JP4780089B2 - Image processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, program, and color sample - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image forming apparatus, a program, and a color sample.

Outputs a chart with color patches from the image output device so that the output product output from the image output device becomes a color desired by the user while viewing the image display device such as a display. Conventionally, various techniques have been proposed regarding a method of selecting a desired patch from among them and performing color adjustment (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
In this Patent Document 1, an input means for inputting a color information value of a predetermined color system representing a predetermined color, and peripheral color generation for generating a plurality of color information values approximating the input color information value of the predetermined color There is disclosed a color candidate creation device comprising: means for converting the plurality of color information values obtained by the peripheral color creation unit into a plurality of color separation values used in the color reproduction device. Yes. In other words, in order to obtain a separation value for outputting a predetermined color from the color reproduction device, this color candidate creation device generates a plurality of color values representing the predetermined color by the peripheral color generation means as color candidates. .

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-173938

Here, when color adjustment is performed using a color sample, if there is no continuity of the patch, it is difficult to select the patch with the naked eye. Therefore, such work requires a certain level of skill. In other words, patches with multiple elements in three or more dimensions that are increased or decreased are placed on the paper, the remaining elements are output with fixed values, a patch close to the desired color is selected, and the patch is centered. The color is matched by repeatedly performing the process of changing the element fixed to and outputting the color sample again. However, since information of three or more dimensions is expressed in two dimensions, it is difficult to ensure the continuity of patches, and it is difficult to obtain a desired color unless the user has knowledge about colors. Many samples must be generated many times to generate color samples.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus, an image forming apparatus, a program, and a color sample that can create a color sample in which continuity as a whole is more maintained.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the first signal group and the second signal group having a saturation different from that of the first signal group are generated at predetermined intervals on the color space of the image signal based on the acquired image signal. And the first signal group and the second signal group generated by the generating means, and the color component values of each of the plurality of images output as color samples are set to lightness and brightness as they go in a predetermined direction. Arrange so that a region of continuous change having both increase and decrease in saturation appears partially, and arrange the first signal group and the second signal group generated by the generation means adjacent to each other And an output unit that outputs the first signal group and the second signal group generated by the generating unit in an array by the arranging unit .
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the arrangement unit, a signal adjacent to a signal in a different signal group among the signals in the first signal group and the second signal group has the shortest color difference based on lightness and saturation. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the signals are arranged adjacent to each other .
A third aspect of the present invention is the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the generation unit determines a predetermined interval on a color space of the image signal in accordance with the image signal.
A fourth aspect of the present invention is the image processing apparatus according to the third aspect, wherein the generation unit narrows the predetermined interval for the hue when the image signal is yellow.

The invention of claim 5 includes a receiving means and the post-conversion signals of different other color spaces and the converted signal to the color space of the converted signals accepted by the accepting means for accepting input of the converted signal The first signal group that converts the first signal group and the first signal group and the first signal group at different intervals on the other color space based on the converted signal converted by the first conversion unit generating means for generating a second signal group having the said first signal group and the second signal group generated by the generation unit, the color component value included in each of a plurality of images to be output as color samples The first signal group and the second signal group generated by the generating unit are arranged so that a continuous change region having both an increase and a decrease in lightness and saturation is partially displayed as going in a predetermined direction . Make signal groups adjacent to each other A sequence unit for arranging a second converting means for converting an output signal group of a color space depending the first signal group and the second signal group generated by the generation unit to the output device, the second converting means And an image forming unit that forms an image by the arrangement by the arrangement unit based on the output signal group converted by the image forming apparatus.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the arrangement unit, the signals adjacent to the signals of different signal groups among the signals of the first signal group and the second signal group have the shortest color difference based on lightness and saturation. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the signals are arranged adjacent to each other .
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the fifth aspect, the generation unit determines a predetermined interval on the other color space according to the conversion target signal.

The invention according to claim 8, the computer, and receiving function that receives an input of converted signals, said converted signals accepted by the receiving function of the other different color space from the color space of the converted signals A first conversion function for converting to a converted signal, and the first signal group and the first signal group at predetermined intervals on the other color space based on the converted signal converted by the first conversion function A generation function that generates a second signal group having different saturations, and a color that each of a plurality of images that are output as color samples includes the first signal group and the second signal group generated by the generation function. The component values are arranged so that a region of continuous change having both an increase and a decrease in brightness and saturation as the component values go in a predetermined direction, and the first signal group generated by the generation function and The second signal group Implementing a sequence function that arranged are adjacent to each other, and a second conversion function for converting an output signal group of color space for outputting the first signal group is generated and the second signal group by the generating function It is a program characterized by this.
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the arrangement function, signals adjacent to signals of different signal groups among the signals of the first signal group and the second signal group have the shortest color difference based on lightness and saturation. The program according to claim 8, wherein the signals are arranged adjacent to each other .

