JP4757100B2 - Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and storage medium - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to control of color conversion processing for a color printer that can change the configuration of a color material to be used.

  When an RGB image captured by a digital camera is output by a printer, the output device converts the data into a data format that can be expressed by a color material (ink, toner, etc.) that supports RGB data. It is necessary to determine the color reproduction characteristics.

  As the characteristics of the input color space, a color space characteristic called sRGB recommended by the International Electrotechnical Commission has been widely used. This sRGB is strongly positioned as a standard for expressing the color space characteristics of a general consumer monitor.

  Various input / output devices use an input color space characteristic with a wider color reproduction range called Adobe (registered trademark) RGB or the like as the color reproduction range expands.

  On the other hand, color printers have different color gamuts depending on the type of paper used and the printing method, so in the case of a printer that supports multiple papers and multiple printing methods, the output color space is the same as the number of combinations. Characteristics are defined.

Here, the “printing method” represents a control method of the print engine, for example, even in the same printer. The printing method is, for example,
o Speed-priority printing method that emphasizes higher speed than image quality,
o Standard printing method that emphasizes the balance between image quality and speed,
o Image quality priority printing method that emphasizes image quality over speed,
There are different methods.

  Furthermore, in recent color printers, in order to expand not only the color materials constituting the four primary colors such as cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K), but also the color reproduction range, Devices that use so-called special color materials have appeared. In other words, devices that use special color materials such as red (R), orange (O), green (G), blue (B), and violet (V) in addition to the color materials constituting the four primary colors have appeared. ing.

  Depending on the printer, there is a type in which the user can arbitrarily select the use / non-use of the special color material.

  When performing color conversion, a color profile composed of a multi-dimensional look-up table (n-D LUT) adapted to input color space characteristics and output color space characteristics is selected and color conversion is performed. The systems related to and can be mainly classified into the following two systems.

(1) A method for selecting one profile each representing input color space characteristics and output color space characteristics, and performing color conversion by combining these two profiles,
(2) A method of selecting one profile corresponding to a combination of input color space characteristics and output color space characteristics, and performing color conversion using the selected profile,
In the former method, two colors are combined to perform one color conversion, so that the absolute number of profiles can be reduced. However, when the two color reproduction ranges are different, there is a problem that it is difficult to achieve alignment particularly at the boundary of the color reproduction range, and an optimum image quality is not always obtained in any combination.

  Since the latter method can optimally adjust the color conversion table for each combination, the image quality is often better than that of the former method. However, in the latter method, since it is necessary to prepare profiles for all combinations of input color space characteristics and output color space characteristics, the absolute number of profiles becomes very large.

For example, if the total number of profile combinations is M for the number of input color spaces and N for the number of output color spaces,
In the case of the former method, the total number of profiles is
M + N
Just do it. On the other hand, in the latter method,
M × N
It is necessary to prepare a very large number of profiles.

  Several methods have been disclosed as methods for controlling input data in determining the color reproduction range of a printer.

  For example, it is determined whether or not an input signal exists within the color reproduction range of the printer. If there is no input signal, there is a method of mapping the reproducible range of the printer by performing a correction operation (for example, Patent Document 1).

  In addition, in order to remove the color material variation factor of the printer, there is a method of detecting the color material state with a sensor and correcting the content of the color conversion process according to the detection result (for example, Patent Document 2). reference).

  Further, there is a method for estimating the color reproduction range between the input color space and the output color space, and optimizing parameters at the time of color space conversion from the estimated outline (see, for example, Patent Document 3).

  Further, there is a method of determining whether or not an input color uses a spot color and switching a color conversion method between the case where the spot color is used and the case where the spot color is not used (see, for example, Patent Document 4).

  In addition, there is a technique for performing printing by appropriately switching between pigment-based ink and dye-based ink according to the type of recording medium and the type of image such as characters and photographs (see, for example, Patent Document 5).

