JP5983166B2 - Image processing apparatus and image processing program - Google Patents

Description

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

  Patent Document 1 specifies that when the resolution of a specific gradation is improved, the resolution of other gradations is relatively lowered, and specifies the amount of ink of each color used in the printing apparatus. When creating a color conversion table that defines the correspondence between the ink value data and the color component values of each color used by other imaging devices, the resolution that is relatively lowered in the low lightness range due to the resolution improvement is interpolated. In order to compensate, the correction for improving the interpolation accuracy is performed in advance so that the color in the low lightness region becomes larger than the color in the high lightness region, and then the correction for improving the resolution is performed to generate the ink value data. In addition, it is disclosed that a color conversion table is generated by measuring a color of a patch printed based on the ink value data.

JP 2004-159307 A

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus and an image processing program that print a color sample for generating data for correcting gradation so that a gradation step does not occur.

The gist of the present invention for achieving the object lies in the inventions of the following items.
The invention of claim 1 is a receiving means for receiving a gradation threshold at a stage where mixing of the first drop and the second drop classified according to the size of the drop is started, and the threshold and threshold received by the receiving means. A generating unit that generates color sample data at a predetermined interval, a printing unit that prints a color sample based on the color sample data generated by the generating unit, and the printing unit Measuring means for measuring the density of the color sample printed by the above, and gradation correction data generating means for generating data for correcting the gradation based on the density measured by the measuring means, the gradation correction data generation means, the measuring means in the larger than the first gradation and the threshold value measured by said measuring means at the threshold of the tone received by the reception unit When the second gradation is smaller than or less than the first gradation, the second gradation is not used. Data for correcting gradation is generated, and the generation unit generates color sample data in an arrangement in which the interval in the case of decreasing the first drop is smaller than the interval in the case of increasing the first drop. An image processing apparatus.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided print data received by the reception unit based on data for receiving the print data and data for correcting the gradation generated by the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect. An image processing apparatus comprising: a gradation correction unit that corrects the gradation of the image; and a printing unit that prints the print data whose gradation is corrected by the gradation correction unit.

The invention of claim 3 is received by the receiving means for receiving a threshold of gradation at a stage where the computer starts mixing the first drop and the second drop classified by the size of the drop, and the receiving means receives the computer. A generating unit that generates color sample data at a predetermined interval that is greater than or equal to a threshold and a threshold; and a printing unit that prints a color sample based on the color sample data generated by the generating unit; Function as measurement means for measuring the density of the color sample printed by the printing means, and gradation correction data generation means for generating data for correcting gradation based on the density measured by the measurement means is, the gradation correction data generation means, larger than the first gradation and the threshold value measured by said measuring means at the threshold of the tone received by the reception unit By comparing the second tone measured by definitive said measuring means, when the gradation of said second can Omata than the gradation of the first is less, using the gradation of the second Without generating the data for correcting the gradation, and the generation unit generates the color sample data in an arrangement in which the interval in the case of decreasing the interval is smaller than the interval in the case of increasing the first droplet. An image processing program characterized by

  According to the image processing apparatus of the first aspect, it is possible to print a color sample for generating data for correcting gradation so that a gradation step does not occur.

  According to the image processing apparatus of the second aspect, it is possible to perform printing so that a gradation step does not occur at the stage where the first droplet and the second droplet start to be mixed.

  According to the image processing program of the third aspect, it is possible to print a color sample for generating data for correcting gradation so that a gradation step does not occur.

It is a conceptual module block diagram about the structural example of this Embodiment (image processing apparatus which performs color sample printing). It is a flowchart which shows the process example by the form of this Embodiment. It is a graph which shows the example of the position which outputs the color sample by this Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of an output of the color sample by this Embodiment. It is a conceptual module block diagram about the structural example of this Embodiment (image processing apparatus which produces | generates gradation correction data). It is a flowchart which shows the process example by the form of this Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process example by the form of this Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a data structure of the gradation correction table produced | generated by the form of this Embodiment. It is a conceptual module block diagram about the structural example of this Embodiment (image processing apparatus which performs image printing). It is a flowchart which shows the process example by the form of this Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware structural example of the computer which implement | achieves this Embodiment. It is a graph which shows the example of the position which outputs a general color sample. It is a graph which shows the example of a gradation characteristic. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of an output of a general color sample. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of landing deviation.

