JP2023030240A - Information processing apparatus, program, and information processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

To use an alternative color so that only a region which is to be printed in a special color is printed in the special color.SOLUTION: An information processing apparatus 120 includes: a color setting unit 133 which receives an input as to whether to use a special color which is a color other than process colors, in printing a target image, via an input unit 101; a special-color region setting unit 135 which causes a display unit 102, when receiving an input for using the special color, to display the target image and receives a designation of a special-color region which is a region where the special color is used in the target image, via the input unit 101; an alternative color specifying unit 136 which specifies a color not used in the target image, as an alternative color of the special color; an alternative-color image generation unit 137 which replaces the color in the special-color region in the target image with the alternative color to generate an alternative-color image; and a color conversion unit 138 which converts the alternative color in the alternative-color image to the special color and converts colors other than the alternative color in the alternative-color image to the process colors, to generate a printed image.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present disclosure relates to an information processing device, a program, and an information processing method.

Conventionally, a printing apparatus has been used that has special colors such as white or silver in addition to process colors. However, common applications often do not support spot colors, and such applications cannot specify spot colors. For this reason, it is necessary to use a dedicated application to draw in spot colors, and then use a printer driver to print.

On the other hand, the image forming system described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-200011 uses colors for specifying special colors from among standard colors, which are colors that can be specified in general applications such as RGB values or CMYK values. By setting a spot color substitute color and performing printing by interpreting the spot color substitute color area as a spot color printing area, printing including the spot color is performed.

JP 2016-103695 A

However, in the conventional image forming system, all areas drawn with the spot color substitute color are printed with the spot color. For this reason, if the area drawn with a special alternative color includes an area that you want to print with a special alternative color instead of a special color, the area that you do not want to be printed with a special color will also be printed with a special color. put away.

Therefore, one or more aspects of the present disclosure aim to use a substitute color so that only a region desired to be printed with a special color is printed with a special color.

An information processing apparatus according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes an input unit that receives an input of an instruction, a display unit that displays various screen images, and a color other than a process color when printing a target image via the input unit. and a color setting unit for receiving an input as to whether or not to use a particular color, and for displaying the target image on the display unit when receiving an input to use the particular color, and inputting the target image via the input unit. a special color area setting unit that receives designation of a special color area that is an area using the special color in the target image; a substitute color specifying unit that specifies a color that is not used in the target image as a substitute color for the special color; and the special color in the target image. a substitute color image generation unit that generates a substitute color image by replacing a color of an area with the substitute color, and converts the substitute color in the substitute color image to the special color, and a color other than the substitute color in the substitute color image. and a color conversion unit for generating a print image by converting the color of the color into the process color.

A program according to an aspect of the present disclosure causes a computer to use an input unit for receiving input of instructions, a display unit for displaying various screen images, and a color other than a process color when printing a target image via the input unit. a color setting unit for receiving an input as to whether or not to use a certain spot color; and a color setting unit for displaying the target image on the display unit when receiving an input for using the spot color, and displaying the target image on the target image via the input unit. a spot color area setting unit that receives designation of a spot color area that uses a spot color; a substitute color specifying unit that specifies a color that is not used in the target image as a replacement color for the spot color; a substitute color image generation unit that generates a substitute color image by replacing with the substitute color, and converts the substitute color in the substitute color image to the special color, and converts a color other than the substitute color in the substitute color image to the special color. It is characterized by functioning as a color conversion unit that generates a print image by converting into the process colors.

In an information processing method according to an aspect of the present disclosure, a color setting unit receives an input as to whether or not to use a spot color that is a color other than a process color when printing a target image via an input unit. is received, the special color area setting unit causes the target image to be displayed on the display unit, and receives, via the input unit, the specification of the special color area, which is the area in which the special color is used in the target image. , an alternative color identification unit identifies a color not used in the target image as an alternative color for the special color, and an alternative color image generation unit replaces the color of the special color region in the target image with the alternative color , a substitute color image is generated, and the color conversion unit converts the substitute colors in the substitute color image into the special colors, and converts colors other than the substitute colors in the substitute color image into the process colors, It is characterized by generating a print image.

According to one or more aspects of the present disclosure, alternative colors can be used so that only areas desired to be printed with a spot color are printed with a spot color.

