JP2012099938A - Color processing device and color processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem in which, since a conventional color separation LUT is designed so that a color gamut reproducible in a uniform color space becomes as large as possible, a color curving phenomenon in which a reproduction color is saturated around primaries occurs.SOLUTION: First, an initial color separation LUT is created according to user instructions so that a reproduction color gamut in a uniform color space becomes largest according to a maximum color material amount formable in an image formation device. Then, lattice point positions are adjusted so that a color curving part in which gradation variation in reproduction colors between lattice points becomes non-linear is removed from the reproduction color gamut by the color separation LUT. Then, for the adjusted color separation LUT, the lattice point positions are further adjusted so that reproduction colors are smoothed. In this way, a color separation LUT enabling color separation capable of obtaining more linear gradation properties while maintaining a reproduction color gamut in a uniform color space as much as possible is generated.

Description

  The present invention relates to a color processing apparatus and a color processing method for creating a color separation table used in color separation processing for converting color signal values in an input color space into color material signal values for image formation.

  Conventionally, a color separation lookup table (color separation LUT) is referred to when performing color separation processing for converting color signal values in the input color space into color material signal values for image formation. This color separation LUT was created by first setting a color material signal after color separation corresponding to a representative color signal (representative color) and interpolating the color separation result for this representative color ( For example, see Patent Document 1).

  However, in the color separation LUT creation method, interpolation is performed such that the color material amount changes smoothly according to the color signal value, but the smoothness of the color reproduced by the color material amount (for example, L * a * b * smoothness in uniform color space) was not considered. For this reason, when image formation is performed using the color separation LUT generated as described above, for example, the accuracy of color estimation performed by linear interpolation between lattice points in color matching processing deteriorates, or pseudo contours occur. There was a problem that it was easy.

  Therefore, a technique has been proposed in which color separation LUTs are smoothed in a uniform color space using color estimation so that the gradation of reproduced colors is good (see, for example, Patent Document 2). .

JP 2004-235989 A JP 2007-43488

  According to the method for creating a color separation LUT described in Patent Document 1, the color gamut reproducible by the color separation LUT is designed to be as large as possible. Specifically, the amount of color material for the color (C, M, Y, R, G, B, hereinafter, primary) corresponding to the apex of the color gamut (hereinafter, reproduction color gamut) reproduced in the uniform color space is recorded. It was designed to be the maximum amount of color material on the paper. That is, the color material amount corresponding to each primary in the color separation LUT is a maximum color material loading amount smaller than the theoretical maximum color material amount. As a result, in the line from the white point (W) to each primary that the color reproduced by the color separation LUT forms on the uniform color space, the reproduced color is saturated especially near the primary, so that the gradation is not always linear. However, a distortion of the color gamut shape called so-called color bending occurs.

  In the smoothing of the color separation LUT described in Patent Document 2, since the primary that is the vertex of the reproduction color gamut is maintained, the shape of the reproduction color gamut is maintained including the distortion. Therefore, there are portions where the gradation is not good, and there are still problems such as a decrease in color matching accuracy and generation of pseudo contours.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to create a color separation LUT that realizes color separation that can obtain more linear gradation while maintaining the color gamut reproduced by the image forming apparatus as much as possible.

  As a means for achieving the above object, the color processing apparatus of the present invention comprises the following arrangement.

  That is, a color processing apparatus that creates a color separation table indicating a relationship between an input signal value of a grid point in an input color space and a color material signal value of an image forming apparatus, and a color material signal corresponding to all grid points The first color separation table set so that the color gamut reproduced by the image forming apparatus according to the value is maximized according to the maximum usage amount of each color material usable in the image forming apparatus The first color separation table so that the color change reproduced between the grid points is linear in the outermost part of the color gamut by the first color separation table. A creation means for creating a second color separation table by setting a grid point position and the second color separation table so as to smooth the color corresponding to each grid point in the color gamut by the second color separation table. Grid points in 2 color separation tables And having a smoothing means for setting the location, the.

  It is possible to generate a color separation LUT that enables color separation so as to obtain a more linear gradation while maintaining the color gamut reproduced by the image forming apparatus as much as possible.

