JP2013186785A - Image processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem in which only a final output image is obtained in sample printing by a tandem image processing system in which a plurality of image processing devices are connected.SOLUTION: In sample printing by a tandem image processing system, image data of a plurality of pages composed of output image data of a preceding or subsequent image processing device and final output image data is output. Then, a confirmation item in sample printing is set, it is switched whether to enable a layout setting in sample printing in accordance with the item, and in setting layout, the output image data of the plurality of pages is laid out in the same page and is output.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method for outputting an image using a special color toner.

  In recent years, there has been proposed an image processing apparatus that performs printing using a transparent toner (clear toner) that is one type of special color toner.

  The entire coat that prints clear toner on the entire printable area of the printing paper is printed with clear toner on the entire surface of the paper after printing with colored toners such as CMYK toner. Glossiness can be given to the entire surface of the paper.

  In addition, the partial coat printed with the clear toner on the designated area of the printable area of the printing paper should be partially printed with the clear toner on the paper after printing with the colored toner. Thus, it is possible to provide a glossiness and a decorative effect partially to the paper.

  When printing is performed using such clear toner, various expressions can be made, and the added value of the printed output is improved.

  An image processing system that creates an output using clear toner by connecting an image processing device that performs printing using colored toner and an image processing device that performs printing using clear toner as a printing device using clear toner. Has been proposed. For example, for a user who uses clear toner, an image processing system in which an image processing apparatus that performs printing using colored toner (an apparatus in the previous stage) and an image processing apparatus that performs printing using clear toner (an apparatus in the subsequent stage) are connected. (Hereinafter, a tandem image processing system) is provided.

  Further, in a normal image processing system, sample printing for confirming whether or not an output product is reproduced according to the user's intention when executing a plurality of print jobs is performed. Has been proposed (Patent Document 1). In the technique described in Patent Document 1, sample printing is executed before printing an output product on which colored toner and clear toner are placed, and the output product when printed using a connected image processing apparatus, and the subsequent image It is possible to compare in advance the output when printing is performed using only the processing device.

JP 2010-245487 A

  As another request of the user in such a tandem image processing system, the output product with and without clear toner is compared with the output product with colored toner, and the finish such as glossiness and decoration effect is confirmed. Therefore, it is conceivable to perform sample printing. However, in the sample printing of Patent Document 1, only a final output product on which clear toner is placed can be obtained, and the difference in image quality between output products with and without clear toner cannot be compared. Therefore, in order to confirm the clear effect by using the clear toner in the current tandem image processing system, it is necessary to execute two print jobs with and without the clear toner.

  In many cases, the print setting is changed many times and a plurality of sample prints are executed before the actual print job is executed. When the conventional sample printing is executed by the tandem image processing system, it is necessary to output two pages for the case where the clear toner is loaded and the case where the clear toner is not loaded. For this reason, there is a concern that the number of toners and paper used for sample printing will increase.

The invention of the present application aims to solve the above-described problems,
A paper discharge unit of the first image processing apparatus that performs printing using the colored color material and a paper feeding unit of the second image processing apparatus that performs printing using the colored color material and the special color material are connected and input. In an image processing system having means for executing sample printing of the collected data,
Means for selecting print data only for the first image processing device, print data for only the second image processing device, and final print data for both image processing devices;
Means for selecting the confirmation items when printing a sample;
Means for determining whether sample print layout setting is possible according to the item selected by the confirmation item selection means;
Means for switching between valid and invalid layout settings based on the determination result by the determination means;
Means for setting output layout of a plurality of print data selected by the print data selection means when the layout setting is determined to be valid in the layout setting determination;
An image processing system comprising means for generating and outputting sample print image data according to a layout method by the layout setting switching means for a plurality of print data selected by the print data selection means.

  According to the present invention, sample printing in the tandem image processing system makes it possible to obtain output image data in a single print job when only the preceding stage, only the succeeding stage, and both the preceding and succeeding stages are used. Furthermore, by laying out and outputting output image data of a plurality of pages in the same page by sample printing, it is possible to reduce the amount of toner and paper used during sample printing.

