JP2011059906A - Printing system, printing control method, printing control program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing system which adjusts the color to a tint which a user desires, and makes color adjustment which reduces coloring materials, and to provide a printing control method, a printing control program and a recording medium. <P>SOLUTION: When color-adjusting instructions and toner-reducing instructions are issued to a printing data in a host device HS, the printing system 1 applies color adjustment to the printing data, in response to the color-adjusting instructions, and when the printing data are converted to printing data for toner reduction which execute toner-reduced printing, in response to the toner-reducing instructions, the printing system determines an influence by the printing data for toner reduction, which are converted, in response to the toner-reducing instructions, on a tint obtained as the result of the color adjustment made in response to the color-adjusting instructions, and controls the conversion of the printing data to the printing data for toner reduction, according to the result of the determination. Consequently, the amount of printing material consumed, such as toner, is reduced, while color adjustment is executed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system, a printing control method, a printing control program, and a recording medium, and more specifically, a printing system that performs color adjustment to reduce the printing material such as a coloring material while adjusting the color to a color intended by the user, The present invention relates to a print control method, a print control program, and a recording medium.

  Printing devices such as copiers, printers, facsimile machines, and multi-function devices have the function of adjusting the color to the user's intended color, and are connected to the operation unit and connected to the printing device to print data together with printing commands. In response to an instruction operation from a host device such as a computer to which the image is sent, the print data is subjected to density correction to a specified hue and printed on a print medium such as paper (image formation output) (see Patent Document 1). .

  However, in the above prior art, density correction is performed, but the remaining amount of printing material such as ink and toner necessary for printing after density correction is not considered, and color adjustment such as density correction is performed. By doing so, the consumption of printing materials increased, and it was necessary to improve the environmental measures by reducing costs and consumer goods.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a printing system, a printing control method, a printing control program, and a recording medium that reduce a printing material while performing color adjustment.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a host device transmits generated print data to a printing device, and the printing device uses a predetermined printing material based on the transmitted printing data. In a printing system that prints an image on a print medium, when a predetermined color adjustment instruction is performed on the print data by a color adjustment instruction unit, color adjustment is performed on the print data in accordance with the color adjustment instruction, When printing material reduction in printing based on the printing data is performed by the printing material reduction instruction unit, the printing data is converted into printing material reduction printing data for performing printing with the printing material reduced according to the printing material reduction instruction. In this case, the influence of the printing material reduction print data converted in accordance with the instruction of the printing material reduction instructing unit on the hue of the color adjustment result in accordance with the color adjustment instructing unit is determined. Depending on It is characterized by controlling the conversion of the print material reduction print data of the print data.

  In addition, the present invention may be characterized in that when the color adjustment instruction means instructs color adjustment that is easy for a person with weak color to see, color adjustment that is easy for a person with low color to see is performed according to the instruction.

  Further, according to the present invention, when the color adjustment instructing means instructs the color adjustment to print the black-and-white shaded drawing portion in black and white when viewed with the naked eye even if the color is theoretically, the theory is in accordance with the instruction. Even if the top is a color, when it is viewed with the naked eye, it may be characterized in that color adjustment is performed so that a drawn portion of a black and white hue is printed in black and white.

  In the present invention, when the printing material reduction amount in accordance with the instruction from the printing material reduction instruction means affects the color adjustment by the color adjustment instruction means, the color adjustment instruction by the color adjustment instruction means is performed. A reduction amount of the printing material that can be reduced within a range is obtained, and conversion of the print data into the printing material reduction print data is controlled according to the reduction amount that can be reduced obtained by the printing material reduction influence unit. May be featured.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the printing material while performing color adjustment.

1 is a system configuration diagram of a printing system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. The principal part block block diagram of a host apparatus. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the main part of the printer. The software block diagram of a host apparatus. The functional block block diagram of the software of a printer. The block block diagram of a GPS function part. The block diagram of a PJL function part. The block block diagram of a PDL function part. 6 is a flowchart illustrating color designation command generation processing by a printer driver. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a CUD / toner save color change determination table. 7 is a flowchart illustrating toner save control processing in the printer. The figure which shows the correspondence of a printing image and a PDL command. 6 is a flowchart illustrating CUD color adjustment and toner save control processing based on a print command in a printer. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a CUD / toner save color change / toner save availability determination table. 10 is a flowchart showing CUD delegation and adjustment and toner save control processing by PDL. 6 is a flowchart showing toner save processing by a printer.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, since the Example described below is a suitable Example of this invention, various technically preferable restrictions are attached | subjected, However, The range of this invention is unduly limited by the following description. However, not all the configurations described in the present embodiment are essential constituent elements of the present invention.

  1 to 16 are diagrams illustrating an embodiment of a printing system, a printing control method, a printing control program, and a recording medium according to the present invention. FIG. 1 illustrates a printing system, a printing control method, and a printing control program according to the present invention. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a printing system 1 to which an embodiment of a recording medium is applied.

