JP2019213114A - Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To improve the convenience of spot color printing.SOLUTION: An information processing apparatus 11 includes an operation unit 101 that accepts an operation by a user, a processing range setting unit 121 that sets a processing range that is a target of spot color replacement processing that replaces a specific process color with a specific spot color on the basis of a range specifying operation that is received by the operation unit 101 and specifies an arbitrary range from the target image, an object setting unit 122 that sets a portion that includes a specific process color within the processing range and in which a density value satisfies a predetermined condition to a target object to be subjected to a spot color replacement processing, and a data generation unit 123 that generates spot color image data obtained by replacing the specific process color in the target object with the specific spot color.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

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

  In recent years, special color printing that prints an image using a special color toner (ink) such as a transparent color, a metal color, or a fluorescent color has been used. By using special color printing, special expressions that are impossible with only process colors such as CMYK are possible, and high-quality printed matter can be generated.

  For example, a technique for replacing one or two of the process colors (CMYK) with a special color when executing a print job is disclosed (Patent Document 1).

  However, in the prior art, since the effect of the spot color replacement process that replaces a specific process color with a specific spot color extends to the entire target image, the spot color replacement process may be performed on an object in an arbitrary range in the target image. could not. Further, the spot color replacement process in the prior art is performed without considering the density of the target image. For example, if a certain process color to be replaced is included in an object, a spot color replacement process is performed on the object, and the density of the replaced spot color corresponds to the density of the process color of the replacement source. Become thinner. When such a spot color replacement process is performed, the spot color effect is hardly obtained even though a relatively expensive spot color toner is used.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object thereof is to improve the convenience of spot color printing.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, an information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes an operation unit that accepts an operation by a user, and a range designation operation that is accepted by the operation unit and designates an arbitrary range from a target image A processing range setting unit for setting a processing range to be subjected to a spot color replacement process for replacing a specific process color with a specific spot color, and a density value that includes the specific process color within the processing range and has a predetermined density value An object setting unit that sets a portion satisfying the above condition as a target object to be subjected to the spot color replacement process, and generates spot color image data indicating an image in which the specific process color in the target object is replaced with the specific spot color And a data generation unit.

  According to the present invention, the convenience of spot color printing can be improved.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image processing system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting screen according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a processing range according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the target object according to the first example of the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a result of the spot color replacement process according to the first example of the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram conceptually illustrating a specific method example of the spot color replacement process according to the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the target object according to the second example of the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a result example of the spot color replacement process according to the second example of the first embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of contour extraction processing according to the first example and the second example of the first embodiment. FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process flow of the spot color replacement process according to the first embodiment. FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of an overall processing flow in the information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment.

  Exemplary embodiments of an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention is not limited by the following embodiments, and constituent elements in the following embodiments include those that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art, those that are substantially the same, and those in the so-called equivalent range. . Various omissions, substitutions, changes, and combinations of the components can be made without departing from the scope of the following embodiments.

<System configuration>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image processing system 1 according to the first embodiment. The image processing system 1 according to the present embodiment includes an information processing apparatus 11, a printing apparatus 12, and a network 13.

  The information processing apparatus 11 is an apparatus that performs various types of information processing for controlling the printing apparatus 12, and may be, for example, a personal computer or a server system. The printing apparatus 12 is an apparatus that prints an image on a predetermined recording medium based on image data, setting information, commands, and the like transmitted from the information processing apparatus 11, and may be, for example, a printer, an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral), or the like. The network 13 is an appropriate computer network that enables data communication between the information processing apparatus 11 and the printing apparatus 12. For example, IEEE 1394 (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 1394), Ethernet (registered trademark), USB (Universal) Serial Internet (LAN), Wi-Fi (registered trademark), etc., which are constructed using LAN (Local Area Network), TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol), etc. are used. Configured.

  The printing apparatus 12 according to the present embodiment is capable of executing normal color printing using process colors such as CMYK and spot color printing using special colors such as a transparent color, a metal color, and a fluorescent color. The specific configuration of the printing apparatus 12 is not particularly limited, but may be a configuration using an electrophotographic process, an inkjet mechanism, or the like. The information processing apparatus 11 generates spot color image data obtained by replacing a specific process color (hereinafter referred to as a target process color) with a specific spot color (hereinafter referred to as a target spot color) when executing spot color printing. Perform various processes.

