JP2014121022A - Color processing device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To acquire an isochromatic relation between different devices with ease and with high accuracy.SOLUTION: A color processing device 10 comprises: storage parts 102 and 105 respectively storing color information on a reference sample and color characteristics of a monitor 211; an input part 101 for inputting a user instruction; a color chart controller 106 generating a plurality of pieces of color chart data having different colors on the basis of the color information on the reference sample, and changing at least a part of the plurality of pieces of color chart data on the basis of the user instruction; and a color chart output part 107 correcting the plurality of pieces of color chart data on the basis of the color characteristics of the monitor 211, and outputting the plurality of pieces of corrected color chart data to the monitor 211. The color chart controller 106 determines whether or not an isochromatic relation in combination of the reference sample and the color chart data is acquired on the basis of the user instruction, and in the case that it is determined that the isochromatic relation is acquired, stores in a storage part 108 the isochromatic relation in the combination.

Description

  The present invention relates to color processing for acquiring human visual characteristics.

  Human visual sensitivity to color appearance is standardized by the International Commission on Illumination (CIE) as a color matching function. In general color matching, a method of numerically matching colors of devices (monitors, printers, etc.) to be matched using the CIE color matching function is used.

  There are individual differences in human visual sensitivity, and the CIE color matching function adopts the average value of multiple subjects. Therefore, it is known that the visual sensitivity of an individual does not necessarily match the CIE color matching function.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a method of performing color matching in consideration of an individual's visual characteristics. According to the technique of Patent Document 1, in order to take into account individual differences in visual characteristics, first, each person is allowed to perform a color matching experiment that matches the color chart of the printed matter with the color chart displayed on the monitor. Based on the result of the color matching experiment, a conversion matrix for obtaining a display color corresponding to each person is created, and an image is converted using the conversion matrix, thereby realizing color management that absorbs individual differences. .

  In the color matching experiment, it is necessary to judge a subtle color difference near the limit of color discrimination. For this reason, it is difficult to determine whether or not the optimal solution has been reached, and there are problems that color adjustment is repeated endlessly and converges to a local solution (lost value) different from the color matching point.

JP 2010-268294 A

  An object of the present invention is to easily and accurately acquire a color matching relationship between different devices.

  The present invention has the following configuration as one means for achieving the above object.

  The color processing according to the present invention is color processing of a color processing apparatus that has storage means for storing color information of a reference sample and color characteristics of a display device, and acquires a color matching relationship between different devices, A plurality of color chart data having different colors are generated based on color information of a reference sample, the generated plurality of color chart data are corrected based on color characteristics of the display device, and the corrected plurality of color chart data are displayed in the display Output to the apparatus, input a user instruction, change at least some of the plurality of color chart data based on the user instruction, and correct the plurality of changed color chart data based on the color characteristics of the display device Outputting the corrected plurality of color chart data to the display device, and determining whether or not to obtain a color matching relationship in the combination of the reference sample and the color chart data based on the user instruction, Take a relationship If it is determined to the stores color matching relationship in the combination in the storage means.

  According to the present invention, the color matching relationship between different devices can be acquired easily and with high accuracy.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an information processing apparatus that performs color processing according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining a logical configuration example of a color processing apparatus according to an embodiment. The block diagram explaining the structural example of a color chart control part. The figure which shows an example of UI which a color processing apparatus displays on a monitor. The figure which shows typically the positional relationship of a peripheral color at the time of setting a center color as the origin of ab plane. 6 is a flowchart for explaining color processing executed by the color processing apparatus. 6 is a flowchart for explaining color processing executed by the color processing apparatus. 6 is a flowchart for explaining color processing executed by the color processing apparatus. The figure which shows typically the relationship between the chromaticity of each color chart, and the chromaticity of the chart which a user perceives. The figure which shows an example of a personal color data table. The state transition diagram explaining the relationship between a user instruction | indication and a process transition. 10 is a flowchart for explaining color processing executed by the color processing apparatus according to the second embodiment. FIG. 6 is a state transition diagram for explaining a relationship between a user instruction and a process transition in the second embodiment.

