JP6654054B2 - Printing apparatus and printing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing device and a printing method.

  In a printing device such as a printer, printing is performed by discharging ink from an ink head onto a recording medium. The ink ejected from the ink head includes not only process color inks such as cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, but also special color inks such as white ink, metallic ink, and gloss ink. For example, white ink is used as a base layer when printing on a recording medium. Metallic ink is used when giving special gloss to a recording medium. Gloss ink is ink coated on the outermost surface of a recording medium.

  Further, depending on the printed matter printed on the recording medium, printing may be performed while inks of different colors are overlapped. At this time, depending on the type of the color, the overlapping area may not be printed with the color desired by the user by printing the colors in a superimposed manner. Therefore, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses that in a region where the process color ink and the special color ink overlap each other, only the special color ink is discharged to the recording medium without discharging the process color ink to the recording medium.

  Patent Document 2 discloses that in a region where the white ink and the metallic ink overlap, the amount of the white ink is made smaller than the amount of the ink normally used. For example, in a region where the white ink and the metallic ink overlap, only the metallic ink is ejected onto the recording medium without ejecting the white ink onto the recording medium.

Japanese Patent No. 5043459 Japanese Patent No. 5779953

  However, some users want to discharge only the process color ink to the recording medium without discharging the special color ink to the recording medium in an area where the process color ink and the special color ink overlap. Further, some users want to discharge the metallic ink to the recording medium after discharging the white ink to the recording medium in an area where the white ink and the metallic ink overlap. In other words, when printing an area where a plurality of inks are overlapped, depending on the type of the plurality of overlapped inks, if one wants to eject only one ink to the recording medium, or wants to eject all the inks to the recording medium There was a case.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and an object of the present invention is to overlap a process color ink with an object corresponding to each ink when printing a print having an area where any one of a plurality of special color inks overlaps. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus and a printing method capable of determining which ink is to be ejected to an overlapped area according to the order.

  A printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a first special color object that is an object printed by a first special color ink that is a predetermined type of special color ink, and a second special color ink that is different in type from the first special color ink. A printed material in which at least a part of any two of the second special color object that is an object printed by the process color object and the process color object that is an object printed by the process color ink overlaps is printed on a recording medium. It is a printing device. The printing apparatus includes a first special color ink head, a second special color ink head, a process color ink head, and a control device. The first special color ink head discharges the first special color ink onto the recording medium. The second special color ink head discharges the second special color ink onto the recording medium. The process color ink head discharges the process color ink onto the recording medium. The control device is connected to the first special color ink head, the second special color ink head, and the process color ink head. The control device includes a storage unit, a first overlapping order setting unit, a second overlapping order setting unit, an area specifying unit, a first spot color printing unit, a second spot color printing unit, a process color A printing unit. The storage unit stores the first spot color object, the second spot color object, and the process color object. The first overlapping order setting unit sets the first spot color object as an object arranged at the foreground or the backmost. The second overlapping order setting unit sets the process color object as an object arranged in front of the second special color object. The area specifying unit specifies an overlapping area where the second spot color object and the process color object overlap. The first spot color printing unit may correspond to the first spot color object after the first spot color object is set to the object arranged at the foreground or the back by the first overlapping order setting unit. The first special color object is printed by ejecting the first special color ink to the first special color ink head in the area of the recording medium. The second spot color printing unit sets the process color object to an object arranged in front of the second spot color object by the second overlapping order setting unit, and then sets the process color object to the second spot color object. In the corresponding area of the recording medium, in the overlapping area specified by the area specifying unit, an area excluding the overlapping area without ejecting the second special color ink to the second special color ink head. In the above, the second special color object is printed by discharging the second special color ink to the second special color ink head. The process color printing unit sets the process color object corresponding to the process color object after the process color object is set to an object arranged in front of the second special color object by the second overlapping order setting unit. The process color object is printed by ejecting the process color ink to the process color ink head in the area of the medium.

