JP2008022149A - Color element group selection apparatus and color element group selection program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a color element group selection apparatus and a color element group selection program capable of easily selecting one color element group among a plurality of color element groups. <P>SOLUTION: The color element group selection apparatus is provided with: an image reproduction section 420 that obtains a plurality of reproduction images by reproducing colors of an original image by the use of each of the plurality of color element groups, each of which comprises a plurality of color elements and kinds and/or the number of the color elements of which differ from one another; an accuracy calculation section 430 for calculating an other-color-gamut area ratio that is an area ratio of an image part colored in colors other than the color gamut of each color element group to the original image as to each of the plurality of color element groups; a cost calculation section 440 for calculating cost required for printing by inks in particular colors as to each of the plurality of color element groups; and a selection section 450 that selects one color element group among the plurality of color element groups on the basis of the other-color-gamut area ratio and the cost. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a color element group selection device and a computer for selecting one color element group from a plurality of color element groups each having a plurality of color elements and having different types and / or numbers of color elements. The present invention relates to a color element group selection program that operates as a simple color element group selection device.

Conventionally, in a printing press, inks of four color elements (process colors) of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) are generally used. Color is output on the paper by visual mixing. In addition, in order to appropriately output colors that cannot be output only with such process colors, for example, colors of other colors (special colors) such as red (R), green (G), and blue (B). A technique of using elements has been proposed (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1).
M.M. Mahy and D.H. D. Bear, "HIFI Color Printing with a Color Management System", "The First Color Imaging Conference: Color Science, Systems, and Applications", p. 277-p. 283, 1997

  Here, what kind of color element group is selected from among a plurality of color element groups, each of which is composed of a plurality of color elements such as process colors and special colors, and the types and numbers of color elements are different from each other, It is left to the judgment of users such as image editors or printers. However, such determination requires skill and is a heavy burden on the user.

  In view of the above circumstances, the present invention provides a color element group selection device that can easily select one color element group from a plurality of color element groups, and a color element group that causes a computer to operate as such a color element group selection device. The purpose is to provide a selection program.

The color element group selection device of the present invention that achieves the above object reproduces the color of the original image by reproducing each of a plurality of color element groups, each of which is composed of a plurality of color elements and having different types and / or numbers of color elements. An image reproduction unit for obtaining a reproduction image of
An evaluation unit that performs a predetermined evaluation on color reproduction for each of the plurality of reproduction images;
A selection unit that selects one color element group from the plurality of color element groups according to the result of evaluation by the evaluation unit is provided.

  According to the color element group selection device of the present invention, one color element group is automatically selected from the plurality of color element groups by the evaluation of the evaluation unit and the selection of the selection unit. This eliminates the user's burden of selecting one color element group from a plurality of color element groups, for example, in printing. That is, according to the color element group selection device of the present invention, one color element group can be easily selected from a plurality of color element groups.

Here, in the color element group selection device of the present invention, "the evaluation unit performs a plurality of types of evaluation for the color reproduction,
A mode in which the selection unit selects one color element group according to the result of the type of evaluation corresponding to the operation among the plurality of types of evaluation is a preferable mode.

  According to this preferable color element group selection device, it is possible to evaluate various points such as accuracy and cost regarding color reproduction, and select a color element group based on an evaluation desired by the user in the evaluation. it can.

Further, in the color element group selection device of the present invention, "the evaluation unit performs a plurality of types of evaluation for the color reproduction,
A mode in which the selection unit selects the one color element group according to a predetermined priority order for the plurality of types of evaluations and the result of each evaluation is also a preferable mode.

  According to the color element group selection device of this preferred embodiment, a single color element group can be selected by comprehensively considering a plurality of conditions such as color reproduction accuracy and cost in accordance with the priority order.

  Further, in the color element group selection device of the present invention, “the evaluation unit, for each of the plurality of reproduction images, as the evaluation, two kinds of evaluations, ie, the accuracy of color reproduction and the cost required to output the reproduction image,” It is also preferable to use the form "

  According to the color element group selection device of this preferred form, it is possible to comprehensively take into account the conditions of accuracy and cost, which are often mutually contradictory, in color reproduction.

