JP2017123041A - Print control device, print control program, and print control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable re-printing to be easily and quickly executed even in a case where a target profile is changed.SOLUTION: A print control device (print control program) calculates the difference in hue values of output colors with respect to the respective input colors by using the first target profile and the second target profile at the time of initial printing on the basis of printing data designating the first target profile, specifies the input color having the difference in the hue value exceeding a prescribed allowable range, determines whether or not the color of each pixel is equivalent to the specified color at the time of color conversion of each pixel of image data obtained by rasterizing printing data, sets a prescribed value to a tag bit corresponding to each pixel in accordance with the determination result, and performs color conversion by using the second target profile to only the pixel with the tag bit set to the prescribed value at the time of re-printing on the basis of the printing data designating the second target profile.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 15

Description

  The present invention relates to a print control apparatus, a print control program, and a print control method, and in particular, a print control apparatus that controls a print engine, a print control program that operates on the print control apparatus, and a printing system that includes the print engine and the print control apparatus. The present invention relates to a printing control method.

  In recent years, when printing, it is necessary to perform color management operations that guarantee color accuracy, such as JapanColor and Fogra authentication. These are systems that guarantee the quality if the color reproducibility is within a certain allowable range, but even if the print data is the same, the authentication request may differ depending on the shipping destination. In general, the target profile is changed and reprinted. Here, when the target profile is changed and reprinted, it is necessary to perform the rasterization process again using the changed target profile, which causes a reduction in the printing speed depending on the document.

  As a technique for improving productivity in such a printing system, for example, in Patent Document 1 below, in an image forming system including a printer controller and an image forming apparatus, the printer controller is described in a page description language. A first processing unit that analyzes the printed job and generates multi-value image data in the original color space of the print job and color space information indicating a color space of the multi-value image data; and the first processing A transmission unit that associates the multi-value image data generated by the image forming unit, the color space information generated by the first processing unit, and the color conversion setting information of the print job, and transmits the image data to the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus receives multi-value image data, color space information, and color conversion setting information transmitted from the printer controller. A multi-value image data stored in the storage unit, a storage unit that stores the received multi-value image data, color space information, and color conversion setting information in association with each other. A second processing unit that performs color conversion based on the color space information and color conversion setting information associated with the value image data and generates printable image data; and the print generated by the second processing unit An image forming system including an image forming unit that performs printing based on possible image data is disclosed.

JP 2012-103994 A

  In the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, in reprinting, tag bits for stored color space information are detected and described as a look-up table (hereinafter referred to as LUT (look-up table)) that matches the color space of a suitable pixel. However, in this method, since color conversion is performed for all the pixels, reprinting cannot be performed quickly. In recent years, a mechanism has been proposed in which an intermediate language for rasterization processing is held and color conversion is performed on this intermediate language. However, this method requires expensive hardware and lacks versatility. There's a problem.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its main purpose is to provide a print control apparatus, a print control program, and a print control apparatus capable of simply and quickly performing reprinting even when the target profile is changed. It is to provide a printing control method.

  One aspect of the present invention is a print control apparatus that controls a print engine, and performs color conversion using an image processing unit that rasterizes print data, and a target profile and a printer profile that are stored in advance in a storage unit. The image processing unit rasterizes the print data to generate image data when the printing based on the print data for which the first target profile is specified is determined to be the first print, and generates the image data For each pixel of data, the first target profile is specified to instruct the color conversion unit to perform color conversion, and the color conversion unit uses the first target profile stored in advance in the storage unit The first LUT (look-up table) for associating the input color with the output color when color conversion is performed, and the second tar- get stored in the storage unit in advance. A second LUT that associates an input color with an output color when color conversion is performed using a get profile, and the difference between the color values of the output colors of both LUTs exceeds a predetermined allowable range The input color is specified, the first target profile and the printer profile are used to perform color conversion of each pixel of the image data and notify the image processing unit, and at the time of the color conversion, It is determined whether or not the color defined by the color value of each pixel corresponds to the specified color, and the determination result is notified to the image processing unit, and the image processing unit applies to each pixel of the image data. The first image data reflecting the result of color conversion by the color conversion unit is output to the print engine to instruct printing, and predetermined tag bits corresponding to the pixels are determined based on the determination result. The value of the Setting, storing the first image data and the tag bits of all the pixels in the storage unit, and when printing based on the print data in which the second target profile is designated is determined to be reprinting, The image processing unit reads the first image data and the tag bits of all the pixels from the storage unit, and the tag bit in which the predetermined value among the pixels of the first image data is set Only a specific pixel corresponding to the second pixel is designated with the second target profile to instruct the color conversion unit to perform color conversion, and the color conversion unit uses the second target profile and the printer profile, The color conversion of the specific pixel is performed and notified to the image processing unit, and the image processing unit performs color change by the color conversion unit only on the specific pixel among the pixels of the first image data. The second image data reflecting the result of, characterized in that instructs printing is outputted to the print engine.