1 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment; FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration example of a controller; FIG. It is a schematic diagram showing an example of a color setting screen image. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a computer; FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing in an information processing device; FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an image to be printed; FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an alternative color image; FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a printed image; 4 is a flowchart showing color conversion processing;

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of an image forming system 100 according to an embodiment.
The image forming system 100 includes a printer 110 as an image forming device and an information processing device 120 .

The information processing apparatus 120 is connected to an input unit 101 that receives input of instructions and a display unit 102 that displays various screen images.
Here, the input unit 101 can be realized by, for example, a keyboard or mouse, and the display unit 102 can be realized by a monitor.
Note that the input unit 101 and the display unit 102 may be included in the information processing device 120 .

The printer 110 includes a communication section 111 , a controller 112 and a printer engine 113 .

The communication unit 111 communicates with the information processing device 120 . For example, the communication unit 111 receives PDL (Page Description Language) data, which is image formation data (print data) for image formation (printing), from the information processing apparatus 120 . The PDL data is provided to controller 112 .

A controller 112 controls processing in the printer 110 . For example, the controller 112 converts the PDL data supplied from the communication unit 111 into printing data (image forming data) in a format printable by the printer 110 and supplies the printing data to the printer engine 113 . .

The printer engine 113 executes printing (image formation). For example, the printer engine 113 has image forming units for cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), black (K), and special color (X), and uses printing data given from the controller 112 to print data. Based on this, an image is formed on the medium. In the following description, cyan may be represented by a capital letter C, magenta by a capital letter M, yellow by a capital letter Y, black by a capital letter K, or special color by a capital letter X.

The controller 112 described above comprises, for example, a memory 10 and a processor 11 such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that executes programs stored in the memory 10, as shown in FIG. be able to. Such a program may be provided through a network, or recorded on a recording medium and provided. That is, such programs may be provided as program products, for example.
Note that the communication unit 111 can be realized by a communication interface (I/F) such as a NIC (Network Interface Card), for example.

Returning to FIG. 1 , the information processing device 120 includes a connection section 121 , a communication section 122 , a storage section 123 and a control section 130 .

The connection unit 121 connects the input unit 101 and the display unit 102 to the information processing device 120 and transmits/receives information therebetween.
A communication unit 122 communicates with the printer 110 . For example, the communication unit 122 transmits PDL data to the printer 110 .

The storage unit 123 stores programs and information necessary for processing in the information processing device 120 .

The control unit 130 controls processing in the information processing device 120 .
The control unit 130 includes a processing unit 131 and a printer control unit 132 as an image formation control unit (print control unit).

The processing unit 131 executes processing desired by the user. For example, the processing unit 131 is a functional unit realized by various applications, and executes processing of creating, displaying, editing, and printing application data indicating an image that the user wants to print.

Specifically, the processing unit 131 opens application data in response to an instruction from the user via the input unit 101 and causes the printer 110 via the printer control unit 132 to print the application data. The application data here is RGB data of red (R), green (G) and blue (B). An image indicated by application data is also called a target image. A target image is an image to be printed.

The printer control unit 132 causes the printer 110 to print. For example, the printer control unit 132 is a functional unit implemented by a printer driver, converts an image represented by application data given from the processing unit 131 into PDL data that can be interpreted by the printer 110 , and transmits the data via the communication unit 122 . and sends the PDL data to the printer 110 .

The printer control unit 132 includes a color setting unit 133, a preview display unit 134, a special color area setting unit 135, an alternative color specifying unit 136, an alternative color image generation unit 137, a color conversion unit 138, and a halftone processing unit. 139 and a PDL conversion unit 140 .

The color setting unit 133 receives input of color settings from the user via the input unit 101 . Here, for example, the color setting unit 133 receives an input as to whether or not to use special colors other than process colors when printing the target image. Note that when the use of a spot color is input, the color setting unit 133 further receives an input for specifying the spot color.

Here, the process colors are the colors printed with the color materials normally used in the printer 110, here cyan, magenta, yellow and black. A spot color is a color that is printed using a colorant other than the process color colorant. Assume that the process colors and spot colors are determined by the printer 110 .

