JP2017085291A - Information processing device, control method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processing device capable of generating a chart composed of patches close to colors desired by a user regardless of a sampling interval between patches.SOLUTION: A computer includes first selection means for selecting an adjustment color, chart generation means for generating chart data in which patches of the adjustment color and neighboring colors of the adjustment color are arranged, second selection means for selecting a target color from the chart data, determination means for determining one target color on the basis of a plurality of target colors in the case that there are the plurality of target colors selected by the second selection means, and update means for updating a color conversion table to be used during printing an image on the basis of the adjustment color and the one target color.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

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

  In recent years, along with the improvement in performance of electrophotographic apparatuses, apparatuses that have achieved image quality equivalent to that of printing presses have appeared. For this reason, printing such as POPs used in sales stores can be performed more easily at each store. POP is an abbreviation for Point of purchase advertising, which is an advertisement for sales promotion.

  However, printing may be performed in a color different from that of the sample POP due to differences in printing apparatuses and printing timing. In this case, service personnel with specialized knowledge have been adjusting the color by adjusting the device in the past, but in recent years, sales representatives etc. can easily do even without special expertise A system for matching colors has been established.

  For example, a color to be adjusted is extracted from an image such as a POP, and a plurality of patches of a color near the extracted color are generated. Then, the chart on which the generated patches are arranged is printed, and the user selects a patch having a desired color from the printed patches. Patent Document 1 discloses a method for updating a table for performing color conversion according to the color of a selected patch.

JP 2011-114717 A

  However, in the color patch created step by step at a predetermined interval, the color is expressed discretely, so there is a possibility that the color desired by the user may not be on the patch, and the user selects the desired color. May be difficult.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus that can generate a chart including patches close to a color desired by a user regardless of a sampling interval between patches.

  An information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a first selection unit that selects an adjustment color; a chart generation unit that generates chart data in which the adjustment color and a patch of a color near the adjustment color are arranged; A second selection unit that selects a target color from the chart data; and a determination that determines one target color based on the plurality of target colors when there are a plurality of target colors selected by the second selection unit. And updating means for updating a color conversion table used when printing an image based on the adjustment color and the one target color.

  According to the information processing apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to generate a chart including patches close to colors desired by the user regardless of the sampling interval between patches. For this reason, the possibility that a patch of a desired color is not on the chart can be reduced.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the information processing system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the physical structure of a computer and a printer controller. It is a figure which shows the module structure of a program. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the process which updates a color conversion table. It is a flowchart for demonstrating a printing process. It is a flowchart explaining the acquisition process of the target value which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining the acquisition process of the target value which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining the acquisition process of the target value which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining the acquisition process of the target value which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining the acquisition process of the target value which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the regeneration of the chart in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the regeneration of the chart in 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining the acquisition process of the target value which concerns on 4th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen displayed on the display at the time of target color selection. It is a flowchart which shows the chart data generation in 1st Embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an information processing system including an information processing apparatus and an image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
The information processing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a network 101, a computer 102 that is an information processing apparatus, a display 103, and a printer 106 that is an image processing apparatus. The printer 106 includes a printer controller 104 and a printer engine 105.

  The computer 102 and the printer 106 can communicate via the network 101. For example, a print instruction can be transmitted from the computer 102 to the printer 106, and information about the printer 106 can be acquired by the computer 102. The computer 102 and the display 103 are connected to each other, and the computer 102 transmits screen information of the application in operation to the display 103 and outputs a screen. The printer controller 104 and the printer engine 105 are connected to each other, and the printer controller 104 transmits a control signal to the printer engine 105 to perform printer output.

FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating a physical configuration of the computer 102.
The computer 102 includes an internal bus 201, a CPU 202, a RAM 203, an external storage device 204, a display interface 205, an external input device 206, and a network interface 207. The CPU 202, RAM 203, external storage device 204, display interface 205, external input device 206, and network interface 207 are connected to the network 101 and communicate data with the printer 106.

  When the computer 102 is activated, the CPU 202 reads an application execution program from the external storage device 204, stores it in the RAM 203, and executes the program. The program executed by the CPU 202 starts transmitting screen display data to the display interface 205 and outputs the screen to the display 103. Further, the CPU 202 monitors user input information from the external input device 206, and when user input information is input, executes processing corresponding to the user input information defined in the program.

FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating a physical configuration of the printer controller 104.
The printer controller 104 includes an internal bus 208, a CPU 209, a RAM 210, an external storage device 211, a network interface 212, an engine interface 213, and an input device 214. The CPU 209, the RAM 210, the external storage device 211, the network interface 212, the engine interface 213, and the input device 214 communicate data with each other via the internal bus 208. When the printer controller 104 is activated, the CPU 209 reads an execution program from the external storage device 211, stores it in the RAM 210, and executes the program.