  One aspect of the present invention is a print control program that operates in a print control apparatus that controls a print engine, and the print control apparatus determines that printing based on print data in which a first target profile is designated is initial printing. In this case, the print data is rasterized to generate image data, and using the first target profile and printer profile stored in advance in the storage unit, color conversion of each pixel of the image data is performed, Print processing for outputting first image data in which each pixel is color-converted to the print engine to instruct printing, and input color and output color when color conversion is performed using the first target profile When color conversion is performed by using a first LUT (look-up table) for associating and a second target profile previously stored in the storage unit A table acquisition process for acquiring a second LUT for associating an input color with an output color, an input color in which a difference in color values of output colors of both LUTs exceeds a predetermined allowable range, and A color determination process for determining whether or not a color defined by a color value of each pixel corresponds to the specified color, and a tag bit corresponding to each pixel has a predetermined value based on a determination result of the color determination process The printing in which the second target profile is designated is executed by executing a tag bit setting process in which a value is set, the first image data and the tag bits of all the pixels are associated with each other and stored in the storage unit When it is determined that printing based on data is reprinting, the first image data and the tag bits of all the pixels are read from the storage unit, and the predetermined image of the pixels of the first image data is read out. Value set Color conversion control processing for performing color conversion using only the second target profile and the printer profile for only the specific pixel corresponding to the tag bit, and the specific pixel among the pixels of the first image data Only for pixels, the second image data color-converted by the color conversion control process is output to the print engine, and a reprint process for instructing printing is executed.

  One aspect of the present invention is a printing control method in a printing system including a printing engine and a printing control device that controls the printing engine, and the printing control device performs printing in which a first target profile is designated. When it is determined that printing based on data is initial printing, the print data is rasterized to generate image data, and the first target profile and printer profile stored in advance in the storage unit are used to store the image data. Performs color conversion for each pixel, outputs first image data in which each pixel is color-converted to the print engine and instructs printing, and performs color conversion using the first target profile A first look-up table (LUT) for associating the input color with the output color in the case of the second target profile stored in the storage unit in advance. Table acquisition processing for acquiring a second LUT for associating an input color with an output color when color conversion is performed using a file, and a difference between color values of output colors of both LUTs An input color exceeding the range is specified, and a color determination process for determining whether a color defined by a color value of each pixel of the image data corresponds to the specified color, and a determination result of the color determination process A tag bit setting process for setting a predetermined value in the tag bit corresponding to each pixel and storing the first image data and the tag bit of all pixels in the storage unit in association with each other. And when the printing based on the print data in which the second target profile is designated is determined to be reprinting, the first image data and the tag bits of all the pixels are read from the storage unit, The first image Color conversion control processing for performing color conversion using only the second target profile and the printer profile for a specific pixel corresponding to the tag bit in which the predetermined value is set. A reprinting process for outputting the second image data color-converted by the color conversion control process only to the specific pixel among the pixels of the first image data to the print engine to instruct printing; It is characterized by performing.

  According to the printing control apparatus, the printing control program, and the printing control method of the present invention, reprinting can be performed easily and quickly even when the target profile is changed.

  The reason is that the print control apparatus (print control program) uses the first target profile and the second target profile held in advance at the time of the first printing based on the print data designating the first target profile. , Calculating the difference of the color value of the output color with respect to each input color, specifying the input color in which the difference of the color value exceeds a predetermined allowable range, and at the time of color conversion of each pixel of the image data obtained by rasterizing the print data, Determine whether the color specified by the color value of each pixel corresponds to the specified color, set a predetermined value to the tag bit corresponding to each pixel according to the determination result, and after color conversion Are stored in association with the tag data of all pixels. Then, at the time of re-printing based on the print data designating the second target profile, the image data after color conversion and the tag bits of all the pixels are read, and only for the pixels whose tag bits are set to a predetermined value, This is because color conversion is performed using the second target profile.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the other example of a structure of the printing system which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the client terminal which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the controller which concerns on one Example of this invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the difference extraction of the target profile in the printing system which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the data flow at the time of the first printing which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the data flow at the time of reprinting based on one Example of this invention. It is a figure explaining the relationship between RAW data and the tag bit at the time of reprinting concerning one Example of this invention. It is a flowchart figure which shows the process (whole process) of the controller which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a flowchart figure which shows the process (initial printing process) of the controller which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a flowchart figure which shows the process (LUT creation process at the time of first printing) which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a flowchart figure which shows the process (The image data generation at the time of first printing, a color determination process) which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a flowchart figure which shows the process (tag bit setting process at the time of first printing) which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a flowchart figure which shows the process (reprint process) of the controller which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a flowchart figure which shows the process (partial color conversion process at the time of reprint) of the controller which concerns on one Example of this invention.

  As shown in the background art, even if the print data is the same, if the authentication request differs depending on the shipping destination, reprinting is performed by changing the target profile, but if the target profile is changed, The rasterization process needs to be performed again using the changed target profile, and the printing speed is reduced depending on the original. With respect to this problem, the method of Patent Document 1 cannot perform reprinting quickly because color conversion is performed on all pixels. Also, a mechanism for performing color conversion on an intermediate language for rasterization processing has been proposed, but this method requires expensive hardware and lacks versatility.

  Therefore, in the embodiment of the present invention, when the target profile is changed, the rasterization process is not performed again using the changed target profile, and expensive hardware is not added, so that high speed operation can be performed. We propose a mechanism that allows color conversion.

  Specifically, at the time of the first printing based on the print data, the difference between the color values of the output colors for each input color is calculated using a predetermined target profile used for color conversion and other target profiles that are held. Then, an input color whose color value difference exceeds a predetermined allowable range is specified and stored. Then, at the time of color conversion using a predetermined target profile for the rasterized image data of the print data, it is determined whether the color specified by the color value of each pixel corresponds to the specified color, and the determination result Accordingly, a predetermined value is set for the tag bit corresponding to each pixel, the image data is output to the print engine to instruct printing, and the image data and the tag bit are stored in association with each other.

  Then, when reprinting based on the same print data, if the target profile is changed to another target profile held, the image data and the tag bit are read, and the pixel in which the tag bit is set to a predetermined value Only, color conversion is performed using the other target profile, and the image data after color conversion is output to the print engine to instruct printing.