  According to the printing apparatus, even when the first spot color object overlaps the second spot color object and the process color object, the first spot color object is arranged on the front side or the back side of the second spot color object and the process color object. Will be printed as The second special color object is printed in a state excluding the overlapping area overlapping with the process color object. The process color object is printed without removing an overlapping area overlapping the second spot color object. Therefore, by setting the order in which the objects overlap with each other and specifying the area where the second special color object and the process color object overlap, the printing area is automatically determined for each object having a different ink type. Can be printed.

  The printing method according to the present invention includes a first special color object, which is an object printed by a first special color ink, which is a predetermined type of special color ink, and a second special color ink, which is different in type from the first special color ink. A printed material in which at least a part of any two of the second special color object that is an object printed by the process color object and the process color object that is an object printed by the process color ink overlaps is printed on a recording medium. The printing method. The printing method includes a first overlapping order setting step, a second overlapping order setting step, an area specifying step, a first special color printing step, a second special color printing step, a process color printing step, Is included. In the first overlapping sequence step, the first spot color object is set as an object arranged at the foreground or the backmost. In the second overlapping sequence step, the process color object is set as an object arranged in front of the second special color object. In the area specifying step, an overlapping area, which is an area where the second spot color object and the process color object overlap, is specified. In the first spot color printing step, after setting the first spot color object as an object arranged at the foreground or the rearmost in the first overlapping order setting step, the first spot color object corresponds to the first spot color object. The first special color object is printed by ejecting the first special color ink in the area of the recording medium. In the second special color printing step, after the process color object is set as an object arranged in front of the second special color object in the second overlapping order setting step, the process color object corresponds to the second special color object. The second special color ink is ejected in an area excluding the overlap area without ejecting the second special color ink in the overlap area specified in the area specifying step in the area of the recording medium that has been set. Then, the second spot color object is printed. In the process color printing step, after the process color object is set as an object arranged in front of the second special color object in the second overlapping order setting step, the recording medium corresponding to the process color object is set. The process color object is printed by ejecting the process color ink in the area of.

  According to the present invention, when printing a printed material having an area where any of the process color ink and the plurality of special color inks overlap, depending on the overlapping order of the objects corresponding to the respective inks, It is possible to provide a printing apparatus and a printing method capable of determining whether to eject the ink.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a printing apparatus according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating an internal configuration of the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment. It is a bottom view of a carriage. It is a figure showing an example of a printed matter. It is an exploded view of a printed matter. FIG. 11 is an exploded view of a printed matter, showing a state where a second spot color object is knocked out with respect to a process color object. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a printing apparatus. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a printing procedure. It is a figure showing an example of a printed matter concerning a 2nd embodiment. FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the printed matter shown in FIG. 9, showing a state where a second spot color object has been knocked out with respect to a process color object. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printed matter according to a third embodiment. FIG. 12 is an exploded view of the printed matter shown in FIG. 11, showing a state where a second spot color object has been knocked out with respect to a process color object. FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a printing apparatus according to a third embodiment.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The embodiments described here are not intended to limit the present invention in particular. Further, members / parts having the same action are denoted by the same reference numerals, and overlapping description will be omitted or simplified as appropriate.

<First embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. In the following description, when the printing apparatus 1 is viewed from the front, the direction away from the printing apparatus 1 is referred to as front, and the direction approaching the printing apparatus 1 is referred to as rear. Further, left, right, upper, and lower mean left, right, upper, and lower when the printing apparatus 1 is viewed from the front, respectively. Symbols F, Rr, L, R, U, and D in the drawings mean front, rear, left, right, upper, and lower, respectively. However, the above-mentioned direction is only a direction determined for convenience of explanation, and does not limit the installation mode of the printing apparatus 1 at all and does not limit the present invention at all. The symbol Y in the drawing indicates the main scanning direction. The main scanning direction Y is a left-right direction. Reference symbol X indicates a sub-scanning direction that is orthogonal to the main scanning direction Y in plan view. The sub-scanning direction X is a front-back direction. However, the main scanning direction Y and the sub-scanning direction X are not particularly limited, and can be appropriately set according to the form of the printing apparatus 1.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printing apparatus 1 is an ink jet printer. The printing device 1 performs printing on the recording paper 5. In the present embodiment, the recording paper 5 is a roll-shaped medium, and is a so-called roll paper. Here, the recording paper 5 corresponds to the “recording medium” of the present invention. However, the recording medium of the present invention is not limited to the recording paper 5. For example, the recording medium may be a transparent sheet or a resin sheet. The recording medium is not limited to a flexible sheet, and may be a medium having a hard material such as a glass substrate.

