JP2017064937A - Glossiness judging device, glossiness judging program and glossiness judging method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make evaluation of glossiness quality of a printed matter before performing printing using a photo-curable type ink possible.SOLUTION: In a printing system for performing printing with a photo-curable type inkjet device, when printing data Dpr is prepared according to color conversion processing, etc. using a color conversion table 11a, a previewing device 16 having a function as a glossiness judging device judges the quality of glossiness with respect to each pixel of a printed image exhibited by the printing data Dpr. Therein, a judging standard value corresponding to a combination of K-color component amount and a standard deviation of color component amount in N-order color is obtained from a judging table in accordance with the number N of color components other than the K-color component included in aimed pixels among judging tables A, B, C and, based on the judging standard value, the quality of glossiness of the aimed pixels is judged. The previewing device 16 displays a preview image for determining the judgment result and an operator looks at the preview image and judges the quality of the glossiness of the printed matter beforehand.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a gloss determination device, a gloss determination program, and a gloss determination method for confirming the gloss quality of a printed material produced by a photocurable inkjet printing apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, ink jet printing apparatuses that perform printing by discharging ink onto a base material (printing paper or the like) are known. In the ink jet printing apparatus, water-based ink is generally used. However, in recent years, development of a photocurable (ultraviolet curable) inkjet printing apparatus using UV ink (ultraviolet curable ink) has progressed. In the photo-curable ink jet printing apparatus, printing is performed by irradiating UV light (ultraviolet rays) to UV ink discharged onto a substrate.

  In an inkjet printing apparatus that performs color printing, printing is generally performed using four colors of ink of C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black). In the following, each of the four colors is referred to as an “ink color” in order to distinguish from the color expressed by the combination of the four colors. By the way, when an appropriate amount of ink is used in the photo-curable ink jet printing apparatus, the finish of the printed material is glossy (high gloss). However, when a large amount of ink is used at once in the photocurable ink jet printing apparatus, ink curing failure may occur due to the characteristics of the ink, the hygroscopicity of the substrate, and the like. When ink curing failure occurs in this way, the surface of the printed material becomes non-uniform, and the finish becomes matte (low gloss).

  Therefore, the maximum ink amount based on the TAC (Total Area Coverage) value of the ICC profile (the sum of the four colors of CMYK inks to be superimposed on one pixel) so that a glossy printed matter can be obtained without causing ink curing failure. Amount) is being limited. The ICC profile is a file having a format defined by the International Color Consortium in order to convert the color space, and defines the characteristics of the device color space. By converting color data using an ICC profile, it is possible to reproduce colors as faithfully as possible between different devices.

  The TAC value described above is set to, for example, “320%” with the maximum value of each ink color being 100%. In this case, even if the color is originally expressed as (C value, M value, Y value, K value) = (95, 85, 95, 90) when converted from RGB data to CMYK data. The color data is converted so that the total value of the four ink colors does not exceed 320%. In this way, by limiting the total amount of four colors of ink per pixel, ink curing failure is prevented.

  JP 2013-116605 A discloses a thermal transfer printing apparatus using a thermal head. In this printing apparatus, an area having a predetermined density or more for each ink color is determined as a non-gloss area in the print data.

JP 2013-116605 A

  In the conventional UV printing system, as shown in FIG. 24, page data (for example, data in PDF (Portable Document Format) format) in which a print target is described in a page description language is created as submission data 92 in advance. A color conversion table 91 corresponding to an ICC profile for managing print colors is created by the color conversion table creation device 90. The color conversion table 91 is created so as to satisfy not only the color reproducibility but also the limit of the TAC value (for example, 220%) set in the ICC profile in order to prevent a decrease in gloss due to ink curing failure.

  Next, the print data conversion apparatus 94 performs color conversion processing and rasterization processing (also referred to as “RIP processing”) on the submitted data 92 as page data, so that print data that is bitmap format data is obtained. Is created. Before printing using this print data, a preview display by the preview device 96 of an image showing the printed matter, that is, an image represented by the print data (hereinafter referred to as “print image”) is performed. The operator looks at the preview display to check whether the coloring is appropriate, that is, whether the color quality is good or not, and after confirming that it is appropriate, the print data is sent to the printing apparatus 98 for printing.

  In the UV printing system as described above, the color quality of the printed material can be confirmed in advance by displaying the printed image on the preview device. However, the operator actually determines the gloss quality such as whether the finished material of the printed material has a matte tone. Judging by looking at the printed matter. As a result, when it is determined that the gloss quality is poor, a color conversion table 91 corresponding to the ICC profile with a reduced TAC value is created to eliminate the ink curing failure, and the color conversion table 91 is used to input the color conversion table 91. The color conversion process and RIP process for the manuscript data are redone.

  In this case, in order to increase the gloss quality, the TAC value indicating the total amount of ink is reduced. However, when the amount of ink is reduced, the color quality tends to be impaired. That is, in UV printing, color quality and gloss quality are in a reciprocal relationship. For this reason, the process of creating a color conversion table according to the ICC profile in which the TAC value is set → color conversion processing and RIP processing → (preview) → printing is repeated until color quality and gloss quality are balanced. Can occur. If such processing is repeated, the work efficiency is lowered and the cost is increased.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a gloss determination device and the like that can evaluate the gloss quality of a printed matter before performing printing (UV printing or the like) using photocurable ink.

The first aspect of the present invention is a gloss for determining the quality of gloss of a printed matter obtained by printing using a photocurable ink of K colors and N colors other than K (N is an integer of 3 or more). A determination device,
A gloss determination table for giving a determination reference value of the gloss quality for a combination of a K color component amount and a dispersion degree of the N color component amounts;
Based on image data representing an image to be printed, for each predetermined unit image in the image, a scatter degree calculation unit that calculates a scatter degree of the component amounts of the N colors in the unit image;
A determination reference value for obtaining a determination reference value given by the gloss determination table for a combination of the K color component amount included in each unit image of the image and the distribution degree calculated by the distribution degree calculation unit for the unit image. An acquisition unit;
A total color component amount calculation unit that obtains from the image data the sum of the component amounts of the K color and the N colors included in each unit image of the image as a total color component amount;
For each unit image of the image, the quality of the gloss of the printed matter is determined by comparing the total color component amount in the unit image with a determination reference value acquired for the unit image by the determination reference value acquisition unit. And a determination unit that performs the determination.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention,
The gloss determination table includes first to Nth determination tables,
The j-th determination table corresponding to any integer j that is less than or equal to N and greater than or equal to 2 is a standard for the color component amount in the j-order color composed of the K color component amount and an arbitrary j of the N colors. Correlating the gloss quality judgment criterion value to the combination with the deviation,
The first determination table associates the gloss quality determination reference value with a combination of a K color component amount and a component amount of any one of the N colors,
When the number m of color components other than the K color component included in the unit image for which the distribution degree is to be obtained is 2 or more, the distribution degree calculation unit calculates the color component amount in the m-th order color included in the unit image. Calculate the standard deviation as the degree of dispersion,
The determination reference value acquisition unit
When the number m of color components other than the K color component included in the unit image from which the determination reference value is to be acquired is 2 or more, the K color component amount included in the unit image and the scattering degree calculation for the unit image A determination reference value associated with the standard deviation calculated by the unit by the m-th determination table is acquired as the determination reference value for the unit image,
When the number of color components other than the K color component included in the unit image from which the determination reference value is to be acquired is 1, the amount of the K color component included in the unit image and the primary color included in the unit image A determination reference value associated with the combination with the color component amount by the first determination table is acquired as the determination reference value for the unit image;
When the unit image from which the determination reference value is to be acquired does not include a color component other than the K color component, the K color component amount included in the unit image and the color component amount of the primary color included in the unit image As a determination reference value for the unit image, a determination reference value associated with the combination of “0” and the first determination table is acquired as the determination reference value.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention,
An extended criterion for determining the quality of the gloss quality more gently than the determination based on the criterion value in the gloss determination table for the combination of the K color component amount and the dispersion degree of the N color component amounts. An extended gloss judgment table that gives values,
An extension for acquiring an extended determination reference value given by the extended gloss determination table for a combination of the K color component amount included in each unit image of the image and the distribution degree calculated by the distribution degree calculation unit for the unit image. A judgment reference value acquisition unit;
For each unit image of the image, by comparing the total color component amount in the unit image with the extended determination reference value acquired for the unit image by the extended determination reference value acquisition unit, the quality of the gloss of the printed matter is determined. And an extended determination unit for determining whether or not.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention,
The extended gloss determination table includes first to Nth extended determination tables,
The j-th extended determination table corresponding to any integer j that is less than or equal to N and greater than or equal to 2 indicates the K component amount and the color component amount in the j-order color composed of any j colors out of the N colors. Correlating the gloss quality extended criterion value with the combination with the standard deviation,
The first extended determination table associates the extended determination reference value of the gloss quality with a combination of a K color component amount and a component amount of any one of the N colors,
The extended determination reference value acquisition unit
When the number m of color components other than the K color component included in the unit image for which the extended determination reference value is to be acquired is 2 or more, the K color component amount included in the unit image and the dispersion degree for the unit image Obtaining an extended determination reference value associated with the standard deviation calculated by the calculation unit by the m-th extended determination table as the extended determination reference value for the unit image;
When the number of color components other than the K color component included in the unit image from which the extended determination reference value is to be acquired is 1, the K color component amount included in the unit image and the primary color included in the unit image An extended determination reference value associated with the combination of the color component amount by the first extended determination table as the extended determination reference value for the unit image,
When the unit image from which the extended determination reference value is to be acquired does not include a color component other than the K color component, the amount of the K color component included in the unit image and the color component of the primary color included in the unit image An extended determination reference value associated with the combination of “0” as a quantity by the first extended determination table is acquired as the extended determination reference value for the unit image.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention,
A table selection unit that selects a gloss determination table corresponding to a printing condition for obtaining the printed matter among a plurality of types of gloss determination tables prepared in advance as a gloss determination table to be used by the determination reference value acquisition unit. It is characterized by that.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention,
The N colors are C color, M color, and Y color.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention,
The unit image is one pixel in the image.

