JP2021103478A - Image forming apparatus, control method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To solve the problem in which: the types of recording agents necessary for printing print data submitted to image data do not match the types of recording agents set in an image forming apparatus, and thus an output result expected by a user may not be obtained.SOLUTION: An information processing apparatus is for outputting print data to an image forming apparatus in which the number of types of recording agents usable for printing is larger than the number of installable recording agent containers, and has: specification means that specifies the types of recording agents held in containers installed in the image forming apparatus; acquisition means that acquires information indicating the types of recording agents used for printing of the print data that is to be printed by the image forming apparatus; and notification means that performs predetermined notification when the types of recording agents indicated by the information are not included in the types of recording agents specified by the specification means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image forming processing method, and a program. In particular, it relates to an image formation processing technique for realizing spot color or foil stamping printing in addition to process color.

In recent years, an image forming apparatus is required to output and provide a printed matter having higher added value from a printed matter using a conventional process color (for example, CMYK). Therefore, as a technique for increasing the added value of printed matter, a high color gamut using various spot color expressions and a high-quality decoration method (hereinafter referred to as a spot color / decoration method) have been realized.

Patent Document 1 discloses a system for forming an image of a spot color using a process color toner.

Further, instead of drawing a spot color using process color toner as in Patent Document 1, a method of spot color / decoration on a printed matter using gold, silver, clear toner or the like has been realized. Further, for colored media and transparent media, a special color / decoration method using white toner has been realized.

JP-A-2018-110327

In the future, it is conceivable to switch between process color toner and spot color / decorative toner with one image forming apparatus. That is, usually, a process color toner is installed and used as an image forming apparatus for printing process color print data. When necessary, it is assumed that one or more process color toners will be removed and spot color toners such as white, gold, and silver will be installed instead, and used as a spot color / decorative image forming device. Toner.

However, in such a case, the type of recording agent (for example, toner) required for printing the print data input to the image data does not match the type of recording agent installed in the image forming apparatus. The output result expected by the user may not be obtained.

For example, a spot color plate print data may be printed on an image forming apparatus equipped with process color toner, or a process color plate printing data may be printed on an image forming apparatus equipped with white, gold, silver, and black toner. If you print the image, you cannot get the output result that the user expects.

An information processing device for outputting print data to an image forming apparatus in which the number of types of recording agents that can be used for printing is larger than the number of recording agent containers that can be installed, and is installed in the image forming apparatus. The information indicates a specific means for specifying the type of recording agent held in the container, and an acquisition means for acquiring information indicating the type of recording agent used for printing the print data to be printed by the image forming apparatus. It has a notification means for giving a predetermined notification when the type of the recording agent is not included in the type of the recording agent specified by the specific means.

According to the above configuration, the type of recording agent required for printing the print data input to the image data does not match the type of recording agent installed in the image forming apparatus, and the output result expected by the user. It is possible to prevent the printing process that cannot be obtained from being executed.

Diagram showing a configuration example of a printing system Diagram showing a software configuration example of a printing system The figure which shows the processing flow of utility 110 in 1st Embodiment The figure which shows the processing flow of a controller 210 The figure which shows the processing flow of the toner information management part The figure which shows the processing flow of the utility 110 in the 2nd Embodiment Outline of printing process flow of the printing system according to the first embodiment Outline of printing process flow of printing system in the second embodiment The figure which shows the operation of the utility 110 and the UI display. Diagram showing the relationship between toner and name when spot color is specified (A) A diagram showing an example of print data (b) A diagram showing an example of the contents of print data Diagram showing an example of print plate information and toner information A diagram showing an example of specifying a spot color in an application that can specify a spot color for print data.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a printing system according to the present embodiment. In this system, the host computer 100 and the image forming apparatus 200 are connected via the LAN 500.

An application such as a printer driver is installed on the computer 100. The computer 100 transmits the print data generated by the application to the image forming apparatus 200 via the LAN (Local Area Network) 500. This print data is print data described in a page description language (PDL).

The image forming apparatus 200 is a printing apparatus such as an MFP (Multi Function Printer) or an SFP (Single Function Printer).