The color element group selection program of the present invention that achieves the above object is incorporated in a computer, and on the computer,
An image reproduction unit that reproduces the color of the original image by reproducing the color of the original image with each of a plurality of color element groups, each of which is composed of a plurality of color elements, and the type and / or number of color elements are different from each other;
An evaluation unit that performs a predetermined evaluation on color reproduction for each of the plurality of reproduction images;
A selection unit that selects one color element group from the plurality of color element groups according to a result of evaluation by the evaluation unit is constructed.

  According to the color element group selection program of the present invention, the above-described color element group selection device of the present invention that easily selects one color element group from a plurality of color element groups can be easily realized.

  It should be noted that the color element group selection program of the present invention is only shown here in its basic form, but this is merely to avoid duplication, and the color element group selection program of the present invention includes the above basic form. In addition, various forms corresponding to the respective forms of the color element group selection device described above are included.

  In addition, an element such as an image reproduction unit constructed on the computer by the color element group selection program of the present invention may be one element constructed by one program part, and one element is composed of a plurality of programs. It may be constructed by parts, or a plurality of elements may be constructed by one program part. In addition, these elements may be constructed so as to execute such an action by themselves, or constructed by giving instructions to other programs and program components incorporated in the computer. May be.

  As described above, according to the present invention, a color element group selection device that can easily select one color element group from a plurality of color element groups, and a computer operates as such a color element group selection device. A color element group selection program to be obtained.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a printing system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

  The printing system 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a printing machine 30 that can use a maximum of four special color inks in addition to CMYK four process color inks, and is used for printing edited based on an original image 11. The printed image 31 is printed on the paper by the printing machine 30 to create the printed matter 31.

  The color scanner 10 reads the document image 11 and generates RGB three-color color separation image data representing the read document image 11. The RGB image data is input to the personal computer 100. In the personal computer 100, electronic plate collection based on image data input by the user is performed, and image data (hereinafter referred to as RGB image data) representing an image for printing in which colors are expressed in RGB three colors. Generated.

  Here, the printing system 1 shown in FIG. 1 can create a printed matter 31 with 15 types of color element groups obtained in 15 ways as described later for the four special colors.

  In the personal computer 100, one color element group that is actually used for printing is selected from these 15 kinds of color element groups. This selection method will also be described later together with 15 types of color element groups.

  When one color element group is selected, RGB image data representing the original image is converted into image data in which the color of the original image is reproduced with the selected color element group. Then, the converted image data is converted into halftone dot image data representing a halftone dot image formed by halftone dots by a so-called RIP (Raster Image Processor). The conversion into halftone dot image data is performed for each of a plurality of color elements constituting the color element group, and halftone dot image data corresponding to each color element is created.

  The halftone dot image data for printing is input to the film printer 20, and the film printer 20 creates a printing original plate for each plate corresponding to the input halftone dot image data. From this printing film original plate, printing plates of each plate are prepared, and these printing plates are mounted on the printing machine 30. Then, ink of a color corresponding to the plate is applied to the plate of each plate, and the applied ink is transferred onto a printing sheet. The transition is performed for each plate to form the printed matter 31.

  2 is an external perspective view of the personal computer 100 of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a hardware configuration diagram thereof.

  The personal computer 100 has an appearance configuration, a main body device 110, an image display device 120 that displays an image on a display screen 120a in accordance with an instruction from the main body device 110, and a main body device 110 that has various operations according to key operations. A keyboard 130 for inputting information and a mouse 140 for inputting an instruction corresponding to, for example, an icon displayed at the position by designating an arbitrary position on the display screen 120a are provided. The main unit 110 has an FD loading port 110a for loading a flexible disk (hereinafter abbreviated as FD) and a CD-ROM loading port 110b for loading a CD-ROM.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the main unit 110 includes a CPU 111 that executes various programs, a main memory 112 that reads programs stored in the hard disk device 113 and develops them for execution by the CPU 111, and various programs 1 and the hard disk device 113 in which data and the like are stored, the FD drive 114 for accessing the FD 200, the CD-ROM 210 are loaded, the CD-ROM drive 115 for accessing the loaded CD-ROM 210, the color scanner 10 and the film of FIG. An I / O interface 116 that is connected to the printer 20 and exchanges data with these devices is built-in. These various elements, and the image display device 120, keyboard 130, and mouse 140 shown in FIG. Connected to each other via 150 To have.

