JP2006093789A - Image processing method and image processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the difference of input images and mutual color reproduction zone of a plurality of image outputs. <P>SOLUTION: As shown in Fig. 1, a control terminal 2 acquires image data for a printer 4. The control terminal 2 sets the color reproduction zone of the printer 4 as a reference color reproduction zone, for example. The printer 4 prints out the image data by the reference color reproduction zone. The control terminal 2 performs proof reading of the device profile of the printer 4 to make a color proof reading profile. Furthermore, the control terminal 2 makes a print profile for printers 5-1 to 5-3 from the color proof reading profile and the image data. An image processing system 1 forbids a printer having an extremely different color reproduction zone to make a print profile thus limiting printers that can output. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing system having a plurality of image output devices.

  When a plurality of printers are connected via a network, there is a problem that the color gamut that can be reproduced for each printer differs for the same data. Therefore, the image data is converted into a color space for a specific printer, the converted image data is converted into a device-independent color space, and the color space for another printer is further converted. It is known that the same color reproduction is realized between different printers by converting to (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2002-118765 A

  However, the conventional example has a problem that when a specific printer is changed, the colors of other printers are also changed. In addition, for example, when a product, a printed matter by a product printing machine, and a printed matter by a product printer are displayed together in a store or the like, it is necessary to consider color matching between the product (original image data) and each printed matter. is there.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image processing method and an image processing system capable of reducing a difference in color reproduction range between an input image and a plurality of image outputs.

  In order to achieve the above object, the first feature of the present invention is that the color gamut of an image printing means for printing an input image is adjusted according to the color gamut of the input image, and the image An image processing method for adjusting the color gamut of each of at least one other image printing unit that prints an image related to an image printed by the printing unit based on the adjusted color gamut and the color gamut of the input image It is in. That is, the image printing unit and at least one other image printing unit have their color reproduction gamut adjusted according to the color gamut of the input image, and at least one other image printing unit has adjusted image printing. Since the color gamut is adjusted in accordance with the color gamut of the means, the difference in the color gamut between the input image and the plurality of image outputs can be reduced.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, an image printing unit that prints an input image, and at least one other image printing unit that prints an image related to an image printed by the image printing unit. A first adjustment unit that adjusts a color gamut of the image printing unit according to a color gamut of the input image, a color gamut adjusted by the first adjustment unit, and a color gamut of the input image And an image processing system having a second adjusting unit that adjusts the color gamut of each of the other image printing units. That is, the image printing unit and at least one other image printing unit have their color reproduction gamut adjusted according to the color gamut of the input image, and at least one other image printing unit has adjusted image printing. Since the color gamut is adjusted in accordance with the color gamut of the means, the difference in the color gamut between the input image and the plurality of image outputs can be reduced.

  Preferably, the first adjustment unit and the second adjustment unit switch an adjustment amount for adjusting the color gamut according to a medium on which the image printing unit and the other image printing unit respectively print an image. An adjustment amount switching unit is further included. Therefore, even if the medium on which the image is printed is changed, the first adjustment unit and the second adjustment unit switch the adjustment amount for adjusting the color gamut. The difference in reproduction range can be reduced.

  Preferably, the apparatus further includes reference color gamut setting means for setting a reference color gamut for adjusting the color gamut by the first adjusting means. Preferably, the reference color gamut setting unit sets the color gamut of the image printing unit as a reference color gamut.

  Preferably, the reference color gamut setting unit sets a reference color gamut based on a logical sum of the color gamuts of the other image printing units. Preferably, the reference color gamut setting unit sets a reference color gamut based on a logical product of the color gamuts of the other image printing units. Preferably, the reference color gamut setting unit sets a reference color gamut based on an average of the color gamuts of the other image printing units. That is, since the color gamut is adjusted based on the color gamut of each of the other image printing means, the input image and the plurality of images can be used even when the color gamut of the other image printing means is large. It is possible to reduce the difference in color gamut between outputs.