  By performing such control, it is not necessary to perform rasterization again using the changed target profile, it is not necessary to perform color conversion on all pixels, and expensive hardware is also required. Therefore, an inexpensive and high-speed printing system can be provided.

  In order to describe the above-described embodiment of the present invention in more detail, a print control apparatus, a print control program, and a print control method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic diagrams showing the configuration of the printing system according to the present embodiment, and FIGS. 3 to 5 are block diagrams showing the configurations of the client terminal, the controller, and the image forming apparatus, respectively. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining target profile difference extraction in the printing system of this embodiment, FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a data flow at the time of initial printing, and FIG. 8 is data at the time of reprinting. It is a schematic diagram which shows a flow. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between RAW data and tag bits at the time of reprinting, and FIGS. 10 to 16 are flowcharts showing the processing of the controller of this embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the printing system of this embodiment, a client terminal 10, a controller 20, and an image forming apparatus 30 that can be connected via a communication network 40 are arranged on an intranet. Ethernet (registered trademark) or the like can be used as the standard of the communication network 40, but the data transfer from the controller 20 to the image forming apparatus 30 can also use IEEE1394, Parallel, or the like in addition to Ethernet (registered trademark). is there.

  In FIG. 1, the controller 20 and the image forming apparatus 30 are separate apparatuses. However, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 30 may include the controller 20. Hereinafter, each device will be described in detail on the assumption of the configuration of FIG.

[Client terminal]
The client terminal 10 is a computer device such as a personal computer, and creates print data and transmits it to the controller 20. As shown in FIG. 3A, the client terminal 10 includes a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, a network I / F unit 13, a display unit 14, an operation unit 15, and the like.

  The control unit 11 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11a and a memory such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) 11b and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 11c. The CPU 11a stores a control program stored in the ROM 11b or the storage unit 12. The operation of the entire client terminal 10 is controlled by expanding and executing in the RAM 11c. As shown in FIG. 3B, the control unit 11 (CPU 11a) executes an OS (Operating System) 16, a document creation application 17, a printer driver 18, and the like.

  The OS 16 is Windows (registered trademark), Macintosh (registered trademark), Android, or the like, and enables the document creation application 17 and the printer driver 18 to operate on the client terminal 10.

  The document creation application 17 is software that performs text creation, spreadsheet calculation, image processing, and the like. The document creation application 17 reads the printer driver 18 when printing is instructed, and transfers document data created by the document creation application 17 to the printer driver 18.

  The printer driver 18 converts the document data created by the document creation application 17 into pages such as print data (PJL (Printer Job Language), PS (PostScript), PCL (Printer Control Language), etc. in a language that can be interpreted by the image forming apparatus 30. PDL (Page Description Language) data described in a description language or PDF (Portable Document Format) data). To this print data, image forming conditions set in the print setting screen of the printer driver 18 (in this embodiment, in particular, target profile designation information) are described and added to a print ticket or the like.

  The storage unit 12 is configured by an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), an SSD (Solid State Drive), or the like, and a program for the CPU 11a to control each unit, information on processing functions of the own apparatus, and manuscript data created by the document creation application 17 Print data created by the printer driver 18 is stored.

  The network I / F unit 13 includes a NIC (Network Interface Card), a modem, and the like, connects the client terminal 10 to the communication network 40, and transmits a print job to the controller 20.

  The display unit 14 includes a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic EL (electroluminescence) display device, and the like, and displays a document creation screen of the document creation application 17, a print setting screen of the printer driver 18, and the like.

  The operation unit 15 includes a mouse, a keyboard, and the like, and enables operations such as document creation by the document creation application 17 and setting of printing conditions by the printer driver 18.

[controller]
The controller 20 is a print control device that controls the image forming apparatus 30. As shown in FIG. 4A, the controller 20 includes a control unit 21, a storage unit 22, an image processing unit 23, a color conversion unit 24, a network I / F unit 25, a printer I / F unit 26, and the like. The

  The control unit 21 includes a CPU 21a and a memory such as a ROM 21b and a RAM 21c. The CPU 21a controls the operation of the entire controller 20 by developing the control program stored in the ROM 21b and the storage unit 22 in the RAM 21c and executing it. To do.

  The storage unit 22 includes an HDD, an SSD, and the like, and is generated from a program for the CPU 21a to control each unit, print data received from the client terminal 10, a plurality of target profiles and printer profiles used for color conversion, and print data. Store the image data. The target profile is, for example, “Japan Color”, “Fogra”, “GRACoL”, etc. established in accordance with ISO-12647-2.

  The image processing unit 23 is configured by an image processing ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or the like, analyzes print data received from the client terminal 10, and performs image processing on the print data. The image processing unit 23 includes a RIP (Raster Image Processor) unit 23a, a tag bit setting unit 23b, a color conversion control unit 23c, and the like.

  The RIP unit 23a rasterizes the print data received from the client terminal 10 to generate bitmap format image data. At the time of initial printing, the color values subjected to color conversion by the color conversion unit 24 are applied to each pixel to generate image data for printing (RAW data), and the image data for printing is output to the image forming apparatus 30. Then, printing is instructed and the image data for printing is stored in the storage unit 22 or the like. Further, when re-printing with the target profile changed, printing image data is read from the storage unit 22 or the like, and only the pixels in which the color defined by the color value of each pixel corresponds to a specific color to be described later are read from the color conversion unit 24. The received color value is applied to generate reprint image data (RAW data '), and the reprint image data is output to the image forming apparatus 30 to instruct reprinting.

