JP2013193276A - Print controlling device and print controlling method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate designation and change of color conversion to be applied to implement simple adjustment of a printed result.SOLUTION: A print controlling device for implementing print on a printing medium by controlling a print head having a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink includes a conversion processing part obtaining image data having color information per pixel and respectively executing a plurality of color conversion processes using a plurality of color conversion tables having different conversion characteristics targeting on the image data, a corresponding relation obtaining part obtaining a previously defined corresponding relation between each pixel and each color conversion process of the image data, and a print control part synthesizing a plurality of pieces of image data obtained by the plurality of color conversion processes according to the obtained corresponding relation and making an image print on the printing medium based on the synthesized image data.

Description

  The present invention relates to a print control apparatus and a print control method.

  For color conversion of RGB image data, there is known a printing apparatus that uses a color conversion table LUT having different properties for a metallic area where printing is performed with a plurality of color inks over a metallic printing area and a non-metallic area. (See Patent Document 1). In the document 1, for non-metallic areas, color conversion table LUT / N for color conversion to CMYKlclm format image data obtained by adding light color ink to dark color ink is collated, and image data in RGB format is obtained. Convert to CMYKlclm format image data. On the other hand, for the metallic area, the color conversion table LUT / M for color conversion into CMYKS format image data obtained by adding metallic ink to dark color ink is collated, and the RGB format image data is converted into the CMYKS format image data. Convert to data.

JP 2010-52225 A

  In the above-mentioned document 1, in the divided area (metallic area or non-metallic area), one color conversion associated with the area is performed. Therefore, it has not been possible to quickly respond to a request for easily obtaining the result of various color conversions for a certain pixel. That is, for example, when a user obtains one print result and wants to obtain a print result obtained by applying another color conversion to a pixel belonging to a certain area, it is necessary to go through a step of performing the other color conversion on the pixel. was there. Further, even when there is a request for applying a plurality of color conversion results in a superimposed manner for pixels belonging to a certain region, it is difficult to meet such a request.

  The present invention has been made to solve at least one of the above-described problems, and it is easy to specify or change the color conversion to be applied when obtaining a print result including a plurality of areas to which different color conversions are applied. A print control apparatus and a print control method capable of easily adjusting a print result are provided.

  One aspect of the present invention is a print control apparatus that realizes printing on a print medium by controlling a print head having a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink, and provides color information for each pixel. A conversion processing unit for acquiring a plurality of color conversion processes using a plurality of color conversion tables having different conversion characteristics for the image data, and each of the image data defined in advance A correspondence relationship acquisition unit that acquires a correspondence relationship between a pixel and each color conversion process, and a plurality of image data obtained by the plurality of color conversion processes are combined according to the acquired correspondence relationship, and the combined image data And a print control unit that prints an image on the print medium based on the above.

  According to this configuration, the print control apparatus combines the plurality of image data obtained by the plurality of color conversion processes according to the correspondence relationship arbitrarily set by the user, and generates an image based on the combined image data. To print. Therefore, the user can easily change which color conversion is applied to which area in the image by arbitrarily setting the correspondence relationship, and can easily adjust the printing result.

One aspect of the present invention is that the correspondence acquisition unit acquires the correspondence in which a plurality of color conversion processes are associated with each pixel for at least some of the pixels, and the print control unit For the pixels associated with the color conversion process, values generated based on the plurality of image data obtained by the plurality of color conversion processes are used as the combined data.
According to this configuration, since the image data to be printed is subjected to a plurality of color conversion processes for all pixels, the results of the plurality of color conversion processes are superimposed and applied to one pixel. It is also easy.

One aspect of the present invention is that the print control unit can realize overprinting that prints a plurality of image layers on a print medium by controlling the print head, and configures the combined image data. The image data for each type of ink to be distributed is distributed for each image layer, and each image layer is printed on a print medium based on the image data for each type of ink distributed for each image layer.
According to this configuration, it is possible to print the image data for each type of ink constituting the combined image data as a separate image layer. Therefore, it is possible to improve image quality deterioration such as ink bleeding and insufficient color development that could occur in the past, where such distribution could not be performed.

