JP2009033239A - Device, method, and program for creating color conversion lookup table - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique capable of creating a color conversion lookup table so that an achromatic color ink is utilized preferentially when reproducing color on the gray straight line of an input color-system. <P>SOLUTION: In a creating device of a color conversion lookup table, a gray gradation characteristic generation section generates gray gradation characteristics expressing gray gradation only by the achromatic color ink. A smoothing processing section executes processing for smoothing the distribution of a plurality of equipment-independent color-system colored spots from an initial position, and determines the amount of ink of an ink color-system corresponding to the plurality of equipment-independent color-system colored spots after smoothing processing. A table creation section creates the color conversion lookup table for converting the coordinates value of the input color-system to the amount of ink in the ink color-system, based on the result of smoothing processing. The smoothing processing section determines the position of a group of equipment-independent color-system gray colored spots and the amount of ink in the ink color-system corresponding to the group of equipment-independent color-system gray colored spots, based on the gray gradation characteristics, for the group of equipment independent color-system gray colored spots corresponding to a group of input color-system gray colored spots. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for creating a color conversion lookup table, and more particularly to a technique for creating a color conversion lookup table using a smoothing process.

  The color conversion lookup table is a lookup table for converting an input color system to an output color system. The coordinate value of the input color system in the color conversion lookup table represents the position of a point in the color space of the input color system, and the coordinate value of the output color system is a point in the color space of the output color system. Represents the position. In the present specification, points in an arbitrary color space are also referred to as “color points” or “grid points”. Further, the color point represented by the input value and the color point represented by the output value registered in the color conversion lookup table are also referred to as “input grid point” and “output grid point”, respectively.

  As a technique for smoothing the arrangement of input grid points and output grid points in the color conversion lookup table, for example, there is one described in Patent Document 1 disclosed by the applicant of the present application.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-197080

  In this smoothing process, the L * a * b * color system grid points are moved, and then an optimization process using an objective function is used to support the moved L * a * b * grid points. The optimum ink amount to be determined is determined. This optimum ink amount is determined as an ink amount that minimizes the objective function.

  By the way, as a kind of color conversion lookup table, a look for converting the coordinate value of the input color system, which is the RGB color system or the CMYK color system, into the ink amount of the ink color system used in an actual printer. An uptable is used. These color spaces of the input color system include gray straight lines that are straight lines corresponding to gray gradations. For example, in the RGB color system, a straight line having the same three values of R, B, and G corresponds to this gray straight line. In the CMYK color system, the K axis (C = M = Y = 0 axis) corresponds to a gray straight line.

  In color reproduction using an ink color system, either a reproduction method using only achromatic ink or a reproduction method using so-called composite black (mixed color of C, M, Y ink) can be selected as a gray reproduction method. . In a certain color conversion look-up table, there is a demand to reproduce by using achromatic ink preferentially over composite black when reproducing colors on the gray line of the input color system. However, with the technique of the above-described Patent Document 1, it is difficult to create a color conversion lookup table so that achromatic ink is preferentially used when reproducing the color on the gray line of the input color system. there were.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of creating a color conversion lookup table so that achromatic ink is preferentially used when reproducing gray gradation colors of an input color system. To do.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and the invention can be implemented as the following forms or application examples.

Application Example 1 A color conversion lookup table for converting an input color system coordinate value into an ink color system ink amount composed of a plurality of types of ink including achromatic ink and chromatic ink. A creation device,
A gray gradation characteristic generating unit that generates a gray gradation characteristic that expresses a gray gradation using only the achromatic ink;
As an initial value associated with each of a plurality of input color system color points that are predetermined color points of the input color system, an initial value of the ink color system and a device corresponding to the input color system An initial value setting unit for setting a device independent color system color point position which is a color point of the independent color system;
Ink of the ink color system corresponding to the plurality of device-independent color system color points after the smoothing process is executed while performing a process of smoothing the distribution of the plurality of device-independent color system color points from an initial position. A smoothing processing unit for determining the amount;
A table creation unit that creates a color conversion lookup table for converting the coordinate value of the input color system into the ink amount of the ink color system based on the result of the smoothing process;
With
For the input color system gray color point group, which is a set of color points expressed by the gray gradation, the table creation unit is a color based on the gray gradation characteristic generated by the gray gradation characteristic generation unit. A lookup table creation device for creating a conversion lookup table.

  According to this apparatus, the gray tone characteristics are set in advance, and the position of the device independent color system gray color point group corresponding to the input color system gray color point group and the ink amount of the ink color system are determined in gray. Since the determination is based on the gradation characteristics, it is possible to create a color conversion lookup table so that the achromatic ink is preferentially used when reproducing the gray gradation color of the input color system.

[Application Example 2] The lookup table creation device according to Application Example 1,
The ink color system includes a plurality of types of achromatic inks having different densities,
The gray-scale characteristic generation unit generates a gray-scale characteristic that expresses a gray gradation using only the plurality of types of achromatic inks.

  In this configuration, the gray gradation characteristics are generated using a plurality of types of achromatic inks having different densities. Therefore, when reproducing the gray color of the input color system, the plurality of types of achromatic inks are reproduced. A color conversion lookup table can be created so that is preferentially used.

[Application Example 3] The lookup table creation device according to Application Example 1 or 2, further comprising:
A color system conversion unit for converting the ink amount of the ink color system into a coordinate value of a device independent color system;
The initial value setting unit uses the color system conversion unit to convert the initial value of the ink color system associated with each of the plurality of input color system color points into the device independent color system. A lookup table creation device that determines initial positions of the plurality of device independent color system color points by converting them into coordinate values.

  In this configuration, if the initial value of the ink color system is set for each of the plurality of input color systems, the initial positions of the plurality of device-independent color systems are determined by the color system conversion unit. be able to.

Application Example 4 The lookup table creation device according to Application Example 3,
The smoothing processing unit
(I) an ink amount of the achromatic ink corresponding to the input color system gray color point group by referring to the gray color characteristics using the gray color value of the input color system gray color point group A step of determining
(Ii) converting the amount of the achromatic ink into a coordinate value of a color point of the device independent color system using the color system conversion unit;
(Iii) determining the position of the device independent color system gray color point group by performing smoothing on the color points of the device independent color system corresponding to the ink amount of the achromatic ink, and Determining an optimum value of the ink amount of the ink color system corresponding to a color system gray color point group using the color system conversion unit;
A look-up table creation device that executes local smoothing processing including:

  In this configuration, the amount of achromatic ink corresponding to the input color system gray color point group can be determined with reference to the gray tone characteristics, and the device independent color system reproduced with the achromatic color ink amount can be determined. Therefore, it is possible to obtain an ink amount that approximates the gray gradation characteristics as the final ink amount corresponding to the input color system gray color point group.

[Application Example 5] The lookup table creation device according to Application Example 4,
In the local smoothing process relating to the input color system gray color point group, the smoothing processing unit is configured to perform the color specification for the paper black point having the highest density in the input color system gray color point group. A lookup table creation device that executes the local smoothing process so that a color point of the device independent color system corresponding to the paper black point is as dark as possible using a system conversion unit.

  According to this configuration, the black spot of the paper is made as dark as possible, so that the reproducible color gamut can be expanded.

[Application Example 6] The lookup table creation device according to Application Example 5,
The input color system is the RGB color system,
The look-up table creation device, wherein the gray gradation in the color space of the input color system is in the vicinity of a straight line in which an R value, a G value, and a B value, which are three input values of the RGB color system, are equal to each other.

  In this configuration, in the three-dimensional color conversion lookup table using the RGB color system as an input, the ink amount for the gray gradation near the straight line of R = G = B may be approximated to the gray gradation characteristics. Is possible.

[Application Example 7] The lookup table creation device according to Application Example 4,
In the local smoothing process related to the input color system gray color point group, the smoothing processing unit is configured to perform the highest density gray point having the highest density in the input color system gray color point group. Ink amount of the ink color system corresponding to the highest density gray point obtained by referring to gray gradation characteristics, and the device independent color space obtained by conversion by the device independent color system conversion unit from the ink amount A lookup table creation device that executes the local smoothing process while restraining the position of the system color point from moving.

  With this configuration, it is possible to obtain a smooth color point distribution with respect to other gray points while maintaining the ink amount set with the gray gradation characteristics for the highest density gray point.

[Application Example 8] The lookup table creation device according to Application Example 7,
The input color system is the CMYK color system,
The lookup table creation device, wherein the gray gradation in the color space of the input color system is near the K axis of the CMYK color system.

  In this configuration, in the four-dimensional color conversion lookup table using the CMYK color system as an input, the ink amount near the K axis can be approximated to the gray gradation characteristics.

[Application Example 9] The lookup table creation device according to Application Example 8,
The input color system includes a plurality of K layers in which the K value is constant and the C value, the M value, and the Y value each take a value within a predetermined definition range,
The smoothing processing unit, for the color points other than the input color system gray color point group among the input color system color points on each K layer, the local color system related to the input color system gray color point group. The smoothing process is performed by allowing the change of the chromatic color ink amount while fixing the ink amount of the achromatic color among the ink amounts of the ink color system determined by the smoothing process. Uptable creation device.

  According to this configuration, the distribution of the color points in each K layer can be made smooth simply by changing the ink amount of the chromatic color ink while maintaining the preferable ink amount of the achromatic color ink on each K layer. it can.

[Application Example 10] The lookup table creation device according to any one of Application Examples 1 to 9,
The smoothing processing unit
The color point on the outer shell surface of the three-dimensional color solid of the RGB color system or the color point on the outer shell surface of a plurality of three-dimensional color solids having a constant K value in the CMYK color system. Execution process,
After the smoothing process on the color points on the outer shell surface, the smoothing is performed on the other color points existing inside the outer shell surface while restraining the color points on the outer shell surface from moving. A lookup table creation device that executes processing.

  According to this configuration, the smoothing of the internal color points is performed after the smoothing of the color points on the outer shell surface, so that the processing can be speeded up compared to the case where all are performed simultaneously.

  The present invention can be realized in various forms, for example, a color conversion lookup table creation method and apparatus, a smoothing processing method and apparatus therefor, and a function of those methods or apparatuses. The present invention can be realized in the form of a computer program for recording, a recording medium storing the computer program, and the like.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order.
A. Equipment configuration and overall processing procedure:
B. Dynamic model:
C. Typical procedure for smoothing:
D. First Example (3D-LUT creation):
E. Second Example (4D-LUT creation):
F. Third Example (3D-LUT creation):
G. Fourth Example (4D-LUT creation):
H. Modified example

A. Equipment configuration and overall processing procedure:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a lookup table creation apparatus in an embodiment of the present invention. This apparatus includes a base LUT creation module 100, a color correction LUT creation module 200, a forward model converter 300, and an LUT storage unit 400. “LUT” is an abbreviation for lookup table. The functions of the modules 100 and 200 and the converter 300 are realized by the computer executing the computer program stored in the memory. The LUT storage unit 400 is realized by a recording medium such as a hard disk device.

  The base LUT creation module 100 includes a gray gradation creation module 110, a smoothing process initial value setting module 120, and a table creation module 140. The smoothing processing module 130 includes a color point movement module 132, an ink amount optimization module 134, and an image quality evaluation index calculation module 136. The forward model converter 300 includes a spectral printing model converter 310 and a color calculation unit 320. The functions of these parts will be described later.