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a color setting screen image to be displayed on the display unit 102 when the color setting unit 133 receives input of color setting.
As shown in FIG. 3, the color setting screen image 150 includes a CMYK color designation area 150a, a special color designation area 150b, and a special color setting area 150c.
The CMYK color instruction area 150a is a spot color non-use instruction area for the user to instruct not to use spot colors. When the CMYK color designation area 150a is selected, printing is done using the process colors of cyan, magenta, yellow or black.

The spot color instruction area 150b is a spot color use instruction area for instructing the use of a spot color by the user. When the spot color instruction area 150b is selected, printing is performed using the spot color. In this case, cyan, magenta, yellow or black may also be used.

The spot color setting area 150c is an area that becomes effective when the spot color designation area 150b is selected, and is an area for selecting a spot color when performing printing using the spot color. Here, a white selection area 150d using white as the special color and a silver selection area 150e using silver as the special color are provided. Note that the colors that can be used as the spot color are not limited to white or silver, and other colors such as gold or transparent may be used as the spot color.

Returning to FIG. 1 , the preview display unit 134 causes the display unit 102 to display an image indicated by the application data given from the processing unit 131 .

When an input using a particular color is received, the special color area setting unit 135 instructs the preview display unit 134 to display the target image, which is the image indicated by the application data, on the display unit 102, and the input unit 101 is operated. A special color area, which is an area using a special color in the target image, is designated via the special color area.

Specifically, the spot color area setting unit 135 allows the user to specify an object via the input unit 101 in the image indicated by the application data displayed on the display unit 102 so that the user can print in a spot color. receive the selection of the desired object. The selected object is set as the spot color area.

Returning to FIG. 1, the alternative color specifying unit 136 refers to the application data provided from the processing unit 131, extracts colors that are not used in the image indicated by the application data, and uses the extracted colors as spot color alternatives. Specify as a color.

The alternative color may be any color that is not used in the image indicated by the application data. For example, the alternative color identification unit 136 may set a predetermined priority order for all colors, and may use the color with the highest priority among the colors not used in the image indicated by the application data as the alternative color. . Alternatively, the alternative color specifying unit 136 may specify the alternative color by shifting the pixel values of the colors used in the image indicated by the application data by a predetermined value. Here, the color used to generate the alternative color may be the color with the largest number of pixels used among the colors used in the image indicated by the application data. A color with a small number of pixels may be used.

The alternative color image generation unit 137 replaces the color of the special color area set by the special color area setting unit 135 with the alternative color specified by the alternative color specifying unit 136 in the image indicated by the application data, thereby creating an alternative color image. to generate

The color conversion unit 138 converts the substitute colors in the substitute color image into special colors, and converts the colors other than the substitute colors in the substitute color image into process colors, thereby generating a print image.
It should be noted that the color conversion unit 138 generates a print image by converting the colors of the image indicated by the application data into process colors when performing printing that does not use spot colors.

For example, the color conversion unit 138 converts image signals of 256-gradation RGB colors of the substitute color image provided from the substitute color image generation unit 137 into cyan, magenta, yellow, black, and special colors that are the color space of the printer 110. It is converted into a print image signal, which is an image signal of 256 gradations for each color. In this embodiment, a known interpolation method using a color conversion table is used to convert an image signal of 256 gradations for each color of RGB into a print image signal, which is an image signal of 256 gradations for each color of CMYKX.

The color conversion table at this time is a three-dimensional lookup table prepared in advance in consideration of the color reproduction characteristics of the printer 110 and describing the relationship between the RGB color space and the CMYKX color space. It is assumed that the information processing apparatus 120 is provided with a plurality of lookup tables according to colors used for printing, such as a table for converting RGB to CMYK or a table for converting RGB to CMYKX. However, the alternative color set by the alternative color specifying unit 136 is forcibly converted into a special color signal.

The halftone processing unit 139 performs halftone processing on the print image indicated by the print image signal of 256 gradations for each color of CMYKX given from the color conversion unit 138, thereby binarizing the print image into CMYKX. 2-tone image data for each color is generated. In this embodiment, binarization is performed by a known dither method.

The PDL conversion unit 140 generates PDL data by adding a command to the two-tone image data input from the halftone processing unit 139 so that the printer 110 can interpret the data.