It is a block diagram of a tandem image processing system. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a flow of print processing in a tandem image processing system. 3 illustrates an example of a printer driver screen according to the first exemplary embodiment. 6 is an example of a sample print detail setting screen according to the first exemplary embodiment. 5 is a sample printing execution flow in the first embodiment. 7 is a table of sample print layout setting validity determination according to the first exemplary embodiment. 3 is an example of an output image of sample printing in the first embodiment. 3 is a flowchart showing exchanges between the PC and the image processing apparatus in the first embodiment. It is an example of the output image of the sample printing in Example 1 (the 1). It is an example of the output image of the sample printing in Example 1 (the 2). 10 is a flow showing exchange between a PC and an image processing apparatus in Embodiment 2. 6 is an example of an output image of sample printing in Example 2.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a system according to the present embodiment. The first image processing apparatus 101 that performs printing using a colored color material such as CMYK toner and the second image processing apparatus 121 that performs printing using a clear toner such as a transparent color material in addition to the colored toner are networked. 120 is connected. The first image processing apparatus 101 that performs printing using a colored color material such as CMYK toner and the second image processing apparatus 121 that performs printing using a clear toner such as a transparent color material in addition to the colored toner are networked. 120 is connected. Further, the toner used in the first image processing apparatus 101 is not limited to the color toner, and may be a monochrome toner or the like. Similarly, the toner used in the second image processing apparatus 121 is not limited to the clear toner, and may be a special color toner such as gold or silver, a light color toner, or the like.

  The clear toner is a transparent recording agent having a feature of adding a transparent image. When clear toner is used, it is possible to express a special texture such as a glossy feeling or glossy feeling that is different from printing performed using only colored toner.

  Furthermore, the apparatus constituting the image processing system is not limited to the image processing apparatus, and may be an image processing apparatus having the following configuration.

  In order to perform tandem printing, the paper discharge unit 114 of the first image processing apparatus 101 that is the preceding image processing apparatus and the paper feeding unit 126 of the second image processing apparatus 121 that is the subsequent image processing apparatus are connected to the connection unit 136. Connected through.

  The paper discharged from the first image processing apparatus 101 is conveyed and can be automatically fed by the second image processing apparatus 121. Here, the image processing apparatus refers to an apparatus that realizes a plurality of functions such as copying, printer, and FAX by a single unit. The PC 138 is connected to the first image processing apparatus 101 via the network 137. A driver 139 in the PC 138 recognizes the first image processing apparatus 101 and the second image processing apparatus 121 as one system using colored toner and clear toner, and transmits print data.

  In the system shown in FIG. 1, printing using colored toner and clear toner can be performed with a single instruction. The clear toner can be printed on the entire surface of the paper, and can also be printed limited to specific color data or objects at the time of print processing or copy processing.

  The first image processing apparatus 101 using colored toner will be described in detail. The network I / F 119 receives print data and transmits raster images and control data described later. The controller 102 includes a CPU 103, a renderer 109, and an image processing unit 111. The interpreter 104 of the CPU 103 interprets the PDL portion of the received print data and generates intermediate language data (color) 105. The renderer 109 generates a raster image 110 from the generated intermediate language data (color) 105. The image processing unit 111 performs image processing on the raster image 110 and the image read by the scanner 116. A printer 112 connected to the controller 102 is a printer that forms output data on paper using colored toners such as CMYK. The printer 112 includes a paper feed unit 113 that feeds paper and a paper discharge unit 114 that discharges paper on which output data is formed. In addition, it has a fixing unit (not shown) for fixing the toner transferred onto the paper. The display device 115 displays a UI indicating an instruction to the user and the state of the first image processing device 101. The scanner 116 is a scanner including an auto document feeder. The scanner 116 irradiates a bundled or single original image with a light source (not shown), forms an original reflection image on a solid-state image sensor such as a CCD sensor with a lens, and outputs a raster-like image reading signal from the solid-state image sensor. Obtained as image data. The input device 117 is an interface for receiving input from the user. The storage device 118 stores data processed by the controller 102.

