JP2008234312A - Printing system, print control unit, and method for displaying printing paper setting screen - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress ink switching not intended by a user by notifying the user of mismatched paper and ink settings in the use of a printer capable of ink switching compliant with the paper setting. <P>SOLUTION: In the use of the printer, which prints in either of two types of black ink, that is, photo black and matte black, if photo black has been selected, photo paper 411 is displayed preferentially in a paper type display area 410 of a print setting screen 400. The user can thus select desired paper from the types of photo paper relatively easily. This suppresses wasteful ink switching. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique applied to an ink jet printer that switches and uses ink supplied from a plurality of ink cartridges, and in particular, in a printer that automatically switches to ink corresponding to a paper type and performs printing. The present invention relates to a technique for suppressing ink switching.

Ink jet printers can be equipped with two types of ink cartridges of black ink, and there is one that performs printing using the black ink of one of the cartridges (for example, Patent Document 1). The two types of black ink are, for example, matte black and photo black. When the ink jet printer is set to one of mat-type paper and photo-type paper corresponding to each black ink in the paper setting, printing is performed with black ink corresponding to the set paper. At this time, if the paper setting does not match the ink setting, automatic switching is performed to activate (select) black ink that matches the paper setting.
JP 2001-187458 A

  In an inkjet printer such as the one described above, if the user makes a print request with the paper settings inconsistent with the ink settings due to incorrect paper type selection settings or forgetting to check the existing paper settings, There are cases where printing is performed with a combination of unintended paper settings and ink, or switching to black ink of a type unintended by the user may occur. In this black ink switching process, head cleaning or the like is performed. That is, in the black ink switching process, a certain time loss may occur and in-cross may also occur.

  In order to return to the original state after switching to the unintended black ink by the above switching, it is necessary to switch to the black ink again, and time and ink may be further wasted.

  Also, in the conventional paper type selection menu, the photo paper type is fixedly displayed at the upper level (for example, the upper side) in the paper type display area regardless of the currently active black ink type. The mat type paper type is displayed in the lower (for example, lower) side in the paper type display area.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to make the user aware that the paper setting and the ink setting are inconsistent when using a printer that switches the ink in accordance with the paper setting. It is to suppress.

  A printing system according to one aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of paper groups each including a paper type of a first paper group corresponding to a first ink and a paper type of a second paper group corresponding to a second ink. Display control means for displaying a selection screen for receiving selection of one paper type from among the paper types displayed in the display area; A plurality of ink cartridges including an ink cartridge containing a first ink and an ink cartridge containing a second ink can be mounted, and a plurality of inks containing the first ink and the second ink The selection means for selecting which ink to use based on the paper type selected on the selection screen and the selection means Printing means for performing printing using the ink, and printing means for executing printing by switching the ink cartridge in accordance with the ink selected by the selection means, wherein the display control means includes: The display mode of the display area is changed according to which of the plurality of inks including the first and second inks is used for printing.

  According to such a configuration, it is possible to display so that the paper type can be easily selected from the paper group corresponding to the selected ink. As a result, the user notices that the ink setting does not correspond to the paper setting, and can easily select the paper type of the paper group corresponding to the selected ink.

  In a preferred embodiment, the display control means can identify at least one of a color and a character form so as to identify which paper group of the plurality of paper groups is to be printed. These may be changed and displayed in the display area. Changing the color includes changing the name of the paper type and the background color, and changing the character form changes the display font of the paper type name and adds symbols such as 〇 and ◆. Including adding before and after the paper type name.

  In a preferred embodiment, the display control means is configured such that, in the display area, the paper group corresponding to the ink used for printing is on the upper side, and the paper group corresponding to the ink not used for printing is on the lower side. May be displayed.

  In a preferred embodiment, the printing unit may switch the ink cartridge when the selection unit selects to use the different ink, and the switching may involve discarding the ink. .

