JP2010198417A - Printer driver - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate operation of print setting. <P>SOLUTION: A computer 100 uses a printer driver PD to implement the following functions: a sample image print control function that causes a printer 200 to print each sample image IM2 subjected to processing according to each of a plurality of print setting candidate information IN2 to a predetermined original sample image IM1 together with each corresponding identification information IN3, upon receiving a predetermined operation for selecting the print setting candidate information IN2; an identification information selection function that displays an identification information selection screen DI2 for receiving an operation for selecting the plurality of printed identification information IN3 and receives an operation for selecting any identification information IN3 among the plurality of identification information IN3; and a print setting function that performs processing for setting the print setting candidate information IN2 corresponding to the selected identification information IN3 among the plurality of print setting candidate information IN2 as print setting information IN1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer driver for causing a printer to print.

  In order to create a print image by preparing a thumbnail image corresponding to an image to be printed, repeatedly printing a 3 × 3 thumbnail image, and accepting a thumbnail image selection operation, as described in Patent Document 1 A refining method for storing a plurality of characteristic values is known. In this refining method, a thumbnail image according to the currently set characteristic value is arranged at the center, a thumbnail image obtained by changing the printer characteristic variable in the X direction is arranged, and another printer characteristic variable is arranged in the Y direction. A set of thumbnail images in which the changed thumbnail images are arranged is printed. Printer characteristic variables include contrast, brightness, saturation, red bias, green bias, and blue bias. Therefore, in order to store all the setting values, the operation of selecting a thumbnail image by printing a set of thumbnail images is repeatedly performed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-138742

In the conventional technique described above, it is necessary to prepare a thumbnail image corresponding to an image to be printed. In addition, it is necessary to repeat the operation of printing a set of thumbnail images and selecting thumbnail images.
Also, with a general printer driver, detailed settings can be made, but detailed settings are difficult because there are many setting items. Furthermore, although there are recommended settings and automatic settings, the actual print quality depends on the preference of the user of the printer driver.

  In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to facilitate a print setting operation.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a printer driver that allows a computer to realize a function of generating print data for printing on a printer by referring to print setting information set as a default print setting. An image print control function, an identification information selection function, and a print setting function are realized.
When the sample image print control function receives a predetermined operation for selecting any print setting candidate information from among a plurality of print setting candidate information stored in the storage area and representing the print setting candidates, Each sample image that has been processed according to each of the plurality of print setting candidate information is printed on the original sample image together with the corresponding identification information. The identification information selection function displays an identification information selection screen for accepting a plurality of printed identification information selection operations, and accepts any identification information selection operation from the plurality of identification information. The print setting function performs processing for setting, as the print setting information, print setting candidate information corresponding to the selected identification information among the plurality of print setting candidate information.

As described above, the printer user simply selects one of the sample images to be printed corresponding to each print setting candidate information, and selects the identification information corresponding to the selected sample image. It's okay. That is, the print quality setting method is visual and easy, and the user can select the print quality by looking at the actual print result of the sample image. Further, since each sample image to be printed is an image obtained from a predetermined original sample image that is not related to the image to be printed, there is no need to prepare a thumbnail image or the like corresponding to the image to be printed.
Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to facilitate the print setting operation.

By the way, when each sample image and each identification information are printed on one print medium, the print setting operation can be further facilitated.
The print data to be printed by the printer includes data obtained by collecting print commands, a print job mainly composed of bitmap data, and the like. When the printer is a printer that performs printing in accordance with a print command, it is possible to simplify the print setting operation of a page printer or the like. When the sample image print control function generates sample image print data in which each sample image is arranged in a different print position and each identification information is arranged in a print position corresponding to the print position of each sample image, the print setting of an inkjet printer or the like Can be simplified.

If the type of the original sample image can be selected, the print setting operation can be performed with an image quality corresponding to the type of the print target.
When a plurality of print setting candidate information is provided according to the type of print medium and each sample image is printed according to the type of print medium selected and operated, the print setting operation is performed with an image quality according to the type of print medium. It can be performed.

