JP2006001099A - Recording system, image data generator and generating method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent variation in chromaticness even if the order for imparting respective color inks is different at the time of reciprocal recording in an arrangement for performing reciprocal recording by using a plurality of kinds of ink of different colors. <P>SOLUTION: When recording image data is converted into information of a plurality of kinds of color tone, a color conversion table being used for conversion processing is switched in correspondence with reciprocal recording (steps S405, S406, S407). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording system, an image data generation apparatus, and an image data generation method, and is particularly suitable for application to a recording system that performs recording using an inkjet recording apparatus.

  With the spread of information processing devices such as copying machines, word processors, computers, and communication devices, digital images are recorded by an inkjet method as one of output devices for image recording (printing) of these devices. Inkjet recording apparatuses are widely used. In such a recording apparatus, in order to improve the recording speed, a recording head configured by integrating and arranging a large number of ink discharge recording elements (nozzles) (nozzle rows) is used. Further, as a measure for color recording, a recording head having a plurality of recording heads corresponding to the number of colors is also provided. In particular, in the process in which the carriage on which the recording head is mounted moves and scans the recording medium, main scanning for ejecting ink as a recording agent from the recording head and sub-movement for relatively moving the recording medium in a direction different from the main scanning. A serial type that forms an image by alternately performing scanning is the mainstream of a small-sized recording apparatus. Further, by adopting a reciprocal recording technique that performs a recording operation in the forward main scanning and the backward main scanning, it is possible to cope with an increase in the recording speed and to obtain a good throughput.

  However, for example, when reciprocal printing is performed using the recording heads arranged in the main scanning direction for ejecting cyan C, magenta M, yellow Y, and black K inks, the inks of the respective colors are used in the forward main scanning and the backward main scanning. In other words, the order in which the ink is ejected or the order in which the ink is attached to the recording medium is different, so that uniform color image recording may not be performed. Therefore, a technique for coping with each color recording heads arranged side by side symmetrically is known.

For example, in Patent Document 1, two cyan, magenta and yellow recording heads (C ₁ , C ₂ ; M ₁ , M ₂ ; Y ₁ , Y ₂ ) and one black recording head K are used. Are arranged symmetrically in the main scanning direction with respect to the center, and in the forward main scanning, ink is ejected from each of the heads K, C ₁ , M ₁ and Y ₁ to perform image recording, and in the backward main scanning, K, Image recording is performed by ejecting ink from the C ₂ , M ₂ , and Y ₂ heads. According to this, the discharge order of each color ink of cyan, magenta, yellow and black can be made the same in the forward main scanning and the backward main scanning, and the color using the recording materials of two or more colors during the reciprocal recording. As for image recording, it is possible to record an image whose color does not change.

JP-A-8-295034

  However, in the above-described conventional example, at least (the number of ink colors × 2) −1 recording heads are necessary to suppress the change in the color tone of the reciprocating recording. That is, when the recording heads for ejecting the other three colors of ink are arranged symmetrically with the recording head for ejecting black ink as the center, seven recording heads are required even though the number of ink colors is four. . For this reason, the configuration of the recording apparatus is increased in size and the manufacturing cost is increased.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and has a configuration in which reciprocal recording is performed using a plurality of types of inks having different color tones (colors and densities), and the recording apparatus is reduced in size and price using a recording head. An object of the present invention is to prevent color change from occurring during reciprocal recording without providing a symmetrical arrangement of a plurality of recording heads that eject ink of each color.

To this end, the present invention provides an image data generation device and n types (n is an integer of 2 or more) of recording agents having different color tones based on image data supplied from the device. A recording system comprising: a recording apparatus in which a plurality of recording heads each including a plurality of recording elements are arranged, and recording can be performed while scanning in a forward direction and a backward direction relative to the recording medium. And
Means for notifying the image data supply device of scan width information for the recording head to record at one time by the scanning;
The image data generation device includes:
Means for acquiring the scan width information notified from the recording device;
Conversion means for processing image information to be recorded and converting the image information into image data recordable by the recording device;
Image processing unit determination means for determining a processing unit of the image information when the conversion means performs the conversion using the acquired scan width information;
Comprising
The converting means includes
Color conversion means for converting the image information into data of the n types of tones;
Switching means for switching a color conversion table used in the process for the color conversion means to perform the conversion for each processing unit determined by the image processing unit determination means;
It is characterized by having.

