JP2007006187A - Image forming apparatus, recording medium, image processing apparatus, method of controlling computer and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent an erroneous operation in gradation correction by automatically determining whether or not a human error in setting or an erroneous operation during scanning a color patch for gradation correction occurs. <P>SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus forms an image of a color patch 22 for gradation correction generated based on an output mode corresponding to an original image, and an image of a mode image 24 indicating the output mode on a recording medium. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a recording medium, an image processing apparatus, a computer control method, and a program, and more particularly to a technique for preventing an erroneous operation in gradation correction.

  In order to match the color expressions of different input / output devices, tone correction may be performed based on data obtained by scanning a color patch output by a printer. Normally, a color patch is output in an output mode corresponding to a document image such as a photograph or text. In order to ensure the accuracy of gradation correction, a standard paper determined as a sheet (hereinafter referred to as a gradation correction sheet) from which color patches are output is used, or a blank sheet is superimposed on the gradation correction sheet and scanned. Procedures are taken.

  However, conventionally, when scanning the gradation correction sheet, it is automatically determined in which output mode the gradation correction sheet is output, and whether the standard sheet is used for the gradation correction sheet. Did not do. For this reason, incorrect procedures such as correcting the gradation based on the gradation correction sheet in the wrong output mode, or correcting the gradation based on the gradation correction sheet not using the standard paper, etc. In some cases, gradation correction was performed.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and one of its purposes is to be able to automatically determine whether an artificial setting error or an erroneous operation has occurred when scanning a color patch. Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus, a recording medium, an image processing apparatus, a computer control method, and a program capable of preventing an erroneous operation in gradation correction.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a gradation correction color patch generated based on an output mode corresponding to an original image, and a mode image indicating the output mode. It includes a means for forming an image on the top.

  In addition, a control method of a computer according to the present invention (for example, a home game machine, an arcade game machine, a mobile phone, a portable game machine, a portable information terminal, a personal computer, a server computer, etc.) is the same. The image processing apparatus includes a step of forming an image on a recording medium with a tone correction color patch generated based on an output mode corresponding to an original image and a mode image indicating the output mode.

  Further, the program according to the present invention is a means for forming an image on a recording medium with a color patch for gradation correction generated based on an output mode corresponding to an original image and a mode image indicating the output mode. It is a program for causing a computer to function. The program may be stored in a CD-ROM (Compact Disk-Read Only Memory), a DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile Disk-Read Only Memory), a memory card, or any other computer-readable information storage medium.

  In the present invention, the gradation correction color patch generated based on the output mode corresponding to the document image and the mode image indicating the output mode are printed out on a sheet, and the gradation correction sheet is output. In this way, the output mode of the tone correction color patch can be recorded on the tone correction sheet.

  Further, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes means for forming an image of a tone correction color patch generated based on an output mode corresponding to an original image on a recording medium, and at least one color patch. And means for forming an image on the back surface of the recording medium on which the color patch for tone correction is formed.

  The computer control method according to the present invention forms an image on a recording medium with a tone correction color patch generated based on an output mode corresponding to an original image and a mode image indicating the output mode. Including steps.

  Further, the program according to the present invention is a means for forming an image on a recording medium with a color patch for gradation correction generated based on an output mode corresponding to an original image and a mode image indicating the output mode. It is a program for causing a computer to function.

  In the present invention, the tone correction color patch generated based on the output mode corresponding to the original image is printed on one side of the paper, and at least one color patch is printed on the back side thereof, and the tone correction sheet is output. To do. In this way, the show-through degree of the gradation correction sheet can be measured by the color patch printed on the back surface.

  The recording medium according to the present invention is characterized in that a tone correction color patch generated based on an output mode corresponding to an original image and a mode image indicating the output mode are formed. In this way, the output mode of the tone correction color patch can be recorded on the tone correction sheet.

  The recording medium according to the present invention is a recording medium on which a gradation correction color patch generated based on an output mode corresponding to an original image is formed, and the gradation correction color patch is formed on the recording medium. Further, at least one color patch is further formed on the back surface of the recording medium. In this way, the show-through degree of the gradation correction sheet can be measured by the color patch printed on the back surface.