  In the personal computer 100 described above, as described above, generation of RGB image data, selection of color element groups, and creation of halftone image data are performed. Among these processes, generation of RGB image data and creation of halftone dot image data are not the subject of the present invention, so detailed description thereof will be omitted, and the color executed by the personal computer 100 will be described below. The explanation will focus on the selection of elements.

  In the present embodiment, the color element group selection of the present invention is performed by causing the personal computer 100 to operate as an embodiment of the color element group selection apparatus of the present invention for selecting a color element group on the CD-ROM 210 shown in FIG. One embodiment of the program is stored. When the CD-ROM 210 is loaded into the CD-ROM drive 115, the program stored in the CD-ROM 210 is uploaded to the personal computer 100 and written to the hard disk device 113. Thereby, the personal computer 100 operates as a color element group selection device.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the color element group selection program of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of the color element group selection program of the present invention.

  FIG. 4 schematically shows a CD-ROM 210 in which a color element group selection program 300, which is an embodiment of the color element group selection program of the present invention, is stored.

  The color element group selection program 300 causes the computer 100 to operate as an embodiment of the color element group selection apparatus of the present invention, and includes an operation reception unit 310, an image reproduction unit 320, an accuracy calculation unit 330, a cost The calculation unit 340 includes a selection unit 350 and a display unit 360. Details of each element of the color element group selection program 300 will be described later.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the color element group selection device of the present invention.

  A color element group selection apparatus 400, which is an embodiment of the color element group selection apparatus of the present invention shown in FIG. 5, is executed by installing the color element group selection program 300 of FIG. 4 in the computer 100 of FIG. And includes an operation accepting unit 410, an image reproducing unit 420, an accuracy calculating unit 430, a cost calculating unit 440, a selecting unit 450, and a display unit 460.

  When the color element group selection program 300 of FIG. 4 is installed in the computer 100 of FIG. 1, the operation reception unit 310, the image reproduction unit 320, the accuracy calculation unit 330, the cost calculation unit 340 of the color element group selection program 300, The selection unit 350 and the display unit 360 are respectively an operation reception unit 410, an image reproduction unit 420, an accuracy calculation unit 430, a cost calculation unit 440, a selection unit 450, and a display unit 460 of the color element group selection device 400 illustrated in FIG. Build up. Here, each element of the color element group selection device 400 is composed of a combination of computer hardware and an OS or application program executed on the computer, whereas the color element group selection program of FIG. Each element of 300 is configured only by an application program.

  The image reproduction unit 420 and the selection unit 450 in the color element group selection device 400 correspond to examples of the image reproduction unit and the selection unit in the color element group selection device of the present invention, respectively. The combination of the accuracy calculation unit 430 and the cost calculation unit 440 in the color element group selection device 400 corresponds to an example of an evaluation unit in the color element group selection device of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, by describing each element of the color element group selection apparatus 400 shown in FIG. 5, each element of the color element group selection program 300 shown in FIG. 4 will also be described.

  The color element group selection apparatus 400 shown in FIG. 5 is selected from the following 15 types of color element groups obtained by 15 usages of the four special colors that can be used in the printing system 1 shown in FIG. One type of color element group used to create the printed matter 31 is selected.