[Hardware configuration of host computer 100]
A hardware configuration example of the host computer 100 will be described with reference to FIG.

The CPU (Central Processing Unit) 120 is a central processing unit for controlling the entire host computer (each unit). The CPU 120 executes a program stored in the storage device 123. Examples of the program executed by the CPU 120 include an application program, a utility program, a printer driver program, an OS (Operating System), a network printer control program, and the like. Further, the CPU 120 controls the RAM 122 to temporarily store information, files, and the like necessary for executing the program when the program is being executed.

The ROM 121 is a storage medium for storing various data such as programs such as basic I / O programs, font data and template data used in document processing.

The RAM 122 is a storage medium for temporarily storing data, and functions as a main memory or a work area of the CPU 120. The storage device 123 is one of the external storage devices and functions as a large-capacity memory.

The storage device 123 stores an application program, a utility program, a printer driver program, an OS, a network printer control program, and related programs.

The operation unit I / F 125 is a user interface for the user to input instructions. The operation unit I / F 125 includes, for example, a keyboard and a mouse, and the user uses them to give an input instruction to the host computer 100.

The display 124 displays various programs executed on the host computer 100. The system bus 127 is a data transmission path in the host computer 100. The network I / F 126 is an interface for exchanging information with the image forming apparatus 200 via the LAN 500.

[Hardware configuration of image forming apparatus 200]
A hardware configuration example of the image forming apparatus 200 will be described with reference to FIG. The image forming apparatus 200 includes, for example, a printer unit 213 which is an image output device. Further, the image forming apparatus 200 receives print data from the host computer 100 via the LAN 500.

The CPU 220 is a central processing unit for controlling the entire image forming apparatus (each unit). The RAM 222 is a system work memory for operating the CPU 220. Further, the RAM 222 is for temporarily storing received print data, intermediate data generated for image formation processing, a work area which is a work area for performing rendering processing, and input image data. It is also a memory. The ROM 221 is, for example, a boot ROM, and stores a system boot program. The storage unit 223 is, for example, a hard disk drive, and stores system software for various processes and received print data.

The operation unit I / F 225 is an interface unit for the operation unit 211 having a display unit for displaying various menus, print data information, and the like, and outputs operation screen data to the operation unit 211. Further, the operation unit I / F 225 transmits the information input by the user to the CPU 220 via the operation unit 211. The network I / F 226 is an interface for exchanging information with an information processing device (for example, the host computer 100) via the LAN 500. The CPU 220, ROM 221 and RAM 222, the storage unit 223, the operation unit I / F 225, and the network I / F 226 are connected to the system bus 227.

The image bus I / F 224 is an interface for connecting the system bus 227 and the image bus 230 that transfers image data at high speed, and is a bus bridge that converts the data structure. RIP (raster image processor) 231 and device I / F 232, 233 are connected to the image bus 230. Based on the instruction from the CPU 220, the RIP 231 analyzes the intermediate data (display list) generated by the processing of the CPU from the print data and develops it into a raster format image. The RIP 231 has a configuration that may be realized by hardware or software that operates inside a general-purpose CPU or a general-purpose CPU. The expanded image is transmitted to the printer unit 213 through the system bus 227 and the device I / F 233, or is transmitted to the RAM 222 or the storage device 223 through the image bus I / F 224.

The device I / F 232 is an interface for receiving data from the scanner unit 212. The scanner unit 212 is connected to the device I / F 232 and generates a raster format image from the read paper. The generated image is transmitted to the printer unit 213 through the system bus 227 and the device I / F 233, or is transmitted to the RAM 222 or the storage device 223 through the image bus I / F 224.

The device I / F 233 is an interface for transmitting data to the printer unit 213. The printer unit 213 is connected to the device I / F 233, and performs a process of outputting the image generated by the instruction of the CPU 220 to the sheet (paper) fed from the paper feed unit 214.

The printer unit 213 includes toner stations 216 to 219 in which a container for holding a recording agent such as a toner bottle or a cartridge used for image formation can be installed.