  The LUT storage unit 400 is for storing the inverse model initial LUT 410, the base 3D-LUT 510, the base 4D-LUT 520, the color correction 3D-LUT 610, the color correction 4D-LUT 620, and the like. However, LUTs other than the inverse model initial LUT 410 are created by the base LUT creation module 100 and the color correction LUT creation module 200. The base 3D-LUT 510 is a color conversion lookup table that receives an RGB color system and outputs an ink amount. On the other hand, the base 4D-LUT 520 is a color conversion lookup table that receives the CMYK color system and outputs the ink amount. “3D” and “4D” mean the number of input values. The RGB color system and the CMYK color system, which are the input color systems of these base LUTs 510 and 520, are not so-called device-dependent color systems, but are virtual color systems (or other than a specific device) (or Abstract color system). These base LUTs 510 and 520 are used when creating the color correction LUTs 610 and 620, for example. This is because the name “base LUT” is used as a basis for creating a color correction LUT. The color correction LUTs 610 and 620 are look-up tables for converting a standard device-dependent color system (for example, an sRGB color system or a JAPAN COLOR 2001 color system) into an ink amount of a specific printer. The inverse model initial LUT 410 will be described later.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an overall processing procedure of the embodiment. 3A to 3C are explanatory diagrams showing processing contents when a base 3D-LUT is created by steps S100 to S300 of FIG. In step S100, a forward model converter 300 and an inverse model initial LUT 410 are prepared. Here, the “forward model” means a conversion model that converts the ink amount into a color value (colorimetric value) of the device independent color system. In contrast, the “inverse model” is a device independent color system. This means a conversion model that converts the color value of the ink into an ink amount. In the embodiment, the CIE-L * a * b * color system is used as the device independent color system. Hereinafter, the color value of the CIE-L * a * b * color system is also simply referred to as “L * a * b * value” or “Lab value”.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the spectral printing model converter 310 that forms the preceding stage of the forward model converter 300 uses the ink amounts of a plurality of types of inks and the spectral reflectances of the color patches that are printed according to the ink amounts. Convert to R (λ). In the present specification, the term “color patch” is used in a broad sense including not only a chromatic color patch but also an achromatic color patch. In this embodiment, eight types of inks of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), black (K), light cyan Lc, light magenta Lm, light black Lk, and extremely light black LLk can be used. A color printer is assumed, and the spectral printing model converter 310 also receives the ink amounts of these eight types of ink. However, an arbitrary ink set can be used as the plurality of types of ink used in the printer. The color calculation unit 320 calculates the color value of the L * a * b * color system from the spectral reflectance R (λ). For the calculation of the color value, a light source (for example, standard light D50) selected in advance is used as a color patch observation condition. As a method of creating the spectral printing model converter 310, for example, a method described in JP-T-2007-511175 can be employed.

  The inverse model initial LUT 410 is a look-up table in which L * a * b * values are input and ink amounts are output. The initial LUT 410 is obtained by, for example, dividing the L * a * b * space into a plurality of small cells and selecting and registering an optimum ink amount for each small cell. This selection is performed in consideration of, for example, the image quality of the color patch printed with the ink amount. In general, there are many combinations of ink amounts that reproduce a certain L * a * b * value. Therefore, in the initial LUT 410, one that selects an optimal ink amount from a desired viewpoint such as image quality from among a large number of combinations of ink amounts that reproduce substantially the same L * a * b * value is registered. The L * a * b * value that is an input value of the initial LUT 410 is a representative value of each small cell. On the other hand, the ink amount as the output value reproduces any L * a * b * value in the cell. Accordingly, in this initial LUT 410, the L * a * b * value that is the input value and the ink amount that is the output value do not correspond exactly, and the ink amount of the output value is converted to L by the forward model converter 300. When converted into * a * b * values, a value slightly different from the input value of the initial LUT 410 is obtained. However, as the initial LUT 410, an input value and an output value that completely correspond to each other may be used. It is also possible to create a base LUT without using the initial LUT 410. As a method for creating the initial LUT 410 by selecting an optimal ink amount for each small cell, for example, the method described in the above Japanese translation of PCT publication No. 2007-511175 can be employed.

  In step S200 of FIG. 2, an initial input value for creating a base LUT is set by the user. FIG. 3B shows an example of the configuration of the base 3D-LUT 510 and its initial input value setting. As the input values of the base 3D-LUT 510, values at substantially equal intervals predetermined as RGB values are set. Since a set of RGB values is considered to represent a point in the RGB color space, the set of RGB values is also referred to as an “input grid point”. In step S200, the initial value of the ink amount for some small number of input grid points selected in advance from among the plurality of input grid points is input by the user. It is preferable to select at least an input grid point corresponding to a vertex of a three-dimensional color solid in the RGB color space as the input grid point to which the initial input value is set. At the apex of the three-dimensional color solid, each RGB value takes the minimum value or the maximum value of the definition range. Specifically, when each RGB value is expressed by 8 bits, (R, G, B) = (0,0,0), (0,0,255), (0,255,0), (255, The initial input value of the ink amount is set for eight input grid points of (0,0), (0,255,255), (255,0,255), (255,255,0), and (255,255,255). Note that the ink amounts for the input grid points of (R, G, B) = (255, 255, 255) are all set to zero. The initial input value of the ink amount for the other input grid points is arbitrary, and is set to 0, for example. In the example of FIG. 3B, the ink amount for the input grid point of (R, G, B) = (0,0,32) is a value other than 0. This is when this LUT 510 is completed. Is the value of

  In step S300 of FIG. 2, the smoothing processing module 130 (FIG. 1) executes a smoothing process (smoothing process) based on the initial input value set in step S200. FIG. 3C shows the processing content of step S300. On the left side of FIG. 3C, the distribution of a plurality of color points in a state before the smoothing process is indicated by double circles and white circles. These color points constitute a three-dimensional color solid CS in the L * a * b * space. The L * a * b * coordinate value of each color point is converted from the ink amount at a plurality of input grid points of the base 3D-LUT 510 to an L * a * b value using the forward model converter 300 (FIG. 3A). It is the value. As described above, in step S200, the initial input value of the ink amount is set only for some small number of input grid points. Therefore, the initial value of the ink amount for other input grid points is set from the initial input value by the smoothing process initial value setting module 120 (FIG. 1). This initial value setting method will be described later.

The three-dimensional color solid CS of the L * a * b * color system has the following eight vertices (double circle points in FIG. 3C).
Point P _K : paper black point corresponding to (R, G, B) = (0,0,0).
Point P _W : Paper white point corresponding to (R, G, B) = (255,255,255).
Point P _C : cyan point corresponding to (R, G, B) = (0,255,255).
Point P _M : Magenta point corresponding to (R, G, B) = (255,0,255).
Point P _Y : Yellow point corresponding to (R, G, B) = (255,255,0).
Point P _R : Red point corresponding to (R, G, B) = (255,0,0).
Point P _G : Green point corresponding to (R, G, B) = (0,255,0).
Point P _B : Blue point corresponding to (R, G, B) = (0,0,255).

  The right side of FIG. 3C shows the distribution of color points after the smoothing process. The smoothing process is a process of moving a plurality of color points in the L * a * b * space and smoothing the distribution of these color points at regular intervals. In the smoothing process, an optimum ink amount is also determined to reproduce the L * a * b * value of each color point after movement. When this optimum ink amount is registered as the output value of the base LUT 510, the base LUT 510 is completed.

  4A to 4C show the correspondence between the color points of the input color system (that is, the input grid points) and the color points of the L * a * b * color system. The vertices of the L * a * b * color system three-dimensional color solid CS correspond one-to-one with the vertices of the input color system three-dimensional color solid of the base LUT 510. Also, the sides (ridge lines) connecting the vertices can be considered to correspond to each other in both color solids. Each color point of the L * a * b * color system before the smoothing process is associated with each input grid point of the base LUT 510. Therefore, each color point of the L * a * b * color system after the smoothing process Are also associated with the input grid points of the base LUT 510, respectively. Note that the input grid points of the base LUT 510 are not changed by the smoothing process. The three-dimensional color solid CS of the L * a * b * color system after the smoothing process corresponds to the entire color gamut (color gamut) that can be reproduced by the ink set constituting the output color system of the base LUT 510. . Therefore, the input color system of the base LUT 510 has significance as a color system that represents the entire color gamut that can be reproduced with this ink set.

  The reason for performing the smoothing process in the L * a * b * space when creating the base LUT 510 is as follows. In the base LUT 510, there is a demand for setting an output color system ink amount so that a color gamut as large as possible can be reproduced. The color gamut that can be reproduced with a specific ink set is determined in consideration of predetermined limiting conditions such as ink duty limitation (limitation of the amount of ink that can be ejected to a certain area). On the other hand, the forward model converter 300 described above is created regardless of the reproducible color gamut without considering these limiting conditions. Therefore, the color gamut that can be reproduced with a specific ink set is determined by determining the possible range of color points in the L * a * b * space in consideration of limiting conditions such as ink duty limits during smoothing processing. It becomes possible to do. As an algorithm for moving the color point, for example, an algorithm using a dynamic model described later is used.

  In step S400 of FIG. 2, the table creation module 140 creates the base LUT 510 using the result of the smoothing process. In other words, the table creation module 140 outputs the optimum ink amount for reproducing the color point of the L * a * b * color system associated with each input grid point to the output of the base LUT 510 (FIG. 3C). Register as a value. In the smoothing process, in order to reduce the calculation load, it is possible to select only the color points corresponding to only a part of the input grid points of the base LUT 510 as the processing target. For example, when the RGB value interval at the input grid point of the base LUT 510 is 16, if the RGB value interval at the input grid point to be smoothed is set to 32, the load on the smoothing process can be halved. it can. In this case, the table creation module 140 determines and registers the ink amount for all the input grid points of the base LUT 510 by interpolating the smoothing processing result.

  FIGS. 5A to 5C are explanatory diagrams showing processing contents when the base 4D-LUT 520 is created by steps S100 to S300 of FIG. FIG. 5A is the same as FIG. A base 4D-LUT 520 shown in FIG. 5B is different from the base 3D-LUT 510 shown in FIG. 3B in that the input is a CMYK color system. As an initial input value of the base 4D-LUT 520, (C, M, Y, K) = (0, 0, 0, 0), (0, 0, 255, 0), (0, 255, 0, 0), (0, 255, 255) , 0), (255,0,0,0), (255,0,255,0), (255,255,0,0), (255,255,255,0), (0,0,0,255), (0,0,255,255), The initial value of the ink amount is set for 16 input grid points (0,255,0,255), (0,255,255,255), (255,0,0,255), (255,0,255,255), (255,255,0,255), (255,255,255,255) The The initial input value of the ink amount for the other input grid points is arbitrary, and is set to 0, for example.

  FIG. 5C shows a state of the smoothing process. Note that in the L * a * b * space, as the color solid corresponding to the base 4D-LUT 520, as shown at the right end of FIG. There is a three-dimensional color solid CS. In this example, a plurality of color solids CS including a color solid of K = 0 and a color solid of K = 32 are illustrated. In the present specification, these individual color solids CS are also referred to as “K layers”. This is because each color solid CS can be considered to correspond to an input layer in which the K value among the CMYK values is constant and the C, M, and Y values are variable. The plurality of color solids CS represent a dark color gamut as the K value increases. This is because, as will be described later, the ink amount of the dark black ink K is determined so that the ink amount of the dark black ink K increases as the K value of the input color system increases. As described above, the reproducible color gamut is limited by the ink duty limit value. As the ink duty limit value, two limit values are generally imposed, that is, the ink amount of each ink and the total ink amount of all inks. On the other hand, methods for reproducing dark colors include a method using achromatic ink such as dark black ink K and a method using composite black. However, since composite black has a large total ink amount, it is more likely to conflict with the ink duty limit value than dark black ink K, which is disadvantageous for reproducing dark colors. Therefore, a color solid having a large K value in the input color system and a large amount of dark black ink K is more than a color solid having a small K value in the input color system and a small amount of dark black ink K. Dark colors can be reproduced. As described above, since there are a plurality of color solids CS corresponding to the base 4D-LUT, in the smoothing process for the base 4D-LUT, processing in consideration of the plurality of color solids CS is executed.

