JP2012047837A - Image processing apparatus equipped with preview display - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing apparatus that reduces the likelihood of failing to take a copy resulting from the similarity in color between paper and an image.SOLUTION: An image processing apparatus of the present invention detects the color of paper set on a paper feeding part (step 152) and determines whether or not there is a similarity in color between the paper and input image data (step 158). If the similarity is found, the image processing apparatus displays a warning screen and a preview screen (steps 160, 164) to notify a user of the similarity.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus that enables preview display and editing of image data.

  In recent years, multi-function machines, which are one type of image processing apparatus, have been introduced in many offices (company, office, etc.). The multi-function peripheral has a plurality of basic operation modes such as a copy mode, a facsimile mode, a network compatible printer mode, and a scanner mode. In such a multi-function peripheral, the user can check and edit output data on the operation panel before performing an image forming operation. As a result, the display screen of the operation panel tends to become larger gradually. The user can operate the operation panel while viewing the display screen. In addition, the multifunction peripheral has various functions such as image data accumulation and preview display. In many cases, the user also gives instructions regarding these via the operation panel. Therefore, the role played by the interface screen of the multifunction peripheral is becoming more and more important.

  One of the functions of the multifunction peripheral is color printing. A paper medium (printing paper) is most often used as a recording medium for color printing. Printing paper is generally white, but color paper or paper on which a pattern is printed is used depending on the printing content and application. When color printing is performed on color paper, there is a problem that it becomes difficult to see the output document if the color of the image data and the color of the color paper are similar. In addition, when color printing is performed on paper on which a pattern is printed, the color of the pattern printed on the paper and the color of the image data are similar even if the background color of the paper is not similar to the color of the image data. There is a fear. If the pattern is small, the user may perform the printing process without noticing the color similarity.

  With respect to these problems, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for synthesizing sheet image data obtained by reading a sheet with an image reading apparatus and image data of an image formed on the sheet and displaying the preview. Yes. According to this technique, the user can confirm what kind of document is output before color printing is performed on color paper.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 discloses a technique for enlarging and displaying a portion to be confirmed of a document image displayed in preview. According to this technique, even if the portion where the paper color and the image data color are similar is small and it is difficult to confirm in the normal preview display, the user can enlarge and confirm the portion.

JP 2006-11954 A JP 2009-302759 A

  However, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, every time there is a possibility that the color of the image data and the paper color are similar, it is necessary for the user to confirm the location using the preview display. Therefore, the burden on the user is large. If the user does not notice the possibility of similarity, a document that is difficult to see is output. The technique disclosed in Patent Document 2 is based on the premise that expansion item data about which part is to be expanded is specified in advance based on experience and stored in the apparatus. For this reason, this device does not function effectively if a similar location is not known before the preview display. As a result, it often resulted in a so-called failed copy.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus that can reduce the possibility of a failed copy based on the similarity between the paper color and the image color.

  An image processing apparatus according to the present invention is based on a sheet color determining unit for determining a sheet color of a sheet on which image formation is performed in response to an instruction to form an image based on image data, and a sheet color determining unit. Similarity determination means for determining whether or not there is similarity between the paper color and the color of the image data, and warning means for outputting a warning when the similarity determination means determines that there is similarity Including.

  According to this image processing apparatus, when there is a similarity between the paper color and the color of the image data, the image processing apparatus automatically determines the similarity without giving an instruction from the user. Therefore, the user can execute printing without paying special attention.

  Preferably, the image processing apparatus includes an instruction input unit for receiving an instruction regarding whether or not to proceed with the image forming process in response to the warning by the warning unit, and the instruction input unit performs the image forming process. In response to receiving the instruction to proceed, the first image forming means for forming an image based on the image data on the paper and the instruction input means respond to receiving an instruction to stop the image forming process. The preview display means for performing the preview display in which the color of the image data is combined with the background of the paper color, and the portion determined to be similar by the similarity determination means during the display of the image by the preview display means And correction means for correcting the image data color on the preview display screen displayed by the preview display means.

  According to this image processing apparatus, a portion where the paper color and the color of the image data are similar is preview-displayed in a state where it is combined with the color of the image data. Therefore, the user can confirm what kind of similar part is based on the preview display, and can make corrections.

  Preferably, the image processing apparatus further includes a second image forming unit for immediately forming an image based on the image data on the sheet when the similarity determining unit determines that there is no similarity.

  According to this image processing apparatus, if a location where the paper color and the color of the image data are similar is not found, printing is immediately executed without performing warning display and preview display. As a result, the first copy time is advanced, and the user can shorten the print processing time.

  More preferably, the image processing apparatus further includes a paper feeding unit for holding paper used for image formation and feeding paper according to a request for image formation, and the paper color determination unit is related to the paper feeding unit. And a sheet color sensor for detecting the sheet color of the sheet held by the sheet feeding means.

  According to this image processing apparatus, the paper color is detected every time an image is formed. For this reason, it is possible to determine the similarity of colors regardless of the paper color.

  More preferably, the image processing apparatus further includes a sheet color storage unit for receiving and storing a sheet color setting input, and the sheet color determining unit is for reading the sheet color stored in the sheet color storage unit. Including means.

  According to this image processing apparatus, the paper color based on the storage of the storage means can be determined. Therefore, the user can set the paper color in advance before image formation.