  Preferably, the color reproduction gamut of each of the other image printing units and the color reproduction gamut of the image printing unit are compared, and the other image printing is performed based on the comparison result of the comparison unit. Determining means for determining whether one of the color gamuts is out of a predetermined amount or more with respect to the color gamut of the image printing unit; and determining by the determining means that the color gamut is out of a predetermined amount or more And information output means for outputting information for specifying the other image printing means. Therefore, the user can grasp that the color reproduction range of any of the other image printing units is out of the predetermined amount or more with respect to the color reproduction range of the image printing unit.

  Preferably, the apparatus further includes predetermined amount setting means for setting a predetermined amount for the determination means. Therefore, the user sets the difference between the color gamut of one of the other image printing units and the color gamut of the image printing unit to a desired value, and the other image printing unit for the color gamut of the image printing unit The color gamut shift can be grasped.

  Preferably, a color reproduction area of a selection unit that selects any one of the other printing units and the other image printing unit selected by the selection unit is set as a comparison reference, and the other image printing is performed. Comparison means for comparing the respective color gamuts with the comparison reference, and based on the comparison result of the comparison means, the color gamut of any of the other image printing means deviates by a predetermined amount or more from the comparison reference. A judgment unit for judging whether or not the color reproduction gamut is determined to be out of a predetermined amount or more, and an information output unit for outputting information for specifying the other image printing unit. That is, the user can set a reference for comparing the color gamut of the other image printing means by selecting one of the other printing means with the selection means.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the difference in color gamut between an input image and a plurality of image outputs.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows an outline of an image processing system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image processing system 1 is configured, for example, by connecting a control terminal 2 to printing apparatuses 4, 5-1 to 5-n via a network 3. The printing devices 4, 5-1 to 5-n have different output characteristics, and print a color image on a recording medium such as paper under the control of the control terminal 2.
Hereinafter, a case where the number of printing apparatuses 5-n is three (n = 3) will be described as a specific example.

In FIG. 2, the configuration of the control terminal 2 is shown.
The control terminal 2 is, for example, a PC (Personal Computer) or the like, and includes an input unit 20, a display unit 22, a storage unit 24, a communication unit 26, and a control terminal body 28, and includes printing devices 4-5-1 to 5-3. To control. The input unit 20 includes input devices such as a keyboard and a mouse, and accepts user input to the printing devices 4, 5-1 to 5-3. The display unit 22 is a CRT display device or an LCD display device, and displays the signals received from the printing devices 4, 5-1 to 5-3.

  The storage unit 24 stores a database related to each of the printing apparatuses 4, 5-1 to 5-3, a profile created by the control terminal 2, and the like. For example, the storage unit 24 stores image processing resolutions, output resolutions, and device profiles (including profiles for each recording medium such as paper) of the printing apparatuses 4, 5-1 to 5-3. That is, the printing apparatuses 4, 5-1 to 5-3 are configured to print images with different profiles for each recording medium. In addition, the storage unit 24 stores a storage medium 240 such as a memory card that stores image data, data input from the communication unit 26, settings by the user, and the like. A part of the data stored in the storage unit 24 may be stored in the printing apparatuses 4, 5-1 to 5-3.

  The communication unit 26 connects the printing apparatuses 4, 5-1 to 5-3 and the control terminal main body 28 via the network 3. The control terminal main body 28 includes a CPU 280 and a memory 282, and controls each unit constituting the control terminal 2.

Next, a process in which the control terminal 2 adjusts the color gamut of the printing apparatuses 4, 5-1 to 5-3 will be described.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a process (S10) in which the control terminal 2 adjusts the color gamut of the printing apparatuses 4, 5-1 to 5-3.
As shown in FIG. 3, in step 100 (S <b> 100), the control terminal 2 acquires image data stored in the storage medium 240 from the printing apparatus 4. It is assumed that the image data stored in the storage medium 240 is an image of a product, for example, and is corrected to device-independent data.