  First, before describing the present embodiment, the premise or an image processing apparatus using the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. This description is intended to facilitate understanding of the present embodiment.

The target is an ink jet of multi-drop control in which the amount of drop to be ejected can be switched in several stages. It should be noted that there may be a plurality of stages for switching the drop amount. For example, there may be two stages of large drops and small drops, three stages of large drops, medium drops, and small drops, and four or more stages. In the following, an example of three stages is shown. This proper use of drops is used to express the concentration. For example, only small droplets are used when expressing a low density portion (thin portion), and large droplets are used when expressing a high density portion (dark portion).
There is a case where a phenomenon in which the density is lowered occurs at a drop amount switching portion (for example, a portion where a small droplet is changed to a middle droplet and a middle droplet is changed to a large droplet). This is because landing deviation due to drop speed difference occurs between large droplets, medium droplets, and small droplets, resulting in coarse and dense images. FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of landing deviation. FIG. 15A shows an example of a state where a medium droplet is landed in 4 rows and 5 columns (a printed minute portion). If the density is increased (increased) from this stage, medium drops and large drops are mixed. For example, if a large droplet is landed at the positions 2b and 4c, ideally, as shown in FIG. 15 (b), the center of the medium droplet landed at the positions 2b and 4c in FIG. 15 (a). And the center of the large droplet matches. If it becomes like this, the phenomenon which a density | concentration falls will not generate | occur | produce in the switching part (stage which begins to mix a middle drop and a large drop) of drop amount. However, in reality, landing deviation due to a difference in droplet speed may occur between a large droplet and a medium droplet. FIG. 15 (c) shows how this landing deviation occurs. That is, more blanks are generated than in FIG. 15B, which is lower than the density that is originally desired to be expressed, and the density is lower than that in the state of FIG.

On the other hand, when printing an image, processing for correcting the gradation characteristics of the output device is generally performed, and data for correcting the gradation (gradation curve) is required. This is like a gradation correction table 800 as will be described later.
The graph shown in FIG. 12 shows an example of distribution to large drops, medium drops, and small drops for the input data. The horizontal axis represents input data (concentration), and the vertical axis represents the amount of droplets for expressing the concentration. The graphs of the small droplet 1210 and the medium droplet 1220 indicate that 0% to 33% are expressed only by small droplets, and 33% to 66% are expressed by mixing small droplets and medium droplets. The amount of small droplets is increased up to 33%, and the amount of small droplets is decreased from 33% to 66% to increase the amount of medium droplets. Further, the graph of the medium droplet 1220 and the large droplet 1230 indicates that the medium droplet and the large droplet are mixed and expressed from 66% to 100%. From 66% to 100%, the amount of medium droplets is decreased to increase the amount of large droplets.
In addition, square points in the graph (points that are uniformly plotted in 10% increments) indicate the positions of color samples (tone patches) that are output when the tone curve is created. That is, as shown in the example of FIG. 14, as a color sample, the color sample is printed in increments of 10% for the four colors C, M, Y, and K.

FIG. 13 shows the actual gradation characteristics in the distribution of large drops, medium drops, and small drops shown in the example of FIG. 12, and the gradation characteristics predicted from the data acquired at the color sample positions shown in the example of FIG. It is shown. That is, the square sample in the graph of the example of FIG. 13A is obtained by measuring and plotting the color sample shown in the example of FIG. A graph connecting the plots with straight lines is the predicted gradation characteristic between the plots.
Looking at the actual gradation characteristics, the characteristics are S-shaped in the vicinity of switching from small droplets to mixing small and medium droplets, and from switching small and medium droplets to mixing medium and large droplets. It has become. However, in the case of the calculation from the measurement data of the color sample of the uniform arrangement, the influence is ignored. FIG. 13B shows an example in which the target area 1310 in the graph of FIG. 13 is enlarged and displayed. When the calculated curve 1340 of the dotted line and the actual gradation characteristic curve 1330 which is a solid line are compared, they do not coincide with each other. Decrease occurs.
Therefore, when the gradation curve is created at the position of the color sample as shown in FIG. 14, a gradation step is generated in the output image. That is, the gradation becomes S-shaped at the drop amount switching portion, and a gradation step is generated.