  In a preferred embodiment, the printing means switching the ink cartridge means switching so that the ink flow path is connected to an ink cartridge containing the ink to be used. You may further provide the discard means which discards the ink before switching which remains on a path | route.

  A printing control apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of paper groups including a paper type of a first paper group corresponding to a first ink and a paper type of a second paper group corresponding to a second ink. Display control means for displaying a selection screen for receiving selection of one paper type from among the paper types displayed in the display area, each of which has a display area for the paper types displayed as a group; A plurality of ink cartridges including an ink cartridge containing the first ink and an ink cartridge containing the second ink can be mounted, and a plurality of ink cartridges containing the first ink and the second ink Selection means for selecting which of the inks to use based on the paper type selected on the selection screen, and controlling the printing apparatus The display control unit is configured to display the display depending on which of the plurality of inks including the first and second inks is used for printing. The display mode of the area is changed and displayed.

  Hereinafter, a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a printing system according to the present invention.

  The printing system 100 includes a computer 110, a display device 120, and the printer 1. The computer 110 is communicably connected to the printer 1, and outputs print data corresponding to the image to be printed to the printer 1 in order to cause the printer 1 to print an image. The printer 1 is a printing apparatus that prints an image on a medium such as paper, cloth, or film.

  The “printing apparatus” means an apparatus that prints an image on a medium, and corresponds to the printer 1, for example. The “control device” means a device that controls a printing device or a display device, and corresponds to, for example, the computer 110 in which a printer driver is installed. The “printing system” means a system including at least a printing apparatus and a control apparatus. Further, the “control device” may be a device that itself includes a printing unit and prints data included in a memory card, for example.

  A printer driver is installed in the computer 110. The printer driver is a program for causing the display device 120 to display a user interface and converting image data output from the application program into print data. This printer driver is recorded on a recording medium (computer-readable recording medium) such as a flexible disk FD or a CD-ROM. Alternatively, the printer driver can be downloaded to the computer 110 via the Internet. In addition, this program is comprised from the code | cord | chord for implement | achieving various functions.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the main configuration of the printer. Hereinafter, the main configuration of the printer will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

  The printer 1 of this embodiment includes a transport unit 20, a carriage unit 30, a head unit 40, a detector group 50, and a controller 60. The printer 1 that has received print data from the computer 110, which is an external device, controls each unit (conveyance unit 20, carriage unit 30, and head unit 40) by the controller 60, and prints an image on paper. The situation in the printer 1 is monitored by a detector group 50, and the detector group 50 outputs a detection result to the controller 60. The controller 60 controls each unit based on the detection result output from the detector group 50.

  The transport unit 20 is for transporting a medium (for example, paper S) in a predetermined direction (hereinafter referred to as a transport direction). The transport unit 20 transports the paper S by rotating a transport roller (not shown) by the transport motor 22. The carriage unit 30 is for moving the carriage 31 in the movement direction by a carriage motor 32. The head unit 40 is for ejecting ink onto paper. The head unit 40 includes a head 41 having a plurality of nozzles. Since the head 41 is provided on the carriage 31, when the carriage 31 moves in the movement direction, the head 41 also moves in the movement direction. Then, by intermittently ejecting ink while the head 41 is moving in the moving direction, dot lines (raster lines) along the moving direction are formed on the paper. The detector group 50 includes a linear encoder 51 that detects the position of the carriage 31 in the moving direction.

  The controller 60 is a control unit (control unit) for controlling the printer. The controller 60 includes a CPU 62, a memory 63, and a unit control circuit 64. The CPU 62 is an arithmetic processing unit for controlling the entire printer. The memory 63 is for securing an area for storing a program of the CPU 62, a work area, and the like, and includes storage elements such as a RAM and an EEPROM. The unit control circuit 64 is a circuit for controlling each unit. The controller 60 controls each unit via the CPU 62 or the unit control circuit 64. The controller 60 transmits a control signal for controlling the head 41 to the head 41 via the cable CBL.