  The image processing apparatus according to the present invention scans a recording medium on which a tone correction color patch generated based on an output mode corresponding to an original image and a mode image indicating the output mode are formed. An image processing apparatus for determining whether or not the means for detecting the mode image from the recording medium, the output mode indicated by the detected mode image, and the output mode set by the user are the same And a predetermined process based on the determination result is performed. By doing so, it is possible to acquire the output mode of the tone correction color patch from the tone correction sheet and determine whether the acquired output mode is the same as the output mode set by the user. Therefore, setting errors in the output mode can be prevented.

  The image processing apparatus according to the present invention scans a recording medium on which a tone correction color patch generated based on an output mode corresponding to an original image and a mode image indicating the output mode are formed. An image processing apparatus comprising: means for detecting the gradation correction color patch from the recording medium; means for detecting the mode image from the recording medium; and a device based on the detected gradation correction color patch. Means for generating a profile, and means for storing the generated device profile in association with the output mode indicated by the detected mode image. In this way, since the correct output mode of the tone correction color patch can be acquired from the tone correction sheet, the device profile generated based on the tone correction color patch can be assigned to the correct output mode. .

  In one aspect of the present invention, the image processing apparatus further includes means for storing at least part of the image formed on the scanned recording medium in association with the generated device profile. Features. In this way, part or all of the scanned image can be retained in the device profile attribute.

  The image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a tone correction color patch generated based on an output mode corresponding to an original image, and a back surface of the recording medium on which the tone correction color patch is formed. An image processing apparatus that scans a recording medium on which at least one color patch is formed, the means for measuring the degree of show-through of the at least one color patch from the recording medium, and paper white of the recording medium It is determined whether a predetermined recording medium is used as the recording medium from the means for measuring the density, the measured degree of show-through of the at least one color patch, and the density of paper white of the recording medium. And a predetermined process based on the determination result is performed. In this way, it is determined whether the standard paper determined for the gradation correction sheet is used based on the measured degree of show-through of the gradation correction sheet and the density of the paper white of the gradation correction sheet. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a gradation correction accuracy failure caused by using an incorrect sheet for the gradation correction sheet.

  The image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a tone correction color patch generated based on an output mode corresponding to an original image, and a back surface of the recording medium on which the tone correction color patch is formed. An image processing apparatus that scans a recording medium on which at least one color patch is formed, the means for measuring the degree of show-through of the at least one color patch from the recording medium, and paper white of the recording medium It is determined whether or not an appropriate white paper is superposed on the recording medium from the means for measuring the density, and the measured show-through degree of the at least one color patch and the white density of the recording medium. And a predetermined process based on the determination result. In this way, it is determined whether or not an appropriate white paper is superimposed on the gradation correction sheet based on the measured degree of show-through of the gradation correction sheet and the density of the paper white of the gradation correction sheet. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the accuracy of gradation correction due to the fact that the blank sheet is not superimposed on the gradation correction sheet.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a print system including an image forming apparatus and an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the print system 1 includes a printer 10, a print controller 12, and a scanner 16. The printer 10 and the print controller 12, and the print controller 12 and the scanner 16 are connected to each other via a bidirectional interface so that they can communicate with each other. The bidirectional interface is a serial interface including a USB (Universal Serial Bus) connection or the like, or a SCSI (Small Computer System Interface).

  In the printing system 1, upon receiving an instruction to output a gradation correction sheet from the print controller 12, the printer 10 prints a predetermined color patch on a recording sheet and outputs the gradation correction sheet. In the print controller 12, the output gradation correction sheet is read by the scanner 16 connected to the print controller 12, and a device profile is created.

  The printer 10 is an apparatus to which the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied. The printer 10 may be a general printer. The printer 10 receives the control of the print controller 12 and prints out image data sent from the print controller 12 via the bidirectional interface 14. In the present embodiment, the printer 10 prints out the color patch based on the data of the color patch for gradation correction transmitted together with the output request of the color patch for gradation correction from the print controller 12. Further, the printer 10 may store the tone correction color patch in advance, and acquire and output the tone correction color patch in the output mode corresponding to the document image designated from the print controller 12.