Further, in the present invention, in order to apply n types (n is an integer of 2 or more) of recording agents having different color tones to a recording medium, a plurality of recording heads each including a plurality of recording elements are arranged, An image data generation apparatus for generating image data to be supplied to a recording apparatus capable of recording while scanning in a forward direction and a backward direction relative to a recording medium,
Means for acquiring scan width information in which the recording head performs recording at a time by the scanning;
Conversion means for processing image information to be recorded and converting the image information into image data recordable by the recording device;
Image processing unit determination means for determining a processing unit of the image information when the conversion means performs the conversion using the acquired scan width information;
Comprising
The converting means includes
Color conversion means for converting the image information into data of the n types of tones;
Switching means for switching a color conversion table used for processing for performing the color conversion means for each processing unit determined by the image processing unit determination means;
It is characterized by having.

The present invention also provides a recording head comprising a plurality of recording elements arranged in order of n × 2-1 in order to apply n types (n is an integer of 2 or more) of recording agents having different color tones to the recording medium. Less than the number of juxtapositions used to generate image data to be supplied to a printing apparatus capable of printing while scanning in the forward and backward directions relative to the printing medium in the juxtaposed direction. An image data generation method comprising:
Obtaining scan width information from which the recording head performs recording at one time by the scanning from the recording apparatus;
A conversion step of processing image information to be recorded and converting the image information into image data recordable by the recording device;
An image processing unit determination step for determining a processing unit of the image information when the conversion is performed by the conversion unit using the acquired scan width information;
Comprising
The conversion step includes
A color conversion step of converting the image information into data of the n kinds of tones;
For each processing unit determined by the image processing unit determination means, a switching step for switching a color conversion table used in the processing for performing the conversion in the color conversion step;
It is characterized by having.

Furthermore, the present invention provides an image data generation device,
A plurality of recording heads for applying a plurality of types of recording agents having different color tones based on image data supplied from the apparatus are juxtaposed, and a forward direction relative to the recording medium in the juxtaposition direction. And a recording apparatus capable of recording while scanning in the backward direction, and different in the application order of at least two types of recording agents among the plurality of types having different color tones during the forward scanning and the backward scanning When,
A recording system comprising:
The image data generation device includes:
Color conversion means for converting image data relating to recording into information of the plurality of types of color tones used in the recording apparatus;
Means for performing different color conversions corresponding to the recording of the forward and backward scans when performing color conversion by the color conversion means;
It is characterized by comprising.

Further, the present invention uses a plurality of recording heads juxtaposed in order to apply a plurality of types of recording agents having different color tones, and in the forward direction and the backward direction relative to the recording medium in the juxtaposition direction. Recording is possible while scanning, and is supplied to a recording apparatus in which at least two types of recording agents are applied in a different order between the plurality of types having different color tones during the forward scanning and the backward scanning. An image data generation device for generating image data to be performed,
Color conversion means for converting image data relating to recording into information of the plurality of types of color tones used in the recording apparatus;
Means for performing different color conversions corresponding to the recording of the forward and backward scans when performing color conversion by the color conversion means;
It is characterized by comprising.

In addition, the present invention uses a plurality of recording heads juxtaposed to provide a plurality of types of recording agents having different color tones, and the forward direction and the backward direction relative to the recording medium in the juxtaposition direction. Recording apparatus in which the recording order is different and the application order of at least two types of recording agents out of a plurality of types having different color tones is different between the forward scanning and the backward scanning. An image data generation method for generating image data to be supplied,
A color conversion step of converting image data related to recording into information of the plurality of types of color tones used in the recording apparatus, and when performing the color conversion, corresponding to the recording of the scanning in the forward direction and the backward direction A color conversion process for performing different color conversions is provided.

  The present invention also resides in a printer driver for executing any one of the above image data generation methods, and a storage medium storing the printer driver.