  The interpreter 104 generates intermediate language data (clear) 106 in addition to the intermediate language data (color) 105 when the print data includes data instructed to print using clear toner. Processing using a named profile will be described as an example of a method for instructing (clearing instruction) to perform printing using clear toner. When a specific character string is used when specifying an input color on the application side, a named profile corresponding to the character string is selected. A clear instruction can be made by designating that the character string is to use clear toner by the driver 139 of the PC 138. The interpreter 104 creates intermediate language data (clear) 106 by extracting only the part instructed to clear and creating a layer. The soft renderer 107 converts the intermediate language data (clear) 106 into a raster image 108. The first image processing apparatus 101 transmits the raster image 108 generated as described above to the second image processing apparatus 121 via the network 120. Although the named profile is mentioned as the clear instruction method, any method may be used as long as the clear raster image 108 can be generated. In addition, the first image processing apparatus 101 transmits control data 140 to the second image processing apparatus 121 via the network 120. Here, the control data 140 is information such as the number of sheets, paper size, media type, and finisher settings set by the user via the driver 139.

  Next, the second image processing apparatus 121 using clear toner will be described in detail. The network I / F 135 is connected to the network I / F 119 via the network 120 and transmits / receives data between the first image processing apparatus 101 and the second image processing apparatus 121. The controller 122 includes a CPU 123 and an image processing unit 124. A printer 125 connected to the controller 122 is a printer that forms output data on paper using clear toner. The printer 125 includes a paper feeding unit 126 that feeds paper and a paper discharge unit 127 that discharges paper on which output data is formed. The image forming apparatus further includes a fixing unit (not shown) that fixes the toner transferred onto the paper. The paper feed unit 126 is connected to the paper discharge unit 114 via the connection unit 136, and automatically feeds the paper discharged from the first image processing apparatus 101. The finisher 128 has functions such as sorting and stapling. The paper discharge unit 127 of the printer 125 and the paper supply unit 129 of the finisher 128 are connected, and after performing processing designated by the user such as sorting and stapling, the output is performed using the paper discharge unit 130. Since the display device 131, the scanner 132, the input device 133, and the storage device 134 are the same as those in the first image processing apparatus 101, description thereof is omitted.

  The second image processing apparatus 121 receives the raster image 108 and the control data 140 from the first image processing apparatus 101, processes the raster image 108 using the image processing unit 124, and uses the control data 140 to perform the printer 125. And the finisher 128 are controlled.

  In the data flow described above, raster data (clear) is transmitted from the controller of the first image processing apparatus 101 to the controller of the second image processing apparatus 121. This is because the intermediate language data is rendered in the first image processing apparatus 101. However, if there is a clear renderer in the controller of the second image processing apparatus 121, the intermediate language data (clear) is transmitted from the first image processing apparatus 101 to the second image processing apparatus 121, and the second Raster data (clear) may be generated by the image processing apparatus 121. In this case, intermediate language data (clear) is not rendered in the first image processing apparatus 101.

  The controller 122 of the second image processing apparatus has a configuration necessary for rendering data for printing using colored toner and data for printing using clear toner into a bitmap. It has (not shown). Therefore, the second image processing apparatus 121 can independently process the print data input from the PC 138 or the first image processing apparatus 101 and perform printing using colored toner and clear toner.

  Next, a flow when print processing is executed from the PC 138 using the driver 139 in the system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. A program related to the processing from step S201 to step S213 is stored in the storage device 118 of the first image processing apparatus 101, and is called by the RAM and executed by the CPU 103. A program relating to the processing from step S214 to step S218 is stored in the storage device 134 of the second image processing apparatus 121, and is called by the RAM and executed by the CPU 123.