  The print controller 12 is an apparatus to which the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied. The print controller 12 may be configured by a general personal computer. The print controller 12 requests the printer 10 to output a color patch for gradation correction. Further, a scanner 16 is connected to the print controller 12, and the scanner 16 scans the gradation correction sheet output from the printer 10. Then, a device profile is created based on the color patch for gradation correction scanned and read.

  The scanner 16 may be a general scanner. The scanner 16 scans a gradation correction sheet that is a recording medium according to an embodiment of the present invention. The scanner 16 is connected to the print controller 12 via the bidirectional interface 15, and the scanner 16 transmits the read image data to the print controller 12.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a gradation correction sheet output from the printer 10. As shown in the figure, the gradation correction sheet 20 is obtained by forming a gradation correction color patch 22 and a mode image 24 on the same surface on a recording medium.

  The tone correction color patch 22 is a color patch generated based on an output mode corresponding to a document image. The output mode refers to a plurality of output modes representing the type of document viewed from the viewpoint of image quality. Specifically, the output mode includes character mode (documents mainly composed of characters), character / photo mode (documents including both characters and photos), print photograph mode (documents composed mainly of halftone dots), There is a photographic paper mode (photo original printed on photographic paper). The tone correction color patch 22 is output in accordance with the output mode. This is because different output originals have different output screens, and it is necessary to perform gradation correction in accordance with the respective output target screens. As shown in FIG. 2, the tone correction color patch 22 is formed by arranging a plurality of color patches having different hues and brightness (luminance).

  The mode image 24 is an image indicating an output mode. In this embodiment, the output mode is expressed by color. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The output mode may be expressed by a pattern image obtained by encoding the color density and output mode of the mode image 24, for example, a two-dimensional barcode. Good. Further, the mode image 24 may be expressed by encoding output mode information into an existing image without preparing an image separately. For example, the output mode may be indicated by coating the image in which the information indicating the printing position of the tone correction color patch 22 is encoded with a color corresponding to the output mode. By doing so, it becomes possible to express the output mode without increasing the number of images printed on the gradation correction sheet more than necessary.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the back surface of the surface on which the gradation correction color patch of the gradation correction sheet is formed. In the present invention, the front surface of the tone correction sheet refers to the surface on which the tone correction color patch is printed, and the back surface refers to the back surface of the surface on which the tone correction color patch is printed. To do. As shown in the figure, the color patch 26 is printed on the lower part of the back surface of the tone correction sheet on which the tone correction color patch is formed. The color patch 26 is for measuring the show-through degree of the color patch 26 when the gradation correction sheet is scanned from the front. The reason why the color patch 26 is printed on the lower part of the back surface of the gradation correction sheet is to prevent overlapping the gradation correction color patch printed on the front surface when confirming the show-through. Therefore, the printing position is not limited to the lower portion, and any portion other than the lower portion may be used as long as it corresponds to the front margin.

  The color patch 26 is composed of at least one color patch. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, four color patches are printed. However, these color patches may be composed of the same color and density, or each may have a different color and density. It may be configured. The color patch 26 is used to determine whether or not a standard paper is used for the gradation correction sheet and whether or not an appropriate white paper is superimposed on the sheet when the gradation correction sheet is scanned. Is.

  FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the printer 10. The printer 10 functionally includes a receiving unit 30 and an image forming unit 32.

  The receiving unit 30 receives image data to be output from the print controller 12. In the present embodiment, the receiving unit 30 receives the tone correction color patch data 23, the mode image data 25, and the color patch data 27 via the bidirectional interface 14.