When a plurality of print setting candidate information is provided according to the resolution of the printer and each sample image corresponding to the selected resolution is printed, the print setting operation can be performed with an image quality corresponding to the resolution.
When information representing the print setting content of each sample image is printed or displayed, the print setting operation can be further facilitated.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically illustrating functions that a printer driver PD according to an embodiment of the present invention realizes in a computer 100. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a printing system including a computer 100 and a printer 200. FIG. (A) is a diagram illustrating a sample image printing start screen DI1 displayed on the output device 116, (b) is a diagram illustrating an identification information selection screen DI2 displayed on the output device 116, and (c) is an output device 116. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a print interface screen displayed on the screen. (A) is a diagram illustrating a plurality of print setting information candidate information IN2, (b) is a diagram illustrating the structure of original sample image list information IN5 in the modification, and (c) is a plurality of print setting information candidate information in the modification. FIG. 6D is a diagram showing a plurality of print setting information candidate information IN7 in the modified example. It is a figure which illustrates the printed matter PR1 which formed original sample image IM1 and several sample image IM2. (A) is a flowchart showing a printing process performed by the computer 100, and (b) is a diagram schematically illustrating the structure of print data DA1. 4 is a flowchart illustrating print setting processing performed by the computer 100. It is a figure which illustrates typically the structure of sample image print data DA2. (A) is a flowchart showing a printing process according to a modification, and (b) is a diagram schematically illustrating the structure of print data DA3. 10 is a flowchart illustrating print setting processing according to a modification. (A) is a figure which shows type selection screen DI4 in a modification, (b) is a figure which shows printing medium selection screen DI5 in a modification, (c) is a figure which shows resolution selection screen DI6 in a modification. 10 is a flowchart illustrating print setting processing according to a modification. (A) is a figure which shows printed matter PR3 which formed several sample image IM2 in the modification, (b) is a figure which shows identification information selection screen DI7 in a modification.

(1) Configuration of printing system:
As shown in FIG. 1, a printer driver PD according to an embodiment of the present invention includes each unit PD1 to PD4 shown in FIG. The printer driver PD is a print control program that causes the computer 100 to realize a function of generating print data DA1 for causing the printer 200 to print by referring to print setting information IN1 representing default settings. This printer driver PD realizes, for example, the printing system shown in FIG.

The printing system shown in FIG. 2 includes a personal computer (PC) 100 and a page printer 200 capable of color printing. The printer driver PD according to the present embodiment causes the PC 100 to function as a print control apparatus, and the PC 100 performs a print control method. Of course, the printer driver may be a program executed on the printer, or a printer executed on both the PC and the printer. The printing system may be an apparatus in which a PC and a printer are integrated.
In the PC 100, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 111, semiconductor memories 112 and 113, a storage device (storage area) 114, an input device 115, an output device 116, interfaces (I / F) 117 and 118, a disk drive 119, and the like are buses. Connected to 101, information can be input / output to / from each other. The CPU 111 controls the operation of the entire PC according to a program written in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 112.

  The storage device 114 includes an operating system (OS), a printer driver PD, print setting information IN1, a plurality of print setting candidate information IN2, an original sample image IM1, types of print media that can be printed by the printer 200, and printing that can be performed by the printer 200. The resolution, application program (APL), etc. are stored. As a memory constituting the storage device 114, a hard disk (magnetic disk), a nonvolatile semiconductor memory, or the like can be used. In the present embodiment, the storage device 114 is used as a storage area for various information, but a RAM (Random Access Memory) 113 or a recording medium RM1 may be used as at least a part of the storage area for various information.

