JP2007110473A - Color adjustment of color image data - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a color adjustment method capable of adjusting color balance such as gray balance etc. accurately and easily. <P>SOLUTION: Original image data of a RGB format are converted into a data of a Lab format. Then, chrominance (a) and (b) are changed by increase/decrease values ▵a (L) and ▵b (L) according to luminance L of the Lab values without changing the luminance L. Next, data composed of the luminance L and the chrominance (a) and (b) after the change is converted back into a data of a CYMK format, and the converted data are printed by a printer as an image data after correction. As for the increase/decrease values ▵a (L) and ▵b (L), test image data are printed for multiple patterns to make a list. An operator selects the increase/decrease values using the list. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for adjusting the color of color image data visually reproduced by an output device.

  As representative color modes for expressing and reproducing colors, there are RGB and CMY. An example of an output device that reproduces colors using RGB is a color display, and an example of an output device that reproduces colors using CMY is a color printer. Since the color reproducibility in these output devices depends on the characteristics of the device, the target color cannot always be reproduced. For this reason, it is necessary to perform color correction of the image, but this color correction is basically based on gray balance. Conventionally, as a technique for adjusting the gray balance, various techniques such as a technique for obtaining an appropriate blending ratio of C, M, and Y (or R, G, and B) have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). .

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-289162

  However, in the above prior art, the compounding ratio of C, M, Y (or R, G, B) is directly specified, so that it is difficult to adjust the gray balance with high accuracy. was there. This is because the mixing ratio of C, M, and Y (or R, G, and B) is slightly different from the proper value, and the brightness (luminance) is changed to make the color itself completely different from gray. Therefore, it was difficult to adjust the gray balance with high accuracy.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to make it possible to adjust color balance such as gray balance with high accuracy and ease.

  As means for solving at least a part of the problems described above, the following configuration is adopted.

The color adjusting device of the present invention is
A color adjustment device for adjusting the color of color image data visually reproduced by an output device,
Image data input means for inputting target image data in which the color of a pixel is expressed by a first parameter representing brightness and second and third parameters relating to color;
Adjustment amount designating means for designating respective adjustment amounts of the second and third parameters for each value of the first parameter according to an instruction from an operator;
Image data correction means for correcting the target image data in accordance with the adjustment amount for the designated second parameter and the adjustment amount for the third parameter;
Image data reproduction means for reproducing the target image data corrected by the image data correction means with the output device,
The adjustment amount designation means includes:
A first class candidate data storage means for storing a plurality of types of first class candidate data defining an adjustment amount of the second parameter for each value of the first parameter;
A second class candidate data storage means for storing a plurality of types of second class candidate data defining an adjustment amount of the third parameter for each value of the first parameter;
A test in which the color of the target image data is adjusted according to the adjustment amount for the second parameter determined by the first type candidate data and the adjustment amount for the third parameter determined by the second type candidate data Image data, a plurality of types of first type candidate data stored in the first type candidate data storage unit and a plurality of types of second type candidate data stored in the second type candidate data storage unit. Test image data creation means for creating all combinations,
A test reproduction means for experimentally reproducing a plurality of test image data created by the test image data creation means with the output device;
After reproducing the test image data by the test reproduction means, a selection means for selecting a desired one from the plurality of test image data according to an instruction from an operator;
The first type candidate data and the second type candidate data corresponding to the test image data selected by the selection unit are selected, and the adjustment amount and the third parameter for the second parameter are selected. And determining means for determining the adjustment amount.

  According to the color adjustment apparatus having the above configuration, the target image data is input in a data format in which the color of the pixel is expressed by the first parameter representing brightness and the second and third parameters related to color. The respective adjustment amounts of the second and third parameters for each value of the first parameter are designated in accordance with instructions from the operator. Then, the target data is corrected according to the designated adjustment amount. Therefore, the operator can adjust the color balance to the desired color without changing the brightness of the target image data. Therefore, adjustment of color balance such as gray balance can be easily performed with high accuracy.

  Further, the respective adjustment amounts for the second and third parameters are determined from the test image data selected based on the operator's instructions from a plurality of test image data reproduced on a test basis. For this reason, the operator can easily obtain excellent values of the respective adjustment amounts for the second and third parameters by visually confirming the test images visually reproduced by the output device. Can be selected. Therefore, adjustment of color balance such as gray balance can be performed with higher accuracy and ease.

  The target image data includes luminance L as the first parameter, chromaticity a from green to red as the second parameter, and chromaticity b from blue to yellow as the third parameter. It is also possible to use Lab-format color image data in which the color of the pixel is expressed. In addition, L, a, and b are accurately expressed as L *, a *, and b * with “*” after each component. However, in this specification, “*” is omitted for simplicity. Yes.

  According to the above configuration, since the chromaticities a and b corresponding to the psychological four primary colors of a person can be changed, the operator can change the target image data so as to increase red or blue. In contrast, the intended color can be easily given. As a result, the color balance can be adjusted with higher accuracy.

  The target image data may be color image data in YCrCb format in which pixel colors are expressed by brightness Y as the first parameter and color differences Cr and Cb as the second and third parameters. Also with this configuration, the color balance can be adjusted with higher accuracy.

  The adjustment amount designation means designates one value for the first parameter that is a basis for creating the first and second class candidate data as a first parameter designation value according to an instruction from the operator. A plurality of types of the first type candidate data determined based on each adjustment amount value by preparing a plurality of adjustment value values of the second parameter with respect to the first parameter specification value and the first parameter specification value And a plurality of types of the first type candidate data creating means for creating a plurality of types of adjustment values of the third parameter with respect to the first parameter designation value, and a plurality of types of the first parameters determined based on the values of the respective adjustment amounts It is good also as a structure provided with the 2nd class candidate data creation means which creates 2 classes of candidate data.

  According to this configuration, the first type of candidate data and the second type of candidate data are created from the designated value for the first parameter designated by the operator. For this reason, the operator can surely adjust the part of the brightness whose color is desired to be changed to a favorite color. Therefore, the color balance can be adjusted with higher accuracy.

Further, the adjustment amount designating unit is configured to execute the first parameter value designating unit again when the operator inputs an instruction to change the adjustment amount after each adjustment amount is determined by the determining unit. An adjustment value for the second parameter determined by the determination means, the re-execution means and the value of the adjustment amount of the second parameter with respect to the first parameter specified value obtained by the re-execution by the specified re-execution means A plurality of types of the first class candidate data that are prepared based on the amount of adjustment and determined based on the value of each adjustment amount are re-created, The value of the adjustment amount of the third parameter with respect to the first parameter designated value obtained by execution is based on the adjustment amount of the third parameter determined by the determining means. And a plurality prepared, class 2 candidate data re creating means for creating a candidate data for a plurality of types of the second type determined based on the value of the adjustment amount again,
The test image data creation means using the first class candidate data created by the first class candidate data recreation means and the second class candidate data created by the second class candidate data recreation means. It is good also as a structure provided with the means to make it perform again, and to perform the said test reproduction means, a selection means, and a determination means again after that.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to correct the adjustment amount for the second parameter once determined and the adjustment amount for the third parameter based on the determined adjustment amount. Therefore, since the color balance can be finely adjusted, the accuracy of the adjustment can be further increased.