  In FIG. 1, a printing system 1 includes a host device HS and a printer Pr connected to a wired or wireless network NW such as a LAN (Local Area Network). These host device HS and printer Pr are shown in FIG. Although one unit is shown, the number is not limited. The printing system 1 transmits print data and a print command from the host device HS to the printer Pr via the network NW, and the printer Pr performs printing based on the print data transmitted from the host device HS via the network NW. The material is printed and printed on paper.

  As the host device HS, a personal computer or the like having a normal hardware configuration is used. As shown in FIG. 2, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101, a memory 102, a storage 103, a host I / F 104, a keyboard 105, and a mouse are used. 106, a camera 107, a microphone 108, a speaker 109, a display 110, and the like.

  The storage 103 is configured by hardware or the like, and stores an application program 120, an OS (Operating System) 130 (see FIG. 5), and various data. The application program 120 is a generic term for various programs such as a document creation program, an image program, and a communication program.

  Based on the application program 120 in the storage 103, the CPU 101 performs various operation processes using a memory 102 formed of a RAM (Random Access Memory) or the like as a work memory.

  The host I / F 104 is connected to the network NW and communicates with the printer Pr, computer, etc. via the network NW under the control of the CPU 101 based on the application program 120, and transmits and receives data, commands, e-mails, and the like. I do.

  The keyboard 105 is used by the user for inputting various commands and characters, and the CPU 101 performs processing according to an input operation from the keyboard 105.

  The display 110 uses an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like, and displays and outputs various types of information in accordance with instructions from the OS and application program 120 under the control of the CPU 101.

  The mouse 106 inputs various commands and the like by operating the icons displayed on the display 110 and the like, and the CPU 101 performs various processes according to the operation of the mouse 106.

  The camera 107 shoots a subject and outputs video data under the control of the CPU 101. The CPU 101 stores the video data in the storage 103 based on the application program 120, or via the host I / F 104. Send to a computer on the network.

  The microphone 108 converts input voice into voice data under the control of the CPU 101, and the CPU 101 stores the voice data in the storage 103 based on the application program 120, or the network via the host I / F 104. Send to the computer above.

  The keyboard 105, the mouse 106, the microphone 108, and the like, which are the input devices, function as a color adjustment instruction unit and a printing material reduction instruction unit.

  Under the control of the CPU 101, the speaker 109 outputs each main sound such as music loudly.

  The printer (printing device) Pr includes a CPU 201, a memory 202, a nonvolatile memory 203, a host I / F 204, operation keys 205, a paper feed tray 206, a print engine 207, a paper discharge tray 208, a hard disk (HDD) 209, a display 210, and the like. Each part is connected by a bus 211.

  The nonvolatile memory 203 is composed of SRAM (Static RAM) or the like, and stores data to be stored even when the printer Pr is turned off, control firmware 220, and the like.

  Based on the control firmware 220 of the non-volatile memory 203, the CPU 201 uses the memory 202 as a work memory to control each unit of the printer Pr, thereby executing operation processing (print processing for a print job) as the printer Pr. Then, the density correction process accompanied by the suppression of the use of the printing material of the present invention is executed.

  The network I / F 204 is connected to the network NW, and communicates with the host device HS and the like via the network NW under the control of the CPU 201 based on the control firmware 220 to transmit / receive data (print data) and commands. I do.

  The operation key 205 is used by the user to input various print settings such as various parameter settings in printing, and the CPU 201 performs print processing in response to an input operation from the operation key 205. The operation key 205 may be used as a color adjustment instruction unit and a printing material reduction instruction unit.

  Paper feed tray 206 is loaded with paper P of various paper sizes, and feeds paper P of paper size used for printing one by one to print engine 207.

  The print engine 207 prints an image on the paper P conveyed from the paper feed tray 206 by a predetermined image forming method (printing method), for example, an electrophotographic method using toner as a printing material or an ink jet method using ink as a printing material. An image is printed out based on the data, and the printed paper P is discharged (printed out) to the paper discharge tray 208. In the following description, the printer driver engine 207 is described as an electrophotographic engine that uses toner as a printing material for convenience.

  The hard disk 209 mainly stores received image data and is read under the control of the CPU 201.

  The display 210 is under the control of the CPU 201 and includes information input from the operation keys 205 and various types of information notified to the user, such as messages received from the host device HS via the host I / F 204, status in the printer Pr, and the like. Display and output the information.

  The host apparatus HS has a software configuration as shown in FIG. 4 by introducing the print control program of the present invention, and the application program 120, host I / F driver 121, printer driver 122, printer driver 122, A command generation program 123, a printer management program 124, a PDL (Page Description Language) generation program 125, a drawing processing program 126, a PJL (Printer Job Language) generation program 127, and the like are constructed.