  The print setting information IN1 is a parameter group set as a default print setting. The print setting candidate information IN2 is information representing a print setting candidate, and is a parameter group provided for each print setting as shown in FIG. 4A and is prepared and stored in the storage device 114 in advance. . The print setting candidate list information including a plurality of print setting candidate information IN2 is information representing a list of print settings determined in advance by a printer manufacturer, for example, and is different for each printer model. The print setting candidate information IN2 includes, for example, “Azakaya”, “Usume”, “Koime”, “Redness strong”, “Redness weakness”, “Green strength”, “Green strength”, “Blue strength”, “Blueness weakness” ", Which represents the print setting that is easy for the printer user to understand. If more specialized terms are used, the print setting candidate information IN2 includes, for example, a print setting that adds a predetermined amount of contrast to the contrast, a print setting that adds a predetermined amount of intensity to the brightness, and a predetermined amount for the R (red) color component. Information indicating print settings such as a print setting for adding a predetermined amount, a print setting for adding a predetermined amount of strength to a G (green) color component, and a print setting for applying a predetermined amount of strength to a B (blue) color component. . The original sample image IM1 is an image from which each sample image IM2 of the printed material PR1 shown in FIG. 5 is generated, and is bitmap data having R, G, and B gradation values for each pixel constituting the image. Prepared in advance and stored in the storage device 114. By storing the original sample image, the sample image corresponding to the update is printed even if the print setting candidate information is changed by the update.

  The input device 115 can be configured by an operation input device such as a keyboard and a mouse (pointing device). The output device 116 can be configured by an image output device such as a display, an audio output device, or the like. The communication I / F 117 is an interface for connecting the PC 100 to the network. The communication I / F 118 is an interface for inputting / outputting information to / from the printer 200 and is connected to the communication I / F 222 of the printer. The disk drive 119 can detachably insert a computer-readable recording medium RM1 such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disk Read Only Memory). The printer driver PD may be installed on the PC 100 from the recording medium RM1 on which the program is recorded, or may be downloaded to the storage device 114 via a network from a server computer on which the program is recorded.

The printer 200 attaches toners of C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black) to a print medium, and prints in accordance with a print command included in print data described in a predetermined page description language. Form. The printer 200 includes a control unit 210, an operation panel 221, a communication I / F 222, a reception buffer 223, a print engine 224, and the like.
The control unit 210 is connected to a bus by a CPU 211, semiconductor memories 212 and 213, a timer 214, and the like so that information can be input / output to / from each other, and controls the operation of the entire printer according to a program written in the ROM 212. The program causes the control unit 210 to function as a command interpretation unit 215, a print queue management unit 216, an engine management unit 217, and the like.

  The operation panel 221 includes an input device such as an operation switch and an output device such as a liquid crystal display, and is connected to the control unit 210. The communication I / F 222 is connected to the control unit 210 and the reception buffer 223 and can input / output information to / from the PC 100. The reception buffer 223 temporarily stores print data received by the communication I / F 222. The command interpreter 215 sequentially interprets the print commands included in the print data temporarily stored in the reception buffer 223 and generates control data for executing printing in the RAM 213. The print queue management unit 216 generates a print queue so that printing is executed in the order in which the print data is received. The engine management unit 217 executes processing for passing control data to the print engine 224 in accordance with the print queue. In accordance with the input control data, the print engine 224 attaches toner to the print medium so as to achieve the resolution included in the control data, and executes printing.

  A printer system is constructed by the cooperation of the printer driver PD shown in FIG. 1 and the hardware described above. Hereinafter, each part of the printer driver PD will be described.

The sample image print control unit PD1 causes the PC 100 to realize a sample image print control function. This function, together with each corresponding identification information IN3, corresponds to each sample image IM2 obtained by performing processing according to each of the plurality of print setting candidate information IN2 for a predetermined original sample image IM1 when a predetermined operation is received. The printer 200 is made to print. The predetermined operation to be accepted is an operation for selecting any information IN2 from the plurality of print setting candidate information IN2 stored in the storage area 114, and activates the sample image print control unit PD1 of the printer driver. There are a print setting start operation and an operation of pressing the print button DI11 on the sample image print start screen DI1 as shown in FIG. However, according to the printer driver PD, the printer user does not need to be aware of selecting the print setting candidate information.
In the present embodiment, first, a sample image print start screen DI1 is displayed. When the print button DI11 is operated with the input device 115, the original sample image IM1 is read from the storage area 114. Next, a sample image IM2 is generated from the original sample image IM1 according to each print setting candidate information IN2, and sample image print data DA2 for printing each sample image IM2 together with corresponding identification information IN3 is generated. When this data DA2 is output to the printer 200, a printed material PR1 in which a plurality of combinations of the sample image IM2 and the identification information IN3 are formed on the print medium M1 is output as shown in FIG.