  Each process such as determination and conditional branching described below is performed by each CPU of the computer 102 and the printer controller 104 in accordance with the execution program, and data generated in the middle is temporarily stored in each RAM to perform other processes. Reused at

FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating a module configuration of a program executed by the CPU 202 included in the computer 102.
A module of a program executed by the CPU 202 includes a data acquisition unit 301, a chart data generation unit 302, a print processing unit 303, and a color update processing unit 304. The data acquisition unit 301 acquires an adjustment color value (adjustment value) to be adjusted, table data necessary for chart generation, and a color conversion table.

  In the present embodiment, the adjustment value is a color space value used in a general display. The color space used in the display is, for example, an sRGB color space or an AdobeRGB color space. Here, the adjustment value is a value in the sRGB color space. The color conversion table is a table for converting the sRGB color space into a device-dependent RGB (devRGB) color space. The relationship between the color value of the color displayed on the display 103 and the color value of the color formed on the printer 106 is shown by the color conversion table.

  The table data is a table for converting the devRGB color space into the L * a * b * color space. The table data is necessary for the process of updating the color conversion table. The L * a * b * color space is a device-independent three-dimensional color space in consideration of human visual characteristics (visual equality). However, each color space is not limited to this. The chart data generation unit 302 generates chart data based on the data acquired by the data acquisition unit 301.

  The print processing unit 303 performs processing necessary for printing the chart data generated by the chart data generation unit 302 with the printer 106. Specifically, the chart data is converted into a color space that can be handled by the printer 106 and transmitted to a rendering processing unit 305 described later. The color update processing unit 304 acquires a target color value (target value), and updates the color conversion table using the acquired target value, the adjustment value acquired by the data acquisition unit 301, and the color conversion table. I do.

FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating a module configuration of a program executed by the CPU 209 provided in the printer controller 104.
A module of a program executed by the CPU 209 includes a rendering processing unit 305, a color conversion unit 306, a binarization processing unit 307, and an engine control unit 308. The rendering processing unit 305 renders image data such as chart data converted by the print processing unit 303 in an image memory (not shown). The color conversion unit 306 converts the image data drawn in the image memory into image data (CMYK) corresponding to the color material handled by the printer engine 105.

  The binarization processing unit 307 performs image forming processing such as screen processing and error diffusion processing on the image data converted by the color conversion unit 306, converts the image data into binary image data, and outputs the binary image data to the engine control unit 308. The engine control unit 308 outputs a printer engine control command to the engine interface 213 based on the binary image data converted by the binarization processing unit 307. As a result, the printer engine 105 forms an image on the paper surface as an ink image or a toner image.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining processing for selecting a target color visually from the printed chart data and updating the color conversion table based on the target value corresponding thereto.
4, the CPU 202 of the computer 102 performs steps S401 and S402 and steps S404 to S406, and the CPU 209 of the printer controller 104 performs step S403.

  First, in step S401, the data acquisition unit 301 acquires an adjustment color value (adjustment value) to be adjusted, table data necessary for chart generation, and a color conversion table. There are the following methods for obtaining the adjustment value. A combination of sRGB corresponding to several colors is prepared in advance, and the user selects an arbitrary color combination (sRGB combination) from the combinations.

  As another method for acquiring the adjustment value, a mechanism that allows the user to input the sRGB value corresponding to the adjustment color may be provided. In addition, when there is image data whose color is to be changed, such as POP, a method of obtaining an sRGB value corresponding to the adjustment color from the image data and using it as the adjustment value may be used. For example, the color (adjustment color) that the user wants to change is pointed out from the image data, the sRGB value of the indicated color is automatically acquired, and this may be used as the adjustment value.

  The color conversion table is held in the external storage device 204 or 211 of the computer 102 or the printer 106, and is used when printing image data. The table data necessary for chart generation is selected from a table that is converted in advance from a devRGB color space corresponding to the type of printer to an L * a * b * color space. For example, the table data for converting from the devRGB color space to the L * a * b * color space according to the type of printer is generated as follows. A chart dedicated to table creation is printed by a corresponding printer, the printed chart is measured to obtain an L * a * b * value, and the devRGB value is associated with the obtained L * a * b * value.