  The printing apparatus 1 includes a main body 10, legs 11, an operation panel 12, and a cover 15. The main body 10 has a casing extending in the main scanning direction Y. The legs 11 support the main body 10. The legs 11 are provided on the lower surface of the main body 10. The operation panel 12 is provided on the right front surface of the main body 10. The operation panel 12 is used by a user to perform operations related to printing. Although not shown, the operation panel 12 is provided with a display unit for displaying information about printing such as resolution and ink density, and an input unit for inputting information about printing.

  The cover 15 is provided on the main body 10. Here, the cover 15 is attached to the upper part of the main body 10 so as to be freely opened and closed. An outlet 13 for discharging the recording paper 5 is formed below the cover 15 and below the main body 10. A guide 14 for guiding the recording paper 5 discharged from the discharge port 13 is provided at a position in front of and below the discharge port 13. The guide 14 extends forward and obliquely downward from the outlet 13.

  Next, an internal configuration of the printing apparatus 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating an internal configuration of the printing apparatus 1. FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the carriage 30. As shown in FIG. 2, the printing apparatus 1 includes a guide rail 20, a platen 25, a driving mechanism 28, a carriage 30, ink heads 40C, 40M, 40Y, 40K (see FIG. 3), and a special color ink head 41W. , 41M, 41G (see FIG. 3) and a control device 60 (see FIG. 7). The guide rail 20 is disposed below the cover 15 (see FIG. 1). The guide rail 20 extends in the main scanning direction Y.

  The platen 25 supports the recording paper 5 when printing on the recording paper 5. The recording paper 5 is placed on the platen 25. Printing on the recording paper 5 is performed on the platen 25. The platen 25 extends in the main scanning direction Y. The platen 25 is disposed below and in front of the central portion of the guide rail 20. The platen 25 is connected to the guide 14 (see FIG. 1).

  In the present embodiment, a pair of upper and lower rollers 26 for conveying the recording paper 5 in the sub-scanning direction X (only the upper roller 26 is shown in FIG. Rollers 26 are omitted). However, the number and installation position of the pair of upper and lower rollers 26 are not particularly limited. One of the upper and lower rollers 26 is a driving roller (also referred to as a grid roller) that rotates by itself. A motor 27 is connected to the one roller 26, and the one roller 26 rotates when the motor 27 is driven. The other roller 26 is a pinch roller for sandwiching the recording paper 5 together with the driving roller. The pinch roller is configured to be vertically movable.

  The drive mechanism 28 is a mechanism for moving the ink heads 40C, 40M, 40Y, 40K (see FIG. 3) and the special color ink heads 41W, 41M, 41G (see FIG. 3) in the main scanning direction Y. Here, the drive mechanism 28 includes a pulley 21, a pulley 22, an endless belt 23, and a motor 24. The pulley 21 is provided at a right end portion of the guide rail 20. The pulley 22 is provided at the left end of the guide rail 20. The belt 23 is wound around the pulley 21 and the pulley 22. Here, the motor 24 is connected to the pulley 21, but may be connected to the pulley 22. When the motor 24 drives the pulley 21, the belt 23 runs between the pulley 21 and the pulley 22.

  The carriage 30 is attached to the belt 23. Although not shown, the carriage 30 is engaged with the guide rail 20. The carriage 30 moves in the main scanning direction Y along the guide rail 20 as the belt 23 travels.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the ink heads 40C, 40M, 40Y, and 40K and the special color ink heads 41W, 41M, and 41G are mounted on the carriage 30. In the following description, the ink heads 40C, 40M, 40Y, and 40K are collectively referred to as an ink head 40 as appropriate. The special color ink heads 41W, 41M, and 41G are collectively referred to as a special color ink head 41 as appropriate. The ink head 40 and the spot color ink head 41 are arranged above the platen 25 and slidably engage the guide rail 20 via the carriage 30. The ink head 40 and the spot color ink head 41 are moved in the main scanning direction Y along the guide rail 20 by the driving mechanism 28. Here, the plurality of ink heads 40 and the plurality of special color ink heads 41 are arranged in the main scanning direction Y. Although the ink head 40 is arranged on the left side of the special color ink head 41, it may be arranged on the right side of the special color ink head 41.