Also, a method for selecting a color space range on the input side from a plurality of preset ranges is known (see, for example, Patent Document 6). The invention described in Patent Document 6 has a film brand / sensitivity selection screen that has the same meaning as the user selects the brand of the silver salt film, and the range of the color space equivalent to the silver salt film specified there is changed to the input color. Set as space.
JP-A-6-189121 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-212337 JP 2002-51228 A JP 2003-198864 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-50504 JP 2004-179883 A

  In order to prioritize image quality, it is desirable to create dedicated profiles for all combinations of input color space characteristics and output color space characteristics.

  However, in a printer in which the user can select the presence or absence of the special color material, in addition to the combination of the paper and the printing method, the combination of whether or not the special color material is used further increases.

  Depending on the presence or absence of the special color material, the total number of profiles is doubled, and designing the profiles requires a lot of labor. Therefore, when the total number of profiles increases, there is a problem that the development man-hours increase.

  In order to reduce the number of profiles, for example, as in the method described in Patent Document 1, after performing color conversion processing for a standard color gamut, if correction calculation for a wider color gamut is performed, the input color space characteristics The number can be reduced and the total number of profiles can be reduced. However, there is a problem that the image quality is inferior compared to the case where the calculation content of color conversion is designed on the premise of a wide color gamut.

  The technique described in Patent Document 2 is effective in absorbing the deviation when the color reproduction range of the printer changes slightly. However, there is a problem that it is difficult to cope with a case where the color reproduction range of the printer changes greatly, such as the presence or absence of special color ink, and there is a problem that the total number of profiles cannot be reduced.

  The method described in Patent Document 3 is a method for estimating a color reproduction range between an input color space and an output color space, and optimizing parameters at the time of color space conversion from the outline. This method has a problem that a result obtained by a combination of input / output characteristics is not always predictable, and there is no guarantee that a suitable result is obtained.

  When the conversion method is changed according to the input color as in the method described in Patent Document 4, discontinuity occurs between the portion using the special color ink and the portion not using it, and the gradation at the boundary portion is discontinuous. For example, image quality deterioration occurs. Therefore, there is a problem that the color conversion tables for when special color ink is used and when not used are made common, and the total number of profiles cannot be reduced.

  In the conventional example, as described above, there is a problem that the number of profiles cannot be effectively reduced in a printer in which the user can select the presence or absence of a special color material.

  Further, in the above conventional example, when data of a wide color gamut such as Adobe (registered trademark) RGB is input in a state where no special color material is attached to the printer, the color reproduction range of the printer is not wide. There is a problem that the details of a part cannot be reproduced by a printer. In the above conventional example, there is a problem that the combination is not effective in terms of color reproduction in the first place, and the output result does not meet the user's expectation.

The present invention can prevent printing that is less effective and does not meet the user's expectations in advance, can reduce the total number of profiles, and can reduce development man-hours, an image processing method, and an image processing method The object is to provide a storage medium.

The present invention provides color material information acquisition means for acquiring information on a color material mounted on a color printer, input color space characteristic setting means for setting color space characteristics of input data, and output color space characteristics of the color printer. Output color space characteristic setting means for setting the color profile selection means, color profile selection means for selecting a color profile for color conversion based on the setting states of the input color space characteristic setting means and the output color space characteristic setting means, and Color conversion means for performing color conversion according to the color profile selected by the color profile selection means, and the input color space characteristic setting means includes a user interface for the operator to selectively specify the input color space characteristics. , So that some items of the input color space characteristics determined based on the color material information acquired by the color material information acquisition means are not selected. An image processing apparatus, characterized in that the means for controlling the user interface.

According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent printing that is less effective and does not meet the user's expectation in advance, and it is possible to reduce the total number of profiles and reduce development man-hours.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention is a configuration in which a general-purpose computer system and a printer are connected, a color material information setting step and the like are realized by a program in the computer, and each processing is executed by the computer. That is, a color material information setting process, an input color space characteristic setting process, an output color space characteristic setting process, a color profile selection process, a color conversion process, and a user interface are realized, and each process is executed by a computer.

  Further, a color material information acquisition unit and the like are configured by a program for realizing the above steps and a series of devices (CPU, RAM, ROM, OS, monitor, keyboard, etc.) that execute the program. That is, a color material information acquisition unit, an input color space characteristic setting unit, an output color space characteristic setting unit, a color profile selection unit, a color conversion unit, and a user interface are configured.