  In step S402, the chart data generation unit 302 generates chart data based on the data acquired in step S401. Details of the chart data generation processing will be described later. In step S403, the print processing unit 303 prints the chart based on the chart data generated in step S402. Details of the printing process will be described later. In step S404, the user selects a target color patch from the chart printed in step S403, and the color update processing unit 304 receives the selection result to obtain a target value corresponding to the color. . Details of the target value acquisition process will be described later.

  In step S405, the color update processing unit 304 performs color update processing using the adjustment value and color conversion table acquired in step S401 and the target value acquired in step S404. In the color update process, the output value when the adjustment value is converted using the color conversion table is the same as the output value when the target value is converted using the color conversion table. Update the part.

  For example, assume that the sRGB value of the adjustment value is (150, 0, 0), and the devRGB value of the output value after conversion using the color conversion table is (120, 0, 0). It is assumed that the sRGB value of the target value is (150, 20, 0), and the devRGB value of the output value after conversion using the color conversion table is (120, 15, 0). In this case, from the sRGB color space to the devRGB color space so that the output value of the sRGB value (150, 0, 0) of the adjustment value becomes the devRGB value (120, 15, 0) of the output value after color conversion of the target value. Update the color conversion table to be converted.

  That is, in step S405, the color conversion table is updated from an arbitrary color space (in this example, the sRGB color space) to a device-dependent color space. Further, depending on the target value, there may be a color collapse or gradation step in the updated color conversion table. Therefore, it is desirable to perform the smoothing process on the colors near the updated part of the color conversion table.

  In step S406, the color update processing unit 304 stores the color conversion table updated in step S405 in the external storage device 204 or 211 of the computer 102 or the printer 106, respectively. In this case, the color conversion table may be stored by overwriting the color conversion table acquired in step S401 or may be stored as another color conversion table.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart for explaining details of the chart data generation processing in step S402.
Each process of FIG. 15 is performed by the chart data generation unit 302. In step S1301, the chart data generation unit 302 generates chart data for converting adjustment values and target values into L * a * b * values using the next table acquired in step S401. That is, chart data is generated using a color conversion table used when printing image data and table data necessary for chart generation.

  Specifically, a table (color conversion table) used when printing image data is a table for converting from the sRGB color space to the devRGB color space. A table (table data) necessary for chart generation is a table for converting from the devRGB color space to the L * a * b * color space. The chart data generated in step S1301 is a table (conversion table) for converting from the sRGB color space to the L * a * b * color space. With this table, adjustment values and target values can be converted into L * a * b *. It can be converted to a color value in the color space.

  In step S1302, the chart data generation unit 302 uses the chart data (sRGB to L * a * b * conversion table) generated in step S1301 as the adjustment value (sRGB value) acquired in step S401. * A * b * value is converted. In step S1303, the chart data generation unit 302 uses a color patch that is a candidate for selecting a target value based on the adjustment value converted into the L * a * b * value in step S1302 (hereinafter referred to as a candidate patch). Is generated.

  Generation of L * a * b * values of candidate patches is performed by combining values obtained by stepwise conversion of L * values, a * values, and b * values around the L * a * b * values of adjustment values. Do that. For example, in the case of a chart created by converting the a * value and the b * value in stages, the following formulas are used to generate the L * value, the a * value, and the b * value.

  Here, Lb *, ab *, and bb * are L * a * b * values of adjustment values, i is a value (integer value) that is converted stepwise according to the number of candidate patches to be generated, and Dist is a candidate This represents an interval (hereinafter referred to as a division value) in the L * a * b * color space between patches. For example, the L * a * b * value of the adjustment value is (50, 0, 0), nine patches are generated, and Dist is set to 1. In this case, since three patches are generated in the respective directions of a * and b *, i is −1, 0, and 1. Therefore, Li is 50, ai is -1, 0, 1, and bi is -1, 0, 1.

  All these values are combined to generate L * a * b * values for nine candidate patches. The generated L * a * b * values of these candidate patches take values in the vicinity of the L * a * b * values of the adjustment values, and the colors of the candidate patches are expressed by the vicinity colors of the adjustment colors. In the example, the a * value and the b * value are converted step by step to generate candidate patches. However, the same method can be used when the L * value and the a * value and the L * value and the b * value are converted stepwise. Can generate candidate patches.

  Next, the generated candidate patches are arranged around the adjustment value patch. At this time, in order to easily select a patch having a target color from the candidate patches, the arrangement of the candidate patches in the chart may be determined according to the color value of the adjustment color. Since the target color is selected by the user's visual observation, it is desirable to arrange candidate patches in consideration of human visual characteristics.