  Hereinafter, color processing according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[Device configuration]
The block diagram of FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of an information processing apparatus that executes the color processing of the embodiment.

  The CPU 201 executes a program stored in the ROM 209 or the hard disk drive (HDD) 203 using the main memory 202 such as a RAM as a work memory, and controls a configuration to be described later via the system bus 206. The ROM 209 and the HDD 203 store programs and various data for realizing color processing described later.

  An instruction input unit 207 such as a keyboard and a mouse, a measuring instrument 208, a printer 210, and the like are connected to a general-purpose interface (I / F) 204 such as USB or IEEE1394. A monitor 211 is connected to the video card (VC) 205. The CPU 201 displays information indicating the user interface (UI), processing progress, and processing results on the monitor 211.

  For example, the CPU 201 loads an application program (AP) stored in the ROM 209, the HDD 203, or the recording medium 208 into a predetermined area of the main memory 202 in accordance with a user instruction input via the instruction input unit 207. Then, the AP is executed, and the UI is displayed on the monitor 211 according to the AP.

  Next, the CPU 201 loads various data stored in the HDD 203 into a predetermined area of the main memory 202 in accordance with the UI operation by the user. Then, predetermined arithmetic processing is performed on various data loaded into the main memory 202 in accordance with the AP. Then, the CPU 201 displays the calculation processing result on the monitor 205 or stores it in the HDD 203 in accordance with the UI operation by the user.

  Note that the CPU 201 can also send and receive programs, data, and arithmetic processing results to and from a server device on the network via a network I / F (not shown) connected to the system bus 206.

[Logical configuration]
A logical configuration example of the color processing apparatus 10 of the embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. The configuration shown in FIG. 2 is realized by the CPU 201 executing the AP. Hereinafter, an example of color processing in which a color matching experiment between different devices (for example, a printer and a monitor) is performed by the color processing apparatus 10 to create a color matching data table corresponding to an individual's visual characteristics will be described.

  In FIG. 2, the color chart control unit 106 sets the color characteristic data stored in the monitor color characteristic storage unit 105 in the color chart output unit 107, and based on the color information of the reference sample stored in the reference sample storage unit 102. Color chart data is generated, and the generated color chart data is output to the color chart output unit 107.

  The color chart control unit 106 changes the color chart data in accordance with a user instruction input via the input unit 101 corresponding to the instruction input unit 207, and outputs the changed color chart data to the color chart output unit 107. Although details will be described later, when it is determined that a color matching relationship is obtained based on a user instruction input via the input unit 101, the color chart data (color matching result) at the time of determination is associated with the reference sample. Stored in the color matching data storage unit 108.

  The color chart output unit 107 corrects the input color chart data based on the set color characteristic data, and outputs the corrected color chart data to the monitor 211. The monitor 211 displays a color chart corresponding to the input color chart data.

  When the user instruction input via the input unit 101 indicates the output of the reference sample, the reference sample output unit 103 outputs the reference sample data stored in the reference sample storage unit 102 to the printer 210 and refers to the printer 210. Print the sample.

  When the color matching experiment is completed, the color matching data table creation unit 109 creates a personal color matching data table for the user based on the color matching experiment result stored in the color matching data storage unit 108, and the created personal color matching data table Are stored in the color matching data storage unit.

  The measurement value input unit 110 inputs the color measurement result of the monitor 211 from the measuring instrument 208 and stores color characteristic data indicating the color reproduction characteristic of the monitor 211 in the monitor color characteristic storage unit 105 based on the color measurement result. Further, the color measurement result of the reference sample printed by the printer 210 is input from the measuring device 208, and the color measurement result is stored in the reference sample storage unit 102 as the measurement value of the reference sample.

  The monitor color characteristic storage unit 105, the reference sample storage unit 102, and the color matching data storage unit 108 are allocated to predetermined areas of the HDD 203. Note that the color characteristic data stored in the monitor color characteristic storage unit 105 and the measurement values stored in the reference sample storage unit 102 are not limited to acquisition using the measuring device 208 but can be acquired from an external server device or the like. is there.