  As described above, the application program 120 is a program (software) that collectively refers to various programs such as a document creation program, an image program, a communication program, and the like. When a print command for document data received from the computer or the like and stored in the storage 103 is issued to the application program 120, the application program 120 issues a print command to the OS 130, and the document data is used as print data. The data is transferred to the printer driver 122 via the OS 130.

  When the printer driver 122 receives print data from the application program 120 through the OS 130, the print data that can be interpreted (processed) by the printer Pr using the command generation program 123 including the PDL generation program 125 and the PJL generation program 127. The print data and the PJL of the print data are generated. When the application program 120 passes print data with a large calculation amount to the printer driver 122, the drawing processing program 126 performs a drawing process for the data, converts the print data into a print data with a small calculation amount, and outputs the print data to the PDL generation program 125. hand over. The command generation program 123 acquires the printing device information of the printer Pr through the host I / F driver 121, the OS 130, and the printer driver 122, and adds the device information to the command generation program 123.

  The printer Pr is functionally configured as shown in FIG. 5 by firmware 200 including a print control program of the present invention, and includes an SCS function unit (system control function unit) 221 and an SRM function unit (resource control function unit). 222, an NCS function unit (host control function unit) 223, a GPS function unit (printer function control function unit) 224, a PJL function unit (job control information management function unit) 225, a PDL function unit (drawing processing function unit) 226, and the like. Have. In FIG. 5, S / W indicates software, and H / W indicates hardware.

  The SCS function unit 221 performs processing such as application management, operation control, system screen display, LED (Light Emitting Diode) display, hardware resource management, interrupt application control, and the SRM function unit 222 together with the SCS function unit 221. Control the system and manage hardware resources. For example, the SRM function unit 222 performs arbitration according to an acquisition request from an upper layer that uses the hardware resources of the printer Pr, and performs execution control. Specifically, the SRM function unit 222 determines whether or not the hardware resource requested for acquisition can be used (whether it is not used by another acquisition request). And notifies the upper layer that the requested hardware resource is available. In addition, the SRM function unit 222 performs scheduling for using hardware resources in response to an acquisition request from an upper layer, and requests contents (for example, paper conveyance and image forming operation by the print engine 207, memory allocation, file generation) Etc.) directly.

  The GPS function unit 224 performs control of hardware resources such as the print engine 207, performs printing operation, status notification, jam recovery, and the like, and executes the printing function.

  The PJL function unit 225 manages print job control information including print data and print requests sent from the host device HS, and determines PDL function units (color adjustment processing unit, print data conversion unit, printing material reduction influence determination). A printing material reduction control unit) 226 performs a drawing process based on the print data. The control firmware 200 is used by the CPU 201 to control the central I / F 204, the print engine 207, the paper feed tray 206, and the like.

  The GPS function unit 225 has a functional block configuration as shown in FIG. 6, and includes a host buffer control function unit 231, a panel input / output control function unit 232, a system control function unit 233, a job control function unit 234, a page. A control function unit 235 and the like are provided.

  The GPS function unit 225 fetches data from the NCS function unit 223 into the system control function unit 233 via the host buffer control function unit 231, and the system control function unit 233 separates the data into job management information and print data main body. , The job control function unit 234 and the page control function unit 235.

  The job control function unit 234 passes job management information to the PJL function unit 225, acquires status information of system resources (tray, paper, toner, etc.) used during printing from the SCS function unit 221 and the SRM function unit 222, Configure print settings. The page control function unit 235 passes the print data body to the PDL function unit 226 to perform drawing processing, passes the drawing page image to the SRM function unit 222, and passes the page image from the SRM function unit 222 to the print engine 207. Have the print done. When the system control function unit 233 determines from the job management information passed to the PJL function unit 225 that the printing requires authentication, the system control function unit 233 inquires the authentication function unit 227 whether or not authentication can be performed, and if authentication is possible. In a state where printing is not performed, the print data is transferred to the SRM function unit 222 and stored in the hard disk 209. If the authentication unit 227 cannot authenticate, the system control function unit 233 searches the authentication function unit 227 for an authenticable printer on the network NW, and transfers print data to the corresponding printer.

  The PJL function unit 225 has a block configuration as shown in FIG. 7, and includes a data input / output control function unit 241, a language analysis function unit 242, a job control command issue function unit 243, a page control command issue function unit 244, and the like. I have.

  The data input / output control function unit 241 receives job control information from the GPS function unit 224 and extracts control parameters using the language analysis function unit 242. The data input / output function unit 241 causes the job control command issue function unit 243 to issue a job control command when the control parameter is job control, and issues a page post-birth command to the page control command issue function unit 244 when the control parameter is page control. Then, it is passed to the GPS function unit 224 as a print setting parameter.