A total of nine cartridge slots 9 are provided on the left and right sides of the printer 1. Each slot 9 contains an ink cartridge 90 containing ink. In the present embodiment, mat black (Mk), photo black (Pk), gray (Lk), light gray (LLk)
), Cyan (C), light cyan (LC), magenta (M), light magenta (LM), and yellow (Y) ink cartridges 90 are accommodated in the slots 9, respectively. Each slot 9 is numbered 1-9. The first slot 9 stores a matte black ink cartridge, and in order from the first, matte black (Mk), photo black (Pk), gray (Lk), light gray (LLk), cyan (C), and light cyan. (LC), magenta (M), light magenta (LM), and yellow (Y) ink cartridges are accommodated. Ink in the ink cartridge 90 is supplied to the head 41 via the cable CBL.

  Each ink cartridge 90 is provided with a storage element 91. Each storage element 91 has an ID number for identifying the ink cartridge, the color of the ink stored therein, the initial ink amount indicating the amount of ink initially stored, and the remaining ink indicating the amount of ink currently remaining. Information such as quantity is stored. The controller 60 includes a memory controller (not shown). The memory controller reads information from the storage element 91 and writes information to the storage element 91.

  When the ink cartridge 90 is installed in the slot 9, the controller 60 reads the information stored in the storage element 91 of the ink cartridge 90 and stores the information in the memory 63. Then, the controller 60 calculates the ink usage amount by counting the number of ink droplets (number of dots) to be ejected based on the print data during printing, and calculates the ink usage amount from the remaining ink amount stored in the memory 63. Subtract to update the ink level. At a predetermined timing, the controller 60 writes information on the remaining amount of ink in the memory 63 in the storage element 91 of the ink cartridge 90.

  Next, the nozzle arrangement in the head 41 will be described. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the arrangement of nozzles on the lower surface of the head 41 shown in FIG.

  Eight nozzle rows are provided on the lower surface of the head 41. Each nozzle row includes 180 nozzles that are ejection ports for ejecting ink. A nozzle row is formed by arranging 180 nozzles in the transport direction. The 180 nozzles are aligned at a constant nozzle pitch of 1/180 inch. Each nozzle is assigned a lower number in the downstream side in the transport direction (# 1 to # 180). Each nozzle is provided with a piezo element (not shown) as a drive element for driving each nozzle to eject ink droplets.

  In the present embodiment, although the ink cartridges for nine colors are stored in the printer, only the nozzle rows for eight colors are provided on the lower surface of the head 41. The eight nozzle rows are black nozzle row (Bk), gray nozzle row (Lk), light gray nozzle row (LLk), cyan nozzle row (C), light cyan nozzle row (LC), and magenta nozzle. A row (M), a light magenta nozzle row (LM), and a yellow nozzle row (Y).

  The black nozzle row Bk selectively ejects the matte black ink (Mk) or the photo black ink (Pk) depending on the situation. That is, the matte black ink (Mk) or the photo black ink (Pk) is supplied to the black nozzle row Bk depending on the situation. The head unit 40 is provided with a switching mechanism for switching the mat black ink (Mk) and the photo black ink (Pk) to be supplied to the black nozzle row Bk.

  That is, the printer performs printing in a total of eight colors, black, gray, light gray, cyan, light cyan, magenta, light magenta, and yellow. Then, black is either matte black or photo black depending on the situation.

  Next, ink switching will be described. 4 is a schematic explanatory diagram of ink supply paths for matte black ink and photo black ink in the printer shown in FIG. The ink cartridge 90 is accommodated in the slot 9 on the printer main body side. On the other hand, the head 41 which is an ink supply destination is provided on a movable carriage 31. For this reason, the ink accommodated in the ink cartridge 90 is supplied from the printer main body side to the carriage 31 side via a flexible tube (tube) provided in the flexible cable CBL.