  In the present embodiment, the ink head 40 discharges the process color ink onto the recording paper 5 placed on the platen 25 downward. Here, "process color ink" is ink for forming a color image. For example, the process color ink includes a cyan ink, a magenta ink, a yellow ink, and a black ink. In the present embodiment, the ink head 40C discharges cyan ink. The ink head 40M discharges magenta ink. The ink head 40Y discharges yellow ink. The ink head 40K discharges black ink. Note that the process color ink may include light cyan and light magenta in addition to the four color inks. In this case, the number of the ink heads 40 is “6”. In the present embodiment, the ink head 40 is an example of the “process color ink head” of the present invention.

  In the present embodiment, the special color ink head 41 discharges the special color ink onto the recording paper 5 placed on the platen 25 downward. Here, the “special color ink” is an ink other than the process color ink, and is an ink prepared by preparing a special ink different from the process color ink. The special color ink is an ink that cannot be reproduced by the process color ink. The type of the special color ink is not particularly limited. For example, the special color ink includes a white ink, a metallic ink, and a gloss ink. The white ink is mainly used in the base layer, and is used to give the recording paper 5 a light-shielding property. The metallic ink is an ink used to give the recording paper 5 a special gloss, and is an ink containing a material exhibiting a predetermined texture. For example, the metallic ink is a gold or silver ink containing a metal material. The gloss ink is an ink coated on the outermost surface of the recording paper 5 and is a transparent ink. In the present embodiment, the spot color ink head 41W discharges white ink. The special color ink head 41M discharges metallic ink. The special color ink head 41G discharges gloss ink. In the present embodiment, the special color ink head 41W is an example of the “first special color ink head” of the present invention, and the white ink is an example of the “first special color ink” of the present invention. The special color ink head 41M is an example of the “second special color ink head” of the present invention, and the metallic ink is an example of the “second special color ink” of the present invention.

  An ink cartridge 45 (see FIG. 2) is connected to each of the ink head 40 and the special color ink head 41. Here, the ink head 40 and the special color ink head 41 and the ink cartridge 45 are connected to each other via the tube 46. The ink cartridge 45 contains process color ink and special color ink to be supplied to each ink head 40 and special color ink head 41. The installation position of the ink cartridge 45 is not particularly limited. For example, although not shown, the ink cartridge 45 is detachably provided on the upper surface of the main body 10.

  In the present embodiment, the printed matter printed on the recording paper 5 is composed of a plurality of objects, and the plurality of objects overlap. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the printed matter 80. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the printed matter 80, and is an exploded view of the printed matter 80. For example, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the printed matter 80 includes three objects, a first special color object 81, a second special color object 82, and a process color object 83. Here, the first special color object 81 is formed by printing with the white ink of the special color ink. The second special color object 82 is formed by printing with metallic ink of special color ink. The process color object 83 is formed by printing with process color ink. In the present embodiment, an object formed by the special color ink is referred to as a “special color object”, and an object formed by the process color ink is referred to as a “process color object”.