6A and 6B are explanatory diagrams illustrating a method for creating a color correction LUT using a base LUT. As shown in FIG. 6A, the base 3D-LUT 510 converts the RGB value into the ink amount I _j . This ink amount I _j represents the ink amounts of the eight types of ink shown in FIG. At this time, the subscript _j of the ink amount I j is 1 to 8. The converted ink amount I _j is converted into an L * a * b * value by the forward model converter 300. On the other hand, the sRGB values are converted into L * a * b * values according to a known conversion formula. The converted L * a * b * values are gamut-mapped so that the color gamut matches the color gamut of the L * a * b * values converted by the forward model converter 300. On the other hand, an inverse transformation LUT 511 is created using the L * a * b * values converted from the RGB values as a backward lookup table through the base 3D-LUT 510 and the forward model converter 300. The gamut-mapped L * a * b * values are converted into RGB values by the inverse conversion LUT 511. This RGB value is further converted again into the ink amount I _j by the base 3D-LUT 510. The color correction 3D-LUT 610 can be created by registering the correspondence relationship between the last ink amount I _j and the first sRGB value in the lookup table. The color correction 3D-LUT 610 is a color conversion table for converting the sRGB color system to the ink color system.

  FIG. 6B shows a method for creating the color correction 4D-LUT 620. The difference from FIG. 6A is that, instead of the 3D-LUT 510 and its inverse transformation LUT 511, the 4D-LUT 520 and its inverse transformation LUT 521 are used, and the sRGB color system is changed to an L * a * b * value. Instead of the known conversion formula for converting to ## EQU3 ## a known conversion formula for converting the JAPAN COLOR color system (shown as “jCMYK” in the figure) into L * a * b * values is used. As is well known, JAPAN COLOR is a color system composed of four colors of CMYK. In the method of FIG. 6B, when the L * a * b * value is converted into the CMYK value in the inverse transformation LUT 521, the K value of the inverse transformation LUT 521 is calculated from the K value of the first jCMYK value before the known transformation. A layer (a portion where the K value is constant) is selected. Therefore, it is possible to create a color correction 4D-LUT 620 that reflects the characteristics of the K layer in the base 4D-LUT 520.

  Normally, the base LUTs 510 and 520 are mounted on the printer driver, and are used for processes other than the color correction LUT creation process. However, description of other utilization examples is omitted here. In the following, a dynamic model used for the smoothing process of the embodiment will be briefly described, a typical processing procedure of the smoothing process will be described, and then a specific example of creating the base LUT will be described.

ここで、F_gは着目色点ｇが隣接色点gn（nは１〜Ｎ）から受ける引力の合計値、V_gは着目色点ｇの速度ベクトル、-k_vV_gは速度に応じた抵抗力、X_gは着目色点gの位置ベクトル、X_gnは隣接色点ｇnの位置ベクトル、k_p, k_gは係数である。係数k_p, k_gは予め一定の値に設定される。なお、文中では、ベクトルを示す矢印は省略される。 B. Dynamic model:
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a dynamic model used in the smoothing process of the embodiment. Here, a state is shown in which a plurality of color points (white circles and double circles) are arranged in the L * a * b * color space. However, for convenience of explanation, the arrangement of the color points is drawn two-dimensionally here. In this dynamic model, it is assumed that virtual force Fp _g of the following formula with respect to focus color point g is according.

Here, F _g is a total value of attractive forces received by the target color point g from the adjacent color points gn (n is 1 to N), V _g is a velocity vector of the target color point g, and −k _v V _g is a velocity. Resistance force, X _g is a position vector of the target color point g, X _gn is a position vector of the adjacent color point gn, and k _p and k _g are coefficients. The coefficients k _p and k _g are set to constant values in advance. In the text, the arrow indicating the vector is omitted.

This model is a damped vibration model of mass points connected to each other by springs. That is, the virtual force Fp _g according to the target color point g is a focusing color point g and the spring force F _g, which distance increases larger with adjacent color points gn, increases as the speed of the target color point g is large resistance -k _v V _g is the total value. In this dynamic model, for each color point, after setting the initial value of the position vector X _g and the velocity vector F _g, it slides into successively calculates the position vector X _g and the velocity vector F _g a minute time. Note that the initial value of the velocity vector _Vg of a plurality of color points is set to 0, for example. By using such a dynamic model, each color point moves gradually, and a smooth color point distribution can be obtained.

In addition, as a force relating to each color point, a force other than the spring force F _g and the resistance force −k _v V _g may be used. For example, various other forces described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-197080 disclosed by the present applicant may be used in this dynamic model. Further, when moving each color point by applying a dynamic model, a specific color point can be handled as a constraint point that does not move by the dynamic model.

C. Typical procedure for smoothing:
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a typical processing procedure of the smoothing process (step S300 in FIG. 2). In step T100, the smoothing process initial value setting module 120 (FIG. 1) initializes a plurality of color points to be smoothed.

ここで、I_(R,G,B)は、入力格子点のＲＧＢ値に対するインクセット全体のインク量（図３の例では８種類のインクのインク量）を表している。ＲＧＢ値が０又は２５５を取る入力格子点に対するインク量は、図２のステップＳ２００においてユーザによって予め入力された値である。上記（２）式及び（３）式によれば、任意のＲＧＢ値における仮インク量I_(R,G,B)を求めることが可能である。 FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure of Step T100. In step T102, a temporary ink amount for each color point to be subjected to the smoothing process is determined from the initial input value of the ink amount (FIGS. 3B and 5B). For example, in the smoothing processing for 3D-LUT is the following equation (2), equation (3), the temporary ink amount I for each input lattice points _{(R, G, B)} are determined.

Here, I _{(R, G, B)} represents the ink amount of the entire ink set with respect to the RGB values of the input grid points (ink amounts of eight types of ink in the example of FIG. 3). The ink amount for the input grid point where the RGB value is 0 or 255 is a value input in advance by the user in step S200 of FIG. According to the above (2) and (3), it is possible to obtain the temporary ink amount I at any RGB values _{(R, G, B).}

In the smoothing process for 4D-LUT, the temporary ink amount I _{(C, M, Y, K)} for each input grid point is determined according to the following equations (4) and (5).

ここで、I_(C,M,Y,0)は、Ｋ＝０の８個の頂点におけるインク量の初期入力値から、上記（２）式と同様の式で算出されたインク量である。（６）式の関数f_D1は値I_(C,M,Y,0)と値I_(0,0,0,255)の合計値がインクデューティ制限値をオーバーする場合に、値I_(C,M,Y,0)を減じることによって、インク量I_(C,M,Y,255)がインクデューティ制限値内に納まるようにする関数である。また、（７）式の関数f_D2は、値I_(C,M,Y,0)と値I_(0,0,0,255)の合計値がインクデューティ制限値をオーバーする場合に、合計値（I_(C,M,Y,0)+I_(0,0,0,255)）の全体を減じることによって、インク量I_(C,M,Y,255)がインクデューティ制限値内に納まるようにする関数である。 As can be understood from the equation (4), since there are 16 initial input values of the ink amount for 4D-LUT, setting of the initial input value is complicated. Therefore, for example, the input grid points for setting the initial input value of the ink amount are eight vertices of K = 0, that is, (C, M, Y, K) = (0, 0, 0, 0), ( 0,0,255,0), (0,255,0,0), (0,255,255,0), (255,0,0,0), (255,0,255,0), (255,255,0,0), (255,255,255, 0) and 8 vertices of K = 255, for example, (C, M, Y, K) = (0,0,0,255) vertices only, and ink of K = 255 color point You may determine quantity by the following (6) Formula or (7) Formula.

Here, I _{(C, M, Y, 0)} is an ink amount calculated by an equation similar to the above equation (2) from the initial input values of the ink amount at the eight vertices of K = 0. (6) the function f _D1 is the value I _{(C, M, Y, 0)} if the total value of the value I _{(0, 0, 0, 255)} is over the ink duty limit value I _{(C, M , Y, 0)} is a function that causes the ink amount I _{(C, M, Y, 255)} to fall within the ink duty limit value. In addition, the function f _{D2 in the} expression (7) is _{calculated when} the total value of the value I _{(C, M, Y, 0)} and the value I _{( 0, 0, 0, 255)} exceeds the ink duty limit value ( I _{(C, M, Y, 0)} + I _(0,0,0,255) ) is subtracted so that the ink amount I _{(C, M, Y, 255)} falls within the ink duty limit value. It is a function.

ここで、L_(R,G,B)、L_(C,M,Y,K)は変換後の色彩値L*a*b*を示しており、関数f_FMはフォワードモデルコンバータ３００による変換を意味している。なお、これらの式からも理解できるように、この変換後の色彩値L*a*b*は、ベースＬＵＴの入力値であるＲＧＢ値又はＣＭＹＫ値に対応付けられている。 In Step T104 of FIG. 9, the forward model converter 300 is used to obtain the color value L * a * b * corresponding to the temporary ink amount. This calculation can be expressed by the following formula (8) or (9).

Here, L _{(R, G, B)} and L _{(C, M, Y, K)} indicate the color values L * a * b * after conversion, and the function f _FM performs conversion by the forward model converter 300. I mean. As can be understood from these equations, the color value L * a * b * after conversion is associated with the RGB value or CMYK value that is the input value of the base LUT.

  In step T106 in FIG. 9, the color value L * a * b * obtained in step T104 is converted back into an ink amount using the inverse model initial LUT 410 (FIG. 3A). Here, the reason why the ink amount is converted again using the inverse model initial LUT 410 is that the initial input value of the ink amount or the temporary ink amount determined in step T102 is the ink amount that reproduces the L * a * b * value. This is because the ink amount is not always preferable. On the other hand, in the inverse model initial LUT 410, since a preferable ink amount considering image quality and the like is registered, if the L * a * b * value is converted again into the ink amount using this, the L * a * b * A preferable ink amount for realizing the value can be obtained as an initial value. However, step T106 may be omitted.

As a result of the process in step T100 described above, the following initial values are determined for the color points to be subjected to the smoothing process.
(1) Input grid point value of base LUT: (R, G, B) or (C, M, Y, K)
(2) Initial coordinate value of color point in L * a * b * space corresponding to each input grid point: L _{(R, G, B)} or L _{(C, M, Y, K)}
(3) Initial ink amount corresponding to each input grid point: I _{(R, G, B)} or I _{(C, M, Y, K)}
As can be understood from the above description, the initial value setting module 120 has a function of setting initial values related to other input grid points from input initial values related to typical input grid points. The initial value setting module 120 also has a function of setting an initial value related to an input grid point representing a gray gradation based on the gray gradation characteristics. An example of the function will be described later. The initial value setting module 120 may be included in the smoothing processing module 130.

  In Step T120 of FIG. 8, the color point moving module 132 moves the color point in the L * a * b * space according to the dynamic model described above.

10A to 10D are explanatory diagrams showing the processing contents of steps S120 to S150 in FIG. As shown in FIG. 10A, there is a considerable bias in the distribution of color points before the smoothing process. FIG. 10B shows the position of each color point after a minute time has elapsed. The L * a * b * value of each color point after the movement is called “target value LAB _t ”. This is because the value “LAB _t” is used as a target value in the search process of the optimum value of the ink amount described below.

ここで、I_jは目的関数Ｅを最小とするインク量、LAB_FM(I_j)はインク量I_jをフォワードモデルコンバータ３００で変換して得られるL*a*b*値、GI(I_j)はインク量I_jで印刷されるカラーパッチの粒状性指数（Graininess Index）、CII(I_j)はそのカラーパッチの色非恒常性指数（Color Inconstancy Index）、TI(I_j)はトータルインク量（＝ΣI_j）、α，β，γは定数である。（１０）式の右辺第１項は、２つのベクトルLAB_t, LAB_FM(I_j)で表される２つの色点の距離の２乗を求める演算を意味している。粒状性指数GIと、色非恒常性指数CIIと、トータルインク量TIとは、いずれもカラーパッチの画質を表す画質評価指数として利用されている。すなわち、これらの値GI, CII, TIが小さいほど、インク量I_jで再現されるカラーパッチの画質が良い傾向にある。粒状性指数GIと、色非恒常性指数CIIの算出方法については後述する。 In step T130, the ink amount optimization module 134 searches for the optimum value of the ink amount with respect to the target value LAB _t using the objective function E expressed by the following equation (10) (see FIG. 10C). .