A medium in which the above series of steps is recorded as a computer program is also an embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an image processing system 100 that is Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  The image processing system 100 includes a host computer 10 and a printer 20.

  The host computer 10 includes application software 11, a printer driver 12, and a color profile holding unit 13.

  When the printer 20 prints data created by the application software 11, the application software 11 sends the data to the printer driver 12.

  The color profile holding unit 13 stores a plurality of profiles that meet various conditions. For the input data, the printer driver 12 extracts a profile that meets the conditions from the color profile holding unit 13, performs color conversion based on the profile, performs halftone processing, and sends it to the printer 20.

  The color profile stored in the color profile holding unit 13 is preinstalled in the host computer 10 together with the printer driver 12.

  The printer 20 prints the data after halftone processing received from the host computer 10 on output paper.

  In the first embodiment, the printer driver 12 executes the color conversion process and the halftone process, but the printer 20 may execute the halftone process and the color conversion process. In this case, since the color conversion process is executed by the printer 20, an appropriate color conversion table (n-D LUT) extracted from the color profile holding unit 13 is transferred to the printer.

  Here, the printer 20 includes a basic ink set 21 and a special color ink set 22, and the special color ink set 22 is detachable.

  The basic ink set 21 has four basic colors such as cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K), or light cyan (LC) and light magenta (LM) with reduced density. It is composed of any one of six colors.

  On the other hand, the special color ink set 22 is composed of a part (or all) of red (R), orange (O), green (G), blue (B), violet (V), etc. in order to expand the color reproduction range. Can be installed.

  In the first embodiment, it is assumed that the basic ink set 21 has four colors of CMYK, and the special color ink set 22 has three colors of RGB.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an image processing operation in the first embodiment.

  This image processing is executed in the printer driver 12.

  In S1, color material information of the printer to be output is set.

  The color material information is preferably set so that the printer 20 and the host computer 10 perform two-way communication to automatically acquire the state of ink mounted on the printer.

  However, when bi-directional communication between the host computer 10 and the printer 20 is not always possible, it is desirable that the operator can manually set the color material mounting state.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of setting color material information in the first embodiment.

  In S11, the host computer 10 issues a color material information acquisition request to the printer 20, and waits for a response from the printer 20 for a predetermined time.

  In S12, the response result is determined.

  When there is a response from the printer 20 and the color material information of the printer 20 can be acquired correctly, the acquired information is set as the color material information of the printer 20 and the processing is completed.

  If there is no response from the printer 20 and the color material information of the printer 20 cannot be acquired, the process proceeds to S13.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the color material information setting dialog 30 according to the first embodiment.

  In S13, the color material information setting dialog 30 shown in FIG. 4 is displayed and information input by the operator is accepted.

  An inquiry character string 31 is used to inquire about the mounting state of the special color ink set. If the special color ink set is mounted, the operator presses the button 32, and if the special color ink set is not mounted, the operator presses the button 33.

  Based on the input from the operator, the color material information of the printer 20 is set, and the color material information setting is completed.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the input color space characteristic setting dialog 40.

  In S2, the input color space characteristic is set by the input color space characteristic setting dialog 40 shown in FIG.

  The input color space characteristic setting dialog 40 has user interfaces 41 and 42 for selecting an input color space characteristic.

  The dialog shown in the figure shows that two options can be selected from standard RGB and wide color gamut RGB. However, for example, assuming that image data created on a monitor with a different color reproduction range is input, options such as “A company liquid crystal monitor RGB” and “B company monitor RGB” may be arranged in parallel. .

  These options are controlled in the user interface state before individual selection items are validated before being presented to the operator.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the control operation of this selection item in the first embodiment.

  In S21, it is checked whether or not there is an unset selection item. In the initial state, since all the selection items are not set, the process proceeds to S22.

  In S22, it is checked whether one of the selection items in the unset state (for example, standard RGB) is a color space suitable for the current ink mounting state of the printer 20.

  The suitability between the ink mounting state and the input color space is determined at the time of design, stored as data in advance, and conformity / non-conformity is determined by referring to the stored data. For example, in the case of standard RGB, even if only the standard ink set is attached, or in a state where the special color ink set is further attached, it is possible to perform appropriate color reproduction, so it is determined that they are compatible, Proceed to S23.

