the print head controller 31b for applying the drive voltage to the print head 31a and the print head shift for moving the print head 31a in the digit direction It comprises a motor 31c, a paper feed motor 31d for feeding printing paper in the line direction, and a printer controller 31e corresponding to an interface between the print head controller 31b, the print head digit movement motor 31c and the paper feed motor 31d with external devices. .
[0030]
Here, FIG. 4 shows a correspondence table of the ink weight of the color ink used in one shot in each print head unit 31a1 and the classification according to the ID. Hereinafter, when simply referred to as an ID, it indicates the ink weight of the ID corresponding to each CcMmY. As shown in the figure, the range of the ID is "1" to "21", and the middle "11" is the reference value. In such a case, it is desirable that the reference amount of ink weight used in one shot be in the range of 20.0 to 20.5 nanograms (ng). This is because, in the case of the printer 31, printing is performed using the CcMmY color ink described above on RGB data used inside the computer 21, but at that time, color conversion is performed because the color space is different. doing. Therefore, in order to perform conversion while maintaining the same color, it is assumed that the weight of ink used in one shot in each print head unit 31a1 of CcMmY is a fixed predetermined amount, and the amount used is different. As a result of variations in output characteristics, the color balance is broken.
[0031]
Although it is possible to reduce the difference in the use amount of the ink weight, the manufacturing yield of the print head unit 31a1 will be deteriorated. Therefore, by correcting the deviation between the reference amount and the ink weight at the actually specified ID in the data state by the print control device 20, it is possible to eliminate the deviation of the color balance. As apparent from the figure, the smaller the ID is, the heavier the ink weight is, so a large amount of color ink is used, and conversely, the larger the ID is, a smaller amount of color ink is used. Therefore, if the ID is large, the density represented by the data may be increased to correct the color balance shift between color inks. Conversely, if the ID is small, the density may be decreased similarly to the shift. It will be possible to fix it. Therefore, a function to be converted between input data and output data is prepared in advance as shown in FIG. 5 corresponding to the ID, and color conversion can be maintained if data conversion is performed according to this function. it can.
[0032]
Note that the function shown in FIG. 5 is a well-known tone curve of γ correction, and assuming RGB data of 256 gradations, the γ curve is Y = 255 × (X / 255) ** γ (“ “**” indicates an input / output relationship which becomes a power.), No correction is made between the input and the output when γ = 1, the output becomes weak with respect to the input when γ> 1, and an input when γ <1 The output is stronger against
In the present embodiment, the γ value of the tone curve in which the printing result is most linear corresponding to the ID is determined by experiment in advance, and the correction look-up tables LUT1 to LUT21 corresponding to each ID are generated. Of course, the tone curve to be corrected in accordance with the 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.
[0033]
If there is no variation in the weight of ink used in one shot in each print head unit 31a1, no color balance deviation occurs, and the color of the original image is faithfully reproduced in this limit. However, the printer 31 according to the present embodiment can print on a large print sheet such as "A1" or "A2" size, and is large as an apparatus. It is also possible to consider that the distance between the print head unit 31a1 and the print sheet, that is, the platen gap differs depending on the print position, and this causes color shift depending on the print position. The platen gap is closely related to the dot area of the color ink applied on the printing paper, and the correlation is as shown in FIG.
[0034]
The design shown in the figure is that the designed platen gap is "L (reference value)" and the dot area of the color ink on the printing paper at this time is "S", As described above, it is shown that the dot area of the color ink on the printing paper changes as the platen gap changes according to the printing position. Specifically, when the platen gap is longer than the reference value, the dot area decreases, and when the platen gap is shorter than the reference value, the dot area tends to increase. Of course, the larger the dot area, the darker than the intended color, and the smaller the dot area, the lighter the color, and in this sense, color deviation occurs depending on the printing position.