  The identification information selection unit PD2 displays the identification information selection screen DI2, and causes the PC 10 to realize an identification information selection function that accepts a selection operation of any one of the identification information IN3 from the plurality of identification information IN3. The screen DI2 is a user interface as shown in FIG. 3B, and is a screen for accepting a selection operation of a plurality of printed identification information IN3. The user of the printer may select the identification information IN3 of a favorite sample image such as the sample image that looks most beautiful from the identification information selection screen DI2 by looking at the printed matter PR1 shown in FIG.

  The print setting unit PD3 causes the PC 100 to realize a print setting function for performing processing for setting the print setting candidate information IN2 corresponding to the selected identification information IN3 as the print setting information IN1. This process can be a process of storing the parameter group (print parameter s) constituting the print setting candidate information IN2 to be set in the storage area 114 as the print setting information IN1. The print setting information IN1 is selected from a plurality of print setting candidate information IN2 stored in the storage area 114.

  The print control unit PD4 refers to the print setting information IN1 stored in the storage area 114 and generates print data DA1 when a print start operation for starting the print control unit PD4 is performed. Is realized on the PC 100. In the present embodiment, the print interface screen DI3 as shown in FIG. 3C is displayed with the print setting information IN1 as the default print setting. When the print button DI32 is operated in this state, the print data according to the print setting information IN1. DA1 is generated and output to the printer 200. When the detail button DI31 is operated, an operation input for changing the print setting is received, and the print data DA1 is generated and output to the printer 200 according to the received print setting. The printer 200 receives the print data DA1, attaches it to the print medium according to the print command CM1 included in the print data DA1, and forms a printed material PR2.

(2) Operation, operation and effect of printing system:
FIG. 6A is a flowchart illustrating a printing process performed by the PC 100 by the print control unit PD4. This process starts when a predetermined print start operation, for example, a predetermined print menu selection operation is performed on the operation screen by the APL print function.
When the process is started, the print setting information IN1 is read from the storage device 114 (step S102; hereinafter, description of “step” is omitted). Next, the print interface screen DI3 is displayed with the parameter group constituting the print setting information IN1 as the default print setting (S104). The screen DI3 shown in FIG. 3C has various setting fields and various operation buttons, and can accept an operation input for changing the print setting from the default setting when the detail button DI31 is operated. In S106, it is determined whether or not the print button DI32 has been operated, and the processing in S106 is repeated until the print button DI32 is operated.
When the print button DI32 is operated, processing for attaching information such as the object, the print position of the object, and the like to the print command is performed for each object based on the default or changed print setting, and print data DA1 is generated. (S108).

FIG. 6B schematically shows the structure of the generated print data DA1. The print data DA1 is formed by repeatedly describing the print command CM1 according to a predetermined page description language. Each print command CM1 has a data structure starting with information representing a command name and ending with a predetermined delimiter code. The print position included in the print command CM1 is, for example, the print start coordinates (Xs, Ys) and print end coordinates (Xe, Ye) of the object when the print coordinates are represented by the horizontal X coordinate and the vertical Y coordinate. Can be expressed as The print data DA1 includes information such as resolution to be printed by the printer 200. In S108, such a data structure of the print data DA1 is constructed.
In S110, the print data DA1 is output to the printer 200 as a print job. Then, the printer 200 sequentially interprets the print command CM1 included in the print data DA1, attaches toner to the print medium so as to have the resolution included in the print data DA1, and information corresponding to the print data DA1 is stored in the print medium. The printed matter PR2 shown is formed.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a print setting process performed by the PC 100 by the units PD1 to PD3 for setting the print setting information IN1. Here, S202 to S214 correspond to the sample image print control unit PD1, S216 to S218 correspond to the identification information selection unit PD2, and S220 to S222 correspond to the print setting unit PD3. This process starts when a predetermined print setting start operation, for example, a predetermined print setting menu selection operation is performed on the property setting screen by the OS environment setting function.
When the process is started, a sample image print start screen DI1 as shown in FIG. 3A is displayed (S202). In S204, it is determined whether or not the print button DI11 provided on the screen DI1 has been operated, and the processing in S204 is repeated until the print button DI11 is operated. If the condition is satisfied in S204, it means that a predetermined operation for selecting any one of the plurality of print setting candidate information is accepted. In S206, a predetermined original sample image IM1 is read from the storage device 114. In S208, a plurality of print setting candidate information IN2 is read from the storage device 114. In S210, processing for attaching information such as the original sample image IM1 and the print position of the original sample image to the print command CM2 corresponding to each print setting candidate information IN2 is performed for each print setting candidate information IN2.