An eighth aspect of the present invention is to determine whether the gloss quality of a printed matter obtained by printing using K and non-K color N (N is an integer of 3 or more) photocurable ink is good or bad. In the computer, the CPU uses the memory,
Based on image data representing an image to be printed, for each predetermined unit image in the image, a dispersion degree calculating step for calculating a dispersion degree of the component amounts of the N colors in the unit image;
Using a gloss judgment table that gives the gloss quality judgment reference value for the combination of the K color component quantity and the dispersion degree of the N color component quantities, the K color component quantity included in each unit image of the image And a determination reference value acquisition step for acquiring from the gloss determination table a determination reference value corresponding to the combination of the dispersion degree calculated in the dispersion degree calculation step for the unit image,
A total color component amount calculating step in which the sum of the component amounts of the K color and the N colors included in each unit image of the image is determined from the image data as a total color component amount amount;
For each unit image of the image, the quality of the gloss of the printed matter is determined by comparing the total color component amount in the unit image with the determination reference value acquired for the unit image in the determination reference value acquisition step. And performing a determination step.

  Since other aspects of the present invention are apparent from the first to eighth aspects of the present invention and the description of each embodiment described later, the description thereof is omitted.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, printing should be performed using a gloss determination table that gives a determination reference value of gloss quality for the combination of the K color component amount and the dispersion degree of the N color component amounts. Based on image data representing an image (print image), for each predetermined unit image in the print image, the K color component amount included in the unit image and the dispersion degree of the N color component amounts in the unit image Is obtained by comparing the total color component amount that is the sum of the component amounts of the K color and the N colors included in the unit image with the determination reference value. Gloss quality is determined. As a result, the operator can confirm in advance whether or not the gloss quality of the printed material is good, so that if the gloss quality is judged to be poor based on the determination result, a good gloss quality can be obtained without printing. Image data for easy printing can be recreated. As a result, it is possible to efficiently produce a printed material in which color quality and gloss quality are balanced. In addition, since the determination reference value is acquired from the gloss determination table as described above, the generation of the gray component is also taken into consideration based on the dispersion degree of the component amounts of N colors other than the K color in addition to the K color component amount. The quality of the gloss quality is determined. Therefore, it is possible to determine the gloss quality based on the image data representing the print image with higher accuracy than before.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the gloss determination table includes N determination tables, and for each unit image in the print image, the number m of color components other than the K color component included in the unit image. A determination reference value is acquired using a determination table corresponding to the image quality, and the quality of the gloss quality is determined for the unit image based on the determination reference value. Thereby, the gloss quality determination using the image data representing the print image can be performed with higher accuracy.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the extended gloss determination table is used in addition to the gloss determination table used in the first aspect of the present invention. This extended gloss determination table determines the quality of the gloss quality more gently than the determination based on the determination reference value in the gloss determination table for the combination of the K color component amount and the dispersion degree of the N color component amounts. An extended criterion value is given. For each unit image in the print image, an extended determination reference value corresponding to the unit image is acquired from the extended gloss determination table, and the quality of the gloss quality is determined based on the extended determination reference value. In this way, the use of the gloss determination table and the extended gloss determination table determines the quality of the gloss quality based on two criteria. Therefore, the quality of the gloss quality is more appropriately determined according to the situation regarding the printed matter to be produced (gloss failure) Whether or not the print data should be recreated for this purpose.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the extended gloss determination table includes N extended determination tables. For each unit image in the print image, color components other than the K color component included in the unit image are included. The extended determination reference value is acquired using the extended determination table corresponding to the number m, and whether or not the gloss quality is good for the unit image is determined based on the extended determination reference value. As a result, the gloss quality can be determined with higher accuracy based on the extended determination criteria.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, a gloss determination table corresponding to a printing condition (base material type and printing speed) is selected from a plurality of types of gloss determination tables prepared in advance, and each unit in an image to be printed For the image, the quality of the gloss quality is determined based on the determination reference value acquired from the gloss determination table. For this reason, whether the gloss quality of each unit image is good or not can be appropriately determined based on the determination reference value corresponding to the changed printing condition even if the printing condition is changed.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, whether or not the gloss quality of the printed matter obtained by printing using the K-color and CMY three-color photocurable inks is determined using the image data representing the image to be printed. The determination can be made with high accuracy in advance based on the determination reference value acquired from the gloss determination table.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, using the image data representing the print image, the quality of the gloss quality is determined for each pixel in the print image based on the determination reference value acquired from the gloss determination table. As a result, the gloss quality can be accurately confirmed regardless of the shape and size of the various image areas included in the print image.

  Since the effects of the other aspects of the present invention are clear from the effects of the first to seventh aspects of the present invention and the description of the following embodiments, the description is omitted.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a printing system that uses a gloss determination device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of 1 structure of the inkjet printing apparatus in the said printing system. It is a hardware block diagram of the image processing apparatus which functions as a gloss determination apparatus according to the first embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the work procedure in the printing system which uses the gloss determination apparatus which concerns on the said 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the gloss quality preview process in the said 1st Embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the preview display in the glossy quality preview process in the said 1st Embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the relationship between the appropriate amount of ink for producing printed matter with favorable gloss quality in the said printing system, a base material kind, speed mode, and the combination of a color. It is a figure which shows an example of the determination table A used in the said 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the determination table B used by the said 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the determination table C used in the said 1st Embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating preparation of the glossiness determination table used in the said 1st Embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the conventional color conversion process for producing print data from submission data according to an ICC profile. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining color conversion processing for creating print data from submitted data in accordance with an ICC profile so that occurrence of gloss failure in a printed material can be suppressed. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the ink discharge amount limiting method for suppressing generation | occurrence | production of the glossiness defect in printed matter. It is a figure which shows the relationship between an input gradation value and ink consumption. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of setting of a limit value of an ink amount for suppressing occurrence of poor gloss in a printed material. It is a figure for demonstrating the setting of the limit value for every color in the said ink discharge amount limiting method. It is a figure for demonstrating the setting of the limit value for every color in the said ink discharge amount limiting method. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the gloss determination process contained in the gloss quality preview process in the said 1st Embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the work procedure in the printing system which uses the gloss determination apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. In order to explain the relationship between the proper amount of ink and the base material type, speed mode, and color combination for producing a printed matter with good gloss quality in the printing system using the gloss determination apparatus according to the second embodiment. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating creation of the extended glossiness determination table used in the said 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the glossiness determination process included in the glossy quality preview process in the said 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the work procedure in the conventional printing system.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
<1. First Embodiment>
<1.1 Overall configuration of printing system>
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a printing system including an image processing apparatus 200 that functions as a gloss determination apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. This printing system includes a client computer 100 for editing and laying out a plurality of types of parts such as characters, logos, patterns, and illustrations constituting a printed matter, a color conversion table corresponding to an ICC profile for managing printing colors, and the like. For generating image data, RIP processing for converting the input data into raster data, color conversion processing for converting color data using a color conversion table according to the ICC profile, and checking the color quality and gloss quality of the printed matter in advance The image processing apparatus 200 performs various processes such as a preview process, the colorimeter 220 and the gloss meter 230 connected to the image processing apparatus 200, and the ink jet printing apparatus 300 that performs color printing. The ink jet printing apparatus 300 includes a printing machine main body 302 and a print control apparatus 304 that is a control apparatus thereof. The client computer 100, the image processing apparatus 200, and the inkjet printing apparatus 300 are connected to each other via a LAN 400 so as to communicate with each other. In addition, the inkjet printing apparatus 300 in this embodiment is a photocurable (ultraviolet curable) inkjet printing apparatus.

  Printing by this printing system is generally performed as follows. First, by editing and laying out various components as described above in the client computer 100, for example, page data describing a print target in a page description language is generated. The page data generated by the client computer 100 is given to the image processing apparatus 200 as submitted data. The image processing apparatus 200 generates bitmap format print data by performing RIP processing (rasterization processing) and color conversion processing on the submitted data. Note that the RIP process is performed either before or after the color conversion process. Print data generated by the image processing apparatus 200 is sent to the inkjet printing apparatus 300. The ink jet printing apparatus 300 performs printing based on the print data.

  In the image processing apparatus 200, a color conversion table corresponding to the ICC profile is created in advance so that print data can be generated based on the submitted data. The ICC profile is created based on the color measurement result of the color chart printed by the corresponding printing apparatus, and the color measurement of the color chart is performed by the color measurement device 220. A well-known method can be adopted for the creation of the ICC profile. The creation of a color conversion table corresponding to the ICC profile will be described later.

