JP2012227591A - Image processor, printer, image processing program, and image processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique on an image processing of image data.SOLUTION: An image processor receives the image data recorded in a description language for printing from an application module, performs the image processing, and outputs the data to a printer. The image processor includes: an input section inputting the image data on a printing object image expressed by using special gloss from the application module; a drawing data conversion section interpreting the image data by following the description language and converting the image data into drawing data consisting of a set of one or a plurality of objects; and a texture control section controlling the texture of the printing object image in an adjustable manner and outputting the data in a form of printing data which the printer can interpret by controlling the drawing data for every object.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, and more particularly, to a technology of an image processing apparatus that receives image data recorded in a printing description language from an application module, performs image processing, and outputs the processed image data to a printing apparatus.

  As a technique for expressing a texture in a printed image obtained by printing, for example, a technique for printing so as to express special gloss (for example, Patent Document 1 below) is known. By the way, when printing image data of a print target image generated by expressing a texture, the texture desired by the image creator when generating the print target image may be different from the texture obtained in the printed image after printing. . When the texture is adjusted again on the image data, the texture is usually adjusted using an application (hereinafter referred to as an image generation application) that generated the print target image. However, for example, when the image creator who generated the print target image is different from the printer who performs printing, and the printer adjusts the texture, the image generation application is obtained and the image generation application It was necessary to adjust the texture. Also, if the texture is accurately reproduced with multiple fine adjustments, it is necessary to adjust the image data by returning it to the image generation application each time fine adjustment is made, indicating the complexity of the adjustment process. It had been.

JP 2010-52225 A

  Based on the above problems, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to adjust the texture of the print target image without using the image generation application.

SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and the invention can be implemented as the following forms or application examples.
[Application Example 1]
An image processing apparatus that receives image data recorded in a description language for printing from an application module, performs image processing, and outputs the image data to a printing apparatus, the image data of an image to be printed expressed using special gloss An input unit that inputs from the application module; a drawing data conversion unit that interprets the image data in accordance with the description language and converts the image data into drawing data that includes a set of one or more objects; and the drawing data for each object An image processing apparatus comprising: a texture control unit that controls the texture of the print target image so that the texture of the print target image can be adjusted and outputs the data in a format of printing data that can be interpreted by the printing apparatus.

  According to this image processing apparatus, the texture of an image to be printed can be controlled without using an application program for image generation.

[Application Example 2]
The image processing apparatus according to Application Example 1, wherein the texture is at least one of lightness, saturation, hue, the degree of special gloss, and texture in the print target image. apparatus.

  According to this image processing apparatus, it is possible to control the brightness, saturation, hue, degree of the special gloss, and texture of the printed image.

[Application Example 3]
The image processing apparatus according to Application Example 1 or Application Example 2, wherein the texture control unit includes: a texture control processing unit that controls the drawing data for each object; and the drawing data after the control is performed. A color conversion processing unit for converting into ink amount data recorded with an ink amount of each ink color used for printing by the printing apparatus including the special glossy ink having the special gloss; and the printing data based on the ink amount data. An image processing apparatus comprising an output processing unit for outputting.

  According to this image processing apparatus, it is possible to control the texture of the drawing data in the data after the interpretation of the printing language and before the conversion to the ink amount data in the processing step.

[Application Example 4]
The image processing apparatus according to Application Example 1 or Application Example 2, wherein the drawing data conversion unit includes the special gloss ink having the special gloss for the image data interpreted in accordance with the description language. A color conversion processing unit for converting into ink amount data recorded with the ink amount of each ink color used for printing, and a drawing data conversion processing unit for converting the ink amount data into drawing data comprising a set of one or a plurality of objects; The texture control unit includes: a texture control processing unit that controls the drawing data for each object; and an output processing unit that outputs the printing data based on the drawing data after the control is performed. An image processing apparatus comprising:

  According to this image processing apparatus, the texture of the image to be printed can be adjusted in the ink amount data.

[Application Example 5]
The image processing apparatus according to Application Example 3 or Application Example 4, wherein the texture control processing unit refers to information regarding a maximum ink amount of ink ejected per predetermined unit area when the printing apparatus executes printing. An image processing apparatus that controls the texture within the range of the maximum ink amount.