  Human visual characteristics include being insensitive to changes in saturation and hue rather than lightness, and being insensitive to changes as lightness is brighter. Also, when comparing two colors, the change is more difficult to understand as the two colors are arranged farther away. Therefore, based on these characteristics, patches that are insensitive to color differences (difficult to recognize differences) may be arranged closer to each other.

  In step S1304, the chart data generation unit 302 performs processing for excluding candidate patches that are outside the color reproduction range of the printer 106 from the candidate patches generated and arranged in step S1303. Candidate patches are generated in an L * a * b * color space, that is, a device-independent color space, so that candidate patches outside the color reproduction range of the printer may be generated. Candidate patches outside the color reproduction range of the printer are rounded to a color range that can be reproduced by the printer, and therefore the corresponding patches are excluded in this embodiment.

  As a method for performing the process of excluding candidate patches, any method may be used as long as candidate patches determined to be out of the color reproduction range cannot be selected as target values. Further, whether or not the color reproduction range is outside is determined by determining whether each candidate patch is included in each L * a * b * value range of the conversion table from the devRGB color section to the L * a * b * color space. It is determined by whether or not the L * a * b * value is included.

  This determination is made by L * a * consisting of an arbitrary L * a * b * value in the conversion table from the devRGB color space to the L * a * b * color space and three L * a * b * values in the vicinity thereof. Form a tetrahedron in the b * color space. Then, it is determined whether or not the L * a * b * value of the candidate patch exists in the tetrahedron. Specifically, whether or not candidate patches exist for all tetrahedrons that can be formed with the L * a * b * values of the conversion table from the devRGB color space to the L * a * b * color space. judge. If it is determined that the L * a * b * value of the candidate patch does not exist in all the tetrahedrons, it is determined that the candidate patch is out of the color reproduction range.

  In the present embodiment, a method using a tetrahedron formed from a conversion table from the devRGB color space to the L * a * b * color space is used to determine whether the candidate patch is outside the color range. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Any method may be used as long as the color reproduction range of the printer can be extracted and it can be determined whether or not the candidate patch is out of the color reproduction range.

  In step S1305, the chart data generation unit 302 converts the candidate patches generated and arranged in step S1304 into sRGB values. The conversion from the L * a * b * value to the sRGB value is performed by signal search processing using a conversion table from the sRGB color space to the L * a * b * color space. In the signal search process, first, tetrahedral interpolation is performed using all combinations of signal values from 0 to 255 of sRGB values as input and using a conversion table from sRGB color space to L * a * b * color space as a calculation table. I do.

  Among all L * a * b * values calculated by tetrahedral interpolation, the L * a * b * value closest to the L * a * b * value of any candidate patch is extracted. Then, the sRGB value corresponding to the extracted L * a * b * value is set as the sRGB value of the candidate patch. By performing this signal search process on all candidate patches, the candidate patches generated and arranged with L * a * b * values are converted into sRGB values. The chart data generation unit 302 transmits the candidate patches converted into sRGB values to the print processing unit 303 as one chart data.

  In this embodiment, the signal search process is used for the conversion from the L * a * b * value to the sRGB value, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an inverse table of a conversion table from the sRGB color space to the L * a * b * color space (a conversion table from the L * a * b * color space to the sRGB color space) is created, and L * a * of the candidate patch is created. The b * value may be converted into an sRGB value.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the details of the chart printing process in step S403.
In step S501, the print processing unit 303 performs color conversion of the chart data generated in step S402 using the color conversion table acquired in step S401. That is, the chart data is converted from the sRGB color space to the devRGB color space. Then, the print processing unit 303 transmits the chart data subjected to color conversion to the rendering processing unit 305.

  In step S <b> 502, the rendering processing unit 305 renders the image memory according to the chart data received from the chart data generation unit 302. Then, the rendering processing unit 305 transmits the image data drawn in the image memory to the color conversion unit 306. In step S503, the color conversion unit 306 converts the image data into CMYK data using a look-up table (LUT) for converting from the devRGB color space to the CMYK color space stored in advance in the external storage device 211. It transmits to the value processing unit 307.

  In step S504, the binarization processing unit 307 performs image forming processing such as screen processing and error diffusion processing on the received color-converted image data to convert it to binary image data, and sends it to the engine control unit 308. Output. In step S505, the engine control unit 308 outputs a printer engine control command to the engine interface 213 based on the binary image data converted in step S504.

  As a result, the printer engine 105 forms an image on the paper surface as an ink image or a toner image. That is, a chart on which candidate patches are printed is formed. The user selects a patch having a desired color by visual observation from candidate patches arranged on the printed chart. Then, using the selected patch color as the target color, a color conversion table is generated so that the adjustment color becomes the target color.