Toner stations 216 to 219 are configured so that toner bottles and cartridges for holding the respective color toners can be arbitrarily installed. At the toner stations 216 to 219, four color toner bottles of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K), which are process colors, can be installed. Further, white, gold, silver, and clear toner bottles, which are special colors, can be installed in the toner stations 216 to 219, respectively. As the spot color recording agent, a toner of a different color other than those mentioned in the examples may be used.

As described above, in the image forming apparatus 200 according to the present embodiment, the number of types of recording agents that can be used for printing is larger than the number in which containers for recording agents can be installed. For example, the number of recording agent containers that can be installed is 4, which is the number of toner stations 216 to 219 in the present embodiment. On the other hand, the number of types of recording agents that the image forming apparatus 200 can use for printing is, in the present embodiment, white, gold, silver, clear, and white, gold, silver, clear, and black in addition to cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. There are 9 types of orange.

In the present embodiment, an IC chip (recording medium) is mounted on each toner bottle, and the image forming apparatus 200 can specify the color of the toner held by each toner bottle from the IC chip. .. Further, even when the above-mentioned IC chip does not exist, the user may set which color toner bottle is installed in each toner station 216 to 219. The image forming apparatus 200 can specify the type of recording agent held by the container installed in the image forming apparatus 200 based on the contents set by the user.

The printer unit 213 records an image on a sheet (paper) fed from the paper feed unit 214 using the toner held by the container installed in each toner station 216 to 219, and discharges the sheet to the paper discharge unit 215. Paper. The paper ejection unit 215 is connected to the finisher 240, and the sheet output by the printer unit 213 to the paper ejection unit 215 is subjected to processing such as sorting and stapling.

[Software configuration of the utility on the host computer]
The software configuration of the utility 110 executed by the host computer 100 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

The utility control unit 101 controls each software unit of the utility operating on the CPU 120 from reading the print data specified by the user to transmitting the print data to the image forming apparatus 200.

The color plate acquisition unit 102 acquires information (hereinafter, referred to as “print plate information”) indicating the type (color plate) of the recording agent required for printing the print data to be printed by the image forming apparatus 200.

The toner information acquisition unit 103 acquires toner information (hereinafter, referred to as “toner information”) held by the toner bottles installed in the toner stations 216 to 219 of the image forming apparatus 200 via the data transmission / reception unit 104. That is, the toner information acquisition unit 103 specifies the type of recording agent held by the toner bottle installed in the image forming apparatus 200.

The utility control unit 101 confirms the print plate information and the toner information, and determines whether or not the print data can be printed. That is, it is determined whether the type of recording agent for printing the color plate included in the print data is included in the type of recording agent held by the container installed in the image forming apparatus 200.

In the present embodiment, when the printing plate information included in the print data and the toner information of the toner set in the image forming apparatus 200 match, it is determined that printing according to the user's intention is possible. On the other hand, if the printing plate information included in the print data does not match the toner information of the toner set in the image forming apparatus 200, printing according to the user's intention cannot be performed (hereinafter, it is expressed as unprintable). In some cases).

When it is determined that printing is possible, the utility control unit 101 transmits print data to the image forming apparatus 200 via the data transmitting unit 105. When it is determined that printing is not possible, the utility control unit 101 notifies the user to that effect by displaying a dialog or the like via the notification unit 104. In this way, when the utility control unit 101 does not include the type of recording agent for printing the color plate constituting the print data in the type of recording agent held by the container installed in the image forming apparatus 200. Is given a predetermined notification.

[Software configuration of controller in image forming device]
The software configuration of the controller 210 executed by the image forming apparatus 200 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

The job control unit 201 is software that operates on the CPU 220, controls jobs related to printing, and controls hardware and software related to printing print data and copy execution using the scanner unit 212. Each software unit related to printing the print data shown in FIG. 2 is controlled by the job control unit 201 running on the CPU 220.

The print data analysis unit 202 receives the print data transmitted from the host computer 100 through the LAN 500 via the data transmission / reception unit 205, and analyzes the received print data. This print data is PDL data transmitted from the host computer 100. The print data analysis unit 202 acquires page information and objects included in the page information from the received print data (PDL data), and generates intermediate data to be used for image formation processing.