Here, I _j is an ink amount that minimizes the objective function E, LAB _FM (I _j ) is an L * a * b * value obtained by converting the ink amount I _j by the forward model converter 300, and GI (I _j ) Is the graininess index (Graininess Index) of the color patch printed with the ink amount I _j , CII (I _j ) is the color inconstancy index of the color patch, and TI (I _j ) is the total ink The quantities (= ΣI _j ), α, β, γ are constants. The first term on the right side of the equation (10) means an operation for obtaining the square of the distance between two color points represented by two vectors LAB _t , LAB _FM (I _j ). The graininess index GI, the color non-constancy index CII, and the total ink amount TI are all used as image quality evaluation indices representing the image quality of the color patch. That is, the smaller these values GI, CII, and TI, the better the image quality of the color patch reproduced with the ink amount I _j . The calculation method of the graininess index GI and the color non-constancy index CII will be described later.

The above equation (10) is an image quality evaluation index GI, CII, in the ink amount I _j that reproduces the L * a * b * value close to the coordinate value LABt of the color point after moving by a minute amount in the dynamic model. This means that an ink amount having a smaller TI is determined as the optimum ink amount. This search for the optimum ink amount is executed using an optimization method such as a quasi-Newton method. The search for the ink amount is started from the initial ink value of each input grid point set in step T100. Therefore, the ink amount obtained by the search is a value obtained by correcting this initial ink amount.

In general, the search for the ink amount by the optimization process is executed under the following conditions.
(Optimization condition 1) Minimize the objective function E (Optimization condition 2) Use only the ink designated in advance as usable.

  As will be described later, various formulas other than the formula (10) can be used as formulas that give the objective function E of the optimization condition 1. In addition, as the usable ink in the optimization condition 2, there are a case where only some of the plural types of ink available in the printer are designated and a case where all the types of ink are designated. . The type of ink that can be used is preferably set in advance by the user for each color point to be smoothed. Specific examples of these optimization conditions will be described later.

In addition, when searching for the ink amount, in addition to the optimization conditions 1 and 2, the ink duty limit is also applied. As the ink duty limit value, for example, two values of the maximum allowable value of the ink amount of each ink and the allowable maximum value of the total ink amount are used. For example, when the ink amount of each ink is expressed by 8 bits, the maximum allowable value of the ink amount I _j of eight types of individual inks is set to 180, and the maximum allowable value of the total ink amount ΣI _j is set to 240. May be.

ここで、a_Lは明度補正係数、WS(u)はカラーパッチの印刷に利用されるハーフトーンデータが示す画像のウイナースペクトラム、VTF(u)は視覚の空間周波数特性、uは空間周波数である。（１１）式は一次元で表現しているが、空間周波数u, vの関数として二次元画像の空間周波数を算出することは容易である。粒状性指数GIの計算方法としては、例えば、本出願人により開示された特表２００７−５１１１６１号公報に記載された方法や、Makoto Fujino,Image Quality Evaluation of Inkjet Prints, Japan Hardcopy '99, p.291-294に記載された方法を利用することができる。 The graininess index GI is given by the following equation (11), for example.

Where a _L is the lightness correction coefficient, WS (u) is the winner spectrum of the image indicated by the halftone data used for printing the color patch, VTF (u) is the visual spatial frequency characteristic, and u is the spatial frequency. . Although the expression (11) is expressed in one dimension, it is easy to calculate the spatial frequency of the two-dimensional image as a function of the spatial frequencies u and v. As a calculation method of the graininess index GI, for example, the method described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-511161 disclosed by the applicant, Makoto Fujino, Image Quality Evaluation of Inkjet Prints, Japan Hardcopy '99, p. The method described in 291-294 can be used.

ここで、ΔL*は２つの異なる観察条件下（異なる光源下）におけるカラーパッチの明度差、ΔC*_abは彩度差、ΔH*_abは色相差を示す。色非恒常性指数CIIの計算時には、２つの異なる観察条件下でのL*a*b*値は、色順応変換（ＣＡＴ）を用いて標準観察条件（例えば標準の光Ｄ６５の観察下）に変換される。CIIについては、Billmeyer and Saltzman's Principles of Color Technology, 3rd edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc, 2000, p.129, pp. 213-215を参照。 The color non-constancy index CII is given by the following equation (12), for example.

Here, ΔL * is the lightness difference of the color patch under two different observation conditions (under different light sources), ΔC * _ab is the chroma difference, and ΔH * _ab is the hue difference. When calculating the color non-constancy index CII, the L * a * b * values under two different viewing conditions are converted into standard viewing conditions (eg under the observation of standard light D65) using chromatic adaptation transformation (CAT). Converted. For CII, see Billmeyer and Saltzman's Principles of Color Technology, 3rd edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc, 2000, p.129, pp. 213-215.

  The weight coefficients α, β, and γ of the image quality evaluation indexes GI, CII, and TI included in the objective function E can be set to arbitrary values, respectively, but typically are either 0 or 1 depending on the user. Is set. As the image quality evaluation index, only one or two of these may be used, or other indices other than these may be used. The various image quality evaluation indices are calculated by the image quality evaluation index calculation module 136 (FIG. 1).

  In the above equation (10), the optimum value of the ink amount may be obtained by using only the first term on the right side without using the image quality evaluation indexes GI, CII, and TI.

In step T140 of FIG. 8, the L * a * b * value corresponding to the ink amount I _j searched in step T130 is recalculated by the forward model converter 300 (see FIG. 10D). Here, the reason for recalculating the L * a * b * value is that the searched ink amount I _j is the ink amount that minimizes the objective function E, so that the L * a * b reproduced with the ink amount I _j This is because the value is slightly deviated from the target value LAB _t of the optimization process. The L * a * b * values recalculated in this way are used as coordinate values after the movement of each color point.

  In step T150, it is determined whether or not the average value (ΔLab) ave of the movement amount of the coordinate value of each color point is equal to or less than a preset threshold value ε. If the average value (ΔLab) ave of the movement amount is larger than the threshold value ε, the process returns to step T120 and the smoothing process of steps T120 to T150 is continued. On the other hand, when the average value (ΔLab) ave of the movement amount is equal to or smaller than the threshold value ε, the distribution of the color points is sufficiently smoothed, and the smoothing process ends. Note that an appropriate value for the threshold ε is experimentally determined in advance.

  As described above, in the typical smoothing process (smoothing process) of the present embodiment, the optimum ink amount corresponding to the color point after the movement is optimized while moving each color point every minute time interval by the dynamic model. Search by technique. Then, these processes are continued until the movement amount of the color point becomes sufficiently small. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3C, a smooth color point distribution can be obtained by the smoothing process.

D. First Example (3D-LUT creation):
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the detailed procedure of step S300 of FIG. 2 in the first embodiment, and shows the smoothing processing procedure when creating the base 3D-LUT. In step S310, the gray gradation creation module 110 creates a gray gradation characteristic.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are explanatory diagrams showing the contents of the gray gradation characteristic creation processing. The horizontal axis indicates the gray gradation value Gr, and the vertical axis indicates the ink amount I _j of each ink. “Gray gradation value Gr” means a density gradation of an achromatic color, but is different from the K value of the CMYK color system. The “gray gradation characteristic” is a characteristic indicating the ink amount I _j of the achromatic inks K, Lk, and LLk for reproducing the gray gradation value Gr. In this specification, the ink amounts of the three types of achromatic inks K, Lk, and LLk are denoted as I ₄ , I ₇ , and I ₈ (see FIG. 10D).

The black circles in FIG. 12A indicate initial setting values when creating gray gradation characteristics. Here, the following two are used as initial setting values.
(1) When Gr = 0, I ₄ = I ₇ = I ₈ = 0
(2) When Gr = 255, I ₄ = 180, I ₇ = I ₈ = 0
In other words, all the achromatic inks are set to zero at the minimum gray gradation value Gr (= 0), and the ink amount I _{4 of the} black ink K having the highest density at the maximum gray gradation value Gr (= 255). Is set to 180, and the ink amounts I ₇ and I _{8 of} the other black inks Lk and LLk are set to 0. Note that the value of the ink amount I ₄ of the black ink K when Gr = 255 is preferably set to a value equal to the ink duty limit value. This makes it possible to reproduce the darkest color when the gray gradation value Gr takes the maximum value within the ink duty limit range.

  When the smoothing process is executed using the initial setting value of FIG. 12A, a gray gradation characteristic f (Gr) as shown in FIG. 12B is obtained. This smoothing process is executed according to the smoothing process procedure of FIG. At this time, the plurality of color points to be subjected to the smoothing processing are points at which the entire range 0 to 255 of the gray gradation value Gr is set at equal intervals, for example, Gr = 0, 16, 32, 48, 64. Points are adopted. The initial values of the ink amounts at points other than Gr = 0 and Gr = 255 may all be zero, or values obtained by linear interpolation of the ink amounts at Gr = 0 and Gr = 255 may be employed. Further, the initial setting values of Gr = 0 and Gr = 255 are preferably handled as those that do not change by the smoothing process (constraint points).

ここで、L*_tはターゲット値LAB_tのうちのL*値、L*_FM(I_j)はインク量I_jをフォワードモデルコンバータ３００で変換して得られたL*a*b*値のうちのL*値である。すなわち、このスムージング処理では、a*値とb*値は無視してインク量の探索が行われる。この理由は、グレー階調特性f(Gr)では無彩色インクＫ、Ｌｋ，ＬＬｋのみを使用するが、これらのインクは完全な無彩色では無く、多少の色味を有しているのが普通だからである。 For example, the following optimization conditions are used in the ink amount search (step T130 in FIG. 8) in the smoothing process when creating the gray gradation characteristics.
(Optimization condition 1) Minimizing the objective function E of the following equation (13) (Optimization condition 2) Only the achromatic inks K, Lk, and LLk are used.

Here, L * _t is an L * value of the target value LAB _t , and L * _FM (I _j ) is an L * a * b * value obtained by converting the ink amount I _j by the forward model converter 300. This is the L * value. That is, in this smoothing process, the ink amount is searched for with the a * value and the b * value ignored. The reason for this is that only the gray inks K, Lk, and LLk are used in the gray gradation characteristic f (Gr), but these inks are not completely achromatic and usually have some color. That's why.

  The black circles in the gray gradation characteristics f (Gr) shown in FIG. 12B are constraint points (points where the initial set values are maintained), and the white circles are points determined by the smoothing process. In the gray gradation characteristic f (Gr), only the very light black ink LLk is used in the brightest gradation range where the gray gradation value Gr is small, and then in the lightest gradation range, the extremely light black ink LLk and the light black ink are used. Lk is used, light black ink Lk and dark black ink K are used in a slightly dark gradation range, and only dark black ink K is used in the darkest gradation range. Further, in the other gradation ranges except the brightest gradation range, when the ink amount of one kind of achromatic ink is increased, the ink amount of the other kinds of achromatic ink is decreased. As the achromatic ink, only one kind of achromatic ink (black ink) may be used, but it is preferable to use two or more kinds of achromatic ink having different densities. At this time, as can be understood from the example of FIG. 12B, as the gray gradation characteristic f (Gr), the ink amount of one achromatic ink increases and the ink amount of the other achromatic ink decreases. It is preferable to create one having such a gradation range.

Instead of setting the gray gradation characteristic f (Gr) using the smoothing process, the gray gradation characteristic f (Gr) may be set by another method. For example, the gray tone characteristics used in other lookup tables may be used as they are, or the user may input gray tone characteristics as shown in FIG. However, if the gray gradation characteristic f (Gr) is set using the smoothing process, the L * a * b * value of the color reproduced with the ink amount I _j at the point of each gray gradation value Gr is smooth. Since the distribution is shown, there is an advantage that preferable gradation characteristics can be obtained.