6 and 7 are flowcharts for explaining details of the target value acquisition processing in step S404.
Each process of FIGS. 6 and 7 is performed by the color update processing unit 304. In step S601, the user visually selects a patch having a desired color from the patches arranged on the chart printed in step S505. At this time, it is assumed that the number of selected patches is one or more.

  As a method for selecting a patch, for example, a chart image printed using the chart data (sRGB value) generated in step S <b> 402 is displayed on the display 103. The displayed chart image and the printed chart have the same patch arrangement. Then, the user selects a patch at the same position as the position of the patch to be selected as the target color from the patches on the printed chart, from the chart image displayed on the display 103.

  As another method for selecting a patch, for example, the coordinate position of each patch may be added to the chart when the chart is printed, and the coordinate position of the patch selected by the user may be input. In this case, the chart image displayed on the display 103 and the printed chart may not necessarily have the same patch arrangement.

  In step S602, the color update processing unit 304 acquires a target color from the patch selected in step S601, and determines whether two or more target colors are selected. If two or more target colors are selected, the process proceeds to step S604, and if only one target color is selected, the process proceeds to step S603. In step S603, the color update processing unit 304 stores the L * a * b * value (target value) of the target color acquired in step S601, and ends the target value acquisition process.

  In step S604, the color update processing unit 304 determines whether the number of patches selected in step S601 is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value. If the number of selected patches is equal to or smaller than the threshold value, the process proceeds to step S605. If the number of selected patches is larger than the threshold value, the process returns to step S601 to cause the user to select the target color again.

  In step S605, the color update processing unit 304 converts the sRGB value of the target color corresponding to the patch selected in step S601 into an L * a * b * value. The color conversion at this time is executed by performing tetrahedral interpolation using the input as sRGB values and the calculation table as a conversion table from the sRGB color space generated in step S401 to the L * a * b * color space. In step S606, the color update processing unit 304 calculates the maximum value and the minimum value of each L * a * b * value corresponding to the plurality of patches selected in step S601. Details of the processing will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 11A shows a case where there are two patches selected in step S601.
The patch with a circle represents the patch selected in step S601. The arrangement of patches is a * on the horizontal axis and b * on the vertical axis. In FIG. 11A, the maximum value and the minimum value of each L * a * b * value corresponding to two patches are acquired as follows. About a *, since the maximum value and the minimum value are the same value, it may be obtained from the L * a * b * value possessed by the patch a11 (or a12). Regarding b *, the maximum value may be acquired from the L * a * b * value of the a11 patch, and the minimum value may be acquired from the L * a * b * value of the a12 patch.

FIG. 11C shows a case where there are four patches selected in step S601, and FIG. 11D shows a case where there are three patches selected in step S601.
In the arrangement of patches, the horizontal axis is a * and the vertical axis is b *, as in FIG. In FIG. 11C and FIG. 11D, the maximum value and the minimum value of each L * a * b * value corresponding to each of a plurality of selected patches are acquired as follows.

  For a *, the maximum value is acquired from the L * a * b * value of the patch a21, and the minimum value is acquired from the L * a * b * value of the patch a11. For b *, the maximum value is acquired from the L * a * b * value of the patch a11, and the minimum value is acquired from the L * a * b * value of the a12.

  Returning to the description of FIG. In step S607, the color update processing unit 304 sets an initial value of the number of candidate patches to be created. As the initial value, the number of candidate patches when the chart data is generated in step S402 may be set as the initial value, or the initial value may be set individually. In step S608, the color update processing unit 304 generates a patch L * a * b * obtained by equally dividing L * a * b * based on the number of candidate patches acquired in step S607 in the following range. That is, the patch L * obtained by equally dividing L * a * b * based on the number of candidate patches in the range between the maximum value and the minimum value of each L * a * b * value corresponding to the plurality of patches acquired in step S606. a * b * is generated. Details of the processing will be described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 11A, for a *, the maximum value and the minimum value are the same, and for b *, the patch with the maximum value a11 has the L * a * b * value and the patch with the minimum value a12. L * a * b * value it has. Here, in FIG. 11A, it is assumed that the number of candidate patches acquired in step S607 is five. At this time, the arrangement of candidate patches to be generated is five vertically and one horizontally as shown in FIG. 11B, and the candidate patch arranged at the top is the patch a11. The candidate patch arranged below is the patch a12. The hatched patch surrounded by the black frame in FIG. 11B is calculated by interpolation based on the L * a * b * values of a11 and a12.