The invention according to claim 10 is composed of a plurality of images, and a region in which the color component value of each of the adjacent images increases or decreases as the color component value goes in a predetermined direction partially appears. In this way, the first image group in which the plurality of images are arranged and a plurality of images, and the color component value of each of the adjacent images increases in brightness and saturation as the predetermined direction goes in the predetermined direction. Or a second image group in which the plurality of images are arranged so that a decreasing region partially appears , and the first image group and the second image group are arranged adjacent to each other, The plurality of images constituting the first image group and the plurality of images constituting the second image group are the first image adjacent to the second image group among the plurality of images of the first image group. Adjacent to the color component value and the first image A color sample, characterized in that the said color component values of the second image of the second image group are arranged such that the same or closest.
The invention according to claim 11 is that the image adjacent to the second image group among the first images of the first image group has the same brightness and saturation as the second image of the second image group. The color sample according to claim 10, wherein the color difference based on the color sample is the shortest.

According to the first aspect, compared to the case where the present invention is not applied, it is possible to create a color sample that makes it possible to easily match the color desired by the user when performing color adjustment.
According to claim 2, it is possible to create a color sample that makes it possible to easily compare a plurality of colors as compared with the case where the present invention is not applied.
According to the third aspect, it is possible to create a color sample that makes it possible to easily compare a plurality of colors as compared with the case where the present invention is not applied.
According to the fourth aspect, it is possible to create a color sample that makes it possible to perform color adjustment with higher accuracy than when the present invention is not applied.
According to the fifth aspect, compared to a case where the present invention is not applied, it is possible to create a color sample that makes it possible to easily match the color desired by the user when performing color adjustment.
According to the sixth aspect, it is possible to create a color sample that makes it possible to easily compare a plurality of colors as compared with the case where the present invention is not applied.
According to the seventh aspect, it is possible to create a color sample that makes it possible to easily compare a plurality of colors as compared with the case where the present invention is not applied.
According to the eighth aspect, compared with the case where the present invention is not applied, it is possible to create a color sample that makes it possible to easily match the color desired by the user when performing color adjustment.
According to the ninth aspect, it is possible to create a color sample that makes it possible to easily compare a plurality of colors as compared with the case where the present invention is not applied.
According to the tenth aspect, compared with the case where the present invention is not applied, it is possible to easily match the color desired by the user when performing color adjustment.
According to the eleventh aspect, it is possible to easily compare a plurality of colors as compared with the case where the present invention is not applied.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a color signal conversion apparatus 1 including an image processing apparatus 4 (see FIG. 5) according to the present embodiment. A color signal conversion device 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a color signal reception unit 11, a color adjustment coefficient generation unit (adjustment coefficient generation device) 12, a color adjustment processing unit 13, a color conversion coefficient storage unit 14, a color conversion processing unit 15, and a color. A signal output unit 16 is provided. Then, the color signal conversion apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment executes a color adjustment process on the input color signal to generate an output color signal.

Here, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the color signal conversion apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. 2, when the color signal conversion apparatus 1 executes color adjustment processing, the CPU (correction means) 21 and CPU 21 are examples of arithmetic means that executes digital arithmetic processing according to a predetermined processing program. RAM 22 used as a working memory, ROM 23 as an example of a storage unit for storing processing programs executed by the CPU 21, rewritable and capable of retaining data even when power supply is interrupted and backed up by a battery In addition, a nonvolatile memory 24 as an example of a storage unit such as an SRAM or a flash memory, and an interface unit 25 that controls input / output of signals to / from each unit connected to the color signal conversion device 1 are provided.
Further, the external storage device 26 stores a processing program executed by the color signal conversion device 1, and when the color signal conversion device 1 reads this processing program, the color signal conversion device 1 of the present embodiment. The color signal conversion process is executed.