The image forming unit 203 generates raster format image data from the intermediate data generated by the print data analysis unit 202. The job control unit 201 transfers the raster format image data generated by the image forming unit 203 to the printer unit 213 to execute printing.

The toner information management unit 204 acquires information on the toner installed in the toner stations 216 to 219 and notifies the job control unit 201. The toner information management unit 204 acquires the color information of the toner held by the container installed in each toner station from the IC chip mounted on each toner bottle. In addition, the toner information management unit 204 also acquires the remaining amount of toner in each toner bottle.

[About toner]
The toner handled by the utility 110 and the controller 210 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, a total of nine types of toner (1002) shown in FIG. 10 are handled. A unique ID (1001) is assigned to each toner. Further, in order to specify the spot color toner in the print data, it is necessary to describe the name described in the name (1003) at the time of spot color designation in the print data. For example, by describing "SpotColor_White" in the print data, the toner (spot color white) of White can be specified. The utility 110 and the controller 210 have the information shown in FIG. 10 as data in advance, and can manage various toners (1002) and the name (1003) at the time of spot color designation described in the print data by the ID (1001).

[About print data]
An example of print data handled by the utility 110 and the controller 210 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

The print data, drawing, and command for drawing FIG. 11A are shown in FIG. 11B. In FIG. 11A, a rectangle 1102 in which the special color white is designated is drawn on the A4 paper 1101. Command 1104 is a command that specifies the paper size of the document. Command 1105 is a drawing command for drawing a rectangle 1102, and is drawn with the position specified by command 1106 as the origin. The name of the spot color used in the print data is described in the command 1107. Here, "SpotColor_White" is used as a feature. The print data 1103 is print data of a spot color plate composed of only spot color objects.

The print data, drawing, and command for drawing FIG. 11 (c) are shown in FIG. 11 (d). In FIG. 11C, a rectangle 1112 designated by the process color is drawn on the A4 paper 1111. Command 1114 is a command that specifies the paper size of the document. Command 1115 is a drawing command for drawing a rectangle 1112, and is drawn with the position specified by command 1116 as the origin. The print data 1113 is CMYK version print data composed of only process color objects.

The print data, drawing, and command for drawing FIG. 11 (e) are shown in FIG. 11 (f). In FIG. 11E, a rectangle 1123 designated as a spot color white and a rectangle 1122 designated as a process color are drawn on A4 paper 1121. The print data 1124 is print data in which a spot color plate and a CMYK plate are mixed, which is composed of a spot color object and a process color object.

The print data is created by the user, and the name of the spot color is also set by the user. For example, in the graphic design software Adobe Illustrator (registered trademark), the spot color name (1301) can be set by the "swatch option" function as shown in FIG. The user needs to set the name described in the name (1003) at the time of spot color designation shown in FIG. 10 to the spot color name (1301), and here, the SpotColor_White indicating the spot color white (0x81) is set. ing.

[Printing process flow of printing system]
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an outline of the print processing flow in the present embodiment.

Here, a processing flow for printing the print data of the spot color plate composed of only the SpotColor_White (spot color white) objects shown in FIG. 11B will be described.

First, the user specifies the print data to be printed to the utility 110 (S701). The user specifies the print data to be printed by opening the target print data from the main menu of the utility or dragging and dropping the target print data in the utility screen.

The utility reads the print data selected by the user (S702), analyzes the print data (S703), and acquires the print plate information from the print data (S704). The print plate information 1201 of FIG. 12 shows the print plate information acquired at this time. Since the print data is composed only of the objects of SpotColor_White, only 0x81 (spot color white) of the ID matching SpotColor_White is included in this print plate information.

The user instructs the utility 110 to display the print menu in order to print the print data (S705). In the example of FIG. 9, the user instructs the display of the print menu by pressing the printer icon 901 displayed on the main menu of the utility 110.

The utility 110 displays the print menu 902 in the screen of the utility 110. In the example of FIG. 9, the image forming apparatus 200 is first displayed as the printing destination printer. The user can specify the image forming apparatus to print the specified print data by selecting the print destination printer from the pull-down menu. The user issues a print instruction for print data by pressing the print start button in the print menu (S706).

