JP4333718B2 - Image processing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus that converts image data into print data, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus that converts full-color image data into full-color or monochrome print data using a lookup table.

  Conventionally, there is an image processing apparatus that converts image data into print data. Such an image processing apparatus includes, for example, a printer driver function installed in a personal computer as application software, a printer driver mounted as hardware in the personal computer, a printer controller mounted on the printer apparatus by software, and a printer This is implemented as a printer controller or the like mounted as hardware in the apparatus.

  The image processing apparatus as described above includes, for example, a table storage unit that stores a plurality of lookup tables, a table holding unit that temporarily stores the lookup tables, a data input unit that receives image data, and an input A data conversion unit for converting the image data to be printed into a print data using a temporarily stored look-up table, a data output unit for outputting the converted print data, and a print instruction for at least a color image and a monochrome image are selectively An instruction input unit that is input, and a table processing unit that acquires a lookup table from the table storage unit in response to the input print instruction and stores the lookup table in the table holding unit.

  Full-color image data consists of one brightness value and a plurality of color values. Such full-color image data is generated using a color space expressed as (L, a, b), for example.

  Full-color print data consists of density values of three primary colors and black. Such full-color print data is generated using a color space expressed as CMYk (Cyan Magenta Yellow black). Note that black and white print data is composed of black density values.

  Therefore, when a print instruction for a color image is input, the table processing unit acquires the color table from the table storage unit and stores it in the table holding unit. When a monochrome image print instruction is input, a monochrome table is acquired from the table storage unit and stored in the table holding unit.

  In the image processing apparatus as described above, when the user inputs a print instruction for a color image as desired, full-color print data is generated from the full-color image data. When the user inputs a black and white image print instruction as desired, black and white print data is generated from full-color image data. Therefore, by transmitting the print data from the image processing apparatus to the color printer, the color image or the monochrome image can be printed out.

  Also, in the above-described image processing apparatus, full-color or monochrome print data can be accurately and easily converted from full-color image data by using a lookup table.

There are various proposals for the image processing apparatus as described above (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 4).
JP 09-298673 A JP 2000-003084 A JP 2002-165103 A JP 2003-143418 A

  The above-described image processing apparatus can generate full-color or monochrome print data from full-color image data by using a lookup table. However, there are various demands as print data output forms at present.

  For example, there is a demand for generating single-color print data other than black from full-color image data. Therefore, the image processing apparatus of Patent Document 1 has a dedicated table for converting full-color image data into single-color print data as one of the lookup tables.

  However, this requires storing a dedicated lookup table for monochrome printing. Since the lookup tables have a large capacity, it is not preferable to increase the number of lookup tables.

  In particular, it can be assumed that print data is generated with one of cyan, magenta, yellow, cyan + magenta, cyan + yellow, magenta + yellow, cyan + magenta + yellow as a single color image. In this case, since there are many large-capacity look-up tables, the data capacity to be stored further increases.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and a lookup table capable of converting full-color image data into single-color print data can be generated from an existing color table and a monochrome table. An image processing apparatus is provided.

An image processing apparatus of the present invention includes a color table for converting full-color image data composed of one brightness value and a plurality of color values into full-color print data composed of density values of three primary colors and black, and full-color image data. And a black and white table for converting the image data into black and white print data composed of black density values as a plurality of lookup tables, and selecting one of the plurality of lookup tables to convert the image data into print data An image processing apparatus comprising: a first designation input unit that accepts designation of one of a single color group consisting of one or two primary colors and three primary colors of the three primary colors of a color table; and designation of three primary colors of a color table It does replaced with the density value of the black-and-white table with replacing the density value of the primary color to the density value of the black-and-white tables constituting the monochromatic A table processing section for generating a temporary table all of the density values in the primary color and black as a look-up table by replacing the 0,
Have

The computer program of the present invention is a computer program for the image processing apparatus of the present invention, and receives at least selective input of a print instruction for a color image, a monochrome image, and a single color image , out of the three primary colors of the color table Accepting the designation of one of the single color groups consisting of one or two primary colors and three primary colors, and receiving a color image print instruction, obtains a color table from the table storage unit and stores it in the table holding unit When a monochrome image print instruction is input, a monochrome table is acquired from the table storage unit and stored in the table holding unit. When a monochrome image print instruction is input, the color table and the monochrome table are stored from the table storage unit. get the black and white tape density values of primary colors constituting a single color that is specified among the color table three primary colors Be stored in the table storage unit to generate a temporary table by replacing the 0 all of the density values in the primary color and black is not replaced to the density value of the black-and-white table with replacing the density value of the table, the input image data The image processing apparatus is configured to accept the received image data, convert the input image data into print data using a temporarily stored lookup table, and output the converted print data.

  Therefore, in the image processing apparatus of the present invention, a temporary table for converting full-color image data into print data of a single-color image other than black can be accurately generated in real time from existing and essential color tables and black-and-white tables. it can.