In one aspect of the present invention, the print control unit includes: image data that defines recording or non-recording of metallic ink for each pixel; and image data that defines recording or non-recording of ink other than the metallic ink for each pixel; To different image layers.
According to this configuration, it is possible to improve image quality degradation such as bleeding on the printing medium and insufficient color development for each of the metallic ink and the ink other than the metallic ink.

  The technical idea according to the present invention is not realized only by the form of the print control apparatus, but may be embodied by another object (apparatus). In addition, an invention of a method (printing control method) including a process corresponding to the characteristics of the printing control apparatus according to any one of the aspects described above, an invention of a program for causing a predetermined hardware (computer) to execute the method, or the program The invention of a computer-readable recording medium on which is recorded can also be grasped. The print control apparatus may be realized by a single apparatus or may be realized by a combination of a plurality of apparatuses. The print control apparatus may be realized by a single printer provided with a print head.

It is a figure which shows a hardware configuration and a software configuration. It is a figure which illustrates the nozzle arrangement in a print head. 6 is a flowchart illustrating print control processing. It is a figure which shows an example of color conversion channel information. It is a figure which shows the other example of color conversion channel information. It is a figure which shows an example of the process in step S110, S120. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of step S120. It is a figure which shows an example of the process in step S130. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a positional relationship between a print medium and a print head. 6 is a flowchart illustrating print control processing relating to a retry;

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1. FIG. 1 schematically shows a hardware configuration and a software configuration according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, a computer 10 as a personal computer (PC) and a printer 50 are shown. The computer 10 and / or the printer 50 correspond to a print control apparatus. The computer 10 and the printer 50 or the printer 50 also correspond to a printing apparatus. It can also be said that the computer 10 and the printer 50 constitute one printing system 1. In the computer 10, the CPU 11 controls the printer 50 by expanding the program data 21 stored in the hard disk drive (HDD) 20 or the like to the RAM 12 and performing calculations according to the program data 21 under the OS. The printer driver 13 is executed. The printer driver 13 is a program for causing the CPU 11 to execute functions such as an image data acquisition unit 13a, a correspondence relationship acquisition unit 13b, a conversion processing unit 13c, an image composition unit 13d, an image layer distribution unit 13e, and a rasterization processing unit 13f. It is. Each of these functions will be described later.

  A display 30 as a display unit is connected to the computer 10, and a user interface (UI) screen necessary for each process is displayed on the display 30. In addition, the computer 10 appropriately includes an operation unit 40 realized by, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a touch pad, a touch panel, and the like, and instructions necessary for each process are input by the user via the operation unit 40. A printer 50 is connected to the computer 10. As will be described later, in the computer 10, a print command is generated based on image data representing an image to be printed by the function of the printer driver 13, and the print command is transmitted to the printer 50.

  In the printer 50, the CPU 51 expands the program data 54 stored in the memory such as the ROM 53 into the RAM 52 and performs a calculation according to the program data 54 under the OS, thereby controlling the firmware FW for controlling the device itself. Is executed. The firmware FW can execute printing based on the drive data by interpreting the print command transmitted from the computer 10 and extracting the drive data and sending it to the ASIC 56. The firmware FW acquires image data representing an image to be printed from a memory card mounted on an external connection connector (not shown), an external device (for example, the computer 10), and the like, and is driven based on the acquired image data. Data can also be generated. In this way, even when drive data is generated by the function of the firmware FW, the drive data is sent to the ASIC 56.

