JP2020190810A - Printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

To improve quality of a prepared printing profile.SOLUTION: In a printing system PS, a printer provider PP provides a provider printer 200pp and a profile creation tool to a printing setting vendor PSV. The PSV creates, by using them, print setting information Ips containing a profile according to the combination of the 200pp and a printing medium MD, and performs processing for transmitting the Ips to a storage unit for one or more MDs provided by a media vendor MV. Printing companies PCa, PCb download Ips according to the combination of client printers 200a, 200b used for printing by themselves and the printing medium, make setting based on the Ips to software controlling 200a, 200b, and perform the printing. The PP or PSV pays compensations Pcr, Pcr2 determined on the basis of the printing result performed by 200a, 200b to the PSV having created the Ips.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present disclosure relates to a printing system in which a printing company that receives a printer supply from a printer manufacturer and a print media supply from a media supplier prints on print media at the request of a customer.

Conventionally, there is a system that provides a print profile and charges a user (Patent Document 1). In the technique of Patent Document 1, a copy of the print profile is transferred to a personal computer of a design / production company. In a design / production company, the print profile is set in a personal computer and used for color conversion. The profile management server updates the usage log of profile information when transferring a print profile, and charges a predetermined fee based on the usage log. That is, payment is made from the design / production company to the profile management center according to the degree to which the design / production company uses the print profile.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-108323

However, in the technique of Patent Document 1, no consideration is given to measures for improving the quality of the prepared print profile.

According to one form of the present disclosure, a first provider that provides a printer, a second provider that provides a print medium, a third provider that provides a profile according to a combination of the printer and the print medium, the printer, and the printer. A printing system is provided in which one or more clients that print on the print medium using the profile and a storage unit that processes and stores information are connected via a network. The first provider provides the third provider with a provider printer and a profile creation tool as software. The third provider uses the provider printer and the profile creation tool to create print setting information including a profile according to the combination of the provider printer and the print medium, and stores the print setting information in the storage unit. The process of transmitting the print setting information to the storage unit is executed for one or more print media provided by the second provider in order to store the print setting information. The client downloads the print setting information according to the combination of the client printer used for printing and the print medium used for printing in the client from the storage unit, and controls the client printer. The client printer is set based on the print setting information, and the printing is performed. Either or both of the first provider and the second provider receive a reward determined based on the performance of the printing performed by the client printer, which is set based on the print setting information in the client. , Pay to the third provider who created the print setting information.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the printing system PS of this embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the print setting information Ips stored in the management server Sv. It is a flowchart which shows the process of confirmation and storage of print setting information Ips in management server Sv. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the color management system used in the printing system PS of FIG. It is a figure which shows typically the structure of the ICC profile 500. It is a figure which shows the example of the user interface screen 800 which is displayed on the screen of a computer when a profile is adjusted. It is explanatory drawing which shows the process of adjusting the print result of the product printer which aims at the print result of the target printer. It is explanatory drawing which shows the process of adjusting the print result between product printers. It is a flowchart which shows the process of creating a B2A table 621 and a color separation table 750 as a color conversion table.

A. Printing system:
A1. Printing system configuration:
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a printing system PS of the present embodiment. The printing system PS manages the printer provider PP, the media vendor MV, the printing setting vendor PSV, the printing companies PCa and PCb, the printing company PCa's sales office PCao, and the printing company PCa's subsidiary PCas as components. Includes server Sv and orderer OP. The subsidiary PCas of the printing company PCa is also referred to as the printing company PCas.

Printer provider PP is a company that manufactures printers and supplies them to the outside (see the lower right part of FIG. 1). Specifically, the printer provider PP provides printers 200 and 300 used in the print setting vendor PSV, the media vendor MV, the printing company PCa, PCb, the printing company PCa's sales office PCao, and the printing company PCa's subsidiary PCas. To do. The printers 200 and 300 are inkjet printers.

The printer 200 manufactured by the printer provider PP is used for mass-producing printed matter at the printing companies PCa, PCb, and PCas. The printers 200 used by the printing companies PCa, PCb, and PCas are referred to as "printers 200a, 200b, 200as", respectively (see the lower left part of FIG. 1).

The printer 200 manufactured by the printer provider PP is used by the print setting vendor PSV, the media vendor MV, the printer provider PP, and the management server Sv to generate print setting information Ips. The printer 200 used in the print setting vendor PSV is referred to as "printer 200psv". The printer 200 used in the media vendor MV is referred to as "printer 200v". The printer 200 used in the printer provider PP is referred to as "printer 200pp". The printer 200 used in the management server Sv is referred to as "printer 200s" (see the upper right part, the upper center part, and the lower right part of FIG. 1).

The printers 200a, 200b, 200as, 200psv, 200v, 200pp, 200s are printers of the same model. In the present specification, when the printers 200a, 200b, 200as, 200psv, 200v, 200pp, and 200s are described without distinction, they are described as "printer 200". The printer 200 includes a sensor for measuring the printing state of the printed matter generated by the printer 200. Specifically, the printer 200 includes a spectrophotometer for measuring the color attached to the printed matter and a digital still camera for capturing an image formed on the printed matter.

The printer 300 manufactured by the printer provider PP is used to generate a print sample at the sales office PCao of the printing company PCa (see the middle left part of FIG. 1).

The printer provider PP has a computer 100 pp, a display device 115 pp, an input device 116 pp, and a printer 200 pp (see the lower right part of FIG. 1). The computer 100 pp controls the printer 200 pp. The computer 100 pp includes CPU 111 pp, ROM 112 pp, and RAM 113 pp, which are processors. In the present specification, "RAM" includes a semiconductor memory and a fixed disk.

The computer 100pp includes a program for controlling the printer 200pp and a program for managing the consideration Pcv, Pcr, Pcr2, Pcp1 and Pcp2 between the print setting vendor PSV, the media vendor MV and the printing vendors PCa and PCb. It is installed. In the computer 100 pp, the CPU 111 pp, the RAM 113 pp, and the ROM 112 pp as hardware resources cooperate with the control program. Specifically, the CPU 111pp realizes various functions by loading and executing a computer program stored in the ROM 112pp or the RAM 113pp which is a fixed disk into the RAM 113pp which is a semiconductor memory. The information acquired or generated by the CPU 111pp is stored in the RAM 113pp.

Media Vendor MV is a company that manufactures various types of print media MD and supplies them to the outside (see the upper right part of FIG. 1). In FIG. 1, the media vendor MV is depicted as one component. However, in reality, media vendors MV are multiple companies that perform similar functions and are in a competitive relationship with each other.

The print medium MD includes a rolled long medium and a sheet-like medium. The media vendor MV provides a print medium MD used in the printing company PCa, PCb, PCas and the sales office PCao of the printing company PCa. The print medium MD manufactured by the media vendor MV is used for mass production of printed matter by the printing companies PCa, PCb, and PCas (see the central part of FIG. 1). The print medium MD manufactured by the media vendor MV is used to generate a print sample at the sales office PCao of the printing company PCa (see the middle left part of FIG. 1).

Even when printing is performed based on the same image data, it is expressed on the print medium depending on the combination of the printer model used, the print medium MD used, the print mode used in the printer, and the like. The appearance of the printed result is different. The "printing medium MD" is a general term including different types of printing media.

The media vendor MV has a computer 100v, a display device 115v, an input device 116v, and a printer 200v (see the upper right part of FIG. 1). The computer 100v controls the printer 200v. The computer 100v includes CPU 111v, ROM 112v, and RAM 113v, which are processors.

A program for controlling the printer 200v is installed in the computer 100v. In the computer 100v, the CPU 111v, the RAM 113v, and the ROM 112v as hardware resources cooperate with the control program. Specifically, the CPU 111v realizes various functions by loading the computer program stored in the ROM 112v or the RAM 113v, which is a fixed disk, into the RAM 113v, which is a semiconductor memory, and executing the program. The information acquired or generated by the CPU 111v is stored in the RAM 113v.

The print setting vendor PSV provides a profile according to the combination of the printer 200 and the print medium MD. Specifically, the print setting vendor PSV is a company that generates print setting information Ips including profiles according to combinations of various types of printers 200 and various types of print media MDs and supplies them to the outside ( See the middle right part of FIG. 1). In FIG. 1, the print setting vendor PSV is depicted as one component. However, in reality, the print setting vendor PSV is a plurality of companies that perform similar functions and are in a competitive relationship with each other.

The print setting vendor PSV provides print setting information Ips used at the time of printing at the media vendor MV, the printing company PCa, PCb, PCas, and the sales office PCao of the printing company PCa. The print setting information Ips generated by the print setting vendor PSV is used by the printing companies PCa, PCb, and PCas to mass-produce printed matter (see the central part of FIG. 1). The print setting information Ips generated by the print setting vendor PSV is used to generate a print sample at the sales office PCao of the printing company PCa (see the middle left part of FIG. 1).

The print setting vendor PSV has a computer 100 psv, a display device 115 psv, an input device 116 psv, and a printer 200 psv (see the middle right part of FIG. 1). The computer 100 psv controls the printer 200 psv. The computer 100 psv includes CPU 111 psv, ROM 112 psv, and RAM 113 psv, which are processors.

A program for controlling the printer 200 psv is installed in the computer 100 psv. In the computer 100 psv, the CPU 111 psv, the RAM 113 psv, and the ROM 112 psv as hardware resources and the control program cooperate with each other. Specifically, the CPU 111 psv realizes various functions by loading a computer program stored in the ROM 112 psv or the RAM 113 psv which is a fixed disk into the RAM 113 psv which is a semiconductor memory and executing the program. The information acquired or generated by the CPU 111 psv is stored in the RAM 113 psv.

The printing companies PCa and PCb are companies that produce printed matter (see the lower left part of FIG. 1). The printing companies PCa and PCb receive a request from the orderer OP for a job Jb for producing printed matter PM (see the lower center of FIG. 1), and print on the print medium MD using the printers 200a and 200b and the profile. Do. The printing company PCa may generate the printed matter PM requested by the orderer OP by printing with the printer 200as held by the printing company PCas, which is a subsidiary of the printing company PCa, in addition to printing with the printer 200a owned by the printing company PCa. it can.

The printing company PCa has a computer 100a, a display device 115a, an input device 116a, and a printer 200a. The computer 100a controls the printer 200a. The computer 100a includes a CPU 111a, a ROM 112a, and a RAM 113a, which are processors.

A program for controlling the printer 200a is installed in the computer 100a. In the computer 100a, the CPU 111a, the RAM 113a, and the ROM 112a as hardware resources cooperate with the control program. Specifically, the CPU 111a realizes various functions by loading the computer program stored in the ROM 112a or the RAM 113a, which is a fixed disk, into the RAM 113a, which is a semiconductor memory, and executing the program. The information acquired or generated by the CPU 111a is stored in the RAM 113a.

The printing company PCb has a computer 100b, a display device 115b, an input device 116b, and a printer 200b. The functions performed by the computer 100b, the display device 115b, the input device 116b, and the printer 200b in the printing company PCb are the same as the functions performed by the computer 100a, the display device 115a, the input device 116a, and the printer 200a in the printing company PCa. In the configurations of the printing companies PCb, PCas, and the sales office PCao, the configurations corresponding to the configurations of the printing companies PCa are added with "b", "as", and "ao" instead of "a" at the end, respectively. Shown.

The printing company PCas is a company that produces printed matter. The printing company PCas receives a request from the parent company, the printing company PCa, for a job Jb to manufacture printed matter, and prints on the print medium MD using the printer 200as (see the lower left part of FIG. 1). The printing company PCas has a computer 100as, a display device 115as, an input device 116as, and a printer 200as. The functions performed by the computer 100as, the display device 115as, the input device 116as, and the printer 200as in the printing company PCas are the same as the functions performed by the computer 100a, the display device 115a, the input device 116a, and the printer 200a in the printing company PCa.

The sales office PCao is the sales office of the printing company PCa (see the middle left part of FIG. 1). At the sales office PCao, a meeting is held between the person in charge of the printing company PCa and the orderer OP, and the content of the job Jb requested to the printing company PCa is specified. Specifically, in a meeting between the person in charge of the printing company PCa and the orderer OP, the content of the job Jb requested to the printing company PCa is specified by the print sample generated by the printer 300.

The business office PCao has a computer 100ao, a display device 115ao, an input device 116ao, and a printer 300. The functions performed by the computer 100ao, the display device 115ao, the input device 116ao, and the printer 300 at the business office PCao are the same as the functions performed by the computer 100a, the display device 115a, the input device 116a, and the printer 200a at the printing company PCa.

The model of the printer 300 used in the sales office PCao and the model of the printers 200a and 200as used for mass production of printed matter in the printing companies PCa and PCas are different. The print medium MD used in the business office PCao and the print medium MD used in the printing companies PCa and PCas are the same in the present embodiment. The sales office PCao receives the printer 300 and the print medium MD from the printing company PCa.