  The cable CBL is separately provided with a supply pipe serving as a mat black ink flow path and a supply pipe serving as a photo black ink flow path. That is, the matte black ink and the photo black ink are supplied to the carriage side through the respective supply pipes. The ink is supplied by a supply mechanism such as a pump (not shown).

  The head unit 40 is provided with a switching mechanism 43 for switching the mat black ink (Mk) and the photo black ink (Pk) to be supplied to the black nozzle row Bk. That is, the switching mechanism 43 is provided not on the printer body side but on the carriage 31 side. This is to reduce the amount of ink discharged when discharging ink between the switching mechanism 43 and the head 41 in accordance with ink switching processing described later.

  The switching mechanism 43 has two inlets and one outlet. Two pipes from the cable CBL are connected to the two inlets of the switching mechanism. The outlet of the switching mechanism is connected to a black supply port provided in the head 41 for supplying ink to the black nozzle row (Bk).

  FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view for explaining the configuration of the switching mechanism 43. FIG. 5B is a bottom view for explaining the inlet / outlet of the switching mechanism 43. The switching mechanism 43 includes a housing 431, an entrance / exit plate 432, a shaft 433, a packing 434, and a spring 435.

  The entrance / exit plate 432 is attached to the housing 431, and the housing 431 and the entrance / exit plate 432 form an internal space. In the entrance / exit plate 432, three holes 432A to 432C are formed so as to allow communication between the internal space and the outside. Of these holes, the central hole 432A serves as the outlet of the switching mechanism 43, and the remaining holes 432B and 432C serve as the inlet of the switching mechanism 43. In the present embodiment, the hole 432A is connected to a supply pipe for supplying ink to the black nozzle row (Bk) of the head 41. The hole 432B is connected to a supply pipe that supplies mat black ink (Mk), and the hole 432C is connected to a supply pipe that supplies photo black ink (Pk).

  A part of the shaft 433 and the packing 434 are accommodated in the internal space. A motor (not shown) for rotating the shaft 433 is connected to one end of the shaft 433. The packing 434 is attached to a holder portion formed on the shaft 433, and is in close contact with the entrance / exit plate 432 by a spring 435. A flow path 434 </ b> A is formed in the packing 434. In the drawing, the channel 434A connects the hole 432A serving as the outlet and one hole 432B serving as the inlet. When the shaft 433 rotates 180 degrees, the packing 434 also rotates 180 degrees together with the shaft 433, and the flow path 434A is switched to connect the other hole 432C and the hole 432A.

  In the state shown in the figure, the matte black ink (Mk) is supplied to the hole 432B, and the matte black ink (Mk) is supplied to the head 41 from the hole 432A through the flow path 434A. Even if the photo black ink (Pk) is supplied to the hole 432C, the photo black ink (Pk) is not supplied to the head 41 because the photo black ink (Pk) does not communicate with the flow path 434A. When the shaft 433 rotates 180 degrees from the state shown in the drawing, the photo black ink (Pk) is switched to be supplied to the head 41.

  When the ink ejected to the black nozzle row (Bk) of the head 41 is switched from mat black (Mk) to photo black (Pk), the controller 60 performs the following operation. First, the controller 60 rotates the shaft 433 by 180 degrees with a motor (not shown) to connect the flow path 434A connected to the hole 432B to the hole 432C. Further, the controller 60 moves the carriage 31 so that the head 41 faces a waste liquid tank (not shown). After the flow path 434A is switched, the controller 60 drives the head 41 to discharge ink from the black nozzle row (Bk) toward the waste liquid tank. At this time, the matte black ink remaining on the downstream side of the switching mechanism 43 is ejected from the black nozzle row (Bk). When the ejection is continued for a while, the ink ejected from the black nozzle row (Bk) is changed from the matte black ink to the photo black ink. When the photo black ink is ejected from the black nozzle row (Bk), the controller 60 stops ejecting the ink. The above series of operations will be referred to as “switching process” in the following description.