Color Chart Control Unit A configuration example of the color chart control unit 106 will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.

  The instruction determination unit 601 determines the content of a user instruction input via the input unit 101. Although details will be described later, the user instructions include, for example, a brightness adjustment instruction, a peripheral color selection instruction, a center color selection instruction, a color chart exclusion / return instruction, a color matching experiment continuation / end instruction, and the like.

  The brightness adjustment unit 602 changes the brightness of the color chart when a brightness adjustment instruction is input. The chromaticity adjustment unit 603 changes the chromaticity of the color chart when a peripheral color selection instruction or a center color selection instruction is input. When a color chart exclusion / return instruction is input, the color chart display control unit 604 performs color chart exclusion / recovery described later. The calculation determination unit 605 performs calculation and determination described later, and outputs a color matching experiment result.

[User interface]
FIG. 4 shows an example of a UI displayed on the monitor 211 by the color processing apparatus 10.

  A chart 301 is a chart of a reflective document corresponding to reference sample data printed by the printer 210, that is, a reference sample. A plurality of color charts included in the chart 301 have the same color.

  The color chart display unit 302 displays a plurality of color charts, the center color chart corresponds to the currently selected color (hereinafter, center color) 305, and the four color charts are colors around the center color 305. (Hereinafter referred to as peripheral colors) 303, 304, 306, 307.

FIG. 5 schematically shows the positional relationship of peripheral colors when the center color 305 is the origin of the ab plane. If the chromaticity of the central color 305 is (0, 0), as shown in FIG. 5, the peripheral color 303 is chromaticity (-a, 0), the peripheral color 304 is chromaticity (+ a, 0), and the peripheral color 306 has chromaticity (0, -b), and the peripheral color 307 has chromaticity (b, 0). Here, the color difference D between the central color 307 and each peripheral color is expressed by the following equation.
D = √ (a ² + 0) = √ (0 + b ² )… (1)

  Here, the color difference between the central color 305 and each peripheral color is D, but the color difference in the a-axis direction may be Da and the color difference in the b-axis direction may be Db (≠ Da). The color difference between the colors may be different. Although an example in which the color chart group displayed on the monitor 211 is a combination of one point (center color 305) on the Lab space and its surrounding color is described here, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, another color space may be used, and a plurality of colors may be combined as the center color and the peripheral color.

[Color processing]
The color processing executed by the color processing apparatus 10 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

  The color chart control unit 106 acquires the color characteristic data of the monitor 211 from the monitor color characteristic storage unit 105 (S401), and sets the acquired color characteristic data in the color chart output unit 107 (S402).

  Next, the color chart control unit 106 acquires the measurement value of the reference sample corresponding to the color used for the color matching experiment from the reference sample storage unit 102 (S403). Any color that can be printed as a color chart, such as N gray levels of gray (for example, N = 1 to 255), primary color, secondary color (RGBCMY), and any number of colors can be used for color matching experiments. . Here, in order to simplify the description, an example will be described in which four gray levels of gray are used in a color matching experiment. In the following description, the terms “gradation” and “color” are used interchangeably without distinction.

Next, the color chart control unit 106 selects the gradation of the color matching experiment target (S404), and sets the measured value of the reference sample of the selected gradation to the initial value of the central color 305 (S405). That is, the center color 305 is made the same color as the reference sample of the selected gradation. If the measured value of the color chart of the selected gradation is L _P a _P b _P , the Lab value L _C a _C b _C of the center color 305 is expressed by the following equation.
(L _C , a _C , b _C ) = (L _P , a _P , b _P )… (2)

Next, the color chart control unit 106 sets peripheral colors 303, 304, 306, and 307 (S406). The Lab value of each peripheral color is expressed by the following equation that adds or subtracts a predetermined color difference D to the central color 305.
Peripheral color 303: (L _C , a _C -D, b _C )
Peripheral color 304: (L _C , a _C + D, b _C )
Peripheral color 306: (L _C , a _C , b _C -D)
Peripheral color 307: (L _C , a _C , b _C + D) (3)

  Next, the color chart control unit 106 outputs the Lab values of the center color 305 and the peripheral colors 303, 304, 306, and 307 to the color chart output unit 107 (S407). The color chart output unit 107 to which the Lab values are input corrects the Lab values based on the color characteristic data, and displays five color charts on the UI of the monitor 211 based on the corrected Lab values (FIG. 3).