  The image forming unit 32 forms a tone correction color patch generated based on the output mode corresponding to the document image and a mode image indicating the output mode on a recording medium, and performs the tone correction color patch. An image of at least one color patch is formed on the back surface of the recording medium on which is formed. The image forming unit 32 is realized by using the hardware of the printer 10. Based on the tone correction color patch data 23, the mode image data 25, and the color patch data 27 received by the receiving unit 30, the printer 10 displays the tone correction color patch 22 and the mode image 24 on the front surface of the printing paper. The color patch 26 is printed on the back side of the paper, and the gradation correction sheet 20 is output.

  FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of the print controller 12. The print controller 12 functionally includes a mode image detection unit 40, a tone correction color patch detection unit 42, a show-through degree measurement unit 44, a paper white density measurement unit 46, a determination unit 48, a determination result processing unit 50, A device profile generation unit 52 and a device profile storage unit 54 are included.

  The mode image detection unit 40 scans the gradation correction sheet and detects a mode image. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, when the mode image is to be printed at a predetermined portion of the gradation correction sheet, for example, at four corners of the sheet, the mode image detection unit 40 scans the predetermined portion. A mode image is detected.

  The tone correction color patch detection unit 42 detects a tone correction color patch from the tone correction sheet. The tone correction color patch detection unit 42 may detect the tone correction color patch by scanning the entire tone correction sheet. For example, the mode image may be information specifying the position of the tone correction color patch. In the case where the color of the image encoded is expressed separately, the tone correction color patch may be detected from the tone correction sheet based on the position designation information included therein.

  The show-through degree measuring unit 44 scans the tone correction sheet and measures the show-through degree of the color patch. In the present embodiment, the show-through degree measuring unit 44 scans the front surface of the gradation correction sheet and measures the density data of the color patch printed on the back surface. Then, a density histogram is created based on the measured density data, and the number of density peaks is measured from the created density histogram. In this embodiment, the number of peaks in this density is used as the show-through degree of the color patch. The number of density peaks indicates the number of dense density value groups when the density values to be approximated are dense.

  The paper white density measuring unit 46 measures the paper white density of the gradation correction sheet. In the present embodiment, the paper white density measurement unit 46 extracts one or a plurality of parts from the front margin of the scanned gradation correction sheet, and measures density data of those parts. Then, a density histogram is generated based on the measured density data, and the mode value of the density histogram is measured from the created density histogram. In this embodiment, the paper white density of the gradation correction sheet is set to a density corresponding to the mode value of the measured density histogram.

  The determination unit 48 determines whether an erroneous setting or an erroneous operation has been performed in the gradation correction processing. In the present embodiment, the determination unit 48 performs the following three types of determination.

  The first type of determination is a determination regarding whether or not the output mode indicated by the mode image detected by the mode image detection unit 40 is the same as the output mode set by the user. As a result, it is possible to automatically detect a case where a gradation correction sheet having a mode different from the output mode designated by the user is set. Specifically, a table in which unique identification information is assigned for each output mode is retained, and the above determination is performed by referring to the table based on the output mode and comparing the associated identification information. Can be done.

  The second type of determination is a determination regarding whether or not a predetermined recording medium is used for the gradation correction sheet based on the detected degree of show-through of the color patch and the density of the paper white of the gradation correction sheet. . Accordingly, it is possible to automatically detect a case where the user mistakenly does not use the standard paper determined as the gradation correction sheet. Specifically, for example, when the standard paper is used for the gradation correction sheet, the show-through degree of the color patch and the density of the paper white are measured and stored in advance, and the stored value and the measured value are stored. The above determination can be made based on whether or not the difference exceeds a certain threshold.

  The third type of determination is based on the detected degree of show-through of the color patch and the density of the paper white of the gradation correction sheet, and whether or not an appropriate white paper is superimposed on the gradation correction sheet. is there. Accordingly, it is possible to automatically detect a case where the user has mistakenly scanned the gradation correction sheet with a blank sheet. Specifically, for example, the degree of show-through of the color patch and the density of paper white when an appropriate white paper is superimposed on the gradation correction sheet are measured and stored in advance, and the stored value The above determination can be made based on whether or not the difference from the measured value exceeds a certain threshold.