[0035]
Also in this case, if the dot area is larger than the planned one, the input data may be corrected to be thin and the output data may be used. Conversely, if the dot area is smaller than the planned, the input data The output data may be corrected to be darker, and the correction may be similarly performed using a tone curve or the like of γ correction. Here, the deviation of the dot area is mainly due to the difference of the platen gap, but it may be considered to be due to the difference of the weight of the ink ejected in one shot. That is, assuming that the platen gap is constant, if the weight of ink used in one shot is large, the dot area of the color ink applied on the printing paper will be large, and if the weight of ink is small, the dot area will be large. It becomes smaller.
Therefore, in order to eliminate the color misregistration depending on the printing position as described above, a required correction lookup table is selected according to the printing position from a plurality of correction lookup tables prepared in advance in the same manner. Apply the data and correct it. However, in order to eliminate the color balance deviation mentioned above, while the data of the element color component in which the actual ink weight deviates from the reference value is corrected, the color deviation depending on the printing position is the color as a whole. It is needless to say that data of all element color components need to be corrected because it appears as a difference in lightness, that is, a difference in luminance.
[0036]
In the present embodiment, the print head unit 31a1 is assigned to each of the six color inks, but the configuration is such that six color inks are used using the same print head unit 31a2 as shown in FIG. Alternatively, an integrated print head unit 31a3 as shown in FIG. 8 may be used. However, in the integrated print head unit 31 a 3, although color deviation may occur depending on the printing position, basically, deviation of the ink usage amount among the color inks does not occur, so deviation of the color balance is It will not occur. In addition, although the color printer 31 of the ink jet system has been described, in order to discharge the color ink, bubbles are generated by the heater provided on the inner wall surface of the ink discharge hole besides the micro pump mechanism by the piezo element, and the expansion pressure thereof The ink may be ejected at the same time. Of course, the color ink may be ejected by a method other than the above, or an electrophotographic method may be adopted in which the color ink is not ejected but electrostatically attached, and in this case, individual Due to factors such as individual differences among drums, the amount of toner applied onto the printing paper may differ depending on the printing position, and color misregistration may similarly occur.
[0037]
Further, in the present embodiment, the printer 31 capable of color printing is used as the printing apparatus 30. However, the present invention is applicable to the color facsimile machine 33 shown in FIG. 9 and the color copier 34 shown in FIG. That is, in the color facsimile machine 33, the color copier 34, etc., as in the printer 31, deviation may occur in the usage of color ink, toner, etc., and the color balance may be lost. It can occur. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, a computer system for correcting color image data for the printer 31 is used. However, as shown in FIG. 11, the color correction system is built in the color printer 35 and A configuration is also possible in which color image data supplied is directly input and printed.
[0038]
As described above, when the color correction system is incorporated in the printing apparatus, although the data correction method is effective to eliminate the color balance deviation described above, the data is not necessarily required to eliminate the color deviation according to the printing position. The method of correcting itself is not always effective. That is, if the density of the color as a whole is corrected according to the printing position, the driving voltage applied to the printing head may be dynamically changed according to the printing position to adjust the ink discharge amount. For example, in the case where the reference driving voltage is "V" as shown in FIG. 12A, if the platen gap is longer than the reference value and the color appears lighter, it is shown in FIG. As shown, the drive voltage "VH" larger than "V" may be applied to increase the ink discharge amount for one shot as a whole. Conversely, if the platen gap is shorter than the reference value and appears darker, one shot of ink is ejected by applying a drive voltage "VL" smaller than "V" as shown in FIG. It is sufficient to reduce the amount as a whole.
[0039]
On the other hand, the computer 21 constituting the print control apparatus 20 in the present embodiment includes the color balance adjustment program shown in the flowchart of FIG. 13 in the hard disk 22 and can be executed when necessary. In the figure, in step S110, the printer 31 prints a custom A pattern which is a calibration pattern of the first stage. As shown in FIG. 14, the color balance adjustment program in this embodiment divides the printing area on the printing paper into three equal parts in the main scanning direction, which is the digit direction, and recognizes it as areas R1, R2, and R3. In S110, a custom A pattern based on the same density data is printed so as to be parallel in the main scanning direction in each of the regions R1, R2, and R3.