Hereinafter, an example of a preferred embodiment for realizing the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a conceptual module configuration diagram of a configuration example of the present embodiment (an image processing apparatus that performs color sample printing).
The module generally refers to components such as software (computer program) and hardware that can be logically separated. Therefore, the module in the present embodiment indicates not only a module in a computer program but also a module in a hardware configuration. Therefore, the present embodiment is a computer program for causing these modules to function (a program for causing a computer to execute each procedure, a program for causing a computer to function as each means, and a function for each computer. This also serves as an explanation of the program and system and method for realizing the above. However, for the sake of explanation, the words “store”, “store”, and equivalents thereof are used. However, when the embodiment is a computer program, these words are stored in a storage device or stored in memory. It is the control to be stored in the device. Modules may correspond to functions one-to-one, but in mounting, one module may be configured by one program, or a plurality of modules may be configured by one program, and conversely, one module May be composed of a plurality of programs. The plurality of modules may be executed by one computer, or one module may be executed by a plurality of computers in a distributed or parallel environment. Note that one module may include other modules. Hereinafter, “connection” is used not only for physical connection but also for logical connection (data exchange, instruction, reference relationship between data, etc.). “Predetermined” means that the process is determined before the target process, and not only before the process according to this embodiment starts but also after the process according to this embodiment starts. In addition, if it is before the target processing, it is used in accordance with the situation / state at that time or with the intention to be decided according to the situation / state up to that point. When there are a plurality of “predetermined values”, they may be different values, or two or more values (of course, including all values) may be the same. In addition, the description having the meaning of “do B when it is A” is used in the meaning of “determine whether or not it is A and do B when it is judged as A”. However, the case where it is not necessary to determine whether or not A is excluded.
In addition, the system or device is configured by connecting a plurality of computers, hardware, devices, and the like by communication means such as a network (including one-to-one correspondence communication connection), etc., and one computer, hardware, device. The case where it implement | achieves by etc. is included. “Apparatus” and “system” are used as synonymous terms. Of course, the “system” does not include a social “mechanism” (social system) that is an artificial arrangement.
In addition, when performing a plurality of processes in each module or in each module, the target information is read from the storage device for each process, and the processing result is written to the storage device after performing the processing. is there. Therefore, description of reading from the storage device before processing and writing to the storage device after processing may be omitted. Here, the storage device may include a hard disk, a RAM (Random Access Memory), an external storage medium, a storage device via a communication line, a register in a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and the like.

  The image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment prints color samples. As shown in the example of FIG. 1, the distribution threshold parameter storage module 110, the gradation correction print data generation module 120, and the screen processing module 130 are used. And a printing module 140.

The distribution threshold parameter storage module 110 is connected to the gradation correction print data generation module 120 and the screen processing module 130. The distribution threshold parameter storage module 110 stores a gradation threshold at a stage where the first drop and the second drop classified by the drop size are started to be mixed. “First drop and second drop classified according to drop size” means, for example, that there are three types of drop sizes, a small drop, a medium drop, and a large drop, as described above. There are combinations of “small and medium drops” and “medium and large drops”. Four or more types of droplet sizes may be used, but the combination of the types of droplets is a combination of the two types of droplets mixed and printed. Is a combination of adjacent types.
Then, as the “tone threshold at the stage where mixing is started (hereinafter also referred to as a distribution threshold parameter)”, for example, the boundary from the stage expressing only small droplets to the stage expressing by mixing small and medium drops (It may be said that the first stage is expressed by the mixture of small and medium drops, and the stage of 100% of the small drops). It is expressed by the mixture of medium and large drops from the stage that is expressed by the small and medium drops. This is the boundary to the stage (the first stage expressed by mixing medium and large drops, which may be called the stage of 100% medium drops). Specifically, in the above example, 33% and 66% correspond. These threshold values are predetermined values.