  Note that the system configuration of the image processing system 1 is not limited to the above. For example, a plurality of information processing apparatuses 11 or printing apparatuses 12 may be connected to the network 13, or the information processing apparatus 11 and the printing apparatus 12 may be integrally configured.

<Hardware configuration>
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the information processing apparatus 11 according to the first embodiment. The information processing apparatus 11 illustrated here has the same configuration as a general-purpose computer, and includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 22, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 23, and a VRAM (Video Random Access). A memory 24, a hard disk drive (HDD) 25, a display 26, a keyboard 27, and an input / output interface (hereinafter abbreviated as I / O) 28 are included.

  CPU21 implement | achieves various processes by reading the program memorize | stored in ROM22 etc. on RAM23 and executing it. The VRAM 24 is a memory that temporarily stores data for displaying an image on the display 26. The HDD 25 is a non-volatile storage device that stores various data such as electronic data in a PDF (Portable Document Format) format to be printed, image data before spot color replacement, image data after spot color replacement (spot color image data), and the like. is there. The I / O 28 is a connection device for connecting to a device constituting a part of the user interface such as the display 26 and the keyboard 27 and a communication device for connecting to the network 13.

  The program for controlling the CPU 21 is a file in an installable or executable format and is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk). And may be configured to be provided. Further, the program may be provided by being stored on another computer connected to the network 13 such as the Internet and downloaded via the network 13. Further, the program may be provided or distributed via the network 13. Note that the hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus 11 is not limited to the above.

  Note that the hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus 11 is not limited to the above. For example, the means for storing data is not limited to the ROM 22, the RAM 23, the VRAM 24, and the HDD 25, and may be constructed by appropriately using known or new means. Further, the device constituting a part of the user interface is not limited to the display 26 and the keyboard 27, and may be configured by appropriately using known or new means such as a mouse, a touch panel, and a stylus. In addition to the above configuration, various logic circuits that do not require control by a program may be used.

<Functional configuration>
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the information processing apparatus 11 according to the first embodiment. The information processing apparatus 11 includes an operation unit 101, a data input unit 102, a data storage unit 103, an operation control unit 104, a display control unit 105, and a spot color replacement processing unit 106.

  The operation unit 101 receives an operation by a user. The operation unit 101 is configured using a keyboard 27, an input device such as a mouse and a touch panel, a display device such as a display 26, and the like.

  The operation unit 101 according to the present embodiment includes a file specifying unit 111, a process color specifying unit 112, a spot color specifying unit 113, an outline extraction condition specifying unit 114, a density threshold specifying unit 115, and a range specifying unit 116.

  The file designating unit 111 accepts a file designating operation for designating electronic data such as a PDF file to be subjected to spot color printing.

  The process color designation unit 112 receives a process color designation operation for designating a target process color (for example, one or more process colors selected from CMYK) to be subjected to the spot color replacement process.

  The spot color designation unit 113 receives a spot color designation operation for designating a target spot color (for example, one or more spot colors selected from a transparent color, a metal color, a fluorescent color, and the like) that is a spot color to be replaced with the target process color.

  The contour extraction condition specifying unit 114 accepts a contour extraction condition specifying operation for specifying a contour extraction condition that is a condition for executing a contour extraction process for extracting a contour of a target object that is a target of the spot color replacement process. The target object is an object set as a target for spot color replacement processing from one or more objects included in the target image. A specific method for setting the target object (such as contour extraction processing) will be described later.

  The density threshold designation unit 115 accepts a density threshold designation operation for designating a density threshold used when setting the target object (when executing the contour extraction process in the present embodiment). A specific method for setting the target object using the density threshold will be described later.

  The range designation unit 116 accepts a range designation operation for designating an arbitrary range from the target image.

