JP2016002691A - Image forming apparatus, image processing method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that character visibility may be impaired and a reduction target of color material consumption may not be achieved only by concentration adjustment during color material saving.SOLUTION: An image processing apparatus includes: an acceptance means for accepting an instruction of color material saving processing; and a processing means for carrying out processing for reducing concentration of a character part extracted from image data and increasing size of the character part upon receipt of the instruction of the color material saving processing.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a program.

  The so-called color-saving material (for example, toner) output, which is a processing mode for suppressing the color material consumption of the image forming apparatus, is widely known as a function for reducing the printing density by reducing the image density during printing. It has been. Further, in recent years, a quality equivalent to the quality output at the time of normal output is required at the time of color-saving material output while saving the printing cost. One of the processing methods is to reduce the background density and increase the density of objects such as characters in the foreground, so that the visibility of characters is equivalent to the visibility output during normal printing. Yes (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2008-135006 A

  However, when outputting with a color-saving material, the visibility of characters may be impaired only by adjusting the density, or the reduction target of the color material consumption may not be achieved.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following configuration. That is, in the image processing apparatus, when receiving the color-saving material processing instruction, and when receiving the color-saving material processing instruction, the density of the character part extracted from the image data is reduced, and And processing means for performing processing for increasing the size of the character portion.

  According to the present invention, when color-saving material output is instructed, it is possible to maintain the visibility of characters while reducing the color material consumption.

The figure which shows the example of the system configuration | structure which concerns on this embodiment. The figure which shows the structural example of each apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a toner saving processing unit according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image processing unit according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a toner saving output setting screen according to the first embodiment. 6 is a flowchart of processing of a toner saving processing unit according to the first embodiment. The figure for demonstrating the character part in image data. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a printing process for image data. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a toner saving output setting screen according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a toner saving processing unit according to a second embodiment. 9 is a flowchart of processing of a toner saving processing unit according to a second embodiment. 9 is a flowchart of processing of a toner saving processing unit according to a third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a toner saving processing unit according to a fourth embodiment. 10 is a flowchart of processing of a toner saving processing unit according to a fourth embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a toner saving processing unit according to a fifth embodiment. 10 is a flowchart of processing of a toner saving processing unit according to a fifth embodiment. 10 is a flowchart of processing of a toner saving processing unit according to a sixth embodiment. FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a warning screen at the time of toner saving output according to a sixth embodiment.

<First embodiment>
[Normal output and toner-saving output]
In this specification, the toner saving output means a mode (toner saving mode) in which the toner consumption (coloring material consumption) is suppressed and output compared to the normal printing mode. Hereinafter, as a method of reducing the toner consumption, the density value of the image is changed for the object (character, graphics, image, etc.) and other areas included in the print data, and the size of the character object. Describes how to make changes. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and control may be performed so as to reduce the toner consumption itself, not the density value in the image data.

  The image processing apparatus of each embodiment described below may be an electrophotographic apparatus, an ink jet printer, a thermal print, or the like, and the gist of the present invention is not limited to the type of printer. For convenience, the color material is described as toner. However, the color material is not limited to an image forming apparatus such as a laser printer, and may be applied to, for example, ink used in an inkjet image forming apparatus. That is, the color material used for printing may be a color material such as toner or ink, and the gist of the present invention is not limited to the type of color material.

[Description of overall configuration]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overview of the entire system according to the present embodiment. The system includes an image processing apparatus 101, a host computer 102, a mobile terminal 103, and a server 104 for realizing toner saving output. Each device is connected via a network 105.

  The image processing apparatus 101 receives print data from the host computer 102, the mobile terminal 103, or the server 104 via the network 105, and performs print output. The image processing apparatus 101 can also transmit image data read by using an attached image reading apparatus (not shown) to the host computer 102, the mobile terminal 103, or the server 104. Furthermore, the image processing apparatus 101 can also print out (copy operation) the read image data using an attached printing apparatus (not shown).