  More preferably, the similarity determination unit of the image processing apparatus determines whether the image defined based on whether the distance defined between the value specifying the color of the image data and the value specifying the paper color is equal to or less than a threshold value. Comparing means for determining the presence or absence of similarity between the data color and the paper color is included.

  According to this image processing apparatus, the determination of the similarity between the paper color and the color of the image data is performed based on whether or not the defined distance is equal to or less than a threshold value. Therefore, it is possible to clearly express how many colors are determined to be similar.

  More preferably, the image processing apparatus further includes threshold value storage means for receiving and storing an input of a user specifying a threshold value, and the comparison means reads the threshold value from the threshold value storage means.

  According to this image processing apparatus, the threshold value is determined by user input. Therefore, the user can set a threshold value in advance.

  More preferably, in response to receiving an instruction to stop the image forming process, the preview display unit of the image processing apparatus synthesizes the image data with the background of the paper color and generates an image based on the image data. Emphasis display means for emphasizing and displaying the portion determined to be similar by the similarity determination means.

  According to this image processing apparatus, similar parts are highlighted. Therefore, in the preview display, the user can determine at a glance which part is similar. This highlighting is particularly effective when there are a plurality of similar parts and when the similar parts are small.

  More preferably, the image processing apparatus expands a range including the touched portion of the preview displayed image together with the paper color in response to the touch of the portion highlighted by the highlighting unit. The display further includes enlarged display means for displaying.

  According to this image processing apparatus, when a highlighted area is touched by the user, the area is enlarged and displayed. Therefore, the user can clearly see what the similar part is. This enlarged display is particularly effective when the similarity is difficult to understand and when the similar part is small.

  More preferably, the image processing apparatus expands a range including the touched portion of the preview displayed image together with the paper color in response to the touch of the portion highlighted by the highlighting unit. The display further includes an enlarged display means for displaying simultaneously with the preview display.

  According to this image processing apparatus, the user can confirm the touched highlight display in the enlarged display and the preview display at the same time. Therefore, the user can confirm the selected highlight display in both the preview display and the enlarged display.

  According to the present invention, when there is a portion where the paper color and the color of the image data are similar, it is possible to automatically notify the user of the color similarity without an instruction from the user.

It is a figure which simplifies and shows the internal structure of the image processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions of the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure which expands and shows the operating device of the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing a standard screen displayed on a display unit in a copy mode of the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows the determination by a RGB color model among the similar color determination which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is a warning screen displayed when a part with a similar color is found. It is a figure which shows the preview display which highlights an applicable location when the location where a color is similar is discovered. It is a figure which shows the preview display when the location where a color is similar is discovered. It is a figure which shows the preview display for color correction when the location where a color is similar is discovered. It is a figure which shows the preview display after performing color correction. It is a flowchart which shows the control structure of the program for implement | achieving similar color determination. It is a flowchart which shows the control structure of the program for implement | achieving color correction and printing. It is a figure which shows the control structure of the program for implement | achieving each process after a preview display.

  An image processing apparatus 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention is a so-called MFP (Multifunction Peripheral), and includes a copy function (copy mode), a facsimile transmission / reception function (facsimile mode), a printer function (printer mode), and a scanner. Has a function (scanner mode). The function for forming an image on a recording sheet (used in copy mode, facsimile reception mode, and printer mode) will be described below mainly with reference to FIG.

[Structure of image processing apparatus]
The image processing apparatus (MFP) 20 is a predetermined recording sheet (described as a sheet) according to image data (may be described as print data) transmitted from the information processing apparatus (computer) via a network line. In general, the main body 26 of the image processing apparatus 20 and the automatic document processing apparatus 28 (in copy mode or scanner mode) are formed. Use). In the main body 26, an image forming unit includes an exposure unit 1, a developing device 2, a photosensitive drum 3, a cleaner unit 4, a charger 5, an intermediate transfer belt unit 6, a fixing unit 7, a paper feed cassette 81, a paper discharge tray. 91 or the like.

  A document placing table 24 made of transparent glass on which a document is placed is provided on the upper portion of the main body 26, and an automatic document processing device 28 is attached to the upper side of the document placing table 24. The automatic document processor 28 automatically conveys the document onto the document table 24. The automatic document processing device 28 is configured to be rotatable in the direction of arrow M, and the document can be placed manually by opening the document table 24. The document placed on the document placing table 24 is read as image data by a document reading unit (scanner unit).

  The image data handled in the image processing apparatus 20 is data corresponding to a color image using each color of black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y). Accordingly, four developing devices 2, photosensitive drums 3, chargers 5, and cleaner units 4 are provided so as to form four types of latent images corresponding to the respective colors, and four of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow are provided. One image station is configured.

  The charger 5 functions to uniformly charge the surface of the photosensitive drum 3 to a predetermined potential. The exposure unit 1 is configured as a laser scanning unit (LSU: Laser Scanning Unit) including a laser emitting portion and a reflection mirror. The exposure unit 1 includes a polygon mirror that scans a laser beam and optical elements such as a lens and a mirror for guiding the laser beam reflected by the polygon mirror to the photosensitive drum 3.