Upon receiving a print instruction from the user, the utility 110 requests toner information from the image forming apparatus 200 selected as the print destination printer (S707). The image forming apparatus 200 for which the toner information is requested acquires information indicating the type of toner held by the toner bottles installed in the toner stations 216 to 219, and provides the utility 110 as toner information (S708).

Here, it is assumed that toner bottles for holding the toners of Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and KeyPlate are installed in the toner stations 216 to 219 of the image forming apparatus 200, respectively. The toner information acquired by the utility 110 in this case is the toner information 1211 shown in FIG.

Toner bottles of Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and KeyPlate are installed in the image forming apparatus 200. Therefore, the IDs 0x01 (process color C), 0x02 (process color M), 0x03 (process color Y), and 0x04 (process color K) corresponding to each toner type are included in the toner information.

The utility 110 confirms the print plate information acquired from the print data and the toner information acquired from the image forming apparatus 200, and determines whether the print data intended by the user can be printed by the designated image forming apparatus 200. .. When it is determined that the print is possible, the print data is transmitted to the image forming apparatus (S714). If it is determined that printing is not possible, the user is notified of the toner replacement (S709).

The user can change the type of toner installed in the image forming apparatus 200 according to the notification 903 from the utility prompting the toner change (S710), and after the toner change, press the print start button to issue a print instruction. It can be done (S711).

Upon receiving the print instruction, the utility 110 again requests the image forming apparatus 200 for toner information (S712), and the image forming apparatus 200 provides the toner information in response to the request (S713).

The utility reconfirms the print plate information and the toner information, sends print data to the image forming apparatus 200 (S714) when it is determined that printing is possible, and a toner replacement notification (S709) when it is determined that printing is not possible. ) Will be returned to the process.

The image forming apparatus 200 receives the print data transmitted by the utility (S715), analyzes the print data (S716), forms a print image (S717), and prints the print image on paper (S718).

FIG. 3 shows a processing flow of the utility 110 in this embodiment. The processing flow shown in FIG. 3 is realized by the CPU 120 of the host computer 100 expanding the utility 110 read from the ROM 121 into the RAM 122 and executing the utility 110.

In S301, the utility control unit 101 reads the print data specified by the user, and requests the color plate acquisition unit 102 to analyze the print data and acquire the print plate information.

In S302, the color plate acquisition unit 102 analyzes the print data. By the analysis, the color plate acquisition unit 102 identifies the color plate necessary for printing the print data. For example, the color plate acquisition unit 102 identifies the color plate by confirming whether an object having a process color specified exists in the print data and whether an object having a spot color specified exists.

In S303, the color plate acquisition unit 102 acquires the print plate information from the analysis result of the print data and notifies the utility control unit 101 of the print plate information. Here, it is assumed that the print data is composed only of the objects specified by "SpotColor_White" shown in FIG. 11 (b). In this case, the color plate acquisition unit 102 acquires the print plate information 1201 shown in FIG. 12 as the print plate information.

In S304, the utility control unit 101 confirms whether there is an instruction to display the print menu from the user, displays the print menu if there is an instruction, proceeds to the process of S305, and if not, stays in the process of S304.

In S305, the utility control unit 101 confirms whether there is a print instruction from the user, proceeds to the process of S306 when there is an instruction to start printing, and returns to the process of S304 when there is an instruction to stop printing.

In S306, the toner information acquisition unit 103 acquires the toner information held by each toner bottle installed in the toner stations 216 to 219 of the image forming apparatus 200 as toner information, and notifies the utility control unit 101 of the information. Here, it is assumed that Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and KeyPlate are installed at the toner stations 216 to 219 of the image forming apparatus 200. In this case, the toner information acquisition unit 103 acquires the toner information shown in the toner information 1211 of FIG.