  The ASIC 56 acquires drive data, and generates a drive signal for driving the transport mechanism 57, the carriage motor 58, and the print head 62 based on the drive data. The printer 50 includes a carriage 60, and the carriage 60 is loaded with ink cartridges 61 for each of a plurality of types of ink. In the example of FIG. 1, ink cartridges 61 corresponding to various inks of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), black (K), and metallic (Me) are mounted. In the present embodiment, the metallic ink is, for example, an ink that contains a metal pigment and expresses a special glossy feeling (metallic feeling), and the ink described in the above-mentioned document 1 can be adopted.

The specific types and number of inks used by the printer 50 are not limited to those described above. For example, various inks such as light cyan, light magenta, orange, green, gray, light gray, white, etc. can be used. is there. Further, the ink cartridge 61 may be installed at a predetermined position in the printer 50 without being mounted on the carriage 60.
The carriage 60 includes a print head 62 that ejects (discharges) ink supplied from each ink cartridge 61 from a number of nozzles.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of the arrangement of nozzles on the lower surface of the print head 62 (the surface facing the print medium). A plurality of nozzle rows are formed on the lower surface of the print head 62. In the example of FIG. 2, a plurality of nozzle rows CN and M for ejecting M ink are composed of a plurality of nozzles Nz for ejecting C ink. Nozzle row MN composed of Nz, nozzle row YN composed of a plurality of nozzles Nz for ejecting Y ink, nozzle row KN composed of a plurality of nozzles Nz for ejecting K ink, and a plurality of nozzles for ejecting Me ink A nozzle row MeN including nozzles Nz is formed. A plurality of nozzles constituting one nozzle row are arranged at a fixed nozzle pitch along a fixed direction (sub-scanning direction). The nozzle row corresponding to one ink type is not only composed of one nozzle row arranged along the sub-scanning direction, but also, for example, a plurality of rows that are parallel and shifted by a predetermined pitch in the sub-scanning direction. The nozzle row may be configured.

In the print head 62, a piezoelectric element for ejecting ink droplets (dots) from the nozzles is provided for each nozzle. The piezoelectric element is deformed when the drive signal is applied, and ejects dots from the corresponding nozzle.
The transport mechanism 57 (FIG. 1) includes a paper feed motor and a paper feed roller (not shown), and is driven and controlled by the ASIC 56, so that the print medium from the upstream side to the downstream side (see FIG. 2) along the sub-scanning direction. Transport. The direction from the upstream side to the downstream side in the sub-scanning direction corresponds to a predetermined transport direction. Further, the transport mechanism 57 can transport the print medium from the downstream side toward the upstream side, and such transport from the downstream side to the upstream side is called back feed.

  By controlling the driving of the carriage motor 58 by the ASIC 56, the carriage 60 (and the print head 62) moves (main scanning) in a direction (main scanning direction) substantially orthogonal to the sub-scanning direction, and the ASIC 56 Along with the scanning, ink is ejected from each nozzle to the print head 62 at a predetermined timing. Thereby, dots adhere to the print medium, and the image (print target image) indicated by the print command is reproduced on the print medium. The printer 50 further includes an operation panel 59. The operation panel 59 includes a display unit (for example, a liquid crystal panel), a touch panel formed in the display unit, various buttons and keys, and accepts input from the user and displays a necessary UI screen on the display unit. .

  In the present embodiment, assuming the above-described configuration, a process for causing the printer 50 to print a print target image will be described below. Note that printing methods by the printer 50 are roughly classified into normal printing (non-overprinting) and overprinting. Normal printing is a printing technique in which dots of all ink types that should be attached to a common area (constant band area) on the print medium to be ink ejected are ejected during the same main scanning period to form a print image. It is. On the other hand, in overprinting, at least a part of all the ink types is ejected to the common area during another main scanning period, and as a result, a plurality of image layers overlap to form a printed image. It is a technique to be done. In the present embodiment, the printing method by the printer 50 can employ either normal printing or overprinting.