  The user arranges the chart 301 corresponding to the selected gradation on the upper side (or lower side) of the color chart display section (see FIG. 3), and sets the colors of the five color charts displayed on the UI and the colors of the chart 301. Compare. The color chart control unit 106 displays information indicating a chart corresponding to the selected gradation on the UI immediately before the comparison. Therefore, the user can appropriately select and use the chart 301 to be compared.

  Next, the color chart control unit 106 inputs a user instruction via the input unit 101 (S408), and determines the content of the user instruction (S409a-S409c). When the user instruction indicates brightness adjustment (S409a), the L value of the central color 305 and the peripheral colors 303, 304, 306, and 307 is changed according to the adjustment instruction input together with the user instruction (S410), and the process is performed. Return to step S407. As a result, the changed Lab value is output to the color chart output unit 107, and the brightness of the five color charts displayed on the UI is adjusted.

When the user instruction indicates selection of the peripheral color (S409b), the color chart control unit 106 sets the chromaticity value ab of the center color 305 according to the selected peripheral color (hereinafter, selected color) as follows: Change (S411), and return the process to step S406. As a result, the Lab value of each peripheral color is changed according to the chromaticity change of the center color 305, and the changed Lab value is output to the color chart output unit 107, and the colors of the center color and the peripheral color displayed on the UI Changes.
if (selected color == peripheral color 303) {
a _C = a _C -D;
b _C = b _C ;
}
if (selected color == peripheral color 304) {
a _C = a _C + D;
b _C = b _C ;
}
if (selected color == peripheral color 306) {
a _C = a _C ;
b _C = b _C -D;
}
if (selected color == peripheral color 307) {
a _C = a _C ;
b _C = b _C + D;
} …(Four)

  When the user instruction indicates selection of the center color 305 (S409c), the color chart control unit 106 reduces the color difference D to kD (0 <k <1) (S412), and the reduced color difference D is equal to the threshold value Dth. It is determined whether or not this is the case (S413). If the reduced color difference D is equal to or greater than the threshold value Dth (D ≧ Dth), the color chart control unit 106 returns the process to step S406. As a result, the chromaticity value ab of each peripheral color is changed based on the reduced color difference D, the changed Lab value is output to the color chart output unit 107, and a part of the color chart displayed on the UI, that is, the peripheral Only the chromaticity of the color changes.

  If the reduced color difference D is less than the threshold value Dth (D <Dth), the color chart control unit 106 determines that the processing end condition for the selected gradation is satisfied, and the process proceeds to step S414. As the threshold value Dth, for example, a color difference that can be reproduced when the signal value supplied to the monitor 211 is changed by one level (that is, the color resolution of the monitor 211) is used. Alternatively, a color difference grade value from the Japan Color Research Institute, for example, a range of AAA class tolerance to B class tolerance, or a conventionally used color difference (for example, color difference 1.0) may be used as the threshold value Dth.

  When the selection gradation processing end condition is satisfied, the color chart control unit 106 stores the color value Lab of the center color 305 in association with the selection gradation in the personal color data storage unit 108 (S414), and performs the processing. Proceed to step S415.

● Consideration of color discrimination limit As the above color adjustment progresses, the color difference between chart 301 and color chart and the color difference of each color chart become smaller, and finally the user will find subtle colors near the limit of color discrimination. Therefore, it is necessary to select one of the color charts. As described above, it is difficult to determine whether or not the optimal solution has been reached near the limit of color discrimination, and it is possible to repeat color adjustments endlessly or to converge to a local solution (lost value) different from the color matching point. There is sex.

  FIG. 9 schematically shows the relationship between the chromaticity of each color chart and the chromaticity of the chart 301 perceived by the user. In FIG. 9, the center of color matching corresponds to the chromaticity of the chart 301 perceived by the user and is the chromaticity to be acquired in the color matching experiment. The color matching ellipse indicates a discrimination limit where the user cannot perceive a color difference from the color matching center.