  The output device may be a printing device. According to this configuration, the amount of adjustment for each of the second and third parameters can be determined by visually confirming the printed matter printed by the printing apparatus.

  In the configuration in which the output device is a printing device, the test reproduction unit may print the list of the plurality of test image data on one page. According to this configuration, since the operator can confirm a plurality of test image data at a time, it is easy to compare the plurality of test image data.

The color adjustment method of the present invention includes:
A color adjustment method for adjusting the color of color image data visually reproduced by an output device,
The target image data in which the color of the pixel is expressed by the first parameter representing brightness and the second and third parameters related to the color is input,
Specify the respective adjustment amounts of the second and third parameters for each value of the first parameter according to instructions from the operator,
The target image data is corrected according to the adjustment amount for the designated second parameter and the adjustment amount for the third parameter,
Reproducing the corrected target image data with the output device,
The configuration for specifying the adjustment amount is as follows.
Preparing a plurality of types of candidate data of the first class that defines the adjustment amount of the second parameter for each value of the first parameter;
Preparing a plurality of types of candidate data of the second type that define the adjustment amount of the third parameter for each value of the first parameter;
A test in which the color of the target image data is adjusted according to the adjustment amount for the second parameter determined by the first type candidate data and the adjustment amount for the third parameter determined by the second type candidate data Image data is created over all combinations of the prepared plurality of types of first class candidate data and the plurality of types of second class candidate data,
The created plurality of test image data is reproduced on a trial basis with the output device,
After reproducing the test image data, according to an instruction from an operator, a desired one is selected from the plurality of test image data,
The first type candidate data and the second type candidate data corresponding to the selected test image data are selected, and the adjustment amount for the second parameter and the adjustment amount for the third parameter are set. It is characterized by being determined.

The computer program of the present invention is:
A computer program for adjusting the color of color image data visually reproduced by an output device,
A function of inputting target image data in which the color of a pixel is expressed by a first parameter representing brightness and second and third parameters relating to color;
A function of designating respective adjustment amounts of the second and third parameters for each value of the first parameter according to an instruction from an operator;
A function of correcting the target image data according to the adjustment amount for the designated second parameter and the adjustment amount for the third parameter;
A function of reproducing the corrected target image data with the output device is realized by a computer,
The function to specify the adjustment amount is
A function of preparing a plurality of types of candidate data of the first class that defines the adjustment amount of the second parameter for each value of the first parameter;
A function of preparing a plurality of types of candidate data of the second type that defines the adjustment amount of the third parameter for each value of the first parameter;
A test in which the color of the target image data is adjusted according to the adjustment amount for the second parameter determined by the first type candidate data and the adjustment amount for the third parameter determined by the second type candidate data A function of creating image data for all combinations of the prepared plurality of types of first type candidate data and a plurality of types of second type candidate data;
A function of reproducing the plurality of created test image data on the output device on a trial basis;
A function of selecting a desired one of the plurality of test image data in accordance with an instruction from an operator after reproducing the test image data;
The first type candidate data and the second type candidate data corresponding to the selected test image data are selected, and the adjustment amount for the second parameter and the adjustment amount for the third parameter are set. A computer program having a function to determine.

  The color adjustment method and computer program of the present invention also provide an effect that the adjustment of the color balance such as the gray balance can be accurately and easily performed as in the color adjustment apparatus of the present invention.

  The recording medium of the present invention is characterized by a computer-readable recording medium that records the computer program of the present invention. This recording medium has the same operation and effect as each computer program of the present invention.

  The present invention includes other aspects as follows. The 1st aspect is an aspect as a program supply apparatus which supplies the 1st or 2nd computer program of this invention via a communication path. In the first aspect, the first or second computer program is placed on a server or the like on a computer network, a necessary program is downloaded to a computer via a communication path, and the program is executed. And a device can be realized.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described based on examples. This embodiment will be described in the following order.
1. First embodiment:
A. Device configuration:
B. Computer processing:
B-1. Overall processing:
B-2. Color adjustment processing:
C. Action / Effect:
2. Second embodiment:
3. Other embodiments:

1. First embodiment:
A. Device configuration:
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a computer system to which the first embodiment of the present invention is applied. The computer system of this embodiment mainly includes a personal computer 10 constituting the color adjustment apparatus of the present invention, and includes a display 20, a keyboard 22, and a mouse 24 as its peripheral devices. Furthermore, a digital camera 26, a CD drive 28, and a printer 29 are connected to the personal computer 10.

  The display 20 is a color display that receives RGB color image data in which pixel colors are represented by red (R), green (G), and blue (B). The printer 29 is a color printer that receives CMYK format color image data in which pixel colors are represented by cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K). The mouse 24 can be replaced with other pointing devices such as a trackball, a trackpad, and a tablet.

  The personal computer 10 includes a memory 13, a display image memory 14, a hard disk drive 15, an input control unit 16, a display control unit 17, an output control unit 18, and the like that are mutually connected by a bus 12 around a CPU 11 as a central processing unit. Is provided. The memory 13 stores various data and becomes a work area of the CPU 11. The display image memory 14 is a memory that temporarily stores color image data to be displayed on the display 20.

  The hard disk drive 15 stores a computer program Pr as software of the color adjustment device. The hard disk drive 15 stores one or more color image data (hereinafter also simply referred to as “image data”) Dp. The image data Dp is image data of a captured image taken by the digital camera 26 and is stored in a predetermined area (for example, a holder) of the hard disk drive 15. The image data Dp is RGB color image data.

  The input control unit 16 is a control unit that captures input operations from the keyboard 22 and the mouse 24, captures image data from the digital camera 26, and captures data from the CD drive 28. The display control unit 17 is a control unit that controls signal output to the display 20. The output control unit 18 is a control unit that controls printing on the color printer 29.

  The computer program Pr is originally stored in a CD-ROM (not shown) as a recording medium. The computer program Pr can be read from the CD-ROM and installed in the hard disk drive 15 by setting the CD-ROM in the CD drive 28 and starting a predetermined installation program. When the CPU 11 executes this computer program Pr, various structural requirements of the color adjustment apparatus of the present invention are realized.

  In FIG. 1, various constituent requirements are indicated by functional blocks implemented in the CPU 11. That is, the CPU 11 includes an image data input unit 31, an adjustment amount designation unit 32, an image data correction unit 33, and an image data reproduction unit 34 as functions. The adjustment amount designation unit 32 includes a test image data creation unit 32a, a test reproduction unit 32b, a selection unit 32c, and a determination unit 32d. This computer program Pr is actually an application program for photo retouching that modifies an image captured by the digital camera 26, and functions of the above-described units 31 to 34 and 32a to 32d are controlled by some of the modules. This is realized in the personal computer 10.

  The computer program Pr is provided as a configuration stored in another portable recording medium (portable recording medium) such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, and an IC card in place of the CD-ROM. It can be. Further, the computer program Pr can be provided via a network from a specific server connected to an external network. The network may be the Internet or a computer program obtained by downloading from a specific homepage. Alternatively, it may be a computer program supplied in the form of an email attachment.

B. Computer processing:
B-1. Overall processing:
When the computer program Pr is started, an application window is first displayed on the display 20. This application window constitutes a graphical user interface (GUI).