  The data input unit 102 reads electronic data from a predetermined storage device (such as the HDD 25) based on the operation received by the operation unit 101 (such as electronic data specified by the file specifying unit 111), and reads the read electronic data. The data is stored in the data storage unit 103. The data input unit 102 converts the read electronic data into a data format that can be displayed on a display device such as the display 26, and transmits the data to the display control unit 105. The data input unit 102 is configured using the I / O 28 or the like.

  The data storage unit 103 stores the electronic data read by the data input unit 102 and outputs the electronic data in response to a request from a spot color replacement processing unit 106 described later. Further, the data storage unit 103 stores data (spot color image data or the like) generated by the spot color replacement processing unit 106. The data storage unit 103 is configured using the VRAM 24 or the like.

  The operation control unit 104 converts the operation received by the operation unit 101 into event information and transmits the event information to the display control unit 105 and the spot color replacement processing unit 106. The event information is information that can specify the content of the operation performed by the user, and is information indicating, for example, a target process color, a target spot color, a contour extraction condition, a density threshold, a range in the target image, an execution command, and the like. The operation control unit 104 is configured using the CPU 21 or the like.

  The display control unit 105 is a display device such as the display 26 based on the electronic data transmitted from the data input unit 102, the event information transmitted from the operation control unit 104, the spot color image data transmitted from the spot color replacement processing unit 106, and the like. And processing for displaying the target image, setting screen, preview screen, and the like. The display control unit 105 is configured using the CPU 21, I / O 28, and the like.

  The spot color replacement processing unit 106 performs spot color replacement processing for replacing the target process color included in the target image with the target spot color. The spot color replacement processing is performed based on the electronic data stored in the spot color replacement processing unit 106 and the data storage unit 103, the event information transmitted from the operation control unit 104, and the like. The spot color replacement processing unit 106 is configured using the CPU 21 or the like.

  The spot color replacement processing unit 106 according to the present embodiment includes a processing range setting unit 121, an object setting unit 122, and a data generation unit 123.

  Based on the event information received from the operation control unit 104 (such as event information indicating the range specified by the range specifying unit 116), the processing range setting unit 121 sets a processing range to be subjected to spot color replacement processing from the entire target image. Set.

  The object setting unit 122 sets a target object to be subjected to spot color replacement processing within the processing range set by the processing range setting unit 121. The object setting unit 122 sets the target within the processing range based on the setting result by the processing range setting unit 121, the event information received from the operation control unit 104 (information indicating the target process color, contour extraction condition, density threshold, etc.), and the like. A portion including a process color and a density value satisfying a predetermined condition is set as a target object. The object setting unit 122 according to the present embodiment sets the target object using a contour extraction process that extracts the contour of the target object. A specific method for setting the target object will be described later.

  The data generation unit 123 replaces the target process color in the target object with the target spot color based on the setting result by the object setting unit 122, the event information (information indicating the target spot color) received from the operation control unit 104, and the like. Special color image data is generated. The spot color image data is stored in the data storage unit 103 and transmitted to the printing apparatus 12 in accordance with a spot color printing execution command or the like.

  According to the information processing apparatus 11 having the above configuration, the user can arbitrarily set the processing range to be subjected to the spot color replacement process. Also, among the multiple objects, the object whose contour is extracted by the contour extraction process that takes into account the density value of each pixel within the processing range is set as the target object, and the spot color replacement process is executed for the target object It becomes possible to do. Further, the user can arbitrarily set the contour extraction condition and the density threshold.

<User interface>
The information processing apparatus 11 according to the present embodiment has a user interface that accepts an operation by a user and provides (outputs) various information to the user. The user interface is configured by cooperation of an input device, a display device, application software, and the like. The input device can be, for example, a keyboard 27, a mouse, a touch panel, a stylus, a microphone, and the like. The display device can be, for example, the display 26, a projector, or the like. The application software may be image processing / editing software such as Adobe Acrobat (registered trademark).

  The user interface has the function of the operation unit 101, and the information processing apparatus 11 executes various processes for generating spot color image data based on information acquired through the user interface. For example, the user interface performs a file designation operation, a process color designation operation, a spot color designation operation, a contour extraction condition designation operation, a density threshold designation operation, a range designation operation, etc. by a user in a state where application software such as Adobe Acrobat is started up. Processing range set based on acceptance, range specification operation, process color specification operation, spot color specification operation, contour extraction condition specification operation, target object set based on density threshold value specification operation, target process color in the target object And the like are displayed on the display device.