<1.2 Configuration of inkjet printing apparatus>
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example of an inkjet printing apparatus 300 in a printing system that uses the gloss determination apparatus according to the present embodiment. As described above, the inkjet printing apparatus 300 includes the printing machine main body 302 and the printing control apparatus 304 that is a control apparatus thereof. The printing machine main body 302 includes a paper feeding unit 31 that supplies a printing paper 32 as a base material, a first driving roller 33 for conveying the printing paper 32 into the printing mechanism, and the printing paper 32 inside the printing mechanism. A plurality of support rollers 34 for transporting ink, a printing unit 35 that performs printing by discharging ink onto the printing paper 32, a UV irradiation unit 36 that cures the ink on the printing paper 32 after printing, and a printing paper An inspection unit 37 for inspecting the state of printing on the printing paper 32, a second drive roller 38 for outputting the printing paper 32 from the inside of the printing mechanism, and a paper winding unit 39 for winding up the printing paper 32 after printing. I have. The printing unit 35 includes a C inkjet head 35c, an M inkjet head 35m, a Y inkjet head 35y, and a Y inkjet head 35y that respectively eject C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black) inks. And an inkjet head 35k for K. An ink tank (not shown) for storing ink to be supplied to each of the inkjet heads 35c, 35m, 35y, and 35k is also provided inside the printing mechanism.

  The print control device 304 controls the operation of the printing press main body 302 configured as described above. When a print output instruction command is given to the print control device 304, the print control device 304 controls the operation of the printing machine main body 302 so that the print paper 32 is conveyed from the paper delivery unit 31 to the paper take-up unit 39. To do. In the process of transporting the printing paper 32, first, printing is performed by ejecting ink from the inkjet heads 35c, 35m, 35y, and 35k in the printing unit 35, and then the ink is cured by the UV irradiation unit 36. Finally, the inspection of the printing state is performed by the inspection unit 37.

<1.3 Configuration of Image Processing Device>
FIG. 3 is a hardware configuration diagram of the image processing apparatus 200 in the present embodiment. The image processing apparatus 200 is realized by a personal computer, and includes a CPU 21, a ROM 22, a RAM 23, an auxiliary storage device 24, an input operation unit 25 such as a keyboard, a display unit 26, an optical disk drive 27, and a network. An interface unit 28 and a peripheral device interface unit 29 are provided. A colorimeter 220 and a gloss meter 230 are connected to the peripheral device interface unit 29. The submitted data sent from the client computer 100 via the LAN 400 is input into the image processing apparatus 200 via the network interface unit 28. The print data generated by the image processing apparatus 200 is sent to the inkjet printing apparatus 300 via the LAN 400 via the network interface unit 28.

  In the image processing apparatus 200, the CPU 21 loads a predetermined program installed in the auxiliary storage device 24 to the RAM 23 and executes it, thereby performing color conversion processing and rasterization processing according to the ICC profile on the input data and printing. It functions as a printing data conversion device that creates data. Further, in this image processing apparatus 200, the CPU 21 loads the color conversion table creation program installed in the auxiliary storage device 24 into the RAM 23 and executes it, so that the ICC used for managing print colors in this printing system. It also functions as a color conversion table creation device that creates a color conversion table according to a profile. Furthermore, in this image processing apparatus 200, the CPU 21 loads the preview processing program installed in the auxiliary storage device 24 into the RAM 23 and executes the preview processing program so that the color quality and the gloss quality of the printed matter are determined in advance (printing is performed). It also functions as a preview device that performs a preview display for confirmation. This preview apparatus has a function as a gloss determination apparatus in addition to a function as a conventional color quality determination apparatus. The various programs are provided by being stored in a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM. In other words, the user purchases an optical disk (CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, etc.) 210 storing the program, attaches it to the optical disk drive 27, reads the program from the optical disk 210, and installs it in the auxiliary storage device 24. . Alternatively, a program sent via the LAN 400 or the like may be received by the network interface unit 28 and installed in the auxiliary storage device 24.

  Note that the client computer 100 is also implemented by a personal computer, similar to the image processing apparatus 200. Therefore, description of the configuration of the client computer 100 is omitted.

<1.4 Work procedure in the printing system>
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a work procedure in the above-described printing system shown in FIG. In this printing system, page data in which a print target is described in a page description language is created by the client computer 100 and is given to the image processing apparatus 200 as submission data 12. As described above, the image processing apparatus 200 has its internal CPU 21 execute the above-described various programs, whereby the color conversion table creation apparatus 10 and the printing data conversion apparatus (hereinafter simply referred to as “data conversion apparatus”). ) 14 and the preview device 16. That is, the color conversion table creation device 10, the data conversion device 14, and the preview device 16 shown in FIG. 4 are realized by software using the various programs. The computer on which the various programs are executed is not limited to the image processing apparatus 200, and a part or all of the various programs may be executed on another computer, for example, a computer as the print control apparatus 304. It may be configured.

  A color conversion table corresponding to an ICC profile in which a predetermined TAC value is set is created by the color conversion table creating apparatus 10 for color conversion processing of the submitted data 12 in order to prevent gloss reduction in the printed material. Here, it is assumed that a color conversion table (hereinafter also referred to as “TAC value 220% restricted color conversion table”) 11a corresponding to an ICC profile with a TAC value of 220% is created. This color conversion table 11 a is given to the data converter 14 together with the submitted data 12.

  In the data conversion device 14, the submitted data 12 is converted into CMYK data by color conversion processing based on the color conversion table 11a limited to TAC values of 220%. When printing is performed using the CMYK data, the ink amount is limited so that the TAC value is 220% or less (the total value of the ink amounts of the four colors C, M, Y, and K is 220% or less). ). Next, in the data conversion device 14, rasterization processing is performed on the CMYK data, thereby generating print data Dpr in the bitmap format. The print data Dpr may be generated by performing a color conversion process based on the color conversion table 11a after the received data 12 is rasterized.

  The print data Dpr created by the data conversion device 14 is given to the preview device 16 before being sent to the printing device 18. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a gloss quality preview process for confirming the gloss quality of the printed material before printing with the print data Dpr. The gloss quality preview process will be described below with reference to FIG.

  In order to determine the gloss quality of the printed matter, the print data Dpr which is CMYK data in the bitmap format is used. The print data Dpr is created by executing the data conversion process (color conversion process and RIP process) in step S110 in the flowchart of FIG.

  Thereafter, the gloss determination processing S120 is executed by the preview device 16 using the print data Dpr. At this time, the image processing apparatus 200 functioning as the preview apparatus 16 functions as a gloss determination apparatus (FIGS. 1 and 3). The image processing apparatus 200 includes a plurality of gloss determination tables Tb1, Tb2,... According to the type of base material that can be used for printing and the speed mode. In the gloss determination process S120, the gloss determination table Tbs corresponding to the type of printing material specified by the operator's input operation or the type of the substrate constituting the preset print condition and the speed mode is the plurality of gloss determination tables Tb1, It is selected from Tb2,. Using this selected gloss determination table Tbs, the quality of the printed product based on the print data Dpr (glossy or matte) is determined for each pixel of the print image represented by the print data Dpr. Gloss determination result data indicating the determination result is generated. Details of such gloss determination processing S120 will be described later.

  When the gloss determination process S120 ends, a preview process S130 is executed by the preview device 16 based on the gloss determination result data. That is, based on the print data Dpr and the gloss determination result data, the print image is displayed on the image processing apparatus 200 functioning as the preview apparatus 16 in such a form that the operator can confirm the color quality and gloss quality of the printed matter ( Hereinafter, an image displayed in this way is referred to as a “preview image”). For example, in the case where the printed image showing the printed material is an image as shown in FIG. 6A, each pixel in the central ring-shaped region and the upper and lower rectangular regions in contact with the ring-shaped region in the printed image. When it is determined that the gloss quality of the image is poor (matte tone), for example, as shown in FIG. 6B, hatching is performed on an image region (hereinafter referred to as “glossy defective region”) composed of pixels determined to be matte. The hatched print image is displayed as a preview image. However, the method of indicating the gloss determination result is not limited to such a method using hatching, and it is sufficient that the printed image can be displayed by a method in which the operator can easily determine the gloss failure area in the preview image. For example, instead of or together with a method using hatching, an image area constituted by pixels determined to be matte may be displayed in a specific color (for example, red). You may make it blink. 6A and 6B show monochrome halftone images, the actual preview device 16 (image processing device 200) displays images in color halftones.

  By viewing the preview image (FIG. 6B) displayed on the image processing apparatus 200 as the preview apparatus 16, the operator can perform printing based on the print data Dpr, in addition to the color quality of the printed matter. Gloss quality can be confirmed. In general, in printing using photocurable ink, it is necessary to reduce the amount of ink in order to improve the gloss quality of the printed matter. However, if the amount of ink is reduced, the color quality decreases. In other words, the gloss quality and the color quality are in an opposite relationship with respect to the ink amount. Therefore, when the operator who viewed the preview image determines that the gloss quality is poor, for example, a color conversion table with a TAC value restriction slightly lower than the TAC value restriction (220%) in the current color conversion table 11a is provided. It is newly created, and print data (bit map format CMYK data) Dpr is recreated using this new color conversion table. Data conversion processing S100 of FIG. 5 is executed using the new print data Dpr, and thereafter gloss determination processing S120 and preview processing S130 are executed in order. The operator looks at the preview image obtained in the preview process S130 and confirms in advance the color quality and gloss quality of the printed matter.

  As a result, when the operator determines that both the color quality and the gloss quality are good (the color quality and the gloss quality are balanced), the new print data Dpr is sent to the printing device 18. The ink jet printing apparatus 300 as the printing apparatus 18 performs printing using the print data Dpr sent from the image processing apparatus 200. On the other hand, if the operator who viewed the preview image based on the new print data Dpr determines that either the color quality or the gloss quality is defective, the color conversion table is recreated according to the determination result, Data conversion processing S110 → gloss determination processing S120 → preview processing S130 is repeated until both the color quality and the gloss quality are good.