  FIG. 9 (a) shows a case where there are a plurality of color charts close to the optimum value. The user cannot perceive the difference in color center between the central color 305 and the peripheral colors 304 and 306 in the same color ellipse. In this case, the user may not be able to select an optimum value from a plurality of color charts inside the color matching ellipse, or may be repeatedly selected for a plurality of color charts inside the color matching ellipse. is there.

  FIG. 9 (c) shows a case where none of the color charts falls within the equal color ellipse, and there are a plurality of color charts that can allow a difference in color from the center of the same color. In FIG. 9 (c), the allowable ellipse indicates a limit at which the user can tolerate a color difference from the color center. In this case, the user may not be able to select a color chart without a solution, may converge to a local solution (color chart that falls within the allowable range) that is different from the optimum value, or the color difference falls within the allowable range. The central color 305 or the peripheral color 30 may be repeatedly selected.

  FIG. 9C shows a case where the center color 305 and each peripheral color do not fall within the same color ellipse, and the user does not have a color chart that looks the same color as the chart 301. In the state shown in FIG. 9 (c), if the user selects the center color 305, the peripheral color 306 may approach the center of the same color, but the user does not always select the center color 305, in which case Repeated color adjustments may occur.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, the color chart is allowed to be excluded / returned by the user, as shown in FIG. 9 (b), or the color chart color included in the equal color ellipse, or shown in FIG. 9 (d). As described above, a chromaticity value close to the center of the same color is acquired from the color chart color included in the allowable ellipse.

  In FIG. 9B, when the central color 305, the peripheral colors 304, 306 and the chart 301 appear to be the same color, the user excludes the color charts of the peripheral colors 303, 307 (peripheral colors marked with an X). In this example, the average chromaticity values of the remaining central color 305 and peripheral colors 304 and 306 are acquired. Similarly, in FIG. 9D, the user determines that the color difference between the central color 305, the peripheral color 306, and the chart 301 is within the allowable range, and the color difference between the peripheral colors 303, 304, and 307 is outside the allowable range. In this example, the color chart is excluded, and the average chromaticity values of the remaining central color 305 and peripheral color 306 are acquired. As shown in Figs. 9 (b) and 9 (d), it is possible to obtain a chromaticity value closer to the center of the same color than when obtaining the chromaticity value of one color chart within the same color ellipse or allowable ellipse. High nature.

  In the color processing of the present embodiment, the color chart exclusion / restoration processing is performed in consideration of the above color discrimination limit. That is, when the user instruction indicates exclusion / return of the color chart (S409c), the color chart control unit 106 changes the display / non-display state of the color chart instructed to be excluded / returned (S421). When the displayed color chart is specified, the color chart is excluded (not displayed), and when the position corresponding to the non-displayed color chart is specified, the color chart at the position is restored (displayed). State).

  Next, the color chart control unit 106 displays, for example, a message on the UI such as "Do you want to continue or end the color matching experiment for the current chart, or do you want to remove / return the color chart?" And waits for a user response (S422). If there is a response from the user indicating that the color matching experiment is continued, the process returns to step S408. If the user gives an instruction to exclude / return the color chart, the process returns to step S421.

When there is a response from the user indicating the end of the color matching experiment, the color chart control unit 106 calculates a chromaticity value from the color chart in the display state as follows (S423). Then, the calculated chromaticity value is stored in the personal color matching data storage unit 108 in association with the selected gradation (S424), and the process proceeds to step S415.
if (N == 5 or N == 0) {
a _C = a _C ;
b _C = b _C ;
} else {
a _C = Σ _{i = 0} ^N-1 a _i / N;
b _C = Σ _{i = 0} ^N-1 b _i / N;
} …(Five)
Where N is the number of color charts in the display state,
i is the index of the displayed color chart (0 to N-1).

  In equation (5), the number of color charts in the display state N = 0 is normally not possible, but when all color charts are excluded and the end of the color matching experiment for the current chart is instructed, the selected gradation This is to prevent missing data corresponding to. It is desirable to record this in the chromaticity value obtained at N = 0.