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the application window WD. As shown in the figure, in the process menu column MN on the left side of the application window WD, four types of buttons BT1, BT2, BT3, and BT4 of [Input], [Modify], [Print], and [Output] are directed downward. The operator clicks these buttons BT1 to BT4 with the mouse 24 in order, and captures and modifies the captured image captured by the digital camera 26 on the screen of the display 20, and outputs it. Work can be carried out.

  First, the operator clicks the [Input] button BT1 to perform processing for capturing the image data Dp from the hard disk drive 15. Here, instead of the hard disk drive 15, it is possible to change to a configuration for capturing image data directly from the digital camera 26 or a configuration for capturing image data from another storage medium such as a DVD. The captured image data (hereinafter referred to as “original image data”) Dp is displayed in the work field FDW of the application window WD.

  Thereafter, the operator clicks the [Modify] button BT2 to modify the captured original image data Dp. FIG. 2 shows the case where the [Modify] button BT2 is clicked. As shown in the figure, the menu bar MB of the application window WD is provided with buttons such as [File], [Course menu], [Edit], [Display], [Modify], [Repair / Process]. In the figure, a pull-down menu PM that opens when the [Modify] button is clicked is shown. The operator clicks the [Modify] button and clicks a desired option from the pull-down menu PM, so that “brightness”, “contrast”, “color balance”, “rotation” are applied to the original image data Dp. And “trimming” can be performed.

B-2. Color adjustment processing:
The above “color balance” relates to the present invention. The color adjustment process executed when the “Color Balance” option in the pull-down menu PM is clicked will be described in detail below. This color adjustment processing is roughly divided into a color conversion engine part that performs color conversion of image data and an interface part that inputs an instruction from the operator to the color conversion engine.

  One of the color modes for expressing and reproducing colors is the Lab color mode defined by CIE (1976). In this color conversion engine, the chromaticity is adjusted according to the luminance L without changing the luminance L. Color conversion is performed by individually changing a and b. Luminance L is a first parameter indicating brightness, chromaticity a is a second parameter indicating green to red among human psychological four primary colors, and chromaticity b is the four primary colors. In this color conversion engine, the chromaticity a in the green to red direction is changed according to the value of the luminance L, and the luminance L is set according to the value of the luminance L. A process of changing the chromaticity b in the blue to yellow direction is performed.

  FIG. 3 is a graph showing an increase / decrease value Δa of the chromaticity a with respect to the luminance L. As shown in the figure, the horizontal axis represents the luminance L, and the vertical axis represents the increase / decrease value Δa of the chromaticity a, and the curve is drawn on the graph for each value 0-100 of the luminance L. The amount of change to the green side or the red side is determined as an increase / decrease value Δa. If the curve is on the plus side as shown by the solid line in the figure, the color is reddish. If the curve is on the minus side as shown in the figure, the color is green. This graph is stored in the memory 13 as the first graph data GD1.

  FIG. 4 is a graph showing an increase / decrease value Δb of the chromaticity b with respect to the luminance L. As shown in the drawing, the horizontal axis represents the luminance L, and the vertical axis represents the increase / decrease value Δb of the chromaticity b. The curve drawn on the graph shows the color for each value 0-100 of the luminance L. The amount of change to the blue side or the yellow side is determined as an increase / decrease value Δb. If the curve is on the plus side as shown by the solid line in the figure, the color is yellowish, and if the curve is on the minus side as shown in the figure, the color is bluish. This graph is stored in the memory 13 as the second graph data GD2.

  In this color conversion engine, image data to be subjected to color conversion is converted into image data in Lab format, and chromaticity a and b are used for each pixel, using the first and second graph data GD1 and GD2 described above. Then, a conversion process is performed according to the luminance L. As a result, it is possible to change the chromaticity for each pixel in accordance with the first and second graph data GD1, GD2, while maintaining the luminance distribution of the image data. On the other hand, in the interface portion, the first and second graph data GD1, GD2 can be changed in accordance with an instruction from the operator. As a result, the operator performs an operation of changing the first and second graph data GD1, GD2 using the interface portion, thereby changing the color of the image data to a reddish color or a bluish color. be able to. Hereinafter, details of such color adjustment processing will be described in detail with reference to flowcharts.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing color adjustment processing executed by the CPU 11. When the [color balance] option in the pull-down menu PM is clicked and the process is started, the CPU 11 first performs a process of displaying the first dialog box DB1 on the display 20 (step S110).

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the first dialog box DB1. As shown in the drawing, in the first dialog box DB1, characters “I will perform variation printing” are displayed, and a slide bar SB for inputting the luminance L is provided. Here, the variation printing is to change the color of the original image data Dp in various ways and print the images after the change in a list, details of which will be described later. The operator operates the slide bar SB by using the mouse 24 to personally specify the value of luminance L for which the color adjustment amount is to be designated during color adjustment (hereinafter, this value is referred to as “color designation luminance value”). Input can be made to the computer 10. The meaning of the color designation luminance value will be described in detail later.

  Returning to FIG. 5, the CPU 11 then takes an operation command using the mouse 24 by the operator for the slider bar SB provided in the first dialog box DB 1, and converts the indicated value of the slider bar SB into the color designation luminance value SL. Is input (step S120). Thereafter, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the [execute] button BT11 provided in the first dialog box DB1 has been clicked with the mouse 24 (step S130). Here, if a negative determination is made, that is, if it is determined that the [Execute] button BT11 is not clicked, the process returns to step S120, and an operation command for the slider bar SB is taken in again. On the other hand, if the determination in step S130 is affirmative, that is, if it is determined that the [Execute] button BT11 is clicked, the CPU 11 proceeds to step S140 and executes a variation printing routine.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing details of the variation printing routine. When the process shifts to this variation printing routine, as shown in the figure, the CPU 11 first selects candidate data for the first graph data GD1 shown in FIG. 3 based on the color designation luminance value SL input in step S120. 5 patterns are prepared (step S210). In addition, although it was set as 5 patterns here, it can also be set as another several pattern. Further, the number of patterns can be changed according to a command from the operator. The candidate data for the first graph data GD1 corresponds to the “first class candidate data” of the present invention.

  FIG. 8 is a graph showing five patterns of candidate data for the first graph data GD1. Similar to FIG. 3, this graph has the horizontal axis indicating the luminance L and the vertical axis indicating the increase / decrease value Δa of the chromaticity a, and five curves Ca1 to Ca5 corresponding to five patterns of candidate data are drawn. It is. Each of the curves Ca1 to Ca5 has the left end (brightness L = 0, increase / decrease value of chromaticity a = 0) PL on the horizontal axis of the graph and the color designation brightness value SL (for example, 50) input in step S120. Connects the corresponding PT and the right end of the horizontal axis (brightness L = 100, increase / decrease value of chromaticity a = 0) PR, and the three points PL, PT, PR3 are smoothly connected by a spline curve. It is drawn as if (interpolate). As a method for this interpolation, other methods such as a Bezier curve can be used instead of the spline curve.