1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image processing system in a first embodiment; Block diagram showing a schematic configuration related to color separation LUT creation processing, A diagram illustrating the configuration of a color separation LUT, A flowchart showing color separation LUT creation processing, The figure which shows the color separation example in the lattice point on the straight line in the initial color separation LUT, The figure explaining the outline of the color gamut shape optimization processing of the color separation LUT, A flowchart showing color gamut shape optimization processing of the color separation LUT, A flowchart showing the smoothing processing of the color separation LUT, The figure which shows the evaluation function with respect to the grid point of color separation LUT, It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure which concerns on the color separation LUT creation process in 2nd Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments do not limit the present invention according to the claims, and all the combinations of features described in the present embodiments are not necessarily essential to the solution means of the present invention. Absent.

<First Embodiment>
In the present embodiment, a color separation table (hereinafter referred to as a color separation LUT) used in a color management system can be converted so that a linear gradation can be obtained in a uniform color space as a reproduced color. Shows the color processing method to be created. Here, the color separation LUT is a look-up table showing the relationship between the input signal value of the grid point in the input color space and the color material signal value of the image forming apparatus. Hereinafter, in the present exemplary embodiment, a case where a program for realizing a color separation LUT creation method is functioned as an application in the image forming system will be described as an example. However, each process is configured to be executed by dedicated hardware. It is also possible.

System Configuration FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a block configuration of an image processing system in the present embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 100 denotes an electronic computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) such as a personal computer, and is constituted by hardware such as a hard disk 109, a CPU 110, a RAM 111, and a ROM 112. Reference numeral 105 denotes a printer. When image data is printed out by the printer 105, the application 101 makes a print output request to the OS 102 in the PC 100. At this time, the graphics data portion is a graphics drawing command, and the image image data portion issues a drawing command group indicating an output image composed of an image drawing command to the OS 102. The OS 102 receives an application output request and issues a drawing command group to the printer driver 103 corresponding to the printer 105. The printer driver 103 processes a drawing command group input from the OS 102, creates print data that can be printed by the printer 105, and transfers the print data to the printer 105. When the printer 105 is a raster printer, the printer driver 103 sequentially performs image correction processing in response to a drawing command from the OS 102, and sequentially rasterizes it into, for example, an RGB 24-bit page memory. After rasterizing all drawing commands, the RGB 24-bit page memory contents are converted into a data format that can be printed by the printer 105 (for example, C, M, Y, K, Lc, Lm data corresponding to the color material color). This is transferred to the printer 105. Reference numeral 108 denotes a colorimeter, and reference numeral 107 denotes a colorimeter driver for controlling the colorimeter 108. The colorimeter 108 and the colorimeter driver 107 measure the L * a * b * value of the patch image printed by the printer 105 in the color separation lookup table (hereinafter referred to as color separation LUT) creation process described later, The result is input to PC100. Reference numeral 106 denotes a monitor, which displays image data, a user interface in color separation LUT creation processing described later, and the like according to a drawing command from the OS 102.

  As described above, in the image processing system of the present embodiment, a color separation LUT that is referred to by the printer driver 103 is created when an application for creating a color separation LUT operates as one of the applications 101. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic functional configuration of the color separation LUT creation application 205 and the printer driver 103 that refers to the color separation LUT created thereby. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 201 denotes a color matching processing unit that converts the RGB values of image data so that the color displayed on the monitor 106 matches the color printed by the printer 105 for the image data consisting of RGB3 channels. . Reference numeral 202 denotes a color separation processing unit, which converts R'G'B 'multi-value data output from the color matching processing unit 201 as input values and converts color information of each color material of the printer 105 as output values (color separation). Process). For example, C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), K (black), Lc (light cyan), Lm (light magenta), etc. It becomes. The color separation processing in the color separation processing unit 202 is performed by reading and referring to the color separation LUT held in advance in the color separation LUT holding unit 204 according to the printing paper type and printing mode used in the printer 105. . A halftone processing unit 203 converts C, M, Y, K, Lc, and Lm multi-value data from the color separation processing unit 202 into the number of gradations that can be reproduced by the printer 105. A color separation LUT creation application 205 includes a color separation LUT creation unit 206 and a printer characteristic input unit 207. The printer characteristic input unit 207 inputs color measurement data of a patch image necessary for the color separation LUT creation process to the color separation LUT creation unit 206. The color separation LUT creation unit 206 creates a color separation LUT based on the colorimetric data of the input patch image, and the created color separation LUT is stored in the color separation LUT holding unit 204 in the printer driver 103. The

Color Separation LUT Creation Processing Hereinafter, the color separation LUT creation processing in the color separation LUT creation unit 206 will be described in detail.