  When the processing condition for the selected gradation is satisfied, or when the end of the color matching experiment for the current chart is instructed, the color chart control unit 106 has selected all the gradations used for the color matching experiment. Is determined (S415). If there is an unselected (unprocessed) gradation, the process returns to step S404 to select the next gradation and repeat the above process. If it is determined that all tone processing (color matching experiment) has been completed, the color matching data table creation unit 109 is notified of the completion of the color matching experiment.

  The color matching data table creation unit 109 that has received the notification of the completion of the color matching experiment creates a personal color matching data table based on the data stored in the personal color matching data storage unit 108. Then, the created personal color matching data table is stored in the personal color matching data storage unit 108 in association with the user (S416), and the process ends.

  FIG. 10 shows an example of an individual color matching data table. The personal color data table shown in FIG. 10 shows the correspondence (color matching) between the color value (sample color) of the reflective original chart 301 for the number of gradations used in the color matching experiment and the gray color value (display color) of the monitor 211. Relationship). Although FIG. 10 shows an example of recording XYZ values, information representing colors such as Lab values and sRGB values may be recorded. If necessary, the personal color data table can include environmental conditions (illumination light, ambient conditions, specific information of the monitor 211, etc.) in the color matching experiment according to user input, for example.

[State transition]
The relationship between the user instruction and the process transition will be described with reference to the state transition diagram of FIG.

  In the initialization (S601), the color chart control unit 106 sets the color characteristic data of the monitor 211 for the color chart output unit 107, obtains measurement values of the color chart used for the color matching experiment, and selects the first gradation Set the center color and peripheral color. Then, in the color chart display (S602), the color chart is displayed on the UI or the color chart displayed on the UI is updated, and the input of the user instruction is waited (S603).

  When the input user instruction indicates a change in brightness, the color chart control unit 106 changes the L value of the center color and the peripheral color in the brightness change (S604), and returns to the state S602.

  When the user instruction indicates selection of the color chart, the color chart control unit 106 determines whether the selected color chart is the center color or the peripheral color in the color chart determination (S605). When the peripheral color is selected, the central color and the peripheral color are changed in the chromaticity change (S606), and the process returns to the state S602. When the center color is selected, the color difference D is reduced to kD (0 <k <1) in the color difference reduction (S607). Then, in the threshold determination (S608), the reduced color difference D and the threshold Dth are compared, and if D ≧ Dth, the chromaticity of the surrounding colors is changed in the color difference change (S609), and the process returns to the state S602. If D <Dth, the process proceeds to end determination (S610).

  When the user instruction indicates exclusion / return of the color chart, the color chart control unit 106 switches the display / non-display state of the designated color chart in the display switching (S621) and waits for the input of the user instruction (S622). . When the input user instruction indicates exclusion / return of the color chart, the display / non-display state of the designated color chart is switched again in display switching (S621). If the user instruction indicates the continuation of the color matching experiment, the process returns to the state S602. If the user instruction indicates the end of the color matching experiment, the color chart of the display state is calculated by the equation (5) in the chromaticity value calculation (S623). Then, the chromaticity value is calculated, the calculated chromaticity value is stored, and the process proceeds to the end determination (S610).

  In the end determination (S610), the color chart control unit 106 determines whether or not the processing of all gradations (color matching experiment) used for the color matching experiment has ended. If there is an unprocessed gradation, the next gradation is selected in gradation transition (S611), the center color and the peripheral color corresponding to the selected gradation are set, and the process returns to state S602.

  When the color matching experiment is completed, the color matching data table creation unit 109 creates a personal color matching data table in the table creation (S611) and ends the processing (S612).

  Thus, in a color matching experiment in which the user compares the display color of the monitor with the color of the chart, the display color is controlled in accordance with a user instruction. Therefore, it is not necessary for the user to adjust the display color by himself, and it is possible to easily obtain a color matching experiment result with high accuracy while preventing difficulty in color adjustment by the user and trial and error of color adjustment.

