JP2000276319A - Image forming method and network - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a network capable of easily obtaining a print of color reproducibility satisfying a user when plural image forming devices are connected to the network. SOLUTION: A color reproduction range for plural image forming devices connected to the network is previously found out. In the case of forming an image of an original, the image data of the original are inputted and a part of the image data exceeding the color reproduction range is judged in each image forming device and all judged results are collectively displayed on a screen. Since a user can select an image forming device capable of reproducing an area whose color reproduction is required to be especially faithfully executed while observing the display of the screen, a print of color reproducibility satisfying the user can be easily obtained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a network including an image forming apparatus such as a printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Image forming apparatuses such as printers are often connected to a network. In the network, 1
Prints can be output from one computer to any of the image forming apparatuses connected to the network. At the time of printing, the user selects one of the connected image forming apparatuses. However, when a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected to a network, the color reproduction ranges of these image forming apparatuses are not necessarily the same. It is known that when input image data exceeds the color reproduction range of the image forming apparatus, conversion is performed corresponding to (for example, mapped to) the color reproduction range of the image forming apparatus.

[0003]

When a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected to a network, the color reproduction range differs depending on the image forming apparatuses, so that color reproduction satisfying the user cannot always be realized. For example, when the color reproduction range of the image forming apparatus is narrower than the color reproduction range of the input image data, a part of the input image data cannot perform color reproduction. The color reproduction range of the image forming apparatus can be determined using, for example, color patches (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-145614). A plurality of color patches are prepared, the images are formed by the image forming apparatus, the colors of the obtained images are measured, and the color reproduction range of the image forming apparatus is obtained. But,
If the color reproduction range is obtained by this method, it takes time to find the most suitable image forming apparatus for the color reproduction that the user is trying to obtain, because there is only a trial and error method of sequentially selecting the image forming apparatuses.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a network capable of easily obtaining a print of satisfactory color reproduction when a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected to the network.

[0005]

In an image forming method according to the present invention, in a network to which a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected, a color reproduction range is determined in advance for a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected to the network. Keep it. When forming an image of a document, image data of the document is input, and for a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected to a network, portions outside the color reproduction range of the image data of the document are determined for each image forming apparatus. The judgment results are collectively displayed on the screen. That is, when printing an original,
The color of the document is compared with the color reproduction range of each image forming apparatus, and a portion where color reproduction is impossible is displayed on the screen. This is performed for a plurality of image forming apparatuses, and displayed collectively on one screen. The user sees the color reproduction monitor screen and can select an image forming apparatus that can reproduce an area in which color reproduction is to be performed faithfully. This makes it possible to easily obtain a print with color reproduction that satisfies the user. Preferably, the image forming apparatus further includes a selection unit that allows a user to select an image forming apparatus based on a determination result of a portion outside the color reproduction range.
Further, for example, a determination result outside the color gamut is displayed on the image forming apparatus connected to the network. In a system according to the present invention, in a system in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected to a network, a storage unit that stores a color reproduction range of each image forming apparatus, and data of an input image are stored in each image. The image forming apparatus includes image comparing means for comparing with a color reproduction range of the forming apparatus, and display means for displaying, on a screen, a range where each image forming apparatus cannot reproduce color of the image.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a network according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same reference symbols indicate the same or equivalent ones. In the network shown in FIG. 1, four printers 12, 1
4, 16, and 18 are connected. At the time of printing, the personal computer 10 specifies a printer on a print screen. These printers 12, 14, 16, 18
Do not always have the same color reproduction range. FIG.
For example, different color reproduction ranges of the two printers 12 and 14 are schematically shown by a solid line and a broken line in the a ^* b ^* space. FIG. 3 shows the color gamut of the printer by a solid line. When printing image data in a color range indicated by a broken line, a hatched portion is a portion outside the color reproduction range, and the image in that portion cannot be reproduced by the printer.

[0007] The color reproduction monitor mode is a mode indicating a range in which color reproduction cannot be performed for a printer connected to a network. The color reproduction monitor mode can be selected on the print screen of the computer shown in FIG. When the color reproduction monitor mode is selected, the printers 12 to 1 connected to the network are connected as shown in FIG.
With regard to 8, the color of the original is compared with the color reproduction range of each printer, and an area where color reproduction is impossible (portion outside the color reproduction range) is displayed side by side on one screen of the computer 10.
In the example shown in FIG. 5, in the image data of the document shown on the upper side, the hatched portion (the shirt on the right side, the head of the train, the train wheel, the window for driving the train) is a portion where color reproduction is impossible. is there. The user looks at the screen in the color reproduction monitor mode, and selects an image reproducing device that can reproduce an area in which color reproduction is to be performed faithfully. For selection, a selection screen shown in FIG. 6 is displayed. On this screen, a printer in the network for which color reproduction monitoring is to be performed is selected. This makes it possible to easily obtain a print with color reproduction that satisfies the user.