  According to the present invention, in a configuration in which reciprocal recording is performed using a plurality of types of recording agents having different color tones (colors and densities), even if the order in which each color recording agent is applied during reciprocating recording differs, When data is converted into information of a plurality of types of color tones, it is possible to prevent a change in color by performing appropriate color conversion that differs according to reciprocal recording.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of the recording system of the present invention, which is configured by connecting a host computer 101 that supplies image data related to printing and a printer 102 capable of reciprocal printing. .

  The printer 102 of the present embodiment is a form of an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording by serial scanning using four types of inks of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black as n types of recording agents. Six heads (a recording head that discharges cyan ink; the same applies hereinafter) 104, magenta head 105, yellow head 106, black head 107, magenta head 108, and cyan head 109 scan (main scanning direction). Are juxtaposed. That is, in this example, printing is performed by performing serial scanning using the number of recording heads less than 4 (number of types of colors) × 2-1 = 7.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a usage mode of each color head when performing reciprocal printing using such a printer.

  The recording head unit 201 includes six heads, a magenta head 105, a yellow head 106, a black head 107, a magenta head 108, and a cyan head 109. The recording head unit 201 is mounted on main scanning means such as a carriage and is indicated by an arrow 208. Printing is performed by serial scanning (main scanning) in the forward direction and the backward direction indicated by the arrow 209. Further, during each serial scan, the recording medium is transported (sub-scanning) by a predetermined amount, for example, an amount less than the ink discharge port arrangement range in the sub-scanning direction (recording medium transport direction) of each color head. Printing on the recording medium is performed by repeating scanning and backward scanning.

  In the forward direction, printing is performed by using four heads, a cyan head 109, a magenta head 108, a black head 107, and a yellow head 106, which are surrounded by a broken line. Therefore, the magenta head 105 and the cyan head 104 are not used for forward printing. In contrast, on the return path, printing is performed using four heads, the cyan head 104, the magenta head 105, the yellow head 106, and the black head 107, which are surrounded by a broken line. Therefore, the magenta head 108 and the cyan head 109 are not used for printing in the return path. That is, in this configuration, the yellow head 106 and the black head 107 are not symmetrically arranged, and therefore the ink ejection order is different between the forward path and the backward path.

  FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show the state when the ink is applied to the same coordinates of the recording medium due to the difference in the color of the print image due to the different discharge order of the yellow ink and the black ink at the time of printing in the forward path and the backward path. It is a figure for mentioning and taking as an example. Here, it is assumed that an ink of a type in which the applied ink penetrates into the recording medium (a dye-based ink has a strong tendency).

  In the forward path, as shown in FIG. 3, the yellow ink 702 is applied to the ink receiving layer 703 of the recording medium 700 after the black ink 701 has permeated the ink receiving layer 703 of the recording medium. In this case, the yellow ink 702 is applied after the black ink 701, and it appears that the yellow ink 705 is attached around the black ink 704 on the recording medium. This is because the pigment such as the dye in the ejected ink physically and chemically binds to the recording medium, and the bond between the recording medium and the pigment is finite. As long as there is no difference, the combination of the ink dye ejected earlier and the recording medium has priority, so a lot remains in the vicinity of the center of the coordinates of the recording medium, and the ink dye hit later is not in that part of the recording medium. It is thought that it is difficult to bond and spreads around and dyes.

  On the other hand, on the return path, as shown in FIG. 4, the black ink 701 is applied to the ink receiving layer 703 of the recording medium after the yellow ink 702 has permeated the ink receiving layer 703 of the recording medium 700. In this case, since the black ink 701 is applied after the yellow ink 702, the black ink 704 appears to be attached around the yellow ink 705 on the recording medium.

  5 and 6 show the difference in the color of the printed image due to the different ejection order of cyan, magenta, yellow and black inks during forward and backward printing, and ink is applied to the same coordinates of the recording medium. It is a figure for demonstrating and taking the state at the time of doing as an example.

  In the forward path, the cyan ink 901, the magenta ink 902, and the black ink 903 sequentially permeate the ink receiving layer 905 of the recording medium, and then the yellow ink 904 is applied to the ink receiving layer 703 of the recording medium 700. In this case, on the recording medium, it appears that the magenta ink 907 is attached around the cyan ink 906, the black ink 908 is attached around the magenta ink 907, and the yellow ink 909 is attached around the black ink 908. become. On the other hand, on the return path, the cyan ink 901, the magenta ink 902, and the yellow ink 904 sequentially permeate the ink receiving layer 703 of the recording medium 700, and then the black ink 903 is applied to the ink receiving layer 703 of the recording medium. In this case, on the recording medium, it appears that the magenta ink 907 is attached around the cyan ink 906, the yellow ink 909 is attached around the magenta ink 907, and the black ink 908 is attached around the yellow ink 909. become.