  In S23, a selection item (for example, standard RGB) is set as a selectable state, and the process returns to S21. In S21, it is checked whether there are other unset items. If there is a selection item shown in FIG. 5, since the wide color gamut RGB is not set, the process proceeds to S22. In S <b> 22, it is checked whether or not the wide color gamut RGB as a selection item is a color space adapted to the current ink mounting state of the printer 20. Here, if the ink mounting state of the printer 20 is not mounted with the special color ink set and only the basic ink set is mounted, it is determined that it is insufficient for reproducing the wide color gamut RGB data, and the process proceeds to S24. .

  If the spot color ink set is attached to the printer 20, it is determined that the wide color gamut RGB data can be reproduced, and the process proceeds to S23.

  In S24, the selection item is set as being in a non-selectable state, and the process returns to S21.

When setting of the settable / impossible state is completed for all selection items, it is determined in S21 that there is no selection item that has not been set, and the selection item control operation ends.

  In this manner, the selection state of each selection item is appropriately controlled by displaying the input color space characteristic setting dialog shown in FIG. 5 after the selection item control is completed. For example, when the special color ink set is not attached and the wide color gamut RGB cannot be selected, the wide color gamut RGB is displayed or not displayed in the non-selectable state, and only the standard RGB can be selected. Of course, when there are a plurality of color space characteristics determined to be reproducible only with the standard ink set, a plurality of selections are possible.

  If a special color ink set is installed and a wide color gamut RGB can be selected, both standard RGB and wide color gamut RGB can be selected. If there is only one type of item that can be selected by the selection item control flow, there is no room for user selection, and control may be performed so as not to inquire the user about the setting.

  The first embodiment is an example in which a dedicated dialog for setting an input color space characteristic is displayed, but a user interface for selecting an input color space characteristic is arranged in a part of various settings related to the printer driver 12. May be.

  Further, the dialog may be presented to the user only when the user desires to change the setting, for example, by pressing a predetermined button or the like instead of always inquiring the user about the setting.

  In this case, when setting the input color space characteristic, the previous setting value is used as much as possible, and when the ink mounting state changes and the setting state becomes inappropriate, it is automatically switched to standard RGB, etc. It is preferable to control the above.

  When the setting of the input color space characteristics is completed, the process proceeds to S3. In S3, output color space characteristics are set. The characteristics of the output color space are determined by a combination of various printing conditions. For example, the characteristics of the output color space are determined by a combination of conditions such as the type of output paper, the setting state of the printing method, and the mounted ink state.

  More specifically, if the output paper type is, for example, five types, the printing method state is, for example, three types, and the mounted ink state is, for example, two types, the output color space characteristics are 30 ( = 5 × 3 × 2) types. The five types of output paper are, for example, “plain paper”, “coated paper”, “glossy paper”, “semi-glossy paper”, and “photographic glossy paper”. The three types of printing system states are, for example, “speed priority”, “standard”, and “image quality priority”, and the two types of mounting ink states are, for example, spot color ink mounting / non-mounting. Each of the 30 types represents output print characteristics.

  Note that it is not always necessary to use different color spaces for all types (30 types in the above case), and output characteristics of the same type may be assigned under conditions where the output characteristics are similar.

  In S4, a color profile is selected. In the selection of the color profile, an optimum profile is uniquely selected for the combination of the input color space characteristic set in S2 and the output color space characteristic set in S3. For example, an input color space characteristic of “standard RGB” and an output color space characteristic of “coated paper”, “standard”, “no special color ink”, and the like color profile suitable for the conditions are shown in FIG. It is selected from the profile holding unit 13.

  Here, the number of profiles to be held in the color profile holding unit 13 is as follows. For example, assuming that there are two types of input color space characteristics, five types of output paper, three types of printing methods, and two types of installed ink states, the conventional method may be used. For example, 60 (= 2 × 5 × 3 × 2) types of profiles are required. However, in the case of the system according to the first embodiment, the combinations (15 types) of the wide color gamut RGB and the spot color ink non-attached state are excluded in advance, so that the required number of profiles is 45, and the number of profiles Can be reduced by 15 types.