  The exposure unit 1 has a function of forming an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image data on the surface thereof by exposing the charged photosensitive drum 3 according to the input image data. The developing device 2 visualizes the electrostatic latent images formed on the respective photosensitive drums 3 with toners of four colors (Y, M, C, K). The cleaner unit 4 removes and collects toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 3 after development and image transfer.

  The intermediate transfer belt unit 6 disposed above the photosensitive drum 3 includes an intermediate transfer belt 61, an intermediate transfer belt driving roller 62, an intermediate transfer belt driven roller 63, an intermediate transfer roller 64, and an intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 65. I have. Four intermediate transfer rollers 64 are provided corresponding to the respective colors Y, M, C, and K. The intermediate transfer belt driving roller 62, the intermediate transfer belt driven roller 63, and the intermediate transfer roller 64 are driven to rotate while the intermediate transfer belt 61 is stretched. The intermediate transfer roller 64 provides a transfer bias for transferring the toner image on the photosensitive drum 3 onto the intermediate transfer belt 61.

  The intermediate transfer belt 61 is provided so as to be in contact with the four photosensitive drums 3, and each color toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 3 is sequentially superimposed and transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 61. Thus, a color toner image (multicolor toner image) is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 61. The intermediate transfer belt 61 is formed in an endless shape using, for example, a film having a thickness of about 100 μm to 150 μm.

  The toner image is transferred from the photosensitive drum 3 to the intermediate transfer belt 61 by an intermediate transfer roller 64 that is in contact with the back side of the intermediate transfer belt 61. A high-voltage transfer bias (a high voltage having a polarity (+) opposite to the toner charging polarity (−)) is applied to the intermediate transfer roller 64 in order to transfer the toner image. The intermediate transfer roller 64 is a roller whose base is a metal (for example, stainless steel) shaft having a diameter of 8 mm to 10 mm and whose surface is covered with a conductive elastic material (for example, ethylene-propylene-diene rubber, foamed urethane, or the like). With this conductive elastic material, a high voltage can be uniformly applied to the intermediate transfer belt 61. In this embodiment, a roller-shaped electrode is used as the transfer electrode, but a brush-shaped electrode or the like can be used in addition to that.

  As described above, the electrostatic latent images visualized according to the respective colors on the respective photosensitive drums 3 are stacked on the intermediate transfer belt 61. In this manner, the stacked images are transferred onto the recording sheet by the transfer roller 10 disposed at a contact position between the recording sheet and the intermediate transfer belt 61, which will be described later, by the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 61.

  At this time, the intermediate transfer belt 61 and the transfer roller 10 are pressed against each other at a predetermined nip, and a voltage for transferring the toner to the recording paper is applied to the transfer roller 10 (opposite to the toner charging polarity (−)). Polarity (+) high voltage). Further, in order to obtain the nip constantly, the transfer roller 10 uses either the transfer roller 10 or the intermediate transfer belt driving roller 62 as a hard material (metal or the like), and the other as a soft material such as an elastic roller (elastic rubber roller). Or a foamed resin roller or the like).

  Further, as described above, the toner adhered to the intermediate transfer belt 61 by contacting the photosensitive drum 3 or the toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 61 without being transferred onto the recording paper by the transfer roller 10 is used in the next step. Therefore, the intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 65 is configured to remove and collect the toner. The intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 65 is provided with a cleaning blade that is in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 61, for example, as a cleaning member. The intermediate transfer belt 61 in contact with the cleaning blade is driven by an intermediate transfer belt driven roller 63 from the back side. It is supported.

  The paper feed cassette 81 is a tray for storing sheets used for image formation, and is provided below the exposure unit 1 of the main body 26. A sheet used for image formation can also be placed on the manual paper feed cassette 82. A paper discharge tray 91 provided above the main body 26 is a tray for collecting printed sheets face down.

  The main body 26 is provided with a substantially vertical sheet conveyance path S for sending the sheets of the sheet feeding cassette 81 and the manual sheet feeding cassette 82 to the sheet discharge tray 91 via the transfer roller 10 and the fixing unit 7. It has been. In the vicinity of the paper transport path S from the paper feed cassette 81 or the manual paper feed cassette 82 to the paper discharge tray 91, there are a pickup roller 11a, a pickup roller 11b, a plurality of transport rollers 12a to 12d, a registration roller 13, and a transfer roller. 10, a fixing unit 7 and the like are arranged.

  The conveyance rollers 12 a to 12 d are small rollers for promoting and assisting conveyance of the sheet, and a plurality of conveyance rollers 12 a to 12 d are provided along the sheet conveyance path S. The pickup roller 11 a is provided near the end of the paper feed cassette 81, picks up sheets one by one from the paper feed cassette 81, and supplies them to the paper transport path S. Similarly, the pickup roller 11b is provided near the end of the manual paper feed cassette 82, picks up one sheet at a time from the manual paper feed cassette 82, and supplies it to the paper transport path S.

  The registration roller 13 temporarily holds the sheet being conveyed on the sheet conveyance path S. The sheet has a function of conveying the sheet to the transfer roller 10 at the timing when the leading edge of the toner image on the photosensitive drum 3 and the leading edge of the sheet are aligned.

