JP4881207B2 - Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a program.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an image forming apparatus that performs image input / output, as shown in FIG. 1, an image input / output processing apparatus capable of executing composite image processing having a copy function, a printer function, a facsimile function, etc. A function digital copying machine 101 is known.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the system configuration of this type of image forming apparatus, corresponding to the case of a full-color multifunction digital copying machine, and a scanner 103 for reading a document image recorded on paper or the like. A device configured to output an image or an image sent from a host computer to a medium such as paper. Further, the device controls the operations of the scanner 103 and the printer 104 or performs various image processing. The controller 105 includes an operation unit 102 that provides device operations to the user, a memory 106 that stores image data and processing programs temporarily or permanently, a hard disk 107, and the like.

  In such a full-color multi-function digital copying machine, it is possible not only to copy a document image but also to copy the document image by performing various image processing.

  For example, various image processing such as negative / positive inversion processing for reversing the black and white of a document, trimming processing for copying only a part of a document, reduction layout processing for reducing a plurality of documents and combining them on a single output sheet, etc. Is possible.

  In addition, the image forming apparatus and a host computer are connected via a controller, and a color image created by the host computer is converted into a raster image by the controller and held in a memory inside the controller. An image forming apparatus system for printing on the image forming apparatus has been devised.

  Various image processing such as sharpness filter processing, trapping processing, overprint processing, color processing, etc. is performed at the time of raster image formation. Particularly in color processing, the difference in color materials such as toner and the type of paper as a transfer agent Since the colors reproduced greatly differ depending on the color conversion system, a color conversion system that refers to a color profile that describes the color reproduction characteristics of paper or a printing device has been put into practical use.

  As the color profile, an ICC profile defined by the International Color Consortium (ICC) is generally used. Among the ICC profiles, the source profile describing the color characteristics on the input device side and the color characteristics on the output side are described. A method using two output profiles is widely used. According to this method, input data is converted into a device-independent color space (PCS: Profile Connection Space) with reference to the source profile, and then converted into color data optimized for the output device with reference to the output profile. .

  As another ICC profile, a device link profile is defined. The device link profile holds a conversion table for direct conversion when converting input data to output data. For this reason, refer to one device link profile when converting input data to output data. The color conversion is done.

  In a color conversion system in an image processing apparatus of a general color printer, the former method using two color profiles of a source profile and an output profile is the mainstream, but it can be installed in an image processing apparatus from the initial state. Since there are limits to the types of color profiles that can be created, there have been devices that can install source profiles and output profiles from outside. In order to create a device link profile, a source profile and an output profile are required. Therefore, there is an apparatus that can internally generate a device link profile from a combination of a source profile and an output profile in an image processing apparatus.

Furthermore, there has been an apparatus that mounts a GUI (Graphical User Interface) for easily understanding a color processing path using a source profile and an output profile in a printer driver or the like.
JP 2004-64565 A

  However, when printing using a conventional image forming apparatus, there are the following problems.

  Conventionally, there has been an image processing apparatus that can perform color processing through PCS by installing a source profile and an output profile from the outside and performing color processing by selecting the source profile and the output profile, respectively. On the other hand, since the device link profile is generated from the source profile and output profile installed in the image processing device, the device link profile created by a tool from an external vendor outside the image processing device is directly installed and used. I couldn't.

  For this reason, direct color processing using the device link profile can only obtain results equivalent to color processing using the installed source profile and output profile in the image processing apparatus, and is unique to external vendor tools. There has been a problem that color conversion processing using a color processing table generated by the function cannot be used.

  Further, in the conventional image processing apparatus, there is an apparatus in which a GUI for easily understanding a color processing path using a source profile and an output profile is installed in a printer driver or the like. Since there was no device that displayed the color processing path when using the generated device link profile, the user understands the difference between color processing using a general source profile and output profile and color processing using a device link profile. Operation setting was not good.

  Further, conventionally, it has been impossible to provide information at the time of creating a device link profile that helps an operator to select an appropriate device link profile.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides display means for displaying a plurality of device link profiles in order to set device link profiles for printing,
Instructing means for instructing property display of the plurality of displayed device link profiles,
Property display means for displaying at least the name of the source profile and the rendering intent information among the source profile, output profile, and rendering intent information used to create the device link profile when the property display is instructed It is characterized by having.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide information at the time of creating a device link profile that helps to select an appropriate device link profile.

(First embodiment)
In the following, as a preferred embodiment, a full color multifunction digital copier (hereinafter simply referred to as a color copier) system will be described in detail. The present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

[Description of configuration]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus system according to the embodiment of the present invention. The client computer 201 and the controller 202 are connected via a network.