  Further, instead of the above-described work procedure, when the operator determines that the gloss quality is poor in the first preview image display, the gloss described later is used instead of the conventional color conversion table such as the color conversion table 11a. The priority color conversion table 11b may be used. The color conversion table 11b is configured not to uniformly limit the ink amount by the TAC value, but to limit the color component amount that generates the K color component amount and the gray component to a relatively low value. If such a gloss priority color conversion table 11b is prepared, it is possible to suppress the repetition of the operations by the data conversion processing S110 → gloss determination processing S120 → preview processing S130. Details of the gloss priority color conversion table 11b will be described later. The “color component amount” is a gradation value of any one of CMYK color components. For example, the K color component amount is a gradation value of the K color component.

<1.5 Gloss determination table>
Next, the gloss determination table used in the gloss determination process S120 in this embodiment will be described.

  As described above, in printing using photo-curing ink such as UV printing, when ink curing failure occurs, the surface of the printed material becomes non-uniform and the finish becomes matte. Whether or not ink curing failure occurs in UV printing or the like depends on printing conditions such as the type of substrate and speed mode. Further, the ink curing failure differs depending on the combination of colors. Even if the TAC values are the same, if the K color component increases or the gray component increases due to the mixed color of CMY, the curing failure tends to occur. Therefore, it can be considered that the limit value of the amount of ink for making the printed product glossy (good gloss quality) without causing ink curing failure is determined by the combination of the substrate type, speed mode, and ink color. it can. Here, the limit value of the ink amount is such that if the TAC value indicating the total amount of ink is less than that, the finished product will be glossy, but the color quality improves as the amount of ink increases. The amount limit value is also referred to as “appropriate ink amount”.

  For example, the gloss of a printed matter created by the ink jet printing apparatus 300 is measured by the gloss meter 230 (for example, measured by 60 degrees), and the total amount of ink when a gloss value of 50% is obtained as a measured value is determined as an appropriate amount of ink. Can do. FIG. 7 shows the proper amount of ink determined by such a method as a TAC value. According to FIG. 7, for example, when the base material is a white film and the speed mode is standard (high speed), ink when printing with secondary colors (the color component amounts of each of the two colors of CMY are 100%) The proper amount is 200%. Also, for example, when the base material is a white film and the speed mode is standard (high speed), the appropriate ink amount (TAC value) when printing with a tertiary color (the color component amount of each of the three colors of CMY is 100%) is 160%. For example, when the base material is a white film and the speed mode is standard (high speed), the appropriate ink amount (TAC value) when printing with a color including a K color component (K color component amount 100%) is 120%. is there.

  In this embodiment, when the printing conditions (the type of substrate and the speed mode) are determined, the balance between the K color component amount corresponding to the K ink amount and the CMY color component (gray) It is considered that the appropriate ink amount as described above is uniquely determined by the value corresponding to the amount of the component). However, for the convenience of calculation processing, a standard deviation corresponding to the degree of dispersion indicating the degree of variation is used instead of the balance of the amounts among the CMY color components. For this reason, in this embodiment, a gloss determination table is created so that an appropriate amount of ink corresponding to the combination of the K color component amount and the color component amount distribution degree in CMY is given as a determination reference value. A plurality of gloss determination tables are prepared according to combinations (printing conditions) of types and speed modes. That is, such a plurality of gloss determination tables are created in advance and stored in the auxiliary storage device 24 in the image processing apparatus 200. In the following description, the base material is a white film and the speed mode is standard (high speed) unless otherwise specified.

  In the following description, the terms “tertiary color”, “secondary color”, and “primary color” for the color of a printed matter or a printed image are used in the following meaning (another embodiment). The same applies to the explanation of the above). “Tertiary color” refers to a tertiary color that does not include a K color component, that is, a color composed of a C color component, an M color component, and a Y color component. “Secondary color” means a secondary color not including a K color component, that is, a color composed of a C color component and an M color component, a color composed of an M color component and a Y color component, and a Y color component and a C color. A color consisting of ingredients. The “primary color” refers to a primary color that does not include the K color component, that is, a color that includes only the C color component, a color that includes only the M color component, and a color that includes only the Y color component.

  The above-described appropriate ink amount shown in FIG. 7 is the standard deviation of the color component amount for the three colors of K color component and CMY (standard deviation calculated from the C color component amount, the M color component amount, and the Y color component amount). ) In the case of a tertiary color in which the amount of all color components of CMY is non-zero, and the case of a secondary color in which the amount of any two color components of CMY is zero. The case of the primary color in which the amount of any one color component of CMY is zero (only the amount of any one color component is non-zero) is usually not the same. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the gloss determination table is a third determination table that associates a determination reference value with a combination of the K color component amount (0 to 100%) and the standard deviation of the color component amount in the tertiary color. A determination table A, a determination table B as a second determination table that associates a determination reference value with a combination of the K color component amount (0 to 100%) and the standard deviation of the color component amount in the secondary color, and K color This is composed of a determination table C as a first determination table for associating a determination reference value with a combination of the component amount (0 to 100%) and the amount of the color component constituting the primary color. 8, FIG. 9, and FIG. 10 show examples of such determination tables A, B, and C, respectively.

  Note that, according to data conversion processing (color conversion processing and RIP processing) using a gloss priority color conversion table 11b described later, the determination table A, B, C determines the TAC value for each pixel in the print image. Below the reference value. This gloss priority color conversion table 11b is based on an ink discharge amount limiting method described later. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11, the K color component amount is changed in the range of 0 to 100%, and any two color component amounts in the tertiary color are set to 100%, and the other one color component amount is set to 0. By changing within a range of ˜100%, a limit value of the ink discharge amount is obtained based on the ink discharge amount limiting method described later, and a TAC value corresponding to the limit value is set as a determination reference value in a corresponding portion of the determination table A. Thus, the determination table A can be created. Similarly, the determination tables B and C can also be created by obtaining the ink discharge amount limit value based on the ink discharge amount limiting method described later. In FIG. 11, when the determination table A is created, the K color component amount and the other one color component amount are changed at an interval of 10%, but actually a narrower interval (for example, an interval of 1%). Change with. This also applies to the conversion tables B and C.

<1.6 Color conversion table>
First, a conventional color conversion process for creating print data from submitted data according to an ICC profile for managing print colors will be described with reference to FIG. Here, a case where the input data is RGB data will be described as an example. Also assume that the CIELab color space is used as the profile connection space (PCS). Furthermore, in order to create print data from the submitted data, RIP processing (rasterization processing) is required in addition to color conversion processing. However, for the sake of convenience of explanation, description on RIP processing is omitted below. These points are the same in the later-described color conversion processing shown in FIG.

  The image processing apparatus 200 as the color conversion table creation apparatus 10 includes an input ICC profile 61 corresponding to an input device and an output ICC profile 62a corresponding to an output device (here, the inkjet printing apparatus 300 as the printing apparatus 18). Provided. For example, the image processing apparatus 200 stores the input ICC profile 61 and the output ICC profile 62a in the auxiliary storage device 24 as a table for color conversion processing, and loads them into the RAM 23 when the color conversion processing is executed (see FIG. 3). Here, it is assumed that 220% is set in the output profile 62a as the TAC value indicating the restriction of the ink amount.

  As shown in FIG. 12A, when RGB data 51 is given as the submitted data 12, the RGB data 51 is first converted into Lab data 52 using the input ICC profile 61. That is, conversion from RGB values to Lab values is performed on the data of each color. Next, the Lab data 52 is converted into CMYK data 54a as print data Dpr using the output ICC profile 62a. In other words, the Lab value is converted to the CMYK value for each color data. In the color conversion process shown in FIG. 12A, the output ICC profile 62a in which the TAC value is set to 220% is used. Accordingly, the CMYK value in the CMYK data 54a is a value that is uniformly restricted (regardless of the combination of colors) so that the ink amount is 220% or less in terms of the TAC value.

  In the color conversion process shown in FIG. 12A, an input ICC profile 61 and an output ICC profile 62a are used. As shown in FIG. 12B, a color conversion table 11a in which these are combined into one is shown. May be used. This color conversion table 11a is the color conversion table 11a used in the work procedure shown in FIG. 4, and 220% is set as the TAC value for limiting the ink amount. In the work procedure of FIG. 4, the RGB data 51 as the submitted data 12 is converted into the CMYK data 54a as the print data Dpr by the color conversion table 11a.

  Next, a color conversion process for creating print data from submitted data in accordance with the ICC profile with gloss priority will be described with reference to FIG.

  The image processing apparatus 200 as the color conversion table creation apparatus 10 includes an input ICC profile 61 corresponding to the input device, an output ICC profile 62 corresponding to the output device (here, the inkjet printing apparatus 300 as the printing apparatus 18), There is provided a color conversion table 63 for limiting ink amount, which is a table used for converting color data so as to suppress ink curing failure and is created using an ink discharge amount limiting method described later. For example, the image processing apparatus 200 stores the input ICC profile 61, the output ICC profile 62, and the ink amount limiting color conversion table 63 in the auxiliary storage device 24 as a table for color conversion processing. Is loaded into the RAM 23 (see FIG. 3). In the output ICC profile 62, 400% is set as the TAC value.