  Further, as a method for realizing the overprinting, “nozzle division printing”, “repetitive printing”, and a combination of “nozzle division printing” and “repetitive printing” can be considered. Nozzle division printing refers to a technique in which the nozzles of the print head 62 are divided into a plurality of nozzle groups and a separate image layer is printed for each nozzle group. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the plurality of nozzles Nz included in the print head 62 are divided into an upstream nozzle group 62a and a downstream nozzle group 62b at a substantially central position in the sub-scanning direction. Then, dots are ejected by the nozzles Nz belonging to the nozzle group 62a to form a single image layer on the print medium that is transported along the transport direction and passes under the nozzle group 62a, and subsequently passes under the nozzle group 62b. On the printing medium, dots are ejected by the nozzles Nz belonging to the nozzle group 62b to form the next image layer. According to such nozzle division printing, a printing result consisting of two layers can be obtained by carrying the printing medium once along the carrying direction, leading to a reduction in printing time.

  On the other hand, in the repeated printing, dots are ejected by each nozzle to form one image layer on a print medium that is transported along the transport direction and passes under the print head 62. Then, by back feeding the print medium that has passed under the print head 62, the print medium is pulled back to a position where it can be printed by the print head 62, and the pulled-back print medium is printed while being transported along the transport direction again. Dots are ejected from each nozzle of the head 62 to form the next image layer. According to such repetitive printing, it is possible to secure time for the ink to dry from the printing of the image layer to the printing of the next image layer, and the ink is firmly fixed to the printing medium. It is easy to obtain a good image quality with little. In repetitive printing, the nozzles of the print head 62 may be divided into a plurality of nozzle groups and only some of the nozzle groups may be used, or the entire nozzles of the print head 62 may be used without being divided into a plurality of nozzle groups. May be used. In the combination of nozzle division printing and repetitive printing, for example, the first and second image layers are formed by nozzle division printing on the print medium, and then the third layer is formed on the print medium with back feed interposed therebetween. A mode in which the image layer is printed, a mode in which the second layer and the third layer are formed by nozzle division printing with the back feed interposed after the first layer printing, and the like are conceivable.

2. Print Control Process FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the print control process. Here, description will be made assuming that the CPU 11 executes the flowchart by the printer driver 13 (printing control program). As a premise for starting up the flowchart, the printer driver 13 receives selection of an arbitrary print target image by the user via the operation unit 40.

  By operating the operation unit 40, the user selects a print target image, sets each pixel that forms the print target image, and each pixel via a print setting screen or the like (a kind of UI screen) displayed on the display 30. Correspondence relationship with color conversion processing to be applied (color conversion channel information), selection of printing method, selection of overprinting method when executing overprinting, number of overprinting image layers, overprinting image layers and A print execution instruction is given after arbitrarily setting various conditions necessary for printing, such as the correspondence with the ink type and the type of print medium.

  In step S100, the image data acquisition unit 13a receives a print execution instruction from the user, and acquires image data (input image data) representing an image to be printed in accordance with the print execution instruction. This image data is acquired from a predetermined storage area such as a memory card attached to the HDD 20 or an external connection connector (not shown). Here, image data having color information and color conversion channel (color conversion ch) information for each pixel is acquired as image data representing the print target image. The color information is, for example, data representing each value of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) with 8 bits (0 to 255 gradations). The color conversion channel information is data representing the type of color conversion processing applied to the pixel by a predetermined bit. In the present embodiment, as will be described later, the printer driver 13 can execute at least two types of color conversion processes (first color conversion and second color conversion). Therefore, the color conversion channel information may include at least information indicating the first color conversion, information indicating the second color conversion, and information indicating the first color conversion and the second color conversion.