When the gray gradation characteristic f (Gr) is set in this way, in steps S320 to S350 in FIG. 11, the L * a * b * values for the plurality of input lattice points in the base 3D-LUT 510 (FIG. 3B) are obtained. The ink amount I _j is sequentially determined.

FIGS. 13A to 13D are explanatory diagrams showing the processing contents of steps S320 to S350 in FIG. First, in step S320, the L * a * b * value of the point P _W and the ink amount I _j are determined (FIG. 13A). The point P _W is a paper white point corresponding to (R, G, B) = (255, 255, 255). When the base 3D-LUT 510 is created, the ink amount I _{j at the} point P _W is all set to zero. Further, as the L * a * b * value of the point P _W , for example, a value obtained by inputting I _j = 0 (j = 1 to 8) to the forward model converter 300 is used. The L * a * b * value of the paper white point P _W is a value unique to the print medium. Accordingly, the smoothing process shown in FIG. 8 is not executed in step S320.

In step S330, the L * a * b * value of the point P _K and the ink amount are determined (FIG. 13B). The point P _K is a paper black point corresponding to (R, G, B) = (0,0,0). When the point P _K is determined, a value of Gr = 255 of the gray gradation characteristic f (Gr) is used as the initial value of the ink amount I _j . In the example of FIG. 12B, when Gr = 255, I ₄ = 180 and I ₇ = I ₈ = 0. When determining the L * a * b * value of the point P _K and the ink amount, steps T120 and T150 of steps T120 to T150 in FIG. 8 are not executed, and only steps T130 and T140 are executed.

ここで、L*_FM(I_j)は、インク量I_jをフォワードモデルコンバータ３００で変換して得られたL*a*b*値のうちのL*値である。この（１４）式は、上記（１０）式の右辺に+L*_FM(I_j)の項を追加したものである。このような目的関数Ｅを用いると、L*_FM(I_j)値がなるべく小さくなるように、すなわち、点Ｐ_Kがより暗くなるようにインク量I_jが最適化される。なお、無彩色インクのインク量は、グレー階調特性f(Gr)のGr=255で与えられるインク量I₄, I₇, I₈をそのまま使用してもよい。この場合には、インク量の探索時に有彩色インクのインク量のみが調整される。 In the search for the ink amount related to the point P _K (step T130), for example, the following optimization conditions are used.
(Optimization condition 1) Minimize the objective function E in the following equation (14) (Optimization condition 2) All inks can be used

Here, L * _FM (I _j) is a L * value of the resulting L * a * b * values by converting the amount of ink I _j in the forward model converter 300. This equation (14) is obtained by adding a term of + L * _FM (I _j ) to the right side of the above equation (10). When such an objective function E is used, the ink amount I _j is optimized so that the L * _FM (I _j ) value becomes as small as possible, that is, the point P _K becomes darker. As the ink amount of the achromatic ink, the ink amounts I ₄ , I ₇ and I ₈ given by Gr = 255 of the gray gradation characteristic f (Gr) may be used as they are. In this case, only the ink amount of the chromatic color ink is adjusted when searching for the ink amount.

ここで、a*_FM(I_j)、 b*_FM(I_j)は、インク量I_jをフォワードモデルコンバータ３００で変換して得られたL*a*b*値のうちのa*値とb*値である。これらの最後の２項を追加すれば、インク量I_jとして、a*値とb*値が０に近いものが探索される。 As the objective function E in the ink amount search for the point P _K, a function given by the following equation (15) may be used instead of the above equation (14).

Here, a * _FM (I _j ) and b * _FM (I _j ) are the a * value of the L * a * b * values obtained by converting the ink amount I _j by the forward model converter 300. b * value. After adding the last two terms, as an ink amount I _j, close to the a * value and b * value of 0 is searched.

When the point P _W and the point P _K are thus determined, the L * a * b * values and ink amounts of other color points on the P _W -P _K line are determined in step S340 in FIG. The input grid point coordinates of these color points are, for example, equidistant grid point coordinates such as (R, G, B) = (32, 32, 32), (64, 64, 64), ..., (224, 224, 224) It is. The left side of FIG. 13C shows the initial position of each color point on the P _W -P _K line in the L * a * b * space, and the right side shows the position after the smoothing process. Since the points P _W and P _{K at} both ends are determined in steps S320 and S330, the positions of the points P _W and P _K are constrained in step S340. The initial positions of other color points can be set using the gray gradation characteristics f (Gr). That is, as the initial ink amount of these color points, a value obtained by substituting (255-R) for the gray gradation value Gr, that is, the gray gradation characteristic f (Gr) at Gr = 223, 191,. The amount of ink is adopted.

ここで、LAB_FM(I_j(f(Gr)))の引数I_j(f(Gr))は、インク量I_jの探索のパラメータとして、グレー階調特性f(Gr)も考慮にいれることを表している。具体的には、最適化処理時の探索のパラメータとしては、８種類のインク量I_j (j=1〜8)とグレー階調値Grの９つのパラメータが利用される。この場合に、３種類の無彩色インクＫ，Ｌｋ，ＬＬｋのインク量I₄, I₇, I₈については、それ自身の値を変更したときのインク量の変化と、グレー階調値Grを変更したときのインク量の変化との両方を考慮する。すなわち、これらの３種類の無彩色インクＫ，Ｌｋ，ＬＬｋのインク量I₄, I₇, I₈は、以下の（１７）式に従って決定される。

ここで、I_j-gray(f(Gr))はグレー階調特性f(Gr)に応じて決定される各無彩色インクのインク量、I_j-gray(0)はその初期値、ΔI_j-grayは無彩色インク自身の値を変更したときのインク量の変化、ΔI_j-gray(Δf(Gr))はグレー階調値Grを変更したときの無彩色インク量の変化である。 The smoothing process in step S340 is performed according to the flowchart of FIG. 8, and at this time, the following optimization conditions are used in the search for the ink amount.
(Optimization condition 1) Minimize the objective function E in the following equation (16) (Optimization condition 2) All inks can be used

Here, the argument I _j (f (Gr)) of LAB _FM (I _j (f (Gr))) also takes into account the gray gradation characteristic f (Gr) as a parameter for searching the ink amount I _j Represents. Specifically, nine parameters of eight types of ink amounts I _j (j = 1 to 8) and gray gradation value Gr are used as search parameters during the optimization process. In this case, for the ink amounts I ₄ , I ₇ , and I ₈ of the three types of achromatic inks K, Lk, and LLk, the change in the ink amount when changing its own value and the gray gradation value Gr Consider both the change in the ink amount when changed. That is, the ink amounts I ₄ , I ₇ , I ₈ of these three types of achromatic inks K, Lk, LLk are determined according to the following equation (17).

Here, I _j-gray (f (Gr)) is the ink amount of each achromatic ink determined according to the gray gradation characteristic f (Gr), I _j-gray (0) is its initial value, ΔI _{j -gray} is a change in the ink amount when the value of the achromatic ink itself is changed, and ΔI _j-gray (Δf (Gr)) is a change in the achromatic ink amount when the gray gradation value Gr is changed.

A specific example of a method for calculating the ink amount based on the equation (17) is as follows. First, in the gray gradation characteristics of FIG. 12B, when the ink amounts I ₄ = 32, I ₇ = 70, and I ₈ = 0 at the point of Gr = 192 are set to the initial values, the ink amount of the light black ink Lk change of _{I 7-gray (f (Gr} )) is as follows, for example. First, when the light black ink Lk itself becomes a search parameter and its value increases by 2, the ink amount I _7-gray (f (Gr)) of the light black ink Lk increases by 2 from the initial value I ₇ = 70. Becomes 72. Thereafter, the gray tone value Gr becomes a search parameter, and when the value is increased by 2, the change amount of each ink when the gray tone value Gr increases from 192 to 194 is determined from the gray tone characteristic f (Gr). Calculated. Specifically, the amount of change of each achromatic ink is ΔI _4-gray (Δf (Gr) = + 2) = 2, ΔI _7-gray (Δf (Gr) = + 2) =-4, ΔI _8- It is determined that _gray (Δf (Gr) = + 2) = 0. Accordingly, the ink amount I _7-gray (f (Gr)) of the light black ink Lk is reduced from 72 to 4 to 68. In this way, if the ink amount is optimized using the gray gradation value Gr as a search parameter, the ink amount of each achromatic ink is changed simultaneously with the amount of change according to the gray gradation characteristic f (Gr). Can be made. That is, as can be understood from FIG. 12B, in the gray gradation characteristics, when the gray gradation value Gr increases (when the lightness decreases), one achromatic ink is increased and another achromatic color is increased. It is often desirable to reduce ink. When the gray gradation value Gr is not used as a search parameter, each achromatic ink is increased or decreased individually, so it is difficult to reflect such a tendency of the gray gradation characteristic f (Gr). is there. On the other hand, if the gray gradation characteristic Gr is used as a search parameter, the amount of each achromatic ink changes simultaneously with the amount of change according to the gray gradation characteristic f (Gr), so the gray gradation characteristic f (Gr ) Can be reflected.

The equation (16) is different from the equation (10) only in that the nine parameters of the ink amount of eight types of ink and the gray gradation value Gr are used as the search parameters in the first term on the right side. ing. In this smoothing process, it is preferable that all inks including chromatic ink can be used. If chromatic ink is used, as shown on the right side of FIG. 13C, a distribution is obtained in which a plurality of color points are substantially aligned along a straight line connecting the points P _W and P _K.

Incidentally, L * a * b * point in space P _W, P _K is the RGB color system (R, G, B) = a point (255,255,255) (R, G, B) = (0,0, It corresponds to point 0). Therefore, it can be understood that the P _W -P _K line in the L * a * b * space is a straight line corresponding to the gray gradation of the RGB color system. In the processing of step S340 described above, an initial value is set using the gray gradation characteristics for the color point on the straight line corresponding to the gray gradation of the RGB color system, and the initial value is corrected to modify the base LUT 510. The amount of ink to be registered is determined. Therefore, the ink amount of the achromatic ink relating to the color point on the P _W -P _K line can be approximated to the gray gradation characteristic.

By the way, if the gray gradation characteristic is not used when determining the color point on the P _W -P _K line, the following problem may occur. That is, in this embodiment, the objective function E used for searching the ink amount uses the function given by the equations (10) and (16). Of the image quality evaluation indexes GI, CII, and TI included in the objective function E, for example, the granularity evaluation index GI tends to be smaller when composite black is used than when achromatic ink is used. Therefore, if the ink amount is searched without using the gray gradation characteristics, a result that composite black is frequently used without using achromatic ink as a color point on the P _W -P _K line may occur. This causes a problem that the use of achromatic ink, particularly the use of a plurality of achromatic inks having different densities, is insufficient. On the other hand, as described above, if the ink amount is searched using the gray gradation characteristic, the searched ink amount is obtained by correcting the initial ink amount obtained from the gray gradation characteristic. It is possible to approximate the final ink amount of achromatic ink to the gray gradation characteristics.

In step S340, the smoothing process may be omitted, and the initial ink amount itself obtained from the gray gradation characteristics may be used as the ink amount of the color point on the P _W -P _K line. However, the smoothing process has an advantage that a smoother color point distribution can be obtained in the L * a * b * space.

When the L * a * b * value and ink amount of the color point on the P _W -P _K line are determined in this way, the L * a * b * value and ink for the remaining other color points are determined in step S350 of FIG. The amount is determined. FIG. 13D shows the state of the smoothing process in step S350. Note that the color points to be processed in step S350 are all other color points not on the P _W -P _K line among the plurality of input grid points of the base 3D-LUT 510. The smoothing process is performed according to the flowchart of FIG.