  As shown in FIG. 13A, when RGB data 51 is given as the submitted data 12, the RGB data 51 is first converted into Lab data 52 using the input ICC profile 61. That is, conversion from RGB values to Lab values is performed on the data of each color. Next, the Lab data 52 is converted into CMYK data 53 using the output ICC profile 62. In other words, the Lab value is converted to the CMYK value for each color data. As described above, 400% is set as the TAC value in the output profile 62. Accordingly, the CMYK value in the CMYK data 53 is a value that does not consider the restriction on the ink amount at all.

  Thereafter, the CMYK data 53 is converted into CMYK data 54b as print data Dpr using the ink amount limiting color conversion table 63. The CMYK value in the CMYK data 54b is a value that considers the restriction of the ink amount. That is, for each color data, CMYK values to be given to the inkjet printing apparatus 300 are determined so as not to cause ink curing failure. The CMYK data 54b generated as described above is sent to the printing apparatus 18 (inkjet printing apparatus 300) as print data Dpr, and the printed matter 19 is produced in the printing apparatus 18.

  In the color conversion process shown in FIG. 13A, the input ICC profile 61, the output ICC profile 62, and the ink amount limiting color conversion table 63 are used. As shown in FIG. May be used as a color conversion table 11b. This color conversion table 11b is the gloss priority color conversion table 11b used in the work procedure shown in FIG. Since the ink amount limiting color conversion table 63 is created by using an ink discharge amount limiting method, which will be described later, so that ink curing failure is suppressed, CMYK data obtained by color conversion processing by the gloss priority color conversion table 11b. The CMYK value in 54b is a value corresponding to the ink amount limit for suppressing ink curing failure. In the work procedure of FIG. 4, print data Dpr is created using the conventional color conversion table 11 a in which 220% is set as the TAC value, and it is determined that the operator has seen a preview image based on the print data Dpr as a poor gloss. In such a case, the print data Dpr is recreated using the gloss priority color conversion table 11b, and the print data Dpr can be used to produce a print product with good gloss quality (glossy tone).

<1.7 Ink discharge amount limiting method>
As shown in FIG. 13, the gloss priority color conversion table 11b is created based on the ink amount limiting color conversion table 63 in addition to the input ICC profile 61 and the output ICC profile 62. The color conversion table 63 is created using the ink discharge amount limiting method described below. Hereinafter, the ink discharge amount limiting method will be described. This ink discharge amount limiting method is a method of limiting the discharge amounts of the four color inks so that no ink curing failure occurs when printing is performed by the ink jet printing apparatus 300. The gloss priority color conversion table 11b is created by the image processing apparatus 200 as the color conversion table creating apparatus 10 based on the ink amount limiting color conversion table 63. Setting information is given to the image processing apparatus 200.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the present ink discharge amount limiting method. First, for each color represented by a CMYK value, a process of converting the input gradation value (a value corresponding to the CMYK value 53 in the CMYK data 53 of FIG. 13A) into an ink amount is performed for each ink color (step S50). ). More specifically, for an arbitrary color expressed by (C value, M value, Y value, K value) = (Zc, Zm, Zy, Zk), Zc is converted into an ink amount of C color ink, and Zm Is converted into the ink amount of the M color ink, Zy is converted into the ink amount of the Y color ink, and Zk is converted into the ink amount of the K color ink. Note that Zc, Zm, Zy, and Zk are usually values of 0 or more and 100 or less. The ink amount after conversion is represented by a value normalized with the maximum ink amount used as 100. That is, the converted ink amount is also a value of 0 or more and 100 or less.

  By the way, as shown in FIG. 15, the relationship between the input gradation value and the actual ink consumption (ink consumption) is not in a linear proportional relationship. Usually, the relationship between the input gradation value and the ink consumption is represented by a downwardly convex curve as shown in FIG. Accordingly, the conversion in step S50 is preferably performed based on the actual ink consumption for each ink color when printing is performed in advance by the inkjet printing apparatus 300. An example of how to determine the actual ink consumption will be described below.

  First, the weight of an ink tank (not shown) for each ink color is measured in advance. Then, a predetermined image (an image having an appropriate configuration of halftone dots%) is printed by the inkjet printing apparatus 300. Thereafter, the weight of the ink tank for each ink color is measured again. Then, a difference (weight difference) between the weight before starting printing and the weight after finishing printing is obtained. As a result, the total ink consumption for each ink color is obtained. By the way, the dot size (for example, S, M, L, etc.) configuration and the average droplet amount per pixel with respect to an arbitrary halftone dot% are known for each ink jet printing apparatus 300. Therefore, if the composition of halftone dots for the printed image is known, the ink for each ink color for each color is based on the dot size composition for each halftone dot, information on the appropriate amount of average liquid and weight difference information. The actual consumption can be determined.

  After the process of converting the input gradation value to the ink amount (step S50 in FIG. 14), the ink amount limit value for the four colors of CMYK is set (step S52). By the way, ink curing failure occurs, for example, when UV light having a wavelength of 300 to 400 nm is absorbed and a sufficient amount of light is not irradiated to the ink. Such a phenomenon is likely to occur when K-color ink is used or when a gray component is generated by mixing three CMY inks. Therefore, in consideration of these points, the ink amount limit value is set as follows.

  In this ink discharge amount limiting method, limit values are set for each of the secondary color not including the K color component, the tertiary color not including the K color component, and the color including the K color component. That is, three types of limit values are set.

  The limit value for the secondary color not including the K color component is represented by Z1, the limit value for the tertiary color not including the K color component is represented by Z2, and the limit value for the color including the K color component is represented by Z3. In this embodiment, setting is performed so that “Z1> Z2” and “Z1> Z3” are satisfied. Further, preferably, the setting is performed so that “Z2> Z3” is satisfied.

  FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of setting of limit values in the present embodiment. In the example shown in FIG. 16, the limit value Z1 for the secondary color not including the K color component is set to 200%, the limit value Z2 for the tertiary color not including the K color component is set to 160%, The limit value Z3 for colors including color components is set to 120%. As described above, in the example illustrated in FIG. 16, the ink amount limit value is set so that “Z1> Z2”, “Z1> Z3”, and “Z2> Z3” are satisfied.

  For the color composed only of the K color component, adjustment is usually made on the ink jet printing apparatus 300 side (for example, adjustment of the amount of light) so that no ink curing failure occurs even if printing is performed with an ink amount of 100%. Has been done.

  By the way, if color values (CMYK values) are corrected only for colors that exceed the limit values set as described above, the continuity of gradation may be lost. More specifically, when the color value is corrected only for a color exceeding the limit value, as shown schematically in FIG. 17, the output gradation value (the color given to the inkjet printing apparatus 300 is set so as not to exceed the limit value). Value) is determined. As a result, as can be understood from FIG. 17, the gradation expression in the high gradation portion is impaired. Therefore, typically, a limit value for each color (a color in the sense of a combination of CMYK color values, not ink colors) is provided so as to obtain gradation continuity as shown in FIG. Also good. Hereinafter, an example of how to obtain the limit value for the color expressed by (C value, M value, Y value, K value) = (Ci, Mi, Yi, Ki) will be described.

First, an additional limit value LimitExK corresponding to the K color component amount (K value) is obtained by the following equation (1).
LimitExK = (Ki / 100) * (MaxInk-MaxWithK) (1)
Here, MaxInk is a limit value for all four ink colors, and MaxWithK is a limit value Z3 for a color including a K color component. Note that the limit value Z1 for the secondary color not including the K color component can be used as the limit value MaxInk for all four ink colors.

Next, an additional limit value LimitExCMY corresponding to the C color component amount (C value), the M color component amount (M value), and the Y color component amount (Y value) is obtained by the following equation (2).
LimitExCMY = ((Ci / 100) * (Mi / 100) * (Yi / 100)) ^ (1.0 / 3.0) * (MaxInk-MaxCMY)
... (2)
Here, MaxCMY is the limit value Z2 for the tertiary color not including the K color component.

Further, the total additional limit value LimitEx is obtained by the following equation (3), and finally the final limit value MaxInkOut for the corresponding color is obtained by the following equation (4).
LimitEx = LimitExK + LimitExCMY (3)
MaxInkOut = MaxInk-LimitEx (4)

  As a result, for colors exceeding the limit value MaxInkOut, the sum of the color values of the four colors as output gradation values (values corresponding to the CMYK values in the CMYK data 54b in FIG. 13A) does not exceed the limit value MaxInkOut. As described above, the color value is converted. As a result, the occurrence of tone jump (a phenomenon in which tone continuity is lost as described above) when printing is performed is suppressed.

  As described above, the limit value of the ink amount when printing is performed by the inkjet printing apparatus 300 is set. When the print data Dpr is generated so that ink is ejected according to the set limit value. The ink amount limiting color conversion table 63 to be used or the gloss priority color conversion table 11b for performing color conversion including color conversion using the table 63 is created. When creating the ink amount limiting color conversion table 63 or the glossy priority color conversion table 11b, the input tone value is set so that the ink discharge amount does not exceed the limit value set in step S52. The four color values (CMYK values) or the four color values (CMYK values) as output gradation values corresponding to the three color values (RGB values) are determined.

  When the ink amount limiting color conversion table 63 is created, components other than the K color component (that is, C value, M value, Y value) are included for the color that includes the K color component and exceeds the limit value set in step S52. Is preferably preferentially reduced. As a result, it is possible to prevent the color appearance from changing greatly (for example, a decrease in contrast) in accordance with the ink amount restriction. That is, the print quality can be maintained.

<1.8 Gloss determination processing>
FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the gloss determination process S120 in the gloss quality preview process shown in FIG. In the gloss determination process S120, the image processing apparatus 200 functioning as a gloss determination apparatus operates as follows.