<Specify target process color, target special color, contour extraction condition, and density threshold>
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the setting screen 41 according to the first embodiment. The setting screen 41 exemplified here is for realizing the functions of the process color designation unit 112, the spot color designation unit 113, the contour extraction condition designation unit 114, and the density threshold value designation unit 115. The setting screen 41 includes a target process color plate selection unit 51, a target spot color plate selection unit 52, a contour extraction condition selection unit 53, and a density threshold value input unit 54.

  The target process color plate selection unit 51 is configured to be able to select an arbitrary color from a plurality of process colors (in this example, Y color is selected from four colors of CMYK). The target spot color plate selection unit 52 is configured to be able to select an arbitrary color from one or more spot color toners (inks) mounted on the printing apparatus 12 (in this example, a transparent color is selected). ). The contour extraction condition selection unit 53 is a part for selecting a condition for executing the contour extraction process. In this example, the contour extraction condition selection unit 53 indicates that the contour of the target object is extracted using the target image as a reference image. It is possible to select either “contour extraction” or “extract contour with target process color image” indicating that the contour of the target object is extracted using the target process color image (specific color image) including the target process color as a reference image. It is configured. The density threshold value input unit 54 is configured to be able to input an arbitrary value as a density threshold value used as a reference when extracting the contour of the target object.

<Processing range setting>
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the processing range 66 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 illustrates a state where the processing range 66 is set in the target image 61. The processing range 66 is set based on a range specifying operation in which the user specifies an arbitrary range in the target image 61 displayed on the display 26 using a pointing device such as a mouse or a stylus.

  The target image 61 of this example includes a first object 62 depicting lightning, a second object 63 depicting the sun, a third object 64 depicting clouds, and a fourth object 65 depicting the sky. include. The first to fourth objects 62 to 65 have different hues, and the first object 62, the second object 63, and the fourth object 65 include the Y color of the target process color, and the third This object 64 does not include the Y color. The processing range 66 of this example includes the entire first object 62, the entire second object 63, a part of the third object 64, and a part of the fourth object 65.

<Outline extraction processing and spot color replacement processing using density value of target image>
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of target objects 71 and 72 according to the first example of the first embodiment. The first example is an example in the case where “contour extraction with target image” is selected as the contour extraction condition on the setting screen 41 shown in FIG. In other words, in this example, the target image includes all process colors, that is, the target process color (Y color) to be replaced and the non-target process colors (C color, M color, and K color) that are not to be replaced. Based on the density value 61, the contour 74 of the target objects 71 and 72 is extracted. Specifically, in the target image 61, the density values of the determination target pixel that is a target for determining whether or not the contour 74 of the target objects 71 and 72 is present and the adjacent pixel that is a pixel adjacent to the determination target pixel are obtained. In comparison, if the difference between the two density values is equal to or greater than the density threshold value, the determination target pixel is determined as a pixel constituting the contour 74 of the target objects 71 and 72.

  In this example, there are two target objects 71 and 72 within the processing range 66. The first target object 71 corresponds to the entire first object 62 (the entire lightning image), and the second target object 72 is a part of the second object 63 (hidden in the clouds in the sun image). Corresponds to the part excluding the part). That is, in the target image 61, the difference between the density value of the pixels constituting the first object 62 and the density value of the pixels in the background portion of the first object 62 is equal to or greater than the density threshold (50). Similarly, the difference between the density value of the pixels constituting the second object 63 and the density value of the pixels in the background portion of the second object 63 is equal to or greater than the density threshold value. The reason why there is no target object corresponding to the fourth object 65 is that the difference between the density value of the pixels constituting the fourth object 65 and the density value of the pixels of the background portion of the fourth object 65 is smaller than the density threshold value. Because. Thus, in this example, even if the target process color is included, an object whose density value difference from the background portion in the target image 61 is lower than the density threshold is not treated as a target object. As a result, the spot color replacement process can be performed on the target object having a relatively high density value in the target image 61.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a result of the spot color replacement process according to the first example of the first embodiment. In FIG. 7, the state A in which the target image 61 is displayed, the state B in which the target objects 71 and 72 are set in the target image 61, and the state C in which the target process colors of the target objects 71 and 72 are replaced with the target spot color. Is illustrated. The hues of the first target object 71 and the second target object 72 in the state C are changed from the hues of the first object 62 and the second object 63 in the state A due to the effect of the spot color replacement process.