FIG. 7 shows a configuration for confirming the color reproduction range. The CPU 101 of the computer 10 has a ROM 1
02 and the RAM 103, and the display unit 10
8 is provided. The color gamut of the printer is stored in the RAM 103 in advance as L ^* a ^* b ^* values. In the measurement of the color reproduction range, a color patch is printed out by the printer 107, and the color of the obtained print is
Read by 4. The obtained RGB image data is converted into L ^* a ^* b ^* by the color conversion unit 105 and compared with the patch data in the RAM 103. The color reproduction range is determined based on the result, and is stored in the RAM 103. In addition, attribute data is added to data outside the color reproduction range, and a portion where color reproduction is impossible is displayed with oblique lines on the display unit 108 as shown in FIG. At the time of printing, L ^*
The a ^* b ^* data is converted into CMYK data for image formation and reproduced by the printer 107.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a color reproduction monitor in the computer 10. First, it is determined whether or not the color reproduction monitor mode is selected (S1).
0). When the color reproduction monitor mode is selected, the color reproduction range is checked for each printer (S12, see FIG. 9),
The information is collectively displayed on the screen (S14). Preferably, the determination result outside the color gamut is also displayed for a printer connected to the network. When the user selects a printer (S16), the printer is caused to execute printing (S18). If the color reproduction monitor mode is not selected, the user selects a printer as usual (S20), and printing is performed (S1).
8).

FIG. 9 is a flow chart for checking the color reproduction range for each printer (FIG. 8, S12). First, a printer is selected (S120). Next, the image data and R
Compare with the printer data of AM103 (S12
2). If it is determined that the image data is not outside the image reproduction range of the printer data (NO in S124), attribute data is added (S126). Next, the image data is stored in the RAM (S128). If there is a next designated printer (S
(YES in 1210), the process returns to S122, and the above process is repeated for each printer.

In the above embodiment, the RGB image data
Data L^*a^*b^*To L^*a ^*b^*About color range
It is determined whether it is outside. However, the color gamut
The data used for confirmation is L^*a^*b^*Not limited to data,
Various forms of data can be used. For example, a printer
May send the result of gamma processing back to the computer.
No.

[0012]

According to the present invention, when an image of a document is formed, which part is outside the color reproduction range is displayed for a plurality of image forming apparatuses, and the image forming apparatus is selected based on the displayed information. An image forming apparatus most suitable for color reproduction can be easily selected.

[Brief description of the drawings]

Fig. 1 Network diagram connecting various devices

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a color reproduction range that varies depending on a printer.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a color reproduction range by a printer.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a screen in a monitor mode.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of a screen that collectively displays portions outside a color reproduction range for each printer.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of a printer selection screen.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a configuration for checking a color reproduction range.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a color reproduction monitor of a computer.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for confirming a color reproduction range.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 computers, 12-18 printers,
101 CPU, 103 RAM, 108 display unit.

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Takamoto Nabeshima 2-3-13 Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Inside Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd. (72) Katsuaki Tajima 2-chome Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka No. 3-13 Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Daisetsu Toyama 2-chome, Azuchicho 2-chome, Chuo-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture F-term in Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd. 2C061 AP01 AR01 HJ06 HJ07 HQ12 5B021 AA01 AA02 EE02 LG07 LG08 LL05 5C062 AA05 AA35 AB02 AB17 AB20 AB23 AB38 AB42 AB53 AC21 AE03 AF15 BA00 5C079 HA19 HB08 KA01 LA11 LB01 MA17 NA03 PA01 PA02 PA03

Claims (4)

[Claims] In a network to which a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected, a color reproduction range is determined in advance for a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected to the network, and when forming an image of a document, The image data of the original is input, and for a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected to the network, a portion of the original image data outside the color reproduction range is determined for each image forming apparatus, and the determination results are collectively displayed on a screen. Image forming method. 2. The image forming method according to claim 1, further comprising a selection unit that allows a user to select an image forming apparatus based on a determination result of a part outside a color reproduction range. 3. An image forming method, further comprising the step of displaying a determination result outside the color gamut to an image forming apparatus connected to a network. 4. A system in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected to a network, storage means for storing a color reproduction range of each image forming apparatus, and input image data stored in each image forming apparatus. A network comprising: an image comparison unit that compares the color reproduction range of the image forming apparatus; and a display unit that displays, on a screen, a range in which each image forming apparatus cannot reproduce the color of the image.