JP2006159648A - Recording system, image processor, inkjet recorder and image processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an inkjet recorder in which a user can set whether a pigment ink is used or not when recording is performed using glossy paper, or the like. <P>SOLUTION: In the inkjet recorder which performs recording by using at least one kind of ink employing pigment and a plurality of kinds of ink employing dye, a user sets whether the ink employing pigment ink is used or not (S403) when recording is performed on a glossy recording medium, and a color conversion table is altered depending on that setting (S405). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording system, an image processing apparatus, an ink jet recording apparatus, and an image processing method, and more specifically, to an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording using a pigment ink containing a pigment and a dye ink containing a dye. The present invention relates to generation of supplied image data.

  For example, as information output devices in word processors, personal computers, facsimiles, and the like, printers that record desired information such as characters and images on a sheet-like recording medium such as paper or film are widely used.

  Various types of recording methods are known for printers, but inkjet methods have recently been used for reasons such as non-contact recording on recording media such as paper, easy colorization, and high quietness. A serial recording method in which recording is performed while reciprocally scanning a recording head that ejects ink according to desired recording information in a direction that intersects with the conveyance direction of a recording medium such as paper. However, it is generally widely used because it is inexpensive and easy to downsize.

  Inkjet printers that perform color recording include those that use inks mainly containing dyes and those that mainly use pigments. In general, inks using dyes are characterized by vivid color development and excellent color reproducibility, while inks using pigments are less bleed and clearly have boundaries such as letters. It has characteristics.

  The printer uses either ink according to the characteristics of the printer, whether it is primarily for recording images such as photographs, or whether it is primarily for recording business documents that are mainly text. It was common to be designed to do so.

  In recent years, however, printers have been proposed in which dyes are used for color inks such as cyan, magenta, and yellow, and pigments are used only for black ink (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In such a printer, it is possible to achieve both color reproducibility with color ink using a dye and high character quality with black ink using a pigment.
JP 2000-198227 A

  However, when recording with a printer using a color ink using a dye and a black ink using a pigment as described above, there is a problem when recording on a recording medium such as plain paper with a poor gloss on the surface. However, when recording on a glossy recording medium such as those released in recent years, there is a difference in gloss between the part recorded with the dye ink and the part recorded with the pigment ink. The tone will appear uneven.

  For example, when a gray gradation is recorded, the recording is glossy because the gray is first composed of cyan, magenta, and yellow ink, but the glossiness increases as the ratio of black ink containing pigment increases. Loss and the darker the gradation, the more unnatural the gradation is.

  In order to prevent this, when recording on a glossy recording medium, there is also a method of recording only with inks using dyes (color inks such as cyan, magenta and yellow) without using black inks using pigments. It has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  However, if the use of black ink is restricted in this way, black ink will not increase because black ink is not used, and UCR (Under Color Removal) cannot be used, so the amount of ink shot can be reduced. It will disappear.

  As described above, in a printer that can use a color ink using a dye and a black ink using a pigment, there are a method of recording using both inks and a method of recording using only dye ink. Each of these two methods has advantages and disadvantages, and a color conversion table is created by selecting either method according to the usage environment assumed for each model by the printer manufacturer.

  Therefore, for example, in a model set to use pigment ink in order to prioritize character quality, recording high-definition graphics etc. results in a drop in image quality due to a breakdown in gradation caused by uneven gloss. Inevitable.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and allows a user to set whether or not to use pigment ink when recording is performed using a predetermined recording medium such as glossy paper. For the purpose.

A recording system according to an aspect of the present invention that achieves the above object includes an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording using a pigment ink containing a pigment and a dye ink containing a dye, and the recording system connected to the recording apparatus for recording. A host system that transmits image data and control data to be recorded,
A setting unit is provided for setting whether or not the user uses the pigment ink when recording on a predetermined recording medium.

An ink jet recording apparatus as another aspect of the present invention that achieves the above object is an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording using a pigment ink containing a pigment and a dye ink containing a dye,
A setting unit is provided for setting whether or not the user uses the pigment ink when recording on a predetermined recording medium.

Another aspect of the present invention that achieves the above object is to use the ink jet recording apparatus connected to an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording using a pigment ink containing a pigment and a dye ink containing a dye. An image processing device for transmitting power image data and control data,
Comprising display means for activating a display screen for selecting the type of recording medium used for recording;
The display means activates a display screen for setting whether or not the user uses the pigment ink when a predetermined recording medium is selected.

Furthermore, the above object is an image processing method for generating image data to be supplied to an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording using a pigment ink containing a pigment and a dye ink containing a dye.
A setting step for setting whether or not the user uses the pigment ink when recording on a predetermined recording medium;
It is also achieved by an image processing method comprising: a table changing step for changing a conversion table used for generating the image data according to the setting.

