JP2013218222A - Print control device, and print control system and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a print control device capable of improving glossiness by clear toner without using a special device for improving glossiness, and a print control system and program.SOLUTION: A DEF includes a replacement unit 310 and a creation unit 311. The replacement unit 310 replaces a density value of a second area outside a first area that is set to a density value corresponding to a first surface effect for achieving glossiness equal to or more than a first threshold with a density value corresponding to a second surface effect for achieving glossiness equal to or less than a second threshold that is smaller than the first threshold, in glossiness control version data that identifies the type of a surface effect applied to a recording medium and an area in the recording medium to which the surface effect is applied. The creation unit 311 creates clear toner version data on the basis of the glossiness control version data subjected to the replacement by the replacement unit 310.

Description

  The present invention relates to a print control apparatus, a print control system, and a program.

  In color laser printers, in addition to normal printing, which uses four colored toners of C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black), colorless clear toner is used, and gloss (gloss) and matte are used. Printing with the effect of (matte) is already known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for further enhancing glossiness by using a glosser (cooling peeling fixing device) which is an optional post-processing machine.

  However, in the prior art, it is necessary to install an expensive post-processing machine (for example, a glosser) in order to enhance the glossiness, so there is a problem that the cost increases and the configuration becomes complicated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and a printing control apparatus, a printing control system, and a printing control apparatus capable of improving glossiness by clear toner without using a special device for improving glossiness The purpose is to provide a program.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention relates to a print control apparatus that generates image data, the type of surface effect to be applied to a recording medium and the recording medium to which the surface effect is applied. Of the gloss control plane data specifying the area, the density value of the second area outside the first area set to the density value corresponding to the first surface effect that realizes the glossiness equal to or higher than the first threshold is set to the first value. Based on the replacement means for replacing with a density value corresponding to the second surface effect that realizes a gloss level equal to or smaller than a second threshold value that is smaller than one threshold value, and the gloss control plane data that has been replaced by the replacement means, the image And generating means for generating data.

  Further, the present invention is a print control system for generating image data, and among the gloss control plane data for specifying the type of the surface effect to be applied to the recording medium and the area on the recording medium to which the surface effect is applied. The density value of the second area outside the first area set to the density value corresponding to the first surface effect that realizes the glossiness of one threshold or more is equal to or less than the second threshold smaller than the first threshold. Replacement means for replacing with a density value corresponding to the second surface effect to realize the above, and generation means for generating the image data based on the gloss control plane data subjected to replacement by the replacement means. It is characterized by.

  Further, the present invention relates to the gloss control plane data based on the density value set in the gloss control plane data for specifying the type of surface effect to be applied to the recording medium and the area on the recording medium to which the surface effect is applied. Among them, the density value of the second area outside the first area set to the density value corresponding to the first surface effect that realizes the glossiness equal to or higher than the first threshold value is equal to or smaller than the second threshold value smaller than the first threshold value. A replacement step for replacing the density value corresponding to the second surface effect to achieve the glossiness of the image, and a generation step for generating image data based on the gloss control plane data subjected to the replacement in the replacement step. A program for causing a computer to execute.

  According to the present invention, the glossiness by the clear toner can be improved without using a special device for improving the glossiness.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a print control system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of color plane image data. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating types of surface effects relating to the presence or absence of gloss. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the gloss effect. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the matte effect. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the gloss control plane image data as an image. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of clear plane image data. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the density value selection table. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a correspondence relationship between a drawing object, coordinates, and density values. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram conceptually illustrating a configuration example of print data. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of DFE. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration of the surface effect selection table. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a comparison between the surface effect type specified in the embodiment, the clear toner plane image data used in the printer, and the actually obtained surface effect. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a detailed configuration example of the clear toner plane generation unit. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of part of image data divided by cells. FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of the result of the replacement process performed on the target cell. FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating an example of replacement processing performed by the replacement unit. FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating an example of gloss control processing performed by the print control system. FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the conversion process of the gloss control plane image data. FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image including a first region to which a mirror effect is given. FIG. 21 is a diagram conceptually illustrating an example in which the matte effect is applied to the second region surrounding the first region to which the mirror effect is applied. FIG. 22 is a diagram schematically showing a partial area including the first area where the mirror effect is given in the image of FIG. 20 and the toner amount on an arbitrary straight line crossing the partial area. FIG. 23 is a conceptual diagram showing that the toner total adhesion amount on the surface of the recording medium on which the first area is formed becomes constant by applying an inverse mask to the first area where the specular gloss is given. . FIG. 24 is a conceptual diagram showing that the mat is applied to the second region surrounding the first region to which the mirror effect is given by performing the replacement process. FIG. 25 is a flowchart illustrating an example of replacement processing performed by the replacement unit. FIG. 26 is a diagram schematically illustrating a part of the gloss control plane data after the replacement process is performed. FIG. 27 is a diagram conceptually illustrating an example in which the matte effect is given to each of the second region surrounding the first region to which the mirror effect is given and the third region surrounding the second region. FIG. 28 is a diagram schematically illustrating the toner amount on an arbitrary straight line crossing the first region, the second region, and the third region in the image of FIG. FIG. 29 is a diagram schematically illustrating a part of the gloss control plane data after the replacement processing of the modification example is performed. FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a print control system according to the third embodiment. FIG. 31 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the server apparatus according to the third embodiment. FIG. 32 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the DFE of the third embodiment. FIG. 33 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure performed by the DFE according to the third embodiment. FIG. 34 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure performed by the server device according to the third embodiment. FIG. 35 is a network configuration diagram in which two server devices are provided on the cloud. FIG. 36 is a hardware configuration diagram of the host device, the DFE, and the server device.

  Exemplary embodiments of a print control apparatus, a print control system, and a program according to the present invention will be explained below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a print control system 1 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the print control system 1 includes a host device 10 and an image forming apparatus 100. The image forming apparatus 100 is configured by connecting a control device (DFE: Digital Front End) 20, an interface controller (MIC: Mechanism I / F Controller) 30, and a printer 40.

  The DFE 20 communicates with the printer 40 via the MIC 30 and controls image formation in the printer 40. The DFE 20 is connected to a host device 10 such as a PC (Personal Computer). The DFE 20 receives the image data from the host device 10 and uses the image data to generate image data for the printer 40 to form a toner image corresponding to each CMYK toner and clear toner. The data is transmitted to the printer 40 via the MIC 30. The printer 40 is equipped with at least CMYK toners and clear toners. For each toner, an image forming unit including a photoconductor, a charger, a developer, and a photoconductor cleaner, an exposure device, and a fixing device are provided. Each is installed.

  Here, the clear toner is a transparent (colorless) toner that does not contain a color material. In addition, transparent (colorless) shows that the transmittance | permeability is 70% or more, for example.

  In response to the image data transmitted from the DFE 20 via the MIC 30, the printer 40 irradiates a light beam from the exposure device to form a toner image corresponding to each toner on the photoconductor, and forms the toner image on paper or the like. The image is transferred to a recording medium and fixed by heating and pressing at a temperature within a predetermined range (normal temperature) by a fixing device. As a result, an image is formed on the recording medium. Since the configuration of the printer 40 is well known, detailed description thereof is omitted here. The recording medium is not limited to paper, and may be, for example, synthetic paper or vinyl.