ここで、C*_FM(I_j)は、インク量I_jをフォワードモデルコンバータ３００で変換して得られたL*a*b*値から算出された彩度値である。この目的関数Ｅによれば、彩度C*_FM(I_j)がより大きくなるように各頂点Ｐ_C，Ｐ_M，Ｐ_Y，Ｐ_R，Ｐ_G，Ｐ_Bのインク量が探索される。従って、色立体ＣＳ（すなわち色域）がより大きくなるように、インク量が決定される。なお、６つの頂点Ｐ_C，Ｐ_B，Ｐ_M，Ｐ_R，Ｐ_Y，Ｐ_Gを順次結ぶ直線で構成される閉多角形は、色立体ＣＳの「赤道」とも呼ばれる。 In the smoothing process in step S350, it is preferable to search for the ink amount so that the color point existing on the outer surface of the three-dimensional color solid CS is as far as possible from the center of the color solid CS. . This is because the reproducible color gamut is widened. Here, “outer shell surface” means six surfaces of the three-dimensional color solid CS. In order to widen the color gamut, for example, the other six vertices P _C , P _M , P _Y , P _R , P _G , P _B excluding the paper white point P _W and the paper black point P _K among the eight vertices. As for the objective function E of the ink amount search, a function given by the following equation (18) can be used.

Here, C * _FM (I _j ) is a saturation value calculated from the L * a * b * value obtained by converting the ink amount I _j by the forward model converter 300. According to this objective function E, the ink amounts of the vertices P _C , P _M , P _Y , P _R , P _G , and P _B are searched so that the saturation C * _FM (I _j ) becomes larger. Accordingly, the ink amount is determined so that the color solid CS (that is, the color gamut) becomes larger. A closed polygon composed of straight lines connecting the six vertices P _C , P _B , P _M , P _R , P _Y , and P _G is also called an “equator” of the color solid CS.

As described above, in the first embodiment, the gray gradation characteristic (FIG. 12B) is set, and the position of the color point on the gray straight line (P _W -P _K line) is set as the gray gradation characteristic. Accordingly, the ink amount of achromatic ink at a plurality of color points on the gray straight line can be approximated to the gray gradation characteristics. Accordingly, it is possible to avoid the problem that the composite black is frequently used on the gray line and achromatic ink cannot be used.

E. Second Example (4D-LUT creation):
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a smoothing processing procedure when creating a base 4D-LUT as the second embodiment. This processing procedure is obtained by replacing steps S320 to S350 in FIG. 11 with slightly different steps S321 to S351, respectively, and the gray tone characteristic creation processing in step S310 is the same as in the first embodiment.

FIGS. 15A to 15C show the processing contents of steps S321 to S341 in FIG. In step S321, based on the gray-scale characteristic f (Gr), and L * a * b * values and the ink amount of points P _W on each K layer is determined. “K layer” means a three-dimensional color solid CS corresponding to an input value having a constant K value and variable C, M, and Y values. A plurality of color solids CS shown in FIG. 15A are drawn by arranging a plurality of three-dimensional color solids CS (refer to the right end of FIG. 5C) corresponding to the 4D-LUT so as not to overlap each other. Is. A straight line connecting the points P _W of each color solid CS corresponds to the K axis in the input color system of the base 4D-LUT 520 (FIG. 5B). In the process of step S321, first, the initial value of the ink amount at the point P _W of each K layer is determined with reference to the gray gradation characteristic f (Gr). This reference is performed by substituting the K value for the gray gradation value Gr. In the process of step S321, the smoothing process is executed from this initial value according to the procedure of FIG.

この（１９）式は、前述した（１６）式と同じものである。（１９）式の右辺第１項は、上述した（１６）式及び（１７）式でも説明したように、インク量Ijの探索のパラメータとして、８種類のインクのインク量とグレー階調値Grの９つのパラメータが利用されることを示している。 In the ink amount search in step S321, for example, the following optimization conditions are used.
(Optimization condition 1) Minimize the objective function E in the following equation (19) (Optimization condition 2) All inks can be used

The equation (19) is the same as the equation (16) described above. The first term on the right side of the equation (19), as described in the equations (16) and (17) described above, as the parameters for searching for the ink amount Ij, the ink amounts of the eight types of inks and the gray gradation values Gr. 9 parameters are used.

FIGS. 16A and 16B show the contents of the smoothing process in step S321. That is, in this smoothing process, the ink amount characteristic shown in FIG. 16B is obtained with the gray gradation characteristic f (Gr) in FIG. Note that the horizontal axis in FIG. 16B represents the K value, not the gray gradation value Gr. The characteristics shown in FIG. 16B are that the ink amounts of the three types of achromatic inks K, Lk, and LLk are changed from the gray gradation characteristics f (Gr), and that chromatic color ink is added. The gray gradation characteristics f (Gr) are different in two points. The ink amount at K = 0 and K = 255 is kept the same as the ink amount at Gr = 0 and Gr = 255 in the gray gradation characteristics f (Gr). That is, since the point P _W in the K = 0 layer is a paper white point where no ink is ejected, all ink amounts are maintained at zero. Further, only the dark black ink K is used at the point P _W in the layer of K = 255, and the ink amount I ₄ is kept the same as the value of Gr = 255 of the gray gradation characteristic f (Gr). Yes.

By the way, the straight line connecting the points P _W of each K layer corresponds to the K axis in the CMYK color system, and the K axis is a straight line corresponding to the gray gradation of the CMYK color system. Accordingly, in step S321, for the color point on the K axis corresponding to the gray gradation of the CMYK color system, an initial value is set using the gray gradation characteristics, and the initial value is corrected, so that the base LUT 520 is corrected. It can be understood that the ink amount to be registered is determined. As a result, the ink amount of the achromatic ink relating to the color point on the K axis can be approximated to the gray gradation characteristics. This effect is almost the same as the advantage of using the gray gradation characteristics when determining the color point on the P _W -P _K line in step S340 when the base 3D-LUT 510 is created. In the base 4D-LUT 520, the K axis itself of the CMYK color system that is the input color system is close to the gray gradation value Gr. Therefore, rather than using the gray gradation characteristic when determining the color point on the P _W -P _K line as in the creation of the base 3D-LUT table, the gray gradation characteristic is used when determining the color point on the K axis. Is preferred.

As described above, the relationship between the K value and the ink amount as shown in FIG. 16B is obtained as a result of the process in step S321. Regarding the ink amounts of the achromatic inks K, Lk, and LLk, the ink amount determined according to the K value obtained here is applied to other color points other than the point P _W. In other words, in the smoothing process in steps S331 to S351 of FIG. 14, the ink amounts of the achromatic inks K, Lk, and LLk are values obtained by referring to the relationship of FIG. Only the amount of chromatic ink is adjusted. In this way, in each K layer, it is possible to obtain a preferable color point distribution by adjusting the ink amount of the chromatic color ink while maintaining the preferable achromatic ink amount determined in step S321 as it is.

ここで、 a*_FM, b*_FMはインク量I_jをフォワードモデルコンバータ３００で変換して得られたa*値、b*値である。また、 a*_sp, b*_spは、インク量I_jをフォワードモデルコンバータ３００で変換して得られたL*値に対する望ましいa*値、b*値である。換言すれば、a*_sp, b*_spは、点Ｐ_Wが辿るべき所望のL*a*b*特性を表している。この特性を表す a*_sp, b*_sp値は、例えば、いくつかのL*値に対するa*_sp値と b*_sp値とが登録された初期値テーブルとしてユーザがステップＳ２００（図２）で指定することができる。このとき、初期値テーブルに登録されていない他のL*値に対するa*_sp値と b*_sp値は、補間によって求めることが可能である。 As the objective function E used in step S321, a function given by the following equation (20) may be used instead of the above equation (19).

Here, a * _FM, b * _FM is a * values obtained by converting the forward model converter 300 of the ink amount I _j, a b * value. Further, a * _sp and b * _sp are desirable a * values and b * values for the L * values obtained by converting the ink amount I _j by the forward model converter 300. In other words, a * _sp and b * _sp represent the desired L * a * b * characteristics that the point P _W should follow. The a * _sp and b * _sp values representing these characteristics are, for example, set as an initial value table in which a * _sp values and b * _sp values for several L * values are registered in step S200 (FIG. 2). Can be specified. At this time, a * _sp values and b * _sp values for other L * values not registered in the initial value table can be obtained by interpolation.

In step S321, the gray gradation characteristic f (Gr) itself can be used as the ink amount at each P _W point without performing the smoothing process. As can be understood from this description, when the base 4D-LUT 520 is created, the ink amount at the P _W point of each K layer can be determined based on the gray gradation characteristics. Can be adopted.

In step S331 in FIG. 14, the gray level characteristic f (Gr) is used to determine the L * a * b * value and the ink amount of the point P _K on each K layer (FIG. 15B). ). When the point P _K is determined, the value obtained in step S321 is used as it is as the initial value of the ink amount I _j . Further, when determining the L * a * b * value of the point P _K and the ink amount, steps T120 and T150 of steps T120 to T150 in FIG. 8 are not executed, and only steps T130 and T140 are executed. This process is almost the same as the process of step S330 when creating the base 3D-LUT. In the ink amount search for the point P _K , the same optimization condition as that in step S330 at the time of creating the base 3D-LUT can be used. That is, as the objective function E, those given by the above formulas (14) and (15) can be used. However, as described above, when creating the base 4D-LUT, the value determined in step S321 is used as it is for the amount of achromatic ink in each K layer, so only the amount of chromatic ink is adjusted. The

In step S341 in FIG. 14, the L * a * b * values and ink amounts of other color points on the P _W -P _K line on each K layer are determined (FIG. 15C). This process is also almost the same as the process of step S340 when creating the base 3D-LUT. However, the amount of ink is adjusted only for the amount of chromatic ink. The initial value of the ink amount at each color point on the P _W -P _K line is set by interpolating the ink amounts at the points P _W and P _K. In step S351, the L * a * b * values and ink amounts for the remaining other color points are determined. This process is also almost the same as the process of step S350 when creating the base 3D-LUT.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, the ink amount at the color point on the K axis corresponding to the gray straight line is determined according to the gray tone characteristics, and therefore the ink amount of the achromatic ink on the K axis is set to the gray scale. It can be approximated to tonal characteristics. Accordingly, it is possible to avoid the problem that the composite black is frequently used on the K axis and achromatic ink cannot be used.

F. Third Example (3D-LUT creation):
FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a smoothing processing procedure when creating a base 3D-LUT as the third embodiment. This procedure is obtained by replacing steps S340 and S350 in the procedure of FIG. 11 of the first embodiment with steps S410 to S450, and steps S310 to S330 are the same as FIG. That is, in the third embodiment, the processing method for color points other than the points P _W and P _K is different from that in the first embodiment.

18A to 18D show the processing contents of steps S410 to S440 in FIG. In step S410, the L * a * b * value and the ink amount relating to the color point on the equator EQ of the color solid CS are determined. As shown by a bold line in FIG. 18 (A), the equatorial EQ has six vertices _{P C, P B, P M} , P R, P Y, closed polygon composed of sequentially connecting straight line P _G It is. The smoothing process is executed according to the procedure of FIG.

この（２１）式は、前述した（１８）式と同じものである。この目的関数Ｅを利用すれば、彩度がより大きくなるように各頂点Ｐ_C，Ｐ_M，Ｐ_Y，Ｐ_R，Ｐ_G，Ｐ_Bのインク量が探索されるので、色立体ＣＳ（色域）がより大きくなるようにインク量が決定される。 In the ink amount search in step S410, for example, the following optimization conditions are used.
(Optimization condition 1) Minimize the objective function E in the following equation (21) (Optimization condition 2) All inks can be used

This expression (21) is the same as the above-described expression (18). If the objective function E is used, the ink amounts of the vertices P _C , P _M , P _Y , P _R , P _G , and P _B are searched so that the saturation becomes larger. The ink amount is determined so that the (region) becomes larger.