  In the printer 1 according to this embodiment, the user can select which black ink is used for printing. The printing paper includes a plurality of paper types suitable for printing with photo black (hereinafter referred to as photo-based paper), and a plurality of paper types suitable for printing with matte black (hereinafter referred to as mat-based paper). There is. The printer 1 allows the user to select printing paper.

  Further, when the black ink type setting (hereinafter referred to as ink setting) and the paper type setting (hereinafter referred to as paper setting) do not correspond to each other as described above, the printer 1 The switching process described above is automatically performed so as to match, and the ink setting is changed to match the paper setting.

  In the printing system 100 having the above-described configuration, a print setting screen that is one of interface screens that the printer driver displays on the display device 120 will be described.

  6 and 7 are diagrams showing examples of the print setting screen 400. FIG.

  As shown in these drawings, the print setting screen 400 includes a display area 410 that displays a plurality of paper types and accepts one of the selections. The display area 410 may be displayed as a pull-down list as in the example of FIG. The display area 410 displays paper types that can be selected by the user.

  Here, the display area 410 is grouped and displayed on a photo paper 411 corresponding to photo black and a mat paper 412 corresponding to mat black. Furthermore, the currently selected paper type is highlighted.

  6 and 7 are different in the display mode of the display area 410. That is, in FIG. 6, the photo-based paper 410 is displayed on the upper side (upper), and the mat-type paper 420 is displayed on the lower side (lower), and these positional relationships are reversed in FIG. This is due to the different ink settings in each case. That is, in the display area 410, the paper group corresponding to the ink setting is displayed at the top. That is, FIG. 6 shows an example when photo black is active, and FIG. 7 shows an example when mat black is active.

  Here, “active” means a state in which the ink is switched to be ejectable. For example, if the switching mechanism is in the state as shown in FIG. 5, the matte black ink is active.

  In this way, by displaying the paper group corresponding to the active ink at the top, it is possible to make the user aware of a mismatch between the paper setting and the ink setting. Furthermore, such a display makes it easier for the user to select from the paper group corresponding to the active ink, and can suppress unnecessary ink switching. This is particularly effective when the same sheet (for example, plain paper) is included in a plurality of groups.

  6 and 7, the display positions of the mat-type paper and the photo-type paper are switched according to the ink setting, while the paper setting remains in the set state when the print setting screen 400 is displayed. Is displayed.

  On the other hand, in the mode of FIG. 8, when the paper setting and the ink setting do not match when the mark setting screen 400 is displayed, the printer driver forcibly changes the paper setting and prints in the changed state. A setting screen 400 is displayed.

  That is, in the example of FIG. 8, when the ink setting when attempting to display the print setting screen 400 is active as matte black and the paper setting is one of photo-based paper, the printer driver sets the paper The setting is forcibly switched to one of mat-type papers. In this figure, among the mat-type papers displayed in a group in the display area 410, the top “photo matte paper / pigment” is selected.

  In the mode of FIG. 8, the display position of the photo-type paper and the mat-type paper in the display area 410, that is, which is displayed higher or lower is changed according to the ink setting as in FIGS. Or may not be changed.

  Thereby, since the paper setting corresponding to the current ink setting is automatically switched, unnecessary ink switching can be suppressed.

  Next, the flow of the paper selection switching display in the present embodiment will be described using a flowchart. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of the first paper selection display in the printing system of the present invention.

  In the figure, first, the printer driver starts display processing of the print setting screen 400 on the display device 120 in accordance with a user instruction (S1). Here, the printer driver determines the type of black ink currently active (S2).

  Then, when the photo black is active, it is determined what is the paper group displayed on the upper side of the display area 410 at the default setting or the previous display of the print setting screen 400 (S3).

  At this time, if the display position of the photo system paper is higher, the printer driver displays the print setting screen 400 with the setting as it is (S4). The display mode at this time is shown in FIG. That is, in the display area 410, the photo paper is displayed on the upper side and the mat paper is displayed on the lower side.