The management server Sv transfers information between the printer provider PP, the media vendor MV, the print setting vendor PSV, the printing companies PCa and PCb, the printing company PCa's sales office PCao, and the printing company PCa's subsidiary PCas. It is a computer system that can send and receive (see the upper center of FIG. 1). The management server Sv is connected to the printer provider PP, the media vendor MV, the print setting vendor PSV, the printing company PCa, PCb, the printing company PCa's sales office PCao, and the printing company PCa's subsidiary PCas via a network. .. The management server Sv processes and stores information obtained from the printer provider PP, the media vendor MV, the print setting vendor PSV, the printing company PCa, PCb, the printing company PCa's sales office PCao, and the printing company PCa's subsidiary PCas. ..

The management server Sv has a computer 100s, a display device 115s, an input device 116s, and a printer 200s. The functions performed by the display device 115s, the input device 116s, and the printer 200s on the management server Sv are the same as the functions performed by the display device 115a, the input device 116a, and the printer 200a on the printing company PCa. The management server Sv includes various types of printers provided by the printer provider PP in addition to the printer 200s.

In addition to the functions performed by the computer 100a in the printing company PCa, the computer 100s includes a computer 100psv of the print setting vendor PSV, a computer 100v of the media vendor MV, and computers 100, 100b, 100as of the printing companies PCa, PCb, and PCas. It functions to send and receive information to and from the computer 100ao of the sales office PCao.

The computer 100s includes CPU 111s, ROM 112s, and RAM 113s, which are processors. A program for transmitting and receiving the above-mentioned information and a program for controlling the printer 200s are installed in the computer 100s. In the computer 100s, the CPU 111s, the RAM 113s, and the ROM 112s as hardware resources cooperate with the control program. Specifically, the CPU 111s realizes various functions by loading the computer program stored in the ROM 112s or the RAM 113s, which is a fixed disk, into the RAM 113s, which is a semiconductor memory, and executing the program. The information acquired or generated by the CPU 111s is stored in the RAM 113s.

A2. Processing in the printing system:
(1) Generation and upload of print setting information:
The printer provider PP prepares the printer 200 psv and the profile creation tool PMT, and provides the print setting vendor PSV with the printer 200 psv and the profile creation tool PMT (see the lower right part of FIG. 1). The profile creation tool PMT is software for creating a profile used when printing with printers 200 and 300. Specifically, the profile creation tool PMT is executed by the CPU 111 psv of the computer 100 psv. The profile will be described later.

The print setting vendor PSV uses the printer 200 psv and the profile creation tool PMT to create a profile according to the combination of the printer 200 psv and various types of print media MD manufactured by the media vendor MV. The profile includes color conversion information for the printer 200 psv to perform the most desirable color reproduction when printing on the print medium MD based on the print data. The print setting vendor PSV creates the print setting information Ips including the profile, and transmits the print setting information Ips to the management server Sv in order to store the print setting information Ips in the management server Sv (see the upper center part of FIG. 1).

Such processing is performed for each type of print medium MD provided by the media vendor MV. As a result, one or more print setting information Ips including profiles corresponding to the combination of the printer and the print medium MD are stored in the management server Sv. The print setting vendor PSV pays the printer provider PP a consideration Pcv according to the number of print setting information Ips stored in the management server Sv (see the lower right part of FIG. 1). The processing of the payment of the specific consideration Pcv is performed via the management server Sv.

By performing such processing, the printer provider PP can obtain a consideration Pcv according to the degree to which the print setting vendor PSV utilizes the printing system PS. The print setting vendor PSV can further promote the use of the print medium MD by the printing companies PCa, PCb, and PCas by utilizing the printing system PS in accordance with the increase in the consideration Pcv paid to the printer provider PP. As a result, the reward Pcr obtained from the printer provider PP increases. Therefore, the increase in the consideration Pcv according to the increase in the number of print setting information Ips is unlikely to be felt as a heavy burden on the print setting vendor PSV.

The print setting vendor PSV is one or more printing companies that can download the print setting information Ips from the management server Sv among the printing companies PCa, PCb, and PCas in the process of transmitting the print setting information Ips to the management server Sv. Can be specified to execute the process of transmitting the print setting information Ips. The management server Sv is the stored print setting information Ips, and the print setting information Ips sent from the print setting vendor PSV by designating the printing company that can be downloaded is limited to the specified printing company. Allow download (see the middle left part of Fig. 1).

For example, a print setting vendor PSV requested by a printing company PCa to generate print setting information Ips for using a special ink can generate and download print setting information Ips according to the special ink. Only the printing company PCa and the printing company PCa's subsidiary PCas are specified as, and the print setting information Ips is transmitted to the management server Sv. Then, the management server Sv allows only the printing company PCa and the printing company PCa's subsidiary PCas to download the print setting information Ips. When the print setting vendor PSV is requested by the printing company PCa to generate the print setting information Ips corresponding to the special print medium, the print setting vendor PSV and the management server Sv can perform the same processing.

By performing such processing, the print setting vendor PSV can provide the print setting information Ips only to one or more printing companies having a specific relationship with the print setting vendor PSV. One or more designated printing companies can use print setting information Ips that cannot be used by other printing companies.

The process performed by the print setting vendor PSV described above may be performed by the media vendor MV, which is a company that manufactures the print medium MD. That is, the media vendor MV may generate the print setting information Ips by receiving the printer 200v and the profile creation tool PMT from the printer provider PP (see the upper right part of FIG. 1).

Further, the processing performed by the print setting vendor PSV described above is also performed by the printer provider PP. The printer provider PP uses the printer 200 pp and the profile creation tool PMT to create a profile according to the combination of the printer 200 pp and various types of print media MD provided by the media vendor MV or the printer provider PP. .. The printer provider PP creates the print setting information Ips including the profile and transmits the print setting information Ips to the management server Sv in order to store it in the management server Sv (see the lower right part of FIG. 1). Such processing is performed for each type of print medium MD provided by the media vendor MV or the printer provider PP.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of print setting information Ips stored in the management server Sv. The print setting information Ips is used in the target printer model information 1010, the target print medium type information 1020, the target printer type ink type information 1030, and the target printer. Includes print mode information 1040 to be printed, printer operation setting parameter information 1050 including media feed speed in the target printer, and target printer profile information 1060.

The print setting information Ips further prints using the creator ID 1110 representing the creator who created the print setting information Ips, the information 1120 of the creation method when the print setting information Ips is created, and the print setting information Ips. Includes quality level information 1130 indicating the quality of the print result in the case of The creator ID 1110, the creation method information 1120, and the quality level information 1130 are specifically included in the print setting information Ips as tags included in the profile 1060.

The print mode specified by the print mode information 1040 is the operation mode of the printer. For each print mode, (i) the nozzles used in printing among all the nozzles of the printer, (ii) the sub-scan feed amount, (iii) the number of print passes in printing, and (iv) the ink dots formed on the print medium. The resolution, etc. are set. The “number of print passes” is the number of main scans performed when forming a raster line of one line on a print medium. The "resolution" of an ink dot is a unit length, eg, the number of ink dots that can be formed per inch.

The "main scan" is a relative feed between the print medium and the print head that is repeated in printing, and is executed along a direction perpendicular to the feed direction when the print medium is conveyed to a position facing the print head. It is a relative feed. In some printers, the main scan is not performed during printing. The "sub-scanning" is a relative feed between the print medium and the print head that is repeated in printing, and is executed along a direction parallel to the feed direction when the print medium is conveyed to a position facing the print head. , Relative feed. In some print modes, the sub-scan feed amount is a constant value, and in other print modes, the sub-scan feed amount is a combination of a plurality of quantities in which the order of execution is defined. By the main scan and the sub scan, the nozzles of the print head are arranged at various positions with respect to the print medium, and ink droplets are ejected at various positions on the print medium.

Information 1050 of the operation setting parameters of the printer includes, in addition to the transport speed of the medium in the printer, the upper limit of the temperature of the operating environment assumed for the printer, the slipperiness of the print medium supplied to the printer, and the slipperiness of the print medium in the printer. The magnitude of the force pressing the print medium during printing and the magnitude of the tension applied to the print medium during printing in the printer are included.

The creator ID 1110 represents the creator of the print setting information Ips. The creator of the print setting information Ips is the licensee of the profile creation tool PMT used when creating the print setting information Ips (see the middle right part of FIG. 1). The creator ID 1110 is automatically stored in the print setting information Ips by the profile creation tool PMT when the profile creation tool PMT generates the print setting information Ips. The creator ID is stored in the profile creation tool PMT in advance when the profile creation tool PMT is provided to the print setting vendor PSV.

The creator ID is different for each print setting vendor PSV provided by the profile creation tool PMT. That is, the creator ID can be associated with the print setting vendor PSV licensed to use the profile creation tool PMT on a one-to-one basis. An creator ID can also be assigned to each individual worker who is an employee of the print setting vendor PSV. The printing companies PCa, PCb, and PCas that downloaded the print setting information Ips from the management server Sv can know the creator of the print setting information Ips based on the creator ID 1110 in the print setting information Ips (lower part of FIG. 1). See left).

The quality level information 1130 includes evaluation values of color reproduction accuracy, color reproduction range, gradation characteristics, graininess, and ink bleeding for a print result. In order to create the quality level information 1130, the print setting vendor PSV performs the following processing.

The print setting vendor PSV prints a color chart on a print medium MD using a printer 200 psv. The print data of the color chart is stored in advance in the application software that controls the printer 200.

The print setting vendor PSV measures the print result of the color chart with a sensor of the printer 200 psv, and determines the evaluation value for the print result based on the output of the sensor. Specifically, the color reproduction accuracy, the color reproduction range, and the gradation characteristics are evaluated based on the output of the spectrocolorimeter. Graininess and ink bleeding are evaluated based on the output of the digital still camera. The evaluation value of each item determined based on the output of the sensor is stored in the print setting information Ips as the quality level information 1130.

"Color reproduction accuracy" is evaluated based on the color difference between the colorimetric value of the color actually reproduced on the printed matter and the color value when printing is instructed by the data of the target color value. Will be done.

The "gradation characteristic" is the reproducibility of gradation. For example, if printing is performed according to the data of a color chart containing a series of patches for which color data is created so that the density decreases by a certain amount, the "gradation characteristic" of the profile used for the printing is , Is evaluated as follows. In a series of patches as a print result, when there is one or more combinations of patches whose brightness is not reduced in the print result even though the color data is a combination of patches whose brightness should be reduced. Decreases the rating of the profile's "gradation characteristics" depending on the number of such patch combinations.

That is, for a plurality of colors whose lightness is reduced in the color data, if the lightness is not monotonically reduced in the print result, the evaluation of the "gradation characteristic" of the profile is lowered. For a plurality of colors whose brightness is increasing in the color data, if the brightness is not monotonically increased in the print result, the evaluation of the "gradation characteristic" of the profile is lowered. In this evaluation, the curve of monotonous decrease or monotonous increase of lightness in the print result may be an upwardly convex curve, a downwardly convex curve, or a linear curve. The "gradation characteristic" can be similarly evaluated for the gradation of transition from one color to another, for example, from yellow to red.

The "gradation characteristic" includes linearity. "Linearity" is an index that the change in color displayed on the print medium is close to linear with respect to the change in the data of the input ink amount.

The print setting information Ips is configured so that it cannot be modified without the application software for managing the print setting information Ips installed in the management server Sv. For example, at least a part of the information stored in the print setting information Ips including the information 1110, 1120, and 1130 can be stored in the print setting information Ips in a state where it cannot be distinguished from other information without the dedicated application software. It is stored. As a result, falsification of the information in the print setting information Ips by a third party is prevented.

The print setting information Ips is encrypted. Therefore, the print setting information Ips is a printer using the application software for managing the print setting information Ips installed on the management server Sv or the print setting information Ips provided to the printing companies PCa, PCb, and PCas. It cannot be used unless it depends on the application software for printing at 200.

The print setting vendor PSV is a sample of the print medium MD used by the printer 200 psv when uploading the print setting information Ips to the management server Sv or prior to uploading the print setting information Ips. Is sent to the management server Sv.

The processing performed by the print setting vendor PSV described above is also performed by the media vendor MV and the printer provider PP.

(2) Confirmation and storage of print setting information:
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process of confirming and storing print setting information Ips on the management server Sv. When the management server Sv receives the print setting information Ips from the print setting vendor PSV, it performs a process of confirming the contents of the print setting information Ips (see the upper center part of FIG. 1).

In step S110 of FIG. 3, the management server Sv determines whether or not the print setting information Ips received from the print setting vendor PSV satisfies the condition regarding the predetermined method for creating the print setting information Ips.

If the print setting information Ips does not meet the conditions regarding the creation method, for example, (i) If the print setting information Ips is not created by the regular profile creation tool PMT licensed by the print setting vendor PSV, (ii). The case where the print setting information Ips is created by the regular profile creation tool PMT but not created by the predetermined procedure is included. The determination in step S110 can be performed based on the history information stored in the tag of the profile 1060, such as the creation method information 1120 included in the print setting information Ips (see FIG. 2).

If the print setting information Ips received from the print setting vendor PSV satisfies the condition regarding the method for generating the print setting information Ips, the process proceeds to step S120. If the print setting information Ips does not satisfy the condition regarding the creation method, the process proceeds to step S170.