  The 15 types of color element groups are all color element groups including four CMYK process colors and one or more special colors, and four ways to select one of the four special colors. 4 types of color element groups corresponding to 4 colors, 6 types of color element groups corresponding to 6 ways of selecting 2 out of 4 special colors, and 4 types of selecting 4 colors of 4 special colors There are 15 types of color element groups, ie, 4 types of color element groups corresponding to the usage of 1 and one type of color element group corresponding to the case where all four colors are used. The color element group selection apparatus 400 shown in FIG. 5 prints one type of color element group that is actually used for printing from among these 15 types of color element groups as described later. Are selected based on the accuracy of color reproduction and the cost required for printing with each color element group.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the user designates the following selection conditions through an operation screen described later displayed on the display screen 120a (see FIG. 2) by the operation reception unit 410 prior to selection of the color element group. can do. First, the number of special colors used for printing can be specified by the total number of plates including the process colors of four CMYK colors. In the present embodiment, the selection of the color element group is basically performed by comprehensively considering both the accuracy and cost of color reproduction. Can specify a selection method for selecting a color element group based on only one of the evaluation items of color reproduction accuracy and cost instead of such a basic selection method. Furthermore, it is possible to designate which of accuracy and cost is adopted as the priority item in the selection method based on such one evaluation item (priority item).

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an operation screen for selection conditions.

  The operation screen 411 shown in FIG. 6 includes a version number designation part 411a, a priority item designation part 411b, a cancel button 411c, and an OK button 411d.

  In the version number designation part 411a, the above-mentioned total version number is designated. When the check box 411a_1 of the version number designation part 411a is clicked, numerical values can be input to the input part 411a_2 for the total version number. The user inputs a desired version number from the 5th edition to the 8th edition including the process color into the input portion 411a_2 by operating the keyboard. In the example of FIG. 6, six versions are input as the total number of versions.

  In this version number designation portion 411a, when six versions are input as in the example of FIG. 6, the number of spot colors used for printing is two colors, and the color element group is selected from among the four spot colors. Six types of color element groups corresponding to six ways of using the two colors are selected as a population. Similarly, when the 5th edition is input, the selection of the color element group is performed by using four color element groups corresponding to the four ways of selecting one of the four special colors as a population. When the 7th version is input, the selection of the color element group is performed by using four types of color element groups corresponding to the four ways of selecting three colors among the four special colors as a population. When 8 editions are input, there are only one way of using all four colors, so the color element group is a color element group consisting of four process colors and all four spot colors. Determined uniquely. If the check box 411a_1 of the version number designation portion 411a is not clicked, the selection of the color element group is performed with all the 15 types of color element groups as a population.

  In the priority item designation part 411b, the adoption of a selection method based on a priority item that is performed based on only one of the evaluation items of color reproduction accuracy and cost is designated. Which one is to be adopted is specified. When the check box 411b_1 of the priority item designation part 411b is clicked, the adoption of the selection method based on the priority item is designated, and the radio button 411b_2 for accuracy and the radio button 411b_3 for cost can be operated. When the accuracy radio button 411b_2 is clicked, the color reproduction accuracy is adopted as the priority item, and when the cost radio button 411b_3 is clicked, the cost is adopted as the priority item. In addition, when the check box 411b_1 of the priority item designation portion 411b is not clicked, the selection of the color element group is based on a basic selection method in which both color reproduction accuracy and cost are considered in a comprehensive manner. First, color elements that can reproduce colors with a certain level of accuracy are selected from the above population, and cost and accuracy are taken into account from these color elements. A two-step selection process in which one color element group is selected is performed.

  In the example of FIG. 6, the selection process according to the basic selection method described above is performed with a group of six color element groups corresponding to six ways of selecting two of the four special colors. Selection conditions are set.

  When the cancel button 411c is clicked, such setting contents are deleted, and when the OK button 411d is clicked, the setting contents are determined.

  The operation accepting unit 410 in FIG. 5 sends the setting contents regarding the total number of versions among the selection conditions set via the operation screen 411 in FIG. 6 to the image reproduction unit 420 and the cost calculation unit 440, and the priority item. Is sent to the selection unit 450.

  The image reproduction unit 420 has a scanner profile 421 that defines the correspondence between the RGB color space depending on the color scanner 10 and the Lab color space independent of the apparatus for the color scanner 10 of FIG. The RGB image data D1 representing the original image is converted into Lab image data D2 representing the original image using the scanner profile 421. The Lab image data D2 is passed to the accuracy calculation unit 430.