  On the other hand, the color of the ink that the colorant aggregates on the surface of the recording medium (the tendency of pigment-based ink is strong) is dominant in determining the color of the ink that is ejected or adhered later. In any case, although the same ink is applied to the forward path and the backward path, the image portion formed on the forward path and the image portion formed on the return path due to the difference in the order of ink ejection or adhesion to the recording medium are: Different colors are exhibited on the recording medium.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the ink adhesion amount of each color is appropriately adjusted between the forward path and the backward path, thereby suppressing a change in color between the paths. For this purpose, in this embodiment, the color conversion table is switched between forward printing and backward printing, so that the ink adhesion amount of each color is appropriately adjusted between the forward path and the backward path.

  Hereinafter, a specific example for that will be described.

  FIG. 7 shows a configuration example of a control system of the printing (recording) system of FIG. 1 composed of a host computer and a printer.

  The host computer 101 includes a CPU 301, a ROM 302, a RAM 303, a monitor 304, an external interface (I / F) 305, a keyboard 306, a mouse 307, and the like. The CPU 301 is based on an application program read into the RAM 303 from an external storage device (not shown) or the like, a communication program, a printer driver program corresponding to the procedure shown in FIG. 10 or FIG. 11 described later, an operating system (OS) program, or the like. Operate. That is, when printing is performed, the CPU 301 processes an image with a printer driver in the RAM 303, and the I / F 305 sequentially transmits print data spooled in the RAM 303 or the like to the printer 102. Input devices such as a keyboard 306 and a mouse 307 take instruction data from the user into the host computer.

  The CPU 310 controls each part of the printer during a printing operation or the like according to a control program stored in the ROM 312. The RAM 313 is used for developing a predetermined amount of data related to printing. A head driving unit 311 in the printer 102 drives each mechanism of the printer including driving of the recording heads 104 to 109, and the printer is orthogonal to the recording medium transport direction (sub-scanning direction) ( The number of lines (for example, the number of ejection ports arranged in one recording head) when printing is performed by moving the head once vertically in the main scanning direction is also stored. Hereinafter, this number of lines is referred to as one scan line number. When the CPU 310 receives an acquisition request for the number of scan lines from the host computer 101, the CPU 310 acquires the number of scan lines from the head drive unit 311 and sends it back via the interface (I / F) 315.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing a series of processing when printing is executed from an application running on the host computer 101. When printing is executed from the application 501, image data is sent to the printer driver 503 via the graphic processing unit 502 of the OS. Here, the graphic processing unit 502 temporarily stores the image data, and the image data is divided and sent to the printer driver 503. The division number of the image data at this time can be set from the printer driver 503 to the graphic processing unit 502.

  FIGS. 9A and 9B show the relationship between the division of image data and the printing performed by reciprocating main scanning of the recording head unit 201 of the printer 102. An image 601 for which printing is instructed from the application 501 is transmitted from the graphic processing unit 502 to the printer driver 503. When image data is transmitted to the printer driver 503, the image data 601 is divided as indicated by reference numeral 602 in FIG. At this time, the height 609 of the divided image data 602 is equal among the divided image data, and this height can be set from the printer driver 503. Further, the image data having a predetermined height is divided and transmitted to the printer driver as described above, but there may be a case where less image data is transmitted than the other divided image data, such as the remaining partial image data 603.

  The recording head unit 201 repeatedly performs reciprocation in the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording medium 700 as shown in FIG. At this time, the printing height 607 at which printing can be performed in the forward path is equal to the printing height 608 at which printing can be performed in the backward path. In addition, since the image is divided and printed, image data with a small print height, such as the remaining partial image 610, may be printed. Note that the divided image data 602 has a height 609 that can be printed in the forward path and printed in the backward path when the graphic processing unit 502 divides and transmits the image data to the printer driver 503. Is equal to the print height 608.

