JP2005007661A - Printing processing method, printing processing system, program, and information processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically set an appropriate printing speed conformed to printing data in a printing device. <P>SOLUTION: A density value per band is obtained on the basis of each density value of R, G and B of image data (S302). Then, information on set paper type and printing quality is read out from a RAM 105, and a printing speed criterion value is obtained on the basis of these printing conditions (S303). Whether or not it is necessary to generate a printing speed instruction is judged by comparing the density value and the printing speed criterion value with each other. A printing speed is instructed when the obtained density value is equal to or larger than the printing speed criterion value (S305). For example, by making a smaller criterion value correspond to a printing medium type of a lower ink absorbability, it becomes possible to instruct the printing speed relatively low conformed to an absorbability of a printing medium when the printing medium inferior in the ink absorbability is used. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a print processing method, and more specifically, a print processing method, a program, and a print processing method for setting a printing speed and instructing the printing apparatus to perform printing, which is one of printing conditions in an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer. The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, when a printing speed is instructed from a host device such as a personal computer to a printing apparatus, a user conventionally sets a printing speed on a setting screen of a printer driver that operates on a personal computer, for example, and the set speed is set. An instruction is often given by sending information as a control command to a printing apparatus. When there is an instruction for the printing speed, the printing apparatus executes printing at the speed instructed for the setting. When there is no instruction for the printing speed, printing is performed at a printing speed set as a standard in the printing apparatus.
[0003]
On the other hand, the printing speed in the printing apparatus can be a factor that determines the quality of printed matter. For example, in an ink jet printing apparatus, if the relationship between the conveyance speed of the printing medium and the fixing speed of the ink to the printing medium is not appropriate, unfixed ink exists on the printed material that has been printed and discharged. The back side of the print medium may be soiled when the device or the user's hand is soiled or when the continuously ejected print medium is stacked on the discharge tray. Also, when performing color printing, etc., a plurality of inks are ejected to the same position or adjacent positions on the print medium, but the scanning speed of the recording head or the conveyance speed of the printing medium relative to the recording head is faster than the fixing speed of the ink. If it is too high, the next ink is ejected before the ejected ink is absorbed into the print medium, resulting in image quality deterioration such as ink bleeding. Even in an electrophotographic printing apparatus that uses toner as a recording material, for example, when a latent image on a photosensitive drum is developed with toner and the rotational speed of the photosensitive drum is relatively high, toner fixing is insufficient. As a result, the quality of the finally obtained printed image may be lowered.
[0004]
On the other hand, when the user sets the printing speed of the printing apparatus as described above, it is set in consideration of fixing of a recording material such as ink printed on a printing medium, which affects the quality of the printed matter as described above. Often to do. That is, when the recording material used for printing has a relatively poor fixability with respect to the printing medium used for printing, a relatively slow printing speed is set.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described conventional print processing method, the setting of the printing speed is performed in consideration of the fixing of the recording material to be used to the print medium without considering the content of the image to be printed. On the other hand, the printing speed may be too slow or conversely too fast. For example, when the image represented by the print data has a relatively low density, the amount of the recording material such as ink or toner that adheres to the print medium is small, and the fixing time is accordingly increased. In this case, the set printing speed is too slow, and an excessive speed setting is performed with respect to the fixing property. On the contrary, when the set printing speed is relatively slow although the density of the image to be printed is high, the quality of the printed matter is deteriorated as described above.
[0006]
In the conventional print speed setting described above, for example, a uniform print speed is set for one unit of print data, for example, one page of print data created by an application. For this reason, when the low density part and the dark part are mixed in the unit as described above, the above-mentioned problem is caused for each part.
[0007]
Furthermore, the conventional printing speed setting has a problem that the user basically makes the user troublesome in setting the printing speed because the user performs a setting operation. For example, when an image created by an application program is actually printed once in order to check the fixing property and the fixing property of the printed material is observed, the user's operation becomes more complicated.
[0008]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a print processing method capable of automatically setting an appropriate print speed according to print data. Is to provide.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Therefore, in the present invention, a print processing method for performing printing by applying a recording material to a print medium based on print data, the record being given from the print data to the predetermined area of the print medium. It has a step of obtaining a value related to the amount of material and determining a printing speed when printing the area based on the obtained value.