  According to this image processing apparatus, since the texture is controlled within the range of the maximum ink amount, it is possible to suppress bleeding due to ink during execution of printing.

[Application Example 6]
The image processing apparatus according to any one of Application Examples 1 to 5, wherein the special gloss is a metal gloss.
According to this image processing apparatus, the degree of metallic luster of an image to be printed can be controlled.

[Application Example 7]
A printing apparatus that receives image data recorded in a description language for printing from an application module, performs image processing, and performs printing, and the image data of an image to be printed expressed using special gloss is the application module A drawing data conversion unit that interprets the image data in accordance with the description language and converts the image data into drawing data including a set of one or a plurality of objects, and controls the drawing data for each object. Thus, a printing apparatus comprising: a texture control unit that controls the texture of the print target image to be adjustable; and a print execution unit that performs the printing based on the drawing data after performing the control.

  According to this printing apparatus, printing can be performed by controlling the texture of an image to be printed without using an application program for image generation.

[Application Example 8]
An image processing program for performing image processing on image data output by an application module and outputting the image data to a printing apparatus, the image data of a print target image expressed using special gloss, and a description for printing A function of inputting the image data recorded in a language from the application module; a function of interpreting the image data in accordance with the description language; and converting the image data into drawing data including a set of one or a plurality of objects; An image processing program for controlling a drawing data for each object so as to adjust the texture of the image to be printed so that the printing apparatus can output the data in the form of printing data that can be interpreted by the printing apparatus. .

  According to this image processing program, it is possible to cause a computer to control the texture of a printed image without using an application program for generating an image.

[Application Example 9]
An image processing method for performing image processing on image data output by an application module and outputting the processed image data to a printing apparatus, the image data of an image to be printed expressed using special gloss, in a description language for printing The recorded image data is input from the application module, the image data is interpreted according to the description language, converted into drawing data composed of a set of one or a plurality of objects, and the drawing data is converted for each object. An image processing method for controlling the texture of the image to be printed so as to be adjustable, and outputting in the form of print data that can be interpreted by the printing apparatus.

  According to this image processing method, the texture of the printed image can be controlled without using an application program for generating an image.

  Note that the present invention can be realized in various modes. For example, in addition to an image processing module, a printer driver, and a raster image processor (hereinafter also referred to as RIP), the present invention can be realized in aspects such as a printing system and a method for manufacturing an image processing apparatus.

1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a printing system 10. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a printer 200. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of printing processing. It is explanatory drawing explaining image data ORG. It is explanatory drawing explaining the texture library. It is explanatory drawing explaining an example of the screen for texture adjustment. It is explanatory drawing explaining C-LUT, MtC-LUT, and Mt1D-LUT.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described based on examples.
A. First embodiment:
(A1) System configuration:
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a printing system 10 as a first embodiment of the present invention. The printing system 10 includes a computer 100 as a print control device and a printer 200 that actually prints an image under the control of the computer 100. The printing system 10 functions as a printing device in a broad sense as a whole.

  The computer 100 includes a CPU 20, a ROM 60, a RAM 70, and a hard disk (HDD) 80. The computer 100 is connected to a display 90, a keyboard 91, and a mouse 92 by respective cables. A predetermined operating system is installed in the computer 100, and an application program 30, a video driver 40, and a printer driver 50 operate under this operating system. The functions of these programs are stored in the ROM 60, the RAM 70, and the HDD 80, and are realized by the CPU 20 reading each program from these storage areas and executing it.

  The application program 30 has a function of displaying and reproducing image data of an image to be printed (hereinafter also referred to as image data ORG) on the display 90 via the video driver 40, and a function of instructing start of print processing according to an instruction from the user. Is an application program for image reproduction. The image data ORG is image data generated by an image generation application program (hereinafter referred to as an image generation application program) different from the application program 30. Further, the computer 100 does not include an image generation application. That is, the image data ORG is image data acquired by the computer 100 from the outside. The application program 30 outputs image data ORG recorded in a print description language (for example, Post Script (registered trademark)) to the printer driver 50 in accordance with a print instruction from the user. In addition, ECS / Page, PCL, and LIPS can be adopted as a description language for printing.