  The PDL function unit 226 has a block configuration as shown in FIG. 8, and includes a data input / output control function unit 251, a language analysis function unit 252, a drawing process execution function unit 253, a page memory write function unit 254, and the like. Yes. When the data input / output function unit 251 receives print data from the GPS function unit 224, the PDL function unit 226 extracts a drawing command using the language analysis function unit 252, and the drawing process execution function unit 253 performs drawing processing (arithmetic processing). ), And the page memory write function unit 254 writes the data as bitmap data in the page memory. The data input / output control function unit 251 passes the contents written in the page memory to the GPS function unit 224.

  That is, the printing system 1 includes ROM, EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory), EPROM, flash memory, flexible disk, CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), CD-RW (Compact Disc Rewritable), DVD ( A print control program for executing the print control method of the present invention recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a digital versatile disk (SD), a secure digital (SD) card, or an MO (Magneto-Optical Disc) And a printer system that executes a print control method that reduces the toner within a range that does not affect the hue of the color adjustment while performing the color adjustment described later. This print control program is a computer-executable program written in a legacy programming language such as assembler, C, C ++, C #, Java (registered trademark) or an object-oriented programming language, and is stored in the recording medium. Can be distributed.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The printing system 1 of the present embodiment appropriately performs density adjustment and reduction of printing materials. In the following description, it is assumed that an image is formed by electrophotography and that the printing material is toner. In the following description, a case where color universal design (hereinafter referred to as CUD as appropriate) is performed as density adjustment will be described. However, density adjustment is not limited to color universal design.

  First, a case will be described where color universal design color adjustment processing is performed by the host device HS, and toner save processing (printing material reduction processing) is performed by the printer Pr only for colors that have not been subjected to CUD on the host device HS side.

  The host device HS generates a color designation command and transmits it to the printer Pr as shown in FIG. 9 in order to execute color universal design as color adjustment in image formation by the printer Pr. That is, in the host device HS, the application program 120 passes the image data to be printed to the printer driver 122 and also passes the color information C1 (R1, G1, B1) that is the color information to be adjusted for CUD (step S101). The printer driver 122 performs CUD color adjustment processing and converts the color information C1 (R1, G1, B1) into color information C2 (R2, G2, B2) (step S102).

  The printer driver 122 checks whether toner save is specified (step S103). If toner save is specified, the printer driver 122 sets a CUD flag (Flag) value corresponding to the (R1, G1, B1) value of the color information C1. Then, it is acquired from the CUD / toner save color change determination table Tb1 stored in advance in the storage 103 or the like (step S104). The CUD / toner save color change determination table Tb1 is a table for determining color information in which a color change occurs when both CUD and toner save are performed, and the CUD flag (Flag) value is “1”. When the CUD color adjustment process and the toner save process are performed, a color change occurs.

  The printer driver 122 determines whether or not the CUD flag (Flag) value is “1”, that is, whether or not the color changes when the CUD color adjustment process and the toner save process are performed (step S105). When it is “1”, “toner save suppression” is added to the color designation command parameter so that toner save is not performed (step S106), and a color designation command of color information C2 is generated (step S107).

  When the CUD flag (Flag) is “0” in step S105, no color change occurs, so the printer driver 122 generates a color designation command for the color information C2 without adding “toner save suppression” (step S105). Step S107).

  If toner save is not specified in step S103, it is not necessary to check the color change due to CUD, so the color specification command of color information C2 is generated as it is (step S107).

  The printer driver 122 processes the same color designation command generation process as described above for the image data passed from the application program 120, and transmits the processed print data and print command to the printer Pr via the network NW.

  As shown in FIG. 11, when print data is sent from the host device HS, the printer Pr causes the PDL function unit 226 to perform a drawing color determination process with toner save control. The PDL function unit 226 receives the print data color designation command and obtains a command parameter (step S201). The PDL function unit 226 extracts C1 color information (R1, G1, B1) that is color information other than C2 color information that is the color designation for which CUD color adjustment is performed from the command parameter (step S202), and from the command parameter Information on presence / absence of “toner save suppression” is extracted (step S203).

  The PDL function unit 226 checks whether “toner save suppression” is added to the color designation command parameter (step S204). If “toner save suppression” is not added, a toner save effect is generated in the color information C1. Image processing to be performed, for example, β conversion processing is performed (step S205). If “toner save suppression” is added in step S204, it is determined that a color change will occur, and the drawing color determination process ends without performing the toner save process.

  The printer Pr forms an image based on the color specified by the color designation command in the host device HS, and performs toner save for the color portion that does not change color even if toner save is performed.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 12B, the PDL command is applied to the yellow image region G1, the blue image region G2, and the red image region G3 of the print image G as shown in FIG. The toner save is designated by the user setting, the same black color designation is performed for the image area G1 and the image area G2, and the original red color designation is performed only for the image area G3. Note that FIG. 12 shows that red color is designated by hatching a square in the color designation part of the PDL command.

  In this way, color adjustment such as color universal design can be appropriately performed while performing toner save (printing material) reduction processing for colors that do not undergo color change.