  That is, a program that realizes the functions of the color signal reception unit 11, the color adjustment coefficient generation unit 12, the color adjustment processing unit 13, the color conversion coefficient storage unit 14, the color conversion processing unit 15, and the color signal output unit 16 described above is externally provided. The data is read from the storage device 26 into the ROM 23 in the color signal converter 1. Then, based on the program read into the ROM 23, the CPU 21 performs various processes. As this program, for example, a program stored in a reserved area such as a hard disk or a DVD-ROM as the external storage device 26 is loaded into the ROM 23 and provided. As another providing form, there is a form provided in a state stored in the ROM 23 in advance. Further, when the rewritable ROM 23 such as an EEPROM is provided, there is a form in which only the program is provided and installed in the ROM 23 after the color signal conversion device 1 is assembled. Further, there is a form in which a program is transmitted to the color signal conversion device 1 via a network such as the Internet and installed in the ROM 23 of the color signal conversion device 1.

The color signal reception unit 11 is an example of an image signal reception unit, and a color signal (first color signal) to be processed is a device-dependent color space such as an RGB color space (first color space). Full color RGB signals (256 × 256 × 256) are received.
Generally, in a three-dimensional RGB color space, color coordinate values (R, G, B) are set in a range of R, G, B = 0 to 255, respectively. Therefore, color coordinate points (0,0,0) to (255,0,0) on the R axis, color coordinate points (0,0,0) to (0,255,0) on the G axis, and colors on the B axis The coordinate points (0, 0, 0) to (0, 0, 255) are separated by arbitrary steps (for example, 17 steps). Then, all combinations of the separated color coordinate points are created and used as grid points in the RGB color space. For example, (0,0,0), (0,16,0), (0,0,16),... Are lattice points. Then, using the 17 × 17 × 17 grid point addresses generated by the color adjustment coefficient generation unit 12 and the corresponding grid point data, the color adjustment processing unit 13 interpolates an input signal value (full color RGB signal). The color is adjusted by calculation.

  The color adjustment coefficient generation unit 12 generates a color adjustment coefficient reflecting the user's intention based on information specified by a utility having a UI (User Interface) 3 illustrated in FIG. The generated color adjustment coefficient is sent from the color adjustment coefficient generation unit 12 to the color adjustment processing unit 13.

  The color adjustment processing unit 13 uses the color coordinate values (R, G, B) of the input signal values received by the color signal receiving unit 11 as color coordinate values (R, G, B) according to the color adjustment coefficients generated by the color adjustment coefficient generating unit 12. R ', G', B ').

  The color conversion processing unit 15 is a functional unit that performs color conversion processing for converting an input color space into an output color space based on the color conversion coefficients (color conversion characteristics) stored in the color conversion coefficient storage unit 14. is there. That is, the color conversion processing unit 15 converts, for example, the RGB color space color signal acquired from the color adjustment processing unit 13 into a device-dependent color space (device-dependent color space) such as the YMCK color space. Convert to color signal. Then, the color conversion processing unit 15 transmits the image data represented by the converted color signal to the color signal output unit 16.

  The color signal conversion apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment employs a configuration example in which the color conversion processing unit 15 performs color conversion processing after the color adjustment processing unit 13 processes the color input signal with the color adjustment coefficient. However, a configuration in which the color adjustment processing unit 13 is omitted is also conceivable. That is, the color adjustment coefficient generated by the color adjustment coefficient generation unit 12 is transmitted to the color conversion coefficient storage unit 14, and after the color adjustment coefficient and the color conversion coefficient are synthesized, the color conversion processing unit 15 performs color adjustment and color adjustment. A configuration in which conversions are collectively processed is also conceivable.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the UI 3 of the designated color adjustment dialog used when the designated color adjustment is performed.
The UI 3 shown in FIG. 3 includes a designated color instruction unit 31 used when the user designates an input color signal (designated color) to be adjusted, an input color signal designated by the designated color instruction unit 31 and its surroundings. An output destination instruction unit 32 that instructs screen output (patch display) or print output (patch printing) by a printer under the driver setting to be adjusted as a rectangular patch output destination for the color signal. The UI 3 also includes an adjustment color instruction unit 33 used when the user specifies an adjusted color (adjustment color) for the specified color, an instruction color by the specified color instruction unit 31, and an adjustment color by the adjustment color instruction unit 33. Used to give an instruction to add or delete a combination of the two to the list, and to give an instruction to save the list in the external storage device 26 (see FIG. 2) by the list instruction unit 34. A storage instruction unit 35.

  The UI 3 also includes a peripheral color instruction unit 36 that is used when specifying the correction content of a color (peripheral color) other than the specified color, the list content by the list instruction unit 34, and the correction content by the peripheral color instruction unit 36. And a generation / storage instruction unit 37 that generates a combined profile (color adjustment coefficient) and instructs storage.