  The printer driver 50 includes a language interpretation module 51, a drawing data generation module 52, a texture control module 53, a color conversion module 54, a halftone module 55, and an interlace module 56. These modules are executed by reading the program from the HDD 80 into the RAM 70 when the CPU 20 activates the printer driver 50 program. Details of each module will be described later in detail.

  The RAM 70 includes a texture library 71 storing a plurality of texture data, a color coloring area lookup table 74 (hereinafter also referred to as C-LUT 74) used by the color conversion module 54, and a metallic area color lookup. A table 76 (hereinafter also referred to as MtC-LUT 76) and a one-dimensional lookup table for metallic areas (hereinafter also referred to as Mt1D-LUT 77) are provided. These libraries and lookup tables will also be described in detail later.

  FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the printer 200. As shown in FIG. 2, the printer 200 is mounted on the carriage 240, a mechanism for transporting the print medium P by the paper feed motor 235, a mechanism for reciprocating the carriage 240 in the axial direction of the platen 236 by the carriage motor 230. It comprises a mechanism for driving the print head 260 to eject ink and forming dots, and a control circuit 220 that controls the exchange of signals with the paper feed motor 235, the carriage motor 230, the print head 260 and the operation panel 225. ing.

  The mechanism for reciprocating the carriage 240 in the axial direction of the platen 236 is an endless drive between the carriage motor 230 and a slide shaft 233 that is installed in parallel with the platen 236 axis and slidably holds the carriage 240. A pulley 232 or the like that stretches the belt 231 is used.

  The carriage 240 has metallic ink (hereinafter referred to as “metallic ink”) in addition to C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), K (black), Lc (light cyan), and Lm (light magenta) color inks. Ink cartridges 241 to 247 each containing a total of seven colors of ink are mounted. On the print head 260 below the carriage 240, seven types of nozzle rows 261 to 267 corresponding to the above-described inks of the respective colors are formed. Each nozzle is provided with a piezo element, and the control circuit 220 controls the contraction movement of the piezo element, so that the printer 200 can form dots for each ink color.

  When the ink cartridges 241 to 247 are mounted on the carriage 240 from above, ink can be supplied from the cartridges to the nozzle rows 261 to 267. In this embodiment, the ink cartridges 241 to 247 are arranged in the order of C, M, Y, K, Lc, Lm, and Mt in the main scanning direction of the carriage 240 as shown in FIG.

  In addition, in the case where printing (hereinafter also referred to as Mt printing) is performed in combination with metallic ink (Mt) in addition to color ink (C, M, Y, K, Lc, Lm), as shown in FIG. Printing is performed using the latter half of the nozzle rows 261 to 266 that discharge color ink in the sub-scanning direction and the first half of the nozzle row 267 that discharges metallic ink in the sub-scanning direction. In this way, by using each nozzle row, the metallic ink (Mt) dots are first formed on the print medium P, and the color ink dots are formed on the metallic ink (Mt). It can be expressed by a printed image.

  The control circuit 220 of the printer 200 is configured by connecting a CPU, ROM, RAM, PIF (peripheral device interface) and the like via a bus, and controls operations of the carriage motor 230 and the paper feed motor 235. The main scanning operation and the sub scanning operation of the carriage 240 are controlled. When the print data output from the computer 100 is received via the PIF, the control circuit 220 supplies a drive signal corresponding to the print data to the print head 260 in accordance with the main scanning or sub scanning movement of the carriage 240. In addition, each color head can be driven. The print data output from the computer 100 includes data relating to ink colors of seven colors (C, M, Y, K, Lc, Lm, Mt) as data relating to the colors. Receive print data including data about color.