  The image reproduction unit 420 also defines 15 types of print profiles that define the correspondence between the Lab color space and the color space corresponding to each of the 15 types of color element groups for the printing machine 30 of FIG. 422. When the total number of versions other than the eight editions is set by the user operation in the operation accepting unit 410 described above, the image reproducing unit 420 first knows from the operation accepting unit 410 from these 15 types of print profiles 422. A plurality of types of print profiles 422 corresponding to the total number of editions are selected. For example, if the total number of plates is six, six types of printing profiles 422 corresponding to six types of color element groups corresponding to six ways of selecting two colors out of four special colors are displayed. Choose. Then, the image reproduction unit 420 uses each of the plurality of types of print profiles 422 to convert the Lab image data D2 into a plurality of types of print data D3 representing a reproduction image in which the color of the original image is reproduced in each color element group. Convert to If the total number of versions is not set in the operation accepting unit 410, the image reproduction unit 420 uses the 15 types of print profiles 422 to print the Lab image data D2 in 15 types of prints. Convert to data D3. These plural types of print data D3 obtained by the image reproduction unit 420 are passed to the cost calculation unit 440.

  First, the accuracy calculation unit 430 reads out a plurality of types of print profiles 422 used for conversion to the print data D3 from among the 15 types of print profiles 422 of the image reproduction unit 420. Then, based on each of the plural types of print profiles 422, a color range (gamut) that can be reproduced by the color element group corresponding to each print profile 422 is calculated. Further, the accuracy calculation unit 430 has a ratio (outside gamut color gamut area ratio) occupied by an image part having a color out of each gamut in the original image represented by the Lab image data D2 passed from the image reproduction unit 420. Is calculated. The larger the color gamut area ratio for a certain color element group, the more colors that cannot be reproduced in that color element group. In this embodiment, the color gamut area ratio outside this gamut represents the color reproduction for each color element group. Is treated as precision. The accuracy is considered to be lower as the gamut outer color gamut area ratio is larger, and the accuracy is considered to be higher as the gamut outer color gamut area ratio is smaller. The gamut color gamut area ratio calculated for each color element group by the accuracy calculation unit 430 is passed to the selection unit 450.

  In the cost calculation unit 440, the usage amount of the special color ink used in printing according to each print data D3 is calculated based on each of a plurality of types of print data D3 passed from the image reproduction unit 420. Then, the usage amount of the special color ink for each print data D3 is multiplied by the cost per unit amount, and the total ink cost for the special color is obtained for each color element group corresponding to each print data D3. Further, if the total number of plates is not set, here, for each of the 15 types of print data D3, the plate cost for the special color is obtained by multiplying the plate number for the special color by the cost per plate. The total cost is obtained by adding to the sum of the ink costs for the special colors for each of the 15 color element groups. On the other hand, when the total number of plates is set, the plate cost for each color element group constituting the selected population is the same, so the calculation of the plate cost is omitted, and the total ink cost for the special colors is omitted. Is considered the total cost. The total cost calculated for each color element group by the cost calculation unit 440 is passed to the selection unit 450.

  The selection unit 450 selects a population based on the gamut color gamut area ratio for each color element group passed from the accuracy calculation unit 430 and the total cost for each color element group passed from the cost calculation unit 440. One color element group is selected from among a plurality of color element groups forming the following.

  Here, when the accuracy is designated as the priority item in the operation receiving unit 410, a color element group having the smallest gamut color gamut area ratio is selected from among a plurality of color element groups, When the cost is designated, the color element group having the smallest total cost is selected from the plurality of color element groups.

  On the other hand, if no priority item is specified, the color element group having the smallest gamut color gamut area ratio is first selected as the most promising candidate, and then the difference from this smallest gamut color gamut area ratio is selected. A color element group corresponding to an out-of-gamut color gamut area ratio that is within “2%” is selected as the next candidate. Whether or not there is a color element group whose total cost is lower than the total cost of the most likely candidate color element group by a predetermined value or more (the specific number will be described later) in the next candidate color element group Determined. If there is no color element group whose total cost is lower than a predetermined value, the most likely candidate color element group is selected. If there is one color element group whose total cost is lower than a predetermined value, that color element group is selected. Further, when there are a plurality of color element groups having a total cost lower than a predetermined value, the color element group having the smallest cost total is selected from these color element groups.