  The determination result processing unit 50 performs predetermined processing based on the determination result of the determination unit 48. In this embodiment, the determination result processing unit 50 notifies the user of the determination result in the determination unit 48. If the determination unit 48 determines that an erroneous operation or setting has been made by the determination unit 48, the determination result processing unit 50 displays the content of the erroneous operation on a display connected to the print controller 12 and notifies the user. In this case, for example, a confirmation button may be displayed on the display, and the gradation correction processing in the print controller 12 may be suspended until the confirmation button is pressed.

  The device profile generation unit 52 creates a device profile based on the tone correction color patch of the tone correction sheet. Specifically, the measurement regarding the color of the color patch included in the gradation correction sheet printed by the printer 10 is performed using the scanner 16, and the color value in the standard color space of each patch is obtained using the measurement value. Accumulated as measurement data. A device profile is created by referring to the color space values stored in advance in the device space of the color patches and associating the color values in the standard color space with the color values in the device color space for each color patch. I do.

  The device profile storage unit 54 stores the device profile generated by the device profile generation unit 52 in association with the output mode indicated by the mode image detected by the mode image detection unit 40. The device profile storage unit 54 may further store at least a part of an image formed on the scanned gradation correction sheet in association with the generated device profile.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart of gradation correction processing in the print system 1. In the flowchart, S101 and S103 to S109 are processes in the print controller 12, and S102 is a process in the printer 10. Based on the output mode designated by the user, the print controller 12 refers to the correspondence table between the output mode stored in the memory and the color patch for gradation correction, and creates a device profile corresponding to the output mode. Get a color patch. Further, as the color of the mode image, the correspondence table between the output mode and the color designation data in the memory is referred to, and the color designation data associated with the output mode is set as the drawing color of the mode image. Then, the output instruction of the gradation correction sheet is issued to the printer 10, and at the same time, the image data indicating the gradation correction patch data, the mode image, and at least one color patch is transmitted (S101). Upon receiving the output instruction of the gradation correction sheet, the printer 10 forms on the recording medium the gradation correction patch data corresponding to the received output mode and the mode image indicating the output mode, and the gradation An image of at least one color patch is formed on the back surface of the recording medium on which the correction color patch is formed, and a gradation correction sheet is output (S102).

  Next, gradation correction processing in the print controller 12 will be described below. The print controller 12 scans the gradation correction sheet set on the scanner 16 connected to the print controller 12 (S103), and detects a mode image (S104). Further, the degree of show-through of the color patch printed on the back surface of the gradation correction sheet and the paper white density of the gradation correction sheet are measured (S105). Then, it is determined whether or not the user's setting error, that is, the output mode indicated by the detected mode image is the same as the output mode set by the user in the print controller 12 (S106). In addition, based on the measured degree of show-through and paper white density, whether standard paper with a gradation correction sheet is used is used, or overlaying of white paper at the time of scanning of the gradation correction sheet is appropriate Is determined (S106). In the above determination, when it is determined that the gradation correction is performed due to a setting error or an incorrect procedure, the determination result is notified to the user via the display connected to the print controller 12 ( S107). In that case, the user may return to the scanning of the gradation correction sheet and perform gradation correction again. If there is no setting mistake or the like, a device profile is created based on the tone correction color patch of the tone correction sheet (S108), and the device profile is stored in association with the detected output mode (S109). ), The process is terminated.

  According to the print controller 12 that performs gradation correction based on the gradation correction sheet output by the printer 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention described above, an artificial setting error or erroneous operation at the time of scanning a color patch is caused. Since it can be automatically determined whether or not it has occurred, an erroneous operation in gradation correction can be prevented.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

  For example, the shapes and print positions of the tone correction color patches and mode images printed on the tone correction sheet are not limited to those shown in FIGS.

