JP2013215888A - Calibration device, calibration method and program of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a calibration method reducing usage of a recording medium and a recording agent, and to provide a calibration device and a program of the same.SOLUTION: A calibration method includes the calculation step (S104) of calculating a colorimetric value when printing a first patch chart by a second printing system from a corresponding relation between a first colorimetric value measured by printing a first patch chart on a recording medium by a first printing system using a recording agent, and a second colorimetric value measured by printing a second patch chart more reduced in number of patches than the first patch chart on the recording medium by a second printing system different from the first printing system using a recording agent, a first correction table preparing step (S105) of preparing a correction table of the first printing system based on the first colorimetric value, and a second correction table preparing step (S106) of preparing a correction table of the second printing system based on the second colorimetric value and the colorimetric value calculated in the calculation step.

Description

  The present invention relates to a calibration apparatus, a calibration method, and a program thereof, and more particularly, to reduction of the number of patches in a calibration chart that is created by printing a recording material on a recording medium.

  Inkjet recording devices may change the output density due to factors such as changes in temperature and humidity, individual differences, and changes over time, but the density of the same gradation is different from the viewpoint of density reproducibility and stability. It is required to always output at the same density. Therefore, calibration is performed at a predetermined timing in the ink jet recording apparatus. In general, in calibration of an ink jet recording apparatus, a plurality of gradation patches whose gradation values are changed for each color is recorded (hereinafter also referred to as printing), and the density of the recorded gradation patches becomes a predetermined density. It is corrected to.

  In the image processing apparatus of Patent Document 1, a calibration method in the case where printing conditions are different has been proposed. The difference in printing conditions includes output resolution, dither type, halftone dot type, etc., and it is described that the density of the output image changes depending on the difference in various printing methods. In addition, the density of the output image varies depending on the printing conditions such as the number of scanning of the inkjet recording head in the main scanning direction of the inkjet recording apparatus and the difference in scanning speed.

  An example of the change in the density of the output image due to the difference in printing conditions will be briefly described. For example, when the number of scans of the ink jet recording head is different, the image density may be different. This is because, in the case of multi-pass, ink is ejected little by little for each scan, and in the case of one-pass, the width to be recorded in one scan is printed, so the next ink is placed on the ink that has been dried on the recording medium. It is because it discharges. Therefore, when performing highly accurate calibration, it is necessary to execute calibration for each number of scans.

  The same applies to the case where the scanning speed of the ink jet recording head changes. For example, when the scanning speed is high, the recording is performed in the next scanning before the ink recorded during the previous scanning dries in multipass, and therefore the output density tends to be lower than when the scanning speed is slow. Therefore, when performing highly accurate calibration, it is necessary to execute calibration for each of the scanning speeds different from each other.

JP 2004-114343 A

  However, if calibration is executed using all patches necessary for calibration for each printing condition, the consumption of a recording agent such as a recording medium or ink increases.

  Such a problem exists not only in an ink jet recording apparatus but also in a recording apparatus using a liquid other than ink and an apparatus using another recording method.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a calibration device, a calibration method, and a program thereof that reduce the amount of recording medium and recording agent used.

  In an embodiment of the present invention that solves the above problems, a first patch chart composed of at least two tones is printed on a recording medium using a recording agent by a first printing method and measured. The first colorimetric value acquisition means for acquiring the first colorimetric value and the second patch chart in which the number of patches is reduced from the first patch chart are the first printing method on the recording medium. Second colorimetric value acquisition means for acquiring a second colorimetric value measured by printing using a recording agent by a different second printing method, the first colorimetric value and the second colorimetric value Based on the correspondence relationship with the value, the calculation means for calculating the colorimetric value when the first patch chart is printed by the second printing method, and the first colorimetric value based on the first colorimetric value A first correction table creating means for creating a printing method correction table; and the second colorimetry And based on the colorimetric values calculated in the calculating step, in a calibration device, characterized in that and a second correction table creation means for creating a correction table of the second printing method.