In step 102 (S102), the control terminal 2 sets a reference color gamut in the image processing system 1 as a reference color gamut. For example, the control terminal 2 sets the color gamut of the printing apparatus 4 as the reference color gamut of the image processing system 1.
The control terminal 2 may set the reference color gamut based on the logical sum, logical product, or average of the color gamuts of the printing apparatuses 5-1 to 5-3. For example, when the reference color gamut is set based on the color gamuts of the printing apparatuses 5-1 to 5-3, the color gamut of the virtual reference printing apparatus that does not actually exist is set as shown in FIG. The reference color gamut can be set so as to reduce the difference between the color gamuts.

  In step 104 (S104), the printing apparatus 4 prints the image data input from the control terminal 2. For example, when the color gamut of the printing apparatus 4 is set as the reference color gamut, printing in the reference color gamut is output by printing with the device profile supplied to the printing apparatus 4. .

  In step 106 (S106), the control terminal 2 corrects (adjusts) the reference reproduction area according to the print result of the image data printed by the printing apparatus 4 by the user's operation, and creates a color calibration profile.

  In step 108 (S108), the control terminal 2 sets 1 (n = 1) for a counter in the CPU 280, for example.

  In step 110 (S110), the control terminal 2 acquires image data to the printing device 5-n corresponding to the counter value in the CPU 280.

  In step 112 (S112), the control terminal 2 acquires the color calibration profile created in the process of S106 for the printing apparatus 5-n.

  In step 114 (S114), the control terminal 2 creates a print profile for the printing apparatus 5-n based on the image data acquired in the process of S110 and the color calibration profile acquired in the process of S112. That is, the printing apparatus 5-n prints image data using the print profile created by the control terminal 2.

  In step 116 (S116), the control terminal 2 determines whether or not the counter value in the CPU 280 is 3, and if the counter value is not 3, the process proceeds to S118, and if the counter value is 3. The process ends.

In step 118 (S118), 1 is added to the value of the counter in the CPU 280.
That is, a printing profile based on the image data and the color calibration profile is created for each of the printing apparatuses 5-1 to 5-3.

Next, the control terminal 2 compares the color gamuts of the printing devices 5-1 to 5-3, and determines whether there is a printing device inappropriate for printing image data (printing device limitation). explain.
FIG. 5 illustrates a process (S20) in which the control terminal 2 compares the color gamuts of the printing devices 5-1 to 5-3 and determines whether there is a printing device inappropriate for printing image data. It is a flowchart.
As shown in FIG. 5, in step 200 (S200), the control terminal 2 sets any one of the printing apparatuses 5-1 to 5-3 as a printing apparatus that serves as a reference (comparison reference) for the color gamut by a user operation. select.

  In step 202 (S202), the control terminal 2 sets a predetermined amount of color gamut shift with respect to the comparison reference selected in the process of S200 by the user's operation. That is, the user sets the allowable range out of the color gamut as a predetermined amount with respect to the comparison reference. The predetermined amount set by the user may be set by, for example, an output color value, a color difference (ΔE), a relative color difference, or the like. The predetermined amount may be set by a combination with the L * a * b * color system or the L * C * h * color system.

  In step 204 (S204), the control terminal 2 compares the color gamut standard (comparison standard) with the color gamuts of the other printing apparatuses 5-n.

  In step 206 (S206), the control terminal 2 determines whether or not there is a printing device having a color gamut shift larger than a predetermined amount set by the user. If there is an apparatus), the process proceeds to S208. Otherwise, the process ends.

  In step 208 (S208), a display for specifying a printing device (an inappropriate printing device) having a color gamut deviation of a predetermined amount or more set by the user is displayed on the display unit 22, for example.