  That is, according to the present invention, in the form of performing ink jet recording using a pigment ink containing a pigment and a dye ink containing a dye, the user uses the pigment ink when recording on a predetermined recording medium. Whether or not can be set.

  In this way, when recording is performed using a predetermined recording medium such as glossy paper, the user can easily set whether or not to use pigment ink.

Therefore, it is possible to set the ink to be used according to the type of image to be recorded and the convenience of the user, improving the convenience of the user and eliminating the dissatisfaction with the uneven glossiness that can occur when using pigment ink. Is done.

Note that the setting means may be provided in the host device or in the recording apparatus.

  As the predetermined recording medium, for example, a recording medium having a glossy recording surface, black ink is preferably used as an ink using a pigment, and cyan, magenta, and yellow ink is used as an ink using a dye.

  The setting means may activate a surface screen that can set whether or not to use pigment ink only when recording on a predetermined recording medium.

  Further, the setting means may be capable of setting the ratio of using the pigment ink in a plurality of stages.

  The above object can also be achieved by a computer program for realizing the above-described image processing method by a computer apparatus, and a storage medium storing the computer program.

  According to the present invention, when recording is performed using a predetermined recording medium such as glossy paper, the user can easily set whether or not to use pigment ink.

  Therefore, it is possible to set the ink to be used according to the type of image to be recorded and the convenience of the user, improving the convenience of the user and eliminating the dissatisfaction with the uneven glossiness that can occur when using pigment ink. Is done.

  Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the components described in the following embodiments are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to them.

  In this specification, “recording” (sometimes referred to as “printing”) is not only for forming significant information such as characters and figures, but also for human beings visually perceived regardless of significance. Regardless of whether or not it has been manifested, it also represents a case where an image, a pattern, a pattern, or the like is widely formed on a recording medium or the medium is processed.

  “Recording medium” refers not only to paper used in general recording apparatuses but also widely to cloth, plastic film, metal plate, glass, ceramics, wood, leather, and the like that can accept ink. Shall.

  Furthermore, “ink” (sometimes referred to as “liquid”) is to be interpreted broadly in the same way as the definition of “recording (printing)” above. It represents a liquid that can be used for forming a pattern or the like, processing a recording medium, or processing an ink (for example, solidification or insolubilization of a colorant in ink applied to the recording medium).

  Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, the “nozzle” collectively refers to an ejection port or a liquid channel communicating with the ejection port and an element that generates energy used for ink ejection.

<Outline block diagram>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic control configuration of an embodiment of a recording system according to the present invention. This recording system includes an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording by discharging ink from each nozzle of a recording head according to an ink jet system, and is connected to the recording apparatus and transmits recording data and control data. For example, a personal computer (PC) And other host devices.

  The ink jet recording apparatus is composed of an MPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and controls the entire recording apparatus 101, a recording buffer 102 that stores recording data before being transferred to the recording head in a raster format, and a recording buffer. A recording head 103 that selectively ejects ink according to the recorded data, a motor control unit 104 that controls a motor for driving a carriage, feeding a recording medium, and discharging paper, and an interface for communicating with a host device ( I / F) unit 105 and a data buffer 106 for temporarily storing recording data received from the host device.

  Reference numeral 107 denotes a system bus that connects the main control unit 101 and each unit. Reference numeral 108 denotes an operation switch unit including a switch for a user to input settings and instructions, an LED for notifying the user of an operation state, and the like. It is.

  On the other hand, the host device is composed of an MPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like. The main control unit 110 controls image data generation and main operations, an interface (I / F) unit 111 that communicates with the inkjet recording apparatus, A memory 112; a display device 114 such as a CRT or a liquid crystal panel for displaying various information to the user; an input device 115 such as a mouse and a keyboard for the user to input instructions and various data; It has a control unit 108 and a system bus 112 for connecting each unit.

  Next, referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the flow of processing for image data in the present embodiment will be described. 2A is a flowchart showing processing for image data, and FIG. 2B shows an example of image data input to each processing in FIG. 2A.

  The original image data to be processed has 8-bit data for each of the three colors R (Red), G (Green), and B (Blue) for each pixel, as exemplified in 201. When such image data is input, color correction including, for example, UCR is performed as a pre-process for converting display data into recording data in step S201, and correction as shown in 202 is performed. RGB 8-bit data is obtained.

  In step S202, the data of each pixel is decomposed into data of four colors of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (hereinafter also referred to as C, M, Y, and K, respectively) with reference to the color conversion table. As a result, four planes each including CMYK 8-bit pixels as indicated by 203 are obtained.