  First, a base material type and a speed mode that constitute printing conditions designated by an operator's input operation or preset printing conditions are acquired, and a gloss determination table corresponding to the acquired base material type and speed mode is obtained. Are selected from a plurality of gloss determination tables Tb1, Tb2,... Stored in advance in the auxiliary storage device 24, and the three determination tables constituting the selected gloss determination table Tbs are determined as determination tables A, B, and C. The data is loaded into the RAM 23 (step S10). As described above, the determination table A is a table that associates a determination reference value with a combination of the K color component amount (0 to 100%) and the standard deviation of the color component amount in the tertiary color (for example, FIG. 8). The determination table B is a table that associates a determination reference value with a combination of the K color component amount (0 to 100%) and the standard deviation of the color component amount in the secondary color (for example, FIG. 9), and the determination table C is FIG. 10 is a table in which a determination reference value is associated with a combination of a K color component amount (0 to 100%) and a color component amount constituting a primary color (for example, FIG. 10).

  In step S10 and subsequent steps, attention is sequentially paid to pixels in the print image represented by the print data Dpr to determine whether the pixel of interest is glossy or matte.

  First, attention is paid to any one of unfocused pixels in the printed image (step S12). It should be noted that all the pixels in the printed image are not focused at the time when step S12 is first executed in the gloss determination process S120.

  Next, among the three color components of CMY, the number N of color components included in the pixel of interest is obtained as the color order N (step S14), and it is determined whether the color order N is 1, 2, or 3 (step S14). S16). Note that if the pixel of interest does not contain a color other than the K color component, N = 0, but this case is also treated as N = 1 below. In this case, the amount of the color component constituting the primary color is “0”.

As a result of the determination in step S16, when N = 3, that is, when the color other than the K color component included in the target pixel is a tertiary color, the standard deviation σ of the color component amount in the tertiary color is calculated. (Step S18). That is, the standard deviation σ is calculated from the C color component amount Cp, the Y color component amount Yp, and the M color component amount Mp included in the target pixel by the following equation.
σ = √ [{(Cp−Avr) ² + (Mp−Avr) ² + (Yp−Avr) ² } / 3] (5a)
Avr = (Cp + Mp + Ypi) / 3 (5b)

  Thereafter, a determination reference value R corresponding to the combination of the K color component amount included in the pixel of interest and the standard deviation σ of the color component amount in the tertiary color is acquired from the determination table A (step S20), and the process proceeds to step S28. move on.

As a result of the determination in step S16, when N = 2, that is, when the color other than the K color component included in the target pixel is a secondary color, the standard deviation σ of the color component amount in the secondary color is calculated. (Step S22). That is, the standard deviation σ is calculated from the first color component amount X1p and the second color component amount X2p constituting the secondary color included in the target pixel by the following equation. Here, the first color component is any color component included in the pixel of interest in CYM, and the second color component is a component other than the first color component included in the pixel of interest in CYM. It is a color component.
σ = √ [{(X1p−Avr) ² + (X2p−Avr) ² } / 2] (6a)
Avr = (X1p + X2p) / 2 (6b)

  Thereafter, a determination reference value R corresponding to the combination of the K color component amount included in the pixel of interest and the standard deviation σ of the color component amount in the secondary color is acquired from the determination table B (step S24), and the process proceeds to step S28. move on.

  As a result of the determination in step S16, if N = 1, that is, if the color other than the K color component included in the pixel of interest is a primary color, the amount of K color component included in the pixel of interest is determined from the determination table C. And a determination reference value R corresponding to the combination of the amount of color components constituting the primary color (step S26), and the process proceeds to step S28.

  In step S28, the TAC value indicating the sum of the C color component amount Cp, the M color component amount Mp, the Y color component amount Yp, and the K color component amount Kp (hereinafter referred to as “target pixel TAC value”) Vp = Cp + Mp + Yp + Kp is obtained from the print data Dpr, and it is determined whether or not the target pixel TAC value Vp is equal to or less than the determination reference value R acquired as described above (step S30). If the target pixel TAC value Vp is equal to or smaller than the determination reference value R as a result of this determination, the target pixel is determined to be glossy (good gloss quality) (step S32), and the target pixel TAC value Vp is greater than the determination reference value R. If it is larger, the target pixel is determined to be matte (gloss quality is poor) (step S34).

  After determining whether or not the gloss quality of the target pixel is good (glossy or matte) in this way, it is determined whether or not there is an unfocused pixel in the print image (step S36). If there is no unfocused pixel as a result of the determination, the gloss quality is determined for all the pixels in the print image, and the gloss determination process S120 ends. On the other hand, if there are unfocused pixels, the process returns to step S12, and the processes of steps S12 to S36 are repeatedly executed until there are no unfocused pixels.

<1.9 Effect>
As described above, according to the present embodiment, a print image in a form that allows the operator to check the color quality and gloss quality of the printed material is displayed as a preview image before printing (FIGS. 4 and 6). With this preview image, in addition to the color quality of the printed matter, the gloss quality can be confirmed in advance. If the gloss quality is determined to be poor as a result of this check, for example, print data that uses a gloss priority color conversion table to generate print data can be used to efficiently produce printed matter that balances color quality and gloss quality. can do.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the determination reference value corresponding to the K color component amount and the standard deviation of the YMC color component amount in each pixel is acquired from the gloss determination table (determination tables A, B, and C). Since the gloss quality is determined based on the determination reference value (FIG. 19), the gloss quality can be determined with higher accuracy than conventional based on the print data representing the print image.

<2. Second Embodiment>
Next, a gloss determination device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. This gloss determination apparatus is also used in the printing system shown in FIG. 1 as in the first embodiment. That is, in the image processing apparatus 200 (FIG. 3) included in the printing system, the CPU 21 loads the preview processing program installed in the auxiliary storage device 24 into the RAM 23 and executes it, thereby the color quality and gloss quality of the printed matter. It also functions as a preview device 16b that performs a preview display for confirming quality in advance (see FIG. 4 and FIG. 20). This preview device 16b is a conventional color quality determination device through gloss determination processing S120 shown in FIG. In addition to the function as a gloss determination device. However, the gloss determination process S120 for realizing the gloss determination apparatus according to the present embodiment in software is, as shown in FIG. 20, a gloss determination table (used in the gloss determination process S120 in the first embodiment) In addition to the same gloss determination table (determination tables A1, B1, C1) as the determination tables A, B, C), an extended gloss determination table (extended determination tables A2, B2, C2) described later is used. First, the extended gloss determination table in this embodiment will be described. Note that the configuration of the present embodiment and the configuration of the printing system related thereto other than the gloss determination processing S120 using this extended gloss determination table are the configuration of the first embodiment and the configuration of the printing system related thereto. Therefore, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted (see FIGS. 1 to 3).

<2.1 Extended gloss judgment table>
In the first embodiment, the gloss value of the printed matter produced by the inkjet printing apparatus 300 as the printing apparatus 18 measured by the gloss meter 230 (for example, measured value by 60 degree measurement) is a predetermined reference glossiness (for example, 50). %) Was set as the appropriate ink amount (ink amount limit value) (see FIG. 7). On the other hand, in the present embodiment, as the glossiness for determining the appropriate amount of ink, in addition to the first reference glossiness (for example, 50%) which is the same reference glossiness as in the first embodiment, the first glossiness is set. A second reference glossiness (for example, 40%) that is lower than the reference glossiness but is deemed acceptable to those skilled in the art is set. FIG. 21 shows the appropriate ink amounts (1) and (2) obtained by the same method as in the first embodiment. The appropriate ink amount (1) is the first reference glossiness (50%). The corresponding proper ink amount is indicated by a TAC value, and the appropriate ink amount (2) is an appropriate ink amount corresponding to the second reference glossiness (40%) indicated by a TAC value. According to FIG. 21, for example, when the base material is a white film and the printing speed mode is standard (high speed), when printing with a tertiary color (each CMY color component amount is 100%), the first reference gloss The appropriate ink amount (1) corresponding to the degree is 160%, but the appropriate ink amount (2) corresponding to the second reference glossiness is 170%.

  In the present embodiment, determination tables A1, B1, and C1 (FIGS. 8 to 10) corresponding to the appropriate ink amount (1) corresponding to the first reference glossiness (50%), as in the first embodiment. Are prepared for each printing condition (for each combination of the base material type and the speed mode), and the extended determination table A2 corresponding to the appropriate ink amount (2) corresponding to the second reference glossiness (40%). , B2, C2 are prepared for each printing condition. That is, the determination tables A1, B1, C1 constituting the same gloss determination table as in the first embodiment and the extended determination tables A2, B2, C2 constituting the extended gloss determination table unique to the present embodiment It is created and stored in the auxiliary storage device 24 of the image processing apparatus 200. Here, in the determination table A1 and the extended determination table A2, the determination reference value and the extended determination reference value are associated with the combination of the K color component amount (0 to 100%) and the standard deviation of the color component amount in the tertiary color, respectively. The determination table B1 and the extended determination table B2 are respectively provided with a determination reference value and an extended determination reference value for the combination of the K color component amount (0 to 100%) and the standard deviation of the color component amount in the secondary color. The determination table C1 and the extended determination table C2 are a table that associates the determination reference value and the extended determination reference value with the combination of the K color component amount (0 to 100%) and the amount of the color component constituting the primary color. It is a table that associates each.