  In step 210 (S210), the control terminal 2 sets a prohibition process so that a print profile is not created for the printing apparatus determined to be an inappropriate printing apparatus by the process of S206.

Next, an example of the process (S10) of adjusting the color gamut by the image processing system 1 will be described using a graph of the L * C * h * color system.
FIG. 6 shows the process of adjusting the color gamut (S10) by the image processing system 1 in the color gamut (G0) of the image data, the color gamut (G1) of the printing device 4, and the color gamut (G2) of the printing device 5-1. It is a graph of the L * C * h * color system which shows the Example performed with respect to.
As shown in FIG. 6A, the relationship among the color gamut (G0) of the image data, the color gamut (G1) of the printing apparatus 4, and the color gamut (G2) of the printing apparatus 5-1 is G0 <G1 <G2. The color difference between G0, G1, and G2 does not occur with respect to the actual color P.

  As shown in FIG. 6B, the relationship between the color gamut (G0) of the image data, the color gamut (G1) of the printing apparatus 4 and the color gamut (G2) of the printing apparatus 5-1 is G0> G1, G0 <G2. In the case of G2, since the print profile is created using the color calibration profile for G1, the same color can be output with respect to the actual color P. Although a color difference occurs with respect to the actual color P, G1 performs color calibration with respect to G0, so that the color difference between G0, G1, and G2 can be minimized.

  As shown in FIG. 6C, the relationship among the color gamut (G0) of the image data, the color gamut (G1) of the printing apparatus 4 and the color gamut (G2) of the printing apparatus 5-1 is G0> G1, G0> G2. , G1 <G2, G2 can output the same color for the actual color P because the print profile is created using the color calibration profile for G1. Although a color difference occurs with respect to the actual color P, G1 performs color calibration with respect to G0, so that the color difference between G0, G1, and G2 can be minimized.

  As shown in FIG. 6D, the relationship between the color gamut (G0) of the image data, the color gamut (G1) of the printing apparatus 4, and the color gamut (G2) of the printing apparatus 5-1 is G0 <G2 <G1. The color difference between G0, G1, and G2 does not occur with respect to the actual color P.

  As shown in FIG. 6E, the relationship among the color gamut (G0) of the image data, the color gamut (G1) of the printing apparatus 4 and the color gamut (G2) of the printing apparatus 5-1 is G0> G2, G0 <G1. When G0 <G1, since G1 performs color calibration on G0, the actual color P is reproduced only by the printing apparatus 4 and cannot be reproduced by the printing apparatus 5-1. Although the colors output from the printing apparatuses 4 and 5-1 are different, the printing profile is created using the color calibration profile for G1, so that the difference can be minimized.

  As shown in FIG. 6F, the relationship between the color gamut (G0) of the image data, the color gamut (G1) of the printing apparatus 4 and the color gamut (G2) of the printing apparatus 5-1 is G0> G2, G0> G1. , G2 <G1, G2 has a print profile created using a color calibration profile for G1, so that the actual color P cannot be reproduced by the printing apparatuses 4 and 5-1, and the printing apparatus The colors output by 4, 5-1 are also different. However, since G1 performs color calibration on G0, the color difference among G0, G1, and G2 can be minimized.

Next, an example in which the control terminal 2 limits the printing apparatuses that can output will be described.
FIG. 7 is a graph illustrating an example in which the control terminal 2 limits printing apparatuses that can output.
As shown in FIG. 7A, when the printing devices 5-1 to 5-3 create a printing profile using a color calibration profile for the printing device 4, a reference color reproduction range (for example, the color gamut of the printing device 4). In contrast, the color gamut of the printing device 5-3 having extremely different shapes or sizes cannot reduce the color difference.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7B, when the printing apparatuses 5-1 to 5-3 create a printing profile using the color calibration profile for the printing apparatus 4, the printing apparatuses 5-2 and 5-3 When the gamut trends are different from each other, a color difference occurs.
That is, when there is a tendency of the color gamut as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the image processing system 1 limits the printing apparatuses that can output.