  In S5, color conversion is performed with reference to the color profile selected in S4.

  When the input data is RGB and the ink mounted on the printer is CMYK, conversion from RGB to CMYK is performed by a 3-D LUT with a 3-value input and 4-value output.

  In a state where RGB is mounted as the special color ink, the RGB is converted to CMYKRGB by the 3-DLUT with ternary input and 7-value output.

  The color conversion is completed by the above processing.

  Thereafter, halftone processing is performed on the data for which color conversion has been completed, and printing is performed by the printer 20, whereby a series of processing is completed.

  According to the first embodiment, as described above, in the combination of the color gamut of the input data and the color material state of the printer 20, combinations that cannot be expected to be effective are exclusively processed in the input color space characteristic setting.

Therefore, according to the first embodiment, it is possible to avoid a situation in which, even though wide color gamut data is input, the color gamut of the output result is narrow and the print result is not as expected. Further, according to the first embodiment, the total number of profiles can be reduced, and the development load of the system can be reduced.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an image processing system 200 that is Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

  The image processing system 200 includes a host computer 50 and a printer 60.

  The host computer 50 includes application software 51, a Raster Image Processor (hereinafter referred to as “RIP”) 52, an input profile holding unit 53, and an output profile holding unit 54.

  When the printer 60 prints data created by the application software 51, the application software 51 sends the data to the RIP 52. The data sent to the RIP 52 may include both CMYK format data and RGB format data.

  The input profile holding unit 53 stores a plurality of profiles adapted to the color space characteristics of various input data. The output profile holding unit 54 stores a plurality of profiles that match various printing conditions of the printer 60.

  The RIP 52 extracts an input profile that meets the conditions for the input data from the input profile holding unit 53, and further extracts an output profile that matches the printing conditions from the output profile holding unit 54. If the input profile and the output profile are combined for color conversion, and if the input profile and the output profile cannot be combined for color conversion, halftone processing is performed and the result is sent to the printer 60.

  The input profile stored in the input profile holding unit 53 is preinstalled in the host computer 50 together with the RIP 52. Further, a profile desired by the user may be arranged in the input profile holding unit 53 by the user.

The output profile stored in the output profile holding unit 54 is preinstalled in the host computer 50 together with the RIP 52. The profile desired by the user may be arranged in the output profile holding unit 54 by the user.

  The printer 60 prints the data after halftone processing received from the host computer 50 on output paper. Here, the printer 60 has a basic ink set 61 and a special color ink set 62, and the special color ink set 62 is detachable.

  The basic ink set 61 has four basic colors such as cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K), or light cyan (LC) and light magenta (light magenta (dark). LM) and any one of six colors.

  On the other hand, the special color ink set 62 is composed of a part or all of red (R), orange (O), green (G), blue (B), violet (V), etc., in order to expand the color reproduction range. Can be installed.

  In the second embodiment, the basic ink set 61 has four colors CMYK, and the special color ink set 62 has two colors O and G.

  The operation of the color conversion process in the second embodiment is equivalent to the operation of the flowchart shown in FIG. 2, but the operation content of each part is partially different.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the second embodiment.

  In S31, the color material information of the printer 60 to be output is set. The processing content is the same as the operation of the first embodiment (the operation of S1 in FIG. 2), and will be omitted.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a color matching setting dialog 70 according to the second embodiment.

  In S32, an input / output color space characteristic is set using the color matching setting dialog 70 shown in FIG.

  The setting dialog 70 has user interfaces 71, 72, 73 for selecting input / output color space characteristics.

  The user interface 71 is a pull-down menu for selecting color space characteristics of RGB format input data. The input RGB characteristic selection menu 71 can select, for example, standard RGB or wide color gamut RGB.

  The user interface 72 is a pull-down menu for selecting color space characteristics of CMYK format input data. The input CMYK characteristic selection menu 72 can select items such as a narrow color gamut CMYK, a standard color gamut CMYK (Japan), a standard color gamut CMYK (Europe), a standard color gamut CMYK (US), and a wide color gamut CMYK. .