[0040]
Referring to FIG. 14, three custom B, C patterns and custom D patterns are printed so as to be parallel in the main scanning direction in the sub scanning direction which is the row direction of regions R1, R2, R3. I understand. Here, each custom B, C pattern or each custom D pattern is based on the same density data, and is printed sequentially as described later, but the patterns are printed side by side in the sub scanning direction The reason is as follows.
Since the printer 31 according to the present embodiment prints calibration patterns based on the same density data in parallel in the main scanning direction on printing paper having a large paper size, printing not used for printing in the sub-scanning direction There are many areas. For this reason, the area of the margin can be effectively used by sequentially printing the calibration pattern using such a printing area.
[0041]
Also, the meaning that the color balance adjustment program equally divides the printing area of the printing paper in the main scanning direction is to detect whether or not color misregistration has occurred according to the printing position due to the difference in the platen gap as described above. However, the printer 31 moves the print head units 31a1 in the main scanning direction while transporting the printing paper in the subscanning direction and discharges the color ink for printing, so the difference in the platen gap in the subscanning direction The reason is that it can be substantially ignored, and it is considered that the influence in the main scanning direction is mainly noticeable. In the present embodiment, the printing area is divided into three in the main scanning direction. However, the printing area may be subdivided as a matter of course, and can be changed as appropriate.
[0042]
Each custom A pattern printed in step S110 is composed of a custom A1 pattern and a custom A2 pattern printed in parallel with each other as shown in FIG. 15, and further, as shown in FIG. 16 for the custom A1 pattern. Circular gray patches “A1” to “D18” in which the component data of different cmY differ little by little are provided, and circular gray patches “A1 ′ in which the component data of CMY differ little by little as shown in FIG. "~" D18 '"is provided. In FIG. 16 and FIG. 17, the component data of cmY and CMY are shown in%, and FIG. 18 and FIG. 19 show them in tabular form.
[0043]
Referring to FIG. 16, the component data of cmY of each gray patch is changed little by little according to a predetermined regularity, and the gray patch “A1” in the center looks intrinsically achromatic. The red (R) component becomes larger as it goes upward in the drawing, and the red component becomes smaller as it goes downward. Further, the green (G) component becomes larger as going to the lower left direction in the drawing and the same green component becomes smaller as going to the upper right, and further the blue (B) component becomes larger as going to the lower right in the drawing The blue component decreases as you head toward it.
That is, the coordinate axis of the red component which is the element color is set in the direction from the upper side to the lower side, and the coordinate axis of the green component which is the element color is set in the direction from the lower left to the upper right The coordinate axes of the blue component, which is the element color, are set in the direction toward, and each component data increases or decreases in proportion to the 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 this custom A1 pattern are displayed. Further, in the custom A2 pattern, the component data is CMY, but the same tendency as the custom A1 pattern is shown.
[0044]
As for the custom A1 pattern shown in FIG. 16, the gray patch is the outermost “A1” at the center, “B1” to “B6” one round outside, “C1” to “C12” one round outside, Although it is comprised from "D1"-"D16" of an outer periphery, it is trying not to shift outside [C1]-"C12" by the check of a hardware by all means. Nevertheless, printing “D1” to “D16” can be accurately determined by comparing with gray patches on both sides in a plurality of gray patches in which the component data shifts with a certain tendency when selecting an achromatic color. In light of the fact, in order to ensure that there are gray patches on both sides. Needless to say, the same is true for the custom A2 pattern of FIG.