The gradation correction print data generation module 120 is connected to the distribution threshold parameter storage module 110 and the screen processing module 130. The gradation correction print data generation module 120 receives the gradation threshold value from the distribution threshold parameter storage module 110, and generates color sample data at a predetermined interval that is greater than or equal to the threshold value. For example, for each color (C, M, Y, K, etc.), color sample data having a density from 0% to 100% in increments of 10% is generated. In addition to this, color sample data is generated at predetermined intervals that are greater than or equal to the threshold value of the gradation and the threshold value at the stage where mixing of the first droplet and the second droplet is started. That is, at least color sample data at the threshold value is included, and color sample data having a gradation larger or higher than the threshold value is included. The gradations greater than or equal to the threshold value are selected at predetermined intervals. For example, when the gradation threshold is 33%, it may be 33%, 34%, 36%, 38%, 40%, 42%. If the gradation threshold is 66%, it may be 66%, 68%, 70%, or 72%. Note that the “predetermined interval” may be a fixed interval, and the interval is not constant. For example, if the interval is close to a value to be measured in detail, the interval is set to a short value. It may be a long interval in a region that is known to be close to.
FIG. 3 is a graph showing an example of the position where the color sample according to this embodiment is output. Although equivalent to the description of FIG. 12 described above, the position where the color sample is output is determined in advance with a threshold value of gradation greater than or greater than 33%, as compared with the graph shown in the example of FIG. Position where color samples of a predetermined density (34%, 36%, 38%, 40%, 42% in the example of FIG. 3) are output within the region (33% to 42% in the example of FIG. 3) (Square dot plot position) and a predetermined density (in the figure, 66% to 72% in the example of FIG. 3) with a gradation threshold value greater than or equal to 66%. In the example of 3, there are positions (68%, 70%, 72%) of color sample output positions (square dot plot positions). That is, it includes a color sample of 100% of each drop amount, and is arranged with a narrow interval in a direction descending to the right from 100% small droplet or 100% medium droplet.

The screen processing module 130 is connected to the distribution threshold parameter storage module 110, the gradation correction print data generation module 120, and the print module 140. The screen processing module 130 performs screen processing to print a color sample based on the color sample data generated by the gradation correction print data generation module 120.
The printing module 140 is connected to the screen processing module 130. The printing module 140 prints the color sample based on the color sample data that has been subjected to the screen processing by the screen processing module 130. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an output example of the color sample according to the present embodiment. In the example of FIG. 4, for each color of C, M, Y, and K, in addition to a color sample with a density of 10%, the density is 33%, 34%, 36%, 38%, 42%, 66%, 68%, Color samples at 72% are printed.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing according to the embodiment.
In step S <b> 202, the gradation correction print data generation module 120 acquires a distribution threshold parameter from the distribution threshold parameter storage module 110.
In step S204, the gradation correction print data generation module 120 generates color sample data for gradation change.
In step S206, the screen processing module 130 performs screen processing on the color sample data.
In step S208, the printing module 140 prints the color sample.

  FIG. 5 is a conceptual module configuration diagram of a configuration example of the present embodiment (an image processing apparatus that generates gradation correction data). As shown in the example of FIG. 5, the present embodiment includes a distribution threshold parameter storage module 110, a colorimetry module 510, a gradation correction parameter generation module 520, and a gradation correction parameter storage module 530. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the site | part of the same kind as embodiment mentioned above, and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

The color measurement module 510 is connected to the gradation correction parameter generation module 520. The color measurement module 510 measures the density of the color sample printed by the printing module 140 shown in the example of FIG. For example, it is a scanner, and the density of each color sample portion in the color sample paper as in the example of FIG. 4 is measured. The measurement result is measured density data (for example, density data of 80% of C) corresponding to the density for each color.
The distribution threshold parameter storage module 110 is connected to the gradation correction parameter generation module 520.