  In these selection menus, profiles held by the input profile holding unit 53 are displayed. When the user places a profile in the input profile holding unit 53, the profile is also displayed in the pull-down menu.

  The user interface 73 is a pull-down menu for selecting the color space characteristics of the printer 60, and is automatically selected in the standard state.

  In the case of automatic selection, an appropriate output profile is selected according to printing conditions (paper type, printing method, ink mounting state) set separately.

  When the user wants to change the profile intentionally, such as when using a printer profile created by the user, pulling down the menu lists all the profiles arranged in the output profile holding unit 54. Therefore, a desired profile is selected from them. When the OK button 74 is clicked, the setting of the input / output color space characteristics is completed.

  Next, in S33, setting confirmation and warning processing for the input color space characteristics set in S32 are executed.

  If the color material information of the printer 60 acquired in S31 indicates that no special color ink is attached, even if wide color gamut data is input, it may not be able to be printed appropriately.

  On the other hand, as long as the spot color ink is mounted, even if data of a wide color gamut is input, printing can be performed appropriately.

  Therefore, in S33, the contents of the color material information of the printer 60 are compared with the characteristics of the set input color space, and if there is a possibility that a problem may occur in the printing result (wide color gamut RGB with no special color ink attached). Or, when the wide color gamut CMYK is selected), the user is warned.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an ink setting confirmation dialog 80 according to the second embodiment.

  The ink setting confirmation dialog 80 is a dialog showing an example of a warning. A comment 81 shown in FIG. 10 indicates a setting value and a countermeasure policy in question, and inquires whether or not to continue processing.

  When the user confirms the comment 81 and presses the OK button 82, the process proceeds to S34.

  When the cancel button 83 is pressed, a series of processing is interrupted. In this case, the user can obtain an appropriate printing result by performing the printing process again after attaching the special color ink to the printer 60.

  In S34, the color profile corresponding to the input / output color space characteristic selected in S32 is read from the input profile holding unit 53 and the output profile holding unit 54. In S35, color conversion processing is performed on the input data based on the color profile read in S34. At this time, color conversion is performed on the data in the RGB format in the data by combining the profile corresponding to the characteristic selected from the input RGB characteristic selection menu 71 and the profile selected from the printer characteristic selection menu 73.

  The CMYK format data in the data is subjected to color conversion by combining the profile corresponding to the characteristic selected from the input CMYK characteristic selection menu 72 and the profile selected from the printer characteristic selection menu 73.

  Thereafter, halftone processing is performed on the data for which color conversion has been completed, and the printer 60 prints, whereby the series of processing of the second embodiment is completed.

According to the above embodiment, when the color gamut of the input data and the color material state of the printer 60 are combined, when a combination that cannot be expected to be effective is set, the user can grasp the situation before printing. Appropriate measures can be taken in advance without wasteful printing.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an image processing system 100 that is Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an image processing operation according to the first exemplary embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of setting color material information in the first embodiment. 6 is a diagram illustrating a color material information setting dialog 30 in Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the input color space characteristic setting dialog. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a selection item control operation according to the first exemplary embodiment. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an image processing system 200 that is Embodiment 2. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a color matching setting dialog 70 in Embodiment 2. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an ink setting confirmation dialog 80 according to the second embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

100: Image processing system,
10: Host computer,
11 ... Application,
12 ... Printer driver,
13: Color profile holding unit,
20 ... printer,
30 ... Color material information setting dialog,
40 ... Input color space characteristic setting dialog,
200: Image processing system,
50: Host computer,
51 ... Application,
52 ... RIP,
53. Input profile holding unit,
54 ... Output profile holding unit,
60 ... Printer,
70 ... Color matching setting dialog,
80: Ink setting confirmation dialog.