<Specific example of spot color replacement processing>
FIG. 8 is a diagram conceptually illustrating a specific method example of the spot color replacement process according to the first embodiment. Since the information obtained as a result of the contour extraction process is a coordinate list indicating the coordinates of each pixel constituting the contour 74, the contour image 81 depicting the contour 74 can be generated even if the information is used as it is. I can only do it. Therefore, in this example, based on the coordinate list of the contour 74 (contour image 81), the region in the contour 74 is whitened (the region in the contour is white and the region outside the contour is black). An image 82 is generated. The generation method of the mask image 82 is not particularly limited, but, for example, an OpenCV (registered trademark) library or the like can be used.

  The data generation unit 123 first generates a non-target process color plate 83 in which the target process color is deleted from the target image 61. Specifically, a process of converting pixel values (gradation values, etc.) of all pixels of the target image 61 into color values not including the target process color is performed. Thereafter, the data generation unit 123 uses the mask image 82 to generate a target spot color plate 84 including spot color objects 85 and 86 in which the target objects 71 and 72 are drawn with the target spot color. Specifically, a process of converting the pixel value of the pixel corresponding to the contour 74 of the mask image 82 among all the pixels of the target image 61 into a value corresponding to the target spot color is performed. After that, the data generation unit 123 generates spot color image data indicating an image obtained by superimposing the non-target process color plate 83 and the target spot color plate 84 so that the target spot color plate 84 is arranged on the front surface.

<Outline extraction processing and spot color replacement processing using density values of target process color image>
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the target object 91 according to the second example of the first embodiment. The second example is an example in the case where “contour extraction with the target process color image” is selected as the contour extraction condition on the setting screen 41 shown in FIG. In other words, in this example, the contour 74 of the target object 91 is extracted based on the density value of the target process color image 69 consisting only of the target process color (Y color). Specifically, as in the first example, when the density values of the determination target pixel and the adjacent pixels are compared in the target process color image 69 and the difference between the two density values is equal to or greater than the density threshold value, the determination target The pixel is determined as a pixel constituting the contour 74 of the target object 91. In the target process color image 69 exemplified here, the first, second, and fourth objects 62, 63, and 65 including the target process color are expressed by the shades of the target process color and do not include the target process color. No. 3 object 64 is not displayed (outlined).

  In this example, one target object 91 exists within the processing range 66. The target object 91 corresponds to the entire first object 62 (the entire lightning image). That is, in the target process color image 69, the difference between the density value of the pixels constituting the first object 62 and the density value of the pixels of the background portion of the first object 62 is equal to or greater than the density threshold (50). The target object corresponding to the second object 63 and the fourth object 65 does not exist in the target process color image 69 because the density value of the pixels constituting the second object 63 and the background of the second object 63 This is because the difference from the density value of the partial pixel is smaller than the density threshold value. Similarly, the difference between the density value of the pixels constituting the fourth object 65 and the density value of the pixels in the background portion of the fourth object 65 is smaller than the density threshold value. As described above, in this example, even if the target process color is included, an object whose density value difference from the background portion in the target process color image 69 is lower than the density threshold is not treated as the target object, and is changed to the target spot color. Is not converted. As a result, the spot color replacement process can be performed on the target object having a somewhat high density value in the target process color image 69.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a result example of the spot color replacement process according to the second example of the first embodiment. 10, the state D in which the target image 61 is displayed, the state E in which the target object 91 is set in the target process color image 69, and the target process color (Y color) of the target object 91 are the target special color (transparent color). The state F replaced with is illustrated. The hue of the first target object 71 in the state F is changed from the hue of the first object 62 in the state D due to the effect of the spot color replacement process.