  The gradation correction parameter generation module 520 is connected to the distribution threshold parameter storage module 110, the color measurement module 510, and the gradation correction parameter storage module 530. The gradation correction parameter generation module 520 receives a gradation threshold value at the stage of starting to mix the first drop and the second drop classified by the drop size from the distribution threshold parameter storage module 110, and the color measurement module 510. Based on the density measured by the above, data for correcting the gradation (hereinafter also referred to as gradation correction parameter) is generated. Then, the gradation correction parameter generation module 520 includes the first gradation measured by the colorimetry module 510 at the gradation threshold value and the second floor measured by the colorimetry module 510 at or above the threshold value. When the second gradation is smaller than or less than the first gradation, the data for correcting the gradation is generated without using the second gradation. Then, the gradation correction parameter storage module 530 stores data for correcting the generated gradation. As a method of generating data for correcting the gradation, a conventionally known method is used to interpolate between the measured density data (for example, linear interpolation according to the gradation characteristics of the printing apparatus, which is determined in advance). Interpolation etc. in the calculation formula). However, the measured concentration data is not used for the portion that is not uniformly increased. Details of this processing will be described later with reference to the flowchart illustrated in FIG.

  The gradation correction parameter storage module 530 is connected to the gradation correction parameter generation module 520. The tone correction parameter storage module 530 stores data for correcting the tone generated by the tone correction parameter generation module 520. The data structure is, for example, a gradation correction table 800. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the data structure of the gradation correction table 800 generated according to the present embodiment. The gradation correction table 800 has an input gradation column 810 and an output gradation column 820. The input gradation column 810 stores the input gradation. The output gradation column 820 stores the output gradation. In other words, the print data gradation is used as an input, and printing is performed by the printing apparatus with an output gradation corresponding to the print data gradation.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of processing according to the embodiment.
In step S602, the color measurement module 510 measures each color of the color sample.
In step S604, the gradation correction parameter generation module 520 generates a gradation correction parameter. Details will be described later using the flowchart illustrated in FIG.
In step S606, the gradation correction parameter generation module 520 stores the generated gradation correction parameter in the gradation correction parameter storage module 530.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of processing according to the embodiment (step S604 in the flowchart shown in the example of FIG. 6).
In step S702, a distribution threshold parameter is acquired from the distribution threshold parameter storage module 110. For example, a threshold value at a stage where mixing of a small droplet and a medium droplet is started is set as th1, and a threshold value at a stage where mixing of the medium droplet and a large drop is started is set as th2.
In step S704, it is determined whether or not X> th1. If X> th1, the process proceeds to step S706. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S712. The case of X> th1 is a state where the droplet exceeds 100%. In the example of FIG. 3, the state exceeds 33%. If it does not exceed 33%, the situation is expressed by only a small droplet, so the process of step S712 is performed as it is.
In step S706, it is determined whether or not X> th2. If X> th2, the process proceeds to step S708. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S710. The case of X> th2 is a state where the medium drop exceeds 100%. In the example of FIG. 3, it is over 66%.

In step S _708, it is determined whether the _{OD X>} OD _th2, if a OD _{X> OD th2} proceeds to step S712, otherwise, the process goes to step S714. Here, OD is measured concentration data. This is to determine whether or not it is uniformly increased, with the determination, (in the example graph in Figure 3 from the OD _X OD _X-1 in the immediate vicinity of the left _side) just before the OD in comparison to the Instead, the value of OD _th2 is used. If OD _X > OD _th2 , it is determined that the increase is uniform, and the process proceeds to step S712. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S714. Proceed to step S714 without going through the step S712, the value of the OD _X means not used for the generation of "data for correcting the gradation".

