JP4134418B2 - Toner control device and method thereof - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to toner control during color printing.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, color printing uses toner (or ink) of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) (hereinafter referred to as CMYK) to reproduce a full color image. For example, in a Windows execution environment, which is a typical operating system (hereinafter referred to as an OS) used in a personal computer or the like, the color information is usually three primary colors of light, red (R) and green (G). Blue (B) (hereinafter referred to as RGB).
[0003]
Therefore, when performing printing, it is necessary to convert RGB into CMYK. RGB and CMY are complementary to each other and can be converted to each other theoretically (RGB can be expressed by CMY or vice versa), but actual toners may not have the theoretical hue due to various factors. is not. In particular, black is represented by R = G = B = 0, and CMY is represented by C = M = Y = 255 (when each color is expressed by a gradation of 0 to 255). When color printing is performed by mixing CMY three color toners, the black color is not correct. This is due to a problem of color tone due to impurities in the toner, a problem due to the printing position accuracy of the three colors of CMY, and the like. Therefore, when it is desired to reproduce a natural color such as a color photograph, black toner is used to produce a vivid black color.
[0004]
In addition, such RGB to CMY conversion processing is performed by a printer driver on the personal computer side, or RGB data is sent to the printer side as it is and converted to CMY on the printer side, or drawing data Therefore, both the printer driver on the personal computer side and the printer side share the processing.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The use of black toner at the time of color printing has the advantage that it is possible to make black appear as correct black and color misregistration can be eliminated. However, if black toner is used in a continuous gradation change such as a photograph or gradation, only that portion results in an uncomfortable printing result.
[0006]
Therefore, in order to solve such problems, color printing is performed by switching use / nonuse of black toner.
[0007]
For example, in raster printing, each drawing data designated by the application is temporarily generated as an image for one page as RGB, and is uniformly converted into CMYK as one image data. At the time when the image data for one page of RGB is generated, information such as what rendering command each drawing data is drawn is deleted. Therefore, since there is no such information, it is necessary to determine whether or not to use black toner for each page of image data. In order to avoid this, when the image data for one page of RGB is obtained, a configuration is also conceivable in which information such as what rendering command each rendering data is rendered in is stored in the memory. In this case, a new memory must be secured, which causes a new problem such as an increase in cost, which is not desirable.
[0008]
Therefore, in such raster printing, if the image data for one page is character data, black is expressed by using black toner, and if the image data is graphic data including an image (photo data) or gradation, it is CMY. Black was expressed by the combination. However, since drawing data usually includes a mixture of characters, images (photo data), and graphics including gradation, no matter whether black toner is used or not, only image data for one page is selected. Since it cannot be set, an appropriate print result could not be obtained.
[0009]
In addition, for example, in consideration of the characteristics of each toner, a conversion table including information such as conditions for using the black toner is provided, and whether to use the black toner is determined based on the conversion table. Although a method is also conceivable, since it is necessary to prepare a conversion table in advance, an extra memory is increased.
[0010]
On the other hand, regarding the conversion processing from RGB to CMY, when this is performed on the printer side, it is necessary to incorporate conversion logic in the firmware on the printer side. In this case, various conversion methods are required due to system or cost limitations. It is difficult to install. Therefore, the printer side is provided with only one of black toner use / non- use, and drawing data in which characters, images (photo data), and graphics including gradation are mixed, regardless of which one is provided. On the other hand, an appropriate printing result could not be obtained.
[0011]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the problem is that the print data in which characters, images (photo data), graphics including gradation, and the like are mixed without having a new memory is not natural. It is to obtain the print result of the hue.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, the invention described in claim 1 is a printer driver that generates image data composed of RGB data corresponding to drawing data created by a host computer, and a conversion unit that converts the RGB data into YMCK data. , R = G = B = 0. In a toner control apparatus including a printer that performs printing using black toner only for YMCK data corresponding to R = 0, the printer driver converts the drawing data into drawing data having a plurality of attributes. Classification means for classifying, and setting means for setting whether to use or not use black toner for each drawing data classified by the classification means, and classification in which black toner is not used by the setting means replacing data of R = G = B = 0 generated from drawing data of the R = G = B = 1 data (where, R, G Red Each of B, green can be achieved by black expressed by gradation of blue 0-255 is to provide a toner control device according to claim a value expressed as) that in R = G = B = 0 .
[0013]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the classification unit classifies the print data into drawing data having three attributes of characters, graphics, and images.
[0015]
With this configuration, black toner is used / not used for each drawing data for print data in which characters, images (photo data), graphics including gradation, etc. are mixed without newly providing a memory. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a print result with a natural color without any sense of incongruity.