  The printer 200 having the above hardware configuration drives the carriage motor 230 to reciprocate the print head 260 (nozzle rows 261 to 267 for each color) in the main scanning direction with respect to the print medium P. By driving the paper feed motor 235, the print medium P is moved in the sub-scanning direction. The control circuit 220 prints by driving the nozzles at an appropriate timing based on the print data in accordance with the movement of the carriage 240 reciprocally (main scanning) and the movement of paper feeding of the printing medium (sub scanning). Ink dots of appropriate colors are formed at appropriate positions on the medium P. In this way, the printer 200 can print an image on the print medium P. In the above-described configuration, each color ink is stored in a detachable cartridge mounted on the printer 200. However, the ink is stored in an ink storage tank configured separately from the printer 200, and the storage tank. And the printer 200 may be connected. Or you may accommodate in the storage container comprised integrally with the printer 200 so that attachment or detachment is impossible.

(A2) Printing process:
Next, print processing performed by the CPU 102 in the printing system 10 will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of print processing performed by the CPU 102. The printing process is started when the user instructs printing on the application program 30.

  When the printing process is started, the CPU 102 transfers the image data ORG recorded in the print description language to the printer driver 50 as the application program 30 (step S102).

  Here, the image data ORG will be described. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the image data ORG corresponding to the print target image. As described above, the image data ORG is image data generated by the image generation application program. A plurality of images (hereinafter also referred to as content images) are included in the area of the print target image (image data ORG). The content image P1 shown in FIG. 4 is an image (color image) that can be expressed by a combination of basic colors, and data (hereinafter also referred to as pixel data) of each pixel constituting the content image P1 is R (red), Each color component value (0 to 255) of G (green) and B (blue) is recorded. In addition, objects such as line drawings and figures included in the content image P1 are recorded as vector data.

  The content image P2 is an image expressed using metallic luster. The content image P2 is configured by superimposing two layer images of layer 1 and layer 2. Each pixel data constituting the layer 1 is recorded with R, G, and B color component values. Layer 2 is an image expressed in metallic luster, and each pixel data is recorded with a metallic (Mt) color component value. In this embodiment, the color component values of Mt recorded in all the pixel data constituting the layer 2 are the same value (for example, 90). Similarly to the content image P1, objects such as line drawings and figures included in the layers 1 and 2 are recorded as vector data.

  The content image P3 is an image expressed using a texture. The content image P3 is configured by superimposing two layer images of layer 3 and layer 4. Each pixel data constituting the layer 3 is recorded with R, G, and B color component values. Layer 4 is an image represented by a texture. Layer 4 is a number that defines the type of texture specified by the user in the image generation application (hereinafter also referred to as texture number TX), a number that specifies the texture color (hereinafter also referred to as texture color number TXC), It is defined by vector data that specifies the area to which the texture is applied. The CPU 102 specifies the texture of the layer 4 by reading the texture specified by the texture number TX and the texture color number TXC from the texture library 71 described in detail later. Also in layer 3, objects such as line drawings and figures included in the layer are recorded as vector data.

  The description returns to the flow of the printing process (see FIG. 3). After the image data ORG described above is transferred from the application program 30 to the printer driver 50 in the form of a description language for printing (step S102), the CPU 102 functions as a function of the printer driver 50 according to the description language. Is interpreted (step S104). The CPU 102 interprets the image data ORG as each content image P1 to P3, each layer 1 to 4, the color component value of the content image or layer, the texture number TX, the texture color number TXC, and further each content image and the inside of the layer. Interpret the line drawings and figures in a way that can be identified. That is, the image data ORG is interpreted as a set of a plurality of objects.

  After interpreting the image data ORG, the CPU 102 generates data corresponding to the print target image (hereinafter also referred to as drawing data PCD) in a data format suitable for processing in the printer driver 50 based on the information of each object. . For this purpose, first, a texture based on the texture number TX and the texture color number TXC interpreted from the image data ORG is read from the texture library 71 (step S106). FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the texture library 71. The texture library 71 includes a texture table 72 that associates the texture number TX with the texture type, and a texture color index 73 that associates the texture color number TXC with the color applied to the texture. Based on the texture number TX and the texture color number TXC, the CPU 102 refers to the texture table 72 and the texture color index 73 and specifies the texture to be applied to the layer 4 (FIG. 4) of the content image P3.

  After specifying the texture to be applied to the image data ORG, the CPU 102 generates the drawing data PCD based on the interpretation of the image data ORG (step S108). Information related to objects other than texture, such as the content images P1 to P3, the layers 1 to 4, the content image and the color component values of the layers, is obtained by interpreting the image data ORG, and the drawing data PCD is generated.