  In the above description, the CUD color adjustment is performed by the printer driver 122 of the host device HS, and the toner save control process is performed by the PDL function unit 226 of the printer Pr. However, the execution process of the CUD color adjustment process and the toner save control process is performed. Is not limited to the sharing process between the host device HS and the printer Pr. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, both the CUD color adjustment process and the toner save control process may be performed on the printer Pr side. In this case, the printer Pr stores the CUD / toner save color change determination table Tb1 shown in FIG. 10 in the hard disk 209 or the like.

  First, the host device HS transmits color adjustment instruction information and toner save instruction information together with print data to the printer Pr according to the color adjustment instruction and toner save instruction in the host device HS, and the PDL function unit 226 of the printer Pr performs CUD. A case where the toner saving process is executed only for the color which has been subjected to the color adjustment process and has not been subjected to the CUD color adjustment will be described with reference to FIG.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 13, in the printer Pr, when print data is sent from the host device HS, the PDL function unit 226 performs a drawing color determination process with toner save control. That is, the PDL function unit 226 receives a print data color designation command and obtains a command parameter (step S301). The PDL function unit 226 extracts C1 color information (R1, G1, B1) as original color information from the command parameter (step S302), and extracts presence / absence information of “toner save instruction” from the command parameter (step S303).

  The PDL function unit 226 performs CUD color adjustment processing, converts the color information C1 (R1, G1, B1) into color information C2 (R2, G2, B2) (step S304), and sets the color designation command parameter to “ It is checked whether or not “toner save designation” is added (step S305).

  If “Toner Save Designation” is not added in step S305, the PDL function unit 226 ends the process without performing the toner save process.

  When “toner save designation” is added in step S305, the PDL function unit 226 stores the CUD flag (Flag) value corresponding to the (R1, G1, B1) value of the color information C1 in the hard disk 209 or the like in advance. It is acquired from the stored CUD / toner save color change determination table Tb1 (step S306), and whether or not the CUD flag (Flag) value is “0”, that is, when the CUD color adjustment process and the toner save process are executed. It is determined whether or not the color changes (step S307).

  If the CUD flag is “1” in step S307, the PDL function unit 226 terminates the process without performing image processing that exhibits the toner saving effect. If the CUD flag is “1” in step S307, the color is displayed. Image processing for generating a toner save effect on the information C1, for example, γ conversion processing is performed (step S308).

  Then, the printer Pr prints out the color based on the color designated by the color designation command in the host device HS, and for the color portion that does not change color even if the toner save is performed, the data after image processing after the toner save is performed. To print out.

  Next, CUD color adjustment processing is performed by the PDL function unit 226 of the printer Pr, and a reduction rate that allows toner saving is calculated for the color for which CUD color adjustment has been performed, and toner save is performed at a reduction rate according to the calculation result. The case where processing is performed will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In this case, the printer Pr stores in advance a CUD / toner save color change / toner save enable / disable determination table Tb2 as shown in FIG. This CUD / toner save color change / toner save enable / disable determination table Tb2 is a table in which toner save enable / disable determination information is added to the CUD / toner save color change determination table Tb1 shown in FIG. A table in which a CUD flag (Flag) indicating whether or not toner saving is possible after CUD is registered for each RGB color. In FIG. 14, if the CUD flag (Flag) value is “1”, a color change occurs when the CUD color adjustment process is performed, and if the TS flag (Flag) is “1”, toner saving is possible. It shows that there is.

  When the printer Pr receives print data from the host device HS, the PDL function unit 226 performs a drawing process determination process as shown in FIG. That is, the PDL function unit 226 receives a print data color designation command and obtains a command parameter (step S401). The PDL function unit 226 extracts C1 color information (R1, G1, B1), which is the original color information, from the command parameter (step S402), and the presence / absence information of the “toner save instruction” performed by the host device HS from the command parameter Is taken out (step S403).

  The PDL function unit 226 performs CUD color adjustment processing, converts the color information C1 (R1, G1, B1) into color information C2 (R2, G2, B2) (step S404), and sets the color designation command parameter to “ It is checked whether “toner save designation” is added (step S405).

  If “toner save designation” is not added in step S405, the PDL function unit 226 ends the process without performing the toner save process.

  When “toner save designation” is added in step S405, the PDL function unit 226 calculates the reduction rate shown in FIG. 16 and executes toner save processing for toner reduction, and ends the processing (step S406). ).

  In FIG. 16, the PDL function unit 226 stores the CUD flag (Flag) value corresponding to the (R1, G1, B1) value of the color information C1 in the CUD / toner save color change / toner previously stored in the hard disk 209 or the like. It is acquired from the save possibility determination table Tb2 (step S501), [49%] is set as the toner reduction rate rate of toner save (step S502), and whether or not the CUD flag (Flag) value is “0”. That is, it is determined whether or not the color is changed when the CUD color adjustment process and the toner save process are performed (step S503). As will be described later, the toner reduction rate is used to generate color information obtained by multiplying the color information to reduce the toner. Therefore, the smaller the numerical value, the larger the toner reduction amount.