  According to the present invention, when two or more calibrations with different printing methods are executed, the number of patches in the patch chart of another calibration can be reduced by using the colorimetric data of one calibration. . Thereby, while maintaining the printing accuracy, the consumption of the recording medium and the recording agent can be reduced, and the calibration time can be reduced. In addition, since the number of patches in another calibration patch chart can be reduced, the capacity of a memory or the like for storing calibration can be reduced.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image processing system according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ink jet recording apparatus according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of calibration in the image processing system according to the first embodiment. 3 is a calibration chart according to the first embodiment. 2 is a data flow of the entire image processing system according to the first embodiment. 3 is a flowchart of printing and colorimetry according to the first embodiment. 3 is a patch interpolation flowchart of the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is an image diagram of patch interpolation according to the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of calibration according to the second embodiment. It is a whole block diagram of the image processing system which concerns on other embodiment.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The scope to which the present invention is applied is determined by the scope of the claims, and can be implemented without departing from the scope of the invention, and is not limited to the embodiments described below.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image processing system according to the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image processing system according to this embodiment includes a computer 1, a printer 2, and a colorimeter 3. The printer 2 and the colorimeter 3 are connected to the computer 1 via a network or the like.

  The computer 1 includes a ROM 11, a CPU (central processing unit) 12, a RAM (random access memory) 13, a DDC 14, and an I / F unit 15, and is a known computer that can exchange data with each other via a bus. .

  A ROM (read-only memory) 11 is a nonvolatile memory, and programs such as various applications and printer drivers are stored on the ROM 11.

  A DDC (disk drive controller) 14 inputs and outputs data with various recording media such as a flexible disk, a compact disk, a USB memory, and an HDD (hard disk drive).

  The I / F unit 15 inputs and outputs data with various devices via a network or the like. The connection form for connecting the I / F unit 15 and various devices is not limited to a form such as a dedicated cable, and other connection forms such as a wireless connection and a USB connection can also be used. The I / F unit 15 can also input and output data with various devices via the DDC 14.

  The printer 2 includes an I / F unit 21 that transmits and receives data, a control unit 22 that controls the flow of data, a storage unit 23 that stores data, an image processing unit 24 that performs image processing of print data, and ink. And a printing unit 25 that performs printing by discharging. The printer 2 is a general ink jet printer that generates prints by disassembling print data so as to correspond to ink droplets for each nozzle of an ink jet recording head and ejecting ink onto a recording medium such as roll paper or cut paper. It has a typical function.

  The colorimeter 3 includes a color measurement unit 31, a calculation unit 32, a control unit 33, a storage unit 34, and an I / F unit 35. For example, the color measurement unit 31 measures the color measurement object by irradiating the color measurement object with light and dispersing the reflected light to obtain spectral data for each predetermined wavelength. The calculation unit 32 converts spectral data. The calculation unit 32 converts the spectral data into conversion values such as CIEXYZ, CIE L * a * b *, and Density, for example, although it varies depending on the purpose of conversion. The colorimeter 3 is not limited to this, and can be replaced if it is a general spectral colorimeter capable of acquiring spectral data.

  Here, the printer 2 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an ink jet recording apparatus which is an example of the printer 2. 2A is an external perspective view of the ink jet recording apparatus, and FIG. 2B is a perspective view showing a state in which the upper cover of the ink jet recording apparatus is removed.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the printer 2 includes two legs 93, an apparatus main body 94 supported by the legs 93, a stacker 90 on which discharged recording media are stacked, and an upper that can be opened and closed. And a cover 91. An operation panel unit 6 and an ink supply unit 8 are disposed on the right side of the apparatus main body 94, and a control unit 5 is disposed on the back side of the operation panel unit 6.

  Further, a manual insertion port 88 is provided on the front surface of the printer 2, and a roll paper cassette 89 that can be opened and closed to the front surface is provided below the manual insertion port 88. As for the recording medium, cut paper is supplied from a manual insertion slot 88 and roll paper is supplied from a roll paper cassette 89 to the inside of the printer.