  On the other hand, if the display position of the mat-type paper is higher in step S3, the printer driver replaces the display position of the paper group (S5). That is, in the display area 410, the print setting screen 400 is displayed by switching the display position so that the mat-type paper group is higher and the photo-type paper group is lower (S6). At this time, the display mode shown in FIG. 6 is obtained.

  Next, in step S2, even when matte black is active, it is determined what the paper group is displayed on the upper side of the display area 410 in the default setting or the previous display of the print setting screen 400. (S7).

  At this time, if the display position of the mat-type paper is higher, the printer driver displays the print setting screen 400 as it is (S8). The display mode at this time is shown in FIG. That is, in the display area 410, the mat-type paper is displayed on the upper side, and the photo-type paper is displayed on the lower side.

  On the other hand, if the photo paper display position is higher in step S7, the printer driver switches the display position of the paper group (S9). In other words, in the display area 410, the print setting screen 400 is displayed by switching the display position so that the mat-type paper group is higher and the photo-type paper group is lower (S10). Also at this time, the display mode of FIG. 7 is obtained.

  As a result, the paper type of the paper group corresponding to the currently active black ink type is displayed above the paper type display area 410 of the print setting screen 400. This makes it easier for the user to select a paper group corresponding to the currently active black ink type displayed on the upper side when selecting the paper, thereby suppressing the occurrence of unnecessary black ink switching processing.

  In the case of the flowchart of FIG. 9 described above, the display mode of the display area 410 is determined regardless of the paper setting. In contrast, in the display mode of FIG. 8, when the paper setting does not correspond to the ink setting, the print setting screen 400 is displayed after the paper setting is forcibly switched.

  The print setting screen 400 of FIG. 8 is displayed according to the flowchart of the second paper selection display process shown in FIG.

  That is, as in the case of FIG. 9, the printer driver starts display processing of the print setting screen 400, and determines the type of black ink currently active (S21, S22).

  Here, when the photo black is active, it is determined which paper group the current paper setting is (S23).

  At this time, if photo paper is selected, the printer driver displays the print setting screen 400 with the settings as it is (S24). On the other hand, if mat-type paper is selected, the printer driver selects one of the photo-type paper and displays the print setting screen 400 (S25, S26).

  Next, in step S22, even when matte black is active, it is determined which paper group the current paper setting is (S27).

  At this time, if mat-type paper is selected, the printer driver displays the print setting screen 400 as it is (S28). On the other hand, if photo paper is selected, the printer driver selects one of the mat papers and displays the print setting screen 400 (S29, S30).

  Thus, printing can be executed without performing ink switching due to a mismatch between the ink setting and the paper setting.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this embodiment is only the illustration for description of this invention, and is not the meaning which limits the application range of this invention only to this embodiment. The present invention can be implemented in various other modes without departing from the gist thereof.

  For example, when the paper setting is changed as shown in FIG. 8, it may be changed to a paper set separately from the display order in addition to the highest one in the display order. As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, in addition to changing the position of the group, the paper character corresponding to the active ink and the background of the paper character are set to a different color (for example, reverse color) from the others. May be. Also, change the font of the paper character corresponding to the active ink, make it bold, underline it, or add a character (for example, a symbol such as 〇 or active) Also good.

1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a printing system according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a main configuration of a printer. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an arrangement of nozzles on the lower surface of the head 41 shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory diagram of an ink supply path for matte black ink and photo black ink in the printer shown in FIG. 2. 5A is a cross-sectional view for explaining the configuration of the switching mechanism 43, and FIG. 5B is a bottom view for explaining the inlet / outlet of the switching mechanism 43. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print setting screen on which photo paper is preferentially displayed. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print setting screen on which mat-based paper is displayed with priority. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print setting screen when the paper setting is forcibly changed when the paper setting and the ink setting are inconsistent. 9 is a flowchart showing a first processing procedure for displaying a paper selection screen. 9 is a flowchart showing a second processing procedure for displaying a paper selection screen.