  In step S503, when the CUD flag is “0”, the PDL function unit 226 increments the toner reduction rate rate by “1” (step S504), and sets the values (R2, G2, B2) of the color information C2. By multiplying the incremented toner reduction rate rate, color information C3 (R3, G3, B3) is calculated as toner reduction print data (step S505), and the color information C3 (R3, G3, B3) has a toner save effect. Image processing to be generated, for example, γ conversion processing is performed, and toner save processing is terminated (step S506).

  If the CUD flag (Flag) value is “1” in step S503, the PDL function unit 226 executes the loop processing from step S507 to step S511 while the TS flag (Flag) is “0”. That is, the PDL function unit 226 increments the toner reduction rate rate by “1” (step S508), and multiplies the (R2, G2, B2) values of the color information C2 by the incremented toner reduction rate rate, respectively. C3 (R3, G3, B3) is calculated (step S509). Next, the PDL function unit 226 obtains a TS flag (Flag) corresponding to the calculated color information C3 (R3, G3, B3) from the CUD / toner save color change / toner save availability determination table Tb2, and the TS flag If “0”, the process returns to step S507 to repeat the process of sequentially incrementing the toner reduction rate rate by “1” as described above, and multiplying the incremented toner reduction rate rate to obtain the color information C3. When the TS flag (Flag) corresponding to (R3, G3, B3) becomes “1”, image processing for generating a toner save effect on the color information C3 (R3, G3, B3), for example, γ conversion processing is performed. Then, the toner save process is terminated (step S506).

  As described above, in the printing system 1 according to the present embodiment, the host device HS transmits the generated print data to the printer Pr, and the toner (predetermined printing material) is supplied based on the print data transmitted from the printer Pr. In the printing system 1 that uses and prints an image on paper, when a predetermined color adjustment instruction is given to the print data by the host device HS, the color adjustment is performed on the print data according to the color adjustment instruction. When the host apparatus HS performs toner reduction in printing based on the print data, the toner reduction print data (printing material reduction printing) for performing printing with toner reduced in accordance with the toner reduction instruction (printing material reduction instruction) When the print data is converted into (data), the print data for toner reduction converted according to the toner reduction instruction is given to the hue of the color adjustment result according to the color adjustment instruction. That effect to determine the, controls the conversion into print data for toner reduction print data in accordance with the determination result.

  Therefore, it is possible to reduce the consumption of printing material such as toner while performing color adjustment such as density correction.

  In particular, when a color adjustment in consideration of CUD (color universal design) is given as a color adjustment instruction, that is, a color adjustment that is easy for a person with weak color to be seen, a color adjustment that is easily seen by a person with weak color is performed, and printing such as toner is performed. Reduction of material can be performed.

  In addition, as a color adjustment instruction, even if the color is theoretically viewed with the naked eye, when color adjustment is made to print the black and white shaded drawing portion in black and white, Printing material such as toner can be reduced while performing color adjustment for printing a monochrome shaded drawing portion in black and white.

  Further, when the printing system 1 according to the present embodiment determines that the amount of printing material to be reduced according to the instruction affects the color adjustment instructed, the printing system 1 can reduce the amount within the range of the color adjustment instructed. A reduction amount of the printing material is obtained, and the printing material is reduced according to the obtained reduction amount that can be reduced.

  Therefore, the printing material can be reduced as much as possible within the required color adjustment range, and the printing material can be further reduced.

  In the printing system 1 according to the present exemplary embodiment, the host apparatus HS includes a keyboard 105 and a mouse as color adjustment instruction means and toner reduction instruction means for giving a color adjustment instruction and a toner reduction instruction, and a drawing processing program 126, A PDL generation program 125, a command generation program 123, and a printer driver 122 are mounted as color adjustment processing means, and print data that has undergone color adjustment according to a color adjustment instruction and toner reduction instruction information that is instructed to reduce toner are transmitted to the printer Pr. Effect of printer Pr mounting on PDL function unit 226, GPS function unit 224, etc., and conversion of print data to toner reduction print data instructed by toner reduction instruction information on color adjustment of print data And the print data for toner reduction of the print data according to the determination result And it controls the conversion.

  Therefore, the print data after the color adjustment generated by the host apparatus HS and the toner reduction instruction are transmitted to the printer Pr in accordance with the color adjustment instruction from the host apparatus HS, and the hue of the print data color-adjusted by the printer Pr is affected. Printing can be performed with toner reduction within the range not to be used.