  First, details of the color separation LUT created here will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3A is a diagram showing the configuration of the color separation LUT in the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the color separation LUT has a corresponding C, M, Y, K for each grid point obtained by dividing the cube in the RGB three-dimensional space into a grid pattern for the input data R'G'B '. , Lc, Lm multi-valued color information (hereinafter referred to as color material amount values) is stored. In the color separation processing unit 202, when the input R'G'B 'data is not on the color separation LUT grid, interpolation is performed using the neighboring grid point data to correspond to the input data. Get the color material amount value. As this interpolation method, known tetrahedral interpolation, cube interpolation, etc. can be applied, but the color separation LUT creation method and image processing in the present embodiment are not dependent on a specific interpolation method, so An interpolation method may be used.

  FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram of a color space for explaining a specific table creation method to be described later. The eight vertices of the cube shown in FIG. 3A are respectively represented by W, C, M, and Y. , R, G, B, Bk, and the lines connecting the vertices are indicated by solid lines or broken lines. Specifically, W-C, W-M, W-Y, W-R, W-G, W-B, C-Bk, M-Bk, Y-Bk, R-Bk, G-Bk, B There are a total of 19 lines connecting each of -Bk, RY, Y-G, GC, CB, B-M, MR, and W-Bk. Here, when the number of bits of the input data (R ′, G ′, B ′) of the color separation processing unit 202 is 8, each vertex W, C, M, Y, R, G, B, in the RGB color space The coordinates of Bk are as follows.

W = (255,255,255); white, white point of input color space, that is, paper white of print paper
C = (0,255,255); Cyan primary color
M = (255,0,255); Magenta primary color
Y = (255,255,0); Yellow primary color
R = (255,0,0); Red primary color
G = (0,255,0); green primary color
B = (0,0,255); Blue primary color
Bk = (0,0,0); black, the black point of the input color space, that is, the darkest point of the printer.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing color separation LUT creation processing in the color separation LUT creation unit 206. In this embodiment, first, in step S401, an initial color separation LUT (hereinafter, initial color separation LUT) is created. In this initial color separation LUT, the user adjusts the color material amount value of a representative grid point on the color space shown in FIG. 3B, and thereby the uniform color space reproduced by image formation after color separation. The color gamut (hereinafter referred to as reproduction color gamut) and the smoothness of the color material amount value are created. Specifically, the color gamut reproduced on the uniform color space by the image formed by the printer according to the color material signal values corresponding to all grid points is the maximum usage amount of each color material usable by the printer. It is created so as to maximize it. Details of the method of creating the initial color separation LUT will be described later. When image formation is performed using the initial color separation LUT created in this way, the non-linearity of gradation between grid points in the reproduction color gamut becomes strong, and color estimation accuracy by linear interpolation in the color matching processing unit 201 is improved. There is a high possibility that adverse effects such as deterioration and generation of pseudo contours will occur. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the initial LUT is adjusted so that the gradation between the lattice points changes more linearly and smoothly in the reproduction color gamut by the processing after S402.

  In step S402, the printer characteristic input unit 207 performs colorimetric value input processing of a color patch image necessary for color information estimation in the subsequent step S403. The colorimetric values input here are color patch data printed by the printer 105 and measured by the colorimeter 108.

  In step S403, the color separation LUT is created by optimizing the shape of the reproduction color gamut of the initial color separation LUT. That is, the second color separation table is created by optimizing the reproduction color gamut shape with respect to the initial color separation LUT, which is the first color separation table, and this is the characteristic color separation LUT in this embodiment. Become.

  Here, the outline of the color gamut shape optimization processing of the color separation LUT in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 shows the color trajectory (line) reproduced for the W-C-Bk line of the initial color separation LUT. 6 (a) shows the lightness L * on the vertical axis and the saturation C * on the horizontal axis, and FIG. 6 (b) shows the horizontal axis a * and the vertical axis b *. W, Bk, C The points corresponding to the chromaticity of are plotted.

  As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the locus of the WC-Bk line is not linear in the reproduction color gamut by the initial color separation LUT. Due to this non-linearity, even if smoothing processing is performed while maintaining the width of the reproduction color gamut in the color separation LUT, particularly where there is strong non-linearity such as the outline of the reproduction color gamut, that is, where color distortion occurs Then, the smoothing effect cannot be obtained sufficiently. Therefore, in S403, as the pre-processing of smoothing in S404, the color primary (C, M, Y, and C) in the initial color separation LUT, such as moving C to the position of C ′ as shown in FIGS. Move each color of R, G, B) to an appropriate position. Here, the appropriate position for moving the color primary is a position that eliminates nonlinearity due to color bending. Thereby, a color separation LUT in which the reproduction color gamut shape is optimized so that the nonlinearity of gradation in the reproduction color gamut is weakened can be obtained. Details of the color gamut shape optimization process in S403 will be described later.