  The fixing unit 7 includes a heat roller 71 and a pressure roller 72, and the heat roller 71 and the pressure roller 72 rotate with the sheet interposed therebetween. The heat roller 71 is set so as to reach a predetermined fixing temperature by a control unit that controls the entire image processing apparatus 20 or controls the image forming unit based on a signal from a temperature detector (not shown). By thermally pressing the toner onto the sheet together with the pressure roller 72, the multicolor toner image transferred onto the sheet is melted, mixed, and pressed, and thermally fixed to the sheet.

  The fixing unit 7 is provided with a heater (such as a halogen heater) for heating the heat roller 71.

  Next, the sheet conveyance path will be described in detail. As described above, the image processing apparatus 20 is provided with the paper feed cassette 81 and the manual paper feed cassette 82 for storing sheets in advance. In order to feed sheets from these sheet feeding cassettes 81 or manual sheet feeding cassettes 82, pickup rollers 11a or pickup rollers 11b are arranged to guide the sheets one by one to the sheet transport path S.

  A sheet conveyed from the sheet feeding cassette 81 or the manual sheet feeding cassette 82 is conveyed to the registration roller 13 by the conveying roller 12a in the sheet conveying path S, and a timing for aligning the leading edge of the sheet and the leading edge of the image on the intermediate transfer belt 61. Then, the image is conveyed to the transfer roller 10 and an image is written on the sheet. Thereafter, the sheet passes through the fixing unit 7 so that the unfixed toner on the sheet is melted and fixed by heat, and is discharged onto the sheet discharge tray 91 through the conveyance roller 12b disposed thereafter.

  The above-mentioned conveyance path is for a single-sided printing request for a sheet. On the other hand, when a double-sided printing request is made, the trailing edge of the sheet that has finished single-sided printing and has passed through the fixing unit 7 as described above. When the sheet is held by the final conveying roller 12b, the conveying roller 12b rotates backward to guide the sheet to the conveying rollers 12c and 12d. Thereafter, after printing is performed on the back surface of the sheet through the registration roller 13, the sheet is discharged to the discharge tray 91.

  FIG. 1 shows a reverse conveyance path R as a conveyance path that conveys a sheet by reversing the front and back of the sheet with respect to a normal sheet conveyance path S. As described above, the intermediate transfer belt 61 faces the second surface (back surface) of the sheet when it passes through the reverse conveying path R after printing on the first surface (front surface) of the sheet. Can be formed. Further, when the reverse transfer path R is passed twice after printing on the first surface (front surface) of the sheet, the intermediate transfer belt 61 faces the first surface (front surface) of the sheet. Images can be overlaid. Further, after printing on the first surface (front surface) of the sheet and then printing on the second surface (back surface) of the sheet, the intermediate transfer belt 61 is formed on the first surface (front surface) of the sheet when passing through the reverse conveyance path R. Since they face each other, an image can be formed on the first printed surface.

  An operation device 50 (see FIG. 3; not shown in FIG. 1) is provided above the main body 26 of the image processing apparatus 20 in FIG. Referring to FIG. 3, operation device 50 is a plate-like operation panel provided with a hardware key that is a numeric keypad and other various operation buttons arranged in a region on the right side of the surface of operation device 50. And a display panel composed of a small touch panel integrated liquid crystal display device disposed in the left region from the central portion of the operation device 50. The operation panel and the display panel are held in one housing, and the operation device 50 is configured to be integrated as a whole.

  In the operation device 50, the operation state of the image processing device 20 on the display panel, a menu and a submenu in which a plurality of functions are displayed for the user to select a desired function (a menu in a lower hierarchy of the menu). Etc. are displayed. A selection button is displayed on the display area of the liquid crystal display device of the display panel. When the area where the selection button is displayed is pressed with a finger, the touch panel detects the pressed position. By comparing the display position of the selection button with the position where the touch panel is pressed on the program, the function setting and operation instruction of the image processing apparatus 20 are performed. Hereinafter, the display panel may be referred to as a touch panel display.

  As described above, the operation device 50 includes the operation unit 52 including a hardware key operated by a user and a software key including a touch panel display, and the display unit 54 including a touch panel display.

  3 and 4, the display unit 54 displays a menu of each mode in the image processing apparatus 20, a current state of the image processing apparatus 20, a destination designation state, a job processing state, and the like. A selection button is displayed on the display area of the display unit 54. When the area where the selection button is displayed is pressed with a finger, the touch panel detects the pressed position. By comparing the display position of the selection button with the position where the touch panel is pressed on the program, the function setting and operation instruction of the image processing apparatus 20 are performed. In particular, pressing a special function key 106 to correct a portion where the paper color and image data color, which will be described later, are similar, and a preview confirmation key 108 to confirm the portion by preview display, You can switch to the function setting screen.

[Operation mode of image forming apparatus]
The image processing apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment has, as its operation mode, copy mode, facsimile transmission / reception mode (described as “fax / image transmission” mode in the touch panel display screen example), printer mode, and scanner mode (touch panel display screen example). In the document filing mode). In the following, these operation modes will be described.

-Copy mode-
In the following, the operation of the copy mode will be described. In this copy mode, the copy function is realized mainly by the operation of the main body 26. In the case of automatically feeding a document, the automatic document processing device 28 operates.

  In the image processing apparatus 20, a document placed on the document table 24 is read as image data, and the read image data is input to the control unit, where various image processing is performed on the image data. An image forming unit having the above-described configuration prints an image of a document indicated by the image data on a recording sheet.