[0017]
Also, with this configuration, without increasing the program capacity on the printer side, for example, when the specific toner is black toner, the printer uses black toner when R = G = B = 0. By simply controlling, it is possible to obtain an appropriate print result for drawing data in which characters, images (photo data), and graphics including gradation are mixed. Even when the processing capacity of the host computer is low, since conversion from RGB data to CMYK data is processed on the printer side, high-speed printing becomes possible. Also, for print data in which the capacity of the converted CMYK data is larger than that of the RGB data, sending the RGB data to the printer side requires less spool data, and other applications can be used during the printing process. The processing speed is not reduced.
[0018]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer driver that generates image data composed of RGB data corresponding to drawing data created by a host computer, and a conversion unit that converts the RGB data into YMCK data. , R = G = B = 0, in a toner control method in a printing system including a printer that performs printing using black toner only for YMCK data, the printer driver sets the drawing data to a plurality of attributes. The drawing data is classified, use / nonuse of black toner is set for each classified drawing data, and R = G = B = 0 generated from the drawing data of the classification in which black toner is not used. the data substituting R = G = B = 1 data (where, R, G, B respectively red, green, blue Black represented by gradations of 255 can be achieved by providing a toner control method comprising a value it expressed as) that in R = G = B = 0.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
<First embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a toner control apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The flow of print data will be described with reference to FIG.
[0020]
The host computer 1 includes an operating system (hereinafter referred to as OS) 3, an application 2, and a printer driver 4 that operate the host computer 1.
[0021]
The host computer 1 is connected to the printer 5 and transmits and receives data. The connection between the host computer 1 and the printer 5 may be a connection via a network such as a LAN or a one-to-one direct connection.
[0022]
The printer driver 4 includes a setting dialog for setting whether to use or not use black toner for each drawing data having three attributes of characters, graphics, and images (photo data). FIG. 2 shows such a printer driver setting dialog. In the figure, since black toner is used only for characters, only the character dialog 7 is checked, and the other graphic dialog 8 and image dialog 9 are checked. Absent. The use / non- use of black toner is set using a setting dialog, but is not limited to this.
[0023]
The print data 6 created by the application 2 is transmitted to the printer driver 4 via the OS 3. Note that the print data 6 becomes the slightly processed print data 6 ′ through the OS 3, but in the present embodiment, it is regarded as the same data for the sake of convenience. The printer driver 4 classifies the print data into drawing data having three attributes of characters, graphics, and images (photo data). The classified drawing data is once designated in the printer driver 4 as specified. (RGB information remains RGB) and is developed into an image. At this time, according to the black toner use / non- use setting dialog, the portion of R = G = B = 0 in the drawing data set to not use black toner is changed to R = G = B = 1. Expand to image. Thereafter, the R = G = B = 0 portion is subjected to a conversion process from RGB to CMYK so as to always use black toner, and is converted into a printer command format for printing by the printer 5. Sent. The printer 5 receives this printer command (printer control data), generates an actual image, and prints on the paper.
[0024]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the toner control apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0025]
In the figure, the print data 6 created by the application 2 is transmitted to the printer driver 4 via the OS 3 (step S301). The printer driver 4 classifies the print data 6 into drawing data having three attributes of characters, graphics, and images (photo data) (step S302). In the first embodiment, first of all, the character of the drawing data according to the setting dialog of use / non-use of the black toner for characters and black toner used / unused is determined (step S303). Note that the dialog for setting whether or not to use black toner is set in advance by the user. When it is determined in step S303 that black toner is not used (when the character setting dialog 7 is not checked), R = G = B = 0 is set for the character drawing data. A process of changing to G = B = 1 (step S304) is performed, and when it is determined in step S303 that black toner is used (when the character setting dialog 7 is checked), step S304 is performed. The process is not performed, and the process proceeds to step S305. The processes in steps S303 to S304 are similarly performed on graphic drawing data and image drawing data (steps S305 to S308). Note that the order of processing for character, graphic, and image drawing data is not limited to this. When the processing is completed for each drawing data of character, graphic, and image, image data for one page is generated (step S309). Here, drawing processing is performed in the state of RGB data, and RGB image data for one page is generated. The RGB image data for one page is converted from RGB to CMYK so as to always use black toner with respect to data of R = G = B = 0 (step S310). The image data for one page converted into CMYK is converted into a printer command for printing (step S311) and transmitted to the printer 5 (step S312). The printer 5 receives the printer command, outputs it to the printer (step S312), and performs printing.
[0026]
FIG. 4 shows a printing result obtained by the printing process as described above. In the same figure, according to the black toner use / nonuse setting dialog for each drawing data shown in FIG. 2, the character data represents black using black toner, and graphic data and image (photo data) data. Represents black by mixing CMY toners.