  After the drawing data is generated, the CPU 102 displays, as a function of the drawing data generation module 52, a print target image as the drawing data PCD on the display 90 through the video driver 40 so that the user can visually recognize it (step S110). The user visually recognizes the print target image on the display 90, and adjusts the color (brightness, saturation, hue), texture, and metallic luster of the print target image as the drawing data PCD via the keyboard 91 and the mouse 92. Is possible. Hereinafter, the color (lightness, saturation, hue), texture, and metallic luster of the image to be printed are referred to as texture.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the texture adjustment screen displayed on the display 90 by the CPU 102. The texture adjustment screen 93 includes an adjustment image display unit 94 that displays a print target image corresponding to the drawing data PCD that is a texture adjustment target, and a texture selection unit 95 that is used when the user selects and changes the texture type. The texture color selection unit 96 used for selecting and changing the texture color, the color adjustment slider 97 for adjusting each color component value (R, G, B) of each content image and layer, and the degree of metallic luster are adjusted. A metallic feel adjustment slider 98, a print execution icon PB for starting printing, and a print processing end icon FB for ending the printing process. The user individually selects an object such as a line drawing or figure in each of the content images P1 to P3 in the image displayed on the adjustment image display unit 94, and determines the texture type and color, the color component value, and the metallic luster. The degree can be changed using a texture adjustment operation unit such as the texture selection unit 95 or the texture color selection unit 96. Further, the CPU 102 displays the changed print target image on the adjustment image display unit 94 in real time every time the user adjusts the texture.

  When the CPU 102 receives a texture adjustment instruction from the user via the keyboard 91 and the mouse 92 (step S112: texture change), the CPU 102 determines, for each object in the drawing data PCD, according to the content adjustment instruction content from the user. , R, G, B color component value increase / decrease, metallic gloss level increase / decrease, texture type and applied color are changed (step S114). When changing the texture type and the color to be applied, the CPU 102 changes the texture by referring to the texture library 71 as needed. In this embodiment, as a method of increasing / decreasing the color component value, when the user continuously increases / decreases the color component value using the color adjustment slider 97, the CPU 102 draws the drawing data PCD according to the instruction content to the user. The color component value of each pixel in is continuously increased or decreased. As another method of increasing / decreasing the color component value, it is possible to increase / decrease each color component value as a ratio, for example, by reducing each color component value (for example, red (R)) by 10% in accordance with the content adjustment instruction from the user. Good.

  When the user finishes adjusting the texture of the print target image and operates the print execution icon PB provided on the texture adjustment screen 93, the CPU 102 receives an instruction to execute printing (step S112: print execution), and the color conversion module. As a function 54, the R, G, B, and Mt color component values recorded in the respective pixel data of the drawing data PCD after adjusting the texture are used as the ink amounts (C, M, and Y) of the ink colors provided in the printer 200. , K, Lc, Lm, Mt) is performed (step S116).

  The color conversion process is performed by the CPU 102 using the C-LUT 74, the MtC-LUT 76, and the Mt1D-LUT 77. The C-LUT 74 is used when color conversion is performed on pixel data (color component value: RGB) belonging to a region of a content image that can be expressed by a combination of basic colors such as the content image P1 and the content image P3. This is a dimension lookup table. A set of (C, M, Y, K, Lc, Lm) ink quantity sets is stored in the grid points of the C-LUT 74 determined by a set of (R, G, B) values. FIG. 7A is an explanatory diagram illustrating the characteristics of the C-LUT 74 by taking the ink amounts of cyan (C) and light cyan (Lc) as examples. As shown in FIG. 7A, the C-LUT 74 uses dark color ink (cyan (C) in FIG. 7A) and light color ink (FIG. 7A) for RGB color component values. Then, an ink amount set is determined using light cyan (Lc) together. For this reason, for example, when pixel data (color component value: RGB) belonging to a region of a content image that can be expressed by a combination of basic colors such as the content image P1 and the content image P3 is input, collation with the C-LUT 74 is performed. Thus, the ink amount set is obtained by adding light color ink (LcLm) to dark color ink (CMYK).