In step S170, the management server Sv does not store the print setting information Ips received from the print setting vendor PSV, and transmits the print setting information Ips to notify that the print setting information Ips is not stored in the management server Sv. Print settings Perform for the vendor PSV. At that time, the reason why the print setting information Ips is not stored in the management server Sv is also notified to the print setting vendor PSV.

In step S120, the management server Sv determines whether or not the print setting information Ips received from the print setting vendor PSV satisfies the condition regarding the predetermined print result. The conditions relating to the method of generating the print setting information Ips determined in step S110 and the conditions relating to the print result determined in step S120 are collectively referred to as "registration conditions".

In step S120, the management server Sv prints the color chart on the printer 200s according to the print setting information Ips transmitted from the print setting vendor PSV. The print data of the color chart is stored in advance in the application software that controls the printer 200.

In printing, among various models of printers held by the management server Sv, a printer of a model that matches the printer model information 1010 stored in the print setting information Ips is used. Among various print medium MD samples received from the print setting vendor PSV, the print medium MD corresponding to the print medium type information 1020 in the print setting information Ips is used. The type of ink that matches the ink type information 1030 in the print setting information Ips is used. A print mode that matches the print mode information 1040 in the print setting information Ips is used. The printer operation is set based on the operation setting parameter information 1050 in the print setting information Ips. Color conversion is performed according to the profile information 1060 in the print setting information Ips.

The management server Sv measures the print result of the color chart with the sensor of the printer 200s, and determines the evaluation value regarding the quality of the print result based on the output of the sensor. The method for determining the evaluation value is the same as the method for determining the evaluation value of the print result in the print setting vendor PSV.

If all of the evaluation values match the contents of the quality level information 1130 stored in the print setting information Ips and are within the predetermined reference range, the management server Sv determines the print setting vendor PSV. It is determined that the print setting information Ips received from is satisfied with the condition regarding the predetermined print result. If this is not the case, the management server Sv determines that the print setting information Ips received from the print setting vendor PSV does not satisfy the predetermined conditions regarding the print result.

Even if the evaluation value is different from the content of the quality level information 1130 stored in the print setting information Ips, if the deviation amount is within a predetermined allowable range, the evaluation value is , It is treated as matching the content of the quality level information 1130 stored in the print setting information Ips.

If the print setting information Ips received from the print setting vendor PSV satisfies the condition regarding the print result, the process proceeds to step S150. If the print setting information Ips received from the print setting vendor PSV does not satisfy the predetermined conditions regarding the print result, the process proceeds to step S130.

In step S130, the management server Sv modifies the print setting information Ips and determines whether or not the print setting information Ips satisfying the conditions related to the print result can be generated. For example, the evaluation value regarding the quality of the print result determined in step S120 does not match the content of the quality level information 1130 stored in the print setting information Ips received from the print setting vendor PSV, but each is predetermined. If it is within the reference range, the management server Sv determines that it can generate print setting information Ips that satisfies the condition regarding the print result. If any of the evaluation values related to the quality of the print result determined in step S120 is not within the predetermined reference range, the management server Sv determines that the print setting information Ips satisfying the conditions related to the print result cannot be generated. ..

If the print setting information Ips cannot be modified to generate the print setting information Ips that satisfy the conditions related to the print result, the process proceeds to step S170. If the print setting information Ips can be modified to generate the print setting information Ips that satisfy the conditions related to the print result, the process proceeds to step S140.

In step S140, the management server Sv modifies the print setting information Ips to generate the print setting information Ips that satisfies the condition regarding the print result. For example, the evaluation value regarding the quality of the print result determined in step S120 does not match the content of the quality level information 1130 stored in the print setting information Ips received from the print setting vendor PSV, but each is predetermined. If it is within the reference range, the management server Sv performs the following processing. That is, the management server Sv rewrites each evaluation value of the quality level information 1130 in the print setting information Ips received from the print setting vendor PSV to the evaluation value related to the quality of the print result determined in step S120, and newly rewrites the evaluation value. Print setting information Ips is generated (see FIG. 2).

The processing of steps S120, S130, and S140 may be performed by the management server Sv, or may be performed by another organization or organization to which the print setting information Ips has been transferred from the management server Sv. The other institution or organization that performs the processing of steps S120, S130, and S140 may be the printer provider PP (see the middle right part of FIG. 1), or an institution or organization other than the printer provider PP. However, an organization or organization other than the printer provider PP that performs the processing of steps S120, S130, and S140 is an organization or organization that has been certified by the printer provider PP to perform the processing of steps S120, S130, and S140. When an institution or organization other than the management server Sv performs the processing of steps S120, S130, and S140, the institution or organization uses the print set vendor PSV to print the prints used by the printer 200 psv when generating the print setting information Ips. A sample of the medium MD is sent.

In step S150, the management server Sv stores the print setting information Ips in the RAM 113s. When the process of step S150 is reached without going through the process of step S140, the management server Sv stores the print setting information Ips received from the print setting vendor PSV in the RAM 113s. When the process of step S150 is reached through the process of step S140, the management server Sv stores the print setting information Ips generated in step S140 in the RAM 113s. After that, the process ends.

By performing such processing, the quality of the print setting information Ips provided from the management server Sv to the printing companies PCa, PCb, and PCas can be controlled.

(3) Downloading and printing of print setting information Ips:
The printing company PCa downloads the print setting information Ips corresponding to the combination of the printer 200a used for printing and the printing medium MD in the printing company PCa from the management server Sv (see the middle left part of FIG. 1). The printing company PCa sets the software for controlling the printer 200a based on the print setting information Ips, and prints.

More specifically, the printing company provides the printing setting information Ips according to (i) the model of the printer 200a, (ii) the type of the printing medium MD, and (iii) the type of ink used for printing at the printing company PCa. PCa is downloaded from the management server Sv. On the other hand, the printing company PCa may select the printing medium used for printing according to the information 1020 of the type of the printing medium included in the downloaded print setting information Ips. The ink used for printing may be selected according to the ink type information 1030 included in the print setting information Ips (see FIG. 2).

In the printing company PCa, the printing mode used at the time of printing is selected according to the printing mode information 1040 included in the printing setting information Ips (see FIG. 2). The setting parameters used at the time of printing are set according to the operation setting parameter information 1050 included in the print setting information Ips. Color conversion of the image data used for printing is performed using the profile information 1060 included in the print setting information Ips. Each process is executed by the computer 100a in which the program for controlling the printer 200a is installed.

Regarding (i) creator ID 1110 of the creator of the print setting information Ips, (ii) information 1120 of the creation method, and (iii) quality level information 1130 indicating the quality of the print result, which are stored in the print setting information Ips (Fig. 2), the application software for controlling the printer 200a owned by the printing company PCa can be read and displayed on the display device 115a. Therefore, the printing company PCa can confirm the contents of the information prior to the color conversion.

The printed matter PM generated by the printing company PCa is delivered to the orderer OP (see the lower central part of FIG. 1). The orderer OP pays the printing company PCa the price Pcp0 of the printed matter PM.

The printing company PCb and the printing company PCas can also perform the same processing and print with the printers 200b and 200as. The printing company PCas may receive the printing setting information Ips from the printing company PCa instead of downloading the print setting information Ips from the management server Sv (see the lower left part of FIG. 1).

The printing companies PCa, PCb, and PCas can obtain the following profits by setting the software for controlling the printers 200a, 200b, and 200as based on the print setting information Ips and printing. That is, the printing companies PCa, PCb, and PCas have the print setting vendor PSV and the printer provider PP as (i) models of printers 200a, 200b, and 200as, (ii) types of print media MD, (iii) types of ink, and (iv). ) The print mode and (v) the setting parameters can be determined to produce a printed matter having the high quality achieved when the print setting information Ips is created. Further, the printing companies PCa, PCb, and PCas can set the printers 200a, 200b, and 200as in a short time as compared with the case where the printers 200a, 200b, and 200as are set by trial and error.

The management server Sv stores a plurality of print setting information Ips (see the upper center part of FIG. 1). The management server Sv measures the number of downloads by the printing companies PCa and PCb for each print setting information Ips and stores them in the RAM 113s of the computer 100s. The management server Sv increases the number of downloads stored for each print setting information Ips by one each time the print setting information Ips is transmitted from the printing companies PCa and PCb to the printing companies PCa and PCb according to a request. The information on the number of downloads measured for each print setting information Ips is collectively shown in FIG. 1 as Ni. The number of downloads Ni is cleared at regular intervals, for example, every month, and is counted again from the beginning.

The management server Sv can allow only the printing company that satisfies the predetermined conditions to download some of the print setting information Ips among the plurality of print setting information Ips.

For example, in the printing system PS, the printing company can conclude contracts of different levels with different charges with the system administrator, and for some print setting information Ips, for the printing company having a contract of a certain level or higher. Only the management server Sv may allow the download. Then, the management server Sv may allow the printing company who does not have a paid contract to download some of the other print setting information Ips.

Regarding a certain print setting information Ips, the management server Sv may allow the download only for the printer whose printer 200 is connected to the network.

Depending on the type of process after printing by the printer 200 at each printing company, the management server Sv may allow the download. For example, for a printing company that prints on a printing medium, attaches a transparent or translucent resin sheet to the printing surface, and performs laminating, the print setting vendor PSV is for printing companies that do not carry out such a process. It is possible to prepare print setting information Ips different from the print setting information Ips of. Then, the management server Sv may allow the download of the print setting information Ips premised on such laminating processing only for the printing company that has registered in advance in the management server Sv to perform the laminating process after printing. Good.

On the other hand, the recording medium for laminating is provided with RFID (Radio Frequency IDentifier) and QR code (registered trademark), and the printing company transmits the information read from the RFID and QR code to the management server Sv for laminating. Print setting information Ips for processing may be available for download. Lamination is performed for the purpose of improving light resistance and abrasion resistance.

By performing such processing, the printing system can be operated so that the printing company can download only the printing setting information suitable for the printing company.

The plurality of print setting information Ips stored in the management server Sv include a plurality of types of print setting information Ips whose download consideration is different from each other. Further, the plurality of print setting information Ips stored in the management server Sv include a plurality of types of print setting information Ips having different print result qualities (see 1130 in FIG. 2). The printers PCa and PCb are (i) the consideration for downloading the individual print setting information Ips, (ii) the quality of the print result of the print setting information Ips (see 1130 in FIG. 2), and (iii) the printer manages the server. The printer provider PP is paid Pcp1 according to the number of print setting information Ips downloaded from Sv and (iv) the usage period of each print setting information Ips downloaded (see the central part of FIG. 1).

The price for downloading the individual print setting information Ips can be different for each print setting information Ips. Further, for downloading individual print setting information Ips, print setting information Ips for which no consideration is required may be prepared.

As a mode of payment of consideration according to the quality of the print result of the print setting information Ips, a form in which the higher the quality, the higher the fee is paid can be adopted. It is also possible to set the quality classification of the print result of the print setting information Ips that can be downloaded, and to determine the quality classification of the print result of the print setting information Ips that can be downloaded according to the consideration paid in advance.

As a mode of payment of consideration according to the number of downloaded print setting information Ips, a form in which a higher fee is paid as the number of downloads increases can be adopted. It is also possible to set a division of the number of print setting information Ips that can be downloaded, and set an upper limit of the number of print setting information Ips that can be downloaded according to the consideration paid in advance.

As for the setting of the consideration according to the usage period, free use of the print setting information Ips is permitted for a certain trial period after downloading, and after the certain trial period has passed, the consideration for use is required. Settings can be made. Further, the print setting information Ips can be set so that the consideration is required every time the print setting information Ips is used for a certain period of time, for example, one month.

By performing such processing, the printer provider PP can obtain the consideration Pcp1 according to the content in which the printing companies PCa and PCb utilize the printing system PS. The printing companies PCa and PCb can print by utilizing the printing system PS more in response to the increase in the consideration Pcp1 paid to the printer provider PP. Therefore, (i) the price for downloading, (ii) the quality of the print result, (iii) the number of downloaded print setting information Ips, and (iv) the fluctuation of the price Pcp1 according to the usage period of the print setting information Ips are printed. It is hard to feel that it is a heavy burden for the traders PCa and PCb.

The printing company PCa pays the printer provider PP a consideration Pcp2 according to the amount of printing using the downloaded print setting information Ips (see the central part of FIG. 1). The amount of printing can be evaluated by the amount Vm of the print medium MD used in printing by the client printer 200a set based on the print setting information Ips. The amount Vm of the print medium MD used in printing by the client printer 200a set based on the print setting information Ips is referred to as "medium consumption Vm". The calculation method of the consideration Pcp2 will be described below.

By performing such processing, the printer provider PP can obtain a consideration Pcp2 according to the degree to which the printing companies PCa, PCb, and PCas utilize the printing system PS. The printing companies PCa and PCb can print by utilizing the printing system PS more in response to the increase in the consideration Pcp2 paid to the printer provider PP. Therefore, an increase in the consideration Pcp2 in accordance with an increase in the amount of printing is unlikely to be perceived as a heavy burden on the printing companies PCa and PCb.

The printing company PCa measures the amount Vi of the ink used in printing by the client printer 200a set based on the print setting information Ips. Hereinafter, the amount Vi of the ink used in printing by the client printer 200a set based on the print setting information Ips is referred to as "ink consumption Vi". The ink consumption Vi can be counted by the number of times the ink droplets are ejected by the printers 200a and 200b. The software that controls the printer 200 can count the number of times the ink droplets are ejected.