-Facsimile mode-
The operation of the facsimile mode will be described below. In the facsimile mode, the facsimile function is realized mainly by the operation of the document reading unit and the FAX communication unit in the transmission operation and the operation of the FAX communication unit and the image forming unit in the reception operation.

  The transmission operation is as follows. In the image processing apparatus 20 on the transmission side, the facsimile mode is designated, the document placed on the document table 24 is read as image data by the document reading unit, and the read image data is input to the control unit. Thus, various image processing is performed on the image data, and the image data is output to the FAX communication unit. The FAX communication unit connects a designated transmission line to a designated transmission destination, converts image data into communication data conforming to the facsimile communication standard, and includes a reception side facsimile apparatus (for example, a facsimile function). To the image processing apparatus 20). When the line is connected, the FAX communication unit of the image processing apparatus 20 on the reception side detects a communication request signal from the FAX communication unit of the image processing apparatus 20 on the transmission side, and transmits a response signal. After that, for example, the FAX communication unit transfers the capability information implemented on the transmission side and the reception side, and determines the communication speed at the maximum available capacity and the encoding / code correction method of the image data. Set the modem communication method. Data is transmitted from the FAX communication unit of the image processing apparatus 20 on the transmission side to the FAX communication unit of the image processing apparatus 20 on the reception side using an image signal format adapted to this communication method. When transmission is completed, the line is disconnected.

  The receiving operation is as follows. The FAX communication unit of the image processing apparatus 20 on the receiving side converts the received data into image data and sends it to the image forming unit. The received data may be converted into image data by the image forming unit. The image forming unit prints an image of the document indicated by the image data converted from the received data on a recording sheet, in the same manner as the operation in the copy mode described above.

-Printer mode-
Hereinafter, the operation of the printer mode will be described. In this printer mode, the print function is realized mainly by the operation of the image forming unit.

  When print data is received from the computer via the network interface, the received print data is converted into image data and sent to the image forming unit. The print data may be converted into image data by the image forming unit. The image forming unit prints the image of the document indicated by the image data converted from the print data on the recording paper, similarly to the operation in the copy mode described above.

-Scanner mode-
Hereinafter, the operation of the scanner mode will be described. In the scanner mode, the scanner function is realized mainly by the operation of the document reading unit.

  In the image processing apparatus 20, a document placed on the document table 24 is read as image data by the document reading unit 22, and the read image data is input to the control unit, where various image processing is performed on the image data. The image data is stored in a storage device (hard disk) of the image processing device 20 (document filing), transmitted to a computer connected to the network via a network interface (scan to folder), or an e-mail It is sent as an attached file via the network interface (scan to mail).

[Similar color judgment]
Referring to FIG. 2, the image processing apparatus 20 further includes a control unit 100 for controlling the operation of the image processing apparatus 20, a setting unit 94 for setting the color of a recording sheet on which an image is formed, a sheet color and an image. And a similar color identifying unit 96 for identifying whether or not there is a portion where the color of the data is similar. All of the aforementioned operation devices 50 and the like are connected to the control unit 100. In addition to the paper feed unit 46, the image forming unit 44 is provided near the paper feed unit 46 and includes a detection unit 92 for detecting the color of the paper. The similar color identification unit 96 is a comparison unit 98 for comparing the paper color and the color of the image data, and a similarity for determining whether or not there is a portion where the paper color and the color of the image data are similar. The determination part 102 and the correction part 104 for adding the correction which a user desires to the said relevant location are included.

  Similar color determination in which the image processing apparatus 20 determines the similarity between the paper color and the color of the image data will be described mainly with reference to FIG. In the following description, the operation of the image processing apparatus in the copy mode will be described. However, the similar color determination mode is the same in other operation modes.

  When a recording sheet is set on the sheet feeding unit 46 or the manual feed tray, the image processing apparatus 20 detects the sheet color with the detecting unit 92 installed near each tray. Data regarding the detected paper color is sent to the control unit 100. As the paper, papers of various paper colors may be set in the same paper cassette, or papers on which patterns or characters are printed may be set. In this case, the image processing apparatus 20 performs similar color determination every time an image is printed. When there are a plurality of paper cassettes, the trays to be stored may be classified in advance by paper color. By classifying in this way, the user can select the paper color of the paper on which the image data is printed when printing the image data.

  The user uses the document reading unit 22 to cause the image processing apparatus 20 to read image data desired to be printed. The comparison unit 98 compares the color data of the image data with the color data related to the paper color of the paper on which the image is printed for each pixel. The similarity determination unit 102 determines whether there is a portion where the color of the image data is similar to the paper color of the paper on which the image data is printed. This determination is made finely for each pixel, and it is possible to determine the details of the print data. Therefore, similar color determination can be performed for each portion having a different color even on a paper on which a pattern is printed.

  How similar colors are determined will be described with reference to FIG. Each color such as image data color and paper color is reproduced by combining three primary colors of red, green and blue. The difference in hue varies depending on the ratio of combining these three primary colors, and the ratio is expressed numerically by the notation (R, G, B). Here, R represents Red (red), G represents Green (green), and B represents Blue (blue). In the present embodiment, these numerical values are represented by numerical values of 0 to 255, respectively. For example, the paper color of red paper is represented as (255, 0, 0), and the paper color of yellow paper is represented as (0, 127, 127). In the present specification, the numerical value indicating the hue expressed using the RGB notation is hereinafter referred to as “RGB value”.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for comparing different color values by arranging color values on orthogonal coordinate axes. The R-axis, G-axis, and B-axis shown in the figure increase as the direction of the arrow proceeds. In addition, since the maximum value of each numerical value is 255, the range which each numerical value takes is 0 or more and 255 or less.