  Here, image data (original data) input from the host device 10 will be described. In the host device 10, image data is generated by an image processing application (an image processing unit 120, a plate data generation unit 122, a print data generation unit 123, which will be described later) installed in advance and transmitted to the DFE 20. In such an image processing application, it is possible to handle the image data of the special color version with respect to the image data in which the density value (referred to as the density value) of each color in each color version such as the RGB version or the CMYK version is defined for each pixel. It is. The special color plate is image data for attaching special toners and inks such as white, gold, and silver in addition to basic colors such as CMYK and RGB, and is equipped with such special toners and inks. Data for printers. In the special color plate, R may be added to the basic colors of CMYK or Y may be added to the basic colors of RGB in order to improve color reproducibility. Usually, clear toner is also handled as one of the special colors.

  In the present embodiment, the clear toner as the special color is used to form a surface effect that is a visual or tactile effect applied to the recording medium, and a watermark or texture other than the surface effect is formed on the recording medium. It is used to form a transparent image.

  For this reason, the image processing application of the host device 10 applies the gloss control plane image data and / or the specified color image data to the input image data as a special color plane image data and / or as specified by the user. Clear image data is generated.

  Here, the color plane image data (hereinafter may be referred to as “color plane data”) is image data that defines color density values such as RGB and CMYK for each pixel. In the color plane image data, one pixel is expressed by 8 bits according to the color designation by the user. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the color plane data. In FIG. 2, a density value corresponding to the color designated by the user in the image processing application is assigned to each drawing object such as “A”, “B”, and “C”.

  Further, the gloss control plane image data is an area on the recording medium to which the surface effect is applied in order to perform control for attaching the clear toner according to the surface effect that is a visual or tactile effect applied to the recording medium. And image data specifying the type of the surface effect.

  This gloss control plane is represented by a density value in the range of “0” to “255” with 8 bits for each pixel as in the color version such as RGB or CMYK, and the type of surface effect is associated with this density value. (The density value may be 16 bits, 32 bits, or 0-100%). In addition, since the same value is set in the range where the same surface effect is to be applied regardless of the density of the clear toner that is actually attached, the area can be easily determined from the image data as needed even if there is no data indicating the area. Can be identified. That is, the type of surface effect and the area to which the surface effect is given are represented by the gloss control plate (data representing the area may be separately provided).

  Here, the host device 10 sets the type of surface effect for the drawing object specified by the user through the image processing application as a density value as the gloss control value for each drawing object, and the vector format gloss control version image data ( Hereinafter, it may be referred to as “gloss control plane data”).

  Each pixel constituting the gloss control plane data corresponds to a pixel of color plane image data. In each image data, the density value represented by each pixel is a pixel value. Both the color plane image data and the gloss control plane are configured in units of pages.

  The types of surface effects are roughly classified into those relating to the presence or absence of gloss, surface protection, watermarks with embedded information, and textures. As illustrated in FIG. 3, there are roughly four types of surface effects relating to the presence or absence of gloss, and the specular gloss (PG: Premium Gloss) and solid gloss (G: Gloss) are in descending order of the degree of gloss (glossiness). ), Halftone dot mat (M: Matt), and matte (PM: Premium Matt). Hereinafter, the specular gloss may be referred to as “PG”, the solid gloss as “G”, the halftone dot mat as “M”, and the matte as “PM”.

  Mirror gloss and solid gloss are highly glossy. Conversely, halftone mats and matte are used to reduce gloss, and in particular, matte is less gloss than normal recording media. Is realized. In the figure, the specular gloss has a gloss Gs of 80 or more, the solid gloss is a solid gloss of primary or secondary color, the halftone dot is a primary color, and the gloss is 30% of the halftone, and the matte is gloss. Degree of 10 or less. Further, the deviation of the glossiness is represented by ΔGs and is 10 or less. For each type of surface effect, a high density value is associated with a surface effect having a high degree of glossiness, and a low density value is associated with a surface effect that suppresses gloss. The intermediate density value is associated with a surface effect such as a watermark or texture. As the watermark, for example, a character or a background pattern is used. The texture represents a character or a pattern, and can provide a tactile effect as well as a visual effect. For example, a stained glass pattern can be realized with clear toner. For surface protection, mirror gloss or solid gloss is substituted. It should be noted that which region of the image represented by the image data to be processed is given a surface effect and what kind of surface effect is given to that region is specified by the user via the image processing application. In the host device 10 that executes the image processing application, the gloss control plane image data is generated by setting the density value corresponding to the surface effect specified by the user for the drawing object constituting the area specified by the user. Is done. The correspondence between the density value and the type of surface effect will be described later.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the gloss effect. FIG. 4 shows changes in density when an image is scanned at an arbitrary position. For each plate of 8 bits (0 to 255) of the image data CMYK, a sum C + M + Y + K of toner density values per pixel is calculated. Then, a difference from 255 × 4 = 1220 of this value is calculated, and this becomes an inverse mask, which is an amount to which clear toner is attached. By superimposing the inverse mask on the original image, the glossy region can be obtained by making the total toner adhesion amount uniform. Details of the inverse mask will be described later.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the matte effect. FIG. 5 shows changes in density when an image is scanned at an arbitrary position. Since each of the CMYK colored toners is uniform, if gloss is obtained, the total amount of toner adhesion is originally uniform when a matte mat with a non-uniform density as shown in FIG. It becomes uneven. For this reason, the effect of erasing can be obtained as the gloss is generated. Such a halftone dot mat is stored in the DFE 50 as pattern data, and is developed in the pattern data area in units of pixels.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of image data of the gloss control plane. In the example of the gloss control version of FIG. 6, the surface effect “PG (specular gloss)” is given to the drawing object “ABC” by the user, and the surface effect “G (solid gloss)” is given to the drawing object “(rectangular figure)”. ”Is given, and the surface effect“ M (halftone matte) ”is given to the drawing object“ (circular figure) ”. The density value (gloss control value) set for each surface effect is a density value determined in accordance with the type of surface effect in a surface effect selection table (see FIG. 13) described later.

  The clear plane image data (hereinafter may be referred to as “clear plane data”) is image data specifying a transparent image such as a watermark or texture other than the surface effect. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of clear plane image data. In the example of FIG. 7, the watermark “Sale” is designated by the user.

  In this way, the gloss control plane image data and the clear plane image data, which are the image data of the special color plane, are generated by the image processing application of the host device 10 in a plane different from the color plane image data. In addition, the format of each color image data, gloss control image data, and clear image data is PDF (Portable Document Format), but the PDF image data of each version is integrated. Is generated as document data. Note that the data format of each version of the image data is not limited to PDF, and any format can be used.

  The host device 10 generates color plane image data and clear plane image data by an image processing application according to a user instruction. Further, the host device 10 generates image data of a gloss control plane in which an area designated by the user and a surface effect are set by an image processing application or plug-in software thereof.

  The host device 10 stores a density value selection table for storing the type of surface effect designated by the user and the density value of the gloss control plate corresponding to the type of surface effect in a storage unit (not shown). Yes. The image processing application or its plug-in software generates gloss control plane image data using this density value selection table.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the density value selection table. In the example of FIG. 8, the density value of the gloss control plane corresponding to the area for which “PG” (specular gloss) is designated by the user is “98%”, and the area for which “G” (solid gloss) is designated. The density value of the corresponding gloss control plane is “90%”, the density value of the gloss control plane corresponding to the area where “M” (halftone matte) is designated is “16%”, and “PM” ( The density value of the gloss control plane corresponding to the area designated “matt” is “6%”.

  This density value selection table is a part of data of a surface effect selection table (described later) stored in the DFE 20, and the control unit of the host device 10 acquires the surface effect selection table at a predetermined timing. Generated from the surface effect selection table and stored in the storage unit. The surface effect selection table is stored in a storage server (cloud) on a network such as the Internet, and the control unit of the host device 10 acquires the surface effect selection table from the server, and from the acquired surface effect selection table. You may comprise so that it may produce | generate. However, the surface effect selection table stored in the DFE 20 and the surface effect selection table stored in the storage unit of the host device 10 need to be the same data.