  First, in step S201, the controller 102 acquires print data sent from the PC 138. As described above, the PC 138 can give a clear instruction to a specific color or object by associating it with a named profile when sending print data. Next, the CPU 103 refers to a named profile or the like in the print data to be processed, and determines in step S202 whether or not the data is to be printed using clear toner. If the data is not data to be printed using clear toner, the interpreter 104 creates intermediate language data (color) 105 in step S203. In step S204, the renderer 109 performs rendering to create a raster image 110. In step S205, the image processing unit 111 executes image processing. In step S206, the printer 112 outputs image data on paper using CMYK colored toner. Specifically, the printer 112 irradiates a photoconductor (not shown) with CMYK laser beams generated from the image data to form an electrostatic latent image. Then, development for visualizing the electrostatic latent image is performed, and toner images of CMYK colors are transferred from the photosensitive member to an intermediate transfer member (not shown). This toner image is transferred to the fed recording paper, and the toner is fixed by pressure and heat in a fixing unit (not shown), and image data is formed on the paper. In step S207, the CPU 103 transmits control data 140 to the controller 122 of the second image processing apparatus 121 via the network I / F 119. In the second image processing apparatus 121, paper feed and paper discharge processing is performed with reference to the control data 140 in step S214. Here, clear toner is not used. Finally, in step S217, the finisher 128 performs paper feeding and output based on the control data 140. Here, when processing such as sorting is designated in the control data 140, the finisher 128 performs processing according to the instruction.

  If it is determined in step S202 that the data is to be printed using clear toner, the interpreter 104 generates intermediate language data (color) 105 and intermediate language data (clear) 106 in step S208. In step S209, the renderer 109 renders the intermediate language data (color) 105 to generate a raster image 110. In step S210, the image processing unit 111 performs image processing. In step S211, similarly to step S206, the printer 112 executes transfer and fixing of CMYK colored toner, and outputs image data on paper.

  In step S <b> 212, the CPU 103 transmits control data 140 to the controller 122 of the second image processing apparatus 121 via the network I / F 119. On the other hand, in step S 213, the soft renderer 107 renders the intermediate language data (clear) 106 to generate a raster image 108, and transmits it to the second image processing device 121. In step S <b> 215, the second image processing apparatus 121 performs paper feeding with reference to the control data 140. On the other hand, in step S218, the image processing unit 124 performs image processing on the raster image 108. In step S216, the printer 125 fixes the clear toner on the fed paper and prints out the image data. Finally, in step S217, the finisher 128 feeds and outputs based on the control data 140.

  As described above, by using the first image processing apparatus 101 and the second image processing apparatus 121, it is possible to print out using the CMYK colored toner and the clear toner with a single instruction from the driver 139. Further, when the second image processing apparatus 121 has a controller equivalent to that of the first image processing apparatus 101, the second image processing apparatus 121 can receive print data from the PC and process it.

  In other words, intermediate language data (color) and intermediate language data (clear) are generated in the second image processing apparatus 121, and printing is performed using data and clear toner necessary for printing using colored toner. Generate the data required for Therefore, the processing of S208 to S213 is performed in the second image processing apparatus 121. In this case, a program related to the processing from step S201 to step S213 is also stored in the storage device 134 of the second image processing apparatus 121, and is called by the RAM and executed by the CPU 123. By connecting the two image processing apparatuses in this way, two-pass printing in which toner transfer and fixing are performed twice is performed. On the other hand, when printing using colored toner and clear toner in the latter apparatus, the colored toner and clear toner are transferred and fixed in the latter apparatus, and printing is completed. In this case, one-pass printing in which toner transfer and fixing are performed once in the subsequent image processing apparatus is performed.

<Example 1>
Subsequently, sample printing (trial printing) in the tandem image processing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the first embodiment, it is assumed that the first image processing apparatus 101 uses colored toner and the second image processing apparatus 121 uses special color toner (clear).

  3 is an example of a screen of the printer driver 139. Since the individual functions are the same as those of a general printer driver, description thereof is omitted here. When the sample print button 301 is pressed, a sample detail setting dialog 400 is opened. A check box 302 is used to select a sample printing mode. When sample printing using clear toner is executed without checking the check box 302, the clear toner is loaded by the second image processing device 121 on the color toner output generated by the first image processing device 101. Normal sample printing is performed on the final image data. On the other hand, if sample printing is executed with a check in 302, it is possible to output image data other than the final image data, and the selection of image data to be output and the selection of the layout output method on the sample print detailed setting screen described later. I do.