FIG. 4 shows an example of color conversion channel information associated with each pixel constituting the image data. Here, for convenience, it is assumed that the numerical value “1” indicates the first color conversion, and the numerical value “2” indicates the second color conversion. In other words, the user can arbitrarily specify which color conversion process should be applied to which region of the image to be printed by operating the operation unit 40, and the correspondence relationship acquisition unit 13b can be based on such specification. Color conversion channel information is generated and set as part of the image data (or attached to the image data).
FIG. 5 shows an example of color conversion channel information associated with each pixel constituting the image data, and shows an example different from FIG. In FIG. 5, there are pixels with a numerical value “3” in addition to the numerical values “1” and “2”. The numerical value “3” indicates the first color conversion and the second color conversion. That is, the numerical value “3” means that the results of both the first color conversion and the second color conversion are applied.

  In step S110, the conversion processing unit 13c performs a plurality of color conversion processes in parallel on the image data acquired in step S100. Specifically, the conversion processing unit 13c performs color conversion on all the pixels of the image data by referring to the color conversion lookup table (LUT) 22a stored in advance in the HDD 20, and separately from this, All pixels of the image data are color-converted by referring to the color conversion LUT 22b stored in advance.

  FIG. 6 schematically shows the flow of processing in step S110 and step S120 described later. The color conversion LUT 22a and the color conversion LUT 22b are tables having different color conversion characteristics. For example, the color conversion LUT 22a converts RGB values into gradation values (for example, 0 to 255 gradations) for each CMYK ink used by the printer 50. On the other hand, the color conversion LUT 22b defines a conversion relationship from RGB values to gradation values (for example, 0 to 255 gradations) for each CMYKMe ink used by the printer 50. Further, for example, when the input RGB values of the color conversion LUT 22a and the color conversion LUT 22b are the same, the converted CMYK value (CMYK ink amount) is smaller when color conversion is performed by the color conversion LUT 22b. It is prescribed. In the present embodiment, color conversion processing using the color conversion LUT 22a is referred to as first color conversion, and color conversion processing using the color conversion LUT 22b is referred to as second color conversion.

  In step S110, the conversion processing unit 13c applies a dither mask or the like prepared in advance to all the pixels of the image data (image data in which each pixel is represented by a CMYK value) after being converted by the first color conversion. Halftone (HT) processing is performed. As a result, halftone data defining dot recording (ON) or non-recording (OFF) for each pixel is obtained. Halftone data obtained by halftone processing image data converted by the first color conversion is referred to as first HT data. Of course, the first HT data is generated for each CMYK ink. Similarly, the conversion processing unit 13c performs halftone processing that applies a dither mask or the like to all the pixels of the image data (image data in which each pixel is represented by a CMYKMe value) after being converted by the second color conversion. Apply. Halftone data obtained by halftone processing image data converted by the second color conversion is referred to as second HT data. The second HT data is generated for each CMYKMe ink.

  In step S120, the correspondence relationship acquisition unit 13b reads the color conversion channel information included in the image data acquired in step S100, and the image composition unit 13d stores a plurality of image data obtained by the plurality of color conversion processes, that is, The first HT data and the second HT data are synthesized according to the color conversion channel information.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing details of the process in step S120. In step S121, the image composition unit 13d specifies one ink type (for example, C ink) to be processed among the ink types of the halftone data generated in step S110. In step S122 and subsequent steps, processing using halftone data relating to the currently designated ink type is performed. In step S122, the image composition unit 13d specifies one pixel to be processed among a plurality of pixels constituting the print target image. The pixel designated in step S122 is called a target pixel.

  In step S123, the image composition unit 13d branches the process with reference to the color conversion channel information of the target pixel. That is, when the color conversion channel information of the target pixel is “1”, the first HT data obtained through the first color conversion and the target in the first HT data relating to the currently designated ink type. The pixel data that coincides with the pixel position is stored in a buffer (a buffer appropriately reserved for a composite image in a predetermined memory) as halftone data for the target pixel (step S124). On the other hand, when the color conversion channel information of the target pixel is “2”, it is the second HT data obtained through the second color conversion and is the target in the second HT data relating to the currently designated ink type. The pixel data matching the pixel position is stored in the buffer as halftone data for the target pixel (step S125).