  FIG. 10 shows an example of a print control processing procedure by the host computer or printer driver of this embodiment. The operation of the above-described embodiment will be described with reference to this figure.

  First, when a print command is issued from the application 501, the printer driver 503 acquires the number of one scan line corresponding to the processing unit from the printer 102 (step S401). Next, the graphic processing unit 502 is notified of the acquired number of one scan line (step S402), and setting is performed so as to send image data by an amount corresponding to the number of one scan line. Next, the divided image data, which is the image data for one scan line transmitted in step S402, is acquired from the graphic processing unit 502 (step S403). Note that the processes of the application 501 and the printer driver 503 are performed by the CPU 101 in accordance with those programs. At that time, the program is read from an external storage (not shown) such as the ROM 302 or a hard disk and used, and the RAM 303 is used as a work area when executing the processing.

  Next, the number of scans when printing on the recording medium is counted (step S404). Let this count value be S. Next, in step S404, it is determined whether or not the count value S of the number of scans is an even number, that is, whether or not the scan on the recording medium is an even number (step S405). Here, if the determination is negative (when the count value S is an odd number), the conversion data of each conversion unit (pixel, etc.) such as divided image data to be processed is referred to by referring to the color conversion table for the forward path. If the acquisition is performed sequentially (step S406), on the other hand, if the determination is affirmative (when the count value S is an even number), the conversion data is acquired sequentially using the color conversion table for the return path (step S407).

  The color conversion table used in these is referred to for conversion from red, green, and blue data (RGB data) to RGB data. The forward color conversion table and the return path indicated by reference numerals 1210 and 1211, respectively. The color conversion table is composed of a pair of pre-conversion RGB data and post-conversion RGB data. Here, in the case where the forward color conversion table 1210 is used, for example, when the data is (R, G, B) = (0, 0, 0) before conversion, (R, G, B) = (0, If (R, G, B) = (0, 0, 1), it is converted to (R, G, B) = (0, 1, 1). On the other hand, when the return color conversion table 1211 is used, the data that was (R, G, B) = (0, 0, 0) before conversion is (R, G, B) = (0, 0). , 0), and data that was (R, G, B) = (0, 0, 1) before conversion is converted to (R, G, B) = (1, 0, 1). .

  In other words, even RGB data having the same content is converted into RGB data having different content in the forward path and the backward path. These conversion tables are converted data for the forward path and the backward path so that the same color is exhibited even if the ejection order of each color ink used by the printer 102 in the forward path and the backward path, that is, the adhesion order on the recording medium, is different. The contents of are determined appropriately. Note that the conversion from RGB data to RGB data is the color of the image information displayed on the monitor 304 of the host computer 101 and edited or processed by the application 501, for example, the image information reproduced by RGB data of the sRGB standard. This may be performed in the process of converting the gamut into RGB data within the color gamut reproduced by the printer 102, or may be performed separately.

  Then, color processing is performed based on the converted RGB data acquired in step S406 or step S407 (step S408), and further binarization processing (halftoning; step S409) is performed. That is, based on the converted RGB data, cyan, magenta, yellow, and black color separation data C, M, Y, and K corresponding to the combination of inks that reproduce the color represented by this data are obtained. Quantize each.

  Next, a command specific to the printer driver is generated (step S410), and data corresponding to the number of scan lines is transmitted to the printer 102 (step S411). Finally, it is determined whether or not the processing has been completed for all the image data (step S412). If the determination is affirmative, the processing ends. If image data remains, the processing from step S403 is repeated.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, even when the pre-conversion RGB data is the same between the forward pass and the return pass, it is appropriately converted into different RGB data for the forward pass printing and the return pass printing. By performing color processing (CMYK data creation) and binarization (halftoning such as error diffusion method) based on the converted RGB data, each color in the reciprocating direction as shown in FIGS. Even if the order of ejecting or adhering ink is different for each dot, the colors of the images printed in the forward path and the backward path can be made uniform. In other words, what is necessary is just to define the content of each conversion table so that such a result may be obtained.

  It should be noted that, as long as the color change between reciprocating printing is not recognized, for example, it is not necessary to perform different conversions for the forward path and the backward path for all the constituent units of the divided image data to be processed. Good. That is, for example, different conversions may be performed in units of several pixels or every several pixels.