  FIG. 4 shows a sample print details setting dialog 400. The sample detail setting dialog 400 is displayed when the sample print button 301 on the printer driver screen 300 is pressed. A check box 401 is used to select image data to be output in sample printing. Here, the image to be output from the output image data in the first stage, that is, the first image processing apparatus 101, the output image data in the second stage, that is, the second image processing apparatus 121, and the final image data from the three patterns of image data is displayed. It is possible to specify in order. The image page specified by the check box 401 is displayed in association with the image forming apparatus at the preceding stage and the succeeding stage of the device image 402 immediately below.

  A check box 403 is used to select an item that the user wants to confirm in sample printing. The purpose of the misregistration is to confirm the magnitude of the misregistration of the printing positions of the respective color toners of the preceding and succeeding image processing apparatuses. The purpose of the density is to confirm whether the output image has a desired density. The purpose of the dither is to confirm the state of the dither used in each of the preceding and succeeding image processing apparatuses. The purpose of color / monochrome conversion is to check the image quality of monochrome image data when color input image data is converted into monochrome. The purpose of adding a tint block is to confirm whether the tint block added at the preceding stage or the succeeding stage is normally added. Note that the confirmation items described here are merely examples, and other items can be added to the confirmation items at the time of sample printing and used for determining the validity of the layout output of sample printing.

  A check box 404 and a drop-down list 405 are used to set an output layout for sample printing. A check box 404 is used for duplex setting. When the check box 404 is checked, the image data selected in 401 can be output on both sides. A drop-down list 405 is used for setting Nin1, and arranges image data of a plurality of pages reduced to 1 / N size in the same page according to the value of N specified by the user. It becomes possible to output. However, when the check box 302 described in FIG. 3 is not checked, that is, when the sample print is not output as a layout, the check box 404 and the drop-down list 405 are displayed in gray out, and these layout settings cannot be selected. . In addition, when the layout output results in invalid image data as a sample as a result of layout output by the layout image output valid determination means described later, these layout settings cannot be selected. A button 406 is a preview display button, and displays an output image after the above-described sample print details setting for the user.

  Next, a flow when executing the sample printing process from the PC 138 using the driver 139 in the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. A program relating to the processing shown in this flowchart is stored in the storage device 118 of the first image processing apparatus 101, and is called by the RAM and executed by the CPU 103. First, in step S <b> 501, the controller 102 receives a sample print instruction from the PC 138. Subsequently, in step S502, the mode determination of sample printing is performed. This is to determine the selection result of the above-described sample printing mode setting check box 302. When the check result is not checked, the process proceeds to step S503, and normal sample printing is executed. On the other hand, if the check box 302 is checked, the process proceeds to step S504.

  Here, the normal sample printing shown in step S503 is sample printing for the case of outputting the final image data obtained by tandem image processing. The detailed flow is the same as the flow shown in FIG.

  In step S504, image data to be output by sample printing is selected. The output image data in step S504 is selected by the check box 401 described with reference to FIG. 4, and the selected image data is output page by page by sample printing.

  In step S505, an item that the user wants to check at the time of sample printing is set. This is selected by the user in the check box 403 of the sample print detail setting screen described above.

  In step S506, when the image data selected in step S504 is layout output, it is determined whether the output image data of the sample print is valid as a sample. When the output image data set in step S504 is only one page, it is determined that the layout setting is invalid because both sides and Nin1 layout output are unnecessary. If there are a plurality of pages of output image data, layout output validity / invalidity determination is performed according to the sample print confirmation item set by the user in step S505. FIG. 6 shows an example of layout output validity / invalidity determination for each confirmation item selected by the user in step S505. In FIG. 6, for an item to be confirmed by sample printing, “O” is displayed when double-sided or Nin1 layout output is determined to be valid, and “X” is displayed when layout output is determined to be invalid. For example, since the sample output in layout is considered to be unsuitable for confirming misregistration, the layout output for sample printing for confirming misregistration is determined to be invalid (x). In addition, since density, color / monochrome conversion, and background pattern addition are considered not to be affected by layout output, layout output is determined to be valid (O). Furthermore, dither is considered to be invalid (×) in the case of Nin1, because if the image data is reduced by the layout setting of Nin1, the dither of the sample output image data and the dither to be originally confirmed will be different. Yes. Note that the determination results shown in FIG. 6 are merely examples, and the sample confirmation items and the determination results are not limited thereto.