  The single color in the present invention means a color other than black, and specifically, cyan, magenta, yellow, cyan + magenta, cyan + yellow, magenta + yellow, cyan + magenta + yellow. is there.

  The various constituent elements referred to in the present invention only have to be formed so as to realize their functions. For example, dedicated hardware that exhibits a predetermined function, an image provided with a predetermined function by a computer program It can be realized as a processing device, a predetermined function realized in the image processing device by a computer program, an arbitrary combination thereof, or the like.

  In addition, the various components of the present invention do not have to be individually independent, a plurality of components are formed as a single member, and a single component is formed of a plurality of members. It may be that a certain component is a part of another component, a part of a certain component overlaps a part of another component, and the like.

  Note that causing the image processing apparatus to execute various operations corresponding to the computer program in the present invention also means causing the image processing apparatus to control operations of various devices. For example, storing various data in the image processing device means that a CPU (Central Processing Unit) stores various data in an information storage medium such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) fixed to the image processing device. The CPU may store various data using an FDD (FD Drive) in an information storage medium such as an FD (Flexible Disc-cartridge) that is loaded in the apparatus in a replaceable manner.

  Furthermore, the term “stores data” in the present invention means that the device of the present invention is in the “stores data” state when used. For this reason, when the apparatus of the present invention is shipped, data is not stored, and it is allowed to be set up in a state in which data is stored before use.

  In the image processing apparatus of the present invention, a temporary table for converting full-color image data into print data of a single-color image other than black can be accurately generated in real time from existing and essential color tables and black-and-white tables. Therefore, it is possible to generate single-color print data from full-color image data without increasing the memory capacity for storing the lookup table.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 2A, the image processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment converts full-color image data including one lightness value (L) and a plurality of color values (a, b) into three primary colors (CMY). A color table for conversion to full-color print data composed of density values of black (k), and black and white printing composed of full-color image data composed of density values of black (k) as shown in FIG. A black and white table for conversion into data is provided as a plurality of lookup tables. Then, one of the plurality of lookup tables is selected to convert the image data into print data.

  Furthermore, the image processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment replaces at least a part of density values of the three primary colors (CMY) of the color table with density values of the black and white table, and the other part of the three primary colors (CMY) and black (k). The table processing unit 110 generates a single color table which is a temporary table as one of the look-up tables by replacing all of the density values with 0.

  More specifically, the image processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment corresponds to a so-called personal computer, and can read a computer program and execute corresponding data processing, such as a CPU, ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM, I / F (Interface) unit, etc.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image processing apparatus 100 is connected to a color printer 200. When the color printer 200 receives the CMYk print data of the three primary colors and black from the image processing apparatus 100, the color printer 200 generates a print image with the corresponding CMYk color ink.

  Application software for a printer controller corresponding to the color printer 200 is installed in the image processing apparatus 100. In the image processing apparatus 100, the above-described table processing unit 110 and the following units 120 to are logically constructed as various functions by the above-described application software.

  For this reason, the image processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment has a table storage unit 120 that stores a plurality of three-dimensional lookup tables, a table holding unit 130 that temporarily stores the lookup tables, and image data input. Data input unit 140, data conversion unit 150 that converts input image data into print data using a temporarily stored lookup table (and a complementary operation, etc.), and a data output unit that outputs the converted print data 160, and an instruction input unit 170 for selectively inputting print instructions for at least a color image, a monochrome image, and a single color image.

  When a color image print instruction is input, the table processing unit 110 acquires a color table as illustrated in FIG. 2A from the table storage unit 120 and stores the color table in the table holding unit 130. When a monochrome image print instruction is input, a monochrome table as shown in FIG. 2B is acquired from the table storage unit 120 and stored in the table holding unit 130.

  When a print instruction for a single color image is input, a color table and a monochrome table are acquired from the table storage unit 120 and the single color table is stored in the table holding unit 130. At this time, the table processing unit 110 replaces at least a part of the density values of the three primary colors (CMY) of the color table with the density values of the black and white table as described above, and the other part of the three primary colors (CMY) and the black (k). A monochrome table is generated by replacing all of the density values with “0”.

  Note that the image processing apparatus 100 further includes a designation input unit 180 to which designation data for at least a part of the three primary colors to be replaced with the density values of the black and white table is input. For this reason, the table processing unit 110 replaces the density values of at least a part of the three primary colors with the density values of the black and white table corresponding to the input designation data.

  Each unit of the image processing apparatus 100 as described above is realized by using hardware such as an I / F unit as necessary. However, the main body is realized by the function of a CPU, which is hardware, corresponding to a computer program stored in an information storage medium such as a RAM.