  In S404, the color separation LUT whose color gamut shape has been optimized in S403 is further smoothed, details of which will be described later. Finally, in S405, the smoothed color separation LUT is registered in the color separation LUT holding unit 204.

● Initial color separation LUT creation process (S401)
The initial color separation LUT creation process in S401 will be described in detail below. Here, an example in which the initial color separation LUT is created based on a user instruction will be described.

  The initial color separation LUT is created in the color space shown in FIG. 3 (b) by first coloring materials at the vertices W, C, M, Y, R, G, B, and Bk that maximize the reproduction color gamut. Determine the quantity value. And then, W-C, W-M, W-Y, W-R, W-G, W-B, C-Bk, M-Bk, Y-Bk, R-Bk, G-Bk, B- The color material amount value of the line connecting Bk and W−Bk is determined. Then, all the table data is created by creating color material amount values corresponding to internal grid points by internal interpolation processing.

  The color material amount value of each vertex W, C, M, Y, R, G, B, and Bk can be determined as follows, for example. First, since W is paper white, all color material amount values are set to zero. Next, for the vertices C, M, Y, and Bk of the primary colors that are the color material colors, in order to prevent color turbidity due to color mixing, the color material amount values of only one type of corresponding color material are printed. A color material amount (maximum color material amount) corresponding to the maximum amount of printing that can be printed according to the paper and mode. Note that the color material amount value of the color material other than one type corresponding to each vertex is 0. For the vertices R, G, and B, which are secondary colors realized by mixing two kinds of color materials, for example, in the case of R, first, two kinds of color materials of M and Y are used, and the sum is the maximum color. A plurality of combinations of color patch data as material amounts are generated and printed by the printer 105. The print result is visually confirmed by the user, and a color material amount combination of the color material M and the color material Y that is a preferable color corresponding to R is selected. Alternatively, the printed color patch may be color-measured using the colorimeter 108 to determine a combination of color materials that is an intermediate hue between the hues of the primary colors M and Y. As in the case of R, G and B can be determined from the combination of the color material Y and the color material C, and B can be determined from the combination of the color material C and the color material M, respectively. Hereinafter, vertices of C, M, Y, R, G, and B are referred to as color primaries.

  Next, the process of determining the color material amount values in the lines W-C, W-M, W-Y, W-R, W-G, and W-B connecting the color primaries from W is shown in FIG. Will be described. FIG. 5 (a) shows an example of color separation in the WC line, the horizontal axis shows the grid points corresponding to the WC side in FIG. 3 (b), and the vertical axis shows each grid point. Corresponding color material amount values and total color material amount values are shown. In the figure, the color material amount values of all the color materials are 0 at the vertex W. At the vertex C, the color material C is the maximum color material amount, and the other color materials are zero. In this embodiment, light cyan (Lc) is used in order to improve the granularity of the low density region. Therefore, first use of the color material Lc is started from the grid point next to W, and Lc increases at each grid point, but the color material after color separation is switched to a color material C with better color development from the middle. A quantity value has been determined. This determination is performed by, for example, displaying the diagram shown in FIG. 5A on the monitor 106 as a UI, and manually adjusting the ink value of each color material for each grid point. Further, color patch data may be generated based on the adjustment result, printed by the printer 105, and configured so that the user can visually evaluate the graininess and color in the print result.

  Similarly, the color material amount value in the line connecting the color primary to Bk and the color material amount value in the line connecting the color primary to the color primary are determined. In the line connecting color primary to Bk and color primary to color primary, the total color material amount, which is the sum of all color material amount values, is the maximum color material amount for each grid point in order to make the reproduction color gamut wider. Design to be. Examples of color separation of each line connecting the color primary to Bk and the color primary to the color primary are shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C, respectively.

  As described above, after the color material amount values for the lines connecting W, Bk and the color primary are determined, the color material amount values corresponding to all internal grid points are determined by internal interpolation processing. As this interpolation processing method, for example, a non-linear interpolation method using a finite element method described in Patent Document 1 can be applied, and by performing such an interpolation, the color material amount value is changed between lattice points. Is determined to change smoothly.