The ink consumption Vi can also be counted by the amount of ink reduced in the ink tank having the medium consumption Vm. However, since ink is also consumed in cleaning the nozzles of the printer 200, the number of times the ink droplets are ejected more accurately reflects the amount of printed matter obtained by the printers PCa and PCb than the amount of ink reduction. To do.

The ink consumption Vi is stored in the RAM 113a of the computer 100a in association with the print setting information Ips used in the printing. The ink consumption Vi associated with the print setting information Ips is transmitted from the printing company PCa to the management server Sv (see the middle left part of FIG. 1).

The management server Sv totals the ink consumption Vi for each printing company PCa, PCb, and PCas, and stores the ink consumption Vi as the ink total Vi in the RAM 113s of the computer 100s. The ink total amount Via is used in the calculation of the consideration Pcp2 paid from the printers PCa and PCb to the printer provider PP.

The management server Sv aggregates the ink consumption Vi for each print setting information Ips and stores it in the RAM 113s of the computer 100s as the ink aggregation Vib. The ink aggregation amounts Via and Vib are cleared at regular intervals, for example, every month, and are aggregated again from the beginning.

The printing company PCa pays the media vendor MV a consideration Pcp3 according to the amount Vma of the printing medium used (see the central part of FIG. 1). The processing of the payment of the specific consideration Pcp3 is performed via the management server Sv. By performing such processing, the media vendor MV can obtain the consideration Pcp3 according to the amount of the print medium MD used by the printing company PCa. The calculation method of the consideration Pcp3 will be described below.

The printing company PCa measures the amount Vm of the print medium MD used in printing by the client printer 200a set based on the print setting information Ips. When the print medium MD is a rolled long medium, the amount of the print medium MD can be evaluated by the length of the print medium MD used. When the print medium MD is a sheet-like medium, the amount of the print medium MD can be evaluated by the number of print medium MDs used.

The amount Vm of the print medium MD used is stored in the RAM 113a of the computer 100a in association with the print setting information Ips used in the printing. The medium consumption Vm associated with the print setting information Ips is transmitted from the printing company PCa to the management server Sv (see the middle left part of FIG. 1).

The management server Sv aggregates the medium consumption Vm for each printing company PCa and PCb, and stores the media aggregation amount Vma in the RAM 113s of the computer 100s. The media aggregation amount Vma is used in the calculation of the consideration Pcp3 paid from the printing companies PCa and PCb to the media vendor MV. The medium aggregation amount Vma is cleared at regular intervals, for example, every month, and is aggregated again from the beginning.

The management server Sv aggregates the medium consumption amount Vm for each print setting information Ips and stores it in the RAM 113s of the computer 100s as the medium aggregation amount Vmb. The media aggregation amount Vmb is used to calculate the reward Pcr paid by the printer provider PP to the print setting vendor PSV. The reward Pcr is a reward paid for generating high-value print setting information Ips. In addition, in this specification, the reward Pcr may be collectively referred to as "compensation Pcr" together with other consideration.

The printer provider PP acquires the media total amount Vmb from the management server Sv at regular intervals, for example, every month. The medium total amount Vmb represents the actual printing results of the client printers 200a and 200b, which are set based on the print setting information Ips by the printing companies PCa, PCb and PCas.

The printer provider PP determines the reward Pcr based on the medium total amount Vmb for each print setting information Ips. The printer provider PP pays the reward Pcr to the print setting vendor PSV that created each print setting information Ips (see the middle right part of FIG. 1).

The same processing is performed for the printing company PCb and the printing company PCas, and the consideration Pcp1 to Pcp3 and Pcr are paid.

By performing such processing, it is possible to give the print setting vendor PSV an incentive to create print setting information Ips that are frequently used by the printing companies PCa, PCb, and PCas and are useful for the printing companies PCa, PCb. it can. As a result, the print setting vendor PSV generates print setting information Ips that is useful for the printing companies PCa and PCb and can realize high-quality printing. As a result, high-quality printing is performed by the printer 200 manufactured by the printer provider PP using the high-quality print setting information Ips. Therefore, the printer 200 manufactured by the printer provider PP and the printer provider PP are manufactured. The brand value is enhanced.

In the present embodiment, the reward Pcr paid to the print setting vendor PSV is determined for the print setting information Ips based on the medium total amount Vmb which is the amount of the print medium MD used in printing. Therefore, the reward Pcr reflects the actual usage record of the printing companies PCa, PCb, and PCas, as compared with the mode in which the reward Pcr is determined based on the number of times Ni of the print setting information Ips downloaded from the management server Sv. Easy to decide.

For example, even though the print setting information Ips is downloaded from the management server Sv, the print setting information Ips may not be used for actual printing. If the print setting vendor PSV and the printing company PCa or the printing company PCb collude and download a large number of print setting information Ips that are not used for printing, the print setting vendor PSV receives an unreasonable reward Pcr from the printer provider PP. You will get it. However, in the present embodiment, the reward Pcr paid to the print setting vendor PSV is determined based on the medium total amount Vmb. Therefore, such fraud can be prevented.

(4) Effect:
According to the present embodiment, the process up to setting the print setting information Ips in the software for controlling the printers 200a, 200b, 200as has the following advantages as compared with the mode including mailing the color chart sample. .. That is, the printing companies PCa, PCb, and PCas can obtain print setting information Ips according to the combination of the printers 200a, 200b, 200as used for printing and the printing medium MD used for printing in a short time.

When the media vendor MV generates the print setting information Ips, the media vendor MV purchases the print setting information Ips capable of performing optimum printing on the print medium MD manufactured by the media vendor MV. It can be prepared for the printing companies PCa and PCb. Therefore, the media vendor MV has an advantage of using the print medium MD manufactured by itself as compared with the media vendor that does not provide the print setting information Ips capable of performing optimum printing on the print medium. , Can be strengthened.

According to the present embodiment, the printer provider PP prepares print setting information Ips capable of performing appropriate printing using the printer 200 provided by the printer provider PP in the printing companies PCa and PCb which are the users of the printer. be able to. Therefore, the printer provider PP enhances the advantage of using the printer provided by the printer provider PP as compared with the provider that does not provide the print setting information Ips that can perform appropriate printing using the printer. be able to.

According to the present embodiment, the printers PCa, PCb, and PCas, which can obtain high-quality printed matter in a short time by using the printer 200 of the printer provider PP, continuously use the printer 200, and further, the printer. There is a high possibility that the printer of the printer provider PP will be purchased again when the printer is updated. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the printer provider PP can continuously profit from the sale of the printer and the ink.

The printer provider PP in this embodiment is also referred to as a "first provider". Media vendor MV is also called "second provider". The print setting vendor PSV is also called a "third provider". The printers PCa, PCb, and PCas are also called "clients". The management server Sv is also called a "storage unit". The printer 200psv is also called a "provider printer". The printer operation setting parameter 1050 is also referred to as a "setting parameter".

B. Elemental technologies in printing systems:
(1) Mechanism of color management system:
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a color management system used in the printing system PS of FIG. This color management system is realized by a product printer 200, a target printer 300, and a RIP (Raster Image Processor) 400.

The target printer 300 is a target device that forms a printed matter expressing a target color C _T , which is a target color. In the printing system PS, the printer 300 is used to generate a print sample at the sales office PCao of the printing company PCa (see the lower right part of FIG. 1).

The target printer 300 receives color data CMYK including a combination of gradation values of each ink used by the target printer 300, and prints to reproduce a specific color according to the color data CMYK. The ink used by the target printer 300 is cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) ink for the target printer 300. The color data CMYK represents the coordinates in the CMYK color space with the gradation value of each ink of the CMYK used in the target printer 300 as the coordinate axis.

In the present embodiment, according to the color data CMYK with the target printer 300, as a result of the printing, color prints formed is representative becomes the target color C _T in color matching (upper central portion of FIG. 4 reference). The target color C _T is a set of a plurality of colors reproduced in different places on one sheet. However, in the following, in order to facilitate the understanding of the technology, the explanation will be given focusing on one of the target colors C _T. The target color C _T can be specified by the coordinate value (L * a * b * value) of the CIE L * a * b * color space obtained by measuring the color of the printed matter formed by the target printer 300 with a colorimeter. .. The coordinate values of the CIE L * a * b * color space of the target color C _T are shown as Lab _{T in} FIG. 4 (see the upper right part of FIG. 4). In this specification, the L * a * b * color space is also referred to as the Lab color space. The L * a * b * value is also referred to as the Lab value.

The target color C _T can also be specified by the color data CMYK representing the coordinates in the CMYK color space whose coordinate axis is the gradation value of each ink of CMYK used in the target printer 300. However, the color data CMYK depends on the color of each ink of CMYK used in the target printer 300. The color data CMYK when the target color C _T is expressed on the printed matter is called the color data CMYK _in (see the middle left part of FIG. 4).

The product printer 200 is an inkjet printer used to reproduce the color of the printed matter formed by the target printer 300. In the printing system PS, the printer 300 is used by the printing companies PCa, PCb, and PCas to mass-produce printed matter (see the lower left part of FIG. 1).

The product printer 200 receives color data cmyk including a combination of gradation values of each ink used by the product printer 200, and prints to reproduce a specific color according to the color data cmyk. The ink used by the product printer 200 is cyan (c), magenta (m), yellow (y), and black (k) ink for the product printer 200. The color data cmyk represents the coordinates in the cmyk color space with the gradation value of each ink of cmyk used in the product printer 200 as the coordinate axis.

The RIP (Raster Image Processor) 400 can receive the color data CMYK _in for the target printer 300, convert the color data CMYK _in into the color data CMYK of the product printer 200, and supply the color data CMYK _in to the product printer 200. (See the middle left part of FIG. 4). The color data cMYk for the product printer 200 generated by converting the color data CMYK _in for the target printer 300 is called color data cMYK _p (see the middle right part of FIG. 4).

The RIP 400 can receive a color name in the Pantone® color library, generate color data cmyk of the product printer 200 based on the color name, and supply the color data cmyk to the product printer 200 (FIG. 6). See the lower left part of 4). That is, the RIP 400 can receive a color name representing the target color C _T , generate color data cmyk _p of the product printer 200 based on the color name, and supply it to the product printer 200.

The data input to the RIP 400 including the color data CMYK _in representing the target color C _T or the information of the color name representing the target color C _T is referred to as print manuscript data D0 (see the middle left part of FIG. 4).

The RIP 400 has an input profile 610, an output profile 620, and a color library 640. Color Library 640 is a Pantone® color library.

The input profile 610 is a file that describes the color characteristics of the ink used in the target printer 300. Specifically, the input profile 610 maintains a correspondence relationship between the coordinates in the color space of the ink color CMYK of the target printer 300 and the coordinates in the Lab color space as a PCS (Profile Connection Space). There is.

The output profile 620 is a file that describes the color characteristics of the ink used in the product printer 200. Specifically, the output profile 620 maintains a correspondence relationship between the coordinates in the Lab color space as the PCS (profile connection space) and the coordinates in the color space of the ink color cmyk of the product printer 200. The input profile 610 and the output profile 620 are created according to the data format of the ICC profile.

When the target color C _T is specified by the color data CMYK _in in the print original data D0, the RIP 400 performs the following processing. With reference to the input profile 610, the RIP 400 converts the color data CMYK _in of the print document data D0 into the color data Lab _S1 which is the color data specified in the Lab color space as the PCS (profile connection space) ( See the middle left part of FIG. 4).

In the print document data D0, when the target color C _T is identified by the color names in Pantone (R) color library, RIP400 performs the following process. The RIP 400 refers to the color library 640 and generates color data Labs, which are color data specified in the Lab color space, based on the color name (see the middle left part of FIG. 4).

The RIP 400 converts the color data Labs into the color data cmyk _p with reference to the output profile 620 (see the middle right part of FIG. 4).

By the above process, the product for the printer 200, a color close to the target color C _T of the target printer 300 has printed, cyan products for printers 200 (c), magenta (m), yellow (y), black (k ) Can be reproduced with ink.

In the example of FIG. 4, the RIP 400 has an input profile 610 and an output profile 620. However, the RIP 400 may hold the device link profile 630 in place of the input profile 610 and output profile 620, or together with the input profile 610 and output profile 620. The device link profile 630 maintains a correspondence relationship between the coordinates in the color space of the ink color CMYK of the target printer 300 and the coordinates in the color space of the ink color CMYK of the product printer 200. The RIP 400 can convert the color data CMYK _in of the print original data D0 into the color data cMYK _p with reference to the device link profile 630.

In RIP400, instead of the input profile 610 and an output profile 620, even if the device link profile 630 is referred to, for products printer 200, a color close to the target color C _T of the target printer 300 has printed, products for printer It can be reproduced with cyan (c), magenta (m), yellow (y), and black (k) inks for 200.

The output profile 620 and the device link profile 630 may be created assuming a standard print medium. However, in the printing system PS of the present embodiment, the profile 1060 as the output profile 620 is prepared for each print medium MD (see the upper right part of FIG. 1 and 1060 of FIG. 2).