[0045]
When the usage amount of ink in each print head unit 31a1 is uneven, the ink weight as scheduled is not discharged, so the gray patches among the other gray patches are not the gray patches "A1" or "A1 '". The balance becomes normal, that is, it becomes an achromatic patch. An example of the correspondence relationship which calculated the relationship back is shown in FIG. For example, in the custom A2 pattern, if the gray patch “A1 ′” looks achromatic, the cyan color ink usage ID is “11” and the magenta color ink usage ID is “11”. Since the ID of the usage amount of yellow color ink is “11”, the usage amount of each element color is in balance. However, if the gray patch "C4 '" looks achromatic, the usage ID for cyan ink will be "11", the usage ID for magenta ink will be "15" and the yellow color will be It can be seen that the usage ID for the ink is “7”. That is, the weight of ink ejected in the order of yellow, cyan, and magenta gradually decreases, and the strength of the actual ejection amount among the element colors can be determined.
[0046]
By the way, when many gray patches are arranged in the custom A pattern, it may be difficult to determine whether the color is achromatic or not. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 16 and FIG. 17, a reference patch of a horizontal stripe pattern is printed on the background of the gray patch with black ink which has a predetermined brightness and in which differences in brightness are unlikely to occur between aircraft or between printing positions. By contrasting the background with the gray patch, it is made to select while confirming the achromatic color. In such a case, it is possible to improve the accuracy in selecting an achromatic patch from gray patches. In addition, the reference patch “REF1” of the custom A1 pattern is thinner than the reference patch “REF2” of the custom A2 pattern in the width of the black line in the horizontal stripe pattern, and the gray patch printed entirely with light element color The brightness is matched.
[0047]
When such a custom A pattern is printed, the user is made to select a gray patch symbol that looks achromatic for the custom A1 pattern and the custom A2 pattern in each of the regions R1, R2 and R3. Make it input.
In the next step S130, custom B and C patterns, which are calibration patterns of the second stage, are printed using the gray patch symbol input in step S120. Although not described above, since the print sheet is discharged from the printer 31 after the custom A pattern is printed, the print sheet is set in the printer 31 when the custom B and C patterns are printed. Then, on the premise that the custom A pattern is printed on the printing paper, the color balance adjustment program causes the printing of custom B and C patterns to be started after causing the paper to be fed in the subscanning direction by a predetermined amount. Custom B and C patterns are printed in parallel in the main scan direction under the three custom A patterns as shown in FIG.
[0048]
The custom B and C patterns are composed of the custom B pattern and the custom C pattern printed in parallel to each other as shown in FIG. 21. Furthermore, the custom C pattern includes the custom C1 pattern and the custom C2 pattern. It consists of Here, as shown in FIG. 22, the custom B pattern includes a plurality of black patches “1” to “11” printed in a strip shape with monotone patterns whose density slightly differs with respect to component data of black ink and the background thereof And a reference pattern “REF1” of a horizontal stripe pattern printed by black ink. In addition, the numbers described in the respective black patches “1” to “11” represent component data of the black ink, and the density decreases toward the upper side of the paper with reference to the black patch “6” in the center. The same concentration becomes higher as it goes downward.
[0049]
On the other hand, the custom C1 pattern and the custom C2 pattern are configured as shown in FIG. Referring to the figure, it can be seen that a plurality of strip-shaped patches are printed in this case as well, and there is no difference from the custom B pattern described above in this sense, but in the custom C1 pattern and the custom C2 pattern, respectively. The strip-shaped patches are different in that they are composed of gray patches “1” to “11”.
That is, in the custom C1 pattern, based on the gray patch symbol selected by the user in the custom A1 pattern in each of the regions R1, R2 and R3, the gray patch “6” having the same brightness as that gray patch is arranged Each component data of cmY is printed so as to be changed almost uniformly so that the density becomes thinner as it goes upward and the same density becomes dense as it goes down, and furthermore, the background is black stripes with black ink The reference patch "REF1" of the pattern is printed.