  The tag bit setting unit 23b sets a tag bit generated at the time of rasterization. Specifically, the color conversion unit 24 receives the result of color determination performed when performing color conversion of each pixel, and based on the determination result, the color defined by the color value corresponds to a specific color described later. The tag bit corresponding to the pixel to be set is set to a predetermined value (for example, ON), and the tag bit is stored in the storage unit 22 or the like in association with the image data for printing.

  At the first printing, the color conversion control unit 23c notifies the color conversion unit 24 of the color value of each pixel of the image data generated by the RIP unit 23a and instructs color conversion. When reprinting with the target profile changed, the tag bit is read from the storage unit 22 or the like, and the color conversion unit 24 is instructed to perform color conversion only for pixels for which the tag bit is set to a predetermined value (eg, ON). .

  The color conversion unit 24 performs color conversion in accordance with instructions from the image processing unit 23. The color conversion unit 24 includes a CMM (Color Management Module) 24a, a table creation unit 24b, a color determination unit 24c, and the like.

  In the initial printing, the CMM 24a performs color conversion on each pixel of the image data using the target profile and the printer profile in accordance with an instruction from the image processing unit 23, and notifies the image processing unit 23 of the color value after the color conversion. . Further, at the time of re-printing with the target profile changed, according to the instruction of the image processing unit 23, only the pixels whose color specified by the color value corresponds to a specific color described later using the changed target profile and printer profile (or Color conversion is performed (using a LUT created by a table creation unit 24b described later), and the color value subjected to color conversion is notified to the image processing unit 23.

  The table creation unit 24b, at the time of initial printing, outputs the color value of each input color and the color value of the output color obtained by applying the target profile and the printer profile to the input color (for example, CMYK value). Are created and stored in the storage unit 22 or the like. For example, when target profile A and target profile B are stored in advance as target profiles, LUT A and target for associating input color and output color when color conversion is performed using target profile A and printer profile A LUT B that associates the input color and the output color when color conversion is performed using the profile B and the printer profile is created. Further, an input color in which the difference between the color values of the output colors of the two LUTs exceeds a predetermined allowable range is specified (the specified input color is referred to as a specific color). The creation of the LUT or the creation of the LUT and the setting of a specific color may be performed in advance before the first printing. Further, the difference between the color values of the output colors may be a difference between all coordinate components in the color space (that is, a distance in the color space) when the color space of the output color is a CMYK color space. (Ie, distances on each coordinate axis of the color space, ΔC, ΔM, ΔY, ΔK). In addition, when comparing the difference between individual coordinate components and the allowable range, if the difference between at least one coordinate component exceeds the allowable range, the input color may be set to a specific color, or all coordinates may be set. When the component difference exceeds an allowable range, the input color may be set to a specific color. Further, the allowable range may be changed according to the coordinate component used for calculating the difference.

  The color determination unit 24c determines whether the color defined by the color value of each pixel corresponds to the specific color when the CMM 24a performs color conversion on each pixel during initial printing. The determination result is notified to the image processing unit 23.

  The network I / F unit 25 includes a NIC, a modem, and the like, connects the controller 20 to the communication network 40, and receives print data and the like from the client terminal 10. The printer I / F unit 26 is a dedicated interface for connecting the controller 20 to the image forming apparatus 30, and transmits image data (RAW data) for printing to the image forming apparatus 30.

  The image processing unit 23 (particularly the tag bit setting unit 23b and the color conversion control unit 23c) and the color conversion unit 24 (particularly the table creation unit 24b and the color determination unit 24c) may be configured as hardware. The control unit 21 is configured as a print control program that functions as the image processing unit 23 (particularly the tag bit setting unit 23b and the color conversion control unit 23c) and the color conversion unit 24 (particularly the table creation unit 24b and the color determination unit 24c). Then, the print control program may be executed by the CPU 21a.

[Image forming apparatus]
The image forming apparatus 30 is a printer, an MFP (Multi-Functional Peripherals), or the like, and includes a control unit 31, a controller I / F unit 32, a panel operation unit 33, a print processing unit 34, and the like as shown in FIG. The

  The control unit 31 includes a CPU 31a and a memory such as a ROM 31b and a RAM 31c. The CPU 31a controls the overall operation of the image forming apparatus 30 by developing and executing a control program stored in the ROM 31b on the RAM 31c.

  The controller I / F unit 32 is a dedicated interface for connecting the image forming apparatus 30 to the controller 20 and receives image data (RAW data) for printing from the controller 20.

  The panel operation unit 33 is a touch panel or the like in which a touch sensor made of a grid-like transparent electrode is formed on a display unit such as an LCD, and displays various screens related to printing and enables various operations related to printing.

  The print processing unit 34 is a print engine that executes print processing based on printing image data received from the controller 20. Specifically, the photosensitive drum charged by the charging device is irradiated with light corresponding to the image from the exposure device to form an electrostatic latent image, and the toner charged by the developing device is attached and developed. The image is primarily transferred to the transfer belt, secondarily transferred from the transfer belt to the paper, and a fixing device fixes the toner image on the paper.

  1 to 5 are examples of the printing system of this embodiment, and the configuration and control of each apparatus can be changed as appropriate.