  That is, if a value 50 is input as the color designation luminance value SL from the first dialog box DB1, in the graph of FIG. 8, five points PT1 to PT5 are designated on the straight line with the luminance L = 50, and the left end PL And five curves Ca1 to Ca5 connecting each one of the five points PT1 to PT5 and the right end PR are drawn. For example, a curve Ca3 that overlaps the horizontal axis of a graph with chromaticity a being 0, Ca1 and Ca2 with negative chromaticity a, and Ca4 and Ca5 with positive chromaticity a are drawn. Note that the distribution of the five points PT1 to PT5 has a current value (Δa = 0 when the first target luminance is input) as a central point PT3, two points PT1 on the decrease side of Δa, PT2 is arranged so that the distance between the two points decreases as the distance from PT3 decreases (that is, the distance between PT3 and PT2> the distance between PT2 and PT1), and two points PT4 and PT5 are arranged on the increasing side of Δa from PT3. It arrange | positions so that the distance between two points may become short, so that it leaves | separates (namely, distance of PT3 and PT4> distance of PT4 and PT5). The distribution of the five points PT <b> 1 to PT <b> 5 is not limited to the above-described configuration, and can be a distribution of other modes such as a configuration in which the distance between the two points is equally spaced.

  In this embodiment, the graph in which the curves Ca1 to Ca5 are drawn is actually stored in the memory 13 as tabular data. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the table data TBL1 indicating the curves Ca1 to Ca5 for the increase / decrease value Δa of the chromaticity a. As shown in the figure, in the table data TBL1, the luminance L is arranged in the vertical direction from the value 0 to 100, and the numerical value indicating the increase / decrease value Δa with respect to each value of the luminance L is arranged in the row direction for each of the curves Ca1 to Ca5. It has a shape. Note that the candidate data is not necessarily limited to data in such a table format, and instead of this configuration, map data obtained by mapping the curves Ca1 to Ca5 as they are can also be used.

  FIG. 11 is a graph showing five patterns of candidate data for the first graph data GD1 when the value 20 is input as the color designation luminance value SL. As shown in the drawing, there are five patterns of five curves Ca1 to Cb connecting each of the five points PT1 to PT5 distributed on the straight line of luminance L = 20, the left end PL on the horizontal axis, and the right end QR on the horizontal axis. It is shown as candidate data. As described above, the five patterns of candidate data prepared vary in accordance with the color designation luminance value SL designated by the operator.

  Returning to FIG. 7, when five patterns of candidate data for the first graph data GD1 are prepared in step S210, the CPU 11 also applies the second graph data GD2 to the first graph data GD1, as described above. Based on the color designation luminance value SL input in step S120, a process of preparing five patterns of candidate data is performed (step S220). In addition, although it was set as 5 patterns here, it can also be set as another several pattern. Further, the number of patterns can be changed according to a command from the operator. The candidate data for the second graph data GD2 corresponds to the “second class candidate data” of the present invention.

  FIG. 10 is a graph showing five patterns of candidate data for the second graph data GD2. Similar to the graph of FIG. 4 showing the second graph data, this graph shows an increase / decrease value Δb of the chromaticity b with respect to the luminance L, and five curves Cb1 to Cb5 corresponding to five patterns of candidate data are shown. It is drawn. Each of the curves Cb1 to Cb5 includes the left end of the horizontal axis (brightness L = 0, increase / decrease value of chromaticity b = 0) QL, QT corresponding to the color designation luminance value SL input in step S120, and the horizontal axis Are connected to each other by a spline curve (interpolate) between the three points QL, QT, QR3. It is drawn. As a method for this interpolation, other methods such as a Bezier curve can be used instead of the spline curve.

  That is, if a value 50 is input as the color designation luminance value SL from the first dialog box DB1, five points QT1 to QT5 are designated on the straight line of luminance L = 50 in the graph of FIG. And five curves Cb1 to Cb5 connecting each one of the five points QT1 to QT5 and the right end QR are drawn. For example, a curve Cb3 that overlaps the horizontal axis with chromaticity b being 0, Cb1 and Cb2 with negative chromaticity b, and Cb4 and Cb5 with positive chromaticity b are drawn. The distribution of the five points QT1 to QT5 is such that the current value (Δb = 0 when the first target luminance is input) is set to one point QT3 at the center, and two points QT1, QT2 is arranged so that the distance between the two points decreases as the distance from QT3 decreases (that is, the distance between QT3 and QT2> the distance between QT2 and QT1). It arrange | positions so that the distance between two points may become short, so that it leaves | separates (namely, distance of QT3 and QT4> distance of QT4 and QT5). Note that the distribution of the five points QT1 to QT5 is not limited to the above-described configuration, and may be a distribution of other modes such as a configuration in which the distance between the two points is equal.

  In this embodiment, the graph in which the curves Cb1 to Cb5 are drawn is actually stored in the memory 13 as tabular data. Although not shown, the table data TBL2 has the same data structure as the table data TBL1 shown in FIG. 9 corresponding to the curves Ca1 to Ca5. That is, the table data TBL2 has a shape in which the luminance L is arranged in the vertical direction from the value 0 to 100, and the numerical values indicating the increase / decrease values Δb with respect to each value of the luminance L are arranged in the row direction for each of the curves Cb1 to Cb5. ing. The candidate data is not necessarily limited to such tabular data, and instead of this configuration, map data obtained by mapping the curves Cb1 to Cb5 as they are can be used. Similarly to the curves Ca1 to Ca5 in FIG. 11, the five patterns of candidate data prepared for the curves Cb1 to Cb5 vary depending on the color designation luminance value SL designated by the operator. The memory 13 for storing the table data TBL1, TBL2 described above corresponds to the first class candidate data storage means and the second class candidate data storage means of the present invention.

  Returning to FIG. 7, after executing step S220, the CPU 11 sets a value 1 to the variable s (step S230) and sets a value 1 to the variable t (step S240). The variable s is a variable for specifying one of the five patterns of candidate data for the first graph data GD1 prepared in step S210. The variable t is a variable for specifying one of the five patterns of candidate data for the second graph data GD2 prepared in step S220. Thereafter, the CPU 11 advances the process to step S250 to execute a chromaticity correction routine.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing details of the chromaticity correction routine. When the process shifts to this chromaticity correction routine, as shown in the figure, the CPU 11 first performs a process of generating test image data Dt in Lab format from the original image data Dp (step S310). Here, the original image data Dp is copied to generate test image data Dt, and the test image data Dt is converted into Lab format image data. In order to convert from device-dependent colors such as RGB (device-dependent color) to devices such as Lab, which do not depend on devices (device-independent color), it is necessary to grasp the characteristics of the color representation of the device. In this computer system, a profile describing characteristics of color expression of the device (in this embodiment, the digital camera 26) is stored in the memory 13 (or the hard disk drive 15) in advance. In step S310, although detailed description is omitted here, a process of converting pixel data in the RGB format into pixel data in the Lab format is performed using a known method using the profile.

  Next, the CPU 11 sets a value 0 to a variable i indicating the horizontal position of the test image data Dt (step S320), and then sets a value j to a variable j indicating the vertical position of the test image data Dt. Set (step S330). Subsequently, the CPU 11 selects pixel data P (i, j) at coordinates (i, j) determined by the variables i and j from the test image data Dt, and this pixel data P (i, j ) Is read (step S340). The Lab values obtained in this way are L1, a1, and b1 here.

  Thereafter, the CPU 11 compares the variable s set in step S230 and the luminance L1 obtained in step S340 with the table data TBL1 for the chromaticity a, thereby increasing / decreasing value Δa (corresponding to the variable s and the luminance L1). L1) is obtained (step S350). Specifically, in the table data TBL1 shown in FIG. 9, the curve Cas corresponding to the variable sth (curve Ca1 when s = 1, curve Ca2 when s = 2,... Curve Ca5 when s = 5 ) And a row of luminance L corresponding to the luminance L1, and an increase / decrease value Δa determined by this column and row is extracted as Δa (L1).