  The selection result in the selection unit 450 is transferred to the display unit 460, and is displayed in the following table format on the display unit 460.

  Hereinafter, the display contents on the display unit 460 will be described by taking, as an example, the results of selection performed under three different selection conditions.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a result display screen on which an example of a selection result when six versions are designated as the total number of versions and no priority item is designated is displayed.

  Here, in FIG. 7, four special color inks are described by the names “PANTONE001”, “PANTONE002”, “PANTONE003”, and “PANTONE004”. This description is the same for two other examples described later.

  In the result display screen 461 shown in FIG. 7, a pattern No. that is a number assigned to each color element group forming the selected population is displayed. No. A notation field 461a, an ink combination notation field 461b in which a combination of inks of special colors in each color element group is indicated, and an out-gamut color gamut area ratio notation field 461c in which a color gamut area ratio ratio for each color element group is indicated; A used ink amount notation column 461d for indicating the usage amount per 100 printed sheets of the spot color ink in each color element group, and a cost notation column 461e for indicating the cost per 10 ml of the spot color ink in each color element group; A cost total notation field 461f in which the total cost for each color element group is indicated, a candidate notation field 461g indicating a color element group selected as a selection candidate based on the accuracy of color reproduction from the population, and a final And a result notation column 461h showing one color element group selected in an automatic manner.

  As described above, when the total number of plates is 6, the number of spot colors is two, and six types of color element groups corresponding to six combinations for selecting two of the four colors are selected. Become a group. In the example of FIG. 7, the pattern numbers “pattern 1” to “pattern 6” are assigned to each of these six types of color element groups. In the ink combination notation field 461b, combinations of special color inks in each color element group are indicated. In this example, among these six types of color element groups, the color element group of “pattern 3” having the smallest gamut color gamut area ratio (“3%”) is selected as the most likely candidate. Then, the color element group of “Pattern 5” and “Pattern 6” corresponding to the non-gamut color gamut area ratio within which the difference from the minimum non-gamut color gamut area ratio is within “2%” is selected as the next candidate. It is. In the result display screen 461 of FIG. 7, these candidates are indicated by circles in the candidate notation field 461g. Then, it is determined whether or not a color element group whose total cost is lower than “30 yen / 100 sheets” or more than the total cost of the most promising color element group is present among the two next-point candidates. In the example of FIG. 7, there is a next candidate that satisfies this condition, and the next candidate is only the color element group of “pattern 6”. As a result, the color element group of the “pattern 6” is finally selected. In the result display screen 461 of FIG. 7, the final selection result is indicated by a black circle in the result notation field 461h.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a result display screen on which an example of a selection result when the total number of versions is not specified and the color reproduction accuracy is specified as a priority item is displayed.

  In the example of FIG. 8, all the 15 types of color element groups are the population. In the present embodiment, when all 15 types of color element groups are a population, as described in the pattern notation field 461a, 4 combinations corresponding to four combinations of selecting one of the four special colors are provided. A pattern No. from “Pattern 11” to “Pattern 14” is assigned to each type of color element group. Is added to each of the six color element groups corresponding to the six combinations for selecting two of the four special colors. Is added to each of the four color element groups corresponding to the four combinations for selecting three of the four special colors. Is added to the color element group including all the four special colors. Is attached.

  Further, when all 15 types of color element groups are a population, as described above, the plate cost differs depending on the number of spot colors included in the color element group, so that the result display screen 461 ′ shown in FIG. 7 is provided with an ink and plate cost notation column 461e ′ in which the plate cost is indicated together with the cost per 10 ml of the special color ink in place of the cost notation column 461e of FIG. Further, in the example of FIG. 8, the ink cost is calculated per 100 printed sheets in the example of FIG. 7, but the ink cost is calculated per 10,000 printed sheets in order to match the digit with the plate cost. Is done. The result display unit 461 ′ of FIG. 8 includes a cost total notation column 461f ′ in which the sum of the printing cost and the ink cost is displayed as the cost total instead of the cost total notation column 461f of FIG. ing. In addition, when a priority item is designated, the selection of the highest priority candidate or the next point candidate is not performed as described above, and one color element group is uniquely selected based on the evaluation result for the designated item. Is done. For this reason, in the result display screen 461 'shown in FIG. 8, the display of the candidate notation column 461g in FIG. 7 is omitted.