The information processing apparatus 120 described above can be implemented by, for example, a computer 20 as shown in FIG.
The computer 20 includes an auxiliary storage device 21 such as a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SDD (Solid State Drive), a non-volatile or volatile memory 22, a processor 23 such as a CPU, and a USB (Universal Serial Bus) such as It has a connection I/F 24 and a communication I/F 25 such as a NIC.

Specifically, the control unit 130 can be realized by the processor 23 reading a program stored in the auxiliary storage device 21 into the memory 22 and executing the program. Such a program may be provided through a network, or recorded on a recording medium and provided. That is, such programs may be provided as program products, for example.

The connection unit 121 can be implemented by the connection I/F 24 .
The communication unit 122 can be implemented by the communication I/F 25 .
The storage unit 123 can be implemented by the auxiliary storage device 21 or the memory 22 .

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing in the information processing device 120. As shown in FIG.
Here, the user causes the application stored in the storage unit 123 to be executed via the input unit 101, whereby the processing unit 131 is activated, and the processing unit 131 performs processing according to the user's instruction. It is assumed that there is Specifically, processing unit 131 receives an instruction from the user via input unit 101 and causes display unit 102 to display an image that the user wants to print.

The processing unit 131 receives a print instruction via the input unit 101 while the image is open (S10). In such a case, the processing unit 131 provides the printer control unit 132 with application data indicating the image for which the print instruction has been received.

Here, for example, it is assumed that application data representing an image 160 as shown in FIG.
Image 160, as shown in FIG. 6, comprises four objects 161-164.
The two objects 161 and 162 are red with pixel values (R, G, B)=(255, 0, 0). Object 163 is yellow with pixel values (R, G, B)=(255, 255, 0). The object 164 is blue with pixel values (R, G, B)=(0, 255, 0).

Returning to FIG. 5, upon receiving the application data from the processing unit 131, the printer control unit 132 causes the display unit 102 to display a print setting screen image (not shown), which is a user interface screen for making print settings (S11 ).

In the print setting screen image, when the user inputs an instruction for color setting via the input unit 101, the color setting unit 133 displays a color setting screen image 150 as shown in FIG. It is displayed on the unit 102 (S12).

The color setting unit 133 determines whether or not the user has issued an instruction to use a spot color via the input unit 101 in the color setting screen image 150 shown in FIG. 3 (S13). For example, in the color setting screen image 150 shown in FIG. 3, when the user inputs an execution instruction that selects the spot color instruction area 150b, the color setting unit 133 instructs the user to use the spot color. If the user inputs an execution instruction that selects the CMYK color instruction area 150a, the color setting unit 133 determines that the user has issued an instruction not to use spot colors. Then, if the user instructs to use the spot color (Yes in S13), the process proceeds to step S14, and if the user instructs not to use the spot color (No in S13), the process proceeds to step Proceed to S22.

In step S14, the color setting unit 133 enables the spot color setting area 150c in the color setting screen image 150 shown in FIG. 3, and accepts designation of the color to be used as the spot color.

Upon receiving the specification of the color to be used as the spot color, the preview display unit 134 causes the display unit 102 to display the image indicated by the application data as a preview image (S15).

Next, the spot color area setting unit 135 receives designation of an area to use a spot color from the user via the input unit 101 in the preview image (S16). Here, it is assumed that the user designates an area to use the special color by designating an object to be drawn with the special color from the objects included in the preview image. The spot color area setting unit 135 registers the specified area as a spot color area.

For example, an image 160 shown in FIG. 6 is displayed as a preview image on the display unit 102, and the user designates two objects 162 and 163 included in the image 160 as the preview image as objects to be drawn with a special color. shall be In this case, the area where the two objects 162 and 163 are drawn is registered as the special color area.