Color separation LUT color gamut optimization processing (S403)
Hereinafter, the process for optimizing the color gamut shape of the initial color separation LUT in S403 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  First, S701 is a first line setting step for adjusting the position of the color primary (C, M, Y, R, G, B) constituting the reproduction color gamut. Specifically, first, arbitrary grid points are defined on each of a plurality of trajectories (lines) from W to the color primary, and color information L * a * b * of each grid point on the uniform color space is defined. Estimate and calculate saturation C *. As a method for estimating the L * a * b * value from the combination of the color material amount values, a well-known Cellular Yule-Nielsen Spectral Neugebauer Model can be applied. In this model, lattice points are generated at arbitrary intervals in all color material amount spaces, color patch data at all lattice points is created, and the spectral reflectance of the printed color patch is measured. Arbitrary color material combinations can be obtained by nonlinearly interpolating the colorimetric values of these grid points.

  Once the saturation C * is calculated, the amount of change in the saturation C * of adjacent grid points is sequentially compared in the direction from W to the color primary. If the amount of change is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold, it is considered that the color is saturated, and the first lattice point where saturation is detected is set as a new primary. In other words, for lattice points on each line from W to the color primary, the amount of color change between the lattice points in the reproduction color gamut is estimated sequentially from W, and between the lattice points where the amount of change is below a predetermined threshold value. A grid point on the W side (white point side) is set as a new primary of the line.

  Hereinafter, the new primary position information is expressed as new grid point information (r ′, g ′, b ′) with respect to each grid point information (r, g, b) before the change. As described above, in S701, by changing the first lattice point whose color is saturated on the W-color primary line as a new primary, the gradation change of the reproduced color between the lattice points on the line becomes nonlinear. The occurrence of distortion of color gamut shape, so-called color distortion, is removed. In other words, the shape of the reproduction color gamut of the color separation LUT is optimized so as to remove the occurrence of color bending. At this time, the color separation characteristics of the primary color and the secondary color in the initial color separation LUT are maintained.

  Next, S702 and S703 are second line setting steps for redefining lattice points on the Bk-color primary line in accordance with the change of the primary position in S701. Specifically, first, in S702, the changed lattice point information (r ′, g ′, b ′) in each line is initialized. In the Bk-color primary line in the rgb space, for the grid point where the Euclidean distance between the grid points from Bk is on the Bk side with respect to the intermediate point of the distance from Bk to the color primary, the initial color separation LUT Set the value as is. That is, the r′g′b ′ value is set to the same rgb value as the grid point information of the initial color separation LUT. On the other hand, for the grid point on the color primary side with respect to the intermediate point, an initial value of r′g′b ′ is set by linear interpolation between the changed color primary and the intermediate point. Next, in S703, on each of the initialized Bk-color primary lines, the r′g′b ′ value of each grid after the change is smoothed by, for example, taking a moving average. As a result, the r′g′b ′ value is interpolated nonlinearly across the line midpoint for the entire Bk-color primary line, and the color gamut convex portion of the line can be maintained.

  In the above, an example in which initialization and smoothing of the r′g′b ′ value for the Bk-color primary line is shown as the second line setting process in S702 and S703. In S702 and S703, as a third line setting process, redefinition of grid points on the color primary-color primary line is also performed. The lines between the color primaries may be initialized and smoothed by simple linear interpolation based on the color primaries after the change.

  Next, in S704 and S705, based on the line setting results in S701 to S703, r ′ for a lattice point on the outermost surface of the color gamut corresponding to the surface of the cube showing the rgb space shown in FIG. This is an outermost surface setting step for obtaining a g'b 'value. Specifically, first, in S704, the r'g'b 'value on the cube surface is initialized by linear interpolation from the r'g'b' value of each line obtained in S703 corresponding to each side of the cube. Turn into. In step S705, the initialized r'g'b 'value is smoothed by, for example, taking an average value at the four neighboring lattice points.

  Similarly, in S706 and S707, based on the outermost surface setting result in S704 and S705, r ′ for the lattice point inside the color gamut corresponding to the inside of the cube showing the rgb space shown in FIG. This is an internal setting step for obtaining a g'b 'value. That is, first, in S706, the internal r'g'b 'value is initialized by linear interpolation or the like from the cube surface r'g'b' value, and then in S707, the initialized r'g'b 'value is initialized. 'Smoothing is performed on the value, for example, by taking the average value of six neighboring grid points in three dimensions.