  Next, the case of FIGS. 11C and 11D will be described. 11 (C) and 11 (D), a * is the L * a * b * value that the patch with the maximum value a21 has, and the L * a * b * value that the patch with the minimum value a11 has. is there. For b *, the L * a * b * value that the patch with the maximum value a11 has, and the L * a * b * value that the patch with the minimum value a12 has. Here, it is assumed that the number of candidate patches acquired in step S607 is five as in the case of FIG. At this time, as shown in FIG. 11E, the candidate patches to be generated are five vertically and five horizontally, and the candidate patch arranged at the upper left is the patch a11 and arranged at the lower left. The candidate patch to be executed is the patch a12. The candidate patch arranged at the upper right is the patch a21, and the candidate patch arranged at the lower right is the patch a22.

The hatched patch surrounded by the black frame in FIG. 5E is calculated by interpolation based on the L * a * b * values of a11 and a12 and a21 and a22.
Returning to the description of FIG. In step S609, the color update processing unit 304 determines based on the patch L * a * b * generated in step S608 whether all color differences between patches are equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value. For example, it is desirable to set a color difference (for example, color difference 3) that can be visually recognized by a person as the threshold value, but the threshold value is not limited thereto. If the color difference between patches is equal to or greater than the threshold, the process proceeds to S610. If the color difference between patches is smaller than the threshold, the process proceeds to step S611 in FIG.

  In step S610, the color update processing unit 304 generates chart data based on the L * a * b * values of the candidate patches generated in step S609. In the chart data generation process, similarly to step S <b> 402, a process of excluding candidate patches that are out of the color reproduction range of the printer 106 from the arranged candidate patches is performed. Thereafter, the candidate patches generated and arranged with the L * a * b * values are converted into sRGB values. Then, the sRGB value candidate patches are transmitted as one chart to the print processing unit 303, and the chart is printed based on the generated chart data. Details of the printing process have been described with reference to FIG.

  In step S611, the color update processing unit 304 determines whether the number of generated candidate patches exceeds a predetermined threshold value (lower limit value of the number of candidate patches). As shown in FIG. 11F, when the two patches selected in step S601 are selected one-dimensionally, the threshold is set to 3 so that one patch is created between the two patches. It is desirable to set. Also, as shown in FIG. 11G, when four patches selected in step S601 are selected two-dimensionally, the threshold is set to 9 so that one patch is created between the four patches. It is desirable to set to.

  Note that the threshold value setting method that is the lower limit value of the number of candidate patches is not limited to this, and the threshold value can be arbitrarily selected. When the number of generated candidate patches exceeds the threshold value (lower limit), the process proceeds to step S612, and when the number of generated candidate patches is equal to or less than the threshold value, the process proceeds to step 613. In step S612, the color update processing unit 304 decreases (decrements) the number of candidate patches by one.

  In step S613, the color update processing unit 304 generates chart data based on the acquired data. The details of the chart data generation process and the printing process are the same as in S610, and a description thereof will be omitted. In step S614, the user visually selects a patch having a desired color from among the patches arranged on the chart printed in step S613. By receiving this selection result, the color update processing unit 304 acquires a target color (target value) corresponding to the color.

  Note that the chart data printed in step S613 is chart data that cannot be regenerated by further dividing the patch division value (step) because the number of candidate patches is equal to or less than the threshold value (lower limit value). Therefore, only one patch can be selected for visual patch selection in step S614. Details about the selection of the target color are the same as in step S601, and will not be described. In step S615, the color update processing unit 304 stores the L * a * b * value (target value) of the target color acquired in S613. Then, the target value acquisition process in step S404 ends.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, a mechanism for generating a chart including patches close to a color desired by the user by selecting a plurality of candidate color patches is provided. As a result, a patch limited to the vicinity of the user's desired color can be presented regardless of the sampling interval between patches, so that the desired color can be prevented from being on the color patch, and the user can select the desired color. It can be performed.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, target value acquisition processing according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment, a mechanism for regenerating chart data including patches close to a user-desired color by selecting a plurality of candidate patches in the target value acquisition process in step S404 of FIG. 4 is provided. However, in the first embodiment, since the chart is reprinted with finer steps of the color patch, it may take time and effort when performing color adjustment. In contrast, in the present embodiment, a user-desired color (target color) is estimated from the color values of a plurality of selected candidate patches, and a target color is generated internally.