In step _S710, it is determined whether the _{OD X>} OD _th1, if a OD _{X> OD th1} proceeds to step S712, otherwise, the process goes to step S714. Similar to step S 708, and determines whether or not it is uniformly increased, on the determination, immediately preceding OD (OD _X-1 on the nearest left on example graph from OD _X in FIG. 3) The value of OD _th1 is used instead of the comparison with. If OD _X > OD _th1 , it is determined that the increase is uniform, and the process proceeds to step S712. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S714. Proceed to step S714 without going through the step S712, the value of the OD _X means not used for the generation of "data for correcting the gradation".

In step S712, data (OD _X ) is stored.
In step S714, it is determined whether or not there is target data. If there is no target data, the process proceeds to step S716. In other cases (if target data is still present), the process returns to step S704.
In step S716, tone correction parameters are generated using the stored data.

FIG. 9 is a conceptual module configuration diagram of a configuration example of the present embodiment (an image processing apparatus that performs image printing). In the present embodiment, as shown in the example of FIG. 9, the distribution threshold parameter storage module 110, the gradation correction print data generation module 120, the screen processing module 130, the print module 140, the color measurement module 510, and the gradation correction parameter generation. A module 520, a gradation correction parameter storage module 530, a color conversion module 910, a color conversion parameter storage module 920, and a gradation correction processing module 930 are provided. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the site | part of the same kind as embodiment mentioned above, and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.
In this example, the module configurations illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5 are combined, and print data 905 is printed using the generated tone correction parameters.

The color conversion module 910 is connected to the color conversion parameter storage module 920 and the gradation correction processing module 930. The color conversion module 910 receives the print data 905 and converts it into a color space that can be printed by the print module 140. For example, when the color conversion module 910 is expressed in the RGB color space, it is converted into the CMYK color space. Accepting print data 905 includes, for example, receiving PDF (Portable Document Format) (registered trademark) data created by another information processing apparatus, receiving an image read by a scanner, a camera, etc., or communicating by fax, etc. Receiving an image from an external device via a line, reading out a document stored in a hard disk (including those connected to a computer in addition to those incorporated in a computer), etc. included.
The color conversion parameter storage module 920 is connected to the color conversion module 910. The color conversion parameter storage module 920 stores data for color conversion. The color conversion module 910 performs color conversion using this data.

The gradation correction processing module 930 is connected to the screen processing module 130, the gradation correction parameter storage module 530, and the color conversion module 910. The gradation correction processing module 930 receives the gradation of the print data 905 that has been received and color-converted by the color conversion module 910 based on the data for correcting the gradation stored in the gradation correction parameter storage module 530. Correct. That is, correction is performed according to the tone reproduction characteristics of the printing module 140.
The gradation correction parameter storage module 530 is connected to the gradation correction parameter generation module 520 and the gradation correction processing module 930.
The screen processing module 130 is connected to the distribution threshold parameter storage module 110, the gradation correction print data generation module 120, the printing module 140, and the gradation correction processing module 930. The screen processing module 130 performs screen processing on the print data 905 whose gradation has been corrected by the gradation correction processing module 930.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing according to the embodiment. Steps S1002 to S1008 correspond to the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 2, and steps S1010 to S1014 correspond to the flowchart illustrated in FIG.
In step S <b> 1002, the gradation correction print data generation module 120 acquires a distribution threshold parameter from the distribution threshold parameter storage module 110.
In step S1004, the gradation correction print data generation module 120 generates color sample data for gradation change.
In step S1006, the screen processing module 130 performs screen processing on the color sample data.
In step S1008, the printing module 140 prints the color sample.
In step S1010, the color measurement module 510 measures each color of the color sample.
In step S1012, the gradation correction parameter generation module 520 generates a gradation correction parameter.
In step S1014, the gradation correction parameter generation module 520 causes the gradation correction parameter storage module 530 to store the generated gradation correction parameter.