For example, in the above, output color values (for example, CMYK values) when the target profile A and the printer profile are applied to the same input color, and output colors when the target profile B and the printer profile are applied are shown. Whether the difference between the color value and the color value exceeds the allowable range or not is determined, but the device-independent color when the target profile A is applied to the same input color (for example, L * a * b * color) The difference (ΔL, Δa, Δb, ΔE, ΔC, ΔH) between the color value of the space) (for example, the L * a * b * value) and the color value of the device-independent color when the target profile B is applied Etc.) may exceed the allowable range. The above differences are L * a * b * values when the target profile A is applied as L1, a1, and b1, and L * a * b * values when the target profile B is applied as L2, a2, and b2. If
ΔL = L1-L2
Δa ＝ a1−a2
Δb = b1−b2
ΔE = (ΔL ² + Δa ² + Δb ² ) ^1/2
ΔC = (a1 ² + b1 ² ) ^1/2 − (a2 ² + b2 ² ) ^1/2
ΔH = (ΔE ² −ΔL ² −ΔC ² ) ^1/2
It becomes.

  Next, the schematic operation of the printing system of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing target profile difference extraction. Here, it is assumed that two types of target profiles A and B are registered in advance in the storage unit 22 of the controller 20 as target profiles.

  First, LUT A and LUT B are created for the registered target profiles A and B. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6A, the color value of the input color depending on the device (for example, the color value of the RGB color space) is used as the color value of the color independent of the device using the target profile A. (For example, color values in the L * a * b * color space), and further using the printer profile to convert to color values for the output color of the printer (for example, color values in the CMYK color space) LUT A is created in which the color value of the color and the color value of the output color are associated with each other. Similarly, the color value of the input color depending on the device is converted into the color value of the color independent of the device using the target profile B, and further converted into the color value of the output color of the printer using the printer profile. Then, LUT B in which the color value of the input color is associated with the color value of the output color is created.

  Next, LUT A and LUT B are compared to calculate the difference between the color values (for example, CMYK values) of each output color with respect to the color value of the same input color, and whether the difference exceeds a predetermined allowable range. Determine whether. As described above, the difference in the color value of the output color may be the difference between all coordinate components in the output color space (for example, the CMYK color space) (that is, the distance in the color space), It is good also as the difference (namely, the distance on each coordinate axis of the said color space) of the coordinate component of these.

  If there is an input color whose output color difference exceeds the allowable range, the input color is set to a specific color. As described above, when the difference between individual coordinate components and the allowable range are compared, the input color may be set to a specific color when the difference between at least one coordinate component exceeds the allowable range. When the difference between all coordinate components exceeds the allowable range, the input color may be set to a specific color. Further, the allowable range may be changed according to the coordinate component used for calculating the difference. FIG. 6B is a diagram schematically showing an input color (specific color) in which the difference between the color values of the output colors exceeds the allowable range. For example, two elements in the color space of the input color (the input color is RGB) In this case, RG, GB, RB) are set on the vertical axis and the horizontal axis, and the portion corresponding to the input color whose output color difference exceeds the allowable range is blacked out.

  FIG. 7 shows a data flow at the time of initial printing based on the print data. First, when print data is sent to the image processing unit 23, the image processing unit 23 rasterizes the print data and passes the color value of each pixel of the image data to the color conversion unit 24. The color conversion unit 24 performs color conversion on the color value of each pixel using the target profile (here, target profile A) and the printer profile, and the color defined by the color value of each pixel is specified as described above. It is determined whether it corresponds to a color, and the color value of the output color of each pixel after color conversion and the determination result are returned to the image processing unit 23. The image processing unit 23 generates image data (RAW data) for printing based on the color value of the output color of each pixel and outputs it to the image forming apparatus 30, and pixels corresponding to a specific color based on the determination result. The tag bit corresponding to the coordinates of is set to ON.

  FIG. 8 shows a data flow at the time of reprinting based on the print data. When reprinting is instructed by changing the target profile, the image processing unit 23 reads the image data (RAW data) and the tag bit stored at the first printing. Then, the pixel whose tag bit is set to ON is specified, and the color value of the pixel is passed to the color conversion unit 24. The color conversion unit 24 performs color conversion using the changed target profile (here, target profile B) and the printer profile (or using the LUT created based on the target profile B (here, LUT B)). The color value of the output color after color conversion is returned to the image processing unit 23. In the image processing unit 23, a pixel whose tag bit is OFF adopts a color value of RAW data, and a pixel whose tag bit is ON adopts a color value of an output color received from the color conversion unit 24 to edit an edited image. Data (RAW data ') is generated and output to the image forming apparatus 30.

  FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram for explaining the relationship between RAW data and tag bits, and the numerals in the figure indicate the coordinates of the pixels. FIG. 9A shows the RAW data generated at the time of the first printing, and is composed of pixels painted black. FIG. 9B shows the tag bit, and the tag bit corresponding to the pixel painted black is set to ON. FIG. 9C shows RAW data 'generated at the time of reprinting, and color conversion is performed only on pixels whose tag bits are set to ON. That is, in this embodiment, in the color conversion process after changing the target profile, color conversion is performed again only for the pixels whose tag bits are ON.

  Next, the operation of the controller 20 of this embodiment will be specifically described. The CPU 21a executes the processing of each step shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 10 to 16 by developing the print control program stored in the ROM 21b or the storage unit 22 in the RAM 21c and executing it. In the following description, it is assumed that target profiles A and B are registered as target profiles, target profile A is specified at the time of initial printing, and target profile B is specified at the time of reprinting.

  First, the overall operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 10, when the controller 20 receives print data from the client terminal 10, the image processing unit 23 analyzes the print data (S100), and converts the print data into print data based on, for example, the ID of the print data. It is determined whether the associated RAW data is stored in the storage unit 22 or the like (S110). If the RAW data is not saved, the initial printing process is executed (S120). If the RAW data is saved, the reprinting process is executed (S130).