In S307, the utility control unit 101 determines whether the print data can be printed by the image forming apparatus 200, proceeds to the process of S312 when it is determined that the print data can be printed, and proceeds to the process of S308 when it is determined that the print data cannot be printed. The utility control unit 101 confirms whether all the IDs of the print plate information exist in the toner information. If all the IDs of the print plate information are present in the toner information, the utility control unit 101 determines that printing is possible, and if the IDs of the print plate information are not present in the toner information, the utility control unit 101 determines that printing is not possible. to decide. In the case of the print plate information 1201 and the toner information 1211, since 0x81 (spot color white) included in the print plate information 1201 does not exist in the toner information 1211, the utility control unit 101 determines that printing is impossible.

In S308, the utility control unit 101 notifies the user of the toner change via the notification unit 104. Here, it is assumed that the user who receives this notification removes the toner of KeyPlate (process color K) installed in the toner station 219 of the image forming apparatus 200, and installs the toner of White (spot color white) instead.

In S309, the utility control unit 101 confirms whether there is a print instruction from the user, proceeds to the process of S310 if there is an instruction to start printing, and returns to the process of S305 if there is an instruction to stop printing.

In S310, the toner information acquisition unit 103 acquires the toner information installed in the toner stations 216 to 219 of the image forming apparatus 200 as toner information and notifies the utility control unit 101 in the same manner as in the process of S306. Here, since the white (spot color white) is installed in the toner station 219 of the image forming apparatus 200 at the timing of S308, the toner information acquisition unit 103 acquires the toner information 1212 shown in FIG. 12 as toner information.

In S311 the utility control unit 101 determines whether the print data can be printed by the image forming apparatus 200 in the same manner as in the process of S307. Returns to the process of S308. In the case of the print plate information 1201 and the toner information 1212, since 0x81 (spot color white) included in the print plate information 1201 exists in the toner information 1212, the utility control unit 101 determines that printing is possible.

In S311 the utility control unit 101 transmits print data to the image forming apparatus 200 via the data transmission / reception unit 105.

4 and 5 show a processing flow in the image forming apparatus 200 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a processing flow performed when printing the print data received by the image forming apparatus 200.

In S401, the job control unit 201 receives the print data transmitted from the utility 110 via the data transmission / reception unit 205.

In S402, the print data analysis unit 202 analyzes the received print data and generates intermediate data for processing by the image forming unit 203.

In S403, the image forming unit 203 forms a printed image from the generated intermediate data.

In S404, the job control unit 201 prints the formed print image on the printer unit 213.

FIG. 5 is a processing flow related to the generation and transmission processing of toner information by the image forming apparatus 200.

In S501, the toner information management unit 204 creates toner information that becomes an initial value when the image forming apparatus 200 is started. Here, it is assumed that Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and KeyPlate are installed at the toner stations 216 to 219 of the image forming apparatus 200. In this case, the toner information shown in the toner information 1211 of FIG. 12 is created.

In S502, the toner information management unit 204 confirms whether the toner has been replaced at the toner stations 216 to 219 of the image forming apparatus 200. If the toner replacement can be confirmed, the process proceeds to S503, and if the toner replacement cannot be confirmed, the process proceeds to S504.

In S503, the toner information management unit 204 updates the toner information. For example, when the toners of the toner stations 216 to 219 of the image forming apparatus 200 are exchanged with White, Gold, Silver, and Clear, the toner information is updated to the toner information shown by the toner information 1213 of FIG.

In S504, the toner information management unit 204 confirms whether there is a request for toner information via the data transmission / reception unit 205. If there is a request for toner information, the process proceeds to S505, and if there is no request, the process returns to S502.

In S505, the toner information management unit 204 transmits the current toner information to the toner information requester via the data transmission / reception unit 205.

According to the above embodiment, if the type of printing plate to be generated for printing the specified print data and the type of toner held by the toner bottle installed in the image forming apparatus do not match, the utility 110 replaces the toner. Make a notification to urge. When the user who confirms the notification content installs a toner bottle holding the type of toner required for printing the print data in the image forming apparatus 200, the utility 110 can transmit the print data to the image forming apparatus 200. become. As a result, the user can always obtain the expected output result from the image forming apparatus 200.