  Next, the CPU 11 collates the variable t set in step S240 and the luminance L1 obtained in step S340 with the table data TBL2 for chromaticity b, whereby Δb (L1) corresponding to the variable t and L1 described above. Is obtained (step S360). Specifically, in the table data TBL2, a column of the curve Cbt corresponding to the variable t-th (curve Cb1 when t = 1, curve Cb2 when t = 2,... Curve Cb5 when t = 5), A row of luminance L corresponding to the luminance L1 is obtained, and an increase / decrease value Δb determined by this column and row is extracted as Δb (L1).

  Thereafter, the CPU 11 performs a process of adding the increase / decrease values Δa (L1) and Δb (L1) obtained in steps S350 and S360 to the chromaticities a1 and b1 obtained in step S310 (step S370). That is, addition processing based on the following expressions (1) and (2) is performed.

a1 ′ = a1 + Δa (L1) (1)
b1 ′ = b1 + Δb (L1) (2)

  As a result of the processing in step S370, the pixel data P (i, j) of the test image data Dt has the chromaticities a and b in the calculation results of the above (1) and (2) while the luminance L is maintained. It will be corrected. Thereafter, the CPU 11 increments the variable j by a value 1 (step S380), and determines whether the variable j exceeds the number of pixels n in the vertical direction of the test image data Dt (step S390). If it is determined that the variable j does not exceed the number of pixels n, the CPU 11 returns the process to step S340 and repeatedly executes the processes of steps S340 to S390.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S390 that the variable j has exceeded the number of pixels n, the process proceeds to step S392. In step S392, the variable i is incremented by 1 and then it is determined whether or not the variable i exceeds the number of pixels m in the horizontal direction of the original image data Dp (step S394). If it is determined that the variable i does not exceed the number of pixels m, the CPU 11 returns the process to step S330 and repeatedly executes the processes of steps S330 to S394. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S394 that the variable i has exceeded the number of pixels m, the process returns to “RETURN” and the chromaticity correction routine is temporarily terminated.

  That is, according to the chromaticity correction routine having the above-described configuration, the Lab-format test image data Dt obtained from the original image data Dp has an increase / decrease value Δa in which the chromaticity a and b correspond to the luminance L1 for each pixel. Correction is performed using (L1) and Δb (L1). The increase / decrease value Δa (L1) for the chromaticity a is based on the variable s from among the color designation luminance value SL designated by the operator and the curves Ca1 to Ca5 recorded in the first graph data GD1. The increase / decrease value Δb (L1) for the chromaticity b is determined by the curve Cas selected and the curves Cb1 to Cb5 recorded in the color designation luminance value SL designated by the operator and the second graph data GD2. Is a value determined by the curve Cb selected based on the variable t.

  Returning to FIG. 7, when the process of the chromaticity correction routine in step S250 is exited, the process proceeds to step S260, the test image data Dt obtained in the chromaticity correction routine is reduced, and transferred to the page data. Perform processing.

  FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the page data PD. As shown in the figure, the page data PD includes five image areas PA in the horizontal direction, five in the vertical direction, and a total of 25 image areas PA. The test image obtained by the chromaticity correction routine is provided. The reduced image of the data Dt is transferred to the image region of the column determined by the variable s and the row determined by the variable t.

  Returning to FIG. 7, thereafter, the CPU 11 increments the variable t by a value 1 (step S270), and determines whether or not the variable t exceeds the value 5 (step S280). If it is determined that the variable t does not exceed the value 5, the CPU 11 returns the process to step S250 and repeatedly executes the processes of steps S250 to S280.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S280 that the variable t has exceeded the value 5, the process proceeds to step S290. In step S290, the variable s is incremented by 1 and then it is determined whether or not the variable s exceeds 5 (step S292). If it is determined that the variable s does not exceed the value 5, the CPU 11 returns the process to step S240 and repeatedly executes the processes of steps S240 to S292. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S292 that the variable s exceeds the value 5, the CPU 11 advances the process to step S294.

  In step S294, the CPU 11 outputs the page data PD obtained in step S260 to the printer 29 to print the page (step S294). In this variation printing routine, the process of correcting the chromaticity of the image in step S250 and transferring the reduced image of the image to the page data PD in step S260 is performed, from variable 1 to value 5, and variable t to value 1. Since the processing is performed over all combinations of the values from 1 to 5, reduced images are arranged for all five image areas PA in the horizontal direction and five in the vertical direction prepared in the page data PD. Will be. Since the reduced image is Lab format image data, in step S294, the page data is once converted into RGB format image data and printed. The RGB format image data is converted into CMYK format image data via a printer driver and sent to the printer 29. In the memory 13 (or hard disk drive 15), a profile describing the characteristics of the color expression of the printer 29 is stored in advance. The printer driver uses the profile of the printer 29 to convert pixel data in RGB format into CMYK format. The conversion to the pixel data is performed.

  FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the page PG printed in step S294. As shown in the figure, on the page PG, five reduced images of the original image data Dp are printed in a list in a matrix form with five in the vertical direction and five in the horizontal direction. Is obtained by correcting the chromaticity a based on the curve Ca1 corresponding to the variable s = 1 in the first graph data GD1. The second column is corrected based on the curve Ca2, the third column is corrected based on the curve Ca3, the fourth column is corrected based on the curve Ca4, and the fifth column is corrected based on the curve Ca5. It is a thing. Therefore, although not clearly shown in the drawing for the sake of illustration, the reduced image located in the left column has a greenish color, and the reduced image located in the right column has a reddish color. On the other hand, the reduced image in the uppermost first row is obtained by correcting the chromaticity b based on the curve Cb1 corresponding to the variable t = 1 in the second graph data GD2. The second line is corrected based on the curve Cb2, the third line is corrected based on the curve Cb3, the fourth line is corrected based on the curve Cb4, and the fifth line is corrected based on the curve Cb5. It is a thing. Therefore, although not clearly shown in the drawing for the sake of illustration, the reduced image located in the upper row has a bluish color, and the reduced image located in the lower row has a yellowish color.

  In this embodiment, serial numbers NB such as “No. 1” and “No. 2” are printed below each reduced image. The serial number NB is a number for identifying each reduced image. The reduced image in the upper left (first row, first column) is “No. 1”, and “No. 2”, “No. .3 "," No. 4 ", and" No. 5 ". Next, from the left in the second row, “No. 6”, “No. 7”, “No. 8”, “No. 9”, “No. 10” are obtained. Numbers are assigned in ascending order toward the right side, and the image in the lower right (fifth row, fifth column) is finally “No. 25”.

  Returning to FIG. 7, after executing step S <b> 294, the process returns to “RETURN” to end the variation printing routine. In this variation printing routine, the original image data Dp is converted into Lab format image data and color correction is performed, and then the test image data Dt after color correction is reduced. Alternatively, an image obtained by reducing the original image data Dp may be generated first, and the reduced image may be converted into Lab format data for color correction. According to this configuration, the processing speed can be increased.

  Returning to FIG. 5, when the variation printing routine in step S <b> 140 is completed, the CPU 11 then proceeds to step S <b> 150 to perform processing for displaying the second dialog box DB <b> 2 on the display 20.

  FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the second dialog box DB2. As shown in the drawing, in the second dialog box DB2, characters “Please specify an image of a favorite color” are displayed, and a data input field FD for entering a number is provided. The operator visually recognizes the page PG printed by the variation printing routine, selects a reduced image having a good color, and uses the keyboard for the serial number NB assigned to the good reduced image in the data input field FD. Use 22 to enter.

  Returning to FIG. 5, next, the CPU 11 performs a process of taking in the numerical value NN input from the data input field FD provided in the second dialog box DB2 (step S160). After that, the CPU 11 divides the numerical value NN fetched in step S160 by the value 5 which is the number of rows of the page PG, and calculates the numerical value of which row of the page PG is the numerical value NN from the quotient and remainder (Step S170). Thereafter, the CPU 11 sets the number of columns obtained in step S170 to the variable s and sets the number of rows obtained in step S170 to the variable t (step S180).

  Since the reduced image on the page PG corresponding to the serial number NB input from the data input field FD of the second dialog box DB2 is the image that the operator has determined to have the best color as described above, By examining which candidate data in the first graph data GD1 and which candidate data in the second graph data GD2 are used for the chromaticity correction of the determined image, the first desired by the operator is obtained. Graph data GD1 and second graph data GD2 can be obtained. As described above, the number of columns representing the position of the reduced image printed on the page PG corresponds to the variable s when correcting the chromaticity of the reduced image, and the number of rows is the variable when correcting the chromaticity of the reduced image. Since it corresponds to t, it is possible to detect the first graph data GD1 and the second graph data GD2 that the operator has determined to be good by executing the processing of steps S170 and S180. Become. The processes from step S110 to step S180 and the first and second dialog boxes DB1 and DB2 displayed in the series of processes correspond to the interface portion described above.

  Thereafter, the CPU 11 uses the first graph data GD1 determined by the variable s obtained in step S180 and the second graph data GD2 determined by the variable t obtained in step S180, and uses the chromaticity of the original image data Dp. A chromaticity correction routine for correcting a and b is executed (step S190). The chromaticity correction routine executed in this step has substantially the same configuration as the chromaticity correction routine shown in FIG. The difference is that in the configuration of FIG. 12, test image data Dt is generated from the original image data Dp, and the chromaticities a and b of the test image data Dt are corrected. In S190, the output image data Dout is used instead of the test image data Dt. That is, in step S310 in FIG. 12, Lab format output image data Dout is generated from the original image data Dp, and in steps S340 and S370, the output image data Dout is processed. In steps S350 and S360, the variables s and t obtained in step S180 are used.

  Returning to FIG. 5, after executing step S190, the CPU 11 performs a process of printing the output image data Dout that has been chromaticity corrected in step S190 (step S192). Specifically, printing is performed by converting the output image data Dout from pixel data in Lab format to pixel data in CMYK format and outputting it to the printer 29. Note that the conversion from the Lab format to the CMYK format is performed using a known method using the profile of the printer 29 stored in the memory 13 (or the hard disk drive 15). Thereafter, the process returns to “Return” to end the chromaticity correction routine once.

  Clicking on the [Input] button BT1 to fetch the original image data Dp from the hard disk drive 15 and processing in step S310 in the chromaticity correction routine (including processing corresponding to step S310 executed in step S190) Corresponds to the image data input unit 31 (FIG. 1). Of the color adjustment processing of the first dialog box DB1 and the second dialog box DB2, steps S110 to S180 correspond to the adjustment amount designation unit 32 (FIG. 1), and step S190 processing corresponds to the image data correction unit 33 (FIG. 1), the process of step S192 corresponds to the image data reproduction unit 34 (FIG. 1). Further, steps S230 to S292 in the variation printing routine correspond to the test image data creation unit 32a (FIG. 1), and step S294 in the variation printing routine corresponds to the test reproduction unit 32b (FIG. 1). Correspondingly, the processing in steps S150 and S160 of the second dialog box DB2 and color adjustment processing corresponds to the selection unit 32c (FIG. 1), and the processing in steps S170 and S180 corresponds to the determination unit 32d (FIG. 1). .

C. Action / Effect:
According to the computer system of the first embodiment configured as described above, the original image data Dp expressed in RGB format is converted into image data in Lab format, and then the luminance L of the Lab value is changed. Without changing, the chromaticity a, b is changed by the increase / decrease values Δa, Δb corresponding to the luminance L, and then the data composed of the luminance L and the chromaticity a, b after the change is converted into CMYK format. Is output to the printer 29. The increase / decrease values Δa and Δb are designated according to instructions from the operator. Therefore, the operator can adjust the color balance determined from the chromaticities a and b to the favorite color without changing the brightness (luminance L) of the original image data Dp.

  Further, the increase / decrease values Δa and Δb, which are the respective adjustment amounts for the second and third parameters, were printed on a trial basis based on the candidate data for the first and second graph data GD1 and GD2. It is determined from a desired one selected from a plurality of reduced images according to an instruction from the operator. For this reason, the operator can easily select an excellent value of each adjustment amount for the chromaticities a and b by visually confirming the test image actually printed by the printer 29. it can. Therefore, according to the computer system of the first embodiment, adjustment of color balance such as gray balance can be easily performed with high accuracy.

  As a modification of the first embodiment, when the first dialog box DB1 is displayed and an arbitrary position on the original image data Dp displayed in the work field FDW of the application window WD is clicked, The RGB value of the pixel at the clicked position is converted into a Lab value, and the indication value of the slider bar SB provided in the first dialog box DB1 is set as the value of the luminance L among the converted Lab values. It is good also as a structure. According to this configuration, when the operator looks at the original image data Dp displayed on the display 20 and checks a portion that should originally be displayed as a predetermined color (for example, gray), that portion By simply clicking, the brightness value for color specification can be set. Therefore, the operability is improved.

2. Second embodiment:
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment, the candidate data for the first graph data GD1 and the candidate data for the second graph data GD2 are determined by inputting the luminance value SL for color designation only once. In the second embodiment, after determining the first graph data GD1 and the second graph data GD2 in the same direction as in the first embodiment (that is, after executing the processing from step S110 to step S180), the color is changed again. The designation luminance value can be input, and the determined first graph data GD1 and second graph data GD2 can be corrected based on the input new color designation luminance value SL ′.

  Specifically, in the second embodiment, in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment, in the color adjustment process of FIG. 5, whether color adjustment is changed between step S180 and step S190. It was set as the structure which determines whether or not. This determination is made based on whether or not the [Continue Color Adjustment] button is provided in the dialog box DB2 shown in FIG. If it is determined that the [Continue Color Adjustment] button has been clicked, the process returns to step S110 to prompt the operator to input the luminance value SL for color designation again. Then, in step S210 of the variation printing routine, the CPU 11 refers to the input new color designation luminance value (hereinafter, this second color designation luminance value is referred to as “color designation luminance value SL2”). Based on the first graph data GD1 determined in the first process, new candidate data for the first graph data GD1 is prepared. Also, in step S220 of the variation printing routine, new candidate data for the second graph data GD2 is obtained based on the color designation luminance value SL2 and the second graph data GD2 determined in the second process. prepare.