  Further, when the color conversion channel information of the target pixel is “3”, the pixel data (first HT data that matches the position of the target pixel in the first HT data related to the currently designated ink type ( (Referred to as first data for convenience) and pixel data matching the position of the target pixel in the second HT data corresponding to the currently designated ink type (referred to as second data for convenience). The result of combining is stored in the buffer (step S126). In this case, if at least one of the first data and the second data is dot ON, the result of dot ON is stored, and if the dot is OFF in any data, the result of dot OFF is stored.

  In step S127, the image composition unit 13d determines whether or not the processing in steps S122 to S127 has been completed for all the pixels constituting the print target image. If not completed ("No" in step S127), the process returns to step S122. Specify a new pixel. On the other hand, after the determination of “Yes” in step S127, in step S128, the image composition unit 13d determines whether or not the designation of all the ink types of the halftone data generated in step S110 has been completed. If “No” in step S128), the process returns to step S121 to specify a new ink type. On the other hand, after the determination of “Yes” in step S128, step S120 ends. As a result of such step S120, as shown in FIG. 6, synthesized image data (halftone data for each ink type) obtained by synthesizing the first HT data and the second HT data according to the color conversion channel information for each pixel is obtained.

  In step S130, the image layer sorting unit 13e sorts the halftone data for each ink type constituting the composite image data by image layer. However, step S <b> 130 is executed only when the user has previously selected overlap printing as the selection of the printing method. In addition, when the user selects overprinting, the overprinting method, the number of image layers for overprinting (for example, two layers), the correspondence between each image layer for overprinting and each ink type (which ink type to which It is assumed that information specifying whether to belong to the image layer is also specified.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of processing in step S130. In accordance with the correspondence between each image layer and each ink type in the overprinting, for example, the image layer sorting unit 13e sets 1 half-tone data of Me ink out of composite image data (half-tone data for each CMYKMe ink). The halftone data of the layer is set in the buffer, and each halftone data of CMYK ink is set in the buffer as the halftone data of the second layer.

  In step S140, the rasterization processing unit 13f assigns the composite image data (halftone data for each CMYKMe ink) stored in the buffer to each main scan (pass) and each nozzle of the print head 62, thereby generating halftone data. Print commands including drive data rearranged in the order to be transferred to the printer 50 (rasterization processing). According to the rasterizing process, it is determined in which pass and which nozzle each dot defined in the halftone data is formed in accordance with the pixel position. When “nozzle division printing” is selected as the overprinting method, the rasterization processing unit 13f uses halftone data (Me ink halftone data) recorded in the buffer for the first layer, The halftone data (each halftone data of CMYK ink) assigned to the nozzles Nz belonging to the nozzle group 62a (see FIG. 2) and recorded in the buffer for the second layer is replaced with the nozzles belonging to the nozzle group 62b (see FIG. 2). Assign to Nz. A print command generated by such rasterization processing is transmitted to the printer 50. As a result, the printer 50 executes printing (printing of a print target image) based on the transmitted print command on the print medium.

  FIG. 9 illustrates the positional relationship between the print medium S and the print head 62 from the viewpoint of the print head 62 in the main scanning direction. An example of the “nozzle division printing” will be described with reference to FIG. 9 and the like. In the printer 50, overprinting is performed by Me ink ejected from the nozzles Nz belonging to the nozzle group 62a among the nozzles Nz constituting the nozzle row MeN. Is formed on the print medium S. The C ink ejected from the nozzles Nz belonging to the nozzle group 62b among the nozzles Nz constituting the nozzle row CN, the M ink ejected from the nozzles Nz belonging to the nozzle group 62b among the nozzles Nz constituting the nozzle row MN, The Y ink ejected from the nozzle Nz belonging to the nozzle group 62b among the nozzles Nz constituting the nozzle row YN, and the K ink ejected from the nozzle Nz belonging to the nozzle group 62b among the nozzles Nz constituting the nozzle row KN, As shown in FIG. 9, the second layer of overprinting is formed on the print medium S. Note that the region on the print medium S where the first layer of Me ink shown in FIG. 9 is formed corresponds to at least the region where the color conversion channel information is designated as “2” or “3”. Thus, it can be said that the printer driver 13 realizes a print control unit as a part of the function in that the image composition unit 13d and the rasterization processing unit 13f realize at least the above steps S120 and S140.