  The host device 10 refers to the density value selection table shown in FIG. 8 and changes the density value (gloss control value) of the drawing object for which a predetermined surface effect is designated by the user to a value corresponding to the type of the surface effect. By setting, gloss control image data is generated. For example, in the target image that is the color plane image data shown in FIG. 2, the user sets “PG” in the area where “ABC” is displayed, “G” in the rectangular area, and “M” in the circular area. Assume that it is specified to be given. In this case, the host device 10 sets the density value of the drawing object (“ABC”) for which “PG” is designated by the user to “98%” and the drawing object for which “G” is designated (“rectangle”). Is set to “90%”, and the density value of the drawing object (“circular”) for which “M” is designated is set to “16%”, thereby generating gloss control image data. The generated gloss control plane image data is vector format data expressed as a set of drawing objects that indicate the coordinates of the points, the parameters of the lines and surfaces that connect them, and the fill and special effects. . FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a correspondence relationship between a drawing object, coordinates, and density values in the gloss control plane image data of FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the image data of the gloss control plane as an image. Then, original data in which the gloss control plane image data, the image data of the target image (colored plane image data), and the clear plane image data are integrated is generated.

  Then, the host device 10 generates print data based on the document data. The print data includes image data of the target image (colored image data), gloss control image data, clear image data, printer settings, aggregation settings, duplex settings, etc. for the printer. Job command to be specified. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram conceptually illustrating a configuration example of print data. In the example of FIG. 10, JDF (Job Definition Format) is used as the job command, but the job command is not limited to this. The JDF shown in FIG. 10 is a command that designates “single-sided printing / stapling” as the aggregation setting. Further, the print data may be converted into a page description language (PDL) such as PostScript, or may be in the PDF format as long as the DFE 20 supports it. In the following, for the sake of convenience of explanation, a case where clear image data is not included in print data will be described as an example.

  Next, a functional configuration of the DFE 20 will be described. As illustrated in FIG. 11, the DFE 20 includes a rendering engine 201, an si1 unit 202, a color processing 203, an si2 unit 204, a halftone engine 205, a clear processing 206, and an si3 unit 207. .

  The rendering engine 201 receives print data transmitted from the host device 10. The rendering engine 201 interprets input print data in a language, converts image data expressed in a vector format into a raster format, and converts a color space expressed in an RGB format or the like into a CMYK format color space. The 8-bit image data and 8-bit gloss control plane data of the CMYK color plane are output. The si1 unit 202 outputs CMYK 8-bit image data to the color processing 203, and outputs an 8-bit gloss control plane to the clear processing 206.

  Here, the DFE 20 converts the vector-format gloss control plane image data output from the host device 10 into a raster format. As a result, the DFE 50 selects the type of surface effect for the drawing object specified by the user using the image processing application. Are set as density values in units of pixels, and gloss control plane image data is output.

  CMYK 8-bit image data is input to the color processing 203 via the si1 unit 202. The color processing 203 performs gamma correction on the input image data using a 1D_LUT gamma curve generated by calibration. The image processing includes not only gamma correction but also restriction on the total amount of toner, but is omitted in the example of this embodiment. The total amount restriction is a process of restricting CMYK 8-bit image data after gamma correction because there is a limit to the amount of toner that can be loaded by the printer 40 in one pixel on the recording medium. Incidentally, when printing exceeds the total amount regulation, the image quality deteriorates due to transfer failure or fixing failure. In this embodiment, only the related gamma correction is taken up and described.

  The si2 unit 204 outputs CMYK 8-bit image data that has been gamma-corrected by the color processing 203 to the clear processing 206 as data for generating an inverse mask (described later). The halftone engine 205 receives 8-bit image data of CMYK after gamma correction via the si2 unit 204. The halftone engine 205 performs a halftone process for converting the input image data into a data format of image data such as 2 bits of CMYK, for example, to output the image data to the printer 40, and each CMYK after the halftone process. Outputs 2-bit image data. Note that 2 bits are an example, and the present invention is not limited to this.

  The clear processing 206 receives the 8-bit gloss control version converted by the rendering engine 201 via the si1 unit 202, and the CMYK 8-bit image data subjected to gamma correction by the color processing 203 includes si2 units. It is input via 204. The clear processing 206 uses the input gloss control plate to refer to a surface effect selection table to be described later, determines the surface effect for the density value (pixel value) represented by each pixel constituting the gloss control plate, and Depending on the determination, 2-bit clear toner plane image data (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “clear toner plane data”) for attaching clear toner is appropriately generated. The si3 unit 207 integrates each 2-bit CMYK image data after halftone processing and the 2-bit clear toner plane image data generated by the clear processing 206, and outputs the integrated image data to the MIC 30.

  Here, specific contents of the clear processing 206 will be described. As shown in FIG. 11, the clear processing 206 includes a gloss control plane storage unit 301, a surface effect selection table storage unit 302, and a clear toner plane generation unit 304.

  The gloss control plane storage unit 301 stores gloss control plane image data input from the si 1 unit 202. The surface effect selection table storage unit 302 stores a surface effect selection table described later.

  Using the input gloss control plane image data, the clear toner plane generation unit 304 refers to the surface effect selection table stored in the surface effect selection table storage unit 302 and configures the gloss control plane image data. The surface effect on the density value (pixel value) represented by each pixel is determined, and in accordance with the determination, the inverse mask and the solid mask are appropriately generated using the input 8-bit image data of CMYK. Image data of a 2-bit clear toner plane for attaching toner is appropriately generated and output.

  Here, the inverse mask is for uniformizing the total adhesion amount of the CMYK toner and the clear toner on each pixel constituting the region to which the surface effect is applied. Specifically, image data obtained by adding all density values represented by pixels constituting the target area in the CMYK version image data and subtracting the added value from a predetermined value is an inverse mask. For example, the above-described inverse mask 1 is represented by the following formula 1.

Clr = 100− (C + M + Y + K) However, when Clr <0, Clr = 0
... (Formula 1)

  In Expression 1, Clr, C, M, Y, and K represent density ratios converted from density values in the respective pixels for the clear toner and the C, M, Y, and K toners, respectively. That is, according to Equation 1, the total adhesion amount obtained by adding the adhesion amount of the clear toner to the total adhesion amount of the C, M, Y, and K toners is set to 100% for all the pixels constituting the target area to be given the surface effect. To. When the total adhesion amount of C, M, Y, and K toners is 100% or more, the clear toner is not adhered, and the density ratio is set to 0%. This is because the portion where the total adhesion amount of each toner of C, M, Y, and K exceeds 100% is smoothed by the fixing process. In this way, by making the total adhesion amount on all the pixels constituting the target area to which the surface effect is given to be 100% or more, there is no surface unevenness due to the difference in the total toner adhesion quantity in the target area. As a result, gloss due to regular reflection of light occurs. However, some inverse masks are obtained by other than Equation 1, and there can be a plurality of types of inverse masks.

For example, the inverse mask may be one in which clear toner is uniformly attached to each pixel. The inverse mask in this case is also referred to as a solid mask, and is represented by the following Expression 2.
Clr = 100 (Formula 2)

  Note that among the pixels to which the surface effect is applied, there may be a pixel associated with a density ratio other than 100%, and there may be a plurality of solid mask patterns.