  The configuration itself of the computer 102 to the printer 106 according to the present embodiment is the same as that of the computer 102 to the printer 106 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIGS. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. Further, the chart generation and color update processing in the present embodiment is the same as the chart generation and color update processing in the first embodiment described with reference to FIGS. Only the target value acquisition process of S404 will be described.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining target value acquisition processing in step S404 according to the present embodiment.
Each process in FIG. 8 is performed by the color update processing unit 304. Since the process of step S701-step S705 is the same as that of step S601-step S605 in 1st Embodiment, description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In step S706, the color update processing unit 304 generates one target value based on each L * a * b * value corresponding to the plurality of patches (target colors) selected in step S701. Details of the processing will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 12A shows a method of generating an average value of L * a * b * values of a plurality of selected patches as one target value.
For example, FIG. 12A shows a case where there are four patches selected in step S701. The patch with a circle represents the patch selected in step S701. The arrangement of patches is a * on the horizontal axis and b * on the vertical axis. At this time, the target value Y is generated using the following equation:

  Further, for example, when selecting a patch in step S701, it is possible to input the same patch a plurality of times so that weighting in patch selection can be performed. In this case, the target value is generated by weighting based on the L * a * b * values corresponding to the plurality of selected patches and the number of inputs. For example, FIG. 12B shows a case where there are four patches selected in step S701. The arrangement of patches is a * on the horizontal axis and b * on the vertical axis. The patch with a circle represents the patch selected in step S701. A white circle indicates that the number of times of input is one, and a black circle indicates that the number of times of input is three, and it is assumed that a total of six times is input. At this time, the following formula is used to generate the target value Z.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the target color can be internally generated by estimating the color desired by the user from the colors of the plurality of selected patches. As a result, the time and labor required for the user to repeatedly perform color adjustment can be reduced.

(Third embodiment)
Next, target value acquisition processing according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment, in the target value acquisition process in step S404 of FIG. 4, by selecting a plurality of candidate patches, the chart data is regenerated with the color values and intervals of the patches limited to the vicinity of the color desired by the user. Provided a mechanism to do. Further, in the second embodiment, it is possible to reduce the labor and time related to the user's color adjustment by estimating the target color from a plurality of candidate patches.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, in the target value acquisition process, the method of the first embodiment and the method of the second embodiment are appropriately switched according to a plurality of selected candidate patches. As a result, it is possible to achieve both the reliable selection of the color desired by the user and the time and labor required for color adjustment. The configuration itself of the computer 102 to the printer 106 according to the present embodiment is the same as that of the computer 102 to the printer 106 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIGS. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  Further, the chart generation and color update processing in the present embodiment is the same as the chart generation and color update processing in the first embodiment described with reference to FIGS. Only the target value acquisition process of S404 will be described.

9 and 10 are flowcharts for explaining target value acquisition processing in step S404 according to the present embodiment in the third embodiment.
The color update processing unit 304 performs all the processes in FIGS. 9 and 10. Since the process of step S801-step S805 is the same as that of step S601-step S605 in 1st Embodiment, description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In step S806, the color update processing unit 304 determines whether or not the color difference between the plurality of patches (target colors) selected in step S801 is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value. If the color difference between the selected patches is equal to or greater than the threshold, it is determined that the difference between the patches can be visually determined even if the candidate patches are further refined, and the chart is generated again in step S808 (method of the first embodiment). move on. When the color difference between the selected patches is smaller than the threshold value, it is determined that the difference between the patches cannot be visually determined when the increment (division value) of the candidate patch is made fine, and the target color is generated internally (the first color) Method of the second embodiment) The process proceeds to step S807.

  In addition, as a threshold value used here, although the color difference (for example, color difference 3) which a person can visually recognize is desirable, it is not restricted to this. Since the process of step S807 is the same as the target value acquisition process (step S706) in the second embodiment, a description thereof will be omitted. Moreover, since the process of step S808-step S817 is the same as the acquisition process (step S606-step S615) of the target value in 1st Embodiment, description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, a mechanism for appropriately switching the method of the first embodiment and the second embodiment in accordance with a plurality of selected target colors is provided in the target value acquisition process. As a result, it is possible to achieve both a reliable selection of a desired color and a reduction in time required for color adjustment.

(Fourth embodiment)
Next, target value acquisition processing according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the first to third embodiments, a mechanism is provided for performing color adjustment by selecting a plurality of patches close to the color desired by the user. As a result, chart data consisting of patches close to the user's desired color can be presented (or target value determined) regardless of the sampling interval between the color patches, so that there is a possibility that the desired color is not on the color patch and cannot be selected. I was able to suppress it.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, color adjustment is performed by simply regenerating a chart with finer color increments (division values) without selecting a plurality of candidate patches. Thereby, when performing color adjustment, it is not necessary to select a plurality of patches, and the convenience of the user in color adjustment can be improved.