[0050]
On the other hand, in the custom C2 pattern, based on the gray patch symbol selected by the user in the above custom A2 pattern in each of the regions R1, R2 and R3, the gray patch "6" having the same brightness as that gray patch Each component data of C, M, and Y is printed by changing the component data of CMY substantially uniformly so that the density becomes thinner as it goes upward in the paper and the density becomes higher as it goes down on the paper. The horizontal stripe pattern reference patch “REF2” is printed. 24 and 25 show the component data of each gray patch of the custom C1 pattern and the custom C2 pattern when the gray patches “B4” and “A1 ′” are selected in the custom A1 pattern and the custom A2 pattern, respectively. Each is shown in tabular form. Referring to these figures, it can be seen that the component data of cmY or CMY increase and decrease substantially equally in the range of about ± 20% with reference to the gray patch “6”.
[0051]
When such a custom B and C pattern is printed, a black patch symbol whose brightness matches the background for the custom B pattern in each of the regions R1, R2 and R3 and a background and for the custom C1 pattern and the custom C2 pattern The user is made to select each of the gray patch symbols having the same brightness, and the keyboard 23 is input to the computer 21 in step S140.
Here, if the platen gap in the main scanning direction is constant, the gray patch of "6" which is the reference is not necessarily selected, but the grays of substantially the same symbols in the three regions R1, R2 and R3 The patch will be selected. This is because the reference patch “REF1” or reference patch “REF2” of the horizontal stripe pattern with black ink printed on the background of the custom B and C patterns hardly has a difference in luminance depending on the print position, and all the regions R1 and R2 , R3 may have a constant luminance. Therefore, if the platen gap is constant in the three regions R1, R2 and R3, although the light and dark of the color as a whole has a deviation from the reference value, the light and dark of the color will not occur between the respective regions.
[0052]
In the next step S150, the custom D pattern, which is a third-stage calibration pattern, is printed using the gray patch symbol input in step S140. Also in this case, since the printing paper is discharged from the printer 31 after the custom B and C patterns are printed, the printing paper is set in the printer 31 at the time of printing the custom D pattern. Then, on the premise that the custom A pattern and the custom B and C patterns are printed on the printing paper, the color balance adjustment program causes the paper to be fed in the sub scanning direction by a predetermined amount and then starts printing the custom D pattern. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 14, custom D patterns are printed in parallel in the main scanning direction below the three custom B and C patterns.
[0053]
This custom D pattern is composed of custom D1 patterns and custom D2 patterns printed in parallel with each other as shown in FIG. In the custom D1 pattern and the custom D2 pattern, similar to the custom A1 pattern and the custom A2 pattern described above in that a plurality of gray patches “A1” to “D18” and “A1 ′” to “D18 ′” are printed, respectively. It is. 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 patch having component data equivalent to the gray patch selected by the user in the custom C1 pattern and the custom C2 pattern in each of the regions R1, R2 and R3 It arranges to "A1" and "A1 '". Then, the component data is changed according to the regularity similar to the custom A1 pattern and the custom A2 pattern, but the degree of change at this time is made smaller. For example, FIG. 26 and FIG. 27 show component data of custom D1 pattern and custom D2 pattern in the form of a table when gray patches of “6” and “3” are selected in custom C1 pattern and custom C2 pattern, respectively. There is. Here, when FIG. 18 and FIG. 26 or FIG. 19 and FIG. 27 are compared, it can be seen that the degree of change of component data between gray patches is smaller in the case shown in FIG. 26 and FIG.
[0054]
When the custom D pattern is printed, the user is made to select a gray patch symbol that looks achromatic from the custom D1 pattern and the custom D2 pattern in each of the areas R1, R2 and R3. Make it input.
In the next step S170, the correction lookup table is determined according to the ID of K corresponding to the three black patch symbols input in step S140, and the printer driver 21f uses the color conversion lookup table to be used for color conversion. Set to incorporate. At the same time, the correction look-up table is determined in accordance with the ID of each CcMmY color corresponding to the six gray patch symbols inputted in step S160, and is similarly set in the printer driver 21f. Of course, such a correction look-up table is set corresponding to the three areas R1, R2 and R3.