For example, the inverse mask may be obtained by multiplying the background exposure rate of each color. The inverse mask in this case is expressed by the following Expression 3, for example.
Clr = 100 × {(100−C) / 100} × {(100−M) / 100} × {(100−Y) / 100} × {(100−K) / 100} (Equation 3)
In the above formula 3, (100-C) / 100 represents the background exposure rate of C, (100-M) / 100 represents the background exposure rate of M, and (100-Y) / 100 represents Y The background exposure rate is indicated, and (100−K) / 100 indicates the background exposure rate of K.

Further, for example, the inverse mask may be obtained by a method that assumes that the halftone dot of the maximum area ratio regulates smoothness. The inverse mask in this case is expressed by the following formula 4, for example.
Clr = 100−max (C, M, Y, K) (Formula 4)
In the above equation 4, max (C, M, Y, K) indicates that the density value of the color indicating the maximum density value among CMYK is a representative value.

  In short, the inverse mask only needs to be expressed by any one of the above formulas 1 to 4.

  The surface effect selection table shows the correspondence between the density value as the gloss control value indicating the surface effect and the type of the surface effect, and the clear toner plane image data (clear toner plane 1) used in the printer 40. It is a table which shows the corresponding relationship. Although the configuration of the print control system may be variously different, in the present embodiment, the post-processing device is not connected to the printer device 40. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration of the surface effect selection table. The surface effect selection table includes, for each configuration of different print control systems, control information related to the post-processing machine, clear toner plane image data used in the printer 40 and clear toner plane image data used in the post-processing machine, FIG. 12 illustrates a data configuration corresponding to the configuration of the print control system 1 according to the present embodiment, although it may be configured to show a correspondence relationship between the density value and the type of surface effect.

  In the correspondence between the types of surface effects and density values shown in FIG. 12, each type of surface effect is associated with each density value range. Further, each type of surface effect is associated with the ratio (density ratio) of the density converted from the representative value (representative value) of the density value range in units of 2%. Specifically, a surface effect (mirror effect and solid effect) that gives gloss is associated with a density value range (“212” to “255”) in which the density rate is 84% or more, and the density rate A surface effect (halftone matte and matte) that suppresses gloss is associated with a range of density values (“1” to “43”) that is 16% or less. In addition, surface effects such as textures and background pattern watermarks and user definitions are associated with a range of density values in which the density rate is 20% to 80%. In the gloss control plane, the density values in the same range are basically expressed for all the pixels constituting the region to which the effect such as the surface effect is given.

  In the example of FIG. 12, for example, specular gloss (PM: Premium Gross) is associated with the pixel values “238” to “255” as a surface effect, and among these, “238” to “242”. Different types of specular gloss are associated with the three ranges of the pixel value of “243” to “247” and the pixel value of “248” to “255”. The pixel values “212” to “232” are associated with solid gloss (G: Gross), and among these, the pixel values “212” to “216”, “217” to “232” Different types of solid glossiness are associated with the four ranges of the pixel value 221, the pixel values “222” to “227”, and the pixel values “228” to “232”. The pixel values “23” to “43” are associated with halftone dot mats (M: Matt), and among these, the pixel values “23” to “28”, “29” to “29” Different types of halftone mats are associated with the four ranges of “33” pixel values, “34” to “38” pixel values, and “39” to “43” pixel values. Further, matte values (PM: Premium Matt) are associated with the pixel values “1” to “17”, and among these, pixel values “1” to “7”, “8” to “7”. Different types of matte are associated with the three ranges of the pixel value of “12” and the pixel values of “13” to “17”. These different types of the same surface effect have different formulas for obtaining the image data of the clear toner plane used in the printer 40, and the operations of the printer main body and the post-processing machine are the same. The density value of “0” is associated with no effect (surface effect or effect specified by user definition described later).

  FIG. 12 shows the contents of the clear toner plane image data (clear toner plane 1) used in the printer 40. For example, when the surface effect is specular gloss, it is indicated that the clear toner plate 1 represents an inverse mask. The inverse mask is obtained by, for example, Equation 1 described above. However, in the configuration of the present embodiment, since the mirror effect cannot be realized as the surface effect, the inverse mask shown in the surface effect selection table is used for the region in which the mirror effect is designated as the surface effect. Even if clear toner is attached, the resulting surface effect is solid gloss. Further, since matte cannot be realized as a surface effect, there is a possibility that the DFE 20 does not generate clear toner plane image data, and as a result, a halftone dot matte can be obtained as an alternative surface effect. is there. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a comparison between the surface effect type specified in the present embodiment, the clear toner plane image data (Clr-1) used in the printer 40, and the surface effect actually obtained. . 13 is one of the inverse masks A, B, and C in FIG. 12, INV-m is the inverse mask m in FIG. 12, halftone-n is one of the halftones 1, 2, 3, and 4 in FIG. Represents each.

  In the example of FIG. 12, when the density value is “228” to “232” and the surface effect is the solid gloss type 1, the image data of the clear toner plate 1 used in the printer 40 is the inverse mask m. It has been shown. The inverse mask m may be any one represented by any one of the above formulas 1 to 4. Further, when the surface effect is a halftone mat, it is indicated that the image data of the clear toner used in the printer 40 represents a halftone (halftone dot). Further, when the surface effect is matte, it is indicated that there is no image data of the clear toner plate 1 used in the printer 40.

  The clear toner plane generation unit 304 refers to the surface effect selection table described above, and determines the surface effect associated with each pixel value indicated by the gloss control plane image data. The clear toner plane generation unit 304 makes this determination for each page. Then, the clear toner plane generating unit 304 appropriately generates clear toner plane image data according to the result of the determination, and outputs this.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a detailed configuration example of the clear toner plane generation unit 304. As illustrated in FIG. 14, the clear toner plate generation unit 304 includes a replacement unit 310 and a generation unit 311.

  Based on the density value set in the gloss control plane data, the replacement unit 310 sets, in the gloss control plane data, the first density value set to the density value corresponding to the first surface effect that realizes the glossiness equal to or higher than the first threshold. The density value of the second area outside the one area is replaced with the density value corresponding to the second surface effect that realizes the glossiness equal to or smaller than the second threshold value that is smaller than the first threshold value. In this embodiment, the replacement unit 310 refers to the surface effect selection table, and among the 8-bit gloss control plane image data, the predetermined area surrounding the first area set to the density value corresponding to the specular gloss. The density value of the pixel in the second area is replaced with the density value corresponding to the halftone mat type 1.

  More specifically, it is as follows. First, the replacement unit 310 divides the gloss control plane image data in cells having a size including a predetermined number of pixels. In this example, the cell is a rectangular region, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the shape of the cell can be arbitrarily set. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of a part of image data divided by cells, and a hatched portion indicates an area in which specular gloss is designated. The replacement unit 310 surrounds an area for which the specular gloss is designated in the image data of the gloss control plane by performing a process described later for each cell (for each area divided by the cell, if viewed differently). The pixel value in the predetermined area is replaced with a density value corresponding to halftone mat type 1. FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of a result obtained by performing the processing described later on the cell of interest in FIG. In this example, the area designated with the density value corresponding to the halftone mat type 1 is represented by a set of dots.

  FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating an example of replacement processing performed by the replacement unit 310. As shown in FIG. 17, first, the replacement unit 310 creates gloss control plane data for generation that duplicates the gloss control plane image data (original gloss control plane data) input from the si1 unit 202 (step S11). ). Next, the replacement unit 310 divides the gloss control plane data for generation into cells (step S12). Next, the replacement unit 310 designates any one of the cells that have not been processed in step S14 and later as a target cell (step S13).