  In addition, when the difference between the display color of the monitor and the color of the chart reaches the color discrimination limit, the user excludes color charts that are not the same color (suboptimal color charts, hereinafter referred to as inappropriate color charts). Then, the end of the color matching experiment can be instructed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the convergence to the local solution (lost value) due to the repeated color adjustment and the compromise due to the determination of the color difference near the color discrimination limit.

  The color processing according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described below. Note that the same reference numerals in the second embodiment denote the same parts as in the first embodiment, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  In the first embodiment, a method of preventing the convergence to a local solution (losing value) due to repeated color adjustment or compromise due to determination of a color difference near the color discrimination limit by excluding an inappropriate color chart by the user Explained. However, after removing the unsuitable color chart, it is confirmed whether or not the remaining color chart has an unsuitable color chart, and if necessary, removing the unsuitable color chart again may be troublesome.

  In the second embodiment, a method for simply removing the color chart will be described. In other words, this is a technique that enables color charts that are not unsuitable color charts (color charts for calculating chromaticity values) to be selected from the color charts and determines the color matching experiment results from the selection results.

  Color processing executed by the color processing apparatus 10 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Note that the processes in steps S401 to S409b and S410 to S416 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  In step S409c, when the user instruction indicates the end of the color matching experiment (end of processing), the color chart control unit 106, for example, a dialog (color chart selection user interface) having radio buttons corresponding to the color charts 303 to 307 on the UI. Face) is displayed (S431). When the user selects a color chart and presses, for example, a “selection completion” button in the dialog (S432), a chromaticity value is calculated from the selected color chart by equation (5) (S433). The calculated chromaticity value is stored in the personal color matching data storage unit 108 in association with the selected gradation (S434), and the process proceeds to step S415.

  In step S431, after the selection completion is instructed by the user, the non-selected color chart is hidden and the user is determined whether the selection is correct. If the selection is not correct, the color chart selection is performed again. You may do it.

  The relationship between the user instruction and the process transition in the second embodiment will be described with reference to the state transition diagram of FIG. What is different from the state transition diagram of the first embodiment (FIG. 11) is that the states S621 to S623 replace the states S621 to S623.

  That is, when the user instruction indicates selection of a plurality of color charts, the color chart control unit 106 displays a color chart selection user interface in color chart selection (S631) and waits for a user's selection completion instruction (S632). Then, when a selection completion instruction is input, in chromaticity value calculation (S633), the chromaticity value is calculated from the selected color chart by equation (5), the calculated chromaticity value is stored, and the end determination is performed ( Proceed to S610).

  In this way, when the difference between the display color of the monitor and the color of the chart reaches the color discrimination limit, the user instructs the end of the color matching experiment and uses the color chart used to acquire data indicating the color matching relationship. Can be specified. Accordingly, it is possible to simplify the exclusion of the color chart and prevent the convergence to the local solution (lost value) due to the repeated color adjustment and the compromise caused by the determination of the color difference near the color discrimination limit.

[Modification]
In the above description, an example has been described in which the device corresponding to the reference sample is, for example, an RGB printer and the device that outputs a color chart is a monitor, but the device that acquires the color matching relationship is not limited to these. For example, other image input / output devices such as a CMYK printer and a projector may be used.

  In the above description, the Lab value in the CIELAB space is used as the color measurement value. However, an XYZ value in the CIEXYZ space, a Luv value in the CIELUV space, a Jab value in the CIECAM97, CIECAM02 space, and the like may be used.

  The color matching data table created by the above embodiment is used for an application that performs color matching between an input device and an output device. However, the function of creating a color matching data table can be incorporated into the device as part of the calibration function, for example. For example, a function for creating a color matching data table can be incorporated into a calibration function of a monitor that is an output device.

[Other Examples]
The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus reads the program. It is a process to be executed.