  When printing such a printed matter 80, the printing apparatus 1 ejects white ink to an area of the recording paper 5 corresponding to the first special color object 81. The metallic ink is ejected to the area of the recording paper 5 corresponding to the second special color object 82. Then, the process color ink is ejected to the area of the recording paper 5 corresponding to the process color object 83.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in the present embodiment, a part of the first special color object 81 overlaps with the second special color object 82 and the process color object 83 in the areas 86 and 87, respectively. Then, a part of the second spot color object 82 overlaps the process color object 83 in the area 88. As described above, when printing an area where a plurality of objects overlap, when discharging only ink of one of the objects in the overlapping area, and when discharging ink of each object of the overlapping area There can be. Here, the exclusion process in a region where a plurality of objects overlap, that is, the ejection of only ink of one object and not the ejection of ink of the other object, states that the other object has been knocked out by one object. State. " FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the printed matter 80, showing a state where the second spot color object 82 has been knocked out by the process color object 83. For example, in FIG. 4, in printing of an area where the second special color object 82 and the process color object 83 overlap each other, the metallic ink of the second special color object 82 is not ejected, and the process color of the process color object 83 is not printed. When only the ink is ejected, as shown in FIG. 6, the second special color object 82 is said to be in a state of being knocked out by the process color object 83.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the first special color object 81 formed of white ink is the rearmost surface of the printed matter 80, that is, the first special color object 81 is a base layer. Therefore, even if the first special color object 81 overlaps with another object (here, the second special color object 82 or the process color object 83), the first special color object 81 The object 81 may be in a state where it is not knocked out by other objects 82 and 83, as shown in FIG. On the other hand, since the second special color object 82 formed by the metallic ink expresses special gloss, when the second special color object 82 overlaps an object (for example, the process color object 83) made of another ink, there is a high possibility that the color mixture occurs. Here, “mixed color” means that, in an area where two objects overlap each other, an object arranged on the back hinders the coloring of the object on the front. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, when a process color object 83 formed by process color ink is printed on the front of the second special color object 82, the process color object 83 is printed on the front of the second special color object 82. In the area 88 where the 83 overlaps, the rear side metallic ink may be mixed with the front process color. As a result, a print result desired by the user may not be obtained in an area 88 where the second spot color object 82 and the process color object 83 overlap. Here, the desired print result refers to a print result as seen such that the process color object 83 is arranged at the forefront. In other words, the desired print result is, for example, a print result in which uniform color development is obtained over the entire area of the process color object 83 including the area where the second special color object 82 and the process color object 83 do not overlap. It is. Therefore, in the area 88 where the process color object 83 overlaps the front surface of the second spot color object 82, it is preferable that the second spot color object 82 is knocked out by the process color object 83 as shown in FIG. .

  As described above, in the special color object formed by the special color ink, depending on the function of the special color object (a function such as forming an underlayer on the rear surface) or the type of the special color ink (metal ink, white ink, gloss ink, or the like). It is different whether the spot color object is in a state knocked out by another object or in a state not knocked out. In the present embodiment, when the spot color object overlaps with another object, printing is performed in a state where the object is knocked out by another object, or printing is performed in a state where the object is not knocked out by another object based on the overlapping order of the objects. The control device 60 controls whether to perform the control.

  Next, the control device 60 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the printing apparatus 1. The control device 60 includes a microcomputer, and is provided inside the main body 10. The control device 60 includes a CPU, a ROM storing a program to be executed by the CPU, a RAM, and the like. Here, control relating to printing is performed using a program stored in the microcomputer.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the control device 60 includes a motor 27 connected to one of the upper and lower rollers 26 (drive roller), a motor 24 connected to the pulley 21, an ink head 40, It is connected to the special color ink head 41. The control device 60 controls the motor 27, the motor 24, the ink head 40, and the special color ink head 41. The control device 60 controls the rotation of the drive-side roller 26 by controlling the motor 27. The control device 60 controls the rotation of the pulley 21 and the traveling of the belt 23 (see FIG. 2) by controlling the motor 24. Further, the control device 60 controls the timing at which the ink head 40 and the special color ink head 41 discharge ink.

  The control device 60 includes a storage unit 61, a first overlapping order setting unit 62a, a second overlapping order setting unit 62b, an area specifying unit 63, a first spot color printing unit 64, and a second spot color printing. And a process color printing unit 68. Note that each of the above-described units may be configured by software or hardware.

  Next, a procedure regarding a printing process when the printing apparatus 1 performs printing on the recording paper 5 will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG. Here, a procedure for printing the printed matter 80 of FIG. 4 on the recording paper 5 will be described. The printed matter 80 of FIG. 4 is printed such that the first special color object 81 is arranged on the rearmost side and the process color object 83 is arranged on the front side of the second special color object 82.