  FIG. 8 schematically shows the structure of the generated sample image print data DA2. The data DA2 is formed by repeatedly describing a print command in accordance with the page description language described above. In S210, a sample image print command CM2 is described for each selectable print setting, and each print command CM2 includes an original sample image IM1, a print position of the original sample image (for example, print start coordinates and print end coordinates), and the like. Is attached. Here, the original sample image IM1 attached to each print command CM2 is the same data, and the print position of the original sample image is different. Each printing position in the present embodiment is a position where each sample image IM2 is printed on one printing medium M1.

  In S212, processing for attaching identification information IN3 and information such as the print position of the identification information to character print command CM3 for printing characters is performed for each print setting candidate information IN2, and sample image print data DA2 is generated. The attached identification information IN3 is information for identifying a sample image for each print setting, and is different information for each print setting candidate information IN2, such as a serial number. The printing position of the identification information to be attached is a printing position corresponding to the printing position of each sample image IM2. Each printing position in the present embodiment is a position where each identification information IN3 is printed on one printing medium M1. As shown in FIG. 8, in the data DA2, a character print command CM3 of identification information is described for each selectable print setting.

  In S214, the sample image print data DA2 is output to the printer 200 as a print job. Then, the printer 200 sequentially interprets the print commands CM2 and CM3 included in the data DA2, attaches toner to the print medium so as to have the resolution included in the data DA2, and each sample image as shown in FIG. IM2 and the identification information IN3 form a printed material PR1 represented on one printing medium M1. Accordingly, each sample image IM2 obtained by performing processing according to each of the plurality of print setting candidate information IN2 on the original sample image IM1 is printed by the printer 200 together with the corresponding identification information IN3.

  In S216, the identification information selection screen DI2 shown in FIG. 3B is displayed using each identification information IN3 corresponding to each print setting candidate information IN2. This screen DI2 is provided with a selection button DI21 corresponding to the display position of each identification information IN3, various operation buttons, and the like. When any one selection button DI22 of the plurality of selection buttons DI21 is selected and the completion button DI23 is operated, the selection operation of any one of the identification information IN3 is accepted from the plurality of identification information IN3. Thus, the selected identification information IN3 is stored in the storage device 114 (S218). The selected identification information IN3 may be temporarily stored in the RAM 113.

In S220, the print setting candidate information IN2 corresponding to the selected identification information IN3 is acquired from the storage device 114. In S222, the acquired information IN2 is stored in the storage device 114 as the print setting information IN1. The process of S222 is a process of setting the print setting candidate information IN2 as the print setting information IN1. In other words, the print setting candidate information IN2 corresponding to the selected and operated identification information IN3 is set as a default print setting.
When the print process shown in FIG. 6 is performed after the above print setting process, the print setting candidate information IN2 corresponding to the selected identification information IN3 is set as the default print setting as shown in FIG. The interface screen DI3 is displayed. When the print button DI32 is operated without operating the detail button DI31, print data DA1 is generated according to the print setting candidate information IN2 corresponding to the identification information IN3 that has been selected and operated, and according to the information IN2. Printing is executed.

  As described above, the printer user simply selects one of the plurality of sample images IM2 and selects the identification information IN3 corresponding to the selected sample image IM2. Work can be done. Further, since each sample image IM2 to be printed is an image obtained from a predetermined original sample image IM1 unrelated to the image to be printed, there is no need to prepare a thumbnail image corresponding to the image to be printed. Therefore, according to the printer driver, it is possible to facilitate the print setting operation.