  FIG. 2A shows a configuration example of the image processing apparatus 101. The image processing apparatus 101 includes an input unit 201, a system control unit 202, a ROM 203, an image processing unit 204, a UI unit 205, a toner saving processing unit 206, a normal processing unit 207, and a printing unit 208.

  The input unit 201 receives data such as print data to be printed from an external device or the like. A system control unit 202 controls the entire image processing apparatus 101. The ROM 203 is a non-volatile storage unit and stores, for example, a program according to the present embodiment. The image processing unit 204 performs image processing on image data to be printed. The UI unit 205 receives an operation from the user and outputs information such as information display to the user. The toner saving processing unit 206 performs toner saving output processing according to the present embodiment. The normal processing unit 207 performs various processes in the image processing apparatus 101. The printing unit 208 performs a printing process on the print data.

  FIG. 2B shows a configuration example of the information processing apparatus of the host computer 102, the mobile terminal 103, and the server 104. The same reference numerals are assigned to the same configurations as those of the image processing apparatus 101. Further, an output unit 209 is provided instead of the printing unit 208. The output unit 209 outputs various data to an external device or the like.

  Note that the processing method described in this embodiment can be executed by any of the image processing apparatus 101, the host computer 102, the mobile terminal 103, and the server 104. Therefore, in the following description, the image processing apparatus 101 will be described as an example of processing. For example, when the information processing apparatus such as the host computer 102 performs processing for toner-saving output according to the present embodiment, when the image processing apparatus 101 performs printing processing, the processing may be omitted. Good.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the toner saving processing unit 206 illustrated in FIG. The toner saving processing unit 206 includes an input unit 301, a color conversion processing unit 302, a character region extraction unit 303, a character region scaling unit 304, a character region density processing unit 305, a normal density processing unit 306, a rendering processing unit 307, and an output. Part 308. The processing of each part will be described with a flowchart.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the image processing unit 204 illustrated in FIG. The image processing unit 204 includes an input unit 401, a gamma processing unit 402, an image formation processing unit 403, and an output unit 404.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting screen displayed on the monitor or UI unit of each apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. In the present embodiment, the setting of toner saving output (color saving material processing) is designated via the above setting screen. When the user performs toner saving output, the user can press the button 501 on the setting screen shown in FIG. 5 to enable toner saving output. On the other hand, when the button 502 is pressed, normal output is performed. When canceling the toner-saving output, the button 503 is pressed.

(Processing flow)
FIG. 6 is a flowchart relating to processing of the toner saving processing unit 206 according to the present embodiment. This flowchart is realized by the system control unit 202 of the image processing apparatus 101 executing it according to a program stored in the ROM 203. In the present embodiment, processing will be described using an example of CMYK data shown in FIG. Note that RGB format data (hereinafter, RGB data), which is print data input from the outside, is converted into CMYK format data (hereinafter, CMYK data) by the color conversion processing unit 302.

  In step S <b> 601, the toner save processing unit 206 receives setting information related to toner save output from the system control unit 202 via the UI unit 205, and determines whether toner save output is set based on the setting information. Do. The setting information here is set on the setting screen shown in FIG.

  When the toner save output is set (YES in S601), in S602, the toner save processing unit 206 uses the character area extraction unit 303 to extract each object from the CMYK data image, and each object. Whether or not is a character part is determined. Further, the toner saving processing unit 206 determines whether or not the object is a character area. For example, when CMYK data 701 is input, the “character part” and the “character area” indicate a character 703 for each character, and the character area is a character area composed of one or more characters. 702 shall be indicated. In the following description, the character portion and the character region are not particularly limited to be processed, and any unit for changing the size or density may be used.

  If the object is not a character part (NO in step S602), the toner save processing unit 206 performs toner save processing using the normal density processing unit 306 in step S604. As a toner saving method, a method of uniformly halving the CMYK data is used. However, the method is not limited to this, and a method of reducing toner consumption is applied.