  Next, the replacement unit 310 determines whether or not the number of pixels set in the density value corresponding to the specular gloss among the pixels in the target cell is greater than a predetermined reference value (step S14). When it is determined that the number of pixels set in the density value corresponding to the specular gloss is larger than the reference value among the pixels in the target cell (result of step S14: YES), the replacement unit 310 selects the target cell, Then, among the pixels included in each of the eight cells surrounding the target cell, the density value of the pixel for which no surface effect is designated is replaced with the density value corresponding to the halftone mat type 1 (step S15). Then, the process proceeds to step S16. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S14 described above that the number of pixels set to the density value corresponding to the specular gloss among the pixels in the target cell is equal to or less than the reference value (result of step S14: NO). The process proceeds to step S16.

  In step S16, replacement unit 310 determines whether or not processing has been completed for all cells. When it is determined that the process has been completed for all the cells (result of step S16: YES), the replacement process ends. On the other hand, when it is determined that there is an unprocessed cell (result of step S16: NO), the process returns to step S13 described above, and the processes after step S13 are repeated.

  Returning to FIG. 14 again, the description will be continued. The generation unit 311 refers to the surface effect selection table, and may be referred to as 8-bit gloss control plane image data that has been subjected to replacement processing by the replacement unit 310 (hereinafter referred to as “gloss control plane data after replacement”). The surface effect corresponding to the density value of each pixel is determined, and 2-bit clear toner plane image data is generated according to the determination. More specifically, it is as follows. The generation unit 311 determines that the surface effect designated for the pixels having density values “248” to “255” is “specular gloss type A”. For convenience of explanation, an area in which the specular gloss type A is designated in the gloss control plane data after replacement is referred to as a type A area. In this case, the generation unit 311 uses image data corresponding to the type A area among the 8-bit image data of CMYK after gamma correction, and uses the image data corresponding to the type A area for each pixel in the type A area of the gloss control plane data after replacement. A process of converting the density value into a density value represented by an inverse mask A (inverse mask process) is performed. As a result, the image data corresponding to the type A area of the gloss control plane data after the replacement is converted into 8-bit clear toner plane image data. The generation unit 311 converts the image data corresponding to the type A area of the gloss control plane data after replacement into 2-bit clear toner plane image data by performing halftone processing.

  In addition, the generation unit 311 determines that the surface effect designated for pixels having density values “212” to “232” is solid gloss. For example, it is determined that the surface effect designated for pixels having density values “228” to “232” is “solid gloss type 1”. For convenience of explanation, an area in which solid gloss type 1 is designated in the gloss control plane data after replacement is referred to as a type 1 area. In this case, the generation unit 311 uses image data corresponding to the type 1 area among the 8-bit image data of CMYK after gamma correction, and uses the image data corresponding to the type 1 area for each pixel in the type 1 area of the gloss control plane data after replacement. A process of converting the density value into a density value represented by the inverse mask m is performed. As a result, the image data corresponding to the type 1 area of the gloss control plane data after replacement is converted into 8-bit clear toner plane image data. The generation unit 311 performs halftone processing to convert the image data corresponding to the type 1 area of the gloss control plane data after replacement into 2-bit clear toner plane image data.

  In addition, the generation unit 311 determines that the surface effect designated for the pixels having density values “23” to “43” is a halftone mat. For example, it is determined that the surface effect designated for pixels having density values “23” to “28” is “halftone mat type 1”. For convenience of explanation, an area in which halftone dot type 1 is designated in the gloss control plane data after replacement is referred to as a mat 1 area. In this case, the generation unit 311 converts the image data corresponding to the mat 1 area of the gloss control plane data after replacement into image data representing halftone 1 corresponding to the halftone mat type 1. As a result, the image data corresponding to the matte 1 area of the gloss control plane after replacement is converted into 2-bit clear toner plane image data.

  Further, the generation unit 311 determines that the surface effect designated for the pixels having density values “1” to “17” is matte. As described above, when the surface effect is matte, there is no image data of the clear toner plate 1 used in the printer 40.

  Returning to FIG. 11 again, the description will be continued. The si3 unit 207 integrates each 2-bit CMYK image data after halftone processing and the 2-bit clear toner plane image data generated by the clear processing 206, and outputs the integrated image data to the MIC 30.

  The MIC 30 is connected to the DFE 20 and the printer 40, and the image data output from the DFE 20 (each CMYK 2-bit image data after halftone processing and a 2-bit clear toner image generated by the clear processing 206). Image data integrated with the data) is output to the printer 40. The printer 40 uses the image data output from the MIC 30 to irradiate a light beam from an exposure device to form a toner image corresponding to each toner on a photoconductor, and transfers the toner image to a recording medium. Fix by heating and pressing at temperature. As a result, the clear toner in addition to the CMYK toner is attached to the recording medium to form an image.

  Next, a gloss control process performed by the print control system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. When the DFE 20 receives the image data from the host device 10 (step S1), the rendering engine 201 interprets the image data, converts the image data expressed in the vector format into the raster format, and expresses it in the RGB format. The color space is converted into a CMYK format color space to obtain 8-bit image data and an 8-bit gloss control plane of the CMYK color plane (step S2).

  Details of the gloss control plane image data conversion process in step S2 will be described. FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the gloss control plane image data conversion process. In this conversion process, the gloss control plane image data in which the density value specifying the surface effect is specified for each drawing object is converted into the gloss control plane image data in which the density value is specified for each pixel constituting the drawing object. To do.

  The rendering engine 201 assigns the density value set for the drawing object to the pixels in the coordinate range corresponding to the drawing object of the gloss control version shown in FIG. 9 (step S41), thereby controlling the gloss control. Convert the image data of the plate. Then, it is determined whether or not such processing has been completed for all the drawing objects existing in the gloss control plane image data (step S42).

  If the rendering engine 201 has not yet completed (step S42: No), the rendering engine 201 selects the next unprocessed drawing object in the gloss control plane image data (step S44), and the process proceeds to step S41. Repeat the process.

  On the other hand, in step S42, when the processing of step S41 has been completed for all drawing objects in the gloss control plane image data (step S42: Yes), the converted gloss control plane image data is stored. Output (step S43). Through the above processing, the gloss control plane image data is converted into data in which a surface effect is set for each pixel.

  Returning to FIG. 18, when 8-bit gloss control plane image data is output, the color processing 203 of the DFE 20 uses a 1D_LUT gamma curve generated by calibration for each 8-bit image data of the CMYK color plane. Gamma correction is performed, and the halftone engine 205 performs a halftone process for converting the image data after the gamma correction into a data format of CMYK 2-bit image data to be output to the printer 40. Subsequent CMYK 2-bit image data is obtained (step S3).

  Also, the clear processing 206 of the DFE 20 performs the above-described replacement process on the 8-bit gloss control plane image data by using the 8-bit gloss control plane image data and referring to the surface effect selection table ( Step S4). Thereby, gloss control plane data after replacement of 8 bits is obtained. Next, the clear processing 206 refers to the surface effect selection table to determine the surface effect corresponding to the density value of each pixel of the gloss control plane data after the 8-bit replacement, and in response to this determination, the clear processing 206 The clear toner plane image data is generated (step S5).

  Next, the Si3 unit 207 of the DFE 20 integrates the CMYK 2-bit image data after halftone processing obtained in step S3 and the 2-bit clear toner plane image data generated in step S5. The processed image data is output to the MIC 30 (step S6).

  In step S5, when clear processing 206 has not generated clear toner plane image data, in step S6, only CMYK 2-bit image data after halftone processing obtained in step S3 is stored. It is output to the MIC 30.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the replacement unit 310 refers to the surface effect selection table, and sets the density value corresponding to the specular gloss in the 8-bit gloss control plane image data. A replacement process is performed in which the density value of the pixel in the second area, which is a predetermined area surrounding one area, is replaced with the density value corresponding to halftone mat type 1. Then, clear toner plane image data is generated based on the gloss control plane image data subjected to the above replacement processing, and image data in which the clear toner plane image data and the color plane data are integrated is printed. .