In step S1016, the color conversion module 910 receives print data 905.
In step S1018, the color conversion module 910 performs color conversion processing on the print data 905 using the color conversion parameters in the color conversion parameter storage module 920.
In step S1020, the tone correction processing module 930 performs tone correction processing on the print data 905 subjected to color conversion processing using the tone correction parameters in the tone correction parameter storage module 530.
In step S1022, the screen processing module 130 performs screen processing on the print data 905 after gradation correction.
In step S1024, the print module 140 prints the screen-processed print data 905.

  A hardware configuration example of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The configuration shown in FIG. 11 is configured by a personal computer (PC), for example, and shows a hardware configuration example including a data reading unit 1117 such as a scanner and a data output unit 1118 such as a printer.

  A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 1101 includes various modules described in the above-described embodiments, that is, the gradation correction print data generation module 120, the screen processing module 130, the printing module 140, the color measurement module 510, and the gradation correction parameter. The control unit executes processing according to a computer program describing an execution sequence of each module such as the generation module 520, the color conversion module 910, and the gradation correction processing module 930.

  A ROM (Read Only Memory) 1102 stores programs used by the CPU 1101, calculation parameters, and the like. A RAM (Random Access Memory) 1103 stores programs used in the execution of the CPU 1101, parameters that change as appropriate during the execution, and the like. These are connected to each other by a host bus 1104 including a CPU bus.

  The host bus 1104 is connected to an external bus 1106 such as a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect / Interface) bus via a bridge 1105.

  A keyboard 1108 and a pointing device 1109 such as a mouse are input devices operated by an operator. The display 1110 includes a liquid crystal display device or a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), and displays various types of information as text or image information.

  An HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 1111 includes a hard disk, drives the hard disk, and records or reproduces a program executed by the CPU 1101 and information. The hard disk functions as a distribution threshold parameter storage module 110, a gradation correction parameter storage module 530, and a color conversion parameter storage module 920, and stores distribution threshold parameters, a gradation correction table 800, and the like. Further, various computer programs such as various other data processing programs are stored.

  The drive 1112 reads out data or a program recorded in a removable recording medium 1113 such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a semiconductor memory, and the data or program is read out as an interface 1107 and an external bus 1106. , A bridge 1105, and a RAM 1103 connected via a host bus 1104. The removable recording medium 1113 can also be used as a data recording area similar to the hard disk.

  The connection port 1114 is a port for connecting the external connection device 1115 and has a connection unit such as USB or IEEE1394. The connection port 1114 is connected to the CPU 1101 and the like via the interface 1107, the external bus 1106, the bridge 1105, the host bus 1104, and the like. The communication unit 1116 is connected to a communication line and executes data communication processing with the outside. The data reading unit 1117 is a scanner, for example, and executes document reading processing. The data output unit 1118 is a printer, for example, and executes document data output processing.

  Note that the hardware configuration of the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 11 shows one configuration example, and the present embodiment is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. 11, and the modules described in this embodiment are executed. Any configuration is possible. For example, some modules may be configured with dedicated hardware (for example, Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), etc.), and some modules are in an external system and connected via a communication line In addition, a plurality of systems shown in FIG. 11 may be connected to each other via a communication line so as to cooperate with each other. Further, it may be incorporated in a copying machine, a fax machine, a scanner, a printer, a multifunction machine (an image processing apparatus having any two or more functions of a scanner, a printer, a copying machine, a fax machine, etc.).

In the module configuration illustrated in FIG. 9, the module configuration illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 5 is combined, and print data 905 is printed using the generated tone correction parameter. It is also possible to combine only the module configurations exemplified in. That is, the color measurement module 510, the gradation correction parameter generation module 520, the gradation correction parameter storage module 530, the distribution threshold parameter storage module 110, the gradation correction print data generation module 120, the screen processing module 130, and the printing module 140 are combined. It may be a configuration. Processing according to this configuration is processing from step S1002 to step S1014 in the flowchart illustrated in FIG.
The color conversion module 910, the color conversion parameter storage module 920, the gradation correction processing module 930, the gradation correction parameter storage module 530, the screen processing module 130, and the printing module 140 may be combined. The processing by this configuration is processing from step S1016 to step S1024 in the flowchart illustrated in FIG.