In step S420 in FIG. 17, L * a * b * values and ink amounts of a plurality of color points that are primary colors are determined. As shown by a thick line in FIG. 18B, the primary color is a color point existing on three straight lines P _W -P _C , P _W -P _M , P _W -P _Y. . However, since the vertices P _W , P _C , P _M , and P _Y have been determined in steps S320, S330, and S410, the color points other than these are processed in step S420 according to the procedure shown in FIG. In the ink amount search in step S420, for example, the following optimization conditions are used.
(Optimization condition 1) Minimize the objective function E in the above equation (10) (Optimization condition 2) Only ink of the same hue can be used on each primary color line

This optimization condition 2, the color point on the straight line P _W -P _C representing the primary colors of cyan, means that the cyan ink C, Lc only can be used. Similarly, only magenta inks M and Lm can be used on the straight line P _W -P _M representing the primary color of magenta, and only yellow ink Y can be used on the straight line P _W -P _Y representing the primary color of yellow. It can be used. By limiting the usable ink in this way, it is possible to reproduce a desired primary color with a small number of types of ink.

In step S430, L * a * b * values and ink amounts of a plurality of color points that are secondary colors are determined. As indicated by a thick line in FIG. 18C, the secondary color is a color point existing on the three straight lines P _K -P _R , P _K -P _G , and P _K -P _B. . However, since the vertices P _K , P _R , P _G , and P _B have already been determined in steps S320, S330, and S410, color points other than these are processed in step S430 according to the procedure shown in FIG. In the ink amount search in step S430, for example, the following optimization conditions are used.
(Optimization condition 1) Minimizing the objective function E in the above equation (10) (Optimization condition 2) All inks can be used

In step S440, L * a * b * values and ink amounts of a plurality of color points on the outer surface of the color solid are determined. In FIG. 18D, the vertexes indicated by double circles and the color points indicated by black circles (primary color points and secondary color points) have been determined by the processing up to step S430. Therefore, in step S440, color points other than these are processed according to the procedure shown in FIG. In the ink amount search in step S440, for example, the following optimization conditions are used.
(Optimization condition 1) Minimizing the objective function E in the above equation (10) (Optimization condition 2) All inks can be used

  Thus, when the L * a * b * values and the ink amounts are determined for all the color points on the outer shell surface, in step S450, the L * a * values of a plurality of color points existing inside the color solid CS. The b * value and ink amount are determined.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the detailed procedure of step S450. FIG. 20 shows the processing contents of steps S510 to S530 of FIG. In step S510, initial setting of a plurality of color points is performed. FIG. 20A shows a cross section of the color solid in the L * a * b * space cut along the L * -b * plane. Since the vertexes indicated by double circles and the color points indicated by black circles are on the outer shell surface, they have been determined by the processing up to step S440. Accordingly, in step S450, the positions of other color points indicated by white circles are initialized. This initial ink amount is determined according to the above equations (2) and (3). However, the initial ink amount of each color point on the P _W -P _K line is set using the gray gradation characteristic f (Gr). That is, since the input grid point coordinate of the color point on the P _W -P _K line is R = G = B, the initial ink amount is a value obtained by substituting (255−R) for the gray gradation value Gr, for example, Gr = .., 31 is set to the ink amount of the gray gradation characteristic f (Gr). The initial position setting method is the same as that described in step S340 (FIG. 13C) in the first embodiment.

In step S520 of FIG. 19, each color point in the L * a * b * space is moved according to the above-described dynamic model (FIG. 7), thereby determining the target L * a * b * value LABt. The processing after the movement of the color point in step S520 is different between the color point on the P _W -P _K line and other color points. That is, for the color point on the P _W -P _K line, the optimum value of the ink amount is searched for in steps S530 to S550. On the other hand, for other color points, step S560 described later is executed without searching for the ink amount. The reason for dividing the processing in this way will be described later.

ここで、（２２）式のa*_tは修正後のターゲットa*値、L*_tはステップＳ５２０で得られたターゲットL*値、L*_PK, 及びa*_PKは紙黒点Ｐ_KのL*値及びa*値、L*_PW，a*_PWは紙白点Ｐ_WのL*値及びa*値である。換言すれば、Ｐ_W−Ｐ_K線上の各色点の修正後のターゲット値LABtのa*値としては、紙白点Ｐ_Wと紙黒点Ｐ_Kのa*値を直線補間した値が使用される。（２３）式のb*値についても同様である。このようにa*値とb*値を修正すれば、図２０（Ｂ）に示すように、Ｐ_W−Ｐ_K線上の複数の色点がL*a*b*空間において一直線上に整列したものとなる。従って、Ｐ_W−Ｐ_K線上の複数の色点として、安定した無彩色を再現するインク量を求めることが可能になる。但し、ステップＳ５３０の処理は省略可能である。 In step S530, the a * value and the b * value of the target value LABt are corrected according to the following equations (22) and (23) for each color point on the P _W -P _K line.

Here, the (22) equation a * _t is the target a * value after correction, L * _t the target L * value obtained in step S520, L * _PK, and a * _PK paper black point P _K L * value and a * value, L * _PW, a * _PW is the L * value and a * value of Kamishiroten P _W. In other words, as the a * value of the target value LABt after correction of each color point on the P _W -P _K line, a value obtained by linear interpolation of the a * value of the paper white point P _W and the paper black point P _K is used. . The same applies to the b * value in equation (23). If the a * value and the b * value are corrected in this way, a plurality of color points on the P _W -P _K line are aligned on a straight line in the L * a * b * space, as shown in FIG. It will be a thing. Accordingly, it is possible to obtain an ink amount that reproduces a stable achromatic color as a plurality of color points on the P _W -P _K line. However, the process of step S530 can be omitted.

Note that any other characteristic can be set as the L * a * b * characteristic to be followed by a plurality of color points on the P _W -P _K line. In this case, for example, the ink amount is searched in the following step S540 using the objective function E given by the above-described equation (20).

In step S540 in FIG. 19, an optimum ink amount is searched for each color point on the P _W -P _K line. In this ink amount search, for example, the following optimization conditions are used.
(Optimization condition 1) Minimizing the objective function E in the above expression (16) (Optimization condition 2) All inks can be used. Note that the expression (16) is on the P _W -P _K line in the first embodiment. This was used when searching for the ink amount for each color point.

  In step S550, the L * a * b * value for the searched ink amount is recalculated by the forward model converter 300. As a result of this processing, an accurate L * a * b * value of the color reproduced by the searched ink amount is obtained.

  In step S560, it is determined whether or not the average value (ΔLab) ave of the movement amounts of all color points existing inside the outer shell surface is equal to or smaller than a preset threshold value ε. When the average value (ΔLab) ave of the movement amount is larger than the threshold value ε, the process returns to step S520 and the smoothing process of steps S520 to S550 is continued. On the other hand, when the average value (ΔLab) ave of the movement amount is equal to or less than the threshold value ε, the distribution of the color points is sufficiently smooth, and the smoothing process is terminated.

In step S570, an optimum value of the ink amount is searched for color points other than those on the P _W -P _K line among a plurality of color points existing inside the outer shell surface.

ここで、LAB₀は図１９のステップＳ５１０で設定された初期のL*a*b*値（すなわち色点の移動前のL*a*b*値）、LAB_tはステップＳ５６０で移動が終了した後の色点のL*a*b*値（すなわち、ターゲットL*a*b*値）である。 FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure of step S570. In step S571, the parameter Q is set to 0.9. The role of this parameter Q will be described later. In step S572, the parameter Q is used to determine a temporary L * a * b * value LAB _s (hereinafter referred to as “temporary target value LAB _s ”) for ink amount search according to the following equation (24).

Here, LAB ₀ is the initial L * a * b * value (that is, the L * a * b * value before the color point is moved) set in step S510 of FIG. 19, and LAB _t is moved in step S560. This is the L * a * b * value (that is, the target L * a * b * value) of the color point after having been applied.

この（２５）式は、（１０）式のターゲット値LAB_tを仮ターゲット値LAB_sに置き換えた式である。 In step S573, the ink amount of each color point is searched under the following optimization conditions using the temporary target value LAB _s .
(Optimization condition 1) Minimize the objective function E in the following equation (25) (Optimization condition 2) All inks can be used

The (25) is an equation obtained by replacing the target value LAB _t of (10) to the provisional target value LAB _s.

Thus, when the ink amount for the temporary target value LAB _s is determined, it is determined in step S574 whether or not the parameter Q has reached zero. If the parameter Q has not reached 0, 0.1 is subtracted from the parameter Q in step S575, and the above-described steps S572 to S574 are executed again. On the other hand, when the parameter Q reaches 0, the ink amount obtained in step S573 is adopted as the final ink amount for each color point.

As can be understood from the above equation (24), when Q = 0 is reached, the temporary target value LAB _s becomes equal to the true target value LAB _t . Therefore, in the process of FIG. 21, when determining the ink amount for each color point, the temporary target value LAB _s is changed from the initial L * a * b * value LAB ₀ to the final target L * a * b value LAB _s . It can be understood that this is a process of finding the optimum ink amount for each temporary target value LAB _s each time while gradually approaching. Therefore, the ink amount obtained for each temporary target value LAB _s is a slight modification of the ink amount for the initial L * a * b * value LAB ₀ . By performing such asymptotic processing, the ink amount for the final target value LAB _t can be obtained close to the ink amount for the initial L * a * b * value LAB ₀ . The difference in ink amount is prevented from becoming excessively large. As a result, the approximate color can be reproduced smoothly. Further, since the difference between the temporary target values LAB _s is small, it is possible to search for the ink amount for each temporary target value LAB _{s in} a relatively short time, and there is an advantage that the entire processing can be speeded up.

In the processing procedure of FIG. 19, for the color points on the P _W -P _K line, the movement of the color points in the L * a * b * space and the search for the ink amount are repeatedly performed. For the color point, the ink amount is searched after the movement of the color point has converged. The reason for performing the processing in this way is as follows. First, since the number of color points existing in the outer shell surface is extremely large, if the movement of the color points and the search for the ink amount are repeated for all the color points, the calculation amount becomes enormous and the processing becomes slow. It is. Second, regarding the color point on the P _W -P _K line, there are many cases where a desirable L * a * b characteristic exists as in the example of FIG. 20B, and such a desirable L * a * b is present. * It is preferable to search for an ink amount that realizes the characteristics. Thirdly, if the position of the color point on the P _W -P _K line is repeatedly determined by repeating the movement of the color point and the search for the ink amount, the convergence of the movement of the other color points is also accelerated. However, as shown in FIG. 18, there is no necessity to process the color points on the P _W -P _K line separately from other color points, and both may be processed in the same procedure.

As described above, in the third embodiment, regarding a plurality of color points corresponding to a plurality of input grid points of the base 3D-LUT 510, i) each vertex P _K , P _W , P _C , P _M , P _{Y of the} color solid. , P _R , P _G , P _B L * a * b * values and determination of ink amount, ii) L * a * b * values of color points (primary and secondary colors) on the edge of the color solid And iii) determination of L * a * b * values and ink amounts of other color points on the outer shell surface, iv) L * a * b * values and ink points of inner color points on the outer shell surface The processing is executed in the order of determining the amount. Therefore, each process can be executed in a relatively short time, and the process can be completed in a shorter time as a whole as compared with the case where all the color points are processed at once. In addition, in the search for the ink amount in each processing step, the optimization condition suitable for the position of each color point is used, so that it is possible to obtain a color point distribution that smoothly realizes a desired color gamut. . In addition, since the L * a * b * value and the ink amount of the color point on the gray straight line (P _W -P _K line) are determined using the gray tone characteristics, the ink amount approximates the gray tone characteristics. It is possible to obtain a base 3D-LUT 510 that reproduces gray gradation.

  Note that the above processes i) to iii) (that is, the processing of all color points on the outer shell surface) may be executed simultaneously, and then the processing of the color points inside the outer shell surface may be executed. However, if the processing of the color points on the outer shell surface is performed in order as in i) to iii), a more preferable color point distribution can be obtained.

