JP2006086828A - Color test chart providing method, color test chart providing system and color composite machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a general user to conveniently construct CMS (color management system) by providing an inexpensive color test chart. <P>SOLUTION: A color composite machine 14 installed in a store 18 is used. A printer unit 22 outputs a color test chart, and a scanner unit 24 reads this outputted color test chart. Then, predicted colorimetric data of the color test chart are generated from this read color test chart, and the generated colorimetric data are provided together with the color test chart. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a color test chart providing method, a color chart providing system, and a color multifunction peripheral that provide a color test chart using an image forming apparatus installed in a convenience store or the like.

  In order to grasp to obtain color input characteristics of an image input device such as a scanner or a digital camera, a color test chart composed of color patches having known colorimetric values is used. Examples of color test charts include Macbeth color checker and IT8 reflection target (for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 07-210684

  However, the Macbeth color checker and the IT8 reflective target are very expensive because they are strictly managed so as to be reproduced in a specific color, and it is necessary to prevent contamination and fading, so that management is complicated. It is. In addition, since the existing color test chart is designed for general-purpose use, it is not necessarily optimal for the use conditions of the user.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive color test chart. As a result, a general user can easily construct a CMS (color management system) environment.

  The present invention uses a color multifunction peripheral or the like deployed in many stores. The color test chart printed by the printer unit is read by the scanner unit, the colorimetric value of the printed color is predicted, and the printed color test chart and colorimetric data are provided together. Since the color reproduction of the printer unit of color multifunction peripherals deployed in many stores is unstable, careful calibration is required to accurately reproduce a predetermined color, but it takes a lot of work. Even if it is not performed, the color of the output color test chart is simply measured as it is and the color measurement data is attached, so that complicated machine management is not required and an inexpensive color test chart can be provided.

  That is, the first feature of the present invention is that the printer unit outputs a color test chart, the output color test chart is read by the scanner unit, and the color test predicted from the read color test chart. There is a color test chart providing method for generating color measurement data of a chart and providing the generated color measurement data together with the color test chart.

  The color measurement data may be provided by being printed by the printer unit, transferred to a server, provided from the server, or further stored in a storage medium. The recording medium includes a flexible disk, a compact disk, a DVD, a USB memory, an MO, and the like.

  Preferably, a charge is made for the output of the color test chart. The output of the color chart may be added as a value-added fee to the normal copy fee.

  Preferably, the color test chart is composed of a large number of color patches, and the size of the large number of color patches is selected. For example, the size is selected according to the application. For example, in the case of a scanner, the size is reduced and a large number of color patches are arranged. To do.

  Preferably, the color test chart includes a large number of color patches, and color matching of the large number of color patches is selected. The color matching selection is determined by the user's specification, and the user's purpose of use, such as standard, portrait, landscape, flower, etc., is selected. When it is done, the number of colors such as sky blue and flowers will be increased to provide a color test chart that matches the user's purpose.

  More preferably, the color test chart includes a plurality of color patches, and the plurality of color patches includes a first color patch set in which basic colors are arranged and a second color patch set in which main colors are arranged. . The basic color is comprehensively selected from the entire color gamut, and the main color is in the user-specific selection area.

  The second color patch group is selected in the same manner as the color matching described above. The second color patch group may be generated from an input image read by the scanner unit. Furthermore, the output format of the color test chart can be selected according to the purpose.

  The second feature of the present invention is that a scanner unit, a printer unit, a test pattern generation unit that generates a test pattern, and a test pattern generated by the test pattern generation unit is output by the printer unit. Forming a color test chart, reading the formed color test chart with the scanner unit, and generating colorimetric data from the read color test chart, the colorimetric data generating unit Is a color test chart providing system that provides the colorimetric data generated by the method together with the color test chart.

  Preferably, it further has a billing means for billing the output of the color test chart. Preferably, the apparatus further includes selection means for selecting the size or color matching of a number of color patches constituting the color test chart.

  A third feature of the present invention is that a scanner unit, a printer unit, a test pattern generation unit that generates a test pattern, and a test pattern generated by the test pattern generation unit is output by the printer unit. A color multi-function peripheral having a color test chart, a color measurement data generating unit configured to read the formed color test chart with the scanner unit and generate color measurement data from the read color test chart. This color MFP is installed in a store such as a convenience store.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an inexpensive color test chart, which can contribute to a general user easily constructing an environment.