  The MtC-LUT 76 is used when performing color conversion on each pixel data of a layer (color component value: RGB) superimposed on a metallic layer (layer 2) like the layer 1 in the content image P2. It is a three-dimensional lookup table. A set of (C, M, Y, K) ink amount sets is stored at the lattice points of the MtC-LUT 76 determined by a set of (R, G, B) values. FIG. 7B is an explanatory diagram for explaining the characteristics of the MtC-LUT 76. As shown in FIG. 7B, the MtC-LUT 76 determines an ink amount set only for dark color inks (CMYK) with respect to RGB gradation values. Therefore, for example, when pixel data belonging to layer 1 is input, it is converted into an ink amount of dark color ink (CMYK) by collation with MtC-LUT76.

  In addition, when the color component values in the RGB format are the same between the C-LUT 74 and the Mt-LUT 76, the total amount of color ink converted after each LUT is smaller in the MtC-LUT 76. It is stipulated in. This is due to the knowledge that the area expressed using the metallic ink can achieve color development with a small amount of color ink compared to the area expressed using only the color ink ( JP, 2010-52225, A). In addition, because there is a limit on the maximum amount of ink that can be ejected per unit area of the print medium, the area of the content image from which color ink and metallic ink are ejected is the amount of color ink in consideration of the amount of metallic ink. This is because it is necessary to determine.

  The Mt1D-LUT 77 performs color conversion on each pixel data of the metallic layer (color component value: Mt) such as the layer 2. FIG. 7C is an explanatory diagram illustrating characteristics of the Mt1D-LUT 77. The Mt1D-LUT 77 is a one-dimensional lookup table that converts a metallic (Mt) color component value in each pixel data of the drawing data PCD into an ink amount of metallic ink. As can be seen from FIG. 7C, the maximum value of the output ink amount is limited to 30 with respect to the input value (color component value of Mt). This is due to the knowledge that metallic ink does not change the degree of metallic luster even when a predetermined amount or more of ink is ejected per unit area. The predetermined maximum ink amount is defined as a value of 30 in this embodiment.

  Using the C-LUT 74, MtC-LUT 74, and Mt1D-LUT 77 described above, the CPU 102 performs color conversion on each pixel data constituting the drawing data PCD into ink amount data in which the ink amount is recorded in each pixel data. Thereafter, as a function of the halftone module 55, the CPU 102 performs a halftone process in which the ink amount data is represented by a dot distribution to generate dot data (step S118). In this embodiment, a halftone process is performed by employing a dither method using a dither matrix. Also, other halftone processing methods such as an error diffusion method may be employed. Since the dither method and the error diffusion method are well-known techniques, description thereof is omitted.

  After the halftone processing, as a function of the interlace module 56, the CPU 102 rearranges the dot arrangement of the generated dot data in the order to be transferred to the printer 200, outputs the print data to the printer 200, and starts printing. Various commands such as a command and a print end command are output to the printer 200 (step S120), and printing is executed in the printer 200 (step S122).

  After executing printing, the CPU 102 displays the texture adjustment screen described with reference to FIG. The user visually recognizes the print image printed on the print medium P, confirms the texture of the print image, and when it is necessary to adjust the texture again, the texture is adjusted on the texture adjustment screen displayed on the display 90. Can be adjusted.

  On the other hand, when the user visually recognizes the printed image and the target texture is expressed, the user operates the print processing end icon FB, so that the CPU 102 terminates the print processing. An instruction is accepted (step S112: end), and a screen for confirming whether or not to save the texture change contents such as the texture type, color, and color component value set by the user as file data is displayed on the display 90. Then, when the user selects to save the texture change content, the CPU 102 saves the texture change content such as the texture type, color, and color component value set by the user as one file data in the HDD 80 (step S102). S124: Yes / Step S126). Thereafter, the CPU 102 ends the printing process. If the user wants to print the image data ORG again with the same texture, the user does not need to perform another texture change setting operation on the texture adjustment screen 93 and saves it on the printer driver 50 earlier. By reading the file data in the texture change, printing can be executed with the same change contents, and a print image with the target texture can be obtained.