G. Fourth Example (4D-LUT creation):
FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a smoothing processing procedure when creating a base 4D-LUT as the fourth embodiment. This procedure is obtained by replacing steps S320, S330, and S420 to S450 in FIG. 17 of the third embodiment with slightly different steps S321, S331, and S421 to S451, respectively. Steps S321 and S331 are the same as those in the second embodiment (FIG. 14).

23A to 23D show the processing contents of steps S411 to S441 in FIG. The biggest difference between the base 4D-LUT 520 and the base 3D-LUT 510 is that the base 4D-LUT 520 has a plurality of color solids CS in the L * a * b * space corresponding to a plurality of four-dimensional input grid points. That is. Accordingly, in the processing of steps S411 to S441, as shown in FIGS. 23A to 23D, color points to be processed exist on a plurality of three-dimensional color solids CS. Therefore, in these smoothing processes, a dynamic model is applied to the entirety of a plurality of color points existing on a plurality of color solids CS. Since the other processing contents of steps S411 to S441 are substantially the same as the processing contents of steps S410 to S440 in the third embodiment, the description thereof is omitted here. Further, the process of step S451 is performed in substantially the same manner as the process of step S450 described with reference to FIGS. However, in the smoothing process for the base 4D-LUT 520, as in the second embodiment described above, the amount of achromatic ink of each K layer determined in step S321 is maintained as it is in the process in each subsequent step. Thus, only the amount of chromatic ink is adjusted. Further, the initial value of the ink amount of each color point on the P _W -P _K line of each K layer is the same as that in step S341 (FIG. 15C) of the second embodiment, and the points P _W and P _{K are the same.} Is set by interpolating the ink amount at.

  As described above, in the fourth embodiment, the base 4D-LUT creation process can be executed in a relatively short time, and a color point distribution that smoothly realizes a desired color gamut can be obtained. Is possible. In addition, since the L * a * b * value of the color point on the gray straight line (K axis) and the ink amount are determined using the gray tone characteristic, the gray tone is approximated by the ink amount that approximates the gray tone characteristic. It is possible to obtain a base 4D-LUT 520 that reproduces

H. Variations:
The present invention is not limited to the above-described examples and embodiments, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist thereof. For example, the following modifications are possible.

H1. Modification 1:
In the above embodiment, input grid points (for example, input grid points of R = G = B) in which the respective color components of the input color system are equal to each other are used as gray gradations, but some of the color components are slightly different from others. The gray level may be used. In other words, as the gray gradation, one in which each color component (each input value) of the input grid point is in the vicinity of the same straight line can be used.

H2. Modification 2:
In the above example, the CIE-L * a * b * color system was used as the device independent color system, but other systems such as the CIE-XYZ color system and CIE-L * u * v * color system were used. Any device independent color system can be used. However, in order to achieve smooth color reproduction, device independent color systems that are uniform color spaces such as CIE-L * a * b * color system and CIE-L * u * v * color system are used. It is preferable to use it.

H3. Modification 3:
In the above embodiment, a process using a dynamic model is employed as the smoothing process (smoothing process), but other types of smoothing processes may be employed. For example, it is also possible to employ a smoothing process in which an interval between adjacent color points is measured and individual intervals are adjusted so as to be as close as possible to the average value.

H4. Modification 4:
In the present specification, “ink” is used in a broad sense including not only liquid ink used for ink jet printers and offset printing, but also toner used for laser printers. As other terms having such a broad meaning of “ink”, “coloring material”, “coloring material”, and “coloring agent” can also be used.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the lookup table preparation apparatus in one Example of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the whole process sequence of an Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows the processing content in the case of producing a base 3D-LUT by step S100-S300 of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the correspondence of the color point of RGB color system which is an input color system, and the color point of L * a * b * color system. It is explanatory drawing which shows the processing content in the case of producing a base 4D-LUT by step S100-S300 of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the preparation method of the color correction LUT using base LUT. It is explanatory drawing which shows the dynamic model utilized for the smoothing process of an Example. It is a flowchart which shows the typical process sequence of a smoothing process. It is a flowchart which shows the detailed procedure of step T100 of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the processing content of step S120-S150 of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the smoothing process sequence at the time of base 3D-LUT creation as 1st Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows the content of the production process of a gray gradation characteristic. It is explanatory drawing which shows the processing content of step S320-S350 of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the smoothing process sequence at the time of base 4D-LUT creation as 2nd Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows the processing content of step S321-S341 of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the content of the smoothing process of step S321. It is a flowchart which shows the smoothing process sequence at the time of base 3D-LUT creation as 3rd Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows the processing content of step S410-S440 of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the detailed procedure of step S450. It is explanatory drawing which shows the processing content of step S510-S530 of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the detailed procedure of step S570. It is a flowchart which shows the smoothing process sequence at the time of base 4D-LUT creation as 4th Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows the processing content of step S411-S441 of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Base LUT creation module 110 ... Gray gradation creation module 120 ... Smoothing processing initial value setting module 130 ... Smoothing processing module 132 ... Color point movement module 134 ... Ink amount optimization module 136 ... Image quality evaluation index calculation module 140 ... Table creation Module 200 ... Color correction LUT creation module 300 ... Forward model converter 310 ... Spectral printing model converter 320 ... Color calculation unit 400 ... LUT storage unit 410 ... Inverse model initial LUT
510 ... Base 3D-LUT
511 ... Inverse transformation LUT
520 ... Base 4D-LUT
521 ... Inverse LUT
610: Color correction 3D-LUT
620 ... Color correction 4D-LUT

Claims (12)

A device for creating a color conversion lookup table for converting an input color coordinate system coordinate value into an ink color system ink amount composed of a plurality of types of ink including achromatic ink and chromatic ink. ,
A gray gradation characteristic generating unit that generates a gray gradation characteristic that expresses a gray gradation using only the achromatic ink;
As an initial value associated with each of a plurality of input color system color points that are predetermined color points of the input color system, an initial value of the ink color system and a device corresponding to the input color system An initial value setting unit for setting a device independent color system color point position which is a color point of the independent color system;
Ink of the ink color system corresponding to the plurality of device-independent color system color points after the smoothing process is executed while performing a process of smoothing the distribution of the plurality of device-independent color system color points from an initial position. A smoothing processing unit for determining the amount;
A table creation unit that creates a color conversion lookup table for converting the coordinate value of the input color system into the ink amount of the ink color system based on the result of the smoothing process;
With
For the input color system gray color point group, which is a set of color points expressed by the gray gradation, the table creation unit is a color based on the gray gradation characteristic generated by the gray gradation characteristic generation unit. A lookup table creation device for creating a conversion lookup table. The lookup table creation device according to claim 1,
The ink color system includes a plurality of types of achromatic inks having different densities,
The gray-scale characteristic generation unit generates a gray-scale characteristic that expresses a gray gradation using only the plurality of types of achromatic inks. The lookup table creation device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising:
A color system conversion unit for converting the ink amount of the ink color system into a coordinate value of a device independent color system;
The initial value setting unit uses the color system conversion unit to convert the initial value of the ink color system associated with each of the plurality of input color system color points into the device independent color system. A lookup table creation device that determines initial positions of the plurality of device independent color system color points by converting them into coordinate values. The lookup table creation device according to claim 3,
The smoothing processing unit
(I) an ink amount of the achromatic ink corresponding to the input color system gray color point group by referring to the gray color characteristics using the gray color value of the input color system gray color point group A step of determining
(Ii) converting the amount of the achromatic ink into a coordinate value of a color point of the device independent color system using the color system conversion unit;
(Iii) determining the position of the device independent color system gray color point group by performing smoothing on the color points of the device independent color system corresponding to the ink amount of the achromatic ink, and Determining an optimum value of the ink amount of the ink color system corresponding to a color system gray color point group using the color system conversion unit;
A look-up table creation device that executes local smoothing processing including: The lookup table creation device according to claim 4,
In the local smoothing process relating to the input color system gray color point group, the smoothing processing unit is configured to perform the color specification for the paper black point having the highest density in the input color system gray color point group. A lookup table creation device that executes the local smoothing process so that a color point of the device independent color system corresponding to the paper black point is as dark as possible using a system conversion unit. The lookup table creation device according to claim 5,
The input color system is the RGB color system,
The look-up table creation device, wherein the gray gradation in the color space of the input color system is in the vicinity of a straight line in which an R value, a G value, and a B value, which are three input values of the RGB color system, are equal to each other. The lookup table creation device according to claim 4,
In the local smoothing process related to the input color system gray color point group, the smoothing processing unit is configured to perform the highest density gray point having the highest density in the input color system gray color point group. Ink amount of the ink color system corresponding to the highest density gray point obtained by referring to gray gradation characteristics, and the device independent color space obtained by conversion by the device independent color system conversion unit from the ink amount A lookup table creation device that executes the local smoothing process while restraining the position of the system color point from moving. The lookup table creation device according to claim 7,
The input color system is the CMYK color system,
The lookup table creation device, wherein the gray gradation in the color space of the input color system is near the K axis of the CMYK color system. The lookup table creation device according to claim 8, wherein
The input color system includes a plurality of K layers in which the K value is constant and the C value, the M value, and the Y value each take a value within a predetermined definition range,
The smoothing processing unit, for the color points other than the input color system gray color point group among the input color system color points on each K layer, the local color system related to the input color system gray color point group. The smoothing process is performed by allowing the change of the chromatic color ink amount while fixing the ink amount of the achromatic color among the ink amounts of the ink color system determined by the smoothing process. Uptable creation device. The lookup table creation device according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
The smoothing processing unit
The color point on the outer shell surface of the three-dimensional color solid of the RGB color system or the color point on the outer shell surface of a plurality of three-dimensional color solids having a constant K value in the CMYK color system. Execution process,
After the smoothing process on the color points on the outer shell surface, the smoothing is performed on the other color points existing inside the outer shell surface while restraining the color points on the outer shell surface from moving. A lookup table creation device that executes processing. A method for creating a color conversion lookup table for converting an input color system coordinate value into an ink color system ink amount composed of a plurality of types of ink including achromatic ink and chromatic ink. ,
(A) generating a gray gradation characteristic that expresses a gray gradation using only the achromatic ink;
(B) As an initial value associated with each of a plurality of input color system color points that are predetermined color points of the input color system, the initial value of the ink color system and the input color system A step of setting a device independent color system color point position which is a color point of a corresponding device independent color system;
(C) performing the process of smoothing the distribution of the plurality of device independent color system color points from the initial position, and the ink color corresponding to the plurality of device independent color system color points after the smoothing process; Determining a system ink amount, and creating a color conversion lookup table for converting the coordinate value of the input color system into the ink amount of the ink color system based on the result of the smoothing process; ,
With
The step (c) is based on the gray gradation characteristics generated by the gray gradation characteristic generation unit for the input color system gray color point group which is a set of color points expressed by the gray gradation. A lookup table creation method including a step of creating a color conversion lookup table. Creates a color conversion lookup table to convert the input color system coordinate values into an ink color system ink amount composed of multiple types of ink including achromatic ink and chromatic ink. A program that
(A) the computer generating a gray gradation characteristic that expresses a gray gradation using only the achromatic ink; and
(B) The computer uses an initial value of the ink color system as an initial value associated with each of a plurality of input color systems color points that are predetermined color points of the input color system, and the input A step of setting a device independent color system color point position that is a color point of a device independent color system corresponding to the color system;
(C) The computer executes a process of smoothing the distribution of the plurality of device independent color system color points from an initial position, and corresponds to the plurality of device independent color system color points after the smoothing process. A color conversion lookup table for determining an ink amount of the ink color system and converting a coordinate value of the input color system into an ink amount of the ink color system based on a result of the smoothing process; Creating a process;
Is a program for causing the computer to execute
The step (c) is based on the gray gradation characteristics generated by the gray gradation characteristic generation unit for the input color system gray color point group which is a set of color points expressed by the gray gradation. A lookup table creation program including a step of creating a color conversion lookup table.

Images