  FIG. 16 is a graph showing new candidate data for the first graph data GD1. As in FIG. 11, this graph has the luminance L on the horizontal axis and the increase / decrease value Δa of the chromaticity a on the vertical axis, and five curves XCa1 to XCa5 corresponding to five patterns of candidate data are drawn. It is. The five curves XCa1 to XCa5 are the first graph data GD1 (first graph data GD1 determined from the variable s obtained by the first step S180) determined by the first color adjustment processing and 2 It is created based on the second color designation luminance value SL2. In the illustrated example, the first graph data GD1 determined in the first color adjustment processing is the curve Ca4 illustrated in FIG. 11, and then the value 50 is input as the second color designation luminance value SL2. Is the case.

  Specifically, in the first graph data GD1 determined in the first color adjustment process, a point corresponding to the color designation luminance value SL (value 20 in the example of FIG. 11) designated in the first time (in the drawing). While maintaining PT4), five points XPT1 to XPT5 are distributed on a straight line of luminance L = 50 which is the second color designation luminance value SL2. The distribution of the five points PT1 to PT5 is such that the value on the first graph data GD1 is the center point XPT3, the two points XPT1 and XPT2 are on the decrease side of Δa, and the distance between the two points is further away from XPT3. (Ie, the distance between XPT3 and XPT2> the distance between XPT2 and XPT1), and the two points XPT4 and XPT5 on the increasing side of Δa, the distance between the two points decreases as the distance from PT3 increases. (Ie, distance between XPT3 and XPT4> distance between PT4 and PT5). The distribution of the five points XPT1 to XPT5 need not be limited to the above-described configuration, and can be a distribution of other modes such as a configuration in which the distance between the two points is equal. In short, if a point on the first graph data GD1 determined in the first color adjustment processing is used as a reference, how is it on the straight line of luminance L = 50 which is the luminance value SL2 for the second color designation? It may be distributed.

  The new candidate data for the second graph data GD2 is also the second graph data GD2 determined in the first color adjustment process, as in the case of creating the new candidate data for the first graph data GD1 described above. It is created based on (first graph data GD1 determined from the variable s obtained by the first processing in step S180) and the second color designation luminance value SL2.

  When new candidate data for the first and second graph data GD1 and GD2 is created, the CPU 11 thereafter performs steps S230 to S294 in FIG. 7 and steps in FIG. 5 as in the first embodiment. By proceeding with the processing from S150 to S192, as in the first embodiment, the reduced image of the test image data Dt determined from both candidate data is printed, and the operator selects the reduced image of the favorite color. Thus, new first graph data GD1 and second graph data GD2 are determined, chromaticity correction is performed based on both graph data GD1 and GD2, and output image data Dout after the correction is printed. If the operator does not have sufficient chromaticity even after the second color adjustment, the operator repeats the color adjustment in steps S110 to S180 by clicking the [Continue Color Adjustment] button again. Can be done.

  According to the second embodiment configured as described above, the same effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained. Further, the increase / decrease values Δa and Δb of the chromaticity a with respect to the luminance L once determined can be corrected with reference to the determined increase / decrease values Δa and Δb. Therefore, since the color balance can be finely adjusted, the accuracy of the adjustment can be further increased.

3. Other embodiments:
The present invention is not limited to the first and second embodiments and modifications described above, and can be carried out in various modes without departing from the gist of the present invention. Various modifications are possible.

(1) In the above embodiment, the original image data is converted into RGB format data, and the Lab values corresponding to the first to third parameters of the present invention are obtained from the RGB values. The original image data may be image data expressed in the Lab format.

(2) In the above embodiment, the target image data to be subjected to chromaticity correction is Lab format color image data, but instead, the pixel color is expressed by the brightness Y and the color differences Cr and Cb. Alternatively, YCrCb format color image data may be used. Furthermore, the target image data is replaced with the color image data in the YCrCb format, and is in another format in which the color of the pixel is expressed by the first parameter representing brightness and the second and third parameters related to color. It can also be image data. Note that the second and third parameters relating to the color may be any parameters as long as they define colors in different directions in the color space.

(3) In the above-described embodiment, a plurality of test image data is printed on one sheet. However, it is not always necessary to print on one sheet, and a configuration covering a plurality of pages is also possible. In addition, one test image data may be printed for each page.

(4) In the above embodiment, the output device of the present invention is the printer 29, but the output device may be the display 20 instead. Since the printer 29 is a color display that receives color image data in RGB format, in this modification, the original image data is temporarily replaced with image data in RGB format, and the image data in RGB format is converted into image data in Lab format. Convert to. The handling of the Lab format image data is the same as in the above embodiment, and the Lab format image data after chromaticity correction is converted into an RGB format image signal and output to the display 20. According to this configuration, since the optimum corrected image data can be found by displaying a list of test image data on the display 20, color balance such as gray balance in the display of the display 20 can be accurately and easily performed. Can be adjusted. Further, the output device may be another device as long as it visually reproduces color image data.

It is explanatory drawing which shows schematic structure of the computer system to which 1st Example of this invention is applied. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of application window WD. 5 is a graph showing an increase / decrease value Δa of chromaticity a with respect to luminance L. 5 is a graph showing an increase / decrease value Δb of chromaticity b with respect to luminance L. 4 is a flowchart illustrating color adjustment processing executed by a CPU 11. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of 1st dialog box DB1. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of a variation printing routine. It is a graph which shows the candidate data of 5 patterns about 1st graph data GD1. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the table data TBL1 which shows the curve Ca1-Ca5 about increase / decrease value (DELTA) a of chromaticity a. It is a graph which shows the candidate data of 5 patterns about 2nd graph data GD2. It is a graph which shows 5 patterns of candidate data about the 1st graph data GD1 when the value 20 is input as the luminance value SL for color designation. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of a chromaticity correction routine. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of page data PD. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the page PG printed by the variation printing routine. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of 2nd dialog box DB2. It is a graph which shows new candidate data about the 1st graph data GD1 in the 2nd example.

Explanation of symbols

10 ... Personal computer 11 ... CPU
12 ... Bus 13 ... Memory 14 ... Display image memory 15 ... Hard disk drive 16 ... Input control unit 17 ... Display control unit 18 ... Output control unit 20 ... Display 22 ... Keyboard 24 ... Mouse 26 ... Digital camera 28 ... CD drive 29 ... Printer 31 ... Image data input part 32 ... Adjustment amount designation part 32a ... Test image data Creation unit 32b ... Test reproduction unit 32c ... Selection unit 32d ... Determining unit 33 ... Image data correction unit 34 ... Image data reproduction unit Dp ... Original image data Dt ... For test Image data Dout ... Output image data DB1 ... First dialog box DB2 ... Second dialog box SL ... Brightness value for color specification Pr ... Computer program WD ... Application window

Claims (14)