  In the present embodiment, the storage unit 61 stores data relating to the printed matter 80 in advance. More specifically, the storage unit 61 stores data of a first special color object 81, a second special color object 82, and a process color object 83, which are components of the printed matter 80 printed on the recording paper 5. The data relating to the first special color object 81, the second special color object 82, and the process color object 83 are first created and edited as vector data on a personal computer, for example, and rasterized according to the overlapping order of the objects. , Print data created by binarization processing or the like. The object as the print data is an aggregate of a plurality of print pixels having the shape of the object created by the vector data, and each print pixel has the presence or absence of ink ejection, the type of ink, the resolution, the dot diameter of the ink. And information necessary for printing, such as an ink ejection amount, an ink ejection speed, and an ink ejection timing. The printing apparatus 1 obtains, for each object, information such as the ink type, resolution, dot diameter, ink ejection amount, ink ejection speed, and ink ejection timing designated for each print pixel. In accordance with the overlapping order of the designated objects, printing is performed in units of print pixels for each object. Here, the overlapping order of the objects refers to the overlapping relationship of whether one object is in front of or behind another object.

  First, in step S100, the first overlapping order setting unit 62a and the second overlapping order setting unit 62b cause all the objects 81 to 83, in the present embodiment, the first special color object 81 and the second special color object 82. , And the overlapping order of the process color objects 83 is set. Specifically, the first overlapping order setting unit 62a sets the first special color object 81 as an object arranged at the rearmost position. In other words, the first overlapping order setting unit 62a sets the first special color object 81 formed of white ink as an object arranged behind the other objects 82 and 83.

  The second overlapping order setting unit 62b sets the process color object 83 as an object arranged in front of the second spot color object 82. Here, no other object is arranged between the process color object 83 and the second special color object 82.

  Next, in step S101, the area specifying unit 63 specifies an overlapping area where the second special color object 82 and the process color object 83 overlap. Here, the area specifying unit 63 specifies an area where the metallic ink used for giving special gloss and the process color ink overlap. In the printed matter 80 of FIG. 4, since the second spot color object 82 and the process color object 83 overlap in the area 88, the area 88 is set as an overlapping area.

  Here, the specification of the overlapping area by the area specifying unit 63 will be specifically described. For example, the area specifying unit 63 first performs rasterization processing on the data of the second spot color object 82 in vector data format created on a personal computer or the like. The data of the rasterized second special color object 82 is added to the data of the overlapping order by the second overlapping order setting unit 62b so that the process color object 83 is arranged in front of the second special color object 82. Is set. Next, the area specifying unit 63 performs rasterization processing on the data of the process color object 83 in the vector data format created on a personal computer or the like. In the data of the process color object 83 that has been subjected to the rasterization processing, the process color object 83 is arranged in front of the second spot color object 82 (in the foreground in this embodiment) by the second overlapping order setting unit 62b. The overlapping order is set so that

  The area specifying unit 63 individually performs the printing process on all the printing pixels constituting the second spot color object 82 and the process color object 83 in accordance with the overlapping order set by the second overlapping order setting unit 62b as described above. Is specified. More specifically, in the data of the process color object 83, the printing information is not changed for all the print pixels of the process color object 83 without being knocked out by the data of the second spot color object 82. On the other hand, with respect to the data of the second special color object 82, the print pixels where the data of the process color object 83 overlaps the front surface are knocked out with respect to the process color object 83, and the ejection of the metallic ink is not performed. As described above, in the area of the second special color object 82, the area corresponding to the set of print pixels where the metallic ink is not ejected is the overlapping area 88. In the present embodiment, the specification of the overlapping area performed by the area specifying unit 63 specifies a print pixel which does not discharge the metallic ink among all the print pixels constituting the rasterized second special color object 82. That is.

  Next, in step S102, after the first special color object 81 is set to the object arranged at the back by the first overlapping order setting unit 62a in step S100, the first special color printing unit 64 Of the special color object 81 is printed. Here, the first spot color printing unit 64 prints the first spot color object 81 by causing the spot color ink head 41W to discharge white ink in the area of the recording paper 5 corresponding to the first spot color object 81. . In the present embodiment, the first special color object 81 formed of white ink is used as another object (here, the second special color object 82 and the process color object 83) in order to form a base layer of the printed matter 80. On the other hand, it is placed on the rearmost side and printed without being knocked out by another object. That is, the first spot color printing unit 64 prints the first spot color object 81 on the recording paper 5 so as to have the shape of the first spot color object 81 stored in the storage unit 61.