Claims (9)

Color material information acquisition means for acquiring information on the color material mounted on the color printer;
Input color space characteristic setting means for setting the color space characteristic of the input data;
Output color space characteristic setting means for setting the output color space characteristic of the color printer;
Color profile selection means for selecting a color profile for color conversion based on the setting states of the input color space characteristic setting means and the output color space characteristic setting means;
Color conversion means for performing color conversion according to the color profile selected by the color profile selection means;
The input color space characteristic setting means includes a user interface for the operator to selectively specify the input color space characteristic, and is determined based on the color material information acquired by the color material information acquisition means. An image processing apparatus, which is means for controlling the user interface so that some items of the input color space characteristics are not selected. In claim 1,
The color material information acquisition means is means for acquiring a mounting state of a special color material for expanding the color reproduction range of the printer,
The input color space characteristic setting means can set a first input color space characteristic and a second input color space characteristic having a wider color gamut than the first input color space characteristic, and the color material An image processing apparatus, comprising: means for controlling the user interface so that the second input color space characteristic is not selected when the acquisition result by the information acquisition means indicates that the special color material is not mounted. Color material information acquisition means for acquiring information on the color material mounted on the color printer;
Input color space characteristic setting means for setting the color space characteristic of the input data;
Output color space characteristic setting means for setting the color space characteristic of the color printer;
Color profile selection means for selecting a color profile for color conversion based on the setting states of the input color space characteristic setting means and the output color space characteristic setting means;
Color conversion means for performing color conversion according to the color profile selected by the color profile selection means;
The input color space characteristic setting means includes a user interface for an operator to selectively specify the input color space characteristic, and is determined based on the color material information acquired by the color material information acquisition means. An image processing apparatus for controlling the user interface so as to issue a warning when some items of the input color space characteristic are selected. In claim 3,
The color material information acquisition means is means for acquiring a mounting state of a special color material for expanding the color reproduction range of the printer,
The input color space characteristic setting means can set a first input color space characteristic and a second input color space characteristic having a wider color gamut than the first input color space characteristic, and the color material An image characterized by controlling the user interface so that a warning is issued when the second input color space characteristic is selected when the acquisition result by the information acquisition means indicates that the special color material is not mounted. Processing equipment. A color material information acquisition step of acquiring information on the color material mounted on the color printer;
An input color space characteristic setting step for setting the color space characteristic of the input data;
An output color space characteristic setting step for setting a color space characteristic of the color printer;
A color profile selection step of selecting a color profile for color conversion based on the setting states in the input color space characteristic setting step and the output color space characteristic setting step;
A color conversion step of performing color conversion according to the color profile selected in the color profile selection step;
The input color space characteristic setting step is a step in which an operator uses the user interface to selectively specify the input color space characteristic. In the input color space characteristic setting step, the user interface An image processing method, wherein control is performed so that some items of the input color space characteristics determined based on the color material information acquired in the material information acquisition step cannot be selected. In claim 5,
The color material information acquisition step is a step of acquiring the mounting state of the special color material that expands the color reproduction range of the printer,
In the input color space characteristic setting step, the first input color space characteristic and the second input color space characteristic having a wider color gamut than the first input color space characteristic can be set. An image processing method, wherein the user interface is controlled so that the second input color space characteristic cannot be selected when the acquisition result in the information acquisition step indicates that the special color material is not attached. A color material information acquisition step of acquiring information on the color material mounted on the color printer;
An input color space characteristic setting step for setting the color space characteristic of the input data;
An output color space characteristic setting step for setting a color space characteristic of the color printer;
A color profile selection step of selecting a color profile for color conversion based on the setting states in the input color space characteristic setting step and the output color space characteristic setting step;
A color conversion step of performing color conversion according to the color profile selected in the color profile selection step;
The input color space characteristic setting step includes a step of an operator selectively specifying an input color space characteristic using a user interface, wherein the user interface includes at least the color material information acquisition step. An image processing method comprising: controlling so as to issue a warning when some items of the input color space characteristics determined based on the color material information acquired in step S3 are selected. In claim 7,
The color material information acquisition step is a step of acquiring a mounting state of a special color material for expanding the color reproduction range of the printer, and the input color space characteristic setting step includes a first input color space characteristic, The second input color space characteristic having a wider color gamut than the first input color space characteristic can be set, and the user interface indicates that the acquisition result in the color material information acquisition step indicates that no special color material is attached. If the second input color space characteristic is selected, the image processing method is controlled so as to issue a warning when the second input color space characteristic is selected. The storage medium which memorize | stored the process as described in any one of Claims 5-8 as a computer control program.

Images