  Finally, S708 is a color material signal value setting step. That is, the color material amount value of each color material for the r'g'b 'values of all grid points obtained by the above processing is obtained by applying linear interpolation or the like to the initial color separation LUT, and the color material amount value Is set in the color separation LUT as a new color material amount value of the corresponding grid point. As a result, a color separation LUT having an optimized color gamut shape is created.

  In this embodiment, nonlinear color is obtained by initializing and smoothing (first smoothing process) r'g'b 'values of grid points to be set in the color separation LUT in the rgb space. It becomes possible to efficiently interpolate the color material amount values after the separation. For example, in the color separation example shown in FIG. 5A, the color material amount of light cyan (Lc) changes to a convex shape. In such a LUT, if linear interpolation or smoothing processing is performed on the color material amount value, the convex portion is removed, and as a result, the color material mixture ratio greatly changes from the initial color separation LUT, that is, There is a risk that the color to be reproduced will change.

Color separation LUT smoothing process (S404)
Hereinafter, the smoothing process (second smoothing process) for the color separation LUT with the optimized color gamut shape in S404 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In the color separation LUT color gamut optimization process in S403 described above, in order to optimize the reproduction color gamut shape corresponding to the cube shown in FIG. The position of the color primary corresponding to the apex of was adjusted. Then, a new color separation LUT was created by sequentially setting each side of the cube and further the r′g′b ′ value inside the cube by a simple first smoothing process. In S404, further smoothing (second smoothing) is performed so that the positional relationship with the surrounding grid points is optimized for all grid points of the color separation LUT in which the shape of the reproduction color gamut is optimized in S403. Apply. In S404, as in S403, rgb before smoothing is set as an initial value, and updated until the r'g'b 'value after smoothing becomes a sufficient value, the r'g'b' The color separation LUT is updated by obtaining the color material amount value for the value. Note that the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8 is processing for the target grid point of the color separation LUT, and actually the same processing is performed for all grid points.

  First, in step S801, r′g′b ′ of the target lattice point in the color separation LUT after optimization is set. Next, in S802, a color material amount value corresponding to r′g′b ′ of the target lattice point is obtained from the color separation LUT generated in S403. In step S803, an L * a * b * value is predicted from the color material amount value acquired in step S802 using the same cell division Yule-Nielsen spectral Neugebauer model as in step S701.

  In S804, it is evaluated whether the target grid point is at an optimal position from the L * a * b * value of the predicted target grid point and the L * a * b * values of the surrounding grid points. An evaluation value is calculated. Note that L * a * b * values for surrounding grid points are predicted in the same manner as in S802 each time. Here, the lattice point position evaluation value in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The calculation method of the lattice point position evaluation value in this embodiment differs depending on the location of the target lattice point. FIG. 9A shows WC, W-M, W-Y, R-Bk, G-Bk, B-Bk, R-Y, R corresponding to each side in the cube of FIG. An evaluation function for a target lattice point located on each line of −M, G−Y, G−C, B−C, and B−M is shown. According to the evaluation function, for the target lattice point P on the straight line, the L * a * b * value Lp and L * a * of two points r0 and r1 positioned on the straight line with the target lattice point P in between The evaluation value E is calculated using the b * values Lr0 and Lr1. FIG. 9B shows an evaluation function for lattice points located on the six surfaces in the cube of FIG. According to the evaluation function, for the target lattice point P on the surface, the L * a * b * value Lp and the L * of four points r0, r1, g0, g1 surrounding the P in the coordinate axis direction on the surface The evaluation value E is calculated using the a * b * values Lr0, Lr1, Lg0, and Lg1. FIG. 9 (c) shows an evaluation function for lattice points located inside the cube of FIG. 3 (a). According to the evaluation function, the L * a * b * value Lp of the internal target lattice point P and the L * of six points r0, r1, g0, g1, b0, b1 surrounding P in the coordinate axis direction The evaluation value E is calculated using the a * b * values Lr0, Lr1, Lg0, Lg1, Lb0, and Lb1. All of the evaluation functions shown in FIGS. 9A to 9C are calculated so that the arrangement of the grid point of interest in the L * a * b * space is even with respect to the grid points in the vicinity thereof. The value becomes smaller. Therefore, by adjusting the grid point of the color separation LUT so that the evaluation value becomes small, a color separation LUT with more excellent gradation can be obtained.