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 shows an outline of a color test chart providing system 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The color test chart providing system 10 includes an image forming system 12. The image forming system 12 includes, for example, a color multifunction device 14 that is an image forming device, and a charging device 16 called a coin kit or the like is connected to the color multifunction device 14. The image forming system 12 is installed in many stores 18 such as convenience stores. In this store 18, an unspecified number of people pay the fee and use the color multifunction device 14.

  The color multifunction device 14 includes a display unit 20 that is a control panel, a printer unit 22, and a scanner unit 24. The display unit 20 is a touch panel, for example, and serves as both display and input. The printer unit 22 includes, for example, a color xerography engine, and outputs an image scanned by the scanner unit 24 or an image transmitted via a communication unit to a sheet. The color multifunction peripherals 14 installed in each store are connected to a server 28 via a network 26 such as the Internet.

  In FIG. 2, the hardware configuration of the control unit of the color multifunction peripheral 14 is shown. In the color multifunction peripheral 14, a central processing unit (CPU) 30, a program ROM 32 and a RAM 34 are connected to a bus 36. A charging device interface 38, a display unit interface 40, a printer unit interface 42, and a scanner unit interface 44 are connected to the bus 36, the charging device 16 is connected to the charging device interface 38, and the display unit 20 is connected to the display unit interface 40. However, the printer unit 22 is connected to the printer unit interface 24, and the scanner unit 24 is connected to the scanner unit interface 44. Further, a communication interface 46 is connected to the bus 36 so as to receive signals from the outside and send signals to the outside.

  FIG. 3 shows a software configuration of the program stored in the program ROM 32 described above. The charging calculation unit 48 calculates a charging fee based on the instruction data input from the control panel of the display unit. The charging fee calculated by the charging calculation unit 48 is displayed on the display unit 20 via the display unit interface 40, and the charging device 16 is controlled via the charging device interface 38 so that the user pays the usage fee to the charging device 24. . Further, the test pattern generation unit 50 generates a test pattern based on instruction data input from the control panel of the display unit. The test pattern is data in which a large number of color patches are arranged at predetermined positions. This test pattern data is sent to the printer unit 22 via the printer unit interface 42, and a color test chart is printed out by the printer unit 22. .

  The color conversion unit 52 receives scan data or print data input via the scanner unit interface 44 or input via the communication interface 46, and performs color conversion and color conversion via the printer unit interface 42. Data is sent or sent to the colorimetric value extraction unit 52. The scan data and print data input to the color conversion unit 52 are usually expressed in the RGB color system, and the color conversion unit 52 uses the RGB values L *, a *, It is converted into a value of b * color system (or H / VC color system), and further converted into a value of YMCK color system when outputting to the printer unit 22.

  The colorimetric value extraction unit 54 extracts the colorimetric values of each color patch color-converted by the color conversion unit 52. The colorimetric values are extracted by, for example, averaging colorimetric values belonging to each color patch area. The colorimetric value list generator 56 lists the colorimetric values corresponding to the color patches extracted from the colorimetric values in correspondence with the color patches. The list data generated from the colorimetric value list generator 56 is sent to the printer unit 22 via the printer unit interface 42, and is printed out as a colorimetric value list by the printer unit 22.

  When printing using the color multifunction device 14, an image signal is received through the communication interface 46, converted into a CMYK signal by the color conversion unit 52, and output from the printer unit 22 through the printer unit interface 42. In the case of copying, the image signal read by the scanner unit 24 is captured via the scanner unit interface 44, and the captured RGB signal is converted into a CMYK signal by the color conversion unit 52. Output from the printer unit 22.

Next, a method for providing a color test chart will be described.
FIG. 4 shows a control flow for providing a color test chart using the color multifunction device 14. First, in step 10 (S10), the user instructs the type of test pattern from the control panel of the display unit 20. Here, the type of pattern is the size or number of color patches of the test pattern. For example, as shown in FIG. 5A, if the test pattern 58 is a scanner, the size of each color patch 58a is small. As shown in FIG. 5B, for example, in the case of the test pattern 60 for a digital camera, the size of each color patch 60a is large and the number is small.

  In the next step 12 (S12), a billing process is performed. That is, the fee calculated by the billing calculator 48 is displayed on the display unit 20, and the user pays the fee according to the display on the display unit 20. The output of the color chart may be added as a value-added fee to the normal copy fee.