In the designated color instruction unit 31 and the adjustment color instruction unit 33, a column for directly inputting RGB values, a column (dropper) for acquiring RGB values from patch display on the screen, and the color signal conversion device 1 are prepared in advance. A column (pallet) is provided for acquiring RGB values from the palette color.
The output destination instructing unit 32 is provided with a selection unit for selecting the display value range from small, medium, and large and changing the step size of RGB to be displayed. In addition, the peripheral color instruction unit 36 is configured to be able to specify the continuity and the adjustment range (range of influence from the surroundings) as the correction content for the peripheral color. In this embodiment, as the continuity for the peripheral color (continuity between adjacent input color signals), the degree of strength is selected and specified, and the degree of adjustment is selected as the adjustment range for the peripheral color. Specify.
Input information to the designated color instruction unit 31, output destination instruction unit 32, adjustment color instruction unit 33, list instruction unit 34, storage instruction unit 35, peripheral color instruction unit 36, and generation / storage instruction unit 37 is sent to the CPU 21. Processed.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the specified color adjustment processing procedure in the color adjustment coefficient generating unit 12, and the color adjustment coefficient is generated by such a processing procedure.
In the flowchart shown in FIG. 4, the CPU 21 receives an input color signal (color signal to be adjusted) to be adjusted designated by the designated color instruction unit 31 by the user (step 101). As the designation method, as described above, when the RGB value is directly input, there are a case where the RGB value is obtained by designating a position on the screen, and a case where the RGB value is obtained by selecting from the palette color.

  Thereafter, when the output destination instruction unit 32 recognizes that patch display or patch printing has been designated by the user, the CPU 21 identifies the designated color (input color signal) and its surrounding color (peripheral color signal). Under the conditions, a color chart T (color sample, printed matter, output matter) described later is output (step 102). The specific condition referred to here is, for example, setting of a printer driver to be color adjusted. As for the method for determining the surrounding color signal, the method is determined based on the RGB signal method, the method for determining the color signal after conversion to a color space model such as HSL, and the printer driver setting for color adjustment. There is a method of determining the color reproduction characteristics of the printer.

  The user visually confirms the specified color and its surrounding color patch prints (printed matter) in the case of a predetermined printer driver, selects a patch to be described later to achieve a desired color reproduction, and determines an adjustment color for the specified color To do. The determined adjustment color is designated by the user in the adjustment color instruction section 33. When an adjustment color is specified (step 103) and the user then instructs the list addition unit 34 to add a list, the CPU 21 receives a combination of the specified color and the adjustment color (step 104).

  Then, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the adjustment color determination for all the designated colors has been completed (step 105). That is, when the save instruction unit 35 is pressed by the user, the process proceeds to step 106, and when the user determines that color adjustment is necessary for another color and an input is made to the designated color instruction unit 31, step 101 is performed. Return to.

  When the user specifies the continuity and adjustment range for the peripheral color using the peripheral color instruction unit 36, the CPU 21 receives the specification of the continuity and the adjustment range (step 106). When the user presses the generation / saving instruction unit 37, the CPU 21 generates a color adjustment coefficient based on the information input by the user (step 107).

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image processing apparatus 4 according to this embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 5, the image processing apparatus 4 includes a CPU 21 as part of the color adjustment coefficient generation unit 12 of the color signal conversion apparatus 1. The image processing device 4 converts the input signal of the designated color (image signal, conversion target signal, input signal) into a signal ( converted signal) of another color space (first conversion means, first conversion). Function) 41 and a generation unit (generation unit, generation function) 42 that generates a signal group based on the signal converted by the conversion unit 41. Further, the image processing apparatus 4 uses the arrangement unit 43 that arranges the signal group generated by the generation unit 42 and the signal group generated by the generation unit 42 as an output signal in the color space of the designated color or the color space of the output device. And a conversion unit 44 for converting into groups.