1 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of an image processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a control terminal. It is a flowchart which illustrates the process (S10) which a control terminal adjusts the color reproduction range of a printing apparatus. It is a graph which shows the color gamut at the time of setting the color gamut of the virtual reference printing apparatus which does not exist. It is a flowchart which illustrates the process (S20) which a control terminal compares the color gamut of a printing apparatus, and judges whether there exists a printing apparatus unsuitable for printing of image data. An embodiment in which the process of adjusting the color gamut (S10) by the image processing system is performed on the color gamut (G0) of the image data, the color gamut (G1) of the printing apparatus, and the color gamut (G2) of the printing apparatus will be described. It is a graph of L * C * h * color system. It is a graph which shows an example in case a control terminal limits the printing apparatus which can output.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image processing system 2 ... Control terminal 20 ... Input part 22 ... Display part 24 ... Storage part 240 ... Storage medium 26 ... Communication part 28 ... Control terminal main body 280 ... CPU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 ... Network 4 ... Printing apparatus 5-1 to 5-n ... Printing apparatus

Claims (11)

  At least one other image for adjusting the color gamut of the image printing unit for printing the input image according to the color gamut of the input image and printing an image related to the image to be printed by the image printing unit An image processing method, wherein the color reproduction gamut of each printing means is adjusted based on the adjusted color gamut and the color gamut of the input image.   An image printing unit that prints an input image, at least one other image printing unit that prints an image related to an image printed by the image printing unit, and an image that is input with a color gamut of the image printing unit A first adjustment unit that adjusts according to the color gamut, a color reproduction gamut adjusted by the first adjustment unit, and a color reproduction of each of the other image printing units based on the color gamut of the input image An image processing system comprising: second adjusting means for adjusting the area.   Adjustment amount switching means for switching the adjustment amount for adjusting the color gamut by the first adjustment means and the second adjustment means in accordance with the medium on which the image printing means and the other image printing means respectively print an image. The image processing system according to claim 2, further comprising:   4. The image processing system according to claim 2, further comprising reference color reproduction area setting means for setting a reference color reproduction area for adjusting the color reproduction area by the first adjustment means.   5. The image processing system according to claim 4, wherein the reference color reproduction area setting means sets the color reproduction area of the image printing means as a reference color reproduction area.   5. The image processing system according to claim 4, wherein the reference color gamut setting unit sets the reference color gamut based on a logical sum of the color gamuts of the other image printing units.   5. The image processing system according to claim 4, wherein the reference color gamut setting unit sets a reference color gamut based on a logical product of the color gamuts of the other image printing units.   5. The image processing system according to claim 4, wherein the reference color gamut setting unit sets a reference color gamut based on an average of the color gamuts of the other image printing units.   Comparison means for comparing the color gamut of each of the other image printing means and the color gamut of the image printing means, and color reproduction of any of the other image printing means based on the comparison result of the comparison means Determining means for determining whether or not the gamut is out of a predetermined amount or more with respect to the color gamut of the image printing means, and the other image for which it is determined by the determining means that the color gamut is out of a predetermined amount or more 9. The image processing system according to claim 2, further comprising information output means for outputting information for specifying the printing means.   The image processing system according to claim 9, further comprising a predetermined amount setting unit that sets a predetermined amount with respect to the determination unit.   A selection unit that selects any one of the other printing units, and a color reproduction range of the other image printing unit selected by the selection unit is set as a comparison reference, and each color reproduction range of the other image printing unit Based on the comparison result of the comparison means and the comparison result of the comparison means, it is determined whether or not the color gamut of any of the other image printing means deviates by a predetermined amount or more from the comparison reference. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a determination unit; and an information output unit that outputs information for specifying the other image printing unit that has been determined by the determination unit to be out of a predetermined amount or more. The image processing system in any one of thru | or 8.

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