  If it is determined in step S505 that the output image data laid out is invalid as a sample, the process proceeds to step S503, and normal sample printing is executed. In this case, as described above, the PC 138 grays out the display of the check box 404 and the drop-down list 405 on the sample print detailed setting dialog 400 of the driver 139 so that the layout setting is disabled, and disables the operation. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S505 that the output image data laid out is valid as a sample, the process proceeds to step S506.

  In step S506, layout setting for sample printing is performed. This is to set the layout of the output image data based on the selection results of the check box 404 and the drop-down list 405 described above. When the preview button 406 is pressed, the PC 138 can output a sample print preview screen via the printer driver 139.

  Finally, in step S507, sample printing is executed based on the output image data and layout settings selected in the above steps. FIG. 7 shows examples of output images with and without layout output during sample printing. In FIG. 7, it is assumed that, for sample printing using clear toner, two pages of output image data of colored toner in the previous stage and final image data on which clear toner is further loaded in the subsequent stage are output. As shown in FIG. 7, normal sample printing outputs two pages, whereas double-sided or Nin1 layout output outputs one page.

  Next, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the flow of execution of sample printing when output image data selection and layout setting are performed in the tandem image processing system will be described with reference to FIG. Steps S801 to S804 are executed by the printer driver 139 installed in the PC. A program related to the processing from steps S806 to S808 is stored in the storage device 118 of the first image processing apparatus 101, and is called by the RAM and executed by the CPU 103. A program related to the processing in step S810 is stored in the storage device 134 of the second image processing apparatus 121, and is called by the RAM and executed by the CPU 123.

  First, sample printing is input to the printer driver 139 in step S801. Next, in steps S802 to S804, various detailed settings for sample printing such as output image data for sample printing, confirmation items for sample printing, and selection of layout settings are executed. This is the processing of steps S504, S505, and S507 in FIG. 5 described above, and detailed description thereof is omitted here. After these settings are executed, PDL image data for printing and various setting data for sample printing are transferred to the first image processing apparatus 101 in step S805.

  Subsequently, in step S806, generation of image data necessary for performing printing using colored toner is executed. The image data created here reflects the layout settings sent from the printer driver 139 in step S805. For example, when outputting the output image data of the colored toner in the previous stage and the final image data in which the clear toner is further loaded in the subsequent stage in 2 in 1, the image data of the colored toner is generated for two pages and reduced to be within one page. The arranged image data is generated.

  In step S807, the first image processing apparatus 101 performs print processing using the image data generated in step S806. The sheet printed in step S807 is sent to the sheet feeding unit 126 of the second image processing apparatus 121 through the connection unit 136.

  In step S808, generation of image data necessary for printing using clear toner is executed. The image data created here also reflects the layout settings sent from the printer driver 139 in step S805. For example, when outputting the output image data of the colored toner in the preceding stage and the final image data in which the clear toner is further added in the subsequent stage in 2 in 1, the image data of the clear toner is reduced and arranged at a specified position in one page. Is generated. The image data 809 generated in step S808 is sent to the second image processing apparatus 121. Incidentally, these steps S807 and S808 may be processed in parallel even if the processing order is reversed.

  In step S810, the image data 809 for clear printing sent from the first image processing apparatus 101 in step S808 in the second image processing apparatus 121 is conveyed from the paper discharge unit of the first image processing apparatus 101. Print on a sheet with colored toner printed. With the above flow, printing is completed when the layout setting is used for sample printing in the tandem image processing system.