  As described above, in the printing system 10, the printer driver 50 interprets the description language for printing and controls the texture of the image data received from the application program 30 for each object. The texture of the image to be printed can be controlled without using. Therefore, even when the texture desired at the time of image generation differs from the texture of the printed image after printing, the texture can be adjusted on the printer driver. In addition, when the user performs multiple times of texture adjustment and confirmation, such as “print image output → texture confirmation, → texture adjustment → print image output ...”, the user must Can be performed on the printer driver, so that it is possible to easily perform the texture adjustment operation a plurality of times without the need to start the application driver again and to perform operations on the application driver.

  Furthermore, the printing system 10 can adjust the degree of metallic gloss as the special gloss. In addition, the MtC-LUT 76 and Mt1D-LUT 77 take into account the maximum ink amount per unit area in the print medium, and the ink amount is stored at each grid point. In the obtained printed image, ink bleeding can be suppressed.

  As a correspondence relationship with the claims, the language interpretation module 51 and the drawing data generation module 52 correspond to the drawing data conversion unit described in the claims, and the texture control module 53, the color conversion module 54, and the halftone module. 55, the interlace module 56 corresponds to the texture control unit described in the claims.

B. Variations:
The present invention is not limited to the above-described examples and embodiments, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist thereof. For example, the following modifications are possible.
(B1) Modification 1:
In the above embodiment, the printer driver 50 interprets the image data ORG according to the print description language, and then controls the texture of the data (drawing data) before the change to the ink amount data. The texture may be controlled after conversion to the quantity data. For example, the value of each ink amount (C, M, Y, K, Lc, Lm, Mt) of each ink color after conversion into ink amount data is increased or decreased individually. More specifically, in the ink amount data, for example, when the yellow (Y) color component is reduced by 10%, the operation of uniformly reducing the yellow (Y) ink amount value in the ink amount data by 10%. This can be realized by performing processing.

(B2) Modification 2:
In the above-described embodiment, when changing the color of the print target image as the texture adjustment, the color component values of R, G, and B are increased or decreased. It may be changed. In this case, it can be realized by using a look-up table in which each parameter of lightness, saturation, and hue is associated with color component values (R, G, B), and color can be determined from parameters of lightness, saturation, and hue. This can be realized by performing arithmetic processing using a predetermined conversion formula for converting into component values (R, G, B).

(B3) Modification 3:
In the above embodiment, a part or all of the functions (modules) performed by the CPU 102 as the application program 30 and the printer driver 50 may be performed by a RIP (Raster image processor) as software installed in the computer 100. RIP as hardware connected to the computer 100 and the printer 200 may be performed.

(B4) Modification 4:
In the above embodiment, the degree of metallic gloss can be adjusted as the special gloss, but for example, as the special gloss ink, a pearl white ink having a pearl white texture, a transparent or translucent clear ink expressing gloss, etc. When special glossy ink is employed, it is possible to adjust the degree of special gloss such as the degree of pearl white or the gloss of the image to be printed as the texture adjustment.

(B5) Modification 5:
In the above embodiment, the Mt1D-LUT 77 is used when converting the metallic (Mt) color component value into the ink amount of the metallic ink, but one set of (R, G, B, Mt) values and one set are used. It is also possible to use a four-dimensional lookup table that associates the ink amount sets of (C, M, Y, K, Mt). In this case, the MtC-LUT 76 and the Mt1D-LUT 77 can be replaced with this four-dimensional lookup table.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to such embodiment, Of course, in the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention, it can implement in a various aspect. For example, the present invention is not limited to the serial ink jet printer shown in the above-described embodiment, but can also be applied to an ink jet line printer or a laser printer including a special glossy color toner. In addition to the configuration as a printing system, the present invention can be realized as an image processing apparatus, a printing apparatus, a printing method, a program, a storage medium, and the like.