(3) Modification:
The order of the steps of the print setting process described above can be changed as appropriate. For example, the reading of the print setting candidate information in S208 may be performed prior to the reading of the original sample image in S206.
The printed matter that forms the plurality of sample images IM2 may be two or more, such as using one print medium for each sample image.
The printer that forms the printed material may be an inkjet printer or the like.

FIG. 9A is a flowchart illustrating a printing process performed by the print control unit PD4 when an inkjet printer is used as the printer. The processing of S102 to S106 is the same as when a page printer is used. When the print button DI32 shown in FIG. 3C is operated, the drawing data is corrected according to the default or changed print settings (S112). The drawing data includes bitmap data, line data representing line attributes, character data mainly composed of character codes, and the like. Therefore, the drawing data is corrected according to the print setting according to the type of the drawing data. For example, when the R color component is increased by a predetermined amount, the R gradation value of each pixel is increased by a predetermined amount for bitmap data, and the R value included in the attribute information for line data and character data. Increase the gradation value by a predetermined amount. When there are a plurality of drawing data to be printed, correction processing is performed according to the print setting for each drawing data.
In S114, a rendering process is performed on the corrected drawing data. The rendering process is a process of converting the drawing data into a data format that can be easily viewed. For example, the rendering process is a process of collecting drawing data for one page of the printing medium into bitmap data.

  In S116, print data DA3 as shown in FIG. 9B is generated based on the data after the rendering process, and is output to the printer as a print job. For example, when the data after rendering processing is RGB data defined in the RGB color space, the CMYK is composed of C, M, Y, and K gradation values for each pixel with reference to a predetermined color conversion table. This data is converted into data, halftone processing is performed on the CMYK data to perform multi-value processing such as binarization, and raster data processing is performed on the multi-value data to generate raster data. Print data DA3 is generated by adding predetermined data to. The printer ejects C, M, Y, and K inks according to the raster data included in the print data DA3 so as to achieve the resolution included in the print data DA3, and information corresponding to the print data DA3 is displayed on the print medium. A printed product is formed.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating print setting processing performed by the PC 100. Here, S202 to S208 and S232 to S238 correspond to the sample image print control unit PD1. The processing of S202 to S208 is the same as when a page printer is used. In S232, the original sample image IM1 is corrected based on each of the plurality of print setting candidate information IN2, and each sample image IM2 is generated. For example, in the case of a print setting in which the R color component is increased by a predetermined amount, the R gradation value of each pixel constituting the original sample image IM1 is increased by a predetermined amount. In S234, information such as the print position of each sample image IM2, the identification information IN3 corresponding to each sample image IM2, the print position of each identification information, and the like are acquired from the storage device 114, for example. In S236, rendering processing is performed using these pieces of information. That is, for each bit map data to be generated, each sample image IM2 is arranged at a print position different from each other, and each sample information IM3 is arranged at a print position corresponding to the print position of each sample image IM2. IM2 and each identification information IN3 are written. In S238, sample image print data (DA4) having a data structure as shown in FIG. 9B is generated based on the data after the rendering process, and is output to the printer as a print job. Then, according to the raster data included in the data DA4, the printer ejects C, M, Y, and K inks so as to have the resolution included in the data DA4, and as shown in FIG. Each identification information IN3 forms a printed material PR1 represented on the printing medium M1.

The subsequent processes in S216 to S222 are the same as when using a page printer.
As described above, it is possible to facilitate the print setting operation of the ink jet printer.

FIG. 4B shows the data structure of the original sample image list information IN5 stored in the storage area 114 when a plurality of types are provided in the original sample image IM1. The information IN5 has an original sample image IM1 for each type of the original sample image IM1, such as “person picture”, “landscape picture”, and “for text”.
FIG. 11A shows a type selection screen DI4 for accepting a selection operation of any type from among a plurality of types of the original sample image IM1.