  As shown in FIG. 2B, the printer 2 includes a conveyance roller 70 for conveying the recording medium in the arrow B direction (sub-scanning direction), and the width direction of the recording medium (arrow A direction, main scanning direction). ) Is provided with a carriage unit 4 (hereinafter referred to as a carriage) that is guided and supported so as to be reciprocally movable. An ink jet recording head (hereinafter, recording head) 41 is mounted on the carriage 4. In order to perform color recording on a recording medium, a recording head 41 including four head nozzle rows is mounted on the carriage 4 of this embodiment in correspondence with four color inks. Specifically, the recording head 41 includes a K head nozzle row for ejecting K (black) ink, a C head nozzle row for ejecting C (cyan) ink, an M head nozzle row for ejecting M (magenta) ink, and Y It is composed of a Y head nozzle row that ejects (yellow) ink. Due to such a configuration, the ink supply unit 8 includes four ink tanks for storing K ink, C ink, M ink, and Y ink, respectively. Ink ejection failure due to clogging of the ejection port of the recording head 41 is eliminated by the recovery unit 9.

  When recording on the recording medium by the printer 2, first, the recording medium is conveyed to a predetermined recording start position by the conveyance roller 70. Recording is performed on the entire recording medium by repeating the operation of causing the recording head 41 to scan in the main scanning direction by the carriage 4 and the operation of conveying the recording medium in the sub-scanning direction by the conveyance roller 70. At this time, the carriage 4 is moved in the direction of arrow A shown in FIG. 2B by the belt 270 and the carriage motor, whereby recording is performed on the recording medium. When the carriage 4 is returned to the position before being scanned (home position), the recording medium is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction by the conveying roller 70, and then the carriage is again scanned in the direction of arrow A in FIG. As a result, images, characters, etc. are recorded on the recording medium. When the above operation is repeated and the recording of one recording medium is completed, the recording medium is discharged into the stacker 90 (after being cut by a cutter (not shown) in the case of roll paper), for example, A0. Recording for one sheet is completed.

  The printer 2 having the above-described configuration has a plurality of print modes (print conditions). For example, the printer 2 is provided with a mode in which the image quality differs from the recording speed (hereinafter also simply referred to as “speed”). Examples of the print mode include three modes: a fast mode (speed: fast, image quality: normal), a normal mode (speed: normal, image quality: slightly clean), and a clean mode (speed: slightly slow, image quality: clean). .

  Here, typical parameters (scanning speed, number of scans, print resolution) for setting a plurality of print modes having different speed and image quality will be described.

  The scanning speed means the speed of the recording head (liquid ejecting head) 41 in the main scanning direction, that is, the speed of the carriage 4 in the main scanning direction. If the scanning speed is high, the recording speed is high, but the accuracy of dropping ink from the recording head 41 to a predetermined position on the recording medium (hereinafter referred to as landing accuracy) is reduced, so that the image quality is lowered. Conversely, if the scanning speed is slowed down, the recording speed is slow, but the landing accuracy is improved and the image quality is improved.

  The number of scans means scanning in the main scanning direction of the carriage 4 necessary for recording with the same width as the recording width on the recording medium by one movement of the recording head 41 in one scanning (one pass). Represents the number of times. For example, in the case of 8 scans (8 passes), in the case of 1 scan (1 pass), recording of a width to be recorded on the recording medium by moving the recording head 41 once is performed by moving the recording head 8 times. In this case, when the number of passes changes, the density of the image recorded on the recording medium differs in printing.

  The print resolution is determined by the number of dots that can be expressed in a predetermined area on the recording medium. For example, in the case of 2400 × 1200 dpi, this indicates that printing in the main scanning direction can be 2400 dots per inch and printing in the sub-scanning direction can be 1200 dots. Assuming that the size of the ink droplets ejected from the recording head 41 is the same, comparing 1200 × 1200 dpi and 2400 × 1200 dpi, 2400 × 1200 dpi is twice as large as 1200 × 1200 dpi for a 1 × 1 inch area. Will be discharged. For this reason, the density of the image recorded on the recording medium is higher at 2400 × 1200 dpi.