  When printing from the client computer 201, a print job created by the client computer 201 is sent to the controller 202 via the network. In the case of the present embodiment, this print job is PDL data described in a page description language (PDL: Page Description Language). In the PDL controller 202, the PDL data sent from the client computer 201 is received via the network interface unit 203, developed into raster image data for each band by the control unit 204, and further subjected to image compression / decompression processing. The image is compressed by the unit 205 and written to the image memory 206. Next, a print instruction is issued to the device controller 105 via the control system interface unit 207, and the compressed image data read from the image memory 206 is expanded by the image compression / decompression processing unit 205, An image is formed via the system video interface unit 208 and sent to the device controller 105 and printed by the printer 104. Note that a print instruction issued via the control system interface unit 207 includes a compression control parameter for controlling compression in the device controller 105. On the other hand, the device controller 105 has a control system interface unit 209 that receives a print instruction from the controller 202, and the received instruction is processed by the control unit 211. The device controller 105 further includes an image system video interface unit 210 for receiving the image data sent from the controller 202, and the second image compression / decompression process based on the compression control parameter included in the print instruction from the controller 202. The image data is compressed by the unit 212 and written to the image memory 213. Next, after the compressed image data read from the image memory 213 is decompressed by the second image compression / decompression processing unit 212 according to an instruction from the control unit 211, the received image data is received by the control unit 211. After the processing, it is sent to the printer 104 via the printer I / F unit 215 and printed.

  The device controller 105 of this embodiment is an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) having a scanner 103 and also has a scan function for sending image data read by the scanner 103 to the controller 202. In this case, the image data read by the scanner 103 is compressed by the image compression / decompression processing unit 212 via the scanner I / F unit 216 and written to the image memory 213. Next, an instruction is given to the controller 202 via the control system interface unit 207, and the compressed image data read from the image memory 213 is decompressed by the image compression / decompression processing unit 212, and then the image system video. The data is sent to the controller 202 via the interface unit 208. The image system video interface units 208 and 210 are video interfaces that carry raster image data in synchronization with an image clock. The image data is transmitted using eight signal lines, and 8-bit data is transmitted per pixel. . The eight signal lines are configured to be used in both directions, and are used in the direction from the controller 202 to the device controller 105 during printing, and are used in the direction from the device controller 105 to the controller 202 during scanning. Is done.

  Further, the device controller 105 of this embodiment is an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) having a facsimile I / F unit 214, and the image read by the scanner 103 and the image received from the controller 202 are passed through the facsimile I / F unit 216. Thus, the printer 104 also has a function of printing facsimile image data transmitted to the telephone line or conversely received via the telephone line.

  The operation unit 102 is used to give various operation instructions by the operator, and is used to set a network address and the like used by the control system interface units 207 and 209.

[Configuration of scanner and printer]
FIG. 3 shows an overview of the scanner 103 and the printer 104. A polygon mirror 313 receives four laser beams emitted from four semiconductor lasers. One of them scans the photosensitive drum 317 through the mirrors 314, 315 and 316, the next one scans the photosensitive drum 321 through the mirrors 318, 319 and 320, and the next one scans the mirror 322. 323 and 324, the photosensitive drum 325 is scanned, and the next one scans the mirrors 326, 327, and 328 and scans the photosensitive drum 329.

  On the other hand, 330 is a developing device that supplies yellow (Y) toner, forms a yellow toner image on the photosensitive drum 317 in accordance with the laser beam, and 331 is a developing device that supplies magenta (M) toner. , A magenta toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 321 in accordance with the laser beam, and a developing device 332 supplies cyan (C) toner. A cyan toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 325 in accordance with the laser beam. Reference numeral 333 denotes a developing device that supplies black (K) toner, and forms a magenta toner image on the photosensitive drum 329 in accordance with the laser beam. The four color (Y, M, C, K) toner images are transferred onto the sheet, and a full-color output image can be obtained.

  A sheet fed from one of the sheet cassettes 334 and 335 and the manual feed tray 336 is attracted onto the transfer belt 338 via the registration roller 337 and conveyed. In synchronism with the timing of paper feeding, toner of each color is developed in advance on the photosensitive drums 317, 321, 325, and 329, and the toner is transferred to the sheet as the sheet is conveyed. The sheet on which the toner of each color is transferred is separated and conveyed by the conveyance belt 339, and the toner is fixed to the sheet by the fixing device 340. The sheet that has passed through the fixing device 340 is once guided downward by the flapper 350, and after the trailing edge of the sheet has passed through the flapper 350, the sheet is switched back and discharged. As a result, the sheets are discharged face down, and the correct page order is obtained when printing is performed in order from the first page.