[0055]
FIG. 28 shows a processing procedure of the printer driver 21 f by a schematic flowchart. In the figure, in step S210, rasterized print data is input, and color conversion from RGB gradation data to CcMmYK gradation data is performed while switching lookup tables corresponding to regions R1, R2, and R3. . At this time, after referring to the color conversion look-up table, it is possible to refer to the correction look-up table for each component, but the contents of the color conversion look-up table in advance are the contents of the correction look-up table. If it is rewritten, correction and color conversion will be executed simply by referring to the color conversion lookup table.
[0056]
That is, even when referring to the color conversion lookup table after referring to the color conversion lookup table or referring to the rewritten color conversion lookup table, the color of step S210 is obtained. By performing the conversion, the color image data loses the identity of the color and is converted. However, even though the color identity is lost in this way, when the color ink is ejected by the print head according to the data, the original color can be reproduced by the deviation of the ink usage amount. Furthermore, color shift between the regions R1, R2, and R3 can be eliminated. Then, when color conversion is performed, binarization from 256 gradations to 2 gradations is performed in step S220, a predetermined control code is added in step S230, and a spool file is generated and transferred to the printer 31. Print it.
[0057]
As described above, in the present embodiment, the first to third calibration patterns are printed corresponding to the regions R1, R2, and R3 in steps S110, S130, and S150, respectively, and software for executing such processing The calibration pattern printing unit is configured by the configuration and the hardware configuration. Also, by causing the user to select a patch in steps S120, S140, and S160, variations in the ink discharge amount for each print head unit 31a1 and variations in the amount of ink applied on the printing paper according to the printing position And the software configuration and hardware configuration that execute such processing constitute a deviation acquisition unit. Furthermore, in step S170, a correction look-up table is determined for each of the areas R1, R2, and R3 according to the selection result of the user, and processing for incorporating in the printer driver 21f is executed. The print data correction output means is configured by the hardware configuration.
[0058]
In the present embodiment, the first to third calibration patterns are printed to allow the user to select a patch. The meaning of each calibration pattern is as follows.
First, variations in the ink discharge amount of each color of CcMmY are roughly detected by selecting an achromatic gray patch in the custom A pattern which is the first calibration pattern. Then, although the degree of the variation is felt as well, the brightness of the gray patch is not limited to the optimum, and it may be taken into consideration that the brightness shift occurs depending on the printing position. Therefore, custom B and C patterns which are the second calibration whose luminance is changed by changing the component data of each color substantially uniformly are printed.
[0059]
In the custom B pattern, a black patch having a luminance matching the background reference patch is selected, and the deviation of the ink ejection amount from the reference amount of the black ink is acquired including the deviation of the ink amount for each printing position. Further, in the custom C pattern, a gray patch in which the luminance matches the reference patch of the background is selected, and similarly, the deviation of the ink ejection amount from the reference amount is acquired including the deviation of the ink amount for each printing position. Since the reference patch in this case has a constant luminance regardless of the print position, it is possible to eliminate the deviation of the luminance according to the print position by selecting the gray patch whose luminance matches the reference patch. become. Then, a gray patch in which each component data is slightly changed is printed based on the component data of CcMmY after the brightness adjustment with the third calibration pattern, and the user selects the achromatic gray patch again, and the final The deviation of the ink ejection amount from the reference amount is acquired for each color ink of CcMmY. Then, based on the acquired deviation of each color of CcMmYK, correction is added to the color conversion process of the printer driver 21f for each of the areas R1, R2, and R3.