A color adjustment device for adjusting the color of color image data visually reproduced by an output device,
Image data input means for inputting target image data in which the color of a pixel is expressed by a first parameter representing brightness and second and third parameters relating to color;
Adjustment amount designating means for designating respective adjustment amounts of the second and third parameters for each value of the first parameter according to an instruction from an operator;
Image data correction means for correcting the target image data in accordance with the adjustment amount for the designated second parameter and the adjustment amount for the third parameter;
Image data reproduction means for reproducing the target image data corrected by the image data correction means with the output device,
The adjustment amount designation means includes:
A first class candidate data storage means for storing a plurality of types of first class candidate data defining an adjustment amount of the second parameter for each value of the first parameter;
A second class candidate data storage means for storing a plurality of types of second class candidate data defining an adjustment amount of the third parameter for each value of the first parameter;
A test in which the color of the target image data is adjusted according to the adjustment amount for the second parameter determined by the first type candidate data and the adjustment amount for the third parameter determined by the second type candidate data Image data, a plurality of types of first type candidate data stored in the first type candidate data storage unit and a plurality of types of second type candidate data stored in the second type candidate data storage unit. Test image data creation means for creating all combinations,
A test reproduction means for experimentally reproducing a plurality of test image data created by the test image data creation means with the output device;
After reproducing the test image data by the test reproduction means, a selection means for selecting a desired one from the plurality of test image data according to an instruction from an operator;
The first type candidate data and the second type candidate data corresponding to the test image data selected by the selection unit are selected, and the adjustment amount and the third parameter for the second parameter are selected. A color adjustment apparatus comprising: a determination unit that determines an adjustment amount. The color adjustment device according to claim 1,
The target image data includes luminance L as the first parameter, chromaticity a from green to red as the second parameter, and chromaticity b from blue to yellow as the third parameter. A color adjusting device which is Lab format color image data in which the color of a pixel is expressed by. The color adjustment device according to claim 1,
The target image data is color image data in YCrCb format in which the color of a pixel is expressed by lightness Y as the first parameter and color differences Cr and Cb as the second and third parameters. apparatus. The color adjusting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The adjustment amount designation means includes:
First parameter value designating means for designating one value for the first parameter that is a basis for creating the first and second class candidate data as a first parameter designated value according to an instruction from an operator;
A first class candidate that prepares a plurality of adjustment amount values of the second parameter with respect to the first parameter specification value and creates a plurality of types of the first class candidate data determined based on the value of each adjustment amount Data creation means;
A second class candidate that prepares a plurality of adjustment amount values of the third parameter for the first parameter specification value and creates a plurality of types of the second class candidate data determined based on the value of each adjustment amount A color adjustment device comprising: data creation means. The color adjusting device according to claim 4,
The adjustment amount designation means includes:
A designation re-execution unit that causes the first parameter value designation unit to be re-executed when an instruction to change the adjustment amount is input from an operator after the determination unit determines each adjustment amount;
The value of the adjustment amount of the second parameter with respect to the first parameter designated value obtained by re-execution by the designation re-execution means is based on the adjustment amount for the second parameter determined by the determination means. First class candidate data re-creating means for re-creating a plurality of types of the first class candidate data determined based on the value of each adjustment amount.
The value of the third parameter adjustment amount with respect to the first parameter specified value obtained by the re-execution by the specified re-execution means is based on the adjustment amount for the third parameter determined by the determination means. A second class candidate data re-creating means for re-creating a plurality of types of the second class candidate data determined based on the value of each adjustment amount;
The test image data creation means using the first class candidate data created by the first class candidate data recreation means and the second class candidate data created by the second class candidate data recreation means. A color adjusting apparatus comprising: a unit that executes the test again, and then executes the test reproduction unit, the selection unit, and the determination unit again. The color adjusting device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The output device is a printing device. The color adjustment device according to claim 6,
The test reproduction means includes
A color adjustment apparatus configured to print a list of the plurality of test image data on one page. A color adjustment method for adjusting the color of color image data visually reproduced by an output device,
The target image data in which the color of the pixel is expressed by the first parameter representing brightness and the second and third parameters related to the color is input,
Specify the respective adjustment amounts of the second and third parameters for each value of the first parameter according to instructions from the operator,
The target image data is corrected according to the adjustment amount for the designated second parameter and the adjustment amount for the third parameter,
Reproducing the corrected target image data with the output device,
The configuration for specifying the adjustment amount is as follows.
Preparing a plurality of types of candidate data of the first class that defines the adjustment amount of the second parameter for each value of the first parameter;
Preparing a plurality of types of candidate data of the second type that define the adjustment amount of the third parameter for each value of the first parameter;
A test in which the color of the target image data is adjusted according to the adjustment amount for the second parameter determined by the first type candidate data and the adjustment amount for the third parameter determined by the second type candidate data Image data is created over all combinations of the prepared plurality of types of first class candidate data and the plurality of types of second class candidate data,
The created plurality of test image data is reproduced on a trial basis with the output device,
After reproducing the test image data, according to an instruction from an operator, a desired one is selected from the plurality of test image data,
The first type candidate data and the second type candidate data corresponding to the selected test image data are selected, and the adjustment amount for the second parameter and the adjustment amount for the third parameter are set. The color adjustment method that is the configuration to be determined. A computer program for adjusting the color of color image data visually reproduced by an output device,
A function of inputting target image data in which the color of a pixel is expressed by a first parameter representing brightness and second and third parameters relating to color;
A function of designating respective adjustment amounts of the second and third parameters for each value of the first parameter according to an instruction from an operator;
A function of correcting the target image data according to the adjustment amount for the designated second parameter and the adjustment amount for the third parameter;
A function of reproducing the corrected target image data with the output device is realized by a computer,
The function to specify the adjustment amount is
A function of preparing a plurality of types of candidate data of the first class that defines the adjustment amount of the second parameter for each value of the first parameter;
A function of preparing a plurality of types of candidate data of the second type that defines the adjustment amount of the third parameter for each value of the first parameter;
A test in which the color of the target image data is adjusted according to the adjustment amount for the second parameter determined by the first type candidate data and the adjustment amount for the third parameter determined by the second type candidate data A function of creating image data for all combinations of the prepared plurality of types of first type candidate data and a plurality of types of second type candidate data;
A function of reproducing the plurality of created test image data on the output device on a trial basis;
A function of selecting a desired one of the plurality of test image data in accordance with an instruction from an operator after reproducing the test image data;
The first type candidate data and the second type candidate data corresponding to the selected test image data are selected, and the adjustment amount for the second parameter and the adjustment amount for the third parameter are set. A computer program having a function to determine. A computer program according to claim 9,
The target image data includes luminance L as the first parameter, chromaticity a from green to red as the second parameter, and chromaticity b from blue to yellow as the third parameter. A computer program which is color image data in the Lab format in which the color of a pixel is expressed by. A computer program according to claim 9,
The target image data is color image data in YCrCb format in which pixel colors are expressed by brightness Y as the first parameter and color differences Cr and Cb as the second and third parameters. . A computer program according to any one of claims 9 to 11,
The function to specify the adjustment amount is
A function of designating one value for a first parameter as a basis for creating the first and second class candidate data as a first parameter designated value according to an instruction from an operator;
A function of preparing a plurality of adjustment amount values of the second parameter with respect to the first parameter specification value, and creating a plurality of types of the first type candidate data determined based on the value of each adjustment amount;
A function of preparing a plurality of adjustment value values of the third parameter with respect to the first parameter specification value and creating a plurality of types of the second type candidate data determined based on the value of each adjustment amount; Computer program. A computer program according to any one of claims 9 to 12,
The output device is a printing device;
The function of reproducing the plurality of test image data on a trial basis is as follows.
A computer program configured to print a list of the plurality of test image data on one page.   A computer-readable recording medium in which the computer program according to any one of claims 9 to 13 is recorded.

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