10 ... Printing system 20 ... CPU
30 ... Application program 40 ... Video driver 50 ... Printer driver 51 ... Language interpretation module 52 ... Drawing data generation module 53 ... Texture control module 54 ... Color conversion module 55 ... Halftone module 56 ... Interlace module 70 ... RAM
71 ... Texture Library 72 ... Texture Table 73 ... Texture Color Index 74 ... Color Lookup Area Lookup Table 76 ... Metallic Area Color Lookup Table 77 ... Metallic Area One-dimensional Lookup Table 90 ... Display 91 ... Keyboard 92 ... Mouse 93 ... Texture adjustment screen 94 ... Adjustment image display section 95 ... Texture selection section 96 ... Texture color selection section 97 ... Color adjustment slider 98 ... Metallic feeling adjustment slider 99 ... Print execution icon 100 ... Computer 102 ... CPU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 200 ... Printer 220 ... Control circuit 225 ... Operation panel 230 ... Carriage motor 231 ... Drive belt 232 ... Pulley 233 ... Sliding shaft 235 ... Motor 236 ... Platen 240 ... Carriage 241 ... Ink cartridge 260 ... Print head 261-267 ... Nozzle row P ... Print medium P1-P3 ... Content image TX ... Texture number TXC ... Texture color number PCD ... Drawing data ORG ... Image data

Claims (9)

An image processing apparatus that receives image data recorded in a printing description language from an application module, performs image processing, and outputs the image data to a printing apparatus,
An input unit that inputs the image data of the image to be printed expressed using special gloss from the application module;
A drawing data conversion unit that interprets the image data according to the description language and converts the image data into drawing data including a set of one or a plurality of objects;
An image processing apparatus comprising: a texture control unit that controls the drawing data for each object so that the texture of the image to be printed can be adjusted, and outputs the data in the form of print data that can be interpreted by the printing apparatus. . The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the texture is at least one of brightness, saturation, hue, degree of the special gloss, and texture in the print target image. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The texture control unit
A texture control processing unit for controlling the drawing data for each object;
A color conversion processing unit that converts the drawing data after performing the control into ink amount data recorded by the ink amount of each ink color used for printing by the printing apparatus including the special gloss ink having the special gloss; and
An image processing apparatus comprising: an output processing unit that outputs the printing data based on the ink amount data. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The drawing data conversion unit
A color conversion processing unit that converts the image data interpreted in accordance with the description language into ink amount data recorded by the ink amount of each ink color used for printing by the printing apparatus including the special gloss ink having the special gloss; ,
A drawing data conversion processing unit for converting the ink amount data into drawing data including a set of one or a plurality of objects;
With
The texture control unit
A texture control processing unit for controlling the drawing data for each object;
An image processing apparatus comprising: an output processing unit that outputs the printing data based on the drawing data after the control is performed. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein:
The texture control processing unit controls the texture within the range of the maximum ink amount with reference to information on the maximum ink amount of ink ejected per predetermined unit area when the printing apparatus executes printing. Processing equipment.   6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the special gloss is a metal gloss. A printing apparatus that receives image data recorded in a printing description language from an application module, performs image processing, and performs printing.
An input unit that inputs the image data of the image to be printed expressed using special gloss from the application module;
A drawing data conversion unit that interprets the image data according to the description language and converts the image data into drawing data including a set of one or a plurality of objects;
A texture control unit that controls the texture of the print target image to be adjustable by controlling the drawing data for each object;
And a printing execution unit that performs the printing based on the drawing data after the control is performed. An image processing program for performing image processing on image data output by an application module and outputting the image data to a printing apparatus,
A function of inputting from the application module the image data of the image to be printed expressed using special gloss, the image data recorded in a description language for printing;
A function of interpreting the image data according to the description language and converting the image data into drawing data including a set of one or a plurality of objects;
Image processing for controlling the drawing data for each object so that the texture of the image to be printed can be adjusted, and for the computer to realize a function of outputting in the form of printing data that can be interpreted by the printing apparatus program. An image processing method for performing image processing on image data output by an application module and outputting the image data to a printing apparatus,
The image data of the image to be printed expressed using special gloss, and the image data recorded in a print description language is input from the application module,
Interpreting the image data according to the description language, converting to drawing data consisting of a set of one or more objects,
An image processing method for controlling the drawing data for each object so that the texture of the image to be printed can be adjusted, and outputting in the form of print data that can be interpreted by the printing apparatus.

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