The content of the notification is not limited to the notification prompting the toner replacement. Any information may be used to notify the user that the information on the printing plate included in the print data and the information on the type of toner set in the image forming apparatus 200 do not match. The content of the notification may include information notifying the type of toner required to print the specified print data. Further, the content of the notification may be not to replace the toner but to prompt the input of print data having the printing plate information that can be printed with the toner set in the apparatus.

If the type of color plate used for printing the print data is not included in the type of recording agent contained in the container installed in the image forming apparatus, the utility 110 prevents the user from performing the print execution operation. It may be that. For example, the print start button may be grayed out on the screen of the print menu 902 of FIG.

Alternatively, even if there is a print start operation by the user, the utility 110 may control not to transmit the print execution instruction to the image forming apparatus 200.

Alternatively, even if the information on the printing plate included in the print data and the information on the type of toner set in the image forming apparatus 200 do not match, if the user instructs, the information remains as it is (without matching). You may be able to perform printing.

(Second embodiment)
Since the configuration of the printing system according to the present embodiment is the same as the content described in the first embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted.

(Printing process flow of printing system)
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an outline of a printing process flow in the printing system of this embodiment. Here, a processing flow when a user prints print data in which a spot color plate and a process color plate (CMYK version) composed of a spot color object and a process color object are mixed will be described.

Since the processing of the controller 210 is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted. Further, the processing of S801 to S805 and the processing of S808 to S820 are the same as those of S701 to S705 and S706 to S718 of the first embodiment, respectively, except that the data to be printed is different, and thus the description thereof will be omitted.

The utility that receives the instruction to display the print menu from the user checks whether the spot color version and the CMYK version are mixed in the print data, and if they are mixed, selects the print version whether to print both the spot color version and the CMYK version. Prompt the user.

The user selects the print version by the notification from the utility. Here, it is assumed that a radio button for selecting either CMYK or a spot color for the print plate is displayed in the print menu, and the user selects the spot color (S807).

FIG. 6 shows a processing flow of the utility 110 operating on the host computer 100. The processing flow shown in FIG. 6 is realized by the CPU 120 of the host computer 100 expanding the utility 110 read from the ROM 121 into the RAM 122 and executing the utility 110.

Since the processing of S601 to S604 is the same as that of S301 to S304 in the first embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted.

In S605, the utility control unit 101 confirms from the print plate information whether the spot color plate and the CMYK plate are mixed in the print data, and if they are mixed, proceeds to the process of S606, and if they are not mixed, proceeds to the process of S607.

In S606, the utility control unit 101 prompts the user to select a print plate as to whether to print both the spot color plate and the CMYK plate via the notification unit 104.

In S607, the utility control unit 101 determines the printing plate. When the spot color plate and the CMYK plate are mixed in the print data, the plate selected by the user via the input screen (print screen 902) by the notification of S606 becomes the print plate. If only one of the spot color plate and the CMYK plate exists in the print data, the existing plate becomes the print plate. Since the processing of S608 to S614 is the same as that of S305 to S311 of the first embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted.

In S615, the utility control unit 101 transmits the print plate determined in S607 to the image forming apparatus 200 as print data. In the case of print data in which a special color plate and a CMYK plate are mixed, the utility control unit 101 divides the print data into print data of only the special color plate and print data of only the CMYK plate. Then, the utility control unit 101 shall transmit the print data including the print plate corresponding to the print plate determined in S607 to the image forming apparatus 200.

In the case of print data in which a spot color plate and a CMYK plate are mixed, in the printing system of the embodiment, the user obtains an expected output result unless the print data is divided and processed according to the toner installed in the image forming apparatus 200. I couldn't. In the present embodiment, in the case of print data in which the spot color plate and the CMYK plate are mixed, only the print plate selected by the user is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 200.

If the printing plate and the toner installed in the image forming apparatus do not match, the user receives a notification from the utility prompting the toner replacement as in the first embodiment. As a result, the user can always obtain the expected output result from the image forming apparatus even in the print data in which the spot color plate and the CMYK plate are mixed.