  As described above, even in a printer configuration using the same recording head and ink, the image density when ink is ejected to a recording medium varies depending on the recording method. In other words, in order to perform calibration with high accuracy, it is necessary to execute an optimum calibration for each recording method.

  Here, the calibration method of the image processing system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 is a flowchart of calibration in the image processing system according to the first embodiment, FIG. 4 is a calibration chart according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a data flow of the entire image processing system according to the first embodiment. .

  First, in step 101 shown in FIG. 3, the printer 2 is used to print the first patch chart by the first printing method. The first patch chart is, for example, a patch chart shown in region A of the calibration chart shown in FIG. That is, in the first printing method, for example, a first patch chart having 11 gradations for each ink color of C, M, Y, and K is printed. The gradation according to the present embodiment is a density gradation. Further, the printing method here refers to the recording method described above, and the first recording method and the second printing method are different in the recording method described above. Hereinafter, the case where there is a difference in print resolution as a printing method will be described. In the present embodiment, 2400 × 1200 dpi is the first printing method, and 1200 × 1200 dpi is the second printing method.

  In step 102, the printer 2 is used to print the second patch chart by the second printing method. The second patch chart is, for example, a patch chart shown in a region B of the calibration chart shown in FIG. That is, in the second printing method, for example, a second patch chart having two gradations is printed for each ink color of C, M, Y, and K. At this time, in order to improve the accuracy of patch chart interpolation, which will be described later, the gradation values are printed at 50% and 100%.

  Although the first patch chart and the second patch chart may be printed on different recording media, they are recorded on the same recording medium in this embodiment. By recording on the same recording medium, the printing and colorimetric flows can be executed at once.

  Here, the printing operation of the printer 2 will be described with reference to FIG. Regarding the operation of the printer 2, only a simple flow necessary for the description of the present embodiment is described, and a general method of printer operation can be applied to the omitted flow. Printing is started at step 201, and the control unit 22 acquires print data via the I / F unit 21 at step 202. The acquired print data is temporarily stored in the storage unit 23. In step 203, the image processing unit 24 performs image processing. Image processing here refers to conversion of acquired print data into data in dot units that can eject ink droplets from an ink head. Next, the print data processed in step 204 is printed by the printing unit 25. In step 205, printing is completed.

  Returning to FIG. 3, in step 103, the colorimeter 3 performs colorimetry on the printed first patch chart and second patch chart. Here, the operation of the colorimeter 3 will be described with reference to FIG. Regarding the operation of the colorimeter 3, only a simple flow necessary for the present embodiment is described, and a general method can be applied to the omitted flow. In step 301, the colorimetric operation is started. In step 302, the colorimetric unit 31 measures the colorimetric values of the color chart, and the control unit 22 acquires the spectral data obtained by the measurement via the I / F unit 35. . The acquired spectral data is stored in the storage unit 34. In step 303, colorimetric data (L * a * b *, XYZ, density, etc.) is calculated from the obtained spectral data. In the present embodiment, density is used as colorimetric data. The color measurement data is transmitted from the I / F unit 35 to the computer 1, and the color measurement is completed in step 304.

  In step 104, the computer 1 uses the first patch chart colorimetric values (hereinafter also referred to as “first colorimetric values”) printed by the first printing method acquired in step 103 and the second printing method. Is interpolated when the first patch chart is printed with the second printing method, based on the correspondence with the colorimetric values (hereinafter also referred to as “second colorimetric values”) of the second patch chart printed in step 1. A calorimetric value (also referred to as an interpolation value) of a power gradation value is calculated. A patch chart interpolation method will be described later. Accordingly, 11 gradations for each of the C, M, Y, and K ink colors printed by the first printing method (printing resolution is 2400 × 1200 dpi) and the second printing method (printing resolution is 1200 × 1200 dpi), respectively. Minute color measurement data can be acquired.

  In step 105, using the colorimetric data of the first patch chart acquired in step 103, a correction table for the first printing method for setting the target density is created.