  Similar to the method described with reference to FIG. 7, not only the determination tables A1, B1, and C1, but also the extended determination tables A2, B2, and C2 are based on the ink discharge amount limiting method described above. It can be created by obtaining the limit value. For example, as shown in FIG. 22, the K color component amount is changed in a range of 0 to 100%, and any two color component amounts in the tertiary color are set to 100%, and the other one color component amount is set to 0 to 0. By changing within the range of 100%, a limit value of the ink discharge amount is obtained based on the ink discharge amount limiting method described above (see FIG. 14 and the like), and the TAC value corresponding to the limit value is determined in the corresponding part of the extended determination table A2. By setting as a determination reference value, the determination table A2 can be created.

<2.2 Gloss determination processing>
FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the gloss determination process S120 (see FIG. 5) in the present embodiment. In the gloss determination process S120, the preview device 16b (image processing apparatus 200) functioning as a gloss determination apparatus operates as follows. In the following, the same steps as those in the flowchart (FIG. 19) showing the procedure of the gloss determination process S120 in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same step numbers, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  First, a base material type and a speed mode constituting a printing condition designated by an operator's input operation or a preset printing condition are acquired, a gloss determination table corresponding to the acquired base material type and speed mode, and The extended gloss determination table is selected from a plurality of gloss determination tables and a plurality of extended gloss determination tables stored in advance in the auxiliary storage device 24, and the three determination tables constituting the selected gloss determination table Tbs are determined. Tables A1, B1, and C1 are loaded into the RAM 23, and the three extended determination tables that constitute the selected extended gloss determination table ETbs are loaded into the RAM 23 as extended determination tables A2, B2, and C2 (step S11).

  Thereafter, as in the first embodiment (FIG. 19), attention is paid to any one of unfocused pixels in the print image represented by the print data Dpr (step S12), and attention is paid to the three color components of CMY. The number N of color components included in the pixel is obtained as the color order N (step S14), and it is determined whether the color order N is 1, 2, or 3 (step S16). Note that if the pixel of interest does not contain a color other than the K color component, N = 0, but this case is also treated as N = 1 below. In this case, the amount of the color component constituting the primary color is “0”.

  As a result of the determination in step S16, when N = 3, that is, when the color other than the K color component included in the target pixel is a tertiary color, the standard deviation σ of the color component amount in the tertiary color is calculated. (Step S18). Thereafter, a determination reference value corresponding to a combination of the K color component amount included in the pixel of interest and the standard deviation σ of the color component amount in the tertiary color is obtained as a first determination reference value R1 from the determination table A1 (step S1). S20), from the extended determination table A2, an extended determination reference value corresponding to the combination of the K color component amount included in the pixel of interest and the standard deviation σ of the color component amount in the tertiary color is acquired as the second determination reference value R2. (Step S21). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S28.

  As a result of the determination in step S16, when N = 2, that is, when the color other than the K color component included in the target pixel is a secondary color, the standard deviation σ of the color component amount in the secondary color is calculated. (Step S22). Thereafter, a determination reference value corresponding to the combination of the K color component amount included in the pixel of interest and the standard deviation σ of the color component amount in the secondary color is acquired as a first determination reference value R1 from the determination table B1 (step S1). S24), from the extended determination table B2, the extended determination reference value corresponding to the combination of the K color component amount included in the pixel of interest and the standard deviation σ of the color component amount in the secondary color is acquired as the second determination reference value R2. (Step S25). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S28.

  As a result of the determination in step S16, if N = 1, that is, if the color other than the K color component included in the target pixel is a primary color, the amount of K color component included in the target pixel is determined from the determination table C1. And a determination reference value corresponding to the combination of the amount of the color component constituting the primary color is acquired as a first determination reference value R1 (step S26), and the K color component included in the target pixel is obtained from the extended determination table C2. And an extended determination reference value corresponding to the combination of the amount of the color component constituting the primary color and the second determination reference value R2 (step S27). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S28.

  In step S28, the TAC value indicating the sum of the C color component amount Cp, the M color component amount Mp, the Y color component amount Yp, and the K color component amount Kp (hereinafter referred to as “target pixel TAC value”) Vp = Cp + Mp + Yp + Kp is obtained from the print data Dpr (step S28), and it is determined whether or not the target pixel TAC value Vp is equal to or less than the first determination reference value R1 (step S30). As a result of this determination, if the target pixel TAC value Vp is equal to or less than the first determination reference value R1, the target pixel is determined to be “first reference gloss” (gloss quality is good with the first reference) (step S32). If the target pixel TAC value Vp is larger than the determination reference value R1, the target pixel is determined to be “first reference matte” (gloss quality is poor with the first reference) (step S34).

  Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the target pixel TAC value Vp is equal to or less than the second determination reference value R2 (step S31). If the target pixel TAC value Vp is equal to or smaller than the second determination reference value R2 as a result of this determination, the target pixel is determined to be “second reference gloss” (gloss quality is good with the second reference) (step S33). If the target pixel TAC value Vp is larger than the second determination reference value R2, the target pixel is determined to be “second reference matte” (gloss quality is poor on the second reference) (step S35).

  After the quality of glossiness (gross tone or matte tone) of the pixel of interest is thus determined based on the two criteria (first and second criteria) based on the first and second criteria values R1 and R2. Then, it is determined whether or not there are unfocused pixels in the print image (step S36). If there is no unfocused pixel as a result of the determination, the gloss quality is determined for all the pixels in the print image, and the gloss determination process S120 ends. On the other hand, if there are unfocused pixels, the process returns to step S12, and the processes of steps S12 to S36 are repeatedly executed until there are no unfocused pixels.

<2.3 Work procedure in printing system>
FIG. 20 is a diagram for explaining a work procedure in a printing system that uses the gloss determination device according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 20, the work procedure in this printing system is the work in the printing system that uses the gloss determination device according to the first embodiment except for the work in the preview device 16b having the function as the gloss determination device. This is the same as the procedure (FIG. 4). 4 and 20 both show the work procedure after the submission data 92 is created.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, as the determination result by the gloss determination process S120, the quality of the glossiness is determined based on the first standard (whether the first standard is glossy or matte) and the standard is determined based on the second standard (second). Reference glossy or matte tone) is indicated (see steps S32 to S35 in FIG. 23). For this reason, in the preview process S130 in the present embodiment, the print image is previewed in a form in which the operator can check both the quality of the gloss quality based on the first standard and the quality of the gloss quality based on the second standard (see FIG. In the image processing apparatus 200), it is displayed as a preview image. For example, the first reference poor gloss area (area consisting of first reference matte pixels) and the second reference gloss failure area (area consisting of second reference matte pixels) are different from each other. Or with different types of hatching. In addition, the display state of the preview image may be switched between a state where the poor gloss region based on the first reference is displayed and a state where the poor gloss region based on the second reference is displayed.

  The operator looks at such a preview image, and in advance (before printing), in addition to the color quality of the printed matter, the quality of the gloss quality according to the first standard and the second standard which is a looser standard. The gloss quality can be confirmed based on the image display indicating the quality of the gloss quality. Therefore, the operator can determine the quality of the gloss quality more appropriately according to the situation regarding the printed matter to be produced.

  If the operator determines that the color quality and the gloss quality are both good (the color quality and the gloss quality are balanced) as a result of the confirmation by the preview image, the print data Dpr is sent to the printing apparatus 18. Then, printing by the print data Dpr is performed in the ink jet printing apparatus 300 as the printing apparatus 18. On the other hand, if either the color quality or the gloss quality is judged as bad by the worker who has seen the preview image, the color conversion table is recreated according to the judgment result, and both the color quality and the gloss quality are good. Data conversion processing S110 → gloss determination processing S120 → preview processing S130 is repeated until a satisfactory state (a state where color quality and gloss quality are balanced) is achieved. If the operator who has viewed the preview image determines that only the gloss quality is poor, the print data Dpr is recreated using the gloss priority color conversion table 11b as in the first embodiment. (See FIG. 13), it is possible to suppress the repetition of the work by the data conversion processing S110 → gloss determination processing S120 → preview processing S130.

<2.4 Effect>
As described above, according to the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the print image is displayed as a preview image in a form that allows the operator to check the color quality and gloss quality of the printed material before printing ( FIG. 20). In the gloss determination processing S120 for obtaining the preview image, in the first embodiment, the quality of the gloss quality is determined based on only one reference based on one type of determination table A, B, C (FIG. 19). Regardless of whether the target pixel TAC value Vp slightly exceeds the determination reference value R (for example, exceeds several percent) or greatly (for example, exceeds several tens of percent). It is treated similarly as a matte tone. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the quality of the gloss quality is determined based on two criteria, the first criterion based on the determination tables A1, B1, and C1 and the second criterion based on the extended determination tables A2, B2, and C2 (FIG. 23 steps S30 to S35). As a result, even if a certain pixel is determined to be matte according to the first reference, it may be determined to be gross according to the second reference, which is gentler than the first reference. It becomes possible to do. For this reason, since the operator can check the gloss quality based on the preview image indicating the quality of the gloss quality based on these two standards, the gloss quality can be more appropriately determined according to the situation regarding the printed matter to be produced. It can be judged whether the print data should be recreated due to poor gloss or not. As a result, work efficiency in the printing system is also improved (see FIG. 20).

<3. Modification>
In each of the above embodiments, the TAC value is adopted as the determination reference value set in each determination table, but the present invention is not limited to this. As the determination reference value, an ink adhesion amount, an actual ink amount, and an ink consumption amount can be employed. In this case, the accuracy of gloss determination can be improved as compared with the case where the TAC value is employed.