(2) Profile structure:
FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing the structure of the ICC profile 500. An ICC profile is a series of data that characterizes input / output devices and color spaces related to color in accordance with the standards published by the International Color Consortium in color management. The input profile 610 and the output profile 620 shown in FIG. 4 are created according to the data format of the ICC profile. The ICC profile 500 includes a profile header 510, a tag table 520, and element data 530.

The tag table 520 contains one or more tags 521. Each tag 521 is associated with the data in the element data 530. One or more tags 521 can include a private tag 523 for customizing the ICC profile 500. The element data 530 stores a color conversion table for converting color data between the PCS (profile connection space) and the device dependent color space (device dependent color space).

Of the 1 or more tags 521, the A2Bx tag (x is 0, 1, or 2) provides color data in a device-dependent color space such as the CMYK color space of the target printer 300 or the cMYK color space of the product printer 200. It is associated with a color conversion table for converting to color data in a color space. The B2Ax tag (x is 0, 1, or 2) includes a color conversion table for converting color data in the Lab color space into color data in the device-dependent color space.

The A2B0 tag and the B2A0 tag are associated with a color conversion table for performing a perceptual color conversion. Perceptual color conversion is a color conversion that emphasizes the reproduction of color gradation. Perceptual color conversion is mainly used for conversion of photographic images with a wide color gamut.

The A2B1 and B2A1 tags are associated with a color conversion table for performing relative, Media-Relative Colorimetric color conversion, or absolute, Absolute Colorimetric color conversion. There is. A colorimetric color conversion is a conversion that is faithful to a colorimetric value. Colorimetric color conversion is mainly used for conversion for color proof output of digital proofs where accurate color matching is required.

The A2B2 tag and the B2A2 tag are associated with a color conversion table for performing color conversion with emphasis on saturation (Saturation). Color conversion that emphasizes saturation is a conversion that emphasizes vividness of color rather than accuracy of color. Color conversion that emphasizes saturation is mainly used for conversion such as graph display in business graphics.

(3) Profile adjustment:
In the RIP 400, regardless of whether the input profile 610 and the output profile 620 are referred to or the device link profile 630 is referred to, the product printer 200 is affected by errors included in the profile, errors in color measurement, printer fluctuations, and the like. In some cases, a color sufficiently close to the target color C _T cannot be reproduced. Further, for all the color spaces that can be reproduced by the target printer 300 as an input device, it is not necessary to reproduce appropriate colors by the product printer 200 as an output device, and one of the color spaces that the target printer 300 can reproduce. In some cases, it may be sufficient for the product printer 200 to reproduce an appropriate color only for the part. In such cases, the input profile 610, output profile 620, and / or by adjusting the device link profile 630, can be brought close to the further target color C _T a reproduced color of the products for printers 200.

When adjusting the profile, the specification of one or more profiles to be adjusted among the input profile 610, the output profile 620, and the device link profile 630, and data representing the color to be adjusted in the color space of the profile to be adjusted. And data representing the target color that should bring the color to be adjusted closer to that color by adjustment is input via the input interface on the computer. The input interface on the computer will be described later.

When the output profile 620 is adjusted, the following processing is performed. The printed matter generated by the product printer 200 is color-measured according to the color data cmyk _p , and the color data Lab _p is generated (see the lower right part of FIG. 4). The color difference between the color data Labs specified in the Lab color space as the PCS (see the central portion of FIG. 4) and the color data Lab _p obtained by measuring the color of the printed matter of the product printer 200 is calculated. The output profile 620 is adjusted so that this color difference is reduced.

When the input profile 610 is adjusted, the following processing is performed. The printed matter generated by the product printer 200 is color-measured according to the color data cmyk _p , and the color data Lab _p is generated (see the lower right part of FIG. 4). Obtained by colorimetry prints the target printer 300, the color data Lab _T representing the target color C _T (see the upper right portion of FIG. 4), the color data obtained by colorimetry product literature for printers 200 The color difference between Lab _p and is calculated. The input profile 610 is adjusted so that this color difference is reduced.

When the device link profile 630 is adjusted, the color data Lab _T (see the upper right part of FIG. 4) and the printed matter of the product printer 200 are measured and obtained in the same manner as when the input profile 610 is adjusted. The device link profile 630 is adjusted so that the color difference between the obtained color data Lab _p and the obtained color data Lab _p is reduced.

For example, if the error contained in the profile is adjusted, the input interface on the computer specifies one of the input profile 610, the output profile 620, or the device link profile 630, and the adjustment process is performed on the computer. obtain.

When the color correction to bring the color of the printed material generated by the product for the printer 200 to the target color C _T is performed, the input profile 610 and the output profile 620 is specified, the adjustment process on a computer may be performed. If the RIP 400 holds a device link profile 630 along with an input profile 610 and an output profile 620 for the same combination of input and output devices, then the output profile 620 and device link profile when color proofing is performed. 630 may be specified and the adjustment process may be performed on the computer.

Further, when the color correction to bring the color of the printed material generated by the product for the printer 200 to the target color C _T is performed, as adjusted, the following coordinate values, be specified in the input interface on a computer Yes: Coordinate values in the color space of the ink color CMYK of the target printer 300 as an input device, coordinate values in the color space of the ink color CMYK of the product printer 200 as an output device, and / or coordinates in the Lab color space as a PCS. value. The specified coordinate values in the profile are adjusted via the computer.

If one output value of the input profile 610, output profile 620, and / or device link profile 630 is changed to a different value, the output value corresponding to the input value in the vicinity of the input value corresponding to the adjusted output value is also , Adjusted at the same time. This is to prevent a situation in which the gradation of the reproduced color deteriorates due to a certain output value being changed to a different value. When an output value is changed to a different value, the adjustment range, which is the range of input values for which the output value is adjusted at the same time, can be specified by the input interface on the computer. By specifying the range of input values for which the output value is adjusted at the same time when a certain output value is changed to a different value, the range affected when a certain output value is changed to a different value is controlled. ..

When the input profile 610, output profile 620, and / or device link profile 630 are adjusted, if the target color is not specified in the PCS (profile connection space), it is converted to the color data Lab represented by the PCS. Then, the target file can be adjusted.

When the input profile 610, output profile 620, and / or device link profile 630 are adjusted, they receive a rendering intent specification via the input interface on the computer and adjust the profile according to the specified rendering intent. May be done. Rendering intents include "Perceptual", "Relative Colorimetric", "Absolute Colorimetric", and "Saturation". ..

(4) User interface screen for adjusting profile:
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a user interface screen 800 displayed on a computer screen when a profile is adjusted. The user interface screen 800 (hereinafter referred to as "UI screen 800") has an input profile selection field 811, an output profile selection field 812, a device link profile selection field 813, an adjustment target profile specification field 820, and an adjustment target color space selection field. It has 830, a target reception area 840, an adjustment data selection field 845, an adjustment range designation field 850, an intent designation field 860, and an adjustment execution button 870.

The selection fields 811 to 813 are fields for designating a profile to be used for color conversion. The input profile selection field 811 is used for color conversion from the input profile 610 stored in the RAM 113v (see the upper right part of FIG. 1) when the input profile 610 is used for color conversion. This is a field for selecting and specifying an input profile. When the input profile 610 is not used for color conversion, the input profile selection field 811 is blank.

The output profile selection field 812 is for the user to select and specify the output profile used for the color conversion from the output profiles 620 stored in the RAM 113v when the output profile 620 is used for the color conversion. It is a column of. When the output profile 620 is not used for color conversion, the output profile selection field 812 is blank.

In the device link profile selection field 813, when the device link profile 630 is used for color conversion, the user selects the device link profile used for color conversion from the device link profiles 630 stored in the RAM 113v. , This is a column for specifying. When the device link profile 630 is not used for color conversion, the device link profile selection field 813 is blank.

One or more profiles specified via the selection fields 81 to 813 and used for color conversion are candidates for the profile to be adjusted.

The adjustment target profile designation field 820 is a field for designating the profile to be adjusted. In the adjustment target profile designation field 820, one profile is selected from the profiles designated as the profiles used for color conversion in the selection fields 81 to 813. In the example of FIG. 6, the input profile is specified in the input profile selection field 811, the output profile is specified in the output profile selection field 812, and the device link profile is not specified in the device link profile selection field 813. Therefore, only the input profile or the output profile can be selected in the adjustment target profile designation field 820. In the example of FIG. 6, the input profile is selected as the profile to be adjusted.

The adjustment target color space selection field 830 is a field for designating the color space to be adjusted among the two color spaces associated with the profile to be adjusted. In the example of FIG. 6, the input profile is selected as the profile to be adjusted in the adjustment target profile designation field 820. Therefore, in the adjustment target color space selection field 830, the "input data" for designating the CMYK color space of the target printer 300 and the "PCS value" for designating the Lab color space as the PCS (profile connection space). ", You can select either. In the example of FIG. 6, the Lab color space is selected as the color space to be adjusted.

When the output profile is selected as the adjustment target in the adjustment target profile designation field 820, in the adjustment target color space selection field 830, the "PCS value" for designating the Lab color space as the PCS and It is possible to select either "output data" for designating the CMYK color space of the product printer 200. When the device link profile is selected as the adjustment target, either "input data", "PCS value", or "output data" can be selected in the adjustment target color space selection field 830. ..

The adjustment data selection field 845 is a field for designating whether the content of the adjustment is specified by a value in the coordinates of the color space, that is, a target value, or a relative value, that is, a modification amount from the current value. In the adjustment data selection field 845, "absolute value" or "relative value" can be selected. In the example of FIG. 6, a relative value is selected. Depending on the selection in the adjustment data selection field 845, the display for designating the modification content in the target reception area 840 is changed.

The target reception area 840 is a column for designating the color P0 to be adjusted and the modification content T0 of the color P0 to be adjusted. In the target reception area 840, the color P0 to be adjusted is designated by the coordinate value in the color space of the ink color CMYK of the target printer 300 or the coordinate value in the Lab color space as the PCS. In the target reception area 840, the modification content T0 of the color P0 to be adjusted is designated by the target value in the coordinates of the Lab color space or the amount of modification from the value of the color P0 to be adjusted in the coordinates of the Lab color space. In the example of FIG. 6, since the “relative value” is selected in the adjustment data selection field 845, the modification content T0 of the color P0 to be adjusted is from the value of the color P0 to be adjusted in the coordinates of the Lab color space. Specified by the amount of modification.

The adjustment range designation column 850 is a column for designating the adjustment range in the profile to be adjusted. In the adjustment range designation field 850, the user decides whether to set the adjustment range, which is the range adjusted according to the specified modification content T0, to the entire color space, or to specify a part of the entire color space as the adjustment range. It is selectable. More specifically, in the adjustment range designation field 850, "entire input space" and "radius" can be selected. In the example of FIG. 6, in the adjustment range designation field 850, "the entire input space" is selected so that the adjustment range is the entire color space.

When the "radius" for designating a part of the entire color space is selected in the adjustment range designation field 850, a field for inputting the radius in the Lab color space as the PCS is displayed in the target reception area 840. In the Lab color space, the gradation value of the color space inside the sphere having the specified radius is adjusted according to the modification content T0 specified for the color P0 to be adjusted, centering on the color P0 to be adjusted. ..

The intent designation field 860 is a field for designating a rendering intent. In the intent designation field 860, "Perceptual" (perceptual), "Relative Colorimetric" (relative colorimetric), or "Saturation" (saturation-oriented) can be selected. When "Perceptual" is selected in the intent designation field 860, a color conversion table for performing perceptual color conversion is generated as the adjusted color conversion table (A2B0 in FIG. 5). See tags and B2A0 tags). When "Relative Colorimetric" is selected in the intent designation field 860, a color conversion table for performing relative colorimetric color conversion is generated as the adjusted color conversion table. (See A2B1 tag and B2A1 tag in FIG. 5). When "Saturation" (saturation-oriented) is selected in the intent designation field 860, a color conversion table for performing saturation-oriented color conversion is generated as the adjusted color conversion table (FIG. 5). A2B2 tag and B2A2 tag). In FIG. 6, "Perceptual" is designated as the designated intent.

(5) Adjusting the print result of the product printer that targets the print result of the target printer:
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a process of adjusting the print result of the product printer that targets the print result of the target printer. In the example of FIG. 7, the output profile 620 includes a B2A table 621 and an A2B table 622 (see the central portion of FIG. 7).

The B2A table 621 is a table for converting the coordinates in the Lab color space as the PCS (profile connection space) into the coordinates in the color space of the ink color cmyk of the product printer 200.

The A2B table 622 is a table for converting the coordinates in the color space of the ink color cmyk of the product printer 200 into the coordinates in the Lab color space as the PCS. The conversion by the A2B table 622 is a printed matter formed by the product printer 200 when the product printer 200 prints according to the color data specified in the color space of the ink color cmyk of the product printer 200. Corresponds to simulating the color of.

The input profile 610 (see the middle left part of FIG. 7) includes an A2B table 611. The A2B table 611 included in the input profile 610 is a table for converting the coordinates in the color space of the ink color CMYK of the target printer 300 into the coordinates in the Lab color space as the PCS. In FIG. 7, the A2B table 611 is not shown in order to facilitate understanding of the technology.