The conversion unit 41 converts a designated color signal (RGB signal value) in an RGB color space (color space of an image signal) that is a device-dependent color space as a color space of an image signal into an L ^* a ^* that is a device-independent color space ^. b ^* Convert to a color space signal. Then, the generation unit 42 generates a plurality of signal groups by calculating a plurality of signal groups at predetermined intervals on the L ^* a ^* b ^* color space using the converted signals.
The arrangement unit 43 causes the generated plurality of signal groups to be continuously changed with both increasing and decreasing as the color component value of each of the plurality of images output as color samples goes in a predetermined direction. Array. Then, the conversion unit 44 converts the plurality of generated signal groups into a signal group in the RGB color space or a signal group in the CMYK color space.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for outputting the color chart T, and more specifically describes the processing content in step 102 of FIG. In this color chart T, a plurality of patches (images) are arranged along a predetermined rule.
In the flowchart shown in FIG. 6, the conversion unit 41 (see FIG. 5) converts the RGB signal value input by the user via the designated color instruction unit 31 (see FIG. 3) of the UI 3 as the designated color to be adjusted. Is converted to a signal value (L ^* , a ^* , b ^* ) in the CIE-L ^* a ^* b ^* color space, which is a uniform color space, using a typical conversion formula or an output device model (device profile) ( Step 201).

Then, the generation unit 42 (see FIG. 5) calculates a signal group in which the peripheral color of the converted signal value includes a certain space in the three-dimensional space (L ^* a ^* b ^* color space) ( Step 202). As a method for obtaining such a peripheral color, a signal group for each predetermined interval is calculated. This calculation will be described later.
Note that the predetermined interval mentioned here may be calculated by changing according to the value of the input signal. For example, the hue interval is narrowed when the input signal is Yellow, and widened when the input signal is Green. It is also conceivable to generate a signal group in a color space other than the uniform color space.

  Thereafter, the array unit 43 (see FIG. 5) converts the signal group calculated in step 202 into a plurality of patches so that the color difference between adjacent patches on the paper surface, that is, the distance in the three-dimensional space (Euclidean distance) is minimized. Are arranged (step 203). Details of the arrangement of such a plurality of patches will be described later.

The conversion unit 44 (see FIG. 5) converts the signal group in step 203 into the color space (RGB) of the input signal or the color signal (CMYK) of the image forming apparatus (step 204), and the display screen or the image forming apparatus. A signal is transmitted to a certain image output device (step 205).
Note that step 203 described above may be performed at a stage after step 204 instead of at a stage before step 204. That is, a processing procedure for determining the arrangement of a plurality of patches by the arrangement unit 43 after the signal group generated by the generation unit 42 is converted by the conversion unit 44 is also conceivable.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the processing content performed by the generation unit 42 of the image processing apparatus 4 for creating the color chart T according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7A shows L ^* a ^* b. ^{* The} figure which looked at the space coordinate on the LC plane, (b) of the figure is the figure which looked at the L ^* a ^* b ^* space coordinate on the ab plane. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the color chart T according to the first embodiment, and is a patch arrangement diagram of the color chart T that has been processed by the arrangement unit 43 of the image processing apparatus 4. In FIG. 7, L is lightness, C (= (a ² + b ² ) ^1/2 ) is saturation, and H (= tan ⁻¹ (b / a)) is hue.
In the case of the first embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the generation unit 42 synthesizes a low saturation signal 602 and a high saturation signal 603 with respect to an input signal 601 obtained by converting input RGB values. It is calculated only by increasing / decreasing degree C. A plurality of signal groups (first signals ) constituting each of the three blocks (first image group, second image group) B1, B2, B3 (see FIG. 8) around these signals 601, 602, 603. Group, second signal group) . Each block B1, B2, B3 is based on the saturation C of the signal at each center, but the saturation C is not necessarily the same (see (a) horizontal axis in FIG. 7).

  More specifically, in addition to the central signals 601, 602, and 603, the peripheral Lab values are obtained, and the Lab value group of the rectangular patch group arranged on the color chart T is obtained. That is, the Lab value around the signal 601, the Lab value around the signal 602, and the Lab value around the signal 603 are calculated.

  More specifically, as shown in FIG. 7A, a patch that surrounds the input signal 601 in three dimensions is generated. That is, a patch group in which the lightness L is ± 15 (in increments of 5) and the saturation C is ± 5 is generated from the Lab value of the signal 601. Next, as shown in FIG. 7B, a patch group is generated in the direction of hue H at ± 10 ° (in increments of 5 °). Thereby, 105 patches are generated.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the arrangement unit 43 rearranges the Lab groups on the color chart T so that the formula difference is minimized (there is no color step) (predetermined arrangement). That is, the patch arrangement on the color chart T when the generated patch group is arranged in a two-dimensional plane is performed so that the color difference between adjacent patches is minimized. Specifically, the patches are arranged so that the signals 701, 702, 703, 801, 802, and 803 shown in FIG. 7A are along the direction of the arrow line N2 in FIG. Also, the patches are arranged so that the signals 711 to 716 shown in FIG. 7B are along the direction of the arrow line N1 in FIG. Note that the rectangles shown by broken lines in FIG. 8 are for easy reference to FIG. 7 and do not appear in the actual color chart T. The same applies to the rectangles indicated by broken lines in FIGS.