(Other embodiments)
In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, an example in which the utility 110 operates on the host computer 100 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. The utility 110 may operate in the image forming apparatus 200. That is, the user may be able to instruct the execution of printing of the print data input to the image forming apparatus 200 via the utility 110 operating in the image forming apparatus 200.

Even in this configuration, the types of color plates required for printing print data and the types of toner held by the toner bottle installed in the image forming apparatus 200 are determined in the same manner as in the above embodiment. If they do not match, a predetermined notification can be given. The notification can be displayed, for example, on the operation screen of the image forming apparatus 200.

The present invention supplies a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiment to a system or device via a network or storage medium, and one or more processors in the computer of the system or device reads and executes the program. It can also be realized by the processing to be performed. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

100 Host computer 200 Image forming device 500 LAN
110 Utility 902 Print Menu

Claims (11)

An information processing device for outputting print data to an image forming apparatus in which the number of types of recording agents that can be used for printing is larger than the number of recording agent containers that can be installed.
Specific means for specifying the type of recording agent held by the container installed in the image forming apparatus, and
An acquisition means for acquiring information indicating the type of recording agent used for printing the print data to be printed by the image forming apparatus, and an acquisition means.
An information processing apparatus comprising: a notification means for giving a predetermined notification when the type of recording agent indicated by the information is not included in the type of recording agent specified by the specific means. The type of recording agent held by the container installed in the image forming apparatus is characterized in that it is specified based on the information specified by the image forming apparatus using the information read from the recording medium included in the container. The information processing device according to claim 1. The information processing according to claim 1, wherein the type of recording agent held by the container installed in the image forming apparatus is specified based on the information input by the user to the image forming apparatus. apparatus. From claim 1, the information indicating the type of recording agent used for printing the print data to be printed by the image forming apparatus is specified by analyzing the print data input to the information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus according to any one of 3. The information processing according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the notification is a notification for notifying the user of the replacement of the container of the recording agent installed in the image forming apparatus. apparatus. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the notification is a notification for notifying the user of a recording agent of a type in which a container should be installed in the image forming apparatus. .. It has an instruction means for instructing the image forming apparatus to print print data according to a user's operation.
When the type of recording agent indicated by the information is not included in the type of recording agent specified by the specific means, the instructing means controls the user so that the operation cannot be performed, or the operation. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the information processing apparatus is controlled so as not to give the instruction accordingly. When a print instruction is given to the image forming apparatus based on print data in which a process color plate and a special color plate different from the process color plate are mixed, either a special color plate or a process color plate is given to the image forming apparatus. It is characterized by having a printing instruction means for instructing the image forming apparatus to print the process color plate or the spot color plate based on the contents specified via the input screen for selecting whether to print the print data. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1. An image forming apparatus in which the number of types of recording agents that can be used for printing is greater than the number of recording agent containers that can be installed.
Specific means for specifying the type of recording agent held by the container installed in the image forming apparatus, and
An acquisition means for acquiring information indicating the type of recording agent used for printing the print data to be printed by the image forming apparatus, and an acquisition means.
An image forming apparatus comprising a notification means for giving a predetermined notification when the type of recording agent indicated by the information is not included in the type of recording agent specified by the specific means. A control method for outputting print data to an image forming apparatus in which the number of types of recording agents that can be used for printing is larger than the number of recording agent containers that can be installed.
A specific step of identifying the type of recording agent held by the container installed in the image forming apparatus, and
An acquisition step of acquiring information indicating the type of recording agent used for printing the print data to be printed by the image forming apparatus, and an acquisition step.
A control method comprising a notification step for giving a predetermined notification when the type of recording agent indicated by the information is not included in the type of recording agent specified in the specific step. An information processing device for outputting print data to an image forming apparatus in which the number of types of recording agents that can be used for printing is larger than the number of recording agent containers that can be installed.
A specific step of specifying the type of recording agent held by the container installed in the image forming apparatus, and
An acquisition step of acquiring information indicating the type of recording agent used for printing the print data to be printed by the image forming apparatus, and an acquisition step.
A program for executing a notification step of giving a predetermined notification when the type of recording agent indicated by the information is not included in the type of recording agent specified in the specific step.

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