  In the example of FIG. 8, the accuracy of color reproduction is specified as a priority item, and as a result, as shown by a black circle in the result notation field 461h, the color gamut area ratio outside the gamut is minimum (“1%”). The color element group of “pattern 41” is selected.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a result display screen on which an example of a selection result in a case where neither the designation of the total version number nor the designation of the priority item is displayed.

  In the case of the example of FIG. 9, as described in the pattern notation field 461a, 15 types of pattern Nos. Similar to the example of FIG. Is attached. Further, the result display screen 461 ″ shown in FIG. 9 is similar to the result display screen 461 ′ of FIG. 8 and includes an ink and plate cost notation column 461e ′ in which the plate cost is written together with the cost per 10 ml of the special color ink. 9 includes a cost total notation column 461f ′ in which the ink cost per 10,000 printed sheets plus the plate cost is indicated as a total cost.In the case of the example of FIG. Therefore, the candidate notation column 461g, which is not displayed, is displayed on the result display screen 461 ′ of FIG.

  In the example of FIG. 9, the color element group of “pattern 41” having the smallest gamut color gamut area ratio (“1%”) among the 15 types of color element groups is selected as the most likely candidate.

  Next, the next point candidate is selected based on the difference from the minimum out-of-gamut color gamut area ratio. Here, since the color element group of the “pattern 41” is a color element group that uses all four special colors and is expected to have an extremely small gamut color gamut area ratio, in the present embodiment, 15 When all types of color element groups are a population, the criterion in the example of FIG. 7 is used as a criterion for selecting the next candidate (the difference from the minimum gamut color gamut area ratio is within “2%”). A standard that is slightly more loose than the minimum gamut color gamut area ratio and within 5% is used.

  In the example of FIG. 9, based on this criterion, the color element groups of the pattern 31 ”, the“ pattern 32 ”, and the“ pattern 34 ”are selected as the next point candidates as indicated by a circle in the candidate notation field 461g. Then, it is determined whether or not a color element group whose total cost is lower than the total cost of the most promising candidate color element group by “20000 yen” or more exists among these three next-point candidates. The standard for this cost is different from the standard in the example of FIG. 7 (lower than “30 yen / 100 sheets” or more than the total cost of the most promising candidate color element group) as in the example of FIG. This is because when all 15 types of color element groups become a population, the plate cost is added to the total cost as described above. In the example of FIG. 9, the next candidate that satisfies the cost criterion is only the color element group of “pattern 34”, and the color element of this “pattern 34” as indicated by a black circle in the result notation field 461h. A group is finally selected.

  As described above, according to the color element group selection apparatus 400 of the present embodiment, the accuracy of color reproduction for the original image from among 15 types of color element groups corresponding to 15 combinations of four special colors. And one color element group can be automatically selected based on the cost required for printing. That is, according to the color element group selection apparatus 400 of the present embodiment, one color element group can be easily selected from a plurality of color element groups. In addition, when there is a priority item that the user wants to place importance on when selecting the color reproduction accuracy and cost, the priority item can be designated through an operation on the operation screen 411 shown in FIG.

  In the above description, as an example of the selection unit according to the present invention, when no priority item is designated, one color element is selected based on cost from among color element groups whose color reproduction accuracy has reached a predetermined level. Although the selection unit 450 for selecting a group is illustrated, the present invention is not limited to this. The selection unit of the present invention may select, for example, one color element group based on the color reproduction accuracy from among color element groups whose cost is low to a predetermined level, or The priority of selection with respect to the cost is specified by the user, the population is narrowed down to several candidates by the item with the specified high priority, and one color element group is selected based on the next item, etc. There may be.