  Next, the initial printing process of S120 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the image processing unit 23 analyzes the print data and specifies a target profile instructed by the print data (S200).

  Next, the color conversion unit 24 (table creation unit 24b) creates an LUT for converting an input color into an output color (S210). FIG. 12 shows details of this step. First, the target profiles A and B and the printer profile are read from the storage unit 22 or the like (S211). Next, the color value (for example, RGB value) of each input color is converted into the color value (for example, L * a * b * value) of the device independent color using the target profile A, and the printer profile is further converted. The color value (for example, CMYK value) of the output color of the printer is used to convert the color value of the input color and the color value of the output color to create LUT A (S212). Similarly, the color value of each input color is converted into a color value of a device-independent color using the target profile B, and further converted into the color value of the output color of the printer using the printer profile. LUT B that associates the value with the color value of the output color is created (S213). If LUT A and LUT B are created in advance and stored in the storage unit 22 or the like before the initial printing, the LUT A and LUT B may be acquired from the storage unit 22 or the like.

  Next, the input color is designated in order (S214), and the difference between the color value of the output color of LUT A and the color value of the output color of LUT B for the designated input color is calculated (S215). Then, it is determined whether the calculated color value difference is outside the predetermined allowable range (S216). If the color value difference is outside the allowable range, the input color is set to a specific color and set. The specific color is stored in the storage unit 22 or the like (S217). Thereafter, it is determined whether there is another input color (S218). If there is another input color, the process returns to S214 and the same processing is repeated. If a specific color is set in advance before the first printing, the specific color may be read from the storage unit 22 or the like. Further, as described above, the difference between the color values of the output colors may be the difference between all coordinate components in the color space of the output color (that is, the distance in the color space), or the difference between the individual coordinate components (that is, the distance between the color components). Or a distance on each coordinate axis of the color space). In addition, when comparing the difference between individual coordinate components and the allowable range, if the difference between at least one coordinate component exceeds the allowable range, the input color may be set to a specific color, or all coordinates may be set. When the component difference exceeds an allowable range, the input color may be set to a specific color. Further, the allowable range may be changed according to the coordinate component used for calculating the difference.

  Returning to FIG. 11, the image processing unit 23 and the color conversion unit 24 generate image data (RAW data) for printing from the print data, and determine the color of each pixel (S220). FIG. 13 shows the details of this step, and the image processing unit 23 (RIP unit 23a) rasterizes the print data to generate bitmap format image data (S221). Next, the image processing unit 23 (color conversion control unit 23c) designates pixels sequentially from the image data in the bitmap format, and passes the color values of the pixels to the color conversion unit 24 (S222). The color conversion unit 24 (CMM 24a) uses the target profile A and the printer profile (or the LUT A created by the table creation unit 24b in S212) to convert the color value of the pixel into the color value of the output color. Conversion is performed (S223).

  Next, the color conversion unit 24 (color determination unit 24c) determines whether or not the color value of the pixel corresponds to the specific color stored in S217 (S224), and the color value of the output color converted in S223. And the determination result of S224 are notified to the image processing unit 23 (S225). Thereafter, it is determined whether there are other pixels (S226). If there are other pixels, the process returns to S222 and the same processing is repeated.

  Returning to FIG. 11, the image processing unit 23 (tag bit setting unit 23b) sets a tag bit (S230). FIG. 14 shows the details of this step. First, the color value and the determination result of the output color after color conversion of each pixel are acquired from the color conversion unit 24 (S231). Then, referring to the obtained determination result, whether the color specified by the color value of the pixel corresponds to the specific color (that is, the color value of the output color of the pixel exceeds the allowable range depending on the target profile to be used) If the color specified by the color value of a pixel corresponds to a specific color, the tag bit corresponding to that pixel is set to ON (S233).

  Returning to FIG. 11, the image processing unit 23 associates the image data for printing (RAW data) obtained by color-converting the color value of each pixel with the tag bits of all the pixels and stores them in the storage unit 22 or the like (S240). ), The RAW data is output to the image forming apparatus 30 to instruct printing (S250). The print processing unit 34 of the image forming apparatus 30 executes print processing using the RAW data received from the controller 20.

  In the above flow, after receiving print data, LUT A and LUT B are created in S210, and an input color whose output color value difference exceeds an allowable range is set as a specific color. In S210, only the creation of LUT A may be performed in S210. After instructing the image forming apparatus 30 to print, the creation of LUT B and the setting of a specific color may be performed. After instructing printing, LUT A and LUT B may be created and specific colors may be set, or LUT A and LUT B created before the first printing, or LUT A and LUT B created. In addition, a specific color may be set. Further, in the above flow, when generating image data for printing in S220, the color determination of each pixel and the setting of the tag bit are performed. However, in order to perform the initial printing process quickly, in S220, for printing. Only the generation of the image data may be performed, and after the RAW data is output to the image forming apparatus 30 and printing is instructed, the color determination and the tag bit setting may be performed.

  Next, the reprinting process of S130 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the image processing unit 23 analyzes the print data, identifies the target profile indicated by the print data (S300), and checks whether the target profile has been changed (S310).

  If the target profile has not been changed, the image processing unit 23 (RIP unit 23a) reads the image data for printing (RAW data) generated at the time of the first printing from the storage unit 22 or the like (S320), and the RAW data is read out. Output to the image forming apparatus 30 and instruct printing (S330). The print processing unit 34 of the image forming apparatus 30 executes print processing using the RAW data received from the controller 20.