  On the other hand, if the object is a character part (YES in S603), in S603, the toner saving processing unit 206 uses the character area scaling unit 304 to enlarge the character part at a predetermined scaling factor. . Then, the toner save processing unit 206 uses the character part density processing unit 305 to change the density of the character part to a predetermined density. For example, processing such as reducing the density value of the original data by 20% is performed.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart regarding the processing of the rendering processing unit 307 of the image processing unit 204 and the toner saving processing unit 206. This flowchart is realized by the system control unit 202 of the image processing apparatus executing it according to a program stored in the ROM 203.

  In step S801, the rendering processing unit 307 converts the CMYK data for which all toner saving processing has been completed into bitmap data, and performs rendering processing.

  In step S <b> 802, the image processing unit 204 acquires bitmap data processed by the rendering processing unit 307, and uses the gamma processing unit 402 to perform gamma correction considering the gradation characteristics of the output device (for example, the printing unit 208). Process. In step S <b> 803, the image processing unit 204 uses the image formation processing unit 403 to convert to color binarized data, and transmits the data to the printing unit 208. In step S804, the printing unit 208 prints out the received color binarized data.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when toner saving is instructed, the character size can be increased and the character density can be reduced to reduce the toner consumption and maintain the character visibility. It becomes possible.

<Second Embodiment>
An embodiment in which toner saving processing is performed based on the amount of toner reduction designated by the user when toner saving output is performed will be described as a second embodiment.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a setting screen displayed on the monitor or UI unit of each device shown in FIG. In the setting screen shown in FIG. 9, when performing toner saving output, a reduction target for performing toner saving is set. The user uses the button 902 to instruct a desired toner consumption reduction amount on the setting screen of FIG. 9, and the result is displayed in the display box 901. When the density is determined, the button 903 is pressed. To cancel, the button 904 is pressed. Here, the reduction ratio of the entire toner with respect to the toner consumption during normal printing is set, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a reduction target may be set for each color, or an upper limit value of the usage amount may be set.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the toner saving processing unit 206 for carrying out the second embodiment. In addition to the configuration shown in FIG. 3, a toner consumption calculation unit 1001 is included.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart regarding the processing of the toner saving processing unit 206. This flowchart is realized by the system control unit 202 of the image processing apparatus 101 executing it according to a program stored in the ROM 203. Since S601, S603, and S605 are the same processes as those in the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted here.

  In step S1101, the toner save processing unit 206 acquires information on the reduction amount set on the setting screen illustrated in FIG. Then, the toner saving processing unit 206 calculates, in the toner consumption amount calculation unit 1001, a total value of the toner consumption amounts of the converted CMYK data for the character area of each pixel of the CMYK data in S503. Further, the toner consumption calculation unit 1001 calculates the toner consumption of the original CMYK data. The toner consumption calculation unit 1001 determines whether or not the set reduction amount is satisfied by the toner saving process for the character portion, based on the set reduction amount and each calculated toner consumption amount. If the reduction amount is not satisfied, the toner consumption amount calculation unit 1001 further calculates the toner consumption amount to be reduced in the area other than the character portion. Examples of the region other than the character portion (or other than the character region) here include a background region other than the object included in the image data. After that, in S1102, the toner saving processing unit 206 uses the normal density processing unit 306, and based on the toner consumption to be reduced for the region other than the character part calculated in S1101, the region other than the character part. Reduce the concentration value.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to achieve the reduction amount of the toner consumption set by the user while maintaining the visibility of the character portion.

<Third embodiment>
When the toner-saving output is performed, if the density of the character part is originally low, it may be desirable not to lower the density of the character part. This case will be described as a third embodiment.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart regarding the processing of the toner saving processing unit 206. This flowchart is realized by the system control unit 202 of the image processing apparatus 101 executing it according to a program stored in the ROM 203. Since S501, S503, S505, S1001, and S1002 are the same as those in the second embodiment, description thereof is omitted here. The configuration of the toner saving processing unit 206 is the same as that of the second embodiment.