  The configuration itself of the computer 102 to the printer 106 according to the present embodiment is the same as that of the computer 102 to the printer 106 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIGS. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. Further, the chart generation and color update processing in the present embodiment is the same as the chart generation and color update processing in the first embodiment described with reference to FIGS. Only the target value acquisition process of S404 will be described.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart for explaining target value acquisition processing in step S404 according to the third embodiment.
Each process of FIG. 13 is performed by the color update processing unit 304. In step S1101, the user visually selects a patch having a desired color from the patches arranged on the chart printed in step S505. At this time, the number of selected patches is different from step S601, and only one patch can be selected. Since the method for selecting a patch is the same as that in step S601, the description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 14 is an example of a screen displayed on the display 103 when color adjustment is performed, specifically when a patch (target color) is selected.
The user selects one patch from the candidate patches 1201 on the target color selection screen 1200. In step S1102, the color update processing unit 304 determines whether or not the “color adjustment in detail” button 1202 illustrated in FIG. 14 is pressed. If the button 1202 is pressed, the process proceeds to step S1104. If the button 1202 is not pressed, the process proceeds to step S1103.

  Since the process in step S1103 is the same as the process in step S603, description thereof is omitted. In step S1104, the color update processing unit 304 updates the adjustment value that is the adjustment target acquired in step S401 to the value that the target color selected in step S1101 has. In step S1105, the color update processing unit 304 performs update so that the increment between candidate patches is reduced.

  Specifically, the L * a * b * value of the adjustment value updated in step S1104 is converted to L * a * b * values of the candidate patches by converting the L * value, a * value, and b * value in stages. A division value (Dist) between candidate patches necessary for generating a b * value is updated. At this time, as the division value, for example, by setting the value smaller than the division value when the chart data is generated in step S402, the step (interval) between candidate patches is set finely. Since the process of step S1106 is the same as the process of step S610, description thereof is omitted.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, there is provided a mechanism for performing color adjustment by regenerating a chart with finer patch increments without selecting a plurality of candidate patches. Thereby, when performing color adjustment, it is not necessary to select a plurality of patches, and the convenience of the user in color adjustment can be improved.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention supplies a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or apparatus read and execute the program This process can be realized. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

  As mentioned above, although preferable embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to these embodiment, A various deformation | transformation and change are possible within the range of the summary.

102 Computer 302 Chart Generation Unit 304 Color Update Processing Unit

Claims (9)

First selection means for selecting an adjustment color;
Chart generating means for generating chart data in which the adjustment color and a patch of a color near the adjustment color are arranged;
Second selection means for selecting a target color from the chart data;
Determining means for determining one target color based on the plurality of target colors when there are a plurality of target colors selected by the second selection means;
Updating means for updating a color conversion table used when printing an image based on the adjustment color and the one target color;
An information processing apparatus characterized by that. The determining means performs the interpolation operation using the maximum value and the minimum value of the color values of the plurality of target colors, thereby arranging the plurality of target colors and patches of the neighboring colors of the plurality of target colors. Generating the chart data again, and determining the one target value according to the selection of the target color from the chart data;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1. The determining means determines an average value of color values of the plurality of target colors as a color value of the one target color;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The determining unit determines an average value of the color values of the plurality of target colors, weighted by the number of times the plurality of target colors are selected, as the color value of the one target color;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein: The determining means includes
The generation of the chart data is repeated until the color difference of the target color selected from the chart data becomes smaller than a predetermined threshold value,
When a color difference between target colors selected from the chart data is smaller than a predetermined threshold, an average value of color values of the plurality of target colors is determined as a color value of the one target color;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 2. When the number of target colors selected by the second selection unit is one, the determination unit selects the chart data for one target value selected from the chart data by the second selection unit. Chart data in which patches of neighboring colors that are changed stepwise in increments smaller than the increments of the color values of the patches arranged in the step are generated again, and the one color is selected according to the selection of the target color from the chart data. Determine the target value,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1. The determining means arranges the plurality of target colors and patches of colors near the target colors according to the visual characteristics of the user.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is an information processing apparatus. A first selection step of selecting an adjustment color;
A chart generation step of generating chart data in which the adjustment color and a patch of a color near the adjustment color are arranged;
A second selection step of selecting a target color from the chart data;
A determination step of determining one target color based on the plurality of target colors when there are a plurality of target colors selected in the second selection step;
An update step of updating a color conversion table used when printing an image based on the adjustment color and the one target color,
A method for controlling an information processing apparatus. The program for functioning a computer as each means with which the information processing apparatus of any one of Claim 1 thru | or 7 is provided.

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