  After the printing of the first special color object 81 by the first special color printing unit 64 is completed, the control device 60 controls the motor 27 to rotate the roller 26, thereby moving the recording paper 5 in the sub-scanning direction X. (Here, in the direction from front to back) and return the recording paper 5 to the printing start position.

  Next, in step S104, after the process color object 83 is set as an object arranged in front of the second special color object 82 by the second overlapping order setting unit 62b in step S100, the second special color printing unit 66 prints the second spot color object 82. Here, the second special color printing unit 66 applies the metallic ink to the special color ink head 41M in the overlapping area 88 specified by the area specifying unit 63 in the area of the recording paper 5 corresponding to the second special color object 82. The second spot color object 82 is printed by ejecting the metallic ink in an area other than the area 88 without ejecting the ink. In the present embodiment, after a process for specifying a print pixel that does not discharge metallic ink is performed among all print pixels constituting the rasterized second special color object 82, the second special color object 82 is processed. The printing unit 66 prints the second special color object 82 on the recording paper 5 in a state where the metallic ink is not ejected to the overlapping area 88. Since the metallic ink is not ejected to the print pixels corresponding to the overlapping area 88 among the print pixels of the second special color object 82, the shape of the second special color object 82 to be printed is eventually stored in the storage unit 61. The shape of the overlap region 88 (see FIG. 4) is deleted from the stored shape of the second object 82 (see FIG. 5). In other words, as shown in FIG. 6, the second spot color object 82 is printed in a knocked-out state by the process color object 83 which is arranged and printed in front of the second spot color object 82. Here, the second special color printing unit 66 prints the second special color object 82 by discharging the metallic ink on the recording paper 5 from which the white ink has been discharged. In other words, the second spot color printing section 66 prints the second spot color object 82 on the front surface of the first spot color object 81 so as to overlap the first spot color object 81.

  Next, in step S106, after the process color object 83 is set as an object arranged in front of the second special color object 82 by the second overlapping order setting unit 62b in step S100, the process color printing unit 68 The process color object 83 is printed. Here, the process color printing unit 68 prints the process color object 83 by discharging the process color ink to the ink head 40 in the area of the recording paper 5 corresponding to the process color object 83. In the present embodiment, the process color object 83 is arranged and printed in front of other objects (here, the first special color object 81 and the second special color object 82). That is, the process color printing unit 68 prints the process color object 83 on the recording paper 5 so as to have the shape of the process color object 83 stored in the storage unit 61 without being affected by the overlapping area 88. The process color printing unit 68 prints the process color object 83 so as to be located on the rearmost surface and overlap the front surface of the first special color object 81 forming the base layer of the printed matter 80. In the present embodiment, as described above, as shown in FIG. 6, the second special color object 82 is arranged and printed by the second special color printing unit 66 in front of the second special color object 82. The process color object 83 is printed in a knocked out state. Therefore, the process color printing unit 68 prints the process color object 83 in a state where the second special color object 82 and the process color object 83 do not overlap.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, in the overlapping area 88 where the second spot color object 82 and the process color object 83 overlap, the process color ink corresponding to the process color object 83 is ejected. In the overlapping area 88, the metallic ink and the process color ink are not ejected at the same time. Therefore, the printing of the second spot color object 82 in step S104 and the printing of the process color object 83 in step S106 may be performed simultaneously. After the printing of the process color object 83 in step S106, the printing of the second special color object 82 in step S104 may be performed. According to such a procedure, the printed matter 80 can be printed on the recording paper 5.

  In the present embodiment, even when the first spot color object 81 overlaps the second spot color object 82 and the process color object 83, the first spot color object 81 is arranged behind the second spot color object 82 and the process color object 83. Printed as The second spot color object 82 is printed in a state excluding the overlapping area 88 overlapping the process color object 83. The process color object 83 is printed without removing the overlapping area 88 overlapping the second spot color object 82. Therefore, by setting the order in which the objects overlap with each other and specifying the area 88 in which the second special color object 82 and the process color object 83 overlap, the printing area is automatically set for each object having a different ink type. Can be determined and printed.