  In the above, the gamut color gamut area ratio is exemplified as an example of the color reproduction accuracy referred to in the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to this, for example, the color of the reproduced image and the original image The total or average of the color differences from the colors may be used.

  Further, in the above, as an example of the evaluation unit according to the present invention, the accuracy calculation unit 430 and the cost calculation unit 440 are combined to perform an evaluation on the accuracy and cost of color reproduction. This is not a limitation. The evaluation unit of the present invention may evaluate a plurality of items other than the accuracy and cost of color reproduction.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a printing system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the personal computer 100 in FIG. 1. It is a hardware block diagram of the personal computer 100 of FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows one Embodiment of the color element group selection program of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows one Embodiment of the color element group selection apparatus of this invention. It is a figure which shows the operation screen about selection conditions. It is a figure which shows the result display screen on which an example of the selection result when six editions are designated as the total number of editions and no priority item is designated is displayed. It is a figure which shows the result display screen on which an example of the selection result when there is no designation | designated of the total version number and the color reproduction precision is designated as a priority item is displayed. It is a figure which shows the result display screen on which an example of the selection result in case there is neither designation | designated of a total version number and designation | designated of a priority item was displayed.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printing system 10 Color scanner 11 Original image 20 Film printer 30 Printing machine 31 Printed material 100 Personal computer 110 Main body apparatus 110a FD loading port 110b CD-ROM loading port 111 CPU
112 Main memory 113 Hard disk device 114 FD drive 115 CD-ROM drive 116 I / O interface 120 Image display device 120a Display screen 130 Keyboard 140 Mouse 150 Bus 200 FD
210 CD-ROM
300 Color Element Group Selection Program 310 Operation Reception Unit 320 Image Reproduction Unit 330 Accuracy Calculation Unit 340 Cost Calculation Unit 350 Selection Unit 360 Display Unit 400 Color Element Group Selection Device 410 Operation Reception Unit 411 Operation Screen 411a Version Number Specification Part 411a_1, 411b_1 Check Box 411b_2, 411b_3 Radio button 411a_2 Input part 411b Priority item designation part 411c Cancel button 411d OK button 420 Image reproduction part 421 Scanner profile 422 Print profile 430 Accuracy calculation part 440 Cost calculation part 450 Selection part 460 Display part 461, 461 ', 461 Result display screen 461a No. notation column 461b Ink combination notation column 461c Gamut outside color gamut area ratio notation column 461d Ink usage notation column 461 Cost indication column 461e 'ink and the plate cost indication column 461f, 461f' total cost indication column 461g candidate indication column 461h result indication column

Claims (5)

An image reproduction unit that reproduces the color of the original image by reproducing the color of the original image with each of a plurality of color element groups, each of which is composed of a plurality of color elements, and the type and / or number of color elements are different from each other;
An evaluation unit that performs a predetermined evaluation on color reproduction for each of the plurality of reproduction images;
A color element group selection apparatus comprising: a selection unit that selects one color element group from the plurality of color element groups according to the result of evaluation by the evaluation unit. The evaluation unit performs a plurality of types of evaluation on the color reproduction;
2. The color element group selection according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit selects one color element group according to a result of an evaluation of a type corresponding to an operation among the plurality of types of evaluation. apparatus. The evaluation unit performs a plurality of types of evaluation on the color reproduction;
2. The color element group selection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit selects the one color element group according to a priority order of the plurality of types of evaluations and a result of each evaluation.   2. The evaluation unit according to claim 1, wherein for each of the plurality of reproduced images, as the evaluation, two kinds of evaluations are performed: color reproduction accuracy and cost required for outputting the reproduced image. The color element group selection device described. Embedded in a computer, on the computer,
An image reproduction unit that reproduces the color of the original image by reproducing the color of the original image with each of a plurality of color element groups, each of which is composed of a plurality of color elements, and the type and / or number of color elements are different from each other;
An evaluation unit that performs a predetermined evaluation on color reproduction for each of the plurality of reproduction images;
A color element group selection program that constructs a selection unit that selects one color element group from the plurality of color element groups according to the result of evaluation by the evaluation unit.

Images