FIG. 12A is a flowchart showing print setting processing in the present modification. In this process, S206 is changed to S242 in comparison with the process shown in FIG. 7, and the type selection screen DI4 is displayed in S202. Here, when one of the selection buttons DI41 corresponding to each type of the original sample image IM1 is selected and the print button DI42 is operated, any one of a plurality of types of the original sample image IM1 is selected. Since the selection operation has been accepted, the predetermined original sample image IM1 for which the selection operation has been performed is read from the storage device 114 (S242). Thereafter, each sample image IM2 obtained by performing processing according to each of the plurality of print setting candidate information IN2 on the original sample image IM1 of the type selected and operated by the processing of S208 to S214, together with the corresponding identification information IN3. The printer 200 is made to print.
According to this modification, the type of the sample image IM2 can be changed according to the type of the print target, so that the print setting operation can be performed with the image quality according to the type of the print target.

FIG. 4C shows the data structure of the print setting candidate list information IN6 stored in the storage area 114 when a plurality of print setting candidate information IN2 is provided according to the type of print medium that can be printed by the printer. Show. The information IN6 includes a plurality of print setting candidate information IN2 for each type of print medium.
FIG. 11B shows a print medium selection screen DI5 for accepting a selection operation of any type from among a plurality of types of print media.

FIG. 12B is a flowchart showing print setting processing in the present modification. In this process, S208 is changed to S252 as compared with the process shown in FIG. 7, and the print medium selection screen DI5 is displayed in S202. Here, when one of the print medium types is selected from the selection field DI51 for selecting and operating the print medium type, and the print button DI52 is operated, one of a plurality of types of print media is selected. First, a predetermined original sample image IM1 is read from the storage area 114 (S206). Next, a plurality of print setting candidate information IN2 corresponding to the selected type of print medium is read from the storage area 114 (S252). Thereafter, through the processes of S210 to S214, the printer 200 prints each sample image IM2 together with the corresponding identification information IN3 according to each of the plurality of print setting candidate information IN2 corresponding to the type of print medium selected and operated.
According to this modification, the sample image IM2 changes according to the type of the print medium, so that the print setting operation can be performed with an image quality corresponding to the type of the print medium.

FIG. 4D shows the data structure of the print setting candidate list information IN7 stored in the storage area 114 when a plurality of print setting candidate information IN2 is provided according to each of a plurality of resolutions that can be printed by the printer. Is shown. The information IN7 includes a plurality of print setting candidate information IN2 for each resolution.
FIG. 11C shows a resolution selection screen DI6 for accepting an operation for selecting one of a plurality of resolutions.

FIG. 12C is a flowchart showing print setting processing in the present modification. In this process, S208 is changed to S262 as compared with the process shown in FIG. 7, and the resolution selection screen DI6 is displayed in S202. Here, when any one of the resolutions is selected from the selection field DI61 for selecting and operating the resolution, and the print button DI62 is operated, the selection operation of any one of the resolutions is accepted. First, a predetermined original sample image IM1 is read from the storage area 114 (S206). Next, a plurality of print setting candidate information IN2 corresponding to the selected resolution is read from the storage area 114 (S262). Thereafter, through the processes of S210 to S214, each sample image IM2 is printed on the printer 200 together with the corresponding identification information IN3 according to each of the plurality of print setting candidate information IN2 corresponding to the selected resolution.
According to this modification, the sample image IM2 changes according to the resolution, so that the print setting operation can be performed with an image quality corresponding to the resolution.

FIG. 13A shows a printed material PR3 that is printed on the printer with information IN8 representing the contents of the print settings of each sample image IM2 corresponding to each sample image IM2 and each identification information IN3. For example, the information IN8 is printed by attaching the information IN8 representing the contents of each print setting and the print position of the information IN8 to the character print command in S212 of FIG.
FIG. 13B shows an identification information selection screen DI7 that displays information IN9 representing the contents of the print settings of each sample image IM2 corresponding to each identification information IN3. For example, the information IN9 is displayed by displaying the information IN9 representing the contents of each print setting at a position corresponding to each identification information IN3 in S216 of FIG.
According to this modification, the contents of the print settings of each sample image IM2 can be understood, so that the work of the print settings can be further facilitated.