  In step S <b> 1201, the toner saving processing unit 206 uses the character region extraction unit 303 to compare the density of the character part with a preset density (threshold) to determine whether the density of the character part is higher. Determine. Here, the threshold value for the density is defined and held in advance. The density threshold value may be set for each color, for example, so that it can be confirmed for each color.

  If the density of the character part is higher than the threshold (NO in S1201), the same operation as in the second embodiment is performed. If the density of the character portion is lower than the threshold (YES in S1201), in S1202, the toner saving processing unit 206 enlarges the character portion at a predetermined scaling factor in the character region scaling unit 304. . Thereafter, the process proceeds to S1001.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to ensure visibility for characters of any density by changing the processing method relating to the density of the character portion in accordance with the density of the original character.

<Fourth embodiment>
An embodiment in which the toner saving method is changed according to the character size when toner saving output is performed will be described as a fourth embodiment.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the toner saving processing unit 206 for carrying out the fourth embodiment. In addition to the configuration shown in FIG. 11, a normal toner saving processing unit 1301 is provided.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart regarding the processing of the toner saving processing unit 206. This flowchart is realized by the system control unit 202 of the image processing apparatus 101 executing it according to a program stored in the ROM 203. Since S601, S603, S605, S1101, S1102, S1201, and S1202 are the same as those in the third embodiment, description thereof is omitted here.

  In step S <b> 1401, the toner save processing unit 206 uses the character area extraction unit 303 to determine whether the size of the character part is larger than a preset size (threshold value). The threshold for the size here is defined in advance and held. The size threshold value may be defined for each character type, for example, so that it can be confirmed for each type.

  If the size of the character part is larger than the threshold (YES in S1401), the process proceeds to S1201, and the same operation as in the third embodiment is performed. If the size of the character portion is smaller than the threshold (NO in S1401), in S1402, the toner save processing unit 206 uses the normal toner save processing unit 1301 to both the character region and the background region other than the character. Reduce the amount of reduction set by the user. Here, the normal toner-saving processing unit 1301 may perform toner-saving processing on the entire image, or a predetermined type of object may be excluded from a target for reducing the density.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, by changing the toner saving method according to the size of the character, it is possible to maintain the visibility even when viewed from a distance in the case of a large character.

<Fifth embodiment>
An embodiment in which toner saving processing is switched based on whether or not a character area can be enlarged when toner saving output is performed will be described as a fifth embodiment.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the toner saving processing unit 206 for carrying out the fifth embodiment. In addition to the configuration shown in FIG.

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart regarding the processing of the toner saving processing unit 206. This flowchart is realized by the system control unit 202 of the image processing apparatus 101 executing it according to a program stored in the ROM 203. Since S501, S503, S505, S1001, S1002, S1201, S1202, S1401, and S1402 are the same as those in the fourth embodiment, description thereof is omitted here.

  As a result of the determination in S1401, if the size of the character part is larger than the threshold (YES in S1401), the process proceeds to S1601. If it is smaller than the threshold value (NO in S1401), the same operation as in the fourth embodiment is performed.

  In step S <b> 1601, the toner saving processing unit 206 uses the enlargement area determination unit 1501 to determine whether there is an area that can be enlarged when the character area is enlarged at a predetermined scaling factor. As a method, for example, it is determined whether or not the four vertexes of the rectangle of the character area 702 exceed the paper size or the area of the CMYK data 701 when enlarged at a predetermined scaling factor.

  If there is a region that can be enlarged (YES in S1601), the process proceeds to S1201, and the same operation as in the third embodiment is performed. If there is no area that can be enlarged (NO in S1601), in S1602, the toner-saving processing unit 206 uses the character region extraction unit 303 to set the density of the character part to a density (threshold) that is set in advance. Determine if it is high. The threshold value here may be the same value as in S1201 or a different value. Alternatively, it may be determined from the relationship with the size of the character part.