  Further, in addition to the conversion from RGB data to RGB data as described above, it may be converted into ink color information (Y, M, C, etc.) used in the printing apparatus as it is.

(Second Embodiment)
The recording head is formed by arranging nozzles as recording elements in a direction different from the main scanning direction (for example, a backward scanning direction that is orthogonal to the main scanning direction), and is used for recording within the arrangement range. When the nozzle range is different for each main scan, for example, the print height may be different between the reciprocating main scans. The second embodiment of the present invention is suitable for such a case.

  In the second embodiment, basically the same configuration as that of the first embodiment is adopted, while the graphic processing unit 502 shown in FIG. 8 transmits image data to the printer driver 503 in a divided manner. Processing when the print height 609 of the divided image data 602 is not equal, or when the print height 607 that can be printed in one scan is not equal to the print height 608 that can be printed in the return pass Will be explained.

  FIG. 11 shows an example of a print control processing procedure by the host computer or printer driver of this embodiment. The operation will be described with reference to the figure with reference to the configuration of the first embodiment described above.

  First, when a print command is issued from the application 501, the forward path return flag is initialized to “1” (step S1101). This forward pass flag indicates whether the data currently being processed is data for printing the forward pass or data for printing the return pass, and is “1” for the forward pass and “0” for the return pass. Therefore, it can be provided in a predetermined area of the RAM 303.

  Next, the number of one scan line corresponding to the processing unit is acquired from the printer 101 (step S1102). Here, in this example, since the printing height differs between the forward path and the backward path, two types of data with different numbers of scan lines are acquired. Next, the divided image data is acquired from the graphic processing unit 502 (step S1103). The count value S ′ of the number of processed lines is cleared to “0” (step S1104). The number of processing lines represents how many lines of the divided image data are processed when the divided image data is processed line by line. Next, the number of processing lines that have processed the image data is counted (step S1105). Next, it is determined whether or not the processing line number count value S ′ is equal to the number obtained by adding 1 to the number of scan lines in the forward path or the return path acquired in step S1102 (step S1106). The return path flag is reversed (step S1107).

  Next, the content of the forward / return flag is determined (step S1108). If the forward path return flag is not “0”, the data conversion of the processing target line is sequentially performed with reference to the outbound color conversion table (step S1109), while the forward path return flag is set. If it is “0”, data conversion is sequentially performed using the color conversion table for the return path (step S1110). Then, color processing for one line is performed in the same manner as described above (step S1111).

  Next, it is determined whether all lines of the divided image data have been completed (step S1112). If the determination is negative, the processing from step S1105 is repeated. On the other hand, if the determination is affirmative, binarization (step S1113) and command conversion (step S1114) similar to those described above are performed, and print data is transmitted to the printer 102 (step S1115). Finally, it is determined whether or not the processing has been completed for all the image data (step S1116). If the determination is affirmative, the processing ends, and if image data remains, the processing from step S1103 is repeated.

  As described above, if the print height 609 of the divided image data 602 is not equal when the graphic processing unit 502 divides and transmits the image data to the printer driver 503, or printing can be performed by one scan. Even if the print height 607 and the print height 608 that can be printed in the return pass are not equal, appropriate processing is performed, and the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

(Other)
Note that the present invention supplies software or printer driver program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a computer in a machine or system to which various devices including a recording apparatus are connected. Also included in the scope of the present invention is a recording system that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments by operating various devices with the program code stored in.

  In this case, the program code itself realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the program code itself and means for supplying the program code to the computer by communication or storage medium are also included in the scope of the present invention.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-R, a DVD, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, etc. are used in addition to a flexible disk and a CD-ROM. be able to.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the OS running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code performs the actual processing. A case where the function of this embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the processing is also included.

  Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written to a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. This includes the case where the CPU or the like provided in the board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the present embodiment are realized by the processing.

  In addition, the recording system may be a host device for supplying image data, such as a computer, a scanner, a digital camera, or the like, regardless of whether the recording system is for personal use or for business or industrial use. In addition to having a recording device as an output terminal, for example, a copier in which a scanner and a recording device are integrated, a facsimile device in which a data transmission / reception device and a recording device are integrated, a word processor or an electronic device in which the recording device is integrated It may be in the form of a digital camera or the like in which a typewriter and a recording device are integrated.