As described above, according to the present invention, according to various aspects, a printer driver capable of facilitating print setting work, a computer-readable recording medium recording the printer driver, a print control apparatus, and the printing A printing system including a control device and a printing device, a printing device, a printing control method, and a printing method can be provided.
In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and modifications, and the configurations disclosed in the above-described embodiments and modifications are mutually replaced or the combination is changed, the known technology, and the above-described configurations. Configurations in which the respective configurations disclosed in the embodiment and the modified examples are mutually replaced or combinations are changed are also included.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Computer, 113, 114 ... Storage area, 200 ... Printer, CM1-CM3 ... Print command, IM1 ... Original sample image, IM2 ... Sample image, IN1 ... Print setting information, IN2 ... Print setting candidate information, IN3 ... Identification information , PD ... printer driver, PD1 ... sample image print control unit, PD2 ... identification information selection unit, PD3 ... print setting unit, PD4 ... print control unit.

Claims (8)

A printer driver that refers to the print setting information set as the default print setting and realizes a computer with a function of generating print data for causing the printer to print,
When a predetermined operation for selecting any print setting candidate information from among a plurality of print setting candidate information stored in the storage area and representing a print setting candidate is received, the predetermined original sample image A sample image printing control function for causing the printer to print each sample image subjected to processing according to each of a plurality of print setting candidate information together with corresponding identification information;
An identification information selection function for displaying an identification information selection screen for accepting a selection operation of a plurality of printed identification information, and for accepting an operation of selecting any one of the identification information;
A printer driver that realizes a print setting function that performs processing for setting, as the print setting information, print setting candidate information corresponding to the selected and operated identification information among the plurality of print setting candidate information.   The printer driver according to claim 1, wherein the sample image print control function causes the printer to print the sample images and the identification information on a single print medium. The printer is a printer that performs printing in accordance with a print command included in the print data;
The sample image print control function attaches the print position of the original sample image and each sample image to each print command corresponding to the plurality of print setting candidate information, and identifies each of the print commands for printing characters. A sample image print data is generated by attaching information and a print position corresponding to the print position of each sample image, the sample image print data is output to the printer, and the sample image and the identification information are The printer driver according to claim 1, wherein the printer driver causes the printer to perform printing.   The sample image print control function generates each sample image from the original sample image based on each of the plurality of print setting candidate information, arranges the sample images at different print positions, and sets the identification information. Generate sample image print data arranged at a print position corresponding to the print position of each sample image, output the sample image print data to the printer, and print the sample image and the identification information on the printer The printer driver according to claim 1, wherein the printer driver is executed. The predetermined original sample image is provided with a plurality of types,
The sample image print control function displays a type selection screen for accepting a selection operation of any type from among a plurality of types of the original sample image, and any one of the plurality of types of the original sample image is displayed. The printer, together with the identification information corresponding to each of the sample images, which has received a selection operation of the type, and has performed processing according to each of the plurality of print setting candidate information on the original sample image of the selected type The printer driver according to claim 1, wherein printing is performed on the printer driver. The plurality of print setting candidate information is provided according to the type of print medium that can be printed by the printer,
The sample image print control function displays a print medium selection screen for accepting a selection operation of any one of a plurality of types of the print medium, and selects any one of the plurality of types of the print medium. Each of the sample images corresponding to each sample image that has received a type selection operation and has performed processing according to each of the plurality of print setting candidate information corresponding to the type of print medium selected and operated on the original sample image The printer driver according to claim 1, wherein the printer is printed together with identification information. The plurality of print setting candidate information is provided according to each of a plurality of resolutions that can be printed by the printer,
The sample image print control function displays a resolution selection screen for accepting a selection operation of any resolution from the plurality of resolutions, accepts a selection operation of any resolution from the plurality of resolutions, Causing the printer to print the sample images together with the corresponding identification information corresponding to each of the plurality of print setting candidate information corresponding to the selected and operated resolution on the original sample image. The printer driver according to claim 1, wherein the printer driver is characterized. The sample image print control function causes the printer to print information indicating the print setting content of each sample image in association with each sample image and each identification information,
The identification information selection function displays information indicating the print setting content of each sample image on the identification information selection screen in association with each identification information. The printer driver according to claim 1.

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