  On the other hand, when the target profile is changed (here, it is assumed that the target profile is changed), the image processing unit 23 (RIP unit 23a) prints image data for printing generated at the first printing from the storage unit 22 or the like. (RAW data) is read (S340), and the image processing unit 23 (color conversion control unit 23c) and the color conversion unit 24 (CMM 24a) perform partial color conversion (S350).

  FIG. 16 shows details of this step. First, the image processing unit 23 (color conversion control unit 23c) sequentially extracts pixels from the read RAW data (S351), and corresponds to the extracted pixels. The tag bit setting is acquired (S352). When the tag bit is set to ON (Yes in S353), the color value of the RAW data corresponding to the pixel is passed to the color conversion unit 24, and the color conversion unit 24 (CMM 24a) receives the target profile B and the printer profile. (Or using the LUT B created by the table creation unit 24b in S213 above), the color value of the pixel is converted into the color value of the output color, and the color value of the converted output color is converted into the image processing unit 23. The image processing unit 23 (color conversion control unit 23c) changes the color value of the pixel to the color value notified from the color conversion unit 24 (S354). Thereafter, the image processing unit 23 (color conversion control unit 23c) determines whether there is another pixel (S355), and if there is another pixel, returns to S351 and extracts the next pixel. As a result, RAW data (called edited RAW data) in which the color value is color-converted only for the pixels with the tag bit ON is generated.

  Returning to FIG. 15, the image processing unit 23 (RIP unit 23a) outputs the edited RAW data to the image forming apparatus 30 to instruct printing (S360). The print processing unit 34 of the image forming apparatus 30 executes print processing using the edited RAW data received from the controller 20.

  As described above, according to the printing control method of the present embodiment, the color value of the input color and the color of the output color when color conversion is performed using the target profile A (first target profile) and the printer profile at the time of initial printing. The color value of the input color and the color value of the output color when color conversion is performed using the target profile B (second target profile) and the printer profile while generating LUT A (first LUT) that associates the values with each other LUT B (second LUT) is generated, the input color whose output color difference exceeds the allowable range is set as a specific color, and the tag bit corresponding to the pixel of the specific color is turned ON When reprinting after setting and changing the target profile, the target profile is changed by performing color conversion only for pixels whose tag bit is ON. In addition, since the printing process can be performed based on the output color reflecting the change of the target profile without performing rasterization again or performing color conversion on all the pixels, the reprinting process is executed quickly. be able to.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to description of the said Example, The structure and control can be suitably changed unless it deviates from the meaning of this invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the target profile A and the target profile B are used as target profiles. However, the present invention can be similarly applied to three or more types of target profiles. For example, when target profiles A, B, and C are registered in advance as target profiles, LUT A, B, and C to which the target profiles A, B, and C and the printer profile are applied are created, and the target profile A is used. When printing for the first time, LUT A and LUT B, LUT A and LUT C are compared, and the difference between the color values of the output colors of LUT A and LUT B A tag bit corresponding to a pixel having a color value in which the difference between the color values of the output colors of LUT A and LUT C exceeds a predetermined allowable range while generating the first tag bit with the corresponding tag bit set to ON A second tag bit in which is set to ON may be generated.

  The present invention relates to a print control apparatus that controls a print engine, a print control program that operates in the print control apparatus, a recording medium that records the print control program, and a print control method in a printing system that includes the print engine and the print control apparatus. Is available.

10 Client terminal 11 Control unit 11a CPU
11b ROM
11c RAM
12 storage unit 13 network I / F unit 14 display unit 15 operation unit 16 OS
17 Document creation application 18 Printer driver 20 Controller 21 Controller 21a CPU
21b ROM
21c RAM
22 storage unit 23 image processing unit 23a RIP unit 23b tag bit setting unit 23c color conversion control unit 24 color conversion unit 24a CMM
24b Table creation unit 24c Color determination unit 25 Network I / F unit 26 Printer I / F unit 30 Image forming apparatus 31 Control unit 31a CPU
31b ROM
31c RAM
32 Controller I / F unit 33 Panel operation unit 34 Print processing unit 40 Communication network

Claims (15)