[0010]
According to the above configuration, the print speed when printing the area based on the calculated value is obtained from the print data for each predetermined area of the print medium with respect to the amount of recording material applied to the area. Therefore, for example, if the obtained value relating to the recording material application amount is an amount that does not fix the recording material to the printing medium satisfactorily, the fixing can be promoted by slowing the printing speed. .
[0011]
Further, when the predetermined area is each of a plurality of areas obtained by dividing one page of the printing medium, for example, the printing speed can be changed according to the degree of fixing as described above while printing one page. it can.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the printing system according to the present embodiment includes a personal computer (hereinafter also simply referred to as a PC) 100 as an information processing apparatus and an ink jet printer 110 as a printing apparatus.
[0013]
The PC 100 outputs print data generated by an application program or the like operating on the PC to the printer 109 and causes the printer to execute printing, and includes the following elements. That is, in the PC 100, reference numeral 101 denotes a CPU, and various processes and controls in the PC 100 including the processes described later with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 are performed by reading out programs and data stored in the memory. Reference numeral 102 denotes a standard input unit. The standard input unit 102 includes a keyboard and a mouse, and is used for data input in the PC 100. Reference numeral 103 denotes a display, which is a display unit composed of a CRT or LCD. An external storage device 104 such as a hard disk stores an operating system 106, a printer driver 107, various application programs 108, a program corresponding to the flow shown in FIGS. An operating system 106, a printer driver 107, an application program 108, a program corresponding to the flow shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 and a table to be described later stored in the external storage device 104 are loaded into the RAM 105 in each processing, and the CPU 101 Executes each process according to these programs.
[0014]
When an image is created by the application program 108 and printed, the printer driver 107 performs predetermined processing such as color conversion on the print data of the created image, and then performs various controls via the interface 109. Data and setting data are sent to the printer 110, and the printer 100 performs printing based on these data.
[0015]
The printer 110 is of a so-called full line type using an ink jet recording head. That is, the printer 110 basically uses a recording head in which ink ejection openings are arranged in a range corresponding to the width of a printing medium such as a sheet to be conveyed, while fixing the printing head during a printing operation. On the other hand, printing is sequentially performed by ejecting (applying) ink as a recording material. At this time, the printer 110 receives print data in band units from the PC 100 as the host device, and performs printing in the order received. Specifically, ink is ejected from each ejection port by sequentially supplying print data in the form of bit data transferred from the PC 100 in band units to the head driver in correspondence with each ejection port of the recording head. Accordingly, printing for one line in the width direction of the printing medium is sequentially performed according to the conveyance of the printing medium, and printing for one band is performed. Then, by repeating the above-described printing operation for each band for a plurality of divided bands, printing for one page can be performed.
[0016]
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining processing related to printing by various programs stored in the RAM 105 of the PC 100 and various data expanded in the RAM 105 by the processing.
[0017]
In FIG. 2, a GDI 200 (graphic device interface) is included in the operating system 106 operating on the PC 100, performs image processing related to printing and display using the printer driver 107 and the display driver, and performs printing and printing on the application program 108. Provides display processing.
[0018]
Reference numeral 201 denotes an image area of the RAM 105 that stores image data created by the application program, 202 denotes a drawing area of the RAM 105 that stores image data received from the application program 108 via the GDI 200, and 203 denotes a drawing area 202. 3 shows an area of the RAM 105 that stores print data created based on the image data.
[0019]
In the above configuration, when an image to be printed is created by the application program 108, the image data is stored in the image area 201. When the user performs an operation for instructing execution of printing, the application program 108 performs drawing in the drawing area 202 of the printer driver 107 via the GDI 200, whereby the printer driver 107 stores the image data in the drawing area 202. Receive. The image data in the drawing area 202 is expressed as density values of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) in units of one pixel, and the image data in the drawing area is the above-described one-band image. Corresponds to data.
[0020]
The printer driver 107 obtains density values per unit area of the drawing area (band) based on the R, G, and B density value data drawn in the drawing area 202, as will be described later with reference to FIG. . That is, the density value per band is obtained as the sum of the R, G, and B density values for each pixel added for all the pixels in the band. Note that the density value per band is not limited to the density value obtained as a sum as described above. For example, the band is printed such as an average density value obtained by dividing the sum by the total number of pixels in the band. In this case, any value that correlates with the amount of ink used in the printer 110 may be used.