  As described above, by executing sample printing in the tandem image processing system according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an output product using only the first stage, only the second stage, and both the first and second stages in one print job. It becomes. Furthermore, by specifying the items that the user wants to check with sample printing and applying layout settings according to the checking items, the output images of multiple pages of sample printing are laid out on the same page, and the toner and It is possible to reduce the amount of paper used.

  In the first embodiment, the sample printing of the tandem image processing system in the case where the colored toner is used in the front stage and the clear toner is used in the rear stage has been described. However, the toner used in the front stage and the rear stage is not limited to this. FIG. 9 is an example of an output image of sample printing in the tandem image processing system when toner other than clear toner is used. For example, consider a tandem image processing system in which a green spot color toner is mounted in the subsequent stage. If sample printing of the first embodiment is executed with this tandem image processing system, it is expressed using mixed color green expressed by mixing toner in the previous stage and special color toner in the subsequent stage as shown in FIG. 9A. It is possible to easily compare the special color green image data. In the tandem image processing system, colored toner can be used in both the front and rear stages. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9B, if the sample printing of the first embodiment is executed, the image data obtained by combining the image data using the colored toner only in the preceding or succeeding stage and the toner used in the preceding and succeeding stages is combined. It is also possible to easily compare the data. As described above, when the sample printing of this embodiment is used in the tandem image processing system, a plurality of sample printings according to the combination of toners that can be used in the first image processing apparatus 101 and the second image processing apparatus 121 are effective. Is feasible.

<Example 2>
In the second embodiment, sample printing having the same function as in the first embodiment will be described. This is a sample print details setting dialog 1000. Similar to the first embodiment, the sample detailed setting dialog 1000 is displayed when the sample print button 301 on the printer driver screen 300 is pressed. A check box 1001 is used to select a loading amount of clear toner to be added to output image data in sample printing using clear toner. Here, as an example, the loading amount of the clear toner is set in five stages from 0% to 100%. Sample printing can generate image data for adding clear toner of each applied amount to the applied amount of clear toner of a plurality of patterns specified by the check box 1001 and output it page by page.

  FIG. 11 is an example of an output image in the sample printing of the second embodiment. In FIG. 11, for sample printing using clear toner, it is assumed that the final image data when the amount of applied clear toner is set to three patterns of 0%, 50%, and 100%, that is, a total of three pages is output as a layout. doing. As shown in FIG. 11, by generating image image data when the amount of clear applied during sample printing is changed, a clear effect on the amount of applied clear toner of a plurality of patterns can be easily achieved by one sample printing. It becomes possible to confirm. Further, by using the sample print layout output as in the first embodiment, it is possible to reduce the amount of toner and paper used during sample printing.

  Note that the flow of the sample printing process of the second embodiment is the same as that of the flowcharts of FIGS. 5 and 8 described in the first embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted here.

<Other examples>
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 the computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus reads the program. To be executed.

101 First image processing apparatus 120 Network 121 Second image processing apparatus

Claims (2)

A paper discharge unit of the first image processing apparatus (101) that performs printing using the colored color material, and a paper supply unit of the second image processing apparatus (121) that performs printing using the colored color material and the special color material. Are connected, and an image processing system having means (S503) for executing sample printing of input data,
Means for selecting print data for only the first image processing apparatus, print data for only the second image processing apparatus, and final print data for both image processing apparatuses (S504);
Means for selecting a confirmation item at the time of sample printing (S505);
Means (S506) for determining whether layout setting for sample printing is possible according to the item selected by the confirmation item selection means;
Means for switching between valid and invalid layout settings based on the determination result by the determination means;
Means for setting the output layout of a plurality of print data selected by the print data selection means when the layout setting is determined to be valid in the layout setting determination (S507);
An image having means (S508) for generating and outputting sample print image data according to a layout method by the layout setting switching means for a plurality of print data selected by the print data selection means Processing system. Further, the image processing apparatus includes a unit (1001) for setting the applied amount of the special color toner to be added by the second image processing apparatus. The image processing system according to claim 1, further comprising: means for generating and outputting the data.