  In the next step 14 (S14), the test pattern generator 50 generates an image of the test pattern having the instructed specification. In the next step 16 (S16), the generated image is printed by the printer unit 22. In the next step 18 (S18), the user is instructed to scan the output print (color test chart) with the scanner unit 24. That is, the color chart is displayed on the display unit 20 so as to be read by the scanner unit 24. In the next step 20 (S20), the output print is read by the scanner unit 24. In the next step 22 (S22), the color conversion unit 52 converts the scanned image (RGB) into colorimetric values (L *, a *, b * color system values or H / VC color system values). . In the next step 24 (S24), the colorimetric value extraction unit 54 extracts the color patch area, averages the colorimetric values subjected to color conversion for each color patch, and obtains the average value of the colorimetric values. In step 26 (S26), the colorimetric value list generating unit 56 generates a colorimetric value list. In the next step 28 (S28), the colorimetric value list generated in step 26 is displayed in the printer unit 22. Print out. As shown in FIG. 5C, the colorimetric value list is a list of L *, a *, and b * values corresponding to each color patch for profile generation. As shown in FIG. 5 (d), the value of H / VC is listed for a learner of color and design. Thus, the user can select the output format of the color test chart according to the purpose. As described above, the user is provided with the color chart printed out in step 16 and the colorimetric value list printed out in step 28.

  6 and 7, the second embodiment is shown. This second embodiment differs from the first embodiment described above in the method for obtaining the colorimetric values of each color patch. That is, in the second embodiment, the patch area extraction unit 62 is provided in the preceding stage of the color conversion unit 52. The patch area extraction unit 62 extracts the area of each color patch from the scanned image read by the scanner 24 via the scanner interface 44, and averages the RGB data belonging to each color patch area.

  Regarding the method for providing the color test chart, the processes up to step 30 (S30), step 32 (S32), step 34 (S34), step 36 (S36), step 38 (S38) and step 40 (S40) are the first. This is the same as steps 10 to 20 in the first embodiment. In the next step 42 (S42), the patch area extraction unit 62 extracts the area of each color patch from the scanned image read by the scanner 24, and averages the RGB data belonging to each color patch area. In the next step 44 (S44), the color conversion unit 52 converts the RGB average value of each color patch area averaged in step 42 into a colorimetric value. The processing of the next step 46 (S46) and step 48 (S48) is the same as step 26 and step 28 in the first embodiment.

  8 and 9, a third embodiment is shown. This third embodiment differs from the second embodiment described above in the method of providing colorimetric values. That is, in the third embodiment, a download information generation unit 64 that generates download information based on instruction data is provided. The download information includes a download destination URL, a user ID, a password, and the like. The colorimetric value list generated by the colorimetric value list generator 56 is transferred to the download destination server 28 (FIG. 1) via the network 26 (FIG. 1).

  The method for providing the color test chart is as follows: Step 50 (S50), Step 52 (S52), Step 54 (S54), Step 56 (S56), Step 58 (S58), Step 60 (S60), Step 62 (S62). ), Step 64 (S64) and Step 66 (S66) are the same as Step 30 to Step 46 in the second embodiment. In the next step 68 (S68), the colorimetric value list is transferred to the server 28 via the network 26. In the next step 70 (S70), the download URL, user ID, and password generated by the download information generation unit 64 are printed out by the printer unit 22 and notified to the user. The user can obtain a colorimetric value list corresponding to the color test chart by accessing the server 28.

10 to 12, a fourth embodiment of the present invention is shown.
The fourth embodiment provides a color test chart obtained by merging a basic color set of basic colors, which are colors comprehensively selected from the entire color gamut, and a main color set selected from a user specific color gamut. It is.

  FIG. 10 shows a control flow in the fourth embodiment. In step 72 (S72), the user instructs a test color. That is, as shown in FIG. 11, for example, standard, portrait, landscape, flower, CG (computer graphics), and image input selection branches are displayed on the display unit 20, and the user selects from these selection branches. . If standard, colors selected comprehensively from the entire color gamut are added to the basic color set as in the basic color set. Portrait is centered on skin color, landscape is centered on sky blue grass, grass is centered on grass color and high saturation, high brightness center, and CG is a primary color set centered on primary color.