[0021]
In this embodiment, as will be described later with reference to FIG. 3, the printer driver 107 has printing conditions relating to the amount of ink used or ink absorption set by the user via the setting screen. Then, a reference value for determining the printing speed with reference to the type of print medium and the print quality is obtained. For this reason, the set print medium type and print quality data are also stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 105 and read out as necessary.
[0022]
After determining the printing speed, the printer driver 107 generates print data to be sent to the printer 110 and stores it in the area 203 of the RAM 105. The print data is generated by performing predetermined image processing such as color conversion and color space conversion on the image data composed of the R, G, and B density values stored in the drawing area 202, and using each color used in the printer 110. This is performed by converting into density value data of Y, M, C, K corresponding to the density value of the ink. The density value may be obtained based on the print data stored in the area 23, and the printing speed may be determined based on the density value.
[0023]
After creating the print data, the printer driver 107 provides an interface (I / F) for the determined print speed instruction, other control instructions, and control data related to a predetermined setting instruction and the created print data in band units. The data is sent to the printer 110 via 109 and causes the printer 110 to perform printing.
[0024]
The operation of the embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to a flow.
[0025]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing processing related to printing by the printer driver 107 executed by the CPU 101, and particularly shows a processing procedure for determining the printing speed.
[0026]
In FIG. 3, when printing of an image by the application program 108 is instructed, this processing is started, and the CPU 101 first draws an image in the drawing area 202 of the printer driver 107 via the GDI 200 (S301). Next, a density value per band is obtained based on the R, G, and B density values of the drawn image data (S302).
[0027]
Next, via the setting screen of the printer driver 107 shown in FIG. 5, information on the paper type and print quality preset by the user when instructing printing is read out from the RAM 105, and the printing speed determination criterion is based on these printing conditions. A value is obtained (S303). As shown in FIG. 6, this determination (density) reference value is determined in accordance with the set combination of print medium type and print quality, and is stored in the external storage device 104 as a table. It is read and used accordingly. For this type of print medium, a larger reference value corresponds to a print medium having a higher ink absorbency, and a smaller reference value corresponds to a higher quality. As a result, in the comparison process of the next step S304, when using a printing medium that is inferior in ink absorbability, it is determined that the density value obtained in step S302 is larger because the speed determination reference value is small, and the absorbency thereof. A relatively low printing speed can be indicated in accordance with. Further, when recording with high quality, since the speed determination reference value is small, it is possible to instruct a relatively low printing speed by the same determination.
[0028]
In step S304, as described above, the density value obtained in step S302 is compared with the printing speed determination reference value obtained in step S303, and it is determined whether it is necessary to generate a printing speed instruction. If the obtained density value is equal to or greater than the printing speed determination reference value, a control command for instructing the printing speed is created in step S305, and the process proceeds to the next step S307. The printing speed instructed by this command is slower than the printing speed set as a standard in the printer 110, and is a speed at which the ink fixing on the printing medium is satisfactorily performed. In this embodiment, one speed is determined. Yes. Note that when a plurality of stages of printing speed instructions and execution are possible for the printer 110, for example, a plurality of speeds may be determined in correspondence with the above-described printing speed determination reference value, which is obtained in step S303. The print speed determination reference value and the print speed corresponding to the print speed determination reference value can be set more finely. Further, in this specification, in the case of a full-line type printing apparatus as in the present embodiment, the “printing speed” is substantially the printing speed that is the conveyance speed of the printing medium in the printing operation. In the case of a so-called serial type printing apparatus shown in the second embodiment, the printing speed can be said to be the scanning speed of a recording head that is mounted on a carriage and performs scanning by its movement.
[0029]
On the other hand, when the density value obtained in step S302 does not exceed the printing speed determination reference value obtained in step S303, a printing speed instruction control command is not created (S306), and the process proceeds to the next step S307. In this case, the printer 110 performs printing at the printing speed set as the standard.