Claims (20)

A color processing apparatus for acquiring a color matching relationship between different devices,
Storage means for storing color information of the reference sample and color characteristics of the display device;
Input means for inputting user instructions;
Color chart control means for generating a plurality of color chart data having different colors based on color information of the reference sample, and changing at least a part of the plurality of color chart data based on the user instruction, and color of the display device A plurality of color chart data generated or changed based on characteristics, and a color chart output means for outputting the corrected plurality of color chart data to the display device,
The color chart control means determines whether or not to acquire a color matching relationship in the combination of the reference sample and the color chart data based on the user instruction. A color processing apparatus for storing the color matching relationship in the storage means.   2. The color processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the color chart control unit generates a plurality of color chart data corresponding to a next reference sample when it is determined that the color matching relationship in the combination is acquired. The color chart control means determines whether or not the acquisition of the color matching relationship in all the combinations of the reference sample and the color chart data is completed,
Furthermore, when the color chart control unit determines that the acquisition of the color matching relationship in all the combinations is completed, the color chart control unit includes a creation unit that generates personal color matching data of the user based on the acquired color matching relationship. The color processing apparatus according to claim 2. The storage means stores reference sample data for printing the reference sample,
4. The color processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising reference sample output means for outputting the reference sample data to a printing apparatus.   The color chart control means generates, as the plurality of color chart data, color chart data of a central color of the same color as the reference sample, and color chart data of peripheral colors obtained by adding or subtracting a predetermined color difference to the central color 5. The color processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein:   6. The color processing device according to claim 5, wherein in the display device, a color chart corresponding to the color chart data of the central color is displayed at the center of a plurality of color charts corresponding to the color chart data of the peripheral colors.   When the user instruction indicates selection of the peripheral color, the color chart control means changes the central color to the selected peripheral color, the color chart data of the changed central color, and the changed color 7. The color processing device according to claim 5, wherein color chart data of peripheral colors is generated by adding or subtracting the predetermined color difference to or from the center color.   When the user instruction indicates selection of the center color, the color chart control means reduces the predetermined color difference and generates color chart data of peripheral colors by adding or subtracting the reduced color difference to the center color. 8. The color processing apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 7.   9. The color processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the color chart control means determines whether or not to obtain a color matching relationship of the combination based on a comparison between the reduced color difference and a predetermined threshold value.   10. The color processing device according to claim 9, wherein the threshold value is a color difference generated when a signal value output to the display device is changed by one level.   11. The color chart control unit, when the user instruction indicates exclusion of color chart data, acquires the color matching relationship of the combination from other color chart data excluding the color chart data. A color processing apparatus according to claim 1.   12. The color processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the excluded color chart data is color chart data determined not to be the same color as the color of the reference sample.   12. The color processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the excluded color chart data is color chart data for which a difference between a color of the color chart data and a color of the reference sample is determined to be out of an allowable range.   14. The color processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the color chart control unit obtains an average chromaticity of the color chart data not excluded as data indicating the color matching relationship.   11. The color chart control means according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein when the user instruction indicates the end of processing, the color chart control means acquires the color matching relationship of the combination from color chart data selected by a user. Color processing device.   16. The color processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the selected color chart data is color chart data determined to be the same color as the color of the reference sample.   16. The color processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the selected color chart data is color chart data for which a difference between the color of the color chart data and the color of the reference sample is determined to be within an allowable range.   18. The color processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the color chart control unit acquires an average chromaticity of the selected color chart data as data indicating the color matching relationship. A color processing method for acquiring a color matching relationship between different devices using a storage unit that stores color information of a reference sample and color characteristics of a display device,
A plurality of color chart data having different colors based on the color information of the reference sample is generated,
Correcting the generated plurality of color chart data based on the color characteristics of the display device, and outputting the corrected plurality of color chart data to the display device;
Enter user instructions
Changing at least some of the plurality of color chart data based on the user instruction;
Correcting the changed plurality of color chart data based on the color characteristics of the display device, and outputting the corrected plurality of color chart data to the display device;
Based on the user instruction, it is determined whether or not to acquire a color matching relationship in the combination of the reference sample and the color chart data, and when it is determined to acquire the color matching relationship, the color matching relationship in the combination is stored in the memory. A color processing method stored in the means.   19. A program for causing a computer to function as each unit of the color processing apparatus according to claim 1.

Images