  If the density of the character portion is higher than the threshold (NO in S1602), the character area is not scaled and the process proceeds to S1001. On the other hand, if the density of the character part is lower than the threshold value (YES in S1602), in S1603, the toner saving processing unit 206 uses the character area scaling unit 304 to set the character area at a predetermined scaling factor. Reduce. Further, the toner saving processing unit 206 converts the density of the reduced character area into a predetermined density in the character part density processing unit 305. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S1001.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when there is no area for enlarging the character area, it is possible to achieve both the toner saving effect and the character visibility by reducing the character area but increasing the density.

<Sixth embodiment>
An embodiment in which the result of whether or not the toner consumption reduction target has been achieved when performing toner-saving output and performing confirmation processing will be described as a sixth embodiment.

  FIG. 17 is a flowchart regarding the processing of the toner saving processing unit 206. This flowchart is realized by the system control unit 202 of the image processing apparatus 101 executing it according to a program stored in the ROM 203.

  Since S601, S603, S605, S1101, and S1102 are the same as those in the second embodiment, a description thereof is omitted here.

  After adjusting the density of the background area in S1002, in S1701, the toner saving processing unit 206 uses the toner consumption calculation unit 1001 to set the toner consumption amount set by the user on the setting screen shown in FIG. It is determined whether or not the reduction amount has been achieved. The case where the reduction cannot be achieved is, for example, the case where the background area other than the character is a light color and the toner consumption that can be reduced is small and cannot be reduced. If it has been achieved (YES in S1701), the process flow ends. If not achieved (NO in step S1701), in step S1702, the toner save processing unit 206 displays a warning screen as shown in FIG. On the warning screen, the user confirms the actual reduction amount with respect to the target value indicated in the message 1801. As a result, the user presses a button 1802 when toner saving is output even with an actual reduction amount. When normal print output is desired without saving toner because the target value cannot be achieved, the user presses a button 1803. Thereafter, the printing process is continued in response to pressing of each button.

  As described above, according to the present exemplary embodiment, when the reduction by toner saving is not achieved in the set value, it is possible to prompt the user to determine whether or not to output toner by displaying the UI and confirming with the user.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is also realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) for realizing 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.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 ... Image processing apparatus, 204 ... Image processing part, 206 ... Toner saving process part, 1101 ... Toner consumption calculation part

Claims (10)

Receiving means for receiving an instruction for color-saving material processing;
And an image processing unit that performs processing for reducing the density of the character portion extracted from the image data and increasing the size of the character portion when the color-saving material processing instruction is received. Processing equipment. Setting means for receiving a setting of a reduction amount with respect to a color material consumption amount in the color saving material processing;
Calculating means for calculating a color material consumption reduced by converting the character part in the processing means;
An adjustment unit that lowers the density of an area other than the character portion included in the image data when the color material consumption calculated by the calculation unit does not satisfy the setting of the reduction amount received by the setting unit; The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:   The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the area other than the character portion is a background area. Comparing means for comparing the size of the character portion with a preset first threshold value,
4. The processing unit according to claim 2, wherein when the size of the character portion is smaller than the first threshold value, the processing unit lowers the density of the image data based on a reduction amount received by the setting unit. An image processing apparatus according to 1. The comparing means further compares the density of the character portion with a preset second threshold value,
If it is determined that the size of the character part is larger than the first threshold value and the density of the character part is lower than the second threshold value, the processing means may convert the density of the character part. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the size of the character portion is increased. The image data further includes means for determining whether or not there is a region where the size of the extracted character portion can be enlarged,
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein when it is determined that there is no area that can be enlarged, the processing unit reduces the size of the character part and increases the density of the character part. The image processing apparatus according to one item.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a unit that displays a result of the processing performed by the processing unit when the setting received by the setting unit is not satisfied.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a printing unit that performs printing using the image processed by the processing unit. A reception process for receiving an instruction for color-saving material processing;
And a processing step of performing a process of reducing the density of the character portion extracted from the image data and increasing the size of the character portion when the color-saving material processing instruction is received. Processing method. Computer
Accepting means for accepting instructions for color-saving material processing;
A program for functioning as processing means for performing processing for reducing the density of a character portion extracted from image data and increasing the size of the character portion when an instruction for color-saving material processing is received.

Images