  In S805, whether or not the evaluation value has become sufficiently small is determined, for example, by comparing the evaluation value with a predetermined threshold value. If the evaluation value is sufficiently small, it is considered that the grid point of interest has been optimized, and the process proceeds to S807. In S807, the r′g′b ′ value of the target grid point and the color material amount value of the target grid point acquired in S802 are stored in the color separation LUT, and the process is terminated. On the other hand, if it is determined in S805 that the evaluation value is not sufficiently small, the process proceeds to S806, where the r′g′b ′ value of the grid point of interest is updated according to a predetermined algorithm, and the process returns to S802. As an algorithm for updating the r′g′b ′ value, various well-known methods such as a quasi-Newton method and a DLS method (attenuating least square method) can be applied.

  As described above, in S404, smoothing processing corresponding to the position is performed on all grid points of the color separation LUT, but this smoothing processing can also be performed in the color gamut shape optimization processing in S403. . In other words, the first smoothing process in S703, S705, and S707 in FIG. 7 is performed with any evaluation value such as an evaluation value using the evaluation function shown in each of FIGS. 9 (a), (b), and (c). It is also possible to apply this. That is, the color material amount value at each grid point may be set so that each evaluation value is minimized. As described above, when the lattice point is optimized using the evaluation value in S403, the second smoothing process in S404 is not necessary.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, for example, a color separation LUT that produces a more linear gradation while maintaining a reproduction color gamut in a uniform color space such as L * a * b * as much as possible is created. It becomes possible to do.

  By using the color separation LUT created in this way, it is possible to improve the color accuracy of the print image reproduced by the printer 105 and obtain a preferable print image with less pseudo contour generation. Note that in the color separation LUT created in this embodiment, the input signal value equivalent to the occurrence of color curvature is removed as the grid point, so that the input outside the grid point of the LUT during actual operation. It is conceivable that a signal value is generated. In such a case, the input signal value may be subjected to a rounding process such as applying the closest grid point in the RGB color space.

  In the present embodiment, an example in which the printer 105 has six color materials has been described, but it goes without saying that the present invention does not limit the number of color materials of the printer. In addition, since the color separation LUT becomes more complicated as the number of color materials increases and the pseudo contour is generally generated more easily, the present invention is applied to the creation of a color separation LUT for a printer with a larger number of color materials. More effective.

<Second Embodiment>
Hereinafter, a second embodiment according to the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment described above, an example in which the user creates an initial color separation LUT has been shown. In the second embodiment, an example of a configuration in which this initial color separation LUT is selected from a group of LUTs registered in advance is shown. .

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of processing of the printer driver 103 and the color separation LUT creation application 205 in the second embodiment, and only differences from the first embodiment will be described below.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a schematic functional configuration of the color separation LUT creation application 205 and the printer driver 103 that refers to the color separation LUT created thereby according to the second embodiment. 10, the same components as those in FIG. 2 of the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. In the color separation LUT creation application 205 shown in FIG. 10, reference numeral 1001 denotes a similar media type selection unit, which selects the same paper type as the paper on which the color patch is printed when creating the initial color separation LUT based on a user instruction. To do. Here, the paper type is selected from categories such as glossy paper, coated paper, art paper, and plain paper, and color separation LUTs corresponding to the respective categories are held in the initial color separation LUT holding unit 1002 in advance. . When the user specifies a paper type in the similar media selection unit 1001, the color separation LUT corresponding to the paper type is read from the initial color separation LUT holding unit 1002 and input to the color separation LUT creation unit 206 as the initial color separation LUT Is done. The color separation LUT creation unit 206 creates an optimum color separation LUT using the initial color separation LUT as in the first embodiment described above, and writes it in the color separation LUT holding unit 204.

  Note that the color separation LUT held in advance in the initial color separation LUT holding unit 1002 is created in the present embodiment, and the purpose of use is different from the color separation LUT held in the color separation LUT holding unit 204. Not used for. The color separation LUT held in advance in the initial color separation LUT holding unit 1002 is created by the same method as the initial color separation LUT created in S401 in the first embodiment described above.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, an optimal color separation LUT can be created more easily without generating an initial color separation LUT that requires man-hours for creation.

  Note that when selecting the initial color separation LUT from a predetermined group of color separation LUTs, the selection according to the print mode is not limited to the selection according to the media type. Alternatively, the selected color separation LUT may be used as a reference, and after correcting the total color material amount value at all grid points to be within the maximum color material amount value, the initial color separation LUT may be used.