  The four photosensitive drums 317, 321, 325, and 329 are arranged at equal intervals with a distance d, and the sheet is conveyed at a constant speed v by the conveyance belt 339, and this timing synchronization is performed. Thus, the four semiconductor lasers are driven.

[Device controller image processing]
An image process performed by the control unit 211 in the device controller will be described. FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of image processing. Here, only the case of print processing from the controller 202 will be described. When the control system interface unit 209 receives a print start command in S401, print processing is started. In step S <b> 402, the print job is JPEG-compressed according to the compression parameters designated on the image memory 206 via the image-related video interface unit. The print job compressed in step S403 is spooled on the image memory 213. Depending on the printing status, the print job may be spooled to a hard disk (not shown). When the data for one page is spooled in S404, the compressed print job on the image memory 213 is expanded, and the device controller 105 activates the printer 104. In S405, direct mapping is performed for color conversion. In step S406, a masking process is performed. In S407, filter processing is performed. In S408, gamma conversion is performed. In S409, screen processing is performed. In S410, a smoothing process is performed. In step S411, inter-drum correction is performed, and image data is sent to the printer 104 for printing.

[Install Device Link Profile]
A case where a device link profile created by an external apparatus is taken into the controller 202 and the device link profile is used for printing will be described with reference to FIGS. 5, 6, and 7. FIG. The source profile and output profile necessary for creating the device link profile may be acquired via a network, or may be acquired by reading from a removable memory with an external device. 6 and 7 are a profile selection screen and a property confirmation screen in a device to be installed when a device link profile is installed in the controller 202, and is a GUI (Graphical User Interface).

  In order to be able to use a device link profile created by an external apparatus for printing, it is necessary to install the device link profile in the controller 202 first. FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of installation. In step S501, the printer setup is activated to set the printer. Printer setup can be performed from any of the driver, the print job management utility, and the Web service of the controller 202. In S502, the device link profile setting is selected from the menu and the setting screen is entered. FIG. 6 shows a device link profile setting screen. 61 is a setting window, 62 is a setting value of a device link profile option used on the driver, and three types of device link profiles from device link 1 to device link 3 can be installed and used. Reference numeral 63 denotes a property button, and an instruction to this button displays a desired device link profile property as will be described later with reference to FIG. 64 is an install button, and 65 is a close button.

  In S503, the installation button 64 is selected to install the device link profile. When selected, a file selection window (not shown) is displayed, and a profile to be installed can be selected. When a file is selected and installation is started, it is checked in step S504 whether the installed profile is correct. If the profile is not correct, the process proceeds to step S505, an error message is displayed, and the profile installation is terminated. If the profile is correct, the process advances to step S506 to check whether a device link profile has already been installed in the print option settings for device link 1 to device link 3 to be installed. In step S507, the device link profile is installed at a predetermined setting value of the print option, and the process ends. If the device link profile has already been installed, whether or not to update the file is confirmed in S508, and the device link profile is updated in S509. On the device link profile setting screen, when the device link profile is installed, the 63 property button is enabled and can be selected, but when it is not installed, it is grayed out and cannot be selected.

[Device link profile properties]
Here, the property display of the device link profile will be described with reference to FIG.

  71 is a property window, 72, 73, 74 and 75 are property information, and 76 is a close button. Property information is displayed from tag information in the device link profile. Reference numeral 72 denotes a name of the device link profile, and a value of “profile Description Tag” is used. Reference numeral 73 denotes a source profile used when creating a device link profile, and the value of “profile SequenceDescType” is used. 74 is an output profile at the time of creating a device link profile, and the value of “profile SequenceDescType” is used as in 73. Reference numeral 75 denotes a rendering intent (rendering style) when creating a device link profile, and the value of “Intent” is used. Although it may be difficult to identify the device link profile consisting of the source profile, output profile, and rendering intent by just the name of the device link profile, this property allows you to check what the device link profile is . In FIG. 7, the source profile (CMYK simulation profile) is “SWOP Coated”.

[Print using device link profile]
A method for actually printing from the client computer 201 using the device link profile will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 shows the print details option of the printer driver on the monitor of the client computer. 81 is a CMYK simulation for setting a CMYK simulation source profile, 82 is an output profile for setting an output profile according to the output characteristics of the printer, 83 is a device link profile for setting a device link profile, and 84 is a rendering intent designation SWOP Coated is selected as a rendering style 85 for setting a color expression, and a setting value 85 for CMYK simulation. Reference numeral 86 denotes an output profile setting value in which an initial value of the printer is set. A pull-down menu 87 for setting the device link profile is selectable from an initial value of printer, off, device link 1, device link 2, and device link 3, and device link 1 is set. Reference numeral 88 denotes an OK button, and 89 denotes a cancel button.