  For example, a case is assumed in which a mirror gloss is given to a circular region 70 with a diagonal line in the image shown in FIG. In this case, by performing the replacement process, as shown in FIG. 21, a matte effect (a surface effect that suppresses the glossiness) is given to the annular region 80 surrounding the circular region 70.

  FIG. 22 is a diagram schematically showing a partial area including the circular area 70 and the toner amount on an arbitrary straight line crossing the partial area in the image of FIG. FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating a state in which no effect is exerted by the clear toner, and the upper surface of the recording medium on which the colored toner is placed is an uneven surface. On the other hand, by applying an inverse mask as shown in FIG. 4 to the region 70 to which the specular gloss is given, as shown in FIG. 23, on the surface on which the circular region 70 of the recording medium is formed. The total toner adhesion amount becomes constant. Thereby, the gloss effect appears. Further, as a result of the above replacement processing, as shown in FIG. 24, the area 80 surrounding the circular area 70 is matted to produce surface irregularities, so that the surface gloss of the area 80 is suppressed. It is done.

  As described above, in the configuration of the present embodiment, since the mirror effect cannot be realized, the inverse mask shown in the surface effect selection table is used for the first region in which the mirror effect is designated as the surface effect. Even if the clear toner is attached, the resulting surface effect is solid gloss, but the matte is applied to the second area surrounding the first area to suppress the gloss of the second area, so that the user The glossiness of the first region visually recognized by can be relatively enhanced. That is, according to this embodiment, there is an advantageous effect that the glossiness by the clear toner can be improved without using a special device for improving the glossiness.

  In the present embodiment, the replacement unit 310 of the gloss control plane image data includes the density of pixels in a second area that is a predetermined area surrounding the first area in which the density value corresponding to the specular gloss is set. Although the value is replaced with a density value corresponding to halftone mat type 1, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the replacement unit 310 is set to a density value corresponding to solid gloss in the gloss control plane image data. The density value of the pixel in the area surrounding the periphery of the selected area (corresponding to the first area) (corresponding to the second area) is replaced with a density value corresponding to a dot mat of a different type from the dot mat type 1 You can also In short, the replacement unit 310 sets the density value of the second area outside the first area set to the density value corresponding to the first surface effect realizing the glossiness equal to or higher than the first threshold value in the gloss control plane data. Any function may be used as long as it has a function of substituting with a density value corresponding to the second surface effect that realizes a gloss level equal to or smaller than the second threshold value that is smaller than the first threshold value.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, the replacement unit 310 is a type in which the matte effect is weaker than the halftone dot type 1 in the density value of the third area, which is the area outside the second area, of the gloss control plane data. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that it has a function of substituting with a density value corresponding to the surface effect (“third surface effect” in the claims). That is, in the second embodiment, the replacement unit 310 has a matte effect (a surface effect that suppresses glossiness, specifically the above-described first effect) set in the peripheral region of the first region as it moves away from the first region. It has a function of replacing gloss control plane data so that the surface effect of suppressing the gloss level to a value smaller than one threshold is gradually reduced. Specific contents will be described below. In addition, about the part which is common in the above-mentioned 1st Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted suitably.

  After the replacement process shown in FIG. 17 is performed, the replacement unit 310 converts the density values of the pixels in the third region, which is a predetermined region surrounding the second region, from the gloss control plane data after replacement. Replace with the density value corresponding to the point mat type 2. Hereinafter, specific contents of the replacement process performed by the replacement unit 310 after the replacement process illustrated in FIG. 17 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 25 is a flowchart illustrating an example of replacement processing performed by the replacement unit 310. As shown in FIG. 25, first, the replacement unit 310 selects any one of the cells that are the unit of division of the gloss control plane data after replacement and that has not been processed in step S21 and later. A cell is designated as a target cell (step S20).

  Next, the replacement unit 310 determines whether or not there is a pixel set (replaced) in a density value different from that of the original gloss control plane data in the target cell (step S21). When it is determined that there is a pixel set to a density value different from that of the original gloss control plane data (result of step S21: YES), the replacement unit 310 selects the target cell and the eight cells surrounding the target cell. Among the pixels included in each pixel, the density value of a pixel for which no surface effect is designated is replaced with a density value corresponding to the halftone mat type 2 (step S22). Then, the process proceeds to step S23. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S21 described above that there is no pixel replaced with a density value different from that of the original gloss control plane data (result of step S21: NO), the process proceeds to step S23.

  In step S23, the replacement unit 310 determines whether the processing has been completed for all cells. When it is determined that the process has been completed for all the cells (result of step S23: YES), the replacement process ends. On the other hand, when it is determined that there is an unprocessed cell (result of step S23: NO), the process returns to the above step S20 again, and the above process is repeated. FIG. 26 is a diagram schematically showing a part of the gloss control plane data after the replacement process shown in FIG. 25 is performed. In the example of FIG. 26, the area for which the specular gloss is designated is represented by a hatched portion, and the area for which the halftone dot mat is designated is represented by a set of dots. In the example of FIG. 26, the density of the dots indicating the area where the halftone mat type 1 is specified is higher than the density of the dots indicating the area where the halftone mat type 2 is specified.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the replacement unit 310 performs the replacement process described in the first embodiment, and then, in the gloss control plane data after replacement, the density corresponding to the halftone mat type 1 The density value of the pixel in the third area, which is a predetermined area surrounding the second area where the value is set, is replaced with the density value corresponding to the halftone mat type 2. Then, clear toner plane image data is generated based on the gloss control plane image data subjected to the replacement, and image data in which the clear toner plane image data and the color plane data are integrated is printed.

  For example, a case is assumed in which a mirror gloss is given to a circular region 70 with a diagonal line in the image shown in FIG. In this case, by performing the replacement process described above, the “halftone mat type 1” mat is formed in the annular area 80 (corresponding to the second area) surrounding the circular area 70 as shown in FIG. The effect is given, and the “halftone mat type 2” mat effect that is weaker than the “halftone mat type 1” is given to the annular area 90 (corresponding to the third area) surrounding the area 80.

  FIG. 28 is a diagram schematically illustrating the toner amount on an arbitrary straight line that crosses the above-described region 70, region 80, and region 90 in the image of FIG. 27. As shown in FIG. 28, since the total toner adhesion amount on the surface of the recording medium on which the circular region 70 is formed is constant, a gloss effect appears. In addition, since a mat is applied to the outer region of the circular region 70 and surface irregularities are generated, the surface gloss of the outer region of the region 70 can be suppressed. It should be noted that the more uneven the surface (that is, the denser the halftone dots), the more diffuse reflection occurs, thereby suppressing the surface gloss. In the example of FIG. 28, the density of the unevenness on the surface outside the region where the circular region 70 is formed in the recording medium becomes sparse as the distance from the region where the circular region 70 is formed. In other words, as the distance from the area where the specular gloss is given, the matte effect applied to the periphery of the area gradually decreases, so the outer edge of the area where the matte effect is given and the area where no surface effect is given There is an advantageous effect that the boundary of the can be made inconspicuous.

  In the present embodiment, the replacement unit 310 corresponds to the halftone mat type 2 for the density value of the pixels in the third region, which is the region outside the second region, in the gloss control plane data after replacement. Although the density value is substituted, the type of the surface effect used for the substitution of the third region is not limited to this and is arbitrary. For example, the replacement unit 310 can replace the density value of the pixel in the third region with a density value corresponding to the halftone mat type 3 having a weaker mat effect than the halftone mat type 2. In short, the replacement unit 310 corresponds to the surface effect in which the matte effect is weaker than the surface effect set in the second area with respect to the density value of the pixel in the third area outside the second area in the gloss control plane data. It suffices to have a function of substituting with the density value.