  In the above example, the printer uses four colors of ink of Y, M, C, and K. However, the colors to be used are not limited to these, and the color changes due to the different order of attachment during reciprocal recording. If it is a simple configuration, the number of types of colors and the arrangement are not limited to those shown in FIG. Furthermore, if a recording agent that changes color due to the difference in the order of attachment during reciprocal recording is used, the present invention is not limited to the ink jet recording method as described above, but can be applied to a printing system using a recording device of another method. The present invention is also applicable.

It is a schematic diagram which shows schematic structure of one Embodiment of this invention recording system. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a usage mode of each color head when performing reciprocal printing using the printer of FIG. 1. The difference in the color of the printed image due to the different discharge order of yellow ink and black ink during reciprocating printing depending on the usage mode as shown in FIG. 2, taking the state when ink is applied to the same coordinates of the recording medium as an example It is a figure for giving and explaining. The difference in the color of the printed image due to the different discharge order of yellow ink and black ink during reciprocating printing depending on the usage mode as shown in FIG. 2, taking the state when ink is applied to the same coordinates of the recording medium as an example It is a figure for giving and explaining. The difference in the color of the printed image due to the difference in the ejection order of each color ink during reciprocating printing depending on the usage mode as shown in FIG. 2 will be described by taking the state when ink is applied to the same coordinates of the recording medium as an example. It is a figure for doing. The difference in the color of the printed image due to the difference in the ejection order of each color ink during reciprocating printing depending on the usage mode as shown in FIG. 2 will be described by taking the state when ink is applied to the same coordinates of the recording medium as an example. It is a figure for doing. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a control system of the recording system in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a series of processing when printing is executed from an application running on the host computer of FIG. 1. (A) And (b) is explanatory drawing which shows the relationship at the time of printing by dividing | segmenting image data and making a recording head unit reciprocate main scanning. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a print control processing procedure by a host computer or a printer driver according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a print control processing procedure by a host computer or a printer driver according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

101 Host Computer 102 Printer 104, 109 Cyan Head 105, 108 Magenta Head 106 Yellow Head 107 Black Head 201 Recording Head Unit 208 Forward Travel Direction 209 Return Travel Direction 301 CPU
302 ROM
303 RAM
304 monitor device 305 interface 310 CPU
311 Head drive unit 312 ROM
313 RAM
315 Interface 501 Application 502 Graphic processing unit 503 Printer driver 601 Image data 602 Divided image data 603 Divided image data remainder 604 Recording medium 605 Recording head 607 Number of forward printing lines (printing height)
608 Number of return printing lines (printing height)
609 Divided image data height 610 Print data remaining part 700 Recording medium 701, 903 Black ink 702, 904 Yellow ink 703 Ink receiving layer 704, 908 Black ink on ink receiving layer 705, 909 Yellow ink on ink receiving layer 901 Cyan Ink 902 Magenta ink 906 Cyan ink on ink receiving layer 907 Magenta ink on ink receiving layer

Claims (13)