  In the patch arrangement in the color chart T of FIG. 8, patches whose brightness (color component value) L continuously changes vertically (in the direction of the arrow line N2), and hue (color component value) in the left and right (in the direction of the arrow line N1). Patches with continuous H and patches with continuous saturation (color component values) C are in large blocks B1, B2, and B3. When the left and right arrangement order starts from the signal 711, the next point where the color difference is small is a point where the hue H of the same saturation is slightly increased. When this is repeated until the signal 712 is reached, a point with a small color difference becomes a point where the saturation C is increased.

  When the color difference is minimized as described above, the arrangement order of the patches becomes an order as indicated by an arrow line N1 shown in FIG. 7B, and this is expressed on the color chart T (on the two-dimensional plane). And changes as indicated by an arrow N1 in FIG. That is, in the case of the present embodiment, the color step between patches (location where the color changes rapidly) is eliminated as compared with the conventional case. More specifically, the patch of the signal 713 (the first image adjacent to the second image group among the plurality of images of the first image group) and the patch of the signal 712 (in the first image) in the color chart T of FIG. As shown in FIG. 7B, the color difference between the second image in the adjacent second image group is minimum. By doing this, the patches become visible continuously. In other words, the patch of the signal 713 shown in FIG. 8 has a shorter distance from the signal 712 in the uniform color space than the uniform color space of the other patches in the block B2. The color chart T created in this way is easy to visually select a patch, and using the color chart T improves the output result desired by the user. In addition, while the generation unit 42 generates the blocks B1, B2, and B3 in units, the arrangement unit 43 maintains the continuity of the patch in the entire color chart T, not in the units of blocks B1, B2, and B3. To be arranged.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the processing contents performed by the generation unit 42 of the image processing apparatus 4 for creating the color chart T according to the second embodiment. FIG. 9A shows L ^* a ^* b. ^{* The} figure which looked at the space coordinate on the LC plane, (b) of the figure is the figure which looked at the L ^* a ^* b ^* space coordinate on the ab plane. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a color chart T according to the second embodiment, and is a patch arrangement diagram of the color chart T that has been processed by the arrangement unit 43 of the image processing apparatus 4.
Since the processing content in the generation unit 42 of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted. The arrangement unit 43 rearranges the Lab groups on the color chart T so that the formula difference is minimized. Specifically, the patches are arranged so that the signals 711, 714, 715, 712, 713, and 716 shown in FIG. 9B are along the direction of the arrow line N1 in FIG. Further, the patches are arranged so that the signals 801, 701, 702, 802, 803, and 703 shown in FIG. 9A are along the direction of the arrow line N2 in FIG.

  That is, in the patch arrangement in the color chart T of FIG. 10, patches whose hue H is continuously changed vertically (in the direction of the arrow line N1), patches whose brightness L is continuous in the left and right (in the direction of the arrow line N2), and large groups. In the blocks B1, B2 and B3, the saturation C is a continuous patch. By doing so, the color difference between adjacent patches is reduced, and the patches can be seen continuously.

[Third Embodiment]
FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the processing content performed by the generation unit 42 of the image processing apparatus 4 for creating the color chart T according to the third embodiment. FIG. 11A shows L ^* a ^* b. ^{* The} figure which looked at the space coordinate on the LC plane, (b) of the figure is the figure which looked at the L ^* a ^* b ^* space coordinate on the ab plane. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a color chart T according to the third embodiment, and is a patch arrangement diagram of the color chart T on which processing by the arrangement unit 43 of the image processing apparatus 4 has been performed.
Since the processing content in the generation unit 42 of the third embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted. The arrangement unit 43 rearranges the Lab groups on the color chart T so that the formula difference is minimized. Specifically, the patches are arranged so that the signals 701, 702, 703, 801, 802, and 803 shown in FIG. 11A are along the direction of the arrow line N2 in FIG. Also, the patches are arranged so that the signals 716, 712, 717, 718, 715, 711 shown in FIG. 11B are along the direction of the arrow line N3 in FIG.