  The replacement unit 310 also sets the density value of the pixel in the region outside the third region described above in the gloss control plane data after the replacement processing illustrated in FIG. It is also possible to substitute a density value corresponding to a surface effect whose mat effect is weaker than the effect. In short, the replacement unit 310 can replace the gloss control plane data so that the matte effect set around the first area gradually decreases as the distance from the first area increases.

  In addition, the size of a region (for example, the above-described second region and third region) that is a region around the above-described first region and is replaced with a density value corresponding to a predetermined mat effect can be arbitrarily set. . For example, the size of the second region and the third region described above can be variably set by variably setting the number of pixels included in a cell as a division unit. Further, for example, by repeating the replacement process a predetermined number of times (referred to as “repetition count”) without changing the mat effect used in the replacement process, the density value corresponding to the mat effect in the gloss control plane data is obtained. The size of the area to be replaced (for example, the second area or the third area) can be variably set.

  Furthermore, the replacement unit 310 can variably set the type of surface effect, the cell size, the number of repetitions, and the like set around the first region in accordance with an input by the user. That is, the replacement unit 310, in response to an input by the user, the type of surface effect used for replacement (the type of mat effect set around the first region) and the density corresponding to the surface effect in the gloss control plane data. It is possible to determine the size of a region to be replaced with a value (if the view is changed, the cell size or the number of repetitions). And the replacement part 310 can perform the above-mentioned replacement process according to the determined content. In addition, the input method by a user is arbitrary, For example, the structure which performs input via UI (user interface) not shown may be sufficient.

  For example, it is assumed that the type of surface effect set around the first region is “halftone mat type 1” and the number of repetitions is set to “2”. In this case, after the replacement process shown in FIG. 17 is performed, the replacement unit 310 performs the replacement process shown in FIG. 25 without changing the type of surface effect used for the replacement (“dot mesh type 1”). . More specifically, the replacement unit 310 determines, for each cell, whether or not a pixel replaced with a density value different from that of the original gloss control plane data exists in the cell (target cell). When it is determined that a pixel replaced with a density value different from the original gloss control plane data exists in the target cell, the replacement unit 310 is included in each of the target cell and the eight cells surrounding the target cell. Among the pixels, the density value of a pixel for which no surface effect is designated is replaced with a density value corresponding to halftone mat type 1. As a result of the above replacement processing, as shown in FIG. 29, the size of the area (second area) to be replaced with the density value corresponding to the halftone mat type 1 in the gloss control plane data is the number of repetitions. As can be seen from FIG.

(Third embodiment)
In each of the above-described embodiments, the print data is generated by the host device 10, the clear processing 206 is provided in the DFE 20, and the clear toner plane data is generated by the DFE 20. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Absent.

  In other words, any one of a plurality of processes performed by one apparatus may be performed by one or more other apparatuses connected to the one apparatus via a network.

  As an example, in the print control system of the third embodiment, a part of the DEF function is mounted on a server device on the network.

  FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a print control system according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 30, the print control system according to the present embodiment includes a host device 49, a DFE 3050, an MIC 30, and a printer 40.

  In this embodiment, the DFE 3050 is connected to the server device 3060 via a network such as the Internet. In this embodiment, the server device 3060 has the function of the clear processing 206 of the DFE 20 of the first embodiment.

  Here, the connection configuration of the host device 49, the DFE 3050, the MIC 30, and the printer 40 is the same as in the first embodiment.

  Specifically, in the third embodiment, the DFE 3050 is connected to a single server device 3060 via a network (cloud) such as the Internet, and the server device 3060 performs clear processing of the DFE 20 of the first embodiment. The server apparatus 3060 is configured to perform the clear toner plane data generation process.

  First, the server device 3060 will be described. FIG. 31 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a server device 3060 according to the third embodiment. The server device 3060 mainly includes a storage unit 3070 and a clear toner plate generation unit 304.

  The storage unit 3070 is a storage medium such as an HDD or a memory, and includes the gloss control plane storage unit 301 and the surface effect selection table storage unit 302 described above. The communication unit 3065 exchanges various data and requests with the DFE 3050. More specifically, the communication unit 3065 receives gloss control plane data and the like from the DFE 3050. The gloss control plane data is the same as in the above embodiment. In addition, the communication unit 3065 transmits the generated clear toner plane data to the DFE 3050.

  Next, the DFE 3050 will be described. FIG. 32 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the DFE 3050 according to the third embodiment. The DFE 3050 mainly includes a rendering engine 201, an si1 unit 3052, a color processing 203, an si2 unit 3054, a halftone engine 205, and an si3 unit 3057. Here, the functions of the rendering engine 201, the color processing 203, and the halftone engine 205 are the same as those of the DFE 20 of the first embodiment.

  The si1 unit 3052 outputs CMYK 8-bit color plane data to the color processing 203, and outputs 8-bit gloss control plane data to the server device 3060 via an interface (not shown).

  The si2 unit 3054 outputs the CMYK 8-bit color plane data subjected to gamma correction by the color processing 203 to the server device 3060 as data for generating an inverse mask. The si2 unit 3054 outputs the CMYK 8-bit color plane data after the gamma correction to the halftone engine 205.

  Further, the si3 unit 3057 integrates CMYK 2-bit color plane data after halftone processing and 2-bit clear toner plane data received from the server device 3060 via an interface (not shown). The obtained image data is output to the MIC 30.

  Next, a gloss control process performed by the image forming system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the DFE 20 receives the print data from the host device 49 (step S3601), the rendering engine 201 interprets this and converts the gloss control plane image data expressed in the vector format into the raster format, and also in the RGB format. The color space expressed in (3) is converted into a color space in the CMYK format to obtain 8-bit color plane data and 8-bit gloss control plane data for the CMYK color plane (step S3602).

  Next, when the 8-bit gloss control plane data is output, the color processing 203 of the DFE 3050 performs gamma correction with a 1D_LUT gamma curve generated by calibration for each 8-bit image data of the CMYK color plane. The halftone engine 205 performs a halftone process for converting the image data after the gamma correction into a data format of CMYK 2-bit image data for output to the printer 40, and the CMYK after the halftone process. Are obtained (step S3603).

  Then, the si2 unit 3054 transmits a clear toner plane data generation request to the server device 3060 together with the 8-bit gloss control plane data and the CMYK 8-bit color plane data after gamma correction (step S3604). ).

  Here, a clear toner plane generation process by the server device 3060 will be described. FIG. 34 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of clear toner plane generation processing by the server device 3060.

  In the server device 3060, the communication unit 3065 receives the 8-bit gloss control plane image data, the CMYK color plane 8-bit image data, and the clear toner plane generation request from the DFE 3050 (step S3701). ).

  Then, the clear toner plane generation unit 304 refers to the surface effect selection table using the 8-bit gloss control plane image data and performs the above-described replacement process on the 8-bit gloss control plane image data. (Step S3702). This replacement process is the same as the replacement process of the first embodiment or the second embodiment described above. Thereby, gloss control plane data after replacement of 8 bits is obtained. Next, the clear toner plane generation unit 304 refers to the surface effect selection table to determine the surface effect corresponding to the density value of each pixel of the gloss control plane data after the 8-bit replacement, and according to the determination. 2-bit clear toner plane image data is generated (step S3703). The clear toner plane image data generation process is the same as that in the first embodiment.

  The communication unit 3065 transmits the 2-bit clear toner plane image data generated by the clear processing 206 to the DFE 3050 (step S3704).