Here, similar color determination is performed for color values of different shades arranged on FIG. In this determination, different colors for determining similarity are arranged on this orthogonal coordinate axis, and the determination is made based on whether or not the distance between the two points is within the threshold value. Suppose that there are two points P (r ₁ , g ₁ , b ₁ ) and Q (r ₂ , g ₂ , b ₂ ) indicating color values of different shades on the orthogonal coordinate axis. The inter-PQ distance is expressed by the following formula.

  For example, assume that the color values of the two points A and B shown in FIG. 5 are A (15, 75, 10) and B (70, 10, 20). From Formula 1, the distance between AB is calculated to be 6.1 (rounded to the second decimal place). Since the numerical color value represents the size of each color component of RGB as a numerical value, the closer the distance between the two points, the more similar the shades indicated by each point. Therefore, when the distance is smaller than the threshold, it can be determined that the color of the image data and the paper color are similar. Note that the threshold can be arbitrarily set by the user.

  Referring to FIG. 6, when a portion having a similar color is found by the above method, the image processing device 20 warns the user that the output document is difficult to see. Even if there is a warning, the user can select either execution of printing or correction of image data. When correcting the image data, the user cancels the warning screen, temporarily returns to the standard screen shown in FIG. 4, and touches the preview confirmation key 108. With reference to FIG. 7, in the preview display, a portion having a similar color is highlighted. Since the preview display displays the print data in the same form as the output document, the user can check the preview display and determine whether to apply color correction to the similar portion. When the similar part is small and it is difficult to confirm the similarity, the user touches the highlighted part with a finger. Referring to FIG. 8, the touched portion is enlarged and displayed at the center of the screen. The user can confirm details of similar parts by this enlarged display.

[Color correction for similar parts]
With reference to FIGS. 7 to 10, a process for performing color correction on the similar portion will be described. Referring to FIG. 7, all similar parts are highlighted in a frame. The user touches a similar part to be corrected with a finger and enlarges it as shown in FIG. Further, the user presses the color correction setting key 110 arranged in the upper right part of the screen.

  When the user presses the color correction setting key 110, as shown in FIG. 9, a color correction operation unit 122 for color correction is displayed on the right side of the screen. The user selects a desired color from the correction color selection key 126 and touches a portion where the color is displayed. Referring to FIG. 9, when the user presses down finish display key 124, the similar portion enlarged and displayed at the center of the screen changes to the color selected by the user. If the corrected color is not similar to the paper color, the highlighting disappears. When the user touches the auto correction key 128, the image processing apparatus 20 automatically changes the similar portion to a color clearly different from the paper color. The color corrected by the auto correction function may be set to a complementary color of the paper color in order to clearly distinguish it from the paper color. Or you may set to the color used as a color numerical value that the distance between two points represented based on the above-mentioned RGB description becomes more than a threshold value.

  When all the color corrections are completed, the user presses the print key 112 to print the image data. Since the output document is color-corrected, the user can obtain a printed document without being affected by the paper color.

Software configuration
The functional unit described above is realized by the control unit 100 that is substantially a computer executing a predetermined computer program. Hereinafter, a control structure of a program executed by the control unit 100 of the image processing apparatus 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. In parallel with such a program, the control unit 100 executes a program that realizes a general function as an image processing apparatus. However, since the program is not directly related to the essential part of the present invention, the details thereof will not be described here. Note that the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 11 to 12 describe programs for realizing similar color determination, color correction, and printing functions, and do not describe programs for realizing other functions.

  The processes performed by these programs are roughly classified into two. The first is processing for reading a document and determining whether there is a portion where the paper color and the image data color are similar. The second is a process of performing color correction on the similar portion and printing as necessary. FIG. 11 shows a control structure of the program part that realizes the first process, and FIG. 12 shows a control structure of the program part that realizes the second process. 11 and 12 show only the schematic configuration of the program for easy understanding. In particular, since the process after the preview is displayed, which will be described later, is an interactive process using a screen, the detailed configuration of the program will be described later with reference to FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 11, the similar color determination program is activated when an instruction to read an image for copy processing is given. In step 152, the control unit 100 causes the detection unit 92 to detect the color of the paper set on the paper supply unit 46 or the manual feed tray. In step 154, the control unit 100 causes the document reading unit 22 to read the document and generates image data.

  The control unit 100 compares the detected paper color with the color of the image data (step 156). The control unit 100 calculates the distance between the RGB value based on the paper color and the RGB value based on the color of the image data, and determines whether there is a portion where the value is equal to or less than the threshold value (step 158). If this determination is affirmative, control proceeds to step 160; otherwise, control proceeds to step 184 in FIG. Step 184 will be described later.

  In step 160, the control unit 100 displays on the display unit 54 a screen for notifying the user that the output document may be difficult to see because the paper color is similar to the color of the image data. . A preview confirmation key 108 is displayed on this warning screen.