  That is, in the patch arrangement in the color chart T of FIG. 12, a patch in which the lightness L changes continuously in the vertical direction (in the direction of the arrow line N2), a patch in which saturation C is continuous in the left and right (in the direction of the arrow line N3), In the blocks B1, B2, and B3, the patches having a continuous hue H are formed. By doing so, the color difference between adjacent patches is reduced, and the patches can be seen continuously.

[Fourth Embodiment]
FIG. 13 is a patch layout diagram of the color chart T according to the fourth embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 13, the color chart T shows an example in the case of a quaternary color or more. Specifically, the color component values are YMCK, that is, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan ( C) is an arrangement example in the case of black (K). Since the creation of the color chart T is performed with the same processing contents as those in the first embodiment described above, the description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus 200 equipped with a processing device 210 that stores a color signal conversion profile (adjustment profile) generated by the color signal conversion device 1.
The image forming apparatus 200 shown in FIG. 14 is, for example, a digital color printer, and controls the processing apparatus 210 that performs predetermined image processing on image data input from an external device, and the overall operation of the image forming apparatus 200. And an image forming unit 240 realized by, for example, an electrophotographic printer engine that forms an image on a recording medium based on image data composed of each color component.

The processing device 210 includes an input interface 211 that receives input of image data from an external device such as a personal computer (PC) 300, an input buffer 212 that temporarily stores image data received by the input interface 211, a PDL (Page A PDL analysis unit 213 that analyzes image data in a description language (page description language) format and generates intermediate data. Further, the processing device 210 includes a rendering processing unit 214 that develops (renders) the intermediate data generated by the PDL analysis unit 213 into image data for printing (raster image data) expressed in a pixel array. ing. The processing device 210 also includes an intermediate buffer 215 that is used as a work area when rendering processing is performed by the rendering processing unit 214, a color processing unit 216 that performs color processing of rendered image data, and color-processed image data. A screen processing unit 217 that performs screen processing on the screen.
The color processing unit 216 of the processing device 210 stores the color signal conversion profile generated by the color signal conversion device 1 of the present embodiment. The color processing unit 216 performs color processing on the image data rendered by the rendering processing unit 214 based on the stored color signal conversion profile. The image data color-processed by the color processing unit 216 is subjected to predetermined screen processing by the screen processing unit 217 and then formed on a sheet by the image forming unit 240. The color chart T is created by the image processing apparatus 4 (see FIG. 5) incorporated in the color processing unit 216.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a configuration when each configuration of the color signal conversion apparatus 1 is applied to the image forming apparatus 400 and the personal computer 500. The image forming apparatus 400 and the processing apparatus 410 shown in FIG. 15 have the same basic configuration as the image forming apparatus 200 and the processing apparatus 210 in FIG. The description is omitted.
A personal computer 500 shown in FIG. 15 includes a color adjustment coefficient generation unit 12 (see FIG. 1) as a utility, and a color adjustment processing unit 13 (see FIG. 1) as a printer driver. Further, the personal computer 500 shown in FIG. 15 includes an image processing device 4 incorporated in the color adjustment coefficient generation unit 12. Further, the processing device 410 of the image forming apparatus 400 illustrated in FIG. 15 includes the color conversion coefficient storage unit 14 and the color conversion processing unit 15 in the color processing unit 416.

  Since the image forming apparatus 400 and the personal computer 500 are configured as described above, image data that has been subjected to color adjustment processing by the personal computer 500 is sent to the image forming apparatus 400. The color processing unit 416 of the image forming apparatus 400 performs color conversion processing.

It is a block diagram explaining the functional structure of a color signal conversion apparatus provided with the image processing apparatus which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of a color signal converter. It is a figure which shows an example of UI of the designated color adjustment dialog utilized when performing a designated color adjustment. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the designated color adjustment in a color adjustment coefficient production | generation part. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the image processing apparatus which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence for outputting a color chart. It is a figure explaining the processing content by which the color chart which concerns on 1st Embodiment is produced by the production | generation part of an image processing apparatus. It is a figure which shows the color chart which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure explaining the processing content by which the color chart which concerns on 2nd Embodiment is produced by the production | generation part of an image processing apparatus. It is a figure which shows the color chart which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure explaining the processing content by which the color chart which concerns on 3rd Embodiment is produced by the production | generation part of an image processing apparatus. It is a figure which shows the color chart which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the color chart which concerns on 4th Embodiment. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus equipped with a processing device that stores a color signal conversion profile generated by a color signal conversion device. It is a block diagram showing a configuration when each configuration of the color signal conversion device is applied to an image forming apparatus and a personal computer.