Explanation of symbols

1 Printer 9 Slot 20 Carrying Unit 22 Carrying Motor 30 Carriage Unit 40 Head Unit 50 Detector Group 60 Controller 62 CPU
63 Memory 64 Unit control circuit 90 Ink cartridge 110 Computer 120 Display device

Claims (8)

Display of a paper type in which a plurality of paper groups including a paper type of a first paper group corresponding to the first ink and a paper type of a second paper group corresponding to the second ink are grouped and displayed. Display control means for displaying on the display device a selection screen that has an area and accepts selection of one paper type from among the paper types displayed in the display area;
A plurality of ink cartridges including an ink cartridge containing the first ink and an ink cartridge containing the second ink can be mounted, and a plurality of ink cartridges containing the first ink and the second ink Selection means for selecting which of the inks to use based on the paper type selected on the selection screen;
Printing means for performing printing using the ink selected by the selection means, the printing means for executing printing by switching the ink cartridge according to the ink selected by the selection means,
The display control means changes the display mode of the display area according to which of the plurality of inks including the first and second inks is used for printing. A printing system characterized by letting   The display control means changes at least one of a color and a character form so as to identify which paper group of the plurality of paper groups is to be used for printing. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printing system displays in a display area.   The display control means displays, in the display area, a paper group corresponding to ink used for printing on the upper side and a paper group corresponding to ink not used for printing on the lower side. The printing system according to claim 1.   2. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein when the selection unit selects the ink different from the previous one, the printing unit switches the ink cartridge, and the switching involves discarding the ink. Printing system. In the printing unit, switching the ink cartridge is switching so that the ink flow path is connected to an ink cartridge containing ink to be used,
The printing system according to claim 4, further comprising a discarding unit that discards the ink before switching that remains in the ink channel when the ink channel is switched. Display of a paper type in which a plurality of paper groups including a paper type of a first paper group corresponding to the first ink and a paper type of a second paper group corresponding to the second ink are grouped and displayed. Displaying a selection screen for receiving selection of one paper type from among the paper types displayed in the display area,
A plurality of ink cartridges including an ink cartridge containing the first ink and an ink cartridge containing the second ink can be mounted, and a plurality of ink cartridges containing the first ink and the second ink Selecting which of the inks to use based on the paper type selected on the selection screen;
A step of switching the ink cartridge according to the selected ink and executing printing,
A method of displaying by changing a display mode of the display area according to which of a plurality of inks including the first and second inks is used for printing. Display of a paper type in which a plurality of paper groups including a paper type of a first paper group corresponding to the first ink and a paper type of a second paper group corresponding to the second ink are grouped and displayed. Display control means for displaying on the display device a selection screen that has an area and accepts selection of one paper type from among the paper types displayed in the display area;
A plurality of ink cartridges including an ink cartridge containing the first ink and an ink cartridge containing the second ink can be mounted, and a plurality of ink cartridges containing the first ink and the second ink A printing control device for controlling a printing apparatus, comprising: a selection unit configured to select which of the inks to use based on a paper type selected on the selection screen;
The display control means changes the display mode of the display area according to which of the plurality of inks including the first and second inks is used for the state of the printing apparatus. A printing control apparatus characterized in that A computer program for a printing control apparatus,
Display of a paper type in which a plurality of paper groups including a paper type of a first paper group corresponding to the first ink and a paper type of a second paper group corresponding to the second ink are grouped and displayed. Displaying a selection screen for receiving selection of one paper type from among the paper types displayed in the display area,
A plurality of ink cartridges including an ink cartridge containing the first ink and an ink cartridge containing the second ink can be mounted, and a plurality of ink cartridges containing the first ink and the second ink A computer program for causing a print control device to execute a step of selecting which of the inks to use based on a paper type selected on the selection screen;
A computer that displays the display area by changing a display mode according to which of a plurality of inks including the first and second inks is used for printing. program.

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