  Thereafter, multilevel error diffusion is performed in step S203, and data obtained by converting the data of each pixel into one of five gradations as shown in 204 is obtained. Further, index development processing is performed in step S204, and one of the corresponding index patterns is assigned according to the gradation of each pixel, and print data (dot pattern) indicated by 206 is obtained.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of one set of index patterns used for the index expansion process in step S204. Depending on the result of multilevel error diffusion in step S203, each pixel is represented by one of the gradations 1 to 5. In the index expansion process, one of the corresponding patterns is assigned to each gradation, and the dot data is assigned to the dot data. Be expanded.

  In this index pattern assignment, when it is desired to make the index pattern random in order to improve the quality of the image, a plurality of patterns are prepared for the same gradation and are selected (assigned) at random. For example, when selecting gradation 2, by randomly selecting one of four patterns from 0001 to 1000, it is possible to make the texture generated by a specific index pattern appearing less conspicuous.

  Further, in this embodiment, a 2 × 2 index pattern is used as illustrated in FIG. 3, and in this embodiment, the same index pattern is used for the four colors of CMYK. However, different index patterns may be used for each index color. It doesn't matter. In the present embodiment, the number of gradations for each ink color is uniformly 5 gradations. However, this may be a finer gradation or a different number of gradations for each color. Absent.

  In the present embodiment, the intervals of the gradations obtained by the multi-level error diffusion processing are assumed to be equal intervals. However, this does not necessarily have to be equal intervals. It is also possible to make the shadow part dense.

  In accordance with the flowchart of FIG. 4, the flow of processing up to recording data transmission to the recording apparatus performed by the image processing module (printer driver) of the host device, including processing for allowing the user to select the use of pigment ink in the present embodiment. explain.

  First, in step S401, an image to be recorded is designated and input by pressing a “print” button or the like in various applications being executed on the host device. The user also specifies the type and size of the recording medium on the printer driver property screen activated in response to a print instruction from the application. Here, as the type of the recording medium, it is possible to select plain paper, postcard, high-quality exclusive paper, printed disc, glossy paper, professional photo paper, and the like.

  Information such as the type and size of the recording medium selected by the user is stored in the header of the head of the image data designated in this way, and by analyzing the portion, the image processing module can identify the recording target. The type and size of the recording medium can be specified.

  Next, in step S402, the type of the recording medium is analyzed from the header information, and whether the paper used for recording is a recording medium that is glossy on the recording surface and easily causes gloss unevenness when pigment ink is used. It is determined whether the recording medium is dull.

  The recording medium having a glossy recording surface is a film-like recording medium in addition to a paper recording medium such as coated paper (for example, the above-mentioned glossy paper or prophoto paper) used for recording photographic images and the like. And a recording medium (for example, glossy film) obtained by processing the recording surface of other materials.

  If it is determined that the recording medium to be recorded is not glossy, the process from step S403 to S405 is skipped, and the process proceeds to step S406.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the recording medium to be recorded is glossy, the user is made to select whether or not to use the pigment ink for the current recording on the display device of the host device in step S403. Display the screen. An example of this screen is: “The currently set paper is glossy paper. If pigment ink is used to record this paper, there may be a difference in gloss in the printed image. Do you use pigment ink? ? ", Two check boxes for selecting whether or not to use pigment ink, and a radio button for indicating the completion of selection by the user so that the user can easily select with a mouse. Can be considered. In this case, for example, it is preferable to put a check mark in the check box of “Do not use pigment ink” by default.

  If the user selects “use pigment ink” in step S404, the color conversion table is changed to one using pigment black in step S405. On the other hand, if the user selects “do not use pigment ink”, the process proceeds to step S406 without changing the color conversion table, that is, to use the color conversion table that does not use the default pigment black. Proceed with the process.

  In step S406, processing (image conversion) is performed on the image data as described above with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B. At this time, if it is selected not to use pigment black for recording, UCR is not performed in the color correction in step S201, and the black ink data is cleared in the conversion table used in step S202.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the ratio of ink used when recording black depending on whether or not pigment black is used for recording. When the black portion is recorded, when the pigment ink is not used (default), as shown on the left side of the figure, the amount of the pigment ink applied is 0, and the other three colors of ink are used. Record black. On the other hand, when the user selects to use pigment ink, the table is changed to a table that records black using only pigment black, as shown on the right side of the figure.

  Thereafter, recording data is transmitted to the recording apparatus in step S407, and various parameters are initialized in step S408.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, when recording is performed using a predetermined recording medium such as glossy paper, the user can easily set whether to use pigment ink. Therefore, desired recording according to the type of image to be recorded and the convenience of the user is possible, and dissatisfaction with uneven glossiness that may occur when pigment ink is used is eliminated.