  Furthermore, in the printing system 1 of the present embodiment, the host apparatus HS is equipped with a keyboard 105, a mouse, and the like as a color adjustment instruction unit and a printing material reduction instruction unit that perform a color adjustment instruction and a toner reduction instruction, and a drawing processing program 126. PDL generation program 125, PJL generation program 127, command generation program 123, printing device management program 124, printer driver 122, and the like are installed to generate print data subjected to color adjustment instructed by color adjustment and toner reduction The influence of the conversion of the print data to the designated toner reduction print data on the hue of the color-adjusted print data is determined, and the print data is converted to the toner reduction print data according to the determination result The generated print data is transmitted to the printer Pr, and the printer Pr Printing based on the print data that has been signal.

  Therefore, color adjustment is performed in accordance with the color adjustment instruction and the toner reduction instruction from the host device HS, and the print data with the toner reduced is generated within a range that does not affect the color tone and the printer Pr is generated. The data can be transmitted and printed by the printer Pr based on the print data.

  In the printing system 1 of the present embodiment, the host device HS is equipped with a keyboard 105, a mouse, and the like as a color adjustment instruction unit and a printing material reduction instruction unit that issue a color adjustment instruction and a toner reduction instruction. The color adjustment instruction information and the toner reduction instruction information instructed to reduce toner are transmitted to the printer Pr together with the print data. The printer Pr is equipped with the PDL function unit 226, the GPS function unit 224, etc. Determining the influence of the conversion of the print data to the print data for toner reduction specified by the toner reduction instruction information on the color of the print data subjected to the color adjustment. The conversion of the print data into the toner reduction print data is controlled accordingly.

  Therefore, when there is a color adjustment instruction and a toner reduction instruction in the host device HS, the color adjustment instruction information and the toner reduction instruction information are transmitted to the printer Pr together with the print data, and the printer Pr uses the color adjustment instruction and the toner reduction instruction. In accordance with the color adjustment according to the print data, the print data with the toner reduced can be generated and printed within a range in which the color-adjusted print data does not affect the hue.

  Although the invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited to that described in the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It goes without saying that it is possible.

  The present invention can be used for a printing system, a printing control method, a printing control program, and a recording medium in which a computer and a printer are connected via a network.

1 Printing System HS Host Device 101 CPU
102 Memory 103 Storage 104 Host I / F
105 Keyboard 106 Mouse 107 Camera 108 Microphone 109 Speaker 110 Display 111 Bus 120 Application Program 121 Host I / F Driver 122 Printer Driver 123 Command Generation Program 124 Printing Device Management Program 125 PDL Generation Program 126 Drawing Processing Program 127 PJL Generation Program 130 OS
Pr printer 201 CPU
202 Memory 203 Non-volatile memory 204 Host I / F
205 Operation Keys 206 Paper Tray 207 Print Engine 208 Paper Discharge Tray 209 Hard Disk (HDD)
210 Display 211 Bus 220 Control firmware 221 SCS function part (system control function part)
222 SRM function part (resource control function part)
223 NCS function part (host control function part)
224 GPS function unit (printer function control function unit)
225 PJL function part (job control information management function part)
226 PDL function part (drawing process function part)
231 Host buffer control function section 232 Panel input / output control function section 233 System control function section 234 Job control function section 235 Page control function section 241 Data input / output control function section 242 Language analysis function section 243 Job control command issue function section 244 Page control Command issuing function section 251 Data input / output control function section 252 Language analysis function section 253 Drawing processing execution function section 254 Page memory writing function section NW network Tb1 CUD / toner save color change determination table Tb2 CUD / toner save color change / toner save enable / disable Judgment table

JP 2006-116800 A

Claims (10)