  The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, or the like) of the system or apparatus reads the program. It is a process to be executed.

Claims (7)

A color processing device that creates a color separation table indicating a relationship between an input signal value of a grid point in an input color space and a color material signal value of an image forming device,
The color gamut reproduced by the image forming apparatus according to the color material signal values corresponding to all grid points is set to be maximum according to the maximum usage amount of each color material usable in the image forming apparatus. Obtaining means for obtaining a first color separation table in response to a user instruction;
The grid point position of the first color separation table is set so that the change in color reproduced between the grid points is linear in the outermost contour of the color gamut according to the first color separation table. Creating means for creating two color separation tables;
Smoothing means for setting a grid point position in the second color separation table so as to smooth a color corresponding to each grid point in the color gamut by the second color separation table;
A color processing apparatus comprising: The adjusting means includes
On each line from the white point of the input color space to the primary consisting of a primary color corresponding to the color material and a secondary color reproduced by mixing two types of color material in the first color separation table For the grid points, the amount of color change between the grid points in the color gamut is estimated sequentially from the white point, and the grid points on the white point side between the grid points where the change amount is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold are determined. First line setting means as a new primary of the line;
Based on the setting result by the first line setting means, for the grid points on each line from the black point of the input color space to the new primary, the grid point position is set from the black point to the intermediate point of the line. A second line setting means for setting a grid point position from the intermediate point to the new primary by linear interpolation between the intermediate point and the position of the new primary without changing,
A third line for setting a grid point position on each line between the new primaries in the input color space by linear interpolation of the positions between the new primaries based on a setting result by the first line setting means; Setting means;
Based on the setting results by the first, second, and third line setting means, the lattice point position corresponding to the outermost surface of the color gamut according to the first color separation table is the lattice point position on each line. Outermost surface setting means for setting by linear interpolation using,
Based on the setting result by the outermost surface setting means, the lattice point position corresponding to the inside of the color gamut by the first color separation table is set by linear interpolation using the lattice point position corresponding to the outermost surface. Internal setting means to
Color material signal values corresponding to the grid point positions set by the first, second, and third line setting means, the outermost surface setting means, and the internal setting means are set in the first color separation table. Color material signal value setting means for setting by linear interpolation of the color material signal value that has been made,
The color processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: The smoothing means includes
Predicting means for predicting a color to be reproduced in accordance with the grid point of interest in the second color separation table;
A calculation unit that calculates an evaluation value such that the color predicted by the prediction unit is smaller as the color is more evenly arranged with respect to the color predicted for the grid point in the vicinity of the target grid point;
Updating means for updating the grid point of interest until the evaluation value calculated by the calculating means is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold;
The color processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: The acquisition unit is configured as the first color separation table.
A color material signal value corresponding to a primary grid point composed of a white point and a black point in the input color space, a primary color corresponding to the color material, and a secondary color reproduced by mixing two kinds of color materials. In response to user instructions,
A color material signal value corresponding to a grid point on each line connecting the white point or black point of the input color space and the primary is set according to a user instruction,
The color material signal value corresponding to the lattice point inside the color gamut formed by each line is created by interpolation processing of the color material signal value corresponding to the lattice point on each line. The color processing apparatus according to any one of 1 to 3. The acquisition means includes
Holding means for previously holding a plurality of color separation tables according to the paper type;
Selecting means for selecting a paper type used in the image forming apparatus according to a user instruction;
4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of color separation tables held by the holding unit is selected as the first color separation table according to the paper type selected by the selection unit. The color processing apparatus of any one of Claims. A color in a color processing apparatus that has an acquisition unit, a generation unit, and a smoothing unit, and that generates a color separation table indicating a relationship between an input signal value of a grid point in an input color space and a color material signal value of an image forming apparatus A processing method,
The color gamut reproduced by the image forming apparatus according to the color material signal values corresponding to all grid points is maximized according to the maximum amount of each color material that can be used in the image forming apparatus. An acquisition step of acquiring the first color separation table set as described above according to a user instruction;
The creation means sets the grid point position of the first color separation table so that the color change reproduced between the grid points is linear in the outermost contour of the color gamut by the first color separation table. A creation step for setting and creating a second color separation table;
A smoothing step of setting a grid point position in the second color separation table so that the smoothing means smoothes a color corresponding to each grid point in the color gamut based on the second color separation table; When,
A color processing method characterized by comprising:   A program for causing a computer device to function as each unit of the color processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 when executed by the computer device.

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