  Each of the above embodiments is based on a printing system in which four colors of CMYK are used as ink colors, but the present invention is not limited to this. Even in a printing system that uses a photocurable ink of five or more colors (K colors and four or more colors other than K colors), according to the present invention, gloss is considered in consideration of a combination of K colors and a color that generates a gray component. A gloss determination device capable of determining quality can be provided. Further, the standard deviation is used as an index indicating the generation of the gray component by the combination of the CMY colors (the smaller the standard deviation of the amount of the color components other than the K color component, the larger the gray component amount). Instead of the standard deviation, another index representing the degree of dispersion may be used.

  In each of the above embodiments, the quality of the gloss quality (gross tone or matte tone) is determined for each pixel in the print image using the bitmap format print data Dpr (FIGS. 19 and 23). Thus, it is not limited to the configuration for determining the quality of the gloss quality for each pixel as long as the quality of the gloss quality can be determined for each predetermined unit image. For example, using page data in which a print target is described in a page description language, for example, PDF format data, the quality of the gloss quality is determined for each image object (character, line drawing, pattern, etc.) constituting the page data. There may be.

  In the second embodiment, in addition to the same gloss determination table (determination tables A1, B1, C1) as the gloss determination table in the first embodiment, a gloss expansion determination table (extended determination tables A2, B2, C2) is used. Although it is used, a gloss expansion determination table created based on different reference glossiness may be added, and the quality of gloss quality may be determined based on three or more types of standards. According to such a configuration, it is possible to give a wider range to the gloss quality judgment criterion.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Color conversion table preparation apparatus 11a ... TAC value 220% restriction color conversion table 11b ... Gloss priority color conversion table 12 ... Submitted data 14 ... Data conversion apparatus 16, 16b ... Preview apparatus (gloss determination apparatus)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 18 ... Printing apparatus 19 ... Printed material 200 ... Image processing apparatus 230 ... Gloss meter 300 ... Inkjet printing apparatus Dpr ... Print data Tb1, Tb2 ... Gloss determination table Tbs ... Selected gloss determination table ETbs ... Selected extended gloss determination table

Claims (10)

A gloss determination device for determining whether or not a gloss quality of a printed matter obtained by printing using N colors (N is an integer of 3 or more) of N colors other than K color and K color is good.
A gloss determination table for giving a determination reference value of the gloss quality for a combination of a K color component amount and a dispersion degree of the N color component amounts;
Based on image data representing an image to be printed, for each predetermined unit image in the image, a scatter degree calculation unit that calculates a scatter degree of the component amounts of the N colors in the unit image;
A determination reference value for obtaining a determination reference value given by the gloss determination table for a combination of the K color component amount included in each unit image of the image and the distribution degree calculated by the distribution degree calculation unit for the unit image. An acquisition unit;
A total color component amount calculation unit that obtains from the image data the sum of the component amounts of the K color and the N colors included in each unit image of the image as a total color component amount;
For each unit image of the image, the quality of the gloss of the printed matter is determined by comparing the total color component amount in the unit image with a determination reference value acquired for the unit image by the determination reference value acquisition unit. A gloss determination device comprising: a determination unit that performs the determination. The gloss determination table includes first to Nth determination tables,
The j-th determination table corresponding to any integer j that is less than or equal to N and greater than or equal to 2 is a standard for the color component amount in the j-order color composed of the K color component amount and an arbitrary j of the N colors. Correlating the gloss quality judgment criterion value to the combination with the deviation,
The first determination table associates the gloss quality determination reference value with a combination of a K color component amount and a component amount of any one of the N colors,
When the number m of color components other than the K color component included in the unit image for which the distribution degree is to be obtained is 2 or more, the distribution degree calculation unit calculates the color component amount in the m-th order color included in the unit image. Calculate the standard deviation as the degree of dispersion,
The determination reference value acquisition unit
When the number m of color components other than the K color component included in the unit image from which the determination reference value is to be acquired is 2 or more, the K color component amount included in the unit image and the scattering degree calculation for the unit image A determination reference value associated with the standard deviation calculated by the unit by the m-th determination table is acquired as the determination reference value for the unit image,
When the number of color components other than the K color component included in the unit image from which the determination reference value is to be acquired is 1, the amount of the K color component included in the unit image and the primary color included in the unit image A determination reference value associated with the combination with the color component amount by the first determination table is acquired as the determination reference value for the unit image;
When the unit image from which the determination reference value is to be acquired does not include a color component other than the K color component, the K color component amount included in the unit image and the color component amount of the primary color included in the unit image The gloss determination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a determination reference value associated with the combination of “0” as the first determination table is acquired as the determination reference value for the unit image. . An extended criterion for determining the quality of the gloss quality more gently than the determination based on the criterion value in the gloss determination table for the combination of the K color component amount and the dispersion degree of the N color component amounts. An extended gloss judgment table that gives values,
Extended determination for acquiring an extended determination reference value given by the extended determination table for a combination of the K color component amount included in each unit image of the image and the distribution degree calculated by the distribution degree calculation unit for the unit image A reference value acquisition unit;
For each unit image of the image, by comparing the total color component amount in the unit image with the extended determination reference value acquired for the unit image by the extended determination reference value acquisition unit, the quality of the gloss of the printed matter is determined. The gloss determination apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an extended determination unit that determines The extended gloss determination table includes first to Nth extended determination tables,
The j-th extended determination table corresponding to any integer j that is less than or equal to N and greater than or equal to 2 indicates the K component amount and the color component amount in the j-order color composed of any j colors out of the N colors. Correlating the gloss quality extended criterion value with the combination with the standard deviation,
The first extended determination table associates the extended determination reference value of the gloss quality with a combination of a K color component amount and a component amount of any one of the N colors,
The extended determination reference value acquisition unit
When the number m of color components other than the K color component included in the unit image for which the extended determination reference value is to be acquired is 2 or more, the K color component amount included in the unit image and the dispersion degree for the unit image Obtaining an extended determination reference value associated with the standard deviation calculated by the calculation unit by the m-th extended determination table as the extended determination reference value for the unit image;
When the number of color components other than the K color component included in the unit image from which the extended determination reference value is to be acquired is 1, the K color component amount included in the unit image and the primary color included in the unit image An extended determination reference value associated with the combination of the color component amount by the first extended determination table as the extended determination reference value for the unit image,
When the unit image from which the extended determination reference value is to be acquired does not include a color component other than the K color component, the amount of the K color component included in the unit image and the color component of the primary color included in the unit image 4. The extended determination reference value associated with the combination of “0” as an amount by the first extended determination table is acquired as the extended determination reference value for the unit image. Gloss determination device.   A table selection unit that selects a gloss determination table corresponding to a printing condition for obtaining the printed matter among a plurality of types of gloss determination tables prepared in advance as a gloss determination table to be used by the determination reference value acquisition unit. The gloss determination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:   The gloss determination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the N colors are C color, M color, and Y color.   The gloss determination apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the unit image is one pixel in the image. The CPU uses a memory in a computer for determining whether the gloss quality of a printed matter obtained by printing using N colors (N is an integer of 3 or more) of N colors other than K color and K color is good or bad. do it,
Based on image data representing an image to be printed, for each predetermined unit image in the image, a dispersion degree calculating step for calculating a dispersion degree of the component amounts of the N colors in the unit image;
Using a gloss judgment table that gives the gloss quality judgment reference value for the combination of the K color component quantity and the dispersion degree of the N color component quantities, the K color component quantity included in each unit image of the image And a determination reference value acquisition step for acquiring from the gloss determination table a determination reference value corresponding to the combination of the dispersion degree calculated in the dispersion degree calculation step for the unit image,
A total color component amount calculating step in which the sum of the component amounts of the K color and the N colors included in each unit image of the image is determined from the image data as a total color component amount amount;
For each unit image of the image, the quality of the gloss of the printed matter is determined by comparing the total color component amount in the unit image with the determination reference value acquired for the unit image in the determination reference value acquisition step. And a determination step for executing a gloss determination program. An extended criterion for determining the quality of the gloss quality more gently than the determination based on the criterion value in the gloss determination table for the combination of the K color component amount and the dispersion degree of the N color component amounts. An extended determination reference value corresponding to a combination of the K color component amount included in each unit image of the image and the scatter degree calculated in the scatter degree calculating step for the unit image using an extended gloss determination table that gives values An extended determination reference value acquisition step for acquiring the extended gloss determination table from the extended gloss determination table;
For each unit image of the image, by comparing the total color component amount in the unit image with the extended determination reference value acquired for the unit image in the extended determination reference value acquisition step, the quality of the gloss of the printed matter is determined. The gloss determination program according to claim 8, wherein the CPU further executes an extended determination step of determining the image. A gloss determination method for determining whether or not the gloss quality of a printed matter obtained by printing using a photocurable ink of N colors other than K color and K color (N is an integer of 3 or more),
Based on image data representing an image to be printed, for each predetermined unit image in the image, a dispersion degree calculating step for calculating a dispersion degree of the component amounts of the N colors in the unit image;
Using a gloss judgment table that gives the gloss quality judgment reference value for the combination of the K color component quantity and the dispersion degree of the N color component quantities, the K color component quantity included in each unit image of the image And a determination reference value acquisition step for acquiring from the gloss determination table a determination reference value corresponding to the combination of the dispersion degree calculated in the dispersion degree calculation step for the unit image,
A total color component amount calculating step in which the sum of the component amounts of the K color and the N colors included in each unit image of the image is determined from the image data as a total color component amount amount;
For each unit image of the image, the quality of the gloss of the printed matter is determined by comparing the total color component amount in the unit image with the determination reference value acquired for the unit image in the determination reference value acquisition step. A gloss determining method comprising: a determining step.