  In step 106, the second printing method for setting the target density using the colorimetric data of the second patch chart acquired in step 103 and the colorimetric data (interpolated value) calculated in step 104 is used. Create a correction table.

  In normal printing, the computer 1 performs color calibration for each ink color of print data to be printed based on the correction table for the first printing method and the correction table for the second printing method, Instruct to print.

  The data flow of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a data flow of the entire image processing system according to the first embodiment.

  First, image data of the calibration chart 101 shown in FIG. 4, that is, image data of the first patch chart and the second patch chart is created by the computer 1.

  Next, the printer 2 prints the first patch chart by the first printing method and the second patch chart by the second printing method.

  Then, the calorimeter 3 measures the color of the printed calibration chart (first patch chart and second patch chart) 102.

  Next, the calibration correction table 105 of the first printing method is created by the computer 1 using the colorimetric values 103 of the first patch chart. Also, the calibration correction table 106 of the second printing method is created by the computer 1 using the colorimetric values 103 of the first patch chart and the colorimetric values 104 of the second patch chart.

  At the time of printing, after performing color calibration based on the calibration correction table 105 of the first printing method and the calibration correction table 106 of the second printing method, printing is performed.

  Here, with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, an example of a method for calculating the colorimetric value (interpolated value) of the gradation value to be interpolated in the first patch chart when printed by the second printing method will be described in detail. explain. FIG. 7 is a flowchart of patch interpolation, and FIG. 8 is an image diagram of patch interpolation.

  As shown in FIG. 7, in step 401, the flow of patch interpolation is started.

  In step 402, the colorimetric value DenA of the patch chart obtained by recording the first patch chart (11 gradations) by the first printing method is acquired. In FIG. 8, the circle of line A corresponds to the colorimetric value DenA of the first patch chart. In the present embodiment, a total of 11 colorimetric values DenA are acquired as shown in FIG.

  In step 403, the colorimetric value DenB of the patch chart in which the second patch chart (for two gradations) is recorded by the second printing method is acquired. In FIG. 8, the circle indicated by the solid line B corresponds to the colorimetric value DenB of the patch chart. In this embodiment, two colorimetric values DenB are acquired as shown in FIG.

In step 404, the colorimetric values acquired in step 402 and the colorimetric values acquired in step 403 are compared with the density values of the same gradation value. That is, the colorimetric values of the two gradation values of the second patch chart are compared with the colorimetric values of the same gradation value of the first patch chart. In this embodiment, since only the density values (DenB ₅₀ , DenB ₁₀₀ ) of the gradation values of 50% and 100% are acquired in step 403, 50% of the 11 gradations acquired in step 402 The density values (DenA ₅₀ , DenA ₁₀₀ ) of the gradation value of 100% are respectively compared.

In step 405, using the comparison result of step 404, density values other than the density values of DenB 50% and 100% (DenB ₁₀ , DenB ₂₀ , DenB ₃₀ , DenB ₄₀ , DenB ₆₀ , DenB ₇₀ , DenB ₈₀ , DenB ₉₀ ) is calculated by interpolation.

  When the gradation value is 10% to 40%, the density value is calculated from the following equation (1). When the gradation value is 60 to 90%, the density value is calculated from the following (2).

  As described above, from the correspondence between the colorimetric values of the first patch chart printed by the first printing method and the colorimetric values of the second patch chart printed by the second printing method, the first Colorimetric values when a patch chart (11 gradations) is recorded by the second printing method are calculated.

  As described above, when two calibrations with different printing methods are executed, the number of patches in the patch chart of another calibration can be reduced by using the colorimetric data of one calibration. Thereby, it is possible to reduce the recording medium and ink consumption while maintaining the printing accuracy. Further, it is possible to reduce the capacity of a memory for storing a patch chart necessary for calibration. Furthermore, calibration time can be reduced.

(Embodiment 2)
In the second embodiment, calibration is performed according to the difference in the used nozzle position of the recording head 41.