  Similarly to the first example, the spot color replacement process in the second example can be executed by a method using a mask image 82 as shown in FIG.

<Outline extraction processing>
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of contour extraction processing according to the first example and the second example of the first embodiment. FIG. 11 illustrates the determination target pixel 95 and the adjacent pixel 96 in the target image 61 or the target process color image 69. The determination target pixel 95 is a pixel that is a target for determining whether or not to form the contour 74, and the adjacent pixel 96 is a pixel adjacent to the determination target pixel 95. In the contour extraction processing according to the present embodiment, the density value of the determination target pixel 95 is compared with the density value of each neighboring pixel 96 existing around the determination target pixel 95, and the neighboring pixel 96 whose density value difference is equal to or greater than the density threshold value. If it exists, the determination target pixel 95 is determined to be a contour pixel constituting the contour 74 of the target objects 71, 72, 91. By such a method, similarly in both the first example (contour extraction processing using the density value of the target image 61) and the second example (contour extraction processing using the density value of the target process color image 69). The contour 74 can be extracted.

<Flow of spot color replacement processing according to contour extraction conditions>
FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process flow of the spot color replacement process according to the embodiment. Whether the object setting unit 122 uses the target image 61 or the target process color image 69 as a reference image based on the event information received from the operation control unit 104 (the user sets “contour extraction with the target image” as a contour extraction condition) Alternatively, it is determined whether “contour extraction with the target process color image” is designated (S101). When the density value of the target image 61 is used (S101: target image), the object setting unit 122 sets the capture of the target image 61 as the reference image (S102), and uses the density value of the target process color image 69 (S101). : Target process color image), capture of the target process color image is set as the reference image (S103).

  Thereafter, the object setting unit 122 executes contour extraction processing within the processing range 66 in the reference image (S104), and the data generation unit 123 generates a mask image 82 from the coordinate list of the extracted contour 74 (S105). . Thereafter, the data generation unit 123 generates a non-target process color plate 83 from which the target process color in the target image 61 is deleted (S106), and draws the target objects 71, 72, and 91 with the target spot color using the mask image 82. The target spot color plate 84 is generated (S107), and spot color image data indicating an image obtained by superimposing the non-target process color plate 83 and the target spot color plate 84 is generated (S108).

<Overall processing flow>
FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of an overall processing flow in the information processing apparatus 11 according to the embodiment. First, when the operation unit 101 receives an operation for specifying PDF data to be subjected to spot color printing (here, an example in which PDF data is used as an example of an electronic file) (S201), the data input unit 102 is specified. The read PDF data is read from a predetermined storage device (HDD 25 or the like) and transmitted to the data storage unit 103 (S202). The data storage unit 103 stores the received PDF data (S203). In addition, the data input unit 102 transmits the read PDF data to the display control unit 105 (S204), and the display control unit 105 displays the received PDF data on a display device such as the display 26 (S205). After that, when the operation unit 101 receives an operation of selecting a tool for setting spot color printing on an application capable of displaying PDF data (S206), the display control unit 105 sets corresponding to the selected tool. The screen 41 is displayed on the display device (S207).

  The operation unit 101 designates the target process color, the target special color, the contour extraction condition, and the density threshold on the setting screen 41 as shown in FIG. 4, and designates the range on the target image 61 as shown in FIG. When the operation to be performed is received (S208), the operation control unit 104 transmits event information indicating the specified content of the range to the processing range setting unit 121 (S209), and the processing range setting unit 121 is based on the received event information. A processing range 66 is set (S210). In addition, the operation control unit 104 transmits event information indicating the specified contents of the target process color, target spot color, contour extraction condition, and density threshold to the object setting unit 122 (S211).

  When receiving the event information from the operation control unit 104, the object setting unit 122 acquires the PDF data being processed from the data storage unit 103 (S212), and compares the density in the contour extraction process based on the designated contour extraction condition. A reference image is set as a reference for (S213). At this time, when “contour extraction with the target image” is designated as the contour extraction condition, capture of the target image 61 is set as the reference image, and when “contour extraction with the target process color image” is designated. Then, capture of the target process color image 69 is set as the reference image.