The program described above may be provided by being stored in a recording medium, or the program may be provided by communication means. In that case, for example, the above-described program may be regarded as an invention of a “computer-readable recording medium recording the program”.
The “computer-readable recording medium on which a program is recorded” refers to a computer-readable recording medium on which a program is recorded, which is used for program installation, execution, program distribution, and the like.
The recording medium is, for example, a digital versatile disc (DVD), which is a standard established by the DVD Forum, such as “DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD-RAM,” and DVD + RW. Standard “DVD + R, DVD + RW, etc.”, compact disc (CD), read-only memory (CD-ROM), CD recordable (CD-R), CD rewritable (CD-RW), Blu-ray disc ( Blu-ray Disc (registered trademark), magneto-optical disk (MO), flexible disk (FD), magnetic tape, hard disk, read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable and rewritable read-only memory (EEPROM (registered trademark)) )), Flash memory, Random access memory (RAM) SD (Secure Digital) memory card and the like.
The program or a part of the program may be recorded on the recording medium for storage or distribution. Also, by communication, for example, a local area network (LAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wired network used for the Internet, an intranet, an extranet, etc., or wireless communication It may be transmitted using a transmission medium such as a network or a combination of these, or may be carried on a carrier wave.
Furthermore, the program may be a part of another program, or may be recorded on a recording medium together with a separate program. Moreover, it may be divided and recorded on a plurality of recording media. Further, it may be recorded in any manner as long as it can be restored, such as compression or encryption.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 110 ... Distribution threshold parameter storage module 120 ... Tone correction print data generation module 130 ... Screen processing module 140 ... Printing module 510 ... Color measurement module 520 ... Tone correction parameter generation module 530 ... Tone correction parameter storage module 910 ... Color conversion Module 920 ... color conversion parameter storage module 930 ... gradation correction processing module

Claims (3)

Receiving means for receiving a gradation threshold at a stage where mixing of the first drop and the second drop classified by the size of the drop is started;
Generating means for generating color sample data at a predetermined interval that is greater than or greater than the threshold and the threshold received by the receiving means;
Printing means for printing a color sample based on the color sample data generated by the generating means;
Measuring means for measuring the density of the color sample printed by the printing means;
Gradation correction data generation means for generating data for correcting gradation based on the density measured by the measurement means;
Comprising
The gradation correction data generation means, second floor, which is measured by said measuring means in larger than the first gradation and the threshold value measured by said measuring means at the threshold of the tone received by the reception unit When the second gradation is smaller than or less than the first gradation, the data for correcting the gradation is not used without using the second gradation. generated,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the generation unit generates color sample data in an arrangement in which the interval in the case of decreasing the first drop is smaller than the interval in the case of decreasing the first drop . Receiving means for receiving print data;
A gradation correction unit that corrects a gradation of print data received by the reception unit based on data for correcting a gradation generated by the image processing apparatus according to claim 1;
An image processing apparatus comprising: a printing unit that prints print data whose gradation is corrected by the gradation correcting unit. Computer
Receiving means for receiving a gradation threshold at a stage where mixing of the first drop and the second drop classified by the size of the drop is started;
Generating means for generating color sample data at a predetermined interval that is greater than or greater than the threshold and the threshold received by the receiving means;
Printing means for printing a color sample based on the color sample data generated by the generating means;
Measuring means for measuring the density of the color sample printed by the printing means;
Gradation correction data generation means for generating data for correcting gradation based on the density measured by the measurement means;
Function as
The gradation correction data generation means, second floor, which is measured by said measuring means in larger than the first gradation and the threshold value measured by said measuring means at the threshold of the tone received by the reception unit When the second gradation is smaller than or less than the first gradation, the data for correcting the gradation is not used without using the second gradation. generated,
An image processing program characterized in that the generation means generates color sample data in an arrangement in which the interval in the case of decreasing the first drop is smaller than the interval in the case of decreasing the first drop .

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