Returning to FIG. 5, the alternative color identifying unit 136 scans the application data, extracts colors not used in the application data, and identifies them as alternative colors for the spot color (S17). Here, for example, the alternative color specifying unit 136 specifies green with pixel values (R, G, B)=(0, 255, 0) as a special color for the image 160 shown in FIG. and

Next, the alternative color image generating unit 137 generates an alternative color image by replacing the special color area registered by the special color area setting unit 135 with the alternative color specified by the alternative color specifying unit 136 in the target image (S18 ).
For example, FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an alternate color image 170 corresponding to the image 160 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, an alternative color image 170 is a representation of two objects 162 and 163 registered as special color areas in green with pixel values (R, G, B)=(0, 255, 0). is

The alternative color image generation unit 137 then supplies the color conversion unit 138 with alternative color image data indicating the alternative color image, alternative color data indicating the alternative color, and a color setting command indicating that the special color is to be used.

Based on the received substitute color image data, substitute color data, and color setting command, the color conversion unit 138 converts 256 gradations for each of RGB in the substitute color image data into 256 gradations for each of CMYK and special colors. is generated (S19).

Next, the halftone processing unit 139 performs halftone processing on the print image generated by the color conversion unit 138, and converts the 256 gradations of each of CMYK and special colors into 2 gradations of each of CMYK and special colors. A halftone image is generated (S20).

Then, the PDL conversion unit 140 generates PDL data in which a command for allowing the printer 110 to interpret the halftone image generated by the halftone processing unit 139 is added (S21).

The printer control unit 132 transmits the PDL data generated as described above to the printer 110 via the communication unit 122 .
The printer 110 interprets the received PDL data with the controller 112 and prints it with the printer engine 113 . As a result, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, in a printed image 180, two objects 162 and 163 registered as special color areas are printed in a special color (for example, silver).

On the other hand, if the user gives an instruction not to use the special color in step S13 (No in S13), the color setting unit 133 sends the application data and the color setting command indicating not to use the special color. It is given to the conversion unit 138, and the process proceeds to step S22.

In step S22, the color conversion unit 138 generates a print image, which is a color-converted image obtained by converting 256 gradations for each color of RGB in the application data into 256 gradations for each color of CMYK based on the received application data and color setting command. do.

Next, the halftone processing unit 139 performs halftone processing on the print image generated by the color conversion unit 138, and converts 256 gradations for each color of CMYK into 2 gradations for each color of CMYK to produce a halftone image. Generate (S23).

Then, the PDL conversion unit 140 generates PDL data by adding a command for allowing the printer 110 to interpret the halftone image generated by the halftone processing unit 139 (S24).

The printer control unit 132 transmits the PDL data generated as described above to the printer 110 via the communication unit 122 .
The printer 110 interprets the received PDL data with the controller 112 and prints it with the printer engine 113 .

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing color conversion processing in the color conversion section 138. As shown in FIG.
First, the color conversion unit 138 determines whether or not the received color setting command indicates that a special color is to be used (S30). If it indicates that a spot color is used (Yes in S30), the process proceeds to step S31; if it indicates that a spot color is not used (No in S30), the process proceeds to step S36. move on.

In step S31, the color conversion unit 138 identifies a target pixel, which is a pixel to be processed, from the received alternative color image data.
Then, the color conversion unit 138 determines whether the pixel value of the target pixel is the alternative color indicated by the alternative color data (S32). If it is an alternative color (Yes in S32), the process proceeds to step S33, and if it is not an alternative color (No in S32), the process proceeds to step S34.

In step S33, the color conversion unit 138 converts the pixel value of the target pixel into a special color. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 7, the color conversion unit 138 converts the green pixel value (R, G, B)=(0, 255, 0) of the target pixel to the special color pixel value (C, M , Y, K, X) = (0, 0, 0, 0, 100%).

On the other hand, in step S24, the color conversion unit 138 uses the color conversion table stored in the storage unit 123 to convert the pixel values (R, G, B) of the target image into pixel values (C, M, Y, K). , X). Here, X=0%.

Next, the color conversion unit 138 determines whether conversion processing has been completed for all pixels of the alternative color image data (S35). If the conversion process has been completed for all pixels (Yes in S35), the process is completed. If the conversion process has not been completed for all pixels (No in S35), in other words, the conversion process has not been performed. If the pixel exists, the process returns to step S31. In step S31, pixels that have not undergone conversion processing are identified as target pixels.