  Even when “repetitive printing” is selected as the method of overprinting, the data content set in the buffer in step S130 is the same as in “nozzle division printing”. In this case, the rasterization processing unit 13f generates a print command for first layer printing in which halftone data (Me ink halftone data) recorded in the first layer buffer is assigned to each nozzle of the print head 62. Then, the first layer is printed by the printer 50, and the halftone data (CMYK ink halftone data) recorded in the buffer for the second layer is assigned to each nozzle of the print head 62 for the second layer printing. Is generated (with the back feed interposed), and the printer 50 prints the second layer. According to the present embodiment, the user can perform nozzle division without performing operations such as generation of dedicated image data for realizing nozzle division printing and generation of dedicated image data for realizing repeated printing. A print result by nozzle division printing or repetitive printing can be obtained simply by selecting printing or repetitive printing.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the print control apparatus first performs a plurality of color conversion processes (first color conversion and second color conversion) in parallel on the image data representing the print target image. As a result, a plurality of halftone data (first HT data and second HT data) having undergone a plurality of color conversion processes are generated. The plurality of halftone data are combined according to color conversion channel information arbitrarily set by the user, and the printer 50 is caused to execute printing based on the combined image data after the combination. Therefore, the user can easily specify and change which color conversion processing result is applied to which region in the image by arbitrarily setting the color conversion channel information. In particular, this embodiment is highly effective when the user tries to print an image to be printed a plurality of times and adjusts the print result.

  FIG. 10 shows a flowchart when the user issues a print execution instruction for the same print target image again after executing the flowchart of FIG. 3 once. In this case, in step S200, the correspondence acquisition unit 13b accepts a color conversion channel information change instruction and a reprint execution instruction for a printed print target image. That is, the user observes the previous print result of the print target image and arbitrarily changes which color conversion processing is applied to which area by operating the operation unit 40. Accept the change. For example, when it is desired to improve the density of CMYK ink in a part (part) of the area using metallic ink, the user applies to part (part) of the area where only the second color conversion has been applied. Then, the color conversion channel information is changed so that the first color conversion is also applied (the numerical value “3” is associated with the area where the numerical value “2” is associated as the color conversion channel information).

  Subsequent steps S210 to S230 are basically the same as steps S120 to S140 in FIG. In other words, since a plurality of halftone data has already been generated through a plurality of types of color conversion processing for the image data of the image to be printed in step S110 of FIG. 3, the changes received in step S200 are those halftone data. May be synthesized based on the color conversion channel information. In Document 1, since one color conversion process is performed for each divided area, when the correspondence between the area and the color conversion process is changed, it is necessary to perform the color conversion process on the image data again. In this embodiment, since it is not necessary to perform such color conversion processing again, the processing is simplified. That is, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce the burden on the user when adjusting the print result by trying printing the print target image a plurality of times, compared to the conventional case.

  Here, when the metallic ink is simultaneously printed together with, for example, chromatic color ink and achromatic color ink, the degree of coloration of the chromatic color ink and the achromatic color ink on the print medium is suppressed, and the metallic feeling is also suppressed. Sometimes. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, by printing the metallic ink originally contained in the same image together with other ink types (metallic ink that should have been printed at the same time as the other ink types) as a single image layer. Further, the color development of the other ink types on the print medium and the metallic feeling due to the metallic ink can be improved.

3. Modifications The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist thereof. For example, the following modifications are possible. The combined contents of the above-described embodiments and modifications are also within the scope of disclosure of the present invention.