  In step 162, the control unit 100 determines whether or not the preview confirmation key 108 is pressed. If this determination is affirmative, control proceeds to step 164, and if negative, control proceeds to step 184 in FIG. In step 164, the control unit 100 displays the preview display screen 114 in which the similar part is highlighted. Control then proceeds to step 172 of FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 12, in step 172, control unit 100 determines whether or not any of the highlighted displays shown on preview display screen 114 has been touched. If this determination is affirmative, control proceeds to step 174, and if negative, control proceeds to step 182. In step 174, the control unit 100 enlarges and displays the touched highlighted portion as in the enlarged display screen 118.

  In step 176, the control unit 100 determines whether or not the color correction setting key and any color selection key are pressed. If this determination is affirmative, the control unit 100 reflects the selected color on the enlarged display screen 118 (step 178), and if negative, the control proceeds to step 182.

  In step 180, the control unit 100 determines whether there is a highlighted similar part other than the part where the color correction is performed. If this determination is affirmative, the control returns to step 172, and if negative, the process proceeds to step 182.

  In step 182, the control unit 100 determines whether or not the print key 112 has been pressed. If this determination is affirmative, the control proceeds to step 184, and if negative, the process proceeds to step 186. In step 184, the control unit 100 instructs the image forming unit 44 to print the image data, and the execution of this program ends. In step 186, the control unit 100 determines whether or not the cancel key 132 has been pressed. If this determination is affirmative, the execution of this program ends. If not, control returns to step 172.

  The flowcharts 150 and 170 described above are a part of a program executed in the preview display according to the present embodiment. This program has different functions depending on what instructions are input. Referring to FIG. 13, in step 202, control unit 100 waits until some operation is performed, and when any operation is performed, it is determined what operation has been performed, and the control flow is branched.

  When the color correction setting key 110 is pressed, the control unit 100 displays the color selection key 126 (step 204). Control returns to step 202.

  When the finish display key 124 is pressed, the control unit 100 executes a finish display that reflects color correction. Control returns to step 202.

  When the return key is pressed, the control unit 100 redisplays the preview display screen shown in FIG. Control returns to step 202.

  When the highlight mark is touched, the control unit 100 executes an enlarged display of the touched portion (step 210). Control returns to step 202.

  When the magnification change button is pressed, the magnification of the document image displayed on the screen is changed (step 212). Control returns to step 202.

  When the color selection button is pressed, the control unit 100 reflects the content on the screen. That is, the color of the highlighted image portion is changed to the color designated by the color selection button (steps 212 and 214). Control returns to step 202.

  When the auto correction key 128 is pressed, auto correction is executed in step 216 (step 216), and the contents are reflected on the screen (step 218). Control returns to step 202.

  When the setting confirmation key is pressed, the control unit 100 displays a setting confirmation screen and ends the execution of this program (step 220). Various settings can be changed on this setting confirmation screen. Although not shown, when the setting on the setting confirmation screen is completed, this program is started again, and in step 202, an input waiting state is entered.

  When the print key 112 is pressed, the control unit 100 prints image data (step 222). When step 222 ends, the execution of this program ends.

  When the cancel key 132 is pressed, the execution of this program ends without doing anything.

  After the preview display screen is displayed, correction is realized by a program having such a control structure. Depending on what button the user has pressed, the screen display changes, and the buttons displayed on the screen also change. By displaying only appropriate buttons on each screen, the control flow of the program can be maintained appropriately.

[Operation]
The image processing apparatus 20 operates as follows. In the following description, reference is mainly made to FIG. 1 and FIGS.

  The user sets a document to be copied in the document reading unit 22 and presses the print key 112. At this time, if there is a portion where the paper color of the printing paper and the color of the image data are similar, the image processing apparatus 20 displays a warning screen shown in FIG. If there is similarity, the user presses the print key 112, and if color correction is necessary, the user presses the preview confirmation key 108. If neither printing nor color correction is executed, the user presses the cancel key 132.

  If there is a portion where the paper color and the color of the image data are similar in this way, the image processing apparatus 20 automatically warns the user of the similarity. For this reason, the user can execute a printing operation without paying particular attention to any paper or image data.

  When the preview confirmation key 108 is pressed, a preview display screen 114 shown in FIG. The user touches any one of the highlight displays 116 to enlarge and display the portion where the color correction is performed. The user presses the color correction setting key 110 and selects a change color from any of the colors indicated by the color selection key 126. If there is no problem with the changed color, the user presses the finish display key 124. Color correction is reflected on the preview display screen 114. If the color correction operation is to be stopped, the user presses the cancel key 132, and if the user wants to print, the user presses the print key 112.

  In this way, similar parts are highlighted in the preview display. Therefore, the user can determine at a glance which part of the image data is a similar part. When the highlighted mark is touched, the touched similar part is enlarged and displayed. Therefore, the user can perform color correction while referring to the enlarged display. Therefore, the user can perform color correction of a small similar portion and color correction to a desired changed color.

  With the above processing, the image processing apparatus 20 detects the paper color and the color of the image data even if a special instruction is not given from the user. Furthermore, when it is determined that these colors are similar, the image processing apparatus 20 warns that the output document may be difficult to see due to the similarity. Therefore, the user does not need to call attention regarding the similarity of colors no matter what recording paper and image data are used for printing. Only when the warning is notified, the user only needs to perform color correction on the image data. Therefore, according to the image processing apparatus of the present invention, work efficiency can be improved and the time required for the printing operation can be shortened.