  When the device link profile is set to other than OFF, the device link profile is used for printing. If a setting in which the device link profile is not installed is selected in the device link 1, the device link 2, and the device link 3, a printing error occurs. Also, it is grayed out that the device link profile, CMYK simulation, and output profile can be set simultaneously on the driver. That is, when the device link profile is set to other than OFF, only OFF is effective for the CMYK simulation (source profile), the output profile, and the rendering style. (In this case, when a PCS (color conversion is performed via the profile connection space) print job is transmitted to the printer, the color processing (conversion) is switched to the device link profile (not via the PCS) processing and the device set. It is performed using a link profile and does not use color processing (conversion) using resources specified by other source profiles, output profiles, and rendering intents.

  Therefore, the source profile as well as the set of output profiles and the device link profile are exclusively selected. In addition, the above-mentioned property can be confirmed by inputting a predetermined instruction on the display of the device link profiles 1 to 3. In addition, when there are a large number of device link profiles, a user interface for profile search is displayed by inputting a predetermined instruction such as a double click on the display of the device link profile 83, and the source profile to be used on this user interface is displayed. Alternatively, by designating the output profile or both, only the device link profile using the designated source profile or output profile is displayed in 87. As a result, the user can easily find a desired device link profile.

(Second embodiment)
In the first embodiment, an example in which a device link profile created by an external device is installed in a printer and printing is performed from a printer driver has been described. Here, a utility called a color manager that manages color processing and calibration is described. The management of the color profile and the functions extended to use the color profile in the printer driver will be described.

  FIG. 9 shows a color profile management screen of the color manager. The color profile can manage a source profile, a simulation profile, an output profile, and a device link profile. These profiles can be switched with tabs 901, 902, 903, and 904. When handling the device link profile, the tab 904 is selected as shown in FIG. When selected, a list of device link profiles installed in the controller 202 is displayed. Items to be displayed are displayed from tag information in the device link profile. The profile name 905 is the name of the device link profile, and the value of “profile Description Tag” is displayed. A source profile 906 is a source profile at the time of creating a device link profile, and the value of “profile SequenceDescType” is displayed. The output of 907 is an output profile at the time of creating the device link profile, and the value of “profile SequenceDescType” is displayed as in 73. A rendering style 908 is a rendering intent when a device link profile is created, and a value of “Intent” is displayed. The driver display 909 displays the device link profile assigned to the print option setting item 910 of the device link profile displayed on the driver by default. Here, Suzuki_insatsu_SP2 is assigned to the device link 1, Suzuki_insatsu_SP4 is assigned to the device link 2, and JMPA_Standard2 is assigned to the device link 3.

  A device link profile 911 is installed by an install button so that the device link profile can be displayed in a list. A property button 912 is used to display a detailed information by selecting a device link profile from the list and pressing the property button, or to change a profile used for displaying the driver 910. Reference numeral 913 denotes a close button.

  Next, functions extended to use a color profile in the printer driver will be described with reference to FIG. This function is not performed by switching the color profile as a normal print option, but by a color profile detailed setting window called from a color profile detailed setting button (not shown) of the printer driver. In the detailed color profile setting, two-way communication can be performed between the host computer 201 and the controller 202, and all the color profiles installed in the controller 202 can be used from the printer driver.

  Reference numerals 1001 and 1002 denote tabs for switching between RGB and CMYK. In this figure, CMYK is selected. 1003 is a selection menu for setting CMYK simulation, 1004 is a selection menu for setting an output profile, 1005 is a check box for whether to use a device link profile, and 1006 is a selection menu for setting a device link profile. 1007 is a reset button for initializing the selection menu items 1003, 1004, and 1006, and 1008 is the one that reflects the name of the profile installed in the controller 202 in the selection menu when bidirectional communication with the printer is possible. The update button 1009 is made available so that the installed color profile can be used.

  When using the device link profile, the check box of 1005 is turned on, the device link profile to be used is selected from the selection menu of 1006, and printing is performed. When the check box of 1005 is turned on to use the device link profile, the selection menu of 1003 and 1004 is automatically grayed out and cannot be selected.