  For example, the number of color conversion processes that the printer driver 13 performs in parallel on the image data relating to the print target image may be three or more. That is, three or more color conversion LUTs having different conversion characteristics are stored in the HDD 20, each halftone data subjected to color conversion by each color conversion LUT is generated from the image data, and each of these halftone data is converted into color. The synthesized image data synthesized according to the converted channel information may be generated.

  Although the case where the computer 10 executes the print control process has been described above as an example, the print control process (including each modified example) may be performed in the printer 50. That is, when the CPU 51 of the printer 50 executes the firmware FW (print control program), the image data acquisition unit 13a, the correspondence relationship acquisition unit 13b, the conversion processing unit 13c, the image composition unit 13d, the image layer distribution unit 13e, the rasterization The above-described functions such as the processing unit 13f may be realized in the printer 50, and the flowcharts of FIGS. In this case, the ROM 53 in the printer 50 stores in advance information necessary for processing, such as a plurality of color conversion LUTs 55a and 55b having different conversion characteristics. Further, the CPU 51 receives various information and instructions necessary for printing, such as a print execution instruction for the print target image and an operation for setting color conversion channel information, from the user via the operation panel 59. As a result, drive data is generated by the function of the firmware FW as described above. Alternatively, the flowcharts of FIGS. 3, 7, and 10 may be realized by sharing the printer driver 13 and the firmware FW.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Computer, 11 ... CPU, 12 ... RAM, 13 ... Printer driver, 13a ... Image data acquisition part, 13b ... Correspondence acquisition part, 13c ... Conversion processing part, 13d ... Image composition part, 13e ... Image layer distribution part , 13f: rasterization processing unit, 20: HDD, 21: program data, 22a, 22b ... color conversion LUT, 30: display, 40 ... operation unit, 50 ... printer, 51 ... CPU, 52 ... RAM, 53 ... ROM, 59 ... Operation panel 61 ... Ink cartridge 62 ... Print head 62a, 62b ... Nozzle group

Claims (5)

A print control device that realizes printing on a print medium by controlling a print head having a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink,
A conversion processing unit that acquires image data having color information for each pixel, and executes a plurality of color conversion processes using a plurality of color conversion tables having different conversion characteristics for the image data;
A correspondence acquisition unit that acquires a correspondence between each pixel of the image data defined in advance and each color conversion process;
A print control unit configured to synthesize a plurality of image data obtained by the plurality of color conversion processes according to the acquired correspondence relationship, and to print an image on the print medium based on the synthesized image data. A printing control apparatus characterized by that.   The correspondence acquisition unit acquires the correspondence in which a plurality of color conversion processes are associated with each pixel for at least some of the pixels, and the print control unit associates the plurality of color conversion processes with each other. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein for the pixel, a value generated based on a plurality of image data obtained by the plurality of color conversion processes is used as the combined data.   The print control unit can realize overprinting by printing a plurality of image layers on a print medium by controlling the print head, and can store image data for each type of ink constituting the combined image data. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each print layer is printed on a print medium based on image data for each type of ink assigned to each image layer and assigned to each image layer.   The print control unit distributes image data in which recording or non-recording of metallic ink is defined for each pixel and image data in which recording or non-recording of ink other than the metallic ink is defined for each pixel to different image layers. The printing control apparatus according to claim 3. A print control method for realizing printing on a print medium by controlling a print head having a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink,
A conversion processing step of acquiring image data having color information for each pixel and executing a plurality of color conversion processes using a plurality of color conversion tables having different conversion characteristics for the image data,
A correspondence acquisition step of acquiring a correspondence between each pixel of the image data defined in advance and each color conversion process;
A print control step of combining a plurality of image data obtained by the plurality of color conversion processes in accordance with the acquired correspondence relationship, and printing an image on the print medium based on the combined image data. And a printing control method.

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