  In the present embodiment, the similar color determination is performed based on the RGB color model, but this determination may be based on another color model. For example, a CMYK color model including four types of cyan (Cyan), magenta (Magenta), yellow (Yellow), and black (Black) may be used. Since these four types are often used as printer inks, it may be preferable to use the CMYK color model depending on the characteristics of the apparatus.

  The warning display according to the present embodiment is not necessarily displayed. If a similar part is found, the user can be warned of similarity by displaying the preview immediately without displaying the warning. A warning display may be troublesome for a user who has decided in advance that color correction should be performed whenever a similar part occurs. In such a case, the user may arbitrarily set whether or not to execute the warning display. The warning may be notified using a warning sound. If a warning sound such as an alarm sound is generated in addition to the warning display according to the present embodiment, the user can be urged to pay more attention. Of course, it is also possible to take a form of notifying only by a warning sound without displaying a warning.

  The highlighting according to the present embodiment may be displayed in any way as long as it is clear in which part of the image the corresponding part is arranged. 7 is surrounded by a round frame of a color that is clearly different from the paper color, it may be surrounded by a square frame or may be underlined. Alternatively, the corresponding part may be displayed so as to emerge, or only the corresponding part may be displayed blinking.

  The color correction according to the present embodiment may be performed using a hue circle. The hue circle is a sequence of hues arranged in a circle. The number of colors that can be selected with the correction color selection key 126 shown in FIG. 9 is limited. On the other hand, since the hues are continuously arranged in the hue circle, the user can select a correction color from many. The display form of the hue ring is not limited to a circular shape or a belt shape, but also a three-dimensional shape.

  The auto correction according to the present embodiment may be an aspect in which the user selects a correction color from among several candidate colors. If the correction color is limited to one type by auto correction, the correction color may not match the user's preference. In such a case, the user must cancel the auto correction and return the preview display to the original screen. If several candidate colors are displayed at the time of auto correction, the possibility of selecting a color according to the user's preference increases, and this trouble can be saved. The candidate color may be any color as long as it is not similar to the paper color. As an example, it may be possible to display a color that is often combined with a sheet color.

  The embodiment disclosed this time is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. The scope of the present invention is indicated by each of the claims after taking into account the description of the detailed description of the invention, and all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the wording described therein are intended. Including.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 Image processing apparatus 22 Document reading part 44 Image formation part 46 Paper feed part 50 Operation apparatus 52 Operation part 54 Display part 92 Detection part 94 Setting part 96 Similar color identification part 98 Comparison part 100 Control part 102 Similarity determination part 104 Correction part 150, 170 flowchart

Claims (10)

Paper color determining means for determining the paper color of the paper on which image formation is performed in response to an instruction to form an image based on the image data;
Similarity determination means for determining whether or not there is similarity between the paper color based on the paper color determination means and the color of the image data;
An image processing apparatus comprising: warning means for outputting a warning when the similarity determination means determines that there is similarity. In response to the warning by the warning means, an instruction input means for receiving an instruction regarding whether or not to proceed with the image forming process;
A first image forming unit for forming an image based on the image data on a sheet in response to the instruction input unit receiving an instruction to proceed with an image forming process;
In response to the instruction input unit receiving an instruction to stop the image forming process, a preview display unit for performing a preview display in which the color of the image data is combined with the background of the paper color;
During the display of the image by the preview display means, the color of the image data at the location determined to be similar by the similarity determination means is corrected on the preview display screen displayed by the preview display means. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising correction means.   2. The image processing according to claim 1, further comprising: a second image forming unit configured to immediately form an image based on the image data on a sheet when it is determined by the similarity determining unit that there is no similarity. apparatus. The image processing apparatus further includes a paper feeding unit that holds paper used for image formation and feeds paper according to a request for image formation,
The paper color determination unit includes a paper color sensor that is provided in association with the paper feeding unit and detects a paper color of the paper held by the paper feeding unit. The image processing apparatus described. The image processing apparatus further includes a paper color storage means for receiving and storing a paper color setting input,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the paper color determination unit includes a unit for reading out the paper color stored in the paper color storage unit.   The similarity determination unit determines whether the color of the image data is based on whether a distance defined between a value specifying the color of the image data and a value specifying the paper color is equal to or less than a threshold value. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a comparison unit configured to determine whether or not there is similarity between the paper colors. Further comprising threshold storage means for receiving and storing an input designating the threshold;
The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the comparison unit reads the threshold value from the threshold value storage unit.   In response to receiving an instruction to stop the image forming process, the preview display unit synthesizes the image data with the background of the paper color and determines the similarity among images generated based on the image data. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising highlighting means for highlighting and displaying a portion determined to be similar by the means. In response to the point highlighted by the highlighting means being touched, an enlarged display for enlarging and displaying the range including the touched portion of the preview displayed image together with the paper color The image processing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising means. Responsive to touching the location highlighted by the highlighting means, the range including the touched location in the preview displayed image is enlarged together with the paper color and simultaneously with the preview display. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising an enlarged display means for displaying.

Images