[0030]
In step S307, print data is created based on the data in the drawing area 202. Finally, in step S308, the created print data and control commands are sent to the printer 110 via the interface 109, and printing is performed on the printer 1110. Let it be done.
[0031]
By repeating the processing for each band described above with reference to FIG. 3, printing for one page is performed.
[0032]
(Second Embodiment)
This embodiment relates to printing speed control when the printer 110 is a so-called serial printer in the block diagram shown in FIG. That is, the printer 110 performs printing by scanning the print head mounted on the carriage with respect to the print medium and ejecting ink during the scan. In this case, the print data sent from the PC 100 to the printer 110 becomes print data for the scan for each scan. For example, if the number of Y, M, C, and K ink ejection ports is 256, the print data sent for each scan is 256 rasters.
[0033]
FIG. 4 is a diagram similar to FIG. 3 according to the above-described embodiment. Among the processes related to printing by the printer driver 107, in particular, a flowchart showing the procedure of the process for determining the printing speed. And is executed, controlled and processed by the CPU 101.
[0034]
Next, the operation having the configuration of the above-described embodiment will be described with reference to the flow shown in FIG.
[0035]
When this processing is started, first, an image by the application 108 is drawn in the drawing area 202 of the printer driver 107 via the GDI 200 (S401).
[0036]
The rendered image data is scanned in the memory in a predetermined raster unit, for example, 256 raster units (S402). While this scan is not completed, that is, while there is still image data (S403), the predetermined raster data is scanned. The density value of the unit is obtained by the CPU (S404). Next, referring to the table shown in FIG. 6 stored in the memory based on the paper type and print quality information set through the setting screen of the printer driver 107 shown in FIG. 5 and stored in the memory. The printing speed determination reference value is obtained (S405). Then, the CPU compares the density value in predetermined raster units obtained in step S404 with the printing speed determination reference value obtained in step S405, and determines whether it is necessary to generate a printing speed instruction (S406).
[0037]
When the obtained density value is equal to or exceeds the printing speed determination reference value, a control command for instructing the printing speed is created (S407). On the other hand, when the obtained density value does not exceed the printing speed determination reference value, a control command for printing speed instruction is not created, or a control command for creating no printing speed instruction is created (S408).
[0038]
After creating the above control command, print data is generated based on the image data in the drawing area 202 (S409), and the created control command and print data are sent to the printer for printing (S410). The end of scanning of the image data in the drawing area is determined (S403). If the scanning of the image data in the drawing area has not ended, the next image data is scanned in a predetermined raster unit and the subsequent processing is repeated. . When the scanning of the image data in the drawing area is finished, this process is finished.
[0039]
(Other embodiments)
Each of the above-described embodiments has shown an example in which the present invention is applied to processing when creating print data for an ink jet printer, but the present invention can also be applied to an electrophotographic printer using toner. Is easy to understand. Further, the form of the printing apparatus is not limited to a printer, and it is obvious that the present invention can be applied to any apparatus capable of setting a printing speed, such as a copying machine or a facsimile. In this case, for example, in addition to a printing system in which a copier is connected to a network and used as a printer, in the copier, a reader unit that reads an image performs processing of print data supply and a print speed instruction, and the printing unit is based on that. There is a form of a printing system that performs printing operation.
[0040]
(Still another embodiment)
As described above, the present invention can be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.) but also to an apparatus composed of a single device (for example, a copying machine, a facsimile machine). May be.
[0041]
In addition, the functions of the embodiments are realized in an apparatus or a computer in the system connected to the various devices so as to operate the various devices so as to realize the functions of the embodiments described above with reference to FIGS. The present invention also includes a program implemented by operating the various devices in accordance with a program stored in the computer or CPU (MPU) of the system or apparatus. Further, in this case, the program code of the software itself realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the program code itself and means for supplying the program code to the computer, for example, a storage storing the program code The medium constitutes the present invention.
[0042]
As a storage medium for storing the program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.
[0043]
Further, by executing the program code supplied by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the OS (operating system) in which the program code is running on the computer, or other application software, etc. It goes without saying that the program code is also included in the embodiment of the present invention even when the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized in cooperation with the embodiment.
[0044]
Further, after the supplied program code is stored in a memory provided in a function expansion board of a computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, a CPU provided in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit based on an instruction of the program code However, it is needless to say that the present invention also includes a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the actual processing.