In the example of FIG. 7, the color of the printed matter to be produced in the product for the printer 200, so closer to the color of the printed matter produced by the target printer 300 target color C _T, the output of the B2A table 621 of the output profile 620 The gradation value is adjusted (see the central portion of FIG. 7).

First, the color data cMYK _p for the product printer 200 generated by converting the color data CMYK _in for the target printer 300 is modified with the initial value of the color adjustment vector Δcmyk. The color data cmyk _p for the product printer 200 after being modified by the initial value of the color adjustment vector Δcmyk is called the color data cmyk _pp (see the lower left part of FIG. 7).

Initial values of a plurality of color adjustment vectors Δcmyk are prepared. Then, among the initial values of the plurality of color adjustment vectors Δcmyk, the color adjustment vector Δcmyk that minimizes the objective function related to the print result is selected. Then, based on the selected color adjustment vector Δcmyk, the color adjustment vector Δcmyk to be used in the next process is determined. By repeating such processing, the optimum color adjustment vector Δcmyk _b is determined.

By converting the color data cmyk _pp modified by the color adjustment vector Δcmyk with the A2B table 622 of the output profile 620, the color data Lab _{S3 in the} Lab color space can be obtained (see the lower right part of FIG. 7). The color data Lab _{S3 in the} Lab color space represents the color of the printed matter formed by the product printer 200 when printing is performed according to the color data cmyk _pp .

On the other hand, by converting the color data cMYK _p for the product printer 200 generated by converting the color data CMYK _in for the target printer 300 with the A2B table 622 of the output profile 620, the color data Lab in the Lab color space is converted. _S2 is obtained (see the lower right part of FIG. 7). The color data Lab _{S2 in the} Lab color space represents the color of the printed matter formed by the product printer 200 when printing is performed according to the color data cmyk _p . By adding the color adjustment vector ΔLab _Tp representing the modification content T0 of the color P0 to be adjusted specified by the user to the color data Lab _S2 , the color data Lab _ST representing the target color can be obtained (FIG. 7). See the right part of the middle row and P0 and T0 in FIG. 6).

The color data Lab _S3 (see the lower right part of FIG. 7) of the color of the printed matter formed by the product printer 200 when printing is performed according to the color data cmyk _pp modified by the initial value of the color adjustment vector Δcmyk. The color difference ΔE ₀₀ between the color data Lab _ST representing the target color (see the middle right part of FIG. 7) and the color difference ΔE ₀₀ are calculated for the initial values of the respective color adjustment vectors Δcmyk. The color difference ΔE ₀₀ obtained for each initial value of the color adjustment vector Δcmyk is the difference between the print result brought about by each initial value of the color adjustment vector Δcmyk and the print result brought about by the ideal color adjustment vector Δcmyk.

The initial value of the color adjustment vector Δcmyk having the smallest value of the objective function including the square of the color difference ΔE ₀₀ as a component among the plurality of color adjustment vectors Δcmyk is selected from the plurality of initial values of the color adjustment vector Δcmyk. Will be done. Then, a plurality of color adjustment vectors Δcmyk used in the next process are generated based on the initial values of the selected color adjustment vector Δcmyk. Hereinafter, the same process is repeated to determine the optimum color adjustment vector Δcmyk _b .

Optimizing the color data cMYK _p for the product printer 200 (see the middle right part of FIG. 7) generated by converting the color data CMYK _in for the target printer 300 by the B2A table 621 of the input profile 610 and the output profile 620. The following effects can be obtained by adjusting the color adjustment vector Δcmyk _b . That is, the color of the printed matter generated by the product printer 200 can be brought close to the target color C _T , which is the color of the printed matter generated by the target printer 300. The output gradation value of the B2A table 621 of the output profile 620 is adjusted by the optimum color adjustment vector Δcmyk _b (see the central portion of FIG. 7).

(6) Adjustment of print results between product printers:
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a process of adjusting printing results between product printers. Although omitted in the explanation so far, when inks of other colors are used in addition to cyan (c), magenta (m), yellow (y), and black (k) in the product printer 200. Is processed as follows. That is, the color data cmyk _p in which the color is expressed by the combination of the four gradation values of cyan (c), magenta (m), yellow (y), and black (k) uses the color separation plate table 750. Then, it is converted into a color data INK in which a color is expressed by a combination of each gradation value of five or more colors of ink used in the product printer 200 (see the middle right part of FIG. 8). The product printer 200 prints according to the color data INK. In FIG. 8, color data in which a color is expressed by a combination of four gradation values of cyan (c), magenta (m), yellow (y), and black (k) is represented by color data cmyk _p0 . Color data in which colors are expressed by a combination of gradation values of five or more ink colors used in product printers 200 and 201 are represented by color data INK ₀ and INK ₁ .

Even if printing is performed by the product printers 200 and 201 of the same model according to the same color data cmyk _p0 , the colors reproduced in the print result of the product printer 200 and the print results of the product printer 201 are reproduced. The color to be printed may be different. In such a case, the colors reproduced in the print result are unified by the following processing.

One product printer 200 is defined as the reference printer 200. The printer 201 for other products is defined as the target printer 201 to be adjusted. The color reproduced in the print result PA1 of the target printer 201 and specified by the color data Lab _p is the color reproduced in the print result PA0 of the reference printer 200 and is specified by the color data Lab _T. The color data input to the target printer 201 is adjusted so as to approach the desired color.

Specifically, the color data cmyk _p0 output from the RIP 400 is converted into the color data cmyk _p1 by the device link table 701 included in the device link profile 700 for calibration (see the central portion of FIG. 8). The color data cmyk _p1 is color data in which a color closer to the color reproduced in the print result PA0 of the reference printer 200 is reproduced in the target printer 201 as compared with the color data cmyk _p0 . The color reproduced in the print result PA0 of the reference printer 200 is specified by the color data Lab _T. The color reproduced in the print result PA1 of the target printer 201 is specified by the color data Lab _p .

The device link table 701 uses a combination of four gradation values of cyan (c), magenta (m), yellow (y), and black (k) as input values, and uses cyan (c), magenta (m), and yellow as input values. It is a table in which the combination of the gradation values of the four colors (y) and black (k) is used as the output value. The device link table 701 is generated as follows.

First, the original table 711 is prepared. The original table 711 uses a combination of four gradation values of cyan (c), magenta (m), yellow (y), and black (k) as input values, and cyan (c), magenta (m), and yellow ( It is a table in which a combination of each gradation value of four colors of y) and black (k) is used as an output value. In the original table 711, the combination of each gradation value of the output value is the same as the combination of each gradation value of the input value. That is, the conversion according to the source table 711 is an identity conversion.

The device link table 701 is generated by modifying the output value of the original table 711. The color of the printed matter to be produced by the target printer 201, so close to the target color C _T is the color of the printed material generated by the reference printer 200, modified amount Δcmyk output tone value of the original table 711 is determined.

An A2B table 641 is prepared. The A2B table 641 is a table for converting the coordinates of the ink color cmyk of the target printer 201 in the color space into the coordinates in the Lab color space as the PCS (profile connection space). The conversion by the A2B table 641 changes the color of the printed matter formed by the target printer 201 when the target printer 201 prints according to the color data specified in the color space of the ink color cmyk of the target printer 201. , Equivalent to simulating.

The A2B table 641 is generated as follows. The color data in the cmyk color space for printing the color chart is input to the target printer 201 to print the color chart CH1. Color measurement is performed on patch PA1 of each color of the color chart CH1 to obtain a color measurement value Lab _p (see the lower right part of FIG. 8). By associating the color measurement value Lab _p (L, a, b) of each patch PA1 with the combination of the gradation values of the basic colors (c, m, y, k) in the cmyk color space of each patch PA1, A2B Table 641 is generated.

Difference data 650 is prepared. The difference data 650 is data representing the difference between the color reproduced by the reference printer 200 and the color reproduced by the target printer 201 in the Lab color space. The difference data 650 is generated as follows. The same color data in the cmyk color space for printing the color chart is input to the reference printer 200 and the target printer 201, and the color charts CH0 and CH1 are printed, respectively. Then, the corresponding patches PA0 and PA1 of the color charts CH0 and CH1 are color-measured to obtain the colorimetric values Lab _T and Lab _p (see the upper right part and the lower right part of FIG. 8).

The difference between the color measurement values Lab _T and Lab _p (ΔL, Δa, Δb) is the four colors of cyan (c), magenta (m), yellow (y), and black (k) in the cmyk color space of patch PA0 or PA1. Difference data 650 is generated by performing the process of associating with the combination of each gradation value of the above for each patch of the color charts CH0 and CH1. As a result, the generated difference data 650 is a table in which the combination of the gradation values of the basic colors in the cmyk color space is input and the color difference in the Lab color space is output. The difference between the color expressed by the reference printer 200 and the color expressed by the target printer 201 is referred to as ΔLab _Tp .

After that, the optimum value Δcmyk _b of the modification amount of the output gradation value of the original table 711 is determined by the same method as the method described with reference to FIG. 7. However, instead of the A2B table 622 of the output profile 620 (see the lower center of FIG. 7), the A2B table 641 (see the lower center of FIG. 8) that functions as a simulator of the target printer 201 is used.

More specifically, the following processing is performed. The output color data cmyk _p of the B2A table 621 of the output profile 620 is converted by the provisional device link table 701 obtained by modifying the original table 711 with the provisional modification amount Δcmyk (center of FIG. 7). (See section), put into the A2B table 641. The A2B table 641 functions as a simulator of the target printer 201.

The output of the A2B table 641 is evaluated as the evaluation of the modified amount Δcmyk obtained by modifying the original table 711 (see Lab _S3 and ΔE _{00 in} the lower right part of FIG. 7). Such processing is performed on a plurality of provisional modification amounts Δcmyk. Then, the modification amount Δcmyk that minimizes the objective function related to the print result is selected. Based on the selected modification amount Δcmyk, a plurality of modification amounts Δcmyk used in the next process are generated. By repeating such processing, the optimum value Δcmyk _{b of the} amount of modification of the output gradation value of the original table 711 is determined.

The output gradation value of the original table 711 is modified by the optimum value Δcmyk _b of the modification amount of the output gradation value of the original table 711, and the device link table 701 is generated (see the central portion of FIG. 8).

In this embodiment, a device that modifies the output value of the B2A table 621 instead of adjusting the B2A table 621 for converting the coordinates in the Lab color space into the coordinates in the color space of the ink color cmyk of the product printer 200. By providing the link table 701, the color reproduced by the target printer 201 is brought closer to the color reproduced by the reference printer 200. That is, the processing for adjustment is performed in the cmyk color space. Therefore, in the conversion between the Lab color space as the PCS (profile connection space) and the cmyk color space for the printer, the color adjustment can be performed without being affected by the gamut mapping between the two spaces. .. As a result, the colors reproduced by the target printer 201 and the reference printer 200, which receive the same color data specified in the cmyk color space and reproduce the colors, can be brought close to each other with high accuracy.

In the RIP 400, the device link table 701 may be held independently of the B2A table 621, or the B2A table 621 whose output value is modified based on the device link table 701 may be held.

(7) Color conversion table creation process:
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a process of creating a B2A table 621 and a color separation table 750 as color conversion tables (see the central portion of FIG. 7 and 621 and 750 of FIG. 8). The process shown in FIG. 9 is executed when the computer 100v of the media vendor MV generates the printer profile information 1060 in the print setting information Ips (see the upper right part of FIG. 1 and 620 of FIG. 2). ). Although only the output profile 620 is described in the printer profile information 1060 in the print setting information Ips of FIG. 2, the color separation table 750 may be included.

In the process of creating the B2A table 621 and the color separation table 750 (see the central portion of FIG. 7 and 621 and 750 of FIG. 8), in the cmyk color space corresponding to the combination of gradation values in the Lab color space as the PCS. The combination of gradation values is determined. In the present specification, the combination of gradation values in the Lab color space as a PCS is also referred to as a "lattice point". The gradation value in the cmyk color space is also referred to as "ink amount".

In step S11, as an initial setting, an ink amount usage limit is set according to the user's operation.

In step S12, the amount of ink at a specific grid point is set according to the operation of the user.

In step S13, a target grid point, which is one grid point for determining the amount of ink, is selected. As a method for selecting the target lattice point, a known technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-223345 can be used. The outline of the process will be described below.

It is assumed that there are N grid points (N is an integer represented by 2n and n is a positive integer) along a certain coordinate axis direction of the color conversion table. It is assumed that the N grid points have grid point numbers (1 to N) in the order of arrangement along the direction of the coordinate axes. The grid points are numbered according to the following processing.

First, 1 is assigned as the processing order to the 1st grid point, and 2 is assigned as the processing order to the Nth grid point. After that, among the combinations of adjacent grid points whose processing order has been determined, one set of grid points having the largest difference in grid point numbers is selected, and the next grid point is set as the midpoint grid point of the set of grid points. The processing order is assigned. When there are a plurality of combinations of grid points having the largest difference in grid point numbers, the combination including the grid points having the smallest grid point number is selected. By such processing, a processing number is assigned to each grid point.