<Modification>
In the above embodiment, a predetermined screen is displayed on the display device of the host device and whether or not the pigment ink is used is set according to the user's input / instruction, but the display to the user and the user input / instruction If the recording apparatus is provided with the user interface, a process for causing the user to select whether or not to use the pigment ink on the recording apparatus side (for example, processes in steps S402 to S405 in the flowchart of FIG. 4) is performed. Also good.

  In this case, the recording apparatus transmits a signal indicating whether or not to use the pigment ink to the host device, and the host device performs the image data conversion processing described with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B according to the state of this signal. You may make it perform.

  Alternatively, for example, an image input device such as a digital camera can be connected to the recording device, and a configuration capable of recording image data output from the image input device, or a storage medium such as a memory card can be inserted. If the image stored in the storage medium can be recorded, the image data conversion processing described with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B can be executed inside the recording apparatus. Part or all of the processing described with reference to FIG. 4 may be executed. In this case, the determination as to whether or not the medium is a glossy medium is performed by a known medium discrimination method using a known optical sensor as described in JP-A-10-048975, JP-A-2002-167082, and the like. Also good.

  As described above, the present invention may be applied to a recording system including a plurality of devices, or may be applied to a recording device including a single device.

  In addition, as a form of the recording apparatus according to the present invention, a copying apparatus combined with a reader or a facsimile apparatus having a transmission / reception function is provided as an image output terminal of an information processing apparatus such as a computer. Further, it may take the form of a multifunction machine that combines these.

<Other embodiments>
When the recording device has a plurality of recording modes such as a high-speed mode and a high-quality mode, a recording mode that prioritizes the recording image quality, such as a high-quality mode, even when using a recording medium that is glossy or gloss unevenness is easily visible The user may be allowed to set whether or not to use pigment ink only when it is set to "."

  In addition, when using a glossy or easily visible gloss unevenness, the user can set the ratio and ratio of using pigment ink in multiple stages, not just whether or not pigment ink is used. It is good also as a structure. In this case, for example, the default setting may be different for each of a plurality of types of glossy recording media.

  In the present invention, a software program (in this embodiment, a program such as a printer driver corresponding to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 2A and 4) is directly or remotely transmitted to a system or apparatus. And the case where the system or the computer of the system or apparatus reads out and executes the supplied program code. In that case, as long as it has the function of a program, the form does not need to be a program.

  Accordingly, since the functions of the present invention are implemented by computer, the program code installed in the computer also implements the present invention. That is, the claims of the present invention include the computer program itself for realizing the functional processing of the present invention.

  In this case, the program may be in any form as long as it has a program function, such as an object code, a program executed by an interpreter, or script data supplied to the OS.

It is a block diagram which shows the schematic control structure of embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process with respect to image data. It is a figure which shows the example of the image data input into each process of FIG. 2A. It is the figure which showed the example of 1 set of the index pattern used for an index expansion process. 4 is a flowchart of processing up to recording data transmission to a recording apparatus performed by an image processing module of a host device in an embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the ratio of the ink used when recording black according to whether pigment black is used for recording.

Claims (9)

Recording including an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording using a pigment ink containing a pigment and a dye ink containing a dye, and a host device that is connected to the recording apparatus and transmits image data and control data to be recorded A system,
A recording system comprising setting means for setting whether or not a user uses the pigment ink when recording on a predetermined recording medium.   The recording system according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit is provided in the host device.   The recording system according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit is provided in the recording apparatus.   4. The recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined recording medium is a recording medium having a glossy recording surface, the pigment ink is a black ink, and the dye ink includes cyan, magenta, and yellow inks. The recording system according to any one of the above.   5. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit activates a display screen that can set whether or not to use the pigment ink only when recording on a predetermined recording medium. The recording system described.   The recording system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the setting unit can set a ratio of using the pigment ink in a plurality of stages. An image processing apparatus connected to an ink jet recording apparatus for performing recording using a pigment ink containing a pigment and a dye ink containing a dye, and transmitting image data and control data to be used in the ink jet recording apparatus,
Comprising display means for activating a display screen for selecting the type of recording medium used for recording;
The image processing apparatus, wherein the display unit activates a display screen for setting whether or not the user uses the pigment ink when a predetermined recording medium is selected. An ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording using a pigment ink containing a pigment and a dye ink containing a dye,
An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a setting unit configured to set whether or not the user uses the pigment ink when recording on a predetermined recording medium. An image processing method for generating image data to be supplied to an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording using a pigment ink containing a pigment and a dye ink containing a dye,
A setting step for setting whether or not the user uses the pigment ink when recording on a predetermined recording medium;
A table changing step for changing a conversion table used for generating the image data according to the setting;
An image processing method comprising:

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