[0027]
With the above configuration, even in raster printing in which an image having no rendering data attribute is converted from RGB to CMYK, when creating image data for one page, a portion of R = G = B = 0 is R in advance. By changing to = G = B = 1, it is possible to control the use / non- use of black toner for each drawing data of characters, graphics, and images without newly providing a memory, and appropriate print results Can be obtained.
[0028]
In the first embodiment, black toner is targeted. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and CMY toners may be targeted. By performing the same processing for these, clear printing without dithering can be performed in the case of primary colors (R, G, B, C, M, Y, and K are colors designated by 255). it can. In particular, it is effective for character drawing data because it is not necessary to maintain continuity of hue.
<Second embodiment>
In the second embodiment, the conversion process from RGB to CMYK is performed not on the host computer side but on the printer side.
[0029]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the toner control apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the processing of step S501 to step S508 is the same as the processing of step S301 to step S308 shown in FIG.
[0030]
After the processing of step S501 to step S508, the change of RGB data according to the black toner use / non- use setting dialog for the character, graphic, and image drawing data is completed, and then the respective RGB data (drawing) The data is converted into a printer command (step S509) and transmitted to the printer 5 (step S510). In the second embodiment, since printing is performed by a vector processing method in which each drawing data is output to the printer by each printer command, image data generation processing for one page is not performed. The printer 5 receives each printer command from the printer driver 4 and converts the RGB data of the printer command into CMYK (step S511). However, in the process of step S511, the data of R = G = B = 0 is converted into CMYK so that black toner is always used. Thereafter, the data converted into CMYK is output to the printer (step S512), and printing is performed.
[0031]
FIG. 6 shows a printing result obtained by the printing process as described above. In the drawing, according to the dialog for setting whether or not to use black toner for each drawing data, in the second embodiment, character data and graphic data express black using black toner, and image (photo) The data shows an example in which black is expressed by mixing CMY toners.
[0032]
With the above configuration, even if the printer 5 performs conversion processing from RGB data to CMYK data, the printer driver 4 of the host computer 1 follows the black toner use / non- use setting dialog in advance for drawing data. Since the data of R = G = B = 0 is changed to R = G = B = 1, the printer 5 is controlled to use black toner only for the data of R = G = B = 0. What is necessary is that, without increasing the program capacity on the printer side, it is possible to obtain an appropriate print result for drawing data in which characters, images (photo data), graphics including gradation, and the like are mixed. Even when the processing capacity of the host computer 1 is low, since the printer 5 performs conversion processing from RGB data to CMYK data, high-speed printing is possible. In general, image data and the like have a larger capacity for converted CMYK data than RGB data, so sending RGB data to the printer side requires less spool data. The processing speed of the application will not decrease.
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a print result having a natural color with no sense of incongruity for print data in which characters, images (photo data), graphics including gradation, etc. are mixed without newly providing a memory. Can be obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a toner control apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a setting dialog for setting whether to use black toner.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing operation of the toner control apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a result of printing by the toner control apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the toner control apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a result of printing by the toner control apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Host computer 2 Application 3 Operating system 4 Printer driver 5 Printer 6, 6 'Print data 7 Dialog for character setting 8 Dialog for graphic setting 9 Dialog for image setting

Claims (3)

A printer driver that generates image data composed of RGB data corresponding to drawing data created by the host computer, conversion means for converting the RGB data into YMCK data, and YMCK data corresponding to R = G = B = 0. In a toner control device comprising a printer that uses black toner only for printing,
The printer driver includes classification means for classifying the drawing data into drawing data having a plurality of attributes, and setting means for setting whether to use or not use black toner for each drawing data classified by the classification means. The R = G = B = 0 data generated from the drawing data of the classification in which the non-use of the black toner is set by the setting means is replaced with the data of R = G = B = 1 (provided that R, G , B represents red, green, and blue with gradations of 0 to 255, and black is a value represented by R = G = B = 0) .  The toner control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the classification unit classifies the print data into drawing data having three attributes of characters, graphics, and images. A printer driver that generates image data composed of RGB data corresponding to drawing data created by the host computer, conversion means for converting the RGB data into YMCK data, and YMCK data corresponding to R = G = B = 0. In a toner control method in a printing system including a printer that performs printing using black toner only for
The printer driver classifies the drawing data into drawing data having a plurality of attributes, sets the use / non-use of black toner for each classified drawing data, and draws the classification in which black toner is not used. R = G = B = 0 data generated from data is replaced with R = G = B = 1 data (however, R, G, and B are red, green, and blue with gradations of 0 to 255, respectively) The toner control method is characterized in that black is expressed as R = G = B = 0 .

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