[0045]
Moreover, although the invention implemented by the program has been described, the processing can be easily replaced with hardware.
[0046]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a value related to the amount of recording material applied to a predetermined area of a print medium is obtained from print data, and the area is printed based on the obtained value. For example, if the value relating to the obtained recording material application amount is an amount that does not fix the recording material to the printing medium satisfactorily, the printing speed is decreased to promote fixing. Is possible.
[0047]
Further, when the predetermined area is each of a plurality of areas obtained by dividing one page of the printing medium, for example, the printing speed can be changed according to the degree of fixing as described above while printing one page. it can.
[0048]
As a result, it is possible to automatically set an appropriate printing speed according to the print data in the printing apparatus.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a diagram for describing processing related to printing by various programs stored in a RAM 105 in the PC 100 shown in FIG. 1 and various data developed in the RAM 105 by the processing; FIG.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing relating to printing according to an embodiment of the present invention, in particular, determining a printing speed.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing relating to printing according to another embodiment of the present invention, in particular, determining a printing speed.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a setting screen by a printer driver according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printing speed determination reference value table used in the processing described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
100 Personal computer (PC)
101 CPU
102 Standard Input Unit 103 Display 104 External Storage Device 105 RAM
106 Operating System 107 Printer Driver 108 Application Program 109 Interface (I / F)
110 Printer

Claims (11)

A print processing method for performing printing by applying a recording material to a print medium based on print data,
From the print data, obtain a value related to the amount of recording material given to the predetermined area of the print medium,
Determining a printing speed when printing the area based on the obtained value;
A print processing method comprising steps. The step of determining the printing speed includes determining the printing speed according to a comparison result between the value obtained in the step of obtaining the value relating to the applied amount of the recording material and the determination reference value according to the type of printing medium used for printing. The print processing method according to claim 1, wherein the print processing method is determined. The step of determining the printing speed determines a printing speed slower than a standard printing speed when the obtained value is larger than the determination reference value. Print processing method. The step of determining the printing speed includes determining the printing speed according to a comparison result between the value obtained in the step of obtaining the value relating to the applied amount of the recording material and the determination reference value according to the print quality information relating to the printing data. 4. The print processing method according to claim 1, wherein the print processing method is determined. 5. The print processing method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined area is an area corresponding to band data obtained by dividing print data. 5. The print processing method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined area is an area corresponding to a predetermined number of raster data in the print data. A print processing system having a host unit and a printing unit that performs printing by applying a recording material to a print medium based on print data supplied from the host unit,
A given amount obtaining means for obtaining a value related to the amount of recording material given to the predetermined area of the print medium from the print data;
Speed determining means for determining a printing speed when printing the region based on the obtained value;
A printing processing system characterized by comprising: By being read by the information processing apparatus, the printing system including the information processing apparatus is a program for executing print processing for performing printing by applying a recording material to a print medium based on print data, The printing process
From the print data, obtain a value related to the amount of recording material given to the predetermined area of the print medium,
Determining a printing speed when printing the area based on the obtained value;
A program characterized by having steps. A storage medium in which a printing system including an information processing apparatus stores a program for executing a printing process for performing printing by applying a recording material to a printing medium based on print data so as to be readable by the information processing apparatus The printing process is
From the print data, obtain a value related to the amount of recording material given to the predetermined area of the print medium,
Determining a printing speed when printing the area based on the obtained value;
A storage medium comprising steps. A storage medium in which a printing system including an information processing apparatus stores a program for executing a printing process for performing printing by applying a recording material to a printing medium based on print data so as to be readable by the information processing apparatus The printing process is
From the print data, obtain a value related to the amount of recording material given to the predetermined area of the print medium,
Determining a printing speed when printing the area based on the obtained value;
A program characterized by having steps. An information processing apparatus of a print processing system having a printing unit that performs printing by applying a recording material to a print medium based on print data supplied from the information processing apparatus,
A given amount acquisition means for obtaining a value related to the amount of recording material to be given to the predetermined area of the print medium from the print data;
Speed determining means for determining a printing speed when printing the region based on the obtained value;
An information processing apparatus characterized by comprising:

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