  Such a computer program stores, for example, a color table and a monochrome table as a plurality of lookup tables, selectively accepts at least print instructions for a color image, a monochrome image, and a monochrome image, and a monochrome table Accepts specified data for at least part of the three primary colors to be replaced with the density value, accepts input of image data in response to a print instruction, etc., and prints image data in the color table when a color image print instruction is entered Conversion to data, conversion of image data to print data in a black and white table when a monochrome image print instruction is input, and input of three primary colors in the color table corresponding to the specified data when a monochrome image print instruction is input At least part of the density value is replaced with the density value of the black and white table, and the three primary colors By replacing all density values in the other parts and black with 0, a single color table is generated as one of the look-up tables, and image data is converted into print data using the single color table, and the converted print data Are output to the color printer 200 and stored in an information storage medium such as a RAM as software for causing a CPU or the like to execute processing operations.

  In the configuration as described above, a data processing method by the image processing apparatus 100 of the present embodiment will be described below. As shown in FIG. 2A, the image processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment also includes a color table for converting the image data of (L, a, b) into print data of a color image composed of CMYk, As shown in 2 (b), a black and white table for converting to black and white image print data is registered as a three-dimensional lookup table. Since only k is valid in this black and white table, CMY of CMYk is 0.

  When the lookup table of (L, a, b) is schematically expressed in three dimensions, as shown in FIG. 3, printing is performed in a space of (0-8) × (0-8) × (0-8). All the colors of the data are arranged.

  In such a three-dimensional space, the vertical direction is lightness, and the saturation is zero at the front, back, left, and right centers. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 3B, (L, a, b) = (*, 4, 4) is an achromatic color (monochrome) having no saturation and only brightness (* is 0 to 8). Any number).

  When the operator converts the image data into print data and outputs it to the color printer 200 by the image processing apparatus 100 as desired, a print instruction for selecting a color image, a monochrome image, or a single color image with the image data selected. Is input to the image processing apparatus 100.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the image processing apparatus 100 always waits for an input operation of either a color image, a monochrome image, or a single color image (steps S1 to S3). The corresponding processing operation is started (steps S4, S5, S6).

  That is, when a color image print instruction is input and operated (step S1), the image processing apparatus 100 reads a color table from, for example, a ROM and temporarily holds it in the work area of the RAM (step S4).

  Then, the image data consisting of (L, a, b) in the temporarily held color table is converted into full-color print data consisting of CMYk (step S9) and output to the color printer 200 (step S10). Therefore, the color printer 200 prints out a CMYk color image according to the input print data.

  When a monochrome image print instruction is input to the image processing apparatus 100 (step S2), the monochrome table is read (step S5). In the monochrome table, the image data composed of (L, a, b) is converted into monochrome print data (step S9) and output to the color printer 200 (step S10). Therefore, the color printer 200 prints out a black and white image according to the input print data.

  When a single color image print instruction is input to the image processing apparatus 100 (step S3), the image processing apparatus 100 waits for an input operation of single color designation data (step S6). At this time, for example, on the display (not shown) of the image processing apparatus 100, “Select a single color to print from the following. Cyan, magenta, yellow, cyan + magenta, cyan + yellow, magenta + yellow, cyan + magenta A guidance message such as “+ Yellow” is displayed.

  Therefore, when the worker who confirms this specifies a desired single color, the color table and the black and white table are read and a single color table is generated (steps S7 and S8). In this case, the read color table is stored in the work area, and the density values of a part of the three primary colors (CMY) corresponding to the designated single color are replaced with the density values of the black and white table, and the other parts of the three primary colors (CMY) All the density values of black and black (k) are replaced with 0.

  For example, when yellow is selected as the single color, as shown in FIG. 5, the density value of Y, which is a part of the three primary colors, is replaced with the density value of the black and white table, and the density value of CMk, which is the other part of the three primary colors and black. Are all replaced with 0.

  When the monochrome table is generated in this way, the image data composed of (L, a, b) is converted into monochrome print data in this monochrome table (step S9). Since this print data is output to the color printer 200 (step S10), the color printer 200 prints and outputs a single color image with the input print data.

  In the image processing apparatus 100 of the present invention, as described above, a single color table for converting full color image data into print data of a single color image other than black is accurately generated in real time from existing and essential color tables and black and white tables. can do. Therefore, it is possible to generate single-color print data from full-color image data without increasing the memory capacity for storing the lookup table.

  In addition, single color designation data to be replaced with the density value of the black and white table is received, and the density value of at least a part of the three primary colors is replaced with the density value of the black and white table corresponding to the designation data. Therefore, the image data can be printed out in a single color desired by the operator.

  The present invention is not limited to the present embodiment, and various modifications are allowed without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, one density value of the three primary colors of the color table is replaced with the density value of the black and white table. However, as shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of density values of the three primary colors in the color table may be replaced with density values in the black and white table.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the density value of the color table is directly replaced with the density value of the black and white table. However, as shown in FIG. 6, the density value of the color table may be replaced after the density value of the black and white table is multiplied by a coefficient such as 0.8.