  Thereafter, the object setting unit 122 outlines the target objects 71, 72, and 91 based on the specified target process color, target spot color, and density threshold within the processing range 66 in the reference image set as described above. A contour extraction process for extracting 74 is performed (S214), and a coordinate list that is information indicating the coordinates of the contour 74 is transmitted to the data generation unit 123 (S215).

  The data generation unit 123 generates a mask image 82 based on the received coordinate list (S216), performs spot color replacement processing using the mask image 82 as shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 (S217), and the target process color Is generated and transmitted to the display control unit 105 (S218). The display control unit 105 causes the display device to display a preview screen including a spot color replacement image in which the target process color is replaced with the target spot color based on the received spot color image data (S219). The data generation unit 123 transmits the generated spot color image data to the data storage unit 103 (S220), and the data storage unit 103 stores the received spot color image data (S221). The spot color image data stored in the data storage unit 103 is transmitted to the printing apparatus 12 when a spot color printing execution command is issued.

  As described above, according to the information processing apparatus 11 according to the present embodiment, the user can arbitrarily specify the processing range 66 from the target image 61. The target objects 71, 72, and 91 are set in consideration of the density values of the pixels in the processing range 66, and an object having a somewhat high process color density is set as the target objects 71, 72, and 91. As a result, it is possible to exclude low density objects from which the effect of replacement with spot colors is hardly obtained from the target of spot color replacement processing, and it is possible to prevent waste of relatively expensive spot color toner (ink). It becomes possible. In addition, since the user can arbitrarily specify the contour extraction condition (reference image) and the density threshold value that are used as a reference when setting the target objects 71, 72, and 91, it is possible to deal with any use situation. . Thereby, it is possible to greatly improve the convenience when executing spot color printing.

  Other embodiments will be described below.

<Second Embodiment>
The object setting unit 122 according to the present embodiment does not perform the contour extraction process as described above, and directly specifies the target objects 71 and 72 using the density value of the target image 61 and a preset density threshold value. Process.

  The object setting unit 122 according to the present embodiment compares the density value of each pixel constituting the target image 61 with the density threshold, and sets pixels having density values equal to or higher than the density threshold to the objects constituting the target objects 71 and 72. A pixel is determined, and a collection of object pixels is set as target objects 71 and 72.

  In this way, the target objects 71 and 72 may be set directly using the density value and density threshold value of the target image 61. As a result, the spot color replacement process can be performed on the target objects 71 and 72 having a certain high density value in the target image 61 without performing the contour extraction process, and the waste of the spot color toner can be prevented.

<Third Embodiment>
The object setting unit 122 according to the present embodiment performs an object specifying process for directly specifying the target object 91 using the density value of the target process image 69 and a preset density threshold.

  The object setting unit 122 according to the present embodiment compares the density value of each pixel constituting the target process color image 69 with the density threshold, and sets the pixel having the density value equal to or higher than the density threshold to the object constituting the target object 91. A pixel is determined, and a set of object pixels is set as the target object 91.

  Thus, the target object 91 may be set directly using the density value and density threshold value of the target process color image 69. Accordingly, the spot color replacement process can be performed on the target object 91 having a certain high density value in the target process color image 69 without performing the contour extraction process, and the waste of the spot color toner can be prevented.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, the said embodiment is shown as an example and is not intending limiting the range of invention. The novel embodiment can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, changes, and combinations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. This embodiment and its modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image processing system 11 Information processing apparatus 12 Printing apparatus 13 Network 21 CPU
22 ROM
23 RAM
24 VRAM
25 HDD
26 Display 27 Keyboard 28 I / O
41 Setting Screen 51 Target Process Color Plate Selection Unit 52 Target Special Color Plate Selection Unit 53 Contour Extraction Condition Selection Unit 54 Density Threshold Input Unit 61 Target Image 62 First Object 63 Second Object 64 Third Object 65 Fourth Object 66 processing range 69 target process color image 71, 72, 91 target object 74 contour 81 contour image 82 mask image 83 non-target process color plate 84 target spot color plate 85, 86 spot color object 95 determination target pixel 96 adjacent pixel 101 operation unit 102 data Input unit 103 Data storage unit 104 Operation control unit 105 Display control unit 106 Special color replacement processing unit 111 File designation unit 112 Process color designation unit 113 Special color designation unit 114 Contour extraction condition designation unit 115 Density threshold designation unit 116 Range designation unit 21 processing range setting section 122 object setting unit 123 data generating unit