  First, the difference in recording density with respect to the difference in the used nozzle position of the recording head 41 will be described. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of calibration according to the second embodiment. Since the flow other than the difference in printing method is the same as that in the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the recording head 41 has an ink nozzle row for each of C, M, Y, and K ink colors. Normally, printing is performed using all the nozzles, but depending on the printing method, only some of the nozzles in the ink nozzle row may be used. Here, a case where only the upper half nozzle is used will be described as an example. In general, it is known that the amount of ink discharged may decrease each time the discharge port (hole through which ink is discharged) of the ink nozzle row is used. When a printing method that uses all the nozzles in one recording head and a printing method that uses only the upper half nozzles are mixed, the upper half nozzles are used more frequently, and as a result, the recording density is higher in the upper half nozzles. It will be thinner.

  FIG. 9A is a relationship diagram between the gradation value and the density value at the start of use of the recording head. Assuming that the discharge heads in the ink nozzle row have almost the same discharge level, the recording head in the initial state prints twice with the upper half of the nozzle and the transition of the density of the gradation patches printed by all the nozzles. The change in the density of the gradation patch is almost the same.

  FIG. 9B shows the transition of the density of the gradation patch in a state where only the upper half nozzle is used for a while and only the upper half nozzle is deteriorated. As shown in FIG. 9B, when printing is performed twice with the upper half nozzles, the density is lower than when printing is performed with all the nozzles.

  Even in such a case, the present invention can be applied. That is, calibration can be performed by the same method as in the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, the difference in printing resolution is the difference in printing method, but in this embodiment, the difference in the number of used nozzles may be the difference in printing method. Specifically, the region A of the calibration chart of FIG. 4 may be printed using all the nozzles, and the region B may be printed using the upper half nozzles.

  As a result, it is possible to reduce the amount of recording medium and ink used, while maintaining printing accuracy, rather than executing calibration in each case. Further, it is possible to reduce the storage amount necessary for executing the calibration. Furthermore, calibration time can be reduced.

(Other embodiments)
As mentioned above, although each embodiment of this invention was described, the basic composition of this invention is not limited to what was mentioned above.

  In the above-described embodiment, the first patch chart has 11 gradations and the second patch chart has 2 gradations. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the second patch chart is the first patch chart. What is necessary is just to reduce the number of patches.

  In the first and second embodiments, the second patch chart includes the highest gradation value (100%) as the gradation value of the patch. However, it may not be included. In addition, since the second patch chart includes the highest gradation value as the gradation value of the patch, calibration with higher accuracy can be performed.

  Although the difference in scanning speed, the number of scans, the printing resolution, and the number of used nozzles has been described as the difference in printing method, of course, the present invention also applies to the case where there are differences in other printing methods such as the difference in used nozzle position. Can be applied. Further, although the case where any one of the printing methods is different has been described, of course, two or more printing methods may be different.

  In the first embodiment, the first patch chart and the second patch chart are printed on the same recording medium and the colorimetry is performed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the first patch chart and the second patch chart are printed on the other recording medium. A patch chart and a second patch chart may be printed. In this case, it is preferable to print on the same type of recording medium.

  In the first embodiment, the second patch chart is printed after the first patch chart is printed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the printing order of the first patch chart and the second patch chart is not limited thereto. May be reversed, and printing may be performed simultaneously.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the calibration of the first printing method and the second printing method is performed simultaneously has been described. However, according to the present invention, the calibration of three or more printing methods can be performed simultaneously. . In this case, if the Nth patch chart in which the number of patches is reduced from the first patchchart by N types of printing methods (N = an integer greater than or equal to 3) is printed, and the colorimetry of the printed N types of charts is performed. Good. Then, from the correspondence between the colorimetric value of the first patch chart and the colorimetric value of the Nth patch chart, the colorimetric value when the first patch chart is printed by N types of printing methods is calculated, Color calibration may be performed based on the calculated colorimetric values.

  In the present embodiment, the patch chart changes the density as a gradation change, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, Lab brightness and chromaticity may be changed.