Also, in step S30, if the color setting command indicates that the special color is not used (No in S30), the process proceeds to step S36, and the color conversion unit 138 converts the image data indicated by the application data into A target pixel, which is a pixel to be subjected to

Then, using the color conversion table stored in the storage unit 123, the color conversion unit 138 converts the pixel values (R, G, B) of the target image into pixel values (C, M, Y, K, X). Convert (S37). Here, X=0%.

Next, the color conversion unit 138 determines whether conversion processing has been completed for all pixels of the image data indicated by the application data (S38). If conversion processing has been completed for all pixels (Yes in S38), the processing is completed. If conversion processing has not been completed for all pixels (No in S38), in other words, conversion processing has not been performed. If the pixel exists, the process returns to step S36. In step S36, pixels that have not undergone conversion processing are specified as target pixels.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to avoid printing an area that is not desired to be printed with a special color and to print only an area that is desired to be printed with a special color.

In the above-described embodiment, the substitute color for the spot color is arbitrarily specified from the colors not used in the application data, but a color close to the spot color to be used may be specified. For example, if the spot color is white, (R, G, B)=(255, 255, 255) is specified as the alternative color, and if the spot color is silver, (R, G, B)=(192, 192). , 192) as an alternative color, it is possible to display a preview with an impression close to printing when the alternative color is reflected in the preview.

In other words, the alternative color specifying unit 136 may specify, as an alternative color, the color that is closest to the spot color among the colors that are not used in the target image.
In this case, the alternative color specifying unit 136 predetermines the priority of all colors in order of closeness to the spot color, and selects the color with the highest priority among the colors not used in the image indicated by the application data. It can be specified as an alternative color.

100 Image Forming System 101 Input Unit 102 Display Unit 110 Printer 111 Communication Unit 112 Controller 113 Printer Engine 120 Information Processing Device 121 Connection Unit 122 Communication Unit 123 Storage Unit 130 Control Unit 131 Processing 132 printer control unit 133 color setting unit 134 preview display unit 135 special color area setting unit 136 alternative color specifying unit 137 alternative color image generation unit 138 color conversion unit 139 halftone processing unit 140 PDL conversion Department.

Claims (4)

an input unit for receiving input of instructions;
a display unit that displays various screen images;
a color setting unit that receives an input, via the input unit, as to whether or not to use a spot color other than a process color when printing a target image;
When an input using the spot color is received, the target image is displayed on the display unit, and a spot color area setting, which is an area using the spot color in the target image, is designated via the input unit. Department and
an alternative color identifying unit that identifies a color not used in the target image as an alternative color for the spot color;
a substitute color image generation unit that generates a substitute color image by replacing the color of the special color region in the target image with the substitute color;
a color conversion unit that converts the substitute colors in the substitute color image into the special colors, and converts colors other than the substitute colors in the substitute color image into the process colors, thereby generating a print image; An information processing device characterized by: 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the alternative color specifying unit specifies, as the alternative color, a color that is closest to the spot color among colors not used in the target image. the computer,
an input unit for receiving input of instructions;
display unit for displaying various screen images,
a color setting unit that receives an input, via the input unit, as to whether or not to use a spot color other than the process color when printing the target image;
When an input using the spot color is received, the target image is displayed on the display unit, and a spot color area setting, which is an area using the spot color in the target image, is designated via the input unit. part,
an alternative color identification unit that identifies a color not used in the target image as an alternative color for the spot color;
an alternative color image generation unit that generates an alternative color image by replacing the color of the special color region in the target image with the alternative color;
Functioning as a color conversion unit for generating a print image by converting the substitute colors in the substitute color image into the special colors and converting colors other than the substitute colors in the substitute color image into the process colors. A program characterized by a color setting unit receives an input, via an input unit, as to whether or not to use a spot color other than the process color when printing the target image;
When an input using the spot color is received, the spot color area setting unit causes the target image to be displayed on the display unit, and designates a spot color area, which is the area using the spot color in the target image, via the input unit. receive
an alternative color specifying unit specifying a color not used in the target image as an alternative color for the spot color;
a substitute color image generation unit that generates a substitute color image by replacing the color of the special color region in the target image with the substitute color;
A color conversion unit converts the substitute colors in the substitute color image into the special colors, and converts colors other than the substitute colors in the substitute color image into the process colors, thereby generating a print image. Information processing method.

Images