JP 2003-348366 A

Claims (14)

An operation unit that accepts user operations;
A processing range setting unit that sets a processing range that is a target of a spot color replacement process that replaces a specific process color with a specific spot color based on a range specifying operation that is received by the operation unit and specifies an arbitrary range from the target image; ,
An object setting unit that sets a portion that includes the specific process color and the density value satisfies a predetermined condition within the processing range as a target object that is a target of the spot color replacement process;
A data generation unit that generates spot color image data indicating an image obtained by replacing the specific process color in the target object with the specific spot color;
An information processing apparatus comprising: In the processing range, the object setting unit extracts a contour of a part including the specific process color based on the predetermined condition, and sets the part in the contour as the target object. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined condition is that a difference between the density values calculated by comparing the density values of a plurality of adjacent pixels is equal to or greater than a threshold value. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the density value is a density value in the target image or a density value in a specific color image including the specific process color. The operation unit accepts a condition specifying operation for specifying which of the density value in the target image or the density value in the specific color image is used,
The object setting unit is configured to extract a first contour based on a comparison result between the density value and the threshold value in the target image based on the condition specifying operation, or the specific color image. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a second contour extraction process for extracting the contour based on a comparison result between a density value and the threshold value is performed. The data generation unit generates a mask image in which a region in the contour is outlined based on information indicating the coordinates of the contour, and generates the spot color image data using data indicating the mask image. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the information processing apparatus is an information processing apparatus. The object setting unit sets, in the target object, a portion where a density value of a pixel constituting the target image or a specific color image including the specific process color is equal to or greater than a threshold within the processing range. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the operation unit receives a threshold value specifying operation for arbitrarily specifying the threshold value. A display control unit for displaying a preview screen including the target object on a display device;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: An information processing apparatus that generates spot color image data indicating an image obtained by replacing a specific process color included in a target image with a specific spot color based on information acquired through a user interface,
The user interface is
Using a predetermined input device, accepting a range specifying operation for specifying an arbitrary range from the target image, a process color specifying operation for specifying the specific process color, and a spot color specifying operation for specifying the specific spot color,
Displaying on the display device a processing range that is set based on the range specifying operation and is a target of a spot color replacement process for replacing the specific process color with the specific spot color;
A target object that includes the specific process color within the processing range and whose density value satisfies a predetermined condition is displayed on the display device;
An information processing apparatus, wherein an image obtained by converting the specific process color in the target object into the specific spot color is displayed on the display device. The user interface is
The information processing apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising: a density threshold value specifying operation for specifying a threshold value related to the density value using the input device. The user interface is
A condition designating operation for designating which one of the density value in the target image or the density value in the specific color image including the specific process color is used is received using the input device. The information processing apparatus according to claim 10 or 11. Receiving a user operation;
Setting a processing range to be subjected to a spot color replacement process for replacing a specific process color with a specific spot color based on a range specifying operation for specifying an arbitrary range from the target image;
Setting a portion including the specific process color and a density value satisfying a predetermined condition within the processing range as a target object to be subjected to the spot color replacement process;
Generating spot color image data indicating an image obtained by replacing the specific process color in the target object with the specific spot color;
An information processing method including: On the computer,
Processing to accept user operations;
Based on a range specifying operation for specifying an arbitrary range from the target image, processing for setting a processing range to be subjected to spot color replacement processing for replacing a specific process color with a specific spot color,
A process of setting a part including the specific process color and a density value satisfying a predetermined condition within the processing range as a target object to be subjected to the spot color replacement process;
Processing for generating spot color image data indicating an image obtained by replacing the specific process color in the target object with the specific spot color;
A program that executes

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