  In the first embodiment, the calibration including patch interpolation is performed by the computer 1, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, if the printer 2 and the colorimeter 3 can realize the same processing function, the computer 1 may be replaced with each device having the above-described functions. FIG. 10 is a modification of the image processing system. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the already demonstrated part and duplication description is abbreviate | omitted. In FIG. 10, the printer 2 has the functions of the computer 1 and the colorimeter 3. Therefore, when the printer 2 is configured as shown in FIG. 10, calibration including patch interpolation can be performed by the printer 2. Of course, the printer 2 may include only one of the functions of the computer 1 and the colorimeter 3. In any case, the present invention is applicable.

  That is, in this embodiment, functions may be appropriately shared by a plurality of devices, or some or all may be integrated into one device.

  In the first exemplary embodiment, the ink jet recording apparatus including the ink jet recording head has been described as an example. However, the present invention may be applied to calibration of a liquid ejecting apparatus including a liquid ejecting head that ejects a recording agent other than ink. it can. The present invention can also be applied to calibration of an image output apparatus other than the liquid ejecting apparatus, and for example, can be applied to calibration of a printing apparatus such as electrophotography.

  Moreover, this embodiment is implement | achieved also by performing the following processes. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus reads and executes the program. It is processing to do. Further, the program may be executed by one computer or may be executed in conjunction with a plurality of computers. Moreover, it is not necessary to implement all of the above-described processing by software, and part or all of the processing may be implemented by hardware.

1 Computer 2 Printer 3 Colorimeter 101 First Patch Chart and Second Patch Chart (Data)
102 First patch chart and second patch chart (printed matter)
103 Colorimetric values of the first patch chart 104 Colorimetric values of the second patch chart 105 Calibration correction table of the first printing method 106 Calibration correction table of the second printing method

Claims (7)

A first colorimetric value obtained by printing a first patch chart composed of colors of at least two gradations on a recording medium using a recording agent by a first printing method and obtaining a first colorimetric value is obtained. Colorimetric value acquisition means of
A second patch chart in which the number of patches is reduced from the first patch chart is measured by printing on a recording medium using a recording agent by a second printing method different from the first printing method. Second colorimetric value acquisition means for acquiring the colorimetric value of
From the correspondence between the first colorimetric value and the second colorimetric value, calculation means for calculating the colorimetric value when the first patch chart is printed by the second printing method;
First correction table creating means for creating a correction table for the first printing method based on the first colorimetric value;
Second correction table creating means for creating a correction table for the second printing method based on the second colorimetric value and the colorimetric value calculated in the calculating step;
A calibration apparatus comprising:   The calibration apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second printing method is different from the first printing method in at least one of the number of used nozzles and the used nozzle position of the liquid ejecting head. Equipment.   2. The calibration device according to claim 1, wherein the second printing method is different from the first printing method in at least one of a scanning number of the liquid ejecting head, a scanning speed of the liquid ejecting head, and a printing resolution. A calibration apparatus characterized by that.   4. The calibration device according to claim 1, wherein the first color measurement value and the second color measurement value are the same as the first patch chart and the second patch chart. 5. A calibration apparatus characterized in that it is a value obtained by printing on a recording medium and measuring.   5. The calibration apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a gradation value of a patch of the second patch chart includes a highest gradation value. 6. A first colorimetric value obtained by printing a first patch chart composed of colors of at least two gradations on a recording medium using a recording agent by a first printing method and obtaining a first colorimetric value is obtained. The colorimetric value acquisition process of
A second patch chart in which the number of patches is reduced from the first patch chart is measured by printing on a recording medium using a recording agent by a second printing method different from the first printing method. A second colorimetric value acquisition step of acquiring a colorimetric value of
From the correspondence between the first colorimetric value and the second colorimetric value, a calculation step of calculating the colorimetric value when the first patch chart is printed by the second printing method;
A first correction table creating step for creating a correction table for the first printing method based on the first colorimetric value;
A second correction table creating step for creating a correction table for the second printing method based on the second colorimetric value and the colorimetric value calculated in the calculating step;
A calibration method comprising:   A program for executing the calibration method according to claim 6 by a computer.

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