Explanation of symbols

4 ... Image processing device, 21 ... CPU, 22 ... RAM, 23 ... ROM, 24 ... Non-volatile memory, 25 ... Interface unit, 26 ... External storage device, 3 ... UI, 31 ... Designated color instruction unit, 32 ... Output destination Instructing unit 33 ... Adjusting color instructing unit 34 ... List instructing unit 35 ... Save instructing unit 36 ... Neighboring color instructing unit 37 ... Generation / saving instructing unit 41,44 ... Converting unit 42 ... Generating unit 43 ... Arrangement unit, 200, 400 ... image forming apparatus, T ... color chart

Claims (11)

Generating means for generating a second signal group having a different saturation than the first signal group and said first signal group at a predetermined distance on a color space of the image signal based on the acquired image signal,
The first signal group and the second signal group generated by the generating means are used to increase the lightness and saturation as the color component values of each of a plurality of images output as color samples go in a predetermined direction. Arrangement means for arranging the first and second signal groups generated by the generation means to be adjacent to each other , arranged so that a continuous change region having both reductions appears partially ,
Output means for outputting the first signal group and the second signal group generated by the generation means in an arrangement by the arrangement means;
An image processing apparatus. The arranging means arranges signals adjacent to signals of different signal groups among the signals of the first signal group and the second signal group such that signals having the shortest color difference based on lightness and saturation are arranged adjacent to each other. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the generation unit determines a predetermined interval in a color space of the image signal according to the image signal.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the generation unit narrows the predetermined interval for a hue when the image signal is yellow. Accepting means for accepting input of a signal to be converted ;
First converting means for converting said converted signal accepted by said accepting means into converted signals of different other color space from the color space of the converted signals,
Based on the converted signal converted by the first conversion means, a first signal group and a second signal group having a saturation different from that of the first signal group are generated at predetermined intervals on the other color space. Generating means;
The first signal group and the second signal group generated by the generating means are used to increase the lightness and saturation as the color component values of each of a plurality of images output as color samples go in a predetermined direction. Arrangement means for arranging the first signal group and the second signal group generated by the generation means so as to be adjacent to each other , arranged so that a region of continuous change having both decreases appears partially ,
Second conversion means for converting the first signal group and the second signal group generated by the generation means into an output signal group in a color space depending on an output device;
An image forming unit that forms an image in an arrangement by the arrangement unit based on the output signal group converted by the second conversion unit;
An image forming apparatus including: The arranging means arranges signals adjacent to signals of different signal groups among the signals of the first signal group and the second signal group such that signals having the shortest color difference based on lightness and saturation are arranged adjacent to each other. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the generation unit determines a predetermined interval on the other color space according to the conversion target signal. On the computer,
A reception function for receiving input of a signal to be converted ;
A first conversion function for converting the converted signals of different other color spaces the converted signal and the color space of the converted signals accepted by the reception function,
Based on the converted signal converted by the first conversion function, a first signal group and a second signal group having a saturation different from that of the first signal group are generated at predetermined intervals on the other color space. Generation function,
The first signal group and the second signal group generated by the generation function are used to increase the lightness and saturation as the color component values of each of a plurality of images output as color samples go in a predetermined direction. An array function for arranging the first signal group and the second signal group generated by the generation function so as to be adjacent to each other, and arranging so that a region of continuous change having both decreases appears partially ;
A second conversion function for converting the first signal group and the second signal group generated by the generation function into an output signal group in an output color space;
A program characterized by realizing. The arrangement function is such that signals adjacent to signals of different signal groups among the signals of the first signal group and the second signal group are arranged such that signals having the shortest color difference based on lightness and saturation are adjacent to each other. The program according to claim 8. The plurality of images are arranged so that areas where the color component value of each of the adjacent images goes in a predetermined direction partially increase or decrease as lightness and saturation increase. A first image group,
The plurality of images are arranged so that areas where the color component values of each of the adjacent images are increased or decreased as the color component values go in the predetermined direction partially appear. A second image group,
Including
The first image group and the second image group are arranged next to each other;
The plurality of images constituting the first image group and the plurality of images constituting the second image group are first images adjacent to the second image group among the plurality of images of the first image group. The color sample is arranged so that the color component values of the second image group and the color component values of the second image in the second image group adjacent to the first image are the same or closest to each other. One of the first image of the first image group, the image adjacent to the second image group, and wherein the color difference based on the second image and the lightness and saturation of the second image group is the shortest The color sample according to claim 10.

Images