1 is a system configuration diagram of a printing system including an image forming apparatus and an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a gradation correction sheet output from a printer. It is a figure which shows an example of the back surface of the surface in which the gradation correction color patch of a gradation correction sheet is formed. 2 is a functional block diagram of the printer 10. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a print controller 12. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of gradation correction processing in the print system 1. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  1 Print System, 10 Printer, 12 Print Controller, 14, 15 Bidirectional Interface, 16 Scanner, 20 Gradation Correction Sheet, 22 Gradation Correction Color Patch, 23 Gradation Correction Color Patch Data, 24 Mode Image, 25 Mode Image data, 26 color patches, 27 color patch data, 30 receiving unit, 32 image forming unit, 40 mode image detecting unit, 42 tone correction color patch detecting unit, 44 show-through degree measuring unit, 46 paper white density measuring unit 48 determination unit, 50 determination result processing unit, 52 device profile generation unit, 54 device profile storage unit.

Claims (13)

A unit for forming an image on a recording medium with a tone correction color patch generated based on an output mode corresponding to an original image and a mode image indicating the output mode;
An image forming apparatus. Means for forming an image of a tone correction color patch generated on the basis of an output mode corresponding to a document image on a recording medium;
Means for forming an image on at least one color patch on the back surface of the recording medium on which the color patch for gradation correction is formed,
An image forming apparatus. Tone correction color patches generated based on the output mode corresponding to the original image,
A mode image indicating the output mode;
A recording medium characterized in that is formed. A recording medium on which a tone correction color patch generated based on an output mode corresponding to a document image is formed,
At least one color patch is further formed on the back surface of the recording medium on which the tone correction color patch is formed.
A recording medium characterized by the above. An image processing apparatus that scans a recording medium on which a tone correction color patch generated based on an output mode corresponding to an original image and a mode image indicating the output mode are formed.
Means for detecting the mode image from the recording medium;
Determining means for determining whether or not the output mode indicated by the detected mode image and the output mode set by the user are the same;
A predetermined process based on the determination result is performed.
An image processing apparatus. An image processing apparatus that scans a recording medium on which a tone correction color patch generated based on an output mode corresponding to an original image and a mode image indicating the output mode are formed.
Means for detecting the color patch for gradation correction from the recording medium;
Means for detecting the mode image from the recording medium;
Means for generating a device profile based on the detected tone correction color patch;
Means for storing the generated device profile in association with an output mode indicated by the detected mode image.
An image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6.
Means for storing at least part of the image formed on the scanned recording medium in association with the generated device profile;
An image processing apparatus. A tone correction color patch generated based on an output mode corresponding to an original image, and at least one color patch is formed on the back surface of the recording medium on which the tone correction color patch is formed. An image processing apparatus that scans a recording medium,
Means for measuring a show-through degree of the at least one color patch from the recording medium;
Means for measuring the density of paper white of the recording medium;
Determination means for determining whether or not a predetermined recording medium is used as the recording medium from the measured degree of see-through of the at least one color patch and the density of paper white of the recording medium. ,
A predetermined process based on the determination result is performed.
An image processing apparatus. A tone correction color patch generated based on an output mode corresponding to an original image, and at least one color patch is formed on the back surface of the recording medium on which the tone correction color patch is formed. An image processing apparatus that scans a recording medium,
Means for measuring a show-through degree of the at least one color patch from the recording medium;
Means for measuring the density of paper white of the recording medium;
Determination means for determining whether or not an appropriate white paper is superimposed on the recording medium from the measured show-through degree of the at least one color patch and the density of the paper white of the recording medium,
A predetermined process based on the determination result is performed.
An image processing apparatus. Forming a tone correction color patch generated based on an output mode corresponding to an original image and a mode image indicating the output mode on a recording medium;
A computer control method. Means for forming an image on a recording medium with a color patch for gradation correction generated based on an output mode corresponding to an original image, and a mode image indicating the output mode;
As a program to make the computer function. Forming an image of a tone correction color patch generated on the basis of an output mode corresponding to an original image on a recording medium;
Forming at least one color patch on the back surface of the recording medium on which the tone correction color patch is formed,
A computer control method. Means for forming an image of a tone correction color patch generated on the basis of an output mode corresponding to an original image on a recording medium; and at least one color patch having the tone correction color patch formed thereon Means for forming an image on the back side of the medium;
As a program to make the computer function.

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