[0060]
By the way, when printing the custom A pattern, the custom B and C patterns, and the custom D pattern described above, a printing method using a printer driver accompanied by color conversion processing can not be adopted. That is, since such a calibration pattern also has the meaning of acquiring the variation in the ink discharge amount of each print head unit 31a1, it is necessary to represent and print each patch by the component data of the required color ink. However, in a printing method that involves color conversion processing, such a printing mode can not be realized. For example, when gradation data of a certain RGB is input, it is not always converted to component data of cmY or CMY.
Therefore, when printing the above pattern, an image in which the color balance adjustment program is configured with pixels in the form of dot matrix, and the required cmY, CMY or K component data is arranged in the pixels corresponding to each patch After data is generated and this image data is binarized from 256 gradations to 2 gradations, a predetermined control code is added to generate a spool file, and this spool file is transferred to the printer 31. Then, in the printer 31, since each print head unit 31a1 is independently driven according to the component data in each pixel of the image data, the calibration pattern is printed.
[0061]
The above-mentioned color balance adjustment program, printer driver 21f and the like are recorded and distributed on a program recording medium such as a floppy disk or CD-ROM together with the installation program, and after connecting the printer 31 to the computer 21, the floppy disk is floppy The disc drive 25 is set, or a CD-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 21f, the color conversion lookup table, etc. are developed on the hard disk 22. Of course, the installation is not limited to a specific medium such as a floppy disk or a CD-ROM, but can be installed via a public communication line or the like via the modem 26.
[0062]
Next, the operation of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.
At the time of initial installation of the printer 31 or when the color shift becomes noticeable, the computer 21 executes a color balance adjustment program. When the color balance adjustment program is activated, the computer 21 causes the printer 31 to print a custom A pattern in step S110. The printer 31 is premised on printing on a large printing sheet such as "A1" or "A2" size, and as shown in FIG. 14, the same for each of the areas R1, R2 and R3 divided in the main scanning direction Print custom A patterns based on density data in parallel. The user visually recognizes the custom A pattern printed in each of the areas R1, R2 and R3, selects an achromatic patch in which the color matches the reference patch of the background in each area, and selects those symbols in step S120. Input to the computer 21. At this time, in the custom A pattern, there is regularity in the arrangement of gray patches and the degree of change of component data, so if it is difficult to tell if one of the two arranged in a row is close to achromatic color, It is also possible to compare two distant gray patches and select an intermediate.
[0063]
When the user inputs a gray patch symbol, the computer 21 causes the printer 31 to print custom B and C patterns based on the symbol in step S130. When printing the custom B and C patterns, the printing paper on which the custom A pattern is printed as described above is set in the printer 31. Then, on the premise that the custom A pattern is printed on the printing paper, the color balance adjustment program causes the paper to be fed in the sub scanning direction by a predetermined amount and then starts printing the custom B and C patterns, as shown in FIG. As shown, custom B and C patterns are printed in parallel in the main scan direction under the three custom A patterns.
In the above custom A pattern, only the color balance in the vicinity of a specific tone value could be judged for cmY or CMY, but in this custom B and C pattern, the total brightness of each element color having color balance is taken It can be corrected. Of course, when a shift in luminance occurs at each print position, the shift is eliminated. Here, the user selects a black patch symbol matching the background and luminance from the custom B pattern in each of the regions R1, R2 and R3, and a custom C pattern corresponds to the gray patch matching the background and luminance. Symbols are selected, and the symbols are input to the computer 21 in step S140.
[0064]
When the user inputs a black patch and a gray patch symbol, the computer 21 causes the printer 31 to print a custom D pattern based on the gray patch symbol in step S150. Also in this case, if the printing paper on which the custom A pattern and the custom B and C patterns are printed is set in the printer 31 in advance, the color balance adjustment program causes the custom A pattern and the custom B and C patterns to be printed on the printing paper. Based on the premise that printing is performed, the paper is fed in the sub-scanning direction by a predetermined amount and printing of the custom D pattern is started, and as shown in FIG. 14, in the main scanning direction under the three custom B and C patterns. Custom D patterns are printed in parallel.