  Returning to FIG. 33, after the DFE 3050 transmits a clear toner plane generation request to the server apparatus 3060, the si3 unit 3057 receives 2-bit clear toner plane image data from the server apparatus 3060 (step S3605).

  Then, the Si3 unit 3057 integrates the CMYK 2-bit image data after halftone processing obtained in step S3603 and the 2-bit clear toner plane image data received in step S3605, and integrates the image data. Is output to the MIC 30 (step S3606).

  If the clear toner plane image data is not generated by the server device 3060, in step S3606, only the CMYK 2-bit image data after halftone processing obtained in step S3603 is integrated into the MIC 60. Is output.

  Thus, in this embodiment, the clear processing function is provided in the server device 3060, and the clear toner plane data is generated by the server device 3060 on the cloud. For this reason, even when there are a plurality of DFE 3050, clear toner plane data can be generated in a lump, which is convenient for the administrator.

  In this embodiment, a single server device 3060 on the cloud is provided with a clear processing function, and the server device 3060 generates clear toner plane data. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It is not a thing.

  For example, two or more server devices may be provided on the cloud, and the above processing may be executed by being distributed among the two or more server devices. FIG. 35 is a network configuration diagram in which two servers (a first server device 3860 and a second server device 3861) are provided on the cloud. In the example of FIG. 35, the first server device 3860 and the second server device 3861 are configured to perform the clear toner plane data generation processing and count processing in a distributed manner.

  In addition, the form of distribution of each process to each server apparatus is not limited to this, and can be arbitrarily performed.

  Also, some or all of the print data generation processing performed by the host device 49 and other processing performed by the DFE 3050 may be concentrated on a single server device on the cloud or distributed among a plurality of server devices. Things can be done arbitrarily.

  In other words, as in the above-described example, any one of a plurality of processes performed by one device can be performed by one or more other devices connected to the one device via a network.

  In addition, in the case of the above-mentioned “configuration performed by one or more other devices connected to one device via a network”, data (information) generated by processing performed by one device is transferred from one device to another. The configuration includes data input / output processing performed between one device and another device, such as processing to output to the device, processing to input the data to another device, and between other devices. .

  That is, in the case where there is one other device, the configuration includes data input / output processing performed between the one device and the other device. When there are two or more other devices, the one device and the other device Data input / output processing is included between other devices, such as between the devices and between the first other device and the second other device.

  In the third embodiment, a plurality of server devices such as the server device 3060 or the first server device 3860 and the second server device 3861 are provided on the cloud. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the server device 3060 or a plurality of server devices such as the first server device 3860 and the second server device 3861 may be provided on any network such as an intranet.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. Moreover, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, constituent elements over different embodiments may be appropriately combined. Further, various modifications as exemplified below are possible.

  FIG. 36 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the DFEs 20 and 3050, the server device 3060, the first server device 3860, and the second server device 3861 according to the present embodiment. The DFE 20 and 3050, the server device 3060, the first server device 3860, and the second server device 3861 of the present embodiment include a control device 1010 such as a CPU and a main storage device 1020 such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM. An auxiliary storage device 1030 such as an HDD or a CD drive device, a display device 1040 such as a display device, and an input device 1050 such as a keyboard or a mouse are provided, and a hardware configuration using a normal computer is provided. .

  The programs executed by the DFE 20 and 3050, the server device 3060, the first server device 3860, and the second server device 3861 of the present embodiment are files in an installable format or an executable format, such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk ( FD), CD-R, DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) and the like are provided by being recorded on a computer-readable recording medium.

  In addition, the programs executed by the DFE 20 and 3050, the server device 3060, the first server device 3860, and the second server device 3861 according to the present embodiment are stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet, and are transmitted via the network. You may comprise so that it may provide by downloading. In addition, the programs executed by the DFEs 20 and 3050, the server device 3060, the first server device 3860, and the second server device 3861 of the present embodiment may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet. In addition, the control programs executed by the DFEs 20 and 3050, the server device 3060, the first server device 3860, and the second server device 3861 of the present embodiment may be provided by being incorporated in advance in a ROM or the like.

  The programs executed by the DFE 20 and 3050, the server device 3060, the first server device 3860, and the second server device 3861 according to the present embodiment have a module configuration including the above-described units, and the actual hardware is a CPU. When the (processor) reads out and executes the control program from the storage medium, the respective units are loaded onto the main storage device, and the respective units are generated on the main storage device.

  In the print control system of each embodiment described above, the post-processing device is not provided. However, the configuration is not limited thereto, and a configuration in which a post-processing device such as a glosser is provided may be used. In the print control system of each embodiment described above, an image is formed using a plurality of CMYK toners, but an image may be formed using a single color toner.

  In addition, although the printing control system of each embodiment mentioned above is set as the structure provided with MIC30, it is not limited to this. The processing and functions performed by the MIC 30 described above may be provided to other devices such as the DFE 20 so that the MIC 30 is not provided.

10 Host device 20 DFE
30 MIC
40 Printer 49 Host device 100 Image forming apparatus 201 Rendering engine 202 si1 unit 203 Color processing 204 si2 unit 205 Halftone engine 206 Clear processing 207 si3 unit 301 Gloss control plate storage unit 302 Surface effect selection table storage unit 304 Clear toner plate generation Unit 310 replacement unit 311 generation unit 1010 control unit 1020 main storage unit 1030 auxiliary storage unit 1040 display unit 1050 input unit 3052 si1 unit 3054 si2 unit 3057 si3 unit 3060 server unit 3065 communication unit 3070 storage unit 3860 first server unit 3861 second Server device

JP 2011-123473 A

Claims (5)

A print control device for generating image data,
A density value corresponding to a first surface effect that realizes a glossiness equal to or higher than a first threshold among the gloss control plane data that specifies the type of surface effect to be applied to the recording medium and the area on the recording medium to which the surface effect is applied. Replacement means for replacing the density value of the second area outside the first area set to a density value corresponding to a second surface effect that realizes a glossiness equal to or smaller than a second threshold value smaller than the first threshold value; ,
Generating means for generating the image data based on the gloss control plane data replaced by the replacing means;
A printing control apparatus comprising: The replacement means realizes a gloss level in which the density value of the third area outside the second area is smaller than the first threshold and larger than the second threshold in the gloss control plane data. Substituting a concentration value corresponding to the third surface effect;
The print control apparatus according to claim 1. A print control system for generating image data,
A density value corresponding to a first surface effect that realizes a glossiness equal to or higher than a first threshold among the gloss control plane data that specifies the type of surface effect to be applied to the recording medium and the area on the recording medium to which the surface effect is applied. Replacement means for replacing the density value of the second area outside the first area set to a density value corresponding to a second surface effect that realizes a glossiness equal to or smaller than a second threshold value smaller than the first threshold value; ,
Generating means for generating the image data based on the gloss control plane data replaced by the replacing means;
A printing control system comprising: The replacement means realizes a gloss level in which the density value of the third area outside the second area is smaller than the first threshold and larger than the second threshold in the gloss control plane data. Substituting a concentration value corresponding to the third surface effect;
The print control system according to claim 3. Based on the density value set in the gloss control plane data that specifies the type of surface effect to be applied to the recording medium and the area on the recording medium to which the surface effect is to be applied, the gloss control plane data has a first threshold value or more. The gloss value of the second area outside the first area set to the density value corresponding to the first surface effect that realizes the glossiness of the second is less than the second threshold value and is less than the second threshold value. A replacement step for replacing with a density value corresponding to the second surface effect;
A program for causing a computer to execute a generation step of generating image data based on the gloss control plane data subjected to the replacement in the replacement step.

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