  In the next step 74 (S74), it is determined whether image input has been selected. If image input is selected in step 74, the process proceeds to step 76 (S76) to instruct the user to input the image. When the user inputs an image, the process proceeds to the next step 78 (S78), and main colors are extracted from the input image. The extraction of the main color can be performed by creating a histogram from the input image and arranging colors that appear in a ratio equal to or higher than a predetermined value by arranging colors with a high ratio in descending order. When the processing of step 78 is completed, the routine proceeds to step 82. On the other hand, if it is determined in step 74 that other than image input is selected (standard, portrait, landscape, flower, or CG is selected), the process proceeds to step 80 (S80) and the selected purpose is selected. The main color set corresponding to is prepared, and the process proceeds to the next step 82.

  In step 82, the main color set is merged with the basic color set to output a color test chart. The color test chart in this case has, for example, a basic color set forming unit 66 and a main color set forming unit 68 on one sheet, as shown in FIG. The basic color patch 66a is formed, and the main color patch 68a including a number of main colors is formed in the main color set forming unit 68.

  As described above, the present invention can be used in a system that provides a color chart at low cost using a convenience store or the like.

It is a block diagram which shows the color test chart provision system which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a control unit of the color multifunction peripheral used in the first embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a software configuration of a control unit of the color multifunction peripheral according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the color test chart provision method in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the color test chart and colorimetric value list | wrist in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a software configuration of a control unit of a color multifunction peripheral according to a second embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the color test chart provision method in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a software configuration of a control unit of a color multifunction peripheral according to a third embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the color test chart provision method in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the color test chart provision method in the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a screen figure which shows the display screen of the display part in the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the color test chart in the 4th Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Color test chart provision system 12 Image forming system 14 Color compound machine 16 Accounting device 20 Display part 22 Printer part 24 Scanner part 28 Server 50 Test pattern generation part 52 Color conversion part 54 Colorimetric value extraction part 56 Colorimetric value list generation part 62 Patch area extraction unit 64 Download information generation unit

Claims (16)

  A color test chart is output by the printer unit, the output color test chart is read by the scanner unit, color measurement data of the color test chart predicted from the read color test chart is generated, and the generated measurement data is generated. A color test chart providing method for providing color data together with a color test chart.   The color test chart providing method according to claim 1, wherein the color measurement data is provided by being printed by the printer unit.   The color test chart providing method according to claim 1, wherein the colorimetric data is transferred to a server and provided from the server.   The color test chart providing method according to claim 1, wherein the colorimetric data is provided by being stored in a storage medium.   5. The method for providing a color test chart according to claim 1, wherein a charge is made for the output of the color test chart.   The color test chart providing method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the color test chart includes a plurality of color patches, and the sizes of the plurality of color patches are selected.   6. The color test chart providing method according to claim 1, wherein the color test chart includes a large number of color patches, and color matching of the large number of color patches is selected.   The color test chart includes a plurality of color patches, and the plurality of color patches includes a first color patch set in which basic colors are arranged and a second color patch set in which main colors are arranged. 5. The color test chart providing method according to any one of 5 above.   The color test chart providing method according to claim 8, wherein color matching is selected for the second color patch group.   The color test chart providing method according to claim 8, wherein the second color patch group is generated from an input image read by the scanner unit.   The color chart providing method according to claim 1, wherein an output format of the color test chart is selected according to the purpose.   A scanner unit, a printer unit, a test pattern generation unit that generates a test pattern, and a test pattern generated by the test pattern generation unit is output by the printer unit to form a color test chart. A colorimetric data generating unit configured to read a test chart with the scanner unit and generate colorimetric data from the read color test chart, and the colorimetric data generated by the colorimetric data generating unit is a color test chart; Color test chart provision system provided together.   13. The color test chart providing system according to claim 12, further comprising billing means for billing the output of the color test chart.   14. The system for providing a color test chart according to claim 12, further comprising selection means for selecting sizes of a plurality of color patches constituting the color test chart.   14. The system for providing a color test chart according to claim 12, further comprising selection means for selecting color matching of a number of color patches constituting the color test chart.   A scanner unit, a printer unit, a test pattern generation unit that generates a test pattern, and a test pattern generated by the test pattern generation unit is output by the printer unit to form a color test chart. A color multifunction peripheral comprising: a colorimetric data generation unit configured to read a test chart with the scanner unit and generate colorimetric data from the read color test chart.

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