In order to apply n types (n is an integer of 2 or more) of recording agents having different colors to the recording medium based on the image data generation apparatus and image data supplied from the apparatus, a plurality of recording elements are arranged. A recording system comprising a plurality of recording heads, and a recording apparatus capable of recording while scanning in a forward direction and a backward direction relative to the recording medium,
Means for notifying the image data supply device of scan width information for the recording head to record at one time by the scanning;
The image data generation device includes:
Means for acquiring the scan width information notified from the recording device;
Conversion means for processing image information to be recorded and converting the image information into image data recordable by the recording device;
Image processing unit determination means for determining a processing unit of the image information when the conversion means performs the conversion using the acquired scan width information;
And
The converting means includes
Color conversion means for converting the image information into data of the n types of tones;
Switching means for switching a color conversion table used in the process for the color conversion means to perform the conversion for each processing unit determined by the image processing unit determination means;
A recording system comprising:   The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the scan width information is the number of effective recording elements among the plurality of recording elements arranged in the recording head.   3. The recording system according to claim 1, wherein the color conversion unit uses a color conversion table for performing color conversion corresponding to scanning in the forward direction and the sub-direction of the recording apparatus during the conversion. .   The recording system according to claim 3, wherein the switching unit switches the color conversion table according to whether the accumulated processing of the processing unit is an even number or an odd number.   The color conversion unit converts image information included in the processing unit in a line-sequential manner, and the switching unit switches the color conversion table when the number of lines reaches the processing unit. The recording system according to claim 3.   6. The recording system according to claim 1, wherein the recording head is an ink jet head that discharges ink as the recording agent. In order to apply n types (n is an integer of 2 or more) of recording agents having different color tones to the recording medium, a plurality of recording heads in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged are arranged, and relative to the recording medium An image data generation apparatus for generating image data to be supplied to a recording apparatus capable of recording while scanning in the forward direction and the backward direction.
Means for acquiring scan width information in which the recording head performs recording at a time by the scanning;
Conversion means for processing image information to be recorded and converting the image information into image data recordable by the recording device;
Image processing unit determination means for determining a processing unit of the image information when the conversion means performs the conversion using the acquired scan width information;
And
The converting means includes
Color conversion means for converting the image information into data of the n types of tones;
Switching means for switching a color conversion table used in the process for the color conversion means to perform the conversion for each processing unit determined by the image processing unit determination means;
An image data generation device comprising: In order to apply n types (n is an integer of 2 or more) of recording agents having different color tones to the recording medium, recording heads in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged are juxtaposed in a number less than n × 2-1. Image data generating method for generating image data supplied to a recording apparatus capable of recording while scanning in the forward direction and the backward direction relative to the recording medium in the juxtaposed direction. And
Obtaining scan width information from which the recording head performs recording at one time by the scanning from the recording apparatus;
A conversion step of processing image information to be recorded and converting the image information into image data recordable by the recording device;
Using the acquired scan width information, an image processing unit determination step for determining a processing unit of the image information when performing the conversion by the conversion step;
And
The conversion step includes
A color conversion step of converting the image information into data of the n kinds of tones;
For each processing unit determined by the image processing unit determination step, a switching step for switching a color conversion table used in the processing for performing the conversion in the color conversion step;
An image data supply method comprising: An image data generation device;
A plurality of recording heads for applying a plurality of types of recording agents having different color tones based on image data supplied from the apparatus are juxtaposed, and a forward direction relative to the recording medium in the juxtaposition direction. And a recording apparatus capable of recording while scanning in the backward direction, and different in the application order of at least two types of recording agents among the plurality of types having different color tones during the forward scanning and the backward scanning When,
A recording system comprising:
The image data generation device includes:
Color conversion means for converting image data relating to recording into information of the plurality of types of color tones used in the recording apparatus;
Means for performing different color conversions corresponding to the recording of the forward and backward scans when performing color conversion by the color conversion means;
A recording system characterized by comprising: In order to apply multiple types of recording agents with different color tones, multiple recording heads can be used in parallel, and recording can be performed while scanning in the forward and backward directions relative to the recording medium in the direction of the alignment. In addition, image data to be supplied to a recording apparatus in which at least two types of recording agents are applied in a plurality of types having different color tones during the forward scanning and the backward scanning is generated. An image data generation device,
Color conversion means for converting image data relating to recording into information of the plurality of types of color tones used in the recording apparatus;
Means for performing different color conversions corresponding to the recording of the forward and backward scans when performing color conversion by the color conversion means;
An image data generation device comprising: In order to apply multiple types of recording agents with different color tones, multiple recording heads can be used in parallel, and recording can be performed while scanning in the forward and backward directions relative to the recording medium in the direction of the alignment. In addition, image data to be supplied to a recording apparatus in which at least two types of recording agents are applied in a plurality of types having different color tones during the forward scanning and the backward scanning is generated. An image data generation method comprising:
A color conversion step of converting image data related to recording into information of the plurality of types of color tones used in the recording apparatus, and when performing the color conversion, corresponding to the recording of the scanning in the forward direction and the backward direction An image data generation method comprising a color conversion step for performing different color conversions.   A printer driver for causing a computer to execute the image data generation method according to claim 8. A storage medium storing the printer driver according to claim 12.

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