A print control device for controlling a print engine,
An image processing unit for rasterizing print data, and a color conversion unit for performing color conversion using a target profile and a printer profile stored in advance in a storage unit,
When it is determined that printing based on the print data for which the first target profile is designated is the first printing,
The image processing unit
Rasterize the print data to generate image data, specify the first target profile for each pixel of the image data, and instruct the color conversion unit to perform color conversion,
The color converter is
A first look-up table (LUT) that associates an input color and an output color when color conversion is performed using the first target profile stored in advance in the storage unit, and stored in the storage unit in advance The second LUT that associates the input color and the output color when color conversion is performed using the second target profile is obtained, and the difference between the color values of the output colors of both LUTs is determined in advance. Identify input colors that exceed the allowable range,
Using the first target profile and the printer profile, color conversion of each pixel of the image data is performed and notified to the image processing unit, and at the time of the color conversion, a color value of each pixel is used. It is determined whether a specified color corresponds to the specified color, and a determination result is notified to the image processing unit,
The image processing unit
The first image data reflecting the result of color conversion by the color conversion unit is output to the print engine for each pixel of the image data, and printing is instructed. A predetermined value is set in a tag bit corresponding to a pixel, the first image data and the tag bit of all pixels are stored in the storage unit,
When it is determined that printing based on the print data in which the second target profile is designated is reprinting,
The image processing unit
The first image data and the tag bits of all the pixels are read from the storage unit, and a specific pixel corresponding to the tag bit in which the predetermined value is set among the pixels of the first image data Only specifying the second target profile and instructing the color conversion unit to perform color conversion,
The color converter is
Using the second target profile and the printer profile, perform color conversion of the specific pixel and notify the image processing unit,
The image processing unit
Only the specific pixel among the pixels of the first image data outputs second image data reflecting the result of color conversion by the color conversion unit to the print engine to instruct printing.
A printing control apparatus characterized by that. The color conversion unit creates the first LUT using the first target profile and the second LUT using the second target profile during the initial printing.
The print control apparatus according to claim 1. The color conversion unit creates the first LUT using the first target profile and the printer profile during the initial printing, and uses the second target profile and the printer profile to generate the first LUT. Create a second LUT,
The print control apparatus according to claim 1. The difference in color value of the output color is a distance in the color space of the output color.
The printing control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing control apparatus is a printing control apparatus. When a plurality of differences are calculated according to the coordinate components of the color space,
The color conversion unit specifies an input color in which all differences exceed the allowable range, or an input color in which any difference exceeds the allowable range,
The printing control apparatus according to claim 4. A print control program that operates on a print control device that controls a print engine,
In the printing control device,
When it is determined that printing based on the print data for which the first target profile is designated is first printing,
The print data is rasterized to generate image data, and color conversion is performed on each pixel of the image data using the first target profile and printer profile stored in advance in the storage unit. Print processing for outputting the first image data thus performed to the print engine and instructing printing;
A first LUT (look-up table) for associating an input color and an output color when color conversion is performed using the first target profile, and a second target profile previously stored in the storage unit A table acquisition process for acquiring a second LUT that associates an input color with an output color when color conversion is performed using
Whether an input color whose color value difference between output colors of both LUTs exceeds a predetermined allowable range is specified, and whether a color defined by a color value of each pixel of the image data corresponds to the specified color Color judgment processing to judge,
Based on the determination result of the color determination process, a predetermined value is set in the tag bit corresponding to each pixel, and the first image data and the tag bit of all pixels are associated with each other and stored in the storage unit. To execute the tag bit setting process,
When it is determined that printing based on the print data in which the second target profile is designated is reprinting,
The first image data and the tag bits of all the pixels are read from the storage unit, and a specific pixel corresponding to the tag bit in which the predetermined value is set among the pixels of the first image data Only, color conversion control processing for performing color conversion using the second target profile and the printer profile,
Reprint processing for outputting the second image data color-converted by the color conversion control processing to the print engine and instructing printing only for the specific pixel among the pixels of the first image data. Let
A print control program characterized by that. In the table acquisition process, at the time of the initial printing, the first LUT is created using the first target profile, and the second LUT is created using the second target profile.
The print control program according to claim 6. In the table acquisition process, the first LUT is created using the first target profile and the printer profile at the time of the initial printing, and the second target profile and the printer profile are used to create the first LUT. Create a second LUT,
The print control program according to claim 6. The difference in color value of the output color is a distance in the color space of the output color.
9. The print control program according to claim 6, wherein the print control program is any one of claims 6 to 8. When a plurality of differences are calculated according to the coordinate components of the color space,
In the color determination process, an input color in which all differences exceed the allowable range, or an input color in which any difference exceeds the allowable range is specified.
The printing control program according to claim 9. A printing control method in a printing system including a printing engine and a printing control device that controls the printing engine,
The print control device includes:
When it is determined that printing based on the print data for which the first target profile is designated is first printing,
The print data is rasterized to generate image data, and color conversion is performed on each pixel of the image data using the first target profile and printer profile stored in advance in the storage unit. Print processing for outputting the first image data to the print engine and instructing printing;
A first LUT (look-up table) for associating an input color and an output color when color conversion is performed using the first target profile, and a second target profile previously stored in the storage unit A table acquisition process for acquiring a second LUT for associating an input color and an output color when color conversion is performed by using,
Whether an input color whose color value difference between output colors of both LUTs exceeds a predetermined allowable range is specified, and whether a color defined by a color value of each pixel of the image data corresponds to the specified color Color determination processing for determining
Based on the determination result of the color determination process, a predetermined value is set in the tag bit corresponding to each pixel, and the first image data and the tag bit of all pixels are associated with each other and stored in the storage unit. To execute the tag bit setting process,
When printing based on the print data in which the second target profile is specified is determined to be reprinting,
The first image data and the tag bits of all the pixels are read from the storage unit, and a specific pixel corresponding to the tag bit in which the predetermined value is set among the pixels of the first image data Only, color conversion control processing for performing color conversion using the second target profile and the printer profile;
A reprinting process for outputting the second image data color-converted by the color conversion control process only to the specific pixel among the pixels of the first image data to the print engine to instruct printing; Run,
And a printing control method. In the table acquisition process, at the time of the initial printing, the first LUT is created using the first target profile, and the second LUT is created using the second target profile.
The printing control method according to claim 11, wherein: In the table acquisition process, the first LUT is created using the first target profile and the printer profile at the time of the initial printing, and the second target profile and the printer profile are used to create the first LUT. Create a second LUT,
The printing control method according to claim 11, wherein: The difference in color value of the output color is a distance in the color space of the output color.
The printing control method according to claim 11, wherein the printing control method is a printing control method. When a plurality of differences are calculated according to the coordinate components of the color space,
In the color determination process, an input color in which all differences exceed the allowable range, or an input color in which any difference exceeds the allowable range is specified.
The print control method according to claim 14.

Images