The host device transmits the print data generated by the installed printer driver to the printing device, and the printing device prints an image on the printing medium using a predetermined printing material based on the received printing data. In the printing system to
Color adjustment instruction means for giving a predetermined color adjustment instruction to the print data;
Color adjustment processing means for performing color adjustment on the print data in accordance with a color adjustment instruction in the color adjustment instruction means;
Printing material reduction instruction means for instructing reduction of printing material in printing based on the print data;
Print data conversion means for converting the print data into printing material reduction print data for performing printing with the printing material reduced in accordance with an instruction from the printing material reduction instruction means;
The printing material reduction print data converted by the print data conversion unit according to the instruction of the printing material reduction instruction unit has an influence on the hue of the color adjustment result by the color adjustment processing unit according to the color adjustment instruction unit. Printing material reduction impact judgment means to judge,
Printing material reduction control means for controlling the conversion of the print data into the printing material reduction print data by the print data conversion means according to the judgment result of the printing material reduction influence judgment means;
A printing system comprising: The printing system includes:
The host device includes the color adjustment instruction unit, the color adjustment processing unit, and the printing material reduction instruction unit, and print data that has been color-adjusted by the color adjustment processing unit according to an instruction from the color adjustment instruction unit; Sending the printing material reduction instruction information instructed by the printing material reduction instruction means to the printing apparatus;
The printing apparatus includes the print data conversion unit, the printing material reduction influence determination unit, and the printing material reduction control unit, and the printing material reduction influence judgment unit is instructed by the printing material reduction instruction information. Determining the influence of the conversion by the print data conversion means to the reduced print data on the hue of the color-adjusted print data, and the printing material reduction control means by the print data conversion means according to the determination result The printing system according to claim 1, wherein conversion of the print data into the print material reduced print data is controlled. The printing system includes:
The host device includes the color adjustment instruction unit and the printing material reduction instruction unit, and the print data, the color adjustment instruction information by the color adjustment instruction unit, and the printing material reduction instruction information by the printing material reduction instruction unit are Sent to the printing device,
The printing apparatus includes the color adjustment processing unit, the print data conversion unit, the printing material reduction influence determination unit, and the printing material reduction control unit, and the color adjustment instruction information for the transmitted print data. The color adjustment processing means performs color adjustment based on the print material reduction influence determination means, and the conversion by the print data conversion means to the printing material reduction print data instructed by the printing material reduction instruction information The printing material reduction control unit controls the conversion of the printing data into the printing material reduced printing data by the printing data conversion unit according to the determination result by determining the influence on the color tone of the adjusted printing data. The printing system according to claim 1. The printing system includes:
The host device includes the color adjustment instruction unit, the color adjustment processing unit, the printing material reduction instruction unit, the printing material reduction influence determination unit, the print data conversion unit, and the printing material reduction control unit. The color adjustment processing unit performs color adjustment on the print data in accordance with an instruction from the adjustment instruction unit, and the printing material reduction influence determination unit is configured to perform the printing material reduction print data instructed by the printing material reduction instruction unit. Determining the influence of the conversion by the print data conversion unit on the hue of the color-adjusted print data, and the printing material reduction control unit determines the print data conversion unit by the print data conversion unit according to the determination result. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein conversion to the printing material reduced print data is controlled, and the print data is transmitted to the printing apparatus. The color adjustment instruction means can instruct color adjustment easy for a person with weak color to see,
5. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the color adjustment processing unit performs color adjustment that is easy for a person with weak color to see according to an instruction from the color adjustment instruction unit. The color adjustment instruction means is capable of instructing color adjustment to print a black-and-white shaded drawing portion in black and white when viewed with the naked eye even in theory in color.
The color adjustment processing unit performs color adjustment according to an instruction from the color adjustment instruction unit so as to print a black-and-white shaded drawing portion in black and white when viewed with the naked eye even in theory. The printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4. When the printing material reduction influence determining unit determines that the amount of printing material reduced according to the instruction from the printing material reduction instruction unit affects the color adjustment by the color adjustment instruction unit, the color adjustment instruction unit Determining the reduction amount of the printing material that can be reduced within the range of the color adjustment by
The printing material reduction control unit controls the conversion of the printing data into the printing material reduced printing data by the printing data conversion unit according to the reduction amount that can be reduced obtained by the printing material reduction influence unit. The printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the printing system is characterized. The host device transmits the print data generated by the installed printer driver to the printing device, and the printing device prints an image on the printing medium using a predetermined printing material based on the received printing data. A printing control method in a printing system that includes:
When a predetermined color adjustment instruction is given to the print data by the color adjustment instruction means, a color adjustment processing step of performing color adjustment on the print data in accordance with the color adjustment instruction;
When printing material reduction in printing based on the printing data is performed by the printing material reduction instruction unit, the printing data is converted into printing material reduction printing data for performing printing with the printing material reduced according to the printing material reduction instruction. A print data conversion processing step to be performed;
The printing material reduction print data converted in the print data conversion processing step according to the instruction of the printing material reduction instruction means gives to the hue of the color adjustment result in the color adjustment processing step according to the color adjustment instruction means. Printing material reduction impact judgment processing step for judging impact,
A printing material reduction control processing step for controlling the conversion of the printing data into the printing material reduction printing data in the printing data conversion processing step according to the judgment result in the printing material reduction influence judgment processing step;
A printing control method characterized by comprising: The host device transmits the print data generated by the installed printer driver to the printing device, and the printing device prints an image on the printing medium using a predetermined printing material based on the received printing data. A printing control program installed in the printing system
On the computer,
When a predetermined color adjustment instruction is given to the print data by the color adjustment instruction means, a color adjustment process for performing color adjustment on the print data according to the color adjustment instruction;
When printing material reduction in printing based on the printing data is performed by the printing material reduction instruction unit, the printing data is converted into printing material reduction printing data for performing printing with the printing material reduced according to the printing material reduction instruction. Print data conversion processing to
The printing material reduction print data converted by the print data conversion processing according to the instruction of the printing material reduction instruction means has an influence on the hue of the color adjustment result in the color adjustment processing according to the color adjustment instruction means. Printing material reduction impact judgment processing to judge,
A printing material reduction control process for controlling the conversion of the printing data into the printing material reduction print data in the printing data conversion process according to the judgment result in the printing material reduction influence judgment process;
A print control program for executing   A computer-readable recording medium on which the printing control program according to claim 9 is recorded.

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