  In general, in the printing with the black ink and the printing with the color ink, the change rate of the brightness by visual observation is not completely synchronized. For this reason, if the density value of the color table is directly replaced with the density value of the black and white table, the visual density level of monochromatic printing may be reduced.

  However, if the density value of the color table is replaced after multiplying the density value of the black and white table by a coefficient such as 0.8 as described above, the visual density level of monochromatic printing can be made equivalent to that of black and white printing.

  When the density values in all three primary colors of the color table are replaced with the density values of the black and white table, if the above-described coefficients are the same for the three primary colors, CMY is mixed at the same ratio. Becomes a pseudo-achromatic color.

  Therefore, when replacing density values in all three primary colors of the color table with density values in the black and white table, it is preferable to generate a single color that is not an achromatic color by making at least one coefficient different from that of the three primary colors.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the image processing apparatus 100 always stands by for an input operation for a color image, a monochrome image, or a single color image, and starts a corresponding processing operation when detecting one input operation. However, for example, the default setting may be to print a color image, and monochrome printing or single color printing may be executed only when designated.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, it has been exemplified that the respective units are logically realized as various functions of the image processing apparatus 100 by the CPU operating corresponding to the computer program stored in the RAM or the like.

  However, each of these units can be formed as unique hardware, and a part can be stored in RAM or the like as software and a part can be formed as hardware.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the logical structure of the image processing apparatus of the Example of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the setting content of a color table and a monochrome table. It is a schematic diagram which shows the logical structure of a lookup table. It is a flowchart which shows the data processing method by an image processing apparatus. It is a schematic diagram which shows the setting content of a monochrome table. It is a schematic diagram which shows the setting content of the monochrome table of one modification.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Image processing apparatus 110 Table processing part 120 Table storage part 130 Table holding part 140 Data input part 150 Data conversion part 160 Data output part 170 Instruction input part 180 Designated input part 200 Color printer

Claims (5)

A color table for converting full-color image data consisting of one brightness value and a plurality of color values into full-color print data consisting of density values of the three primary colors and black, and the full-color image data consisting of black density values An image processing apparatus having a black and white table for converting to black and white print data as a plurality of look-up tables, and selecting one of the plurality of look-up tables and converting the image data into the print data There,
A first designation input unit for accepting designation of one of the three primary colors of the color table and a single color group consisting of the three primary colors and the three primary colors;
The density values of the primary colors constituting the specified primary color among the three primary colors of the color table are replaced with the density values of the black and white table and the density values of the primary color and black are not replaced with the density values of the black and white table. and a table processor for generating a temporary table as one of the look-up table by replacing the 0,
An image processing apparatus. 2. The image according to claim 1, wherein the table processing unit replaces density values of primary colors constituting the specified single color among the three primary colors of the color table by multiplying density values of the black and white table by a predetermined coefficient. Processing equipment.   The image according to claim 2, wherein the table processing unit changes at least one coefficient for the three primary colors when replacing density values in all of the three primary colors of the color table with density values of the black and white table. Processing equipment. A table storage unit that stores a plurality of the lookup tables, a table holding unit that temporarily holds the lookup tables, a data input unit that receives the image data, and a temporary storage of the input image data A data conversion unit that converts the print data using the look-up table, a data output unit that outputs the converted print data, and a print instruction for at least a color image, a monochrome image, and a monochrome image are selectively input. A second instruction input unit,
The table processing unit
When a color image print instruction is input, the color table is acquired from the table storage unit and stored in the table holding unit;
When the monochrome image print instruction is input, the monochrome table is acquired from the table storage unit and stored in the table holding unit;
4. The color table and the monochrome table are acquired from the table storage unit when the monochrome image print instruction is input, and the temporary table is stored in the table holding unit. The image processing apparatus described. A computer program for the image processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,
Accepting selective input of print instructions for at least a color image, a monochrome image and a monochrome image;
Accepting designation of any one of the three primary colors in the color table and a single color group consisting of the three primary colors and the three primary colors;
When the color image print instruction is input, the color table is acquired from the table storage unit and stored in the table holding unit;
When the black and white image print instruction is input, the black and white table is acquired from the table storage unit and stored in the table holding unit;
When a print instruction for the single color image is input, the color table and the black and white table are acquired from the table storage unit , and density values of primary colors constituting the specified single color among the three primary colors of the color table are obtained. The temporary table is generated and stored in the table holding unit by substituting all the density values in the primary color and black that are not replaced with the density values of the black and white table and the density values of the black and white table with 0. ,
Receiving input of the image data;
Converting the input image data into the print data in the temporarily held look-up table;
Outputting the converted print data;
A computer program for causing the image processing apparatus to execute the program.

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