This custom D pattern is composed of a plurality of gray patches and reference patches of the background like the custom A pattern, but the degree of change of component data is smaller than that of the custom A pattern. For this reason, it becomes possible to select a gray patch closer to a neutral color than a neutral gray patch selected in the custom A pattern. Here, the user selects a gray patch symbol which looks achromatic from the custom D pattern in each of the regions R1, R2 and R3, and inputs those symbols to the computer 21 in step S160.
[0065]
Then, the computer 21 determines the ID of each CcMmYK in each of the three regions R1, R2 and R3 in step S170 based on the black patch symbol input in step S140 and the gray patch symbol input in step S160. At the same time, the most color-balanced correction look-up table is selected as a whole, and is set in the printer driver 21f corresponding to each area. Therefore, if the correction look-up table is set in the printer driver 21f, the color is converted and printed so as to cancel out the deviation of the output characteristics of the printer 31 and the color shift between the areas, and the color is faithful to the original one. It will be reproduced.
[0066]
In this manner, the printing apparatus 30 has a deviation between the amount of color ink scheduled according to the printing position and the amount of color ink actually applied due to a difference in so-called platen gap, etc. Although a color shift depending on the printing position may occur, the print control device 20 causes the printing device 30 to print a predetermined calibration pattern in order to detect the above-mentioned deviation depending on the printing position. Since the above-mentioned deviation depending on the printing position is acquired based on this, and the deviation is canceled to correct the print data, it is possible to eliminate the color deviation depending on the printing position.
Brief Description of the Drawings
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of a printing system to which a print control method according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a specific hardware configuration of the printing system.
FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a printer as a printing apparatus which determines color misregistration in the printing system.
FIG. 4 is a view showing the correspondence between the ink weight of the color ink ejected by the same printer and the classification of the ink.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an input / output correspondence in a correction look-up table corresponding to classification.
FIG. 6 is a view showing a correlation between a platen gap and dot areas of color ink.
FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram showing a modified example of a printer.
FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram showing another modified example of the printer.
FIG. 9 is a view showing a color facsimile machine as another printing apparatus.
FIG. 10 is a view showing a color copying machine as another printing apparatus.
FIG. 11 is a view showing a color printer connectable to a network etc. as another printing apparatus.
FIG. 12 is a waveform diagram showing drive voltage of the print head.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the color balance adjustment program.
FIG. 14 is a view showing a print sheet on which three types of calibration patterns are printed.
FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the arrangement of patterns in a custom A (D) pattern.
FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a custom A1 pattern by component data of a cmY mode.
FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a custom A2 pattern by component data of a CMY mode.
FIG. 18 is a diagram showing the correspondence of component data of a custom A1 pattern.
FIG. 19 is a diagram showing the correspondence of component data of a custom A2 pattern.
FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an ID corresponding to a gray patch selected in a custom A2 pattern.
FIG. 21 is a diagram showing the arrangement of patterns in custom B and C patterns.
FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a custom B pattern.
FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a custom C pattern.
FIG. 24 is a view showing an example of the correspondence of component data in a custom C1 pattern;
FIG. 25 is a diagram showing an example of correspondence of component data in a custom C2 pattern.
FIG. 26 is a view showing an example of the correspondence of component data in a custom D1 pattern;
FIG. 27 is a view showing an example of the correspondence of component data in a custom D2 pattern;
FIG. 28 is a flowchart illustrating a print processing procedure of the printer driver.
[Description of the code]
10: Image input device
11: Scanner
12: Digital still camera
13 ... Video camera
20 ... printing control device
21 ... computer
21a ... CPU
21b ... ROM
21c ... RAM
21 d ... I / O
21e ... operating system
21f ... Printer driver
21g ... display driver
21h ... Application
22: Hard disk
23 ... keyboard
24 ... CD-ROM drive
30 ... printing device
31 ... Printer
32 ... display
33 ... color facsimile machine
34 ... color copier
35 ... color printer