In step S13, among the grid points arranged along the coordinate axis direction and the grid points for which the ink amount has not been determined, the grid points having the smallest processing order are selected as the target grid points.

In step S20, virtual color values are determined for the target grid points. Specifically, the virtual color value is a gradation value of each ink color in the cmyk color space. For some grid points including the grid points at the vertices of the color conversion table, virtual color values are determined in advance by a method different from the method described below. The grid points at the vertices of the color conversion table are grid points whose coordinates are specified by the combination of the maximum value or the minimum value of the gradation values for each coordinate axis in the color space of the color conversion table.

Virtual color values have already been determined for the two grid points closest to the target grid points on both sides of the target grid point in the color conversion table according to the processing order. The virtual color values of the grid points on both sides of them are used to determine the virtual color values of the target grid points. Specifically, it is a cubic spline function that outputs one of the virtual color values, more specifically, the gradation value of cmyk, and has two grid points whose virtual color values are known and a virtual one. A cubic spline function is created that connects the target grid points whose color values are undetermined. The virtual color value of the target lattice point is determined so that the sum of squares of the second derivative of the third-order spline function is minimized.

In step S30, the virtual color values of some target grid points are modified so that the color reproduction range is maximized within the range of the ink amount usage limit specified by the user.

In step S40, a process of maximizing the total amount of ink corresponding to the target grid points is performed. By this process, for example, a part of the black ink amount is replaced with a combination of cyan, magenta, and yellow ink amounts. As a result, the graininess of the printed result is improved.

In step S50, the amount of ink corresponding to the target grid point is determined so that the ink amount gradation property is the best. The amount of ink is determined in advance for some of the grid points including the grid points at the vertices of the color conversion table by a method different from the method described below (see S12).

The amount of ink has already been determined for the two grid points closest to the target grid points on both sides of the target grid point according to the processing order. The amount of ink at the grid points on both sides of them is used to determine the amount of ink at the grid points of interest. Specifically, it is a cubic spline function that outputs the amount of ink, and a cubic spline function that connects two grid points whose ink amounts are known and target grid points whose ink amount is undetermined. Will be created. The amount of ink at the target grid point is determined so that the sum of squares of the second derivative of the third-order spline function is minimized. As a result, the amount of ink corresponding to the target grid point is determined so that the ink amount gradation property is the best.

In step S14, it is determined whether or not the amount of ink has been determined for all the grid points in the color conversion table. If there are grid points for which the amount of ink has not been determined, the process returns to step S13. When the amount of ink is determined for all the grid points, the process ends.

By the above processing, the B2A table 621 and the color separation table 750 as the color conversion table can be generated (see the central portion of FIG. 7 and 621 and 750 of FIG. 8).

In the method of creating the color conversion table shown in FIG. 9, the virtual color value is determined so that the sum of squares of the second derivative value is minimized by using a cubic spline function connecting a plurality of grid points. In addition, a combination of ink amounts at each grid point is determined so as to minimize the sum of squares of the second derivative using a cubic spline function that connects a plurality of grid points. Therefore, it is possible to realize printing in which both the gradation of the color value of the printing result and the gradation of the amount of ink are improved.

Further, by using the method for creating the color conversion table of the present embodiment, not only the color conversion table can be created in advance, but also the color conversion table can be recreated every time the printing conditions are changed.

C. Other embodiments:
C1. Other form 1:
(1) In the above embodiment, the printer 200 includes a spectrophotometer for measuring the color attached to the printed matter and a digital still camera for capturing an image formed on the printed matter. .. However, the printer used to generate the print setting information can be in a mode that does not include at least one of a spectrophotometer and a digital still camera. For example, the media vendor MV may separately prepare a sensor for determining the quality of the print result. Such a sensor may be lent by the printer provider PP to the media vendor MV.

(2) In the above embodiment, the quality level information 1130 includes evaluation values of color reproduction accuracy, color reproduction range, gradation characteristics, graininess, and ink bleeding for a print result (see FIG. 2). However, the quality level information may be in a mode that does not include at least a part of the evaluation values of color reproduction accuracy, color reproduction range, gradation characteristics, graininess, and ink bleeding. The quality level information can also include other evaluation values for the print result.

(3) In the above embodiment, the recording medium for laminating is provided with an RFID (Radio Frequency IDentifier) and a QR code (registered trademark). Then, by transmitting the information read from the RFID or QR code to the management server Sv, the printing companies PCa and PCb can download the print setting information Ips for laminating. However, such processing can be applied not only to the print setting information Ips for the recording medium for laminating, but also to the print setting information Ips created for various recording media. In such an embodiment, the type of print medium can be automatically specified when the print setting information Ips is selected.

(4) In the above embodiment, the printing company sets the software for controlling the printer 200 based on the print setting information Ips, and prints. However, the setting based on the print setting information Ips may be made directly to the printer. Further, the setting based on the print setting information Ips may be performed on both the printer and the software that controls the printer.

(5) In FIG. 1, the computers 100a, 100b, 100as, 100ao, 100pp, 100s, 100v, 100psv owned by the media vendor MV, the printing company PCa, PCb, PCas, the sales office PCao, the printer provider PP, and the management server Sv , Each depicted as a computer with one enclosure. However, each of these computers may be realized by a plurality of computers connected by a network. Further, one computer may realize the functions of a plurality of computers among the computers 100a, 100b, 100as, 100ao, 100pp, 100s, 100v, 100psv.

(6) In the above embodiment, the processing performed by the print setting vendor PSV, including the creation and upload of the print setting information Ips, is also performed by the media vendor MV and the printer provider PP (see the lower right part of FIG. 1). However, one or both of the media vendor MV and the printer provider PP may not perform the processing performed by the print setting vendor PSV.

(7) In the above embodiment, the process including the creation and upload of the print setting information Ips is performed by the print setting vendor PSV, the media vendor MV, and the printer provider PP (see the right part of FIG. 1). However, the print setting vendor PSV may not perform the process including the creation and upload of the print setting information Ips.

(8) In the above embodiment, the printer provider PP provides the print setting vendor PSV with the printer 200 psv and the profile creation tool PMT (see the middle right part of FIG. 1). This aspect of provision can be sales or lending (including licensing) from the printer provider PP to the print setup vendor PSV, either directly or through an agency. In addition, this aspect of provision can be sold or lent through the market.

In the above embodiment, the printer provider PP provides the print setting vendor PSV with a printer 200 psv and a profile creation tool PMT (see the middle right part of FIG. 1). However, the subject that provides the printer 200 psv to the print setting vendor PSV and the subject that provides the profile creation tool PMT to the media vendor MV may be different. That is, the printer provider PP may provide the printer 200 psv to the print setting vendor PSV, and a tool vendor different from the printer provider PP may provide the profile creation tool PMT to the print setting vendor PSV.

(9) In the above embodiment, the number of downloads Ni, the ink total amount Vib, Via, and the media total amount Vma, Vmb are cleared at regular intervals, for example, every month, and are counted again from the beginning. Then, the ink total amount Vib, Via and the medium total amount Vma, Vmb are used for the calculation of the consideration or the reward every month. However, these measurements may be measured in other periods such as 1 week, 3 months, 6 months. In addition, these measured values may be measured by different institutions.

(10) In the above embodiment, the computer 100a of the printing company PCa uploads the ink consumption Vi and the medium consumption Vm to the management server Sv (see the central part of FIG. 1). The printer's computer can upload additional information to the management server Sv.

The computer 100a of the printing company PCa can upload the operating rate and operating time of the printer owned by the printing company PCa to the management server Sv. The computer 100a of the printing company PCa can upload the scheduled operating time of the printer owned by the printing company PCa to the management server Sv. In such an embodiment, the orderer OP can access the management server Sv, check the scheduled operating time, operating rate, etc. of the printers of each printing company, and assign the job Jb to each printing company.

The computer 100a of the printing company PCa can upload the mounting rate of the printing medium MD to the printer 200a for each type to the management server Sv. The computer 100a of the printing company PCa can upload the consumption rate of each type of printing medium MD per unit time such as one month or half a year to the management server Sv. The computer 100a of the printing company PCa can upload the data of the variation in the quality of the printing result between lots and the data of the evaluation result of the job Jb obtained from the orderer OP to the management server Sv.

In such an embodiment, the management server Sv can provide the data to the media vendor MV. The media vendor MV can make a production plan for each type of print medium MD based on the mounting rate and consumption rate on the printer 200a for each type of print medium MD. The media vendor MV can perform quality control of the print medium MD based on the data of the variation in the quality of the print result between lots and the data of the evaluation result of the job Jb obtained from the orderer OP.

The computer 100a of the printing company PCa can upload the sensor data obtained by measuring the printed matter PM with the sensor of the printer 200a and the amount used in printing for each ink to the management server Sv. By obtaining information on the number of times each nozzle of the printer 200a is driven and the type of droplets ejected by each drive from the printer 200a, the computer 100a can calculate the amount used in printing for each ink.

In such an embodiment, the management server Sv can provide the data to the printer provider PP. The printer provider PP can calculate the consideration Pcp2 (see the lower right part of FIG. 1) based on the amount of printing used for each ink. By performing such a process, except for ink consumption that does not directly benefit the printer PCa, such as nozzle cleaning and ink consumed in the pre-ejection of ink before the start of printing. The consideration Pcp2 can be determined.

The printer provider PP can provide the maintenance service of the printer 200a of the printer PCa at an appropriate timing based on the sensor data and the amount of printing used for each ink. The printer provider PP can produce a printer and design a new printer in consideration of the sensor data.

The management server Sv can provide the printer provider PP with the download amount for each print setting information Ips. The printer provider PP can calculate the consideration Pcv (see the middle right part of FIG. 1) based on the download amount for each print setting information Ips. By performing such processing, the consideration Pcv can be appropriately set based on the actual results.

(11) In the above embodiment, in step S120 of FIG. 3, the management server Sv prints the color chart with the printer 200s. The management server Sv measures the print result of the color chart with the sensor of the printer 200s, and determines the evaluation value regarding the quality of the print result based on the output of the sensor. However, the management server Sv may be in a mode in which the color chart is not printed and measured.

In such an embodiment, the print setting vendor PSV prints the color chart with the printer 200 psv according to the print setting information Ips to be transmitted to the management server Sv prior to the transmission of the print setting information Ips to the management server Sv. I do. The printing method is the same as the method in step S120 of FIG.

The print setting vendor PSV measures the print result of the color chart with a sensor of the printer 200 psv, and determines an evaluation value regarding the quality of the print result based on the output of the sensor. The method for determining the evaluation value is the same as the method for determining the evaluation value of the print result on the management server Sv. The print setting vendor PSV includes the evaluation value of the print result in the print setting information Ips to be transmitted to the management server Sv.

In step S120 of FIG. 3, the management server Sv determines whether or not the print setting information Ips satisfies the condition regarding the predetermined print result based on the evaluation value of the print result included in the print setting information Ips. to decide. In such an embodiment, it is not necessary to assign an operator for printing to the management server Sv. Further, the print setting vendor PSV does not need to send the sample of the print medium MD used by the printer 200 psv when generating the print setting information Ips to the management server Sv.

(12) In the above embodiment, an embodiment in which the recording medium for laminating processing includes RFID and a QR code (registered trademark) has been described. However, a recording medium that is not supposed to be laminated can also be provided with an RFID or a QR code (registered trademark). Also in such an embodiment, the printing company can download the print setting information Ips provided for the recording medium by transmitting the information read from the RFID or QR code to the management server Sv. ..

(13) In the above embodiment, the printer provider PP creates the print setting information Ips of the reward Pcr determined based on the printing results performed by the printing companies PCa and PCb based on the print setting information Ips. Pay to the print setting vendor PSV (see the lower right part of Fig. 1). However, the reward determined based on the printing performance may be paid by the media vendor MV to the print setting vendor PSV. That is, the media vendor MV pays the print setting vendor PSV that created the print setting information Ips a reward Pcr2 determined based on the printing results performed based on the print setting information Ips at the printing companies PCa and PCb. It may be used (see the upper right part of FIG. 1). Further, the rewards Pcr and Pcr2 determined based on the printing performance may be paid to the print setting vendor PSV from both the printer provider PP and the media vendor MV.

The calculation of the reward Pcr2 paid by the media vendor MV can also be done by the media vendor MV, or by the printer provider PP or the management server Sv. Further, the calculation of the reward Pcr paid from the printer provider PP can be performed by the management server Sv instead of the printer provider PP.

(14) In the above embodiment, the printer provider PP provides the print setting vendor PSV with the printer 200 psv and the profile creation tool PMT (see the middle right part of FIG. 1). Then, the print setting vendor PSV creates a profile according to the combination of the printer 200 psv and various types of print media MD manufactured by the media vendor MV. However, the printer provider PP is equipped with a printer 200 pp, and uses the printer 200 pp and the profile creation tool PMT to create a profile according to the combination of the printer 200 pp and various types of print media MD manufactured by the media vendor MV. It can also be in the mode of

In this embodiment, the media vendor MV provides the reward Pcr2 determined based on the printing performance performed based on the print setting information Ips at the printing companies PCa and PCb, and the printer provider PP that creates the print setting information Ips. Can be paid to (see the upper right part of Fig. 1).