  As described above, it has the function of interpreting print job information in the page description language and developing raster images, and has the function of performing color processing using a color profile during raster development. As a profile, in addition to a standard source profile and output profile (hereinafter referred to as color profile) used when color conversion is performed through a PCS that is a color space independent of input / output devices, the PCS from the input color space to the output color space is used. In an image processing apparatus that can use a device link profile that is used when performing direct color conversion without going through the system, it has a function for installing a plurality of color profiles or device link profiles created outside the image processing apparatus. Means local media If you have a function to install via a network and perform color conversion processing using a preinstalled color profile and device link profile, or a color profile and device link profile installed later, color By using an image processing device that exclusively uses a profile and a device link profile, it is possible to import and use an externally generated device link profile, depending on the color processing algorithm installed in the image processing device. This has the effect of realizing color processing by a color processing algorithm during external generation.

  In addition, color processing that requires a source profile and output profile, and color processing that requires only a different device link profile, are prevented from working simultaneously, and stable color processing is achieved by avoiding system complexity. Has the effect of

  In addition, when using color profiles and device link profiles that are used exclusively, an image processing device that switches image processing methods including color conversion processing depending on the type of profile to be used makes it possible to perform image processing processes when using mutual profiles. Can be almost completely prevented from interfering with each other, and has an effect of realizing more stable color processing.

  In addition, an image processing apparatus having a GUI operation screen for the user to select an image processing function has an operation screen for the user to select an installed color profile or device link profile. Internally exclusive by displaying an operation screen that disables device link profile selection, and a function that displays an operation screen that disables color profile selection when a device link profile is selected. It is possible to make the mechanism operating in the above and the display content on the operation screen coincide with each other, and there is an effect that the display unit can be easily understood when operated by the user.

  In addition, when each color profile or device link profile is selected, the color profile can be selected by providing an image processing apparatus that displays an operation screen that enables selection of only the image processing function that is effective during each image processing. Among the color processing options that exist other than the items, an option that is invalid as the color processing determined by the selected color profile cannot be selected, thereby simplifying the operation and preventing the operation error itself.

  Furthermore, it is generated by using an image processing apparatus having a UI that can confirm the profile description, rendering intent, source profile name, destination profile name, etc., which are creation information described in the tag of the device link profile. More detailed information on device link profiles whose color conversion effect is greatly affected by the time conditions can be confirmed, helping the operator to select an appropriate device link profile, and at the same time reducing operational errors Have

(Other examples)
Further, in the above-described embodiment, although hardware and the like constituting the network are included, it can be realized by software that sequentially executes each data processing. That is, a storage medium (or recording medium) that records a program code of software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus is supplied. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the program code is stored in various storage media such as CD, MD, memory card, MO, and the like. Can be written to.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code However, it is needless to say that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included.

  Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion card inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the CPU or the like provided in the card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

It is a block diagram explaining the structure of an image processing apparatus. 1 is an overview of an image forming apparatus system. 2 is an overview of a scanner 103 and a printer 104. FIG. It is a flowchart of the image processing of a device controller. It is a flowchart of installation of a device link profile. It is a figure which shows a device link profile setting. It is a figure which shows the property display of a device link profile. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating details of print options of a printer driver when using a device link profile. It is a figure which shows the color profile management in another Example. It is a figure which shows the color profile detailed setting in another Example.

Claims (6)

Display means for displaying a plurality of device link profiles to set device link profiles for printing;
Instructing means for instructing property display of the plurality of displayed device link profiles,
Property display means for displaying at least the name of the source profile and the rendering intent information among the source profile, output profile, and rendering intent information used to create the device link profile when the property display is instructed An image processing apparatus comprising: A designation means for designating at least one of a source profile and an output profile,
2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising device link profile display means for searching and displaying only a device link profile created using the source profile or output profile designated by the designation means. A display step for displaying a plurality of device link profiles in order to set device link profiles for printing;
An instruction step for instructing property display of the plurality of device link profiles displayed;
When the property display is instructed, a property display step of displaying at least the name of the source profile and the information of the rendering intent among the information of the source profile, the output profile, and the rendering intent used to create the device link profile And an image processing method. A designation step for designating at least one of a source profile and an output profile;
4. The image processing method according to claim 3, further comprising a device link profile display step of searching and displaying only a device link profile created using the source profile or output profile specified in the specifying step. A program processed by a computer,
Code to display multiple device link profiles to set device link profiles for printing,
A code for instructing property display of the plurality of device link profiles displayed;
A code for displaying at least the name of the source profile and the rendering intent information among the source profile, output profile, and rendering intent information used to create the device link profile when the property display is instructed; A program characterized by having. Code that displays an interface that allows you to specify at least one of the source profile and output profile,
6. The program according to claim 5, further comprising a code for searching and displaying only a device link profile created using a source profile or an output profile specified in the interface.

Images