C2. Other form 2:
In the above embodiment, the print setting information Ips includes the following information (see FIG. 2): target printer model information 1010, target print medium type information 1020, and target printer. Information on the type of ink to be used 1030, information on the print mode to be used in the target printer 1040, information on printer operation setting parameters including the feed speed of the medium in the target printer 1050, information on the target printer. Profile information 1060.

However, the print setting information Ips may be in a mode that does not include at least a part of these. However, the print setting information Ips preferably includes information 1010 of the model of the target printer, information 1020 of the type of the target print medium, and information 1030 of the type of ink to be used in the target printer. ..

C3. Other form 3:
In the above embodiment, the printer provider PP pays the print setting vendor PSV that created the print setting information Ips a reward Pcr determined based on the medium total amount Vmb (upper center part and upper right part of FIG. 1). reference). The medium total amount Vmb is the amount of the print medium MD used in printing by the client printers 200a and 200b that have been set based on the print setting information Ips. However, the rewards Pcr, Pcr2 paid to the print setting vendor PSV may be determined by other methods.

(1) The ink total amount Vib (see the upper center of FIG. 1) aggregated for each print setting information Ips is also based on the client printers 200a and 200b set based on the print setting information Ips at the printing companies PCa and PCb. Shows printing results. Therefore, the following aspects can also be adopted.

Both the printer provider PP and the media vendor MV acquire the ink total amount Vib from the management server Sv at regular intervals, for example, every month. The printer provider PP determines the rewards Pcr and Pcr2 based on the ink total amount Vib for each print setting information Ips. Then, the printer provider PP pays the rewards Pcr and Pcr2 to the print setting vendor PSV that created the print setting information Ips.

Also in this embodiment, the rewards Pcr and Pcr2 are actually in the printing companies PCa and PCb as compared with the embodiment in which the rewards Pcr and Pcr2 to be paid to the print setting vendor PSV are determined based on the number of downloads Ni from the management server Sv. It is easy to decide by reflecting the usage record of. The rewards Pcr and Pcr2 can also be determined based on both the medium total amount Vmb and the ink total amount Vib, respectively.

(2) The number of downloads Ni measured for each print setting information Ips also represents the actual printing results of the client printers 200a and 200b that have been set based on the print setting information Ips by the printing companies PCa and PCb. Therefore, the following aspects can also be adopted.

Both the printer provider PP and the media vendor MV acquire the number of downloads Ni measured for each print setting information Ips from the management server Sv at regular intervals, for example, every month. The printer provider PP determines the rewards Pcr and Pcr2 based on the number of times Ni for which the print setting information Ips is downloaded. Then, the printer provider PP may pay the rewards Pcr and Pcr2 to the print setting vendor PSV that created the print setting information Ips.

The number of times Ni for which the print setting information Ips is downloaded is measured on the management server Sv. Therefore, the management server Sv receives the amount Vm of the print medium MD and the amount Vi of the ink used by the printing companies PCa, PCb, and PCas, and aggregates them into the media total amount Vmb and the ink total amount Vib. Compared to this, it is easy to grasp. Therefore, the process of determining the consideration Pcr is easy.

D. Yet other forms:
The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be realized in various forms without departing from the spirit thereof. For example, the present disclosure can also be realized in the following forms. The technical features in each of the embodiments described below correspond to the technical features in the above embodiments in order to solve some or all of the problems of the present disclosure, or some or all of the effects of the present disclosure. It is possible to replace or combine as appropriate to achieve the above. Further, if the technical feature is not described as essential in the present specification, it can be appropriately deleted.

(1) According to one form of the present disclosure, a first provider that provides a printer, a second provider that provides a print medium, and a third provider that provides a profile according to a combination of a printer and a print medium. A printing system is provided in which one or more clients that print on the print medium using the printer and the profile, and a storage unit that processes and stores information are connected via a network. The first provider provides the third provider with a provider printer and a profile creation tool as software. The third provider uses the provider printer and the profile creation tool to create print setting information including a profile according to the combination of the provider printer and the print medium, and stores the print setting information in the storage unit. The process of transmitting the print setting information to the storage unit is executed for one or more print media provided by the second provider in order to store the print setting information. The client downloads the print setting information according to the combination of the client printer used for printing and the print medium used for printing in the client from the storage unit, and controls the client printer. The client printer is set based on the print setting information, and the printing is performed. Either or both of the first provider and the second provider receive a reward determined based on the performance of the printing performed by the client printer, which is set based on the print setting information in the client. , Pay to the third provider who created the print setting information.
In such an aspect, it is possible to give the third provider an incentive to create print setting information that is frequently used by the client and is useful to the client. As a result, the third provider generates print setting information that is useful to the client and can realize high-quality printing. In addition, since the reward is determined based on the printing performance, the reward can be set fairly.

(2) In the printing system of the above-described form, the print setting information includes the target printer model, the target print medium type, the type of ink used in the target printer, and the target printer. The mode may also include the print mode used, the printer configuration parameters including the feed rate of the medium in the target printer, and the profile of the target printer.
In such an aspect, the client sets the software for controlling the client printer or the client printer based on the print setting information, and prints the third provider to (i) the model of the client printer. By specifying ii) the type of print medium, (iii) the type of ink, (iv) the print mode, and (v) the setting parameters, it is possible to obtain a printed matter having the quality assumed when the profile is created.

(3) In the printing system of the above embodiment, the client measures the amount of the printing medium used in the printing by the client printer for which the setting based on the printing setting information is set, and the first provider and the printing system are used. One or both of the second providers may use the print medium used in the printing by the client printer in which the third provider that created the print setting information is set based on the print setting information. The reward, which is determined based on the amount of the above, may be paid.
In such an embodiment, the reward paid to the third provider is determined based on the amount of print medium used in printing. Therefore, the reward is more likely to be determined by reflecting the actual usage record of the client, as compared with the mode in which the reward paid to the third provider is determined based on the number of downloads from the storage unit.

(4) In the printing system of the above embodiment, the client measures the amount of ink used in the printing by the client printer for which settings are made based on the print setting information, and the first provider and the first provider. One or both of the two providers is based on the amount of ink used in the printing by the client printer in which the third provider that created the print setting information is set based on the print setting information. It is also possible to pay the remuneration determined in the above-mentioned manner.
In such an embodiment, the reward paid to the third provider is determined based on the amount of ink used in printing. Therefore, the reward is more likely to be determined by reflecting the actual usage record of the client, as compared with the mode in which the reward paid to the third provider is determined based on the number of downloads from the storage unit.

(5) In the printing system of the above embodiment, the storage unit measures the number of times downloaded by the client for each print setting information, and either or both of the first provider and the second provider. Can also be an embodiment in which the third provider who created the print setting information is paid the reward determined based on the number of times the print setting information is downloaded.
In such an embodiment, the reward is determined based on the number of times the print setting information has been downloaded. By using the storage unit, the number of times the print setting information is downloaded can be easily grasped as compared with the amount of the print medium used by the client. Therefore, the process of determining the reward is easier than in the mode in which the reward is determined based on the amount of the print medium.

The present disclosure can also be realized in various forms other than the printing system. For example, a printing processing method, a printing medium providing method, a consideration providing method, a reward providing method, a computer program that realizes these methods, a non-temporary recording medium that records the computer program, and the like. Can be done.

The plurality of components of each form of the disclosure described above are not all essential and may be used to solve some or all of the problems described above, or part or all of the effects described herein. In order to achieve the above, it is possible to change, delete, replace some of the components of the plurality of components with new other components, and partially delete the limited contents, as appropriate. Also, in order to solve some or all of the above-mentioned problems, or to achieve some or all of the effects described herein, the technical features included in one form of the above-mentioned disclosure. It is also possible to combine some or all with some or all of the technical features contained in the other forms of the present disclosure described above to form an independent form of the present disclosure.

100a, 100b, 100s, 100v, 100psv, 100as, 100ao ... Computer, 111a, 111b, 111s, 111v, 111psv, 111as, 111ao ... CPU, 112a, 112b, 112s, 112v, 112psv, 112as, 112ao ... ROM, 113a, 113b, 113s, 113v, 113psv, 113as, 113ao ... RAM, 115a, 115b, 115s, 115v, 115psv, 115as, 115ao ... Display device, 116a, 116b, 116s, 116v, 116psv, 116as, 116ao ... Input device, 200a, 200b, 200s, 200v, 200psv, 200as ... printer, 200, 201 ... product printer, 300 ... target printer, 400 ... RIP (raster image processor), 500 ... ICC profile, 510 ... profile header, 520 ... tag table, 521 ... Tag, 523 ... Private Tag, 530 ... Element Data, 610 ... Input Profile, 611 ... A2B Table, 620 ... Output Profile, 621 ... B2A Table, 622 ... A2B Table, 630 ... Device Link Profile, 640 ... Color Library , 641 ... A2B table, 650 ... Difference data, 700 ... Device link profile for calibration, 701 ... Device link table, 711 ... Original table, 750 ... Color separation table, 800 ... User interface screen, 811 ... Input profile selection field , 812 ... Output profile selection field, 813 ... Device link profile selection field, 820 ... Adjustment target profile specification field, 830 ... Adjustment target color space selection field, 840 ... Target reception area, 845 ... Adjustment data selection field, 850 ... Adjustment range Designation column, 860 ... Intent designation field, 870 ... Adjustment execution button, 1010 ... Printer model information, 1020 ... Print medium type information, 1030 ... Ink type information, 1040 ... Print mode information, 1050 ... Printer operation setting parameter information, 1060 ... Profile, 1110 ... Creator ID, 1120 ... Creation method information, 1130 ... Quality level information, CH0, CH1 ... Color chart, CMYKin ... Color data represented by ink color, CT … Target color, D0… Printed document data, INK0, INK1… Color day represented by the ink color of the ink used Data, Ips ... Print setting information, Jb ... Job, Lab _p , Lab _S , Lab _S1 , Lab _S2 , Lab _S3 , Lab _ST , Lab _T ... Color data specified in the Lab color space, MD ... Print medium, MV ... Media vendor, Ni ... Download count, OP ... Orderer, P0 ... Color to be adjusted, PA0 ... Print result (patch), PA1 ... Print result (patch), PCa, PCb ... Printing company, PCao ... Printing company PCa sales Place, PCas ... Printing company (subsidiary of printing company PCa), PM ... Printed matter, PMT ... Profile creation tool, PP ... Printer provider, PS ... Printing system, PSV ... Printing setting vendor, Pcp0, Pcp1, Pcp2, Pcv ... Consideration, Pcr ... Reward (compensation), Pcr2 ... Reward (compensation), Sv ... Management server, T0 ... Modified content, Vi ... Ink consumption, Via ... Ink total amount, Vib ... Ink total amount, Vm ... Media consumption, Vma ... Medium total amount, Vmb ... Medium total amount, cmyk _p , cmyk _p0 , cmyk _p1 , cmyk _pp ... Color data represented by ink color, ΔE ₀₀ ... Color difference, ΔLab _Tp ... Color adjustment vector, Δcmyk ... Color adjustment vector (modification) Amount), Δcmyk _b … Optimal color adjustment vector

Claims (5)

A first provider that provides a printer, a second provider that provides a print medium, a third provider that provides a profile according to a combination of the printer and the print medium, and the printer and the print medium using the profile. A printing system in which one or more clients that print to a printer and a storage unit that processes and stores information are connected via a network.
The first provider provides the third provider with a provider printer and a profile creation tool as software.
The third provider uses the provider printer and the profile creation tool to create print setting information including a profile according to the combination of the provider printer and the print medium, and stores the print setting information in the storage unit. The process of transmitting the print setting information to the storage unit is executed for one or more print media provided by the second provider in order to store the print setting information.
The client
The print setting information corresponding to the combination of the client printer used for printing in the client and the print medium used for printing is downloaded from the storage unit.
The software that controls the client printer or the client printer is set based on the print setting information to perform the printing.
Either or both of the first provider and the second provider receive a reward determined based on the performance of the printing performed by the client printer, which is set based on the print setting information in the client. , A printing system that pays the third provider that created the print setting information. The printing system according to claim 1.
The print setting information is
Target printer model,
Target print media type,
The type of ink used in the target printer,
The print mode used in the target printer,
A printing system that includes the printer configuration parameters, including the feed rate of the medium in the target printer, and the profile of the target printer. The printing system according to claim 1 or 2.
The client measures the amount of the print medium used in the printing by the client printer that has been set based on the print setting information.
Either or both of the first provider and the second provider are used in the printing by the client printer in which the third provider that created the print setting information is set based on the print setting information. A printing system that pays the reward, which is determined based on the amount of the printing medium made. The printing system according to claim 1 or 2.
The client measures the amount of ink used in the printing by the client printer that has been set based on the print setting information.
Either or both of the first provider and the second provider are used in the printing by the client printer in which the third provider that created the print setting information is set based on the print setting information. A printing system that pays the reward, which is determined based on the amount of ink made. The printing system according to claim 1 or 2.
The storage unit measures the number of times downloaded by the client for each print setting information.
Either or both of the first provider and the second provider give the third provider, who created the print setting information, the reward determined based on the number of times the print setting information has been downloaded. , Pay, printing system.

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