  In the present embodiment, the special color ink forming the first special color object 81 is white ink. The special color ink forming the second special color object 82 is a metallic ink. The process color inks forming the process color object 83 are cyan ink, magenta ink, yellow ink, and black ink. By arranging the first special color object 81 formed by the white ink on the rearmost surface, the first special color object 81 is used as a base layer of the printed matter 80 by another object (here, in order from the top in the overlapping order). , The process color object 83 and the second spot color object 82) are printed without being knocked out. Therefore, the second special color object 82 and the process color object 83 are printed so as to overlap the first special color object 81 using the first special color object 81 as a base layer. Therefore, the user can obtain a print result of the second special color object 82 and the process color object 83 of a desired color.

  In the present embodiment, the second spot color printing unit 66 prints the second spot color object 82 after the first spot color printing unit 64 prints the first spot color object 81. Then, the process color printing unit 68 prints the process color object 83 after the printing of the first special color object 81 by the first special color printing unit 64. As a result, the second special color object 82 and the process color object 83 are printed on the recording paper 5 on which the first special color object 81 formed by the white ink as the base layer is printed. Therefore, the user can obtain a print result of the second special color object 82 and the process color object 83 in a desired color.

  In the present embodiment, printing of the second special color object 82 by the second special color printing unit 66 and printing of the process color object 83 by the process color printing unit 68 may be performed simultaneously. Thus, for example, the printing time is reduced as compared with the case where the process color object 83 is printed by the process color printing unit 68 after the printing of the second special color object 82 by the second spot color printing unit 66. be able to.

  The printing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment has been described above. The printing apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to the printing apparatus 1 according to the above embodiment, and can be implemented in other various forms. Next, another embodiment will be briefly described. In the following description, the same components as those already described are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

<Second embodiment>
Next, a second embodiment will be described. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printed matter 80A according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the printed matter 80A shown in FIG. 9, and shows a state where the second spot color object 82A is knocked out by the process color object 83A arranged on the front surface. As shown in FIG. 9, the printed matter 80 </ b> A according to the second embodiment differs from the printed matter 80 according to the first embodiment in that a first spot color object 81 formed of white ink and disposed on the rearmost surface is a This is replaced with one special color object 84A. The first special color object 84A is an object formed by the gloss ink of the special color ink and arranged at the forefront. The ink of the second special color object 82A is, for example, metallic ink. The gloss ink is an ink for coating the surface of the printed matter 80A to add a glossiness and to produce a fill effect like a three-dimensional surface, and is hard to mix with other types of ink. The first spot color object 84A is printed on the foreground. Therefore, the first spot color object 84A is arranged in front of other objects (here, the process color object 83A and the second spot color object 82A in order from the top in the overlapping order). The first spot color object 84A is printed so as to cover the other object without being knocked out by the other object. In the second embodiment, the special color ink head 41G corresponds to the “first special color ink head” of the present invention, and the gloss ink corresponds to the “first special color ink” of the present invention.

  In the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the process color object 83A is an object arranged in front of the second spot color object 82A. Therefore, similarly to the first embodiment, in order to prevent color mixture by the second special color object 82A formed by metallic ink, in the overlapping area 88A where the process color object 83A overlaps the front surface of the second special color object 82A, It is preferable that the second spot color object 82A is knocked out by the process color object 83A as shown in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the control procedure of each unit of the control device 60 is as follows. The first overlapping order setting unit 62a sets the first spot color object 84A as an object arranged on the forefront. The first spot color printing unit 64 sets the recording paper corresponding to the first spot color object 84A after the first spot color object 84A is set as the object located at the forefront by the first overlapping order setting unit 62a. In the region 5, the first special color object 84A is printed by ejecting gloss ink to the special color ink head 41G. The second spot color printing unit 66 prints the second spot color object on the recording paper 5 such that the shape of the second spot color object 82A as shown in FIG. 9 excludes the area 88A (see FIG. 10). Print 82A. The process color printing unit 68 prints the process color object 83A on the recording paper 5 so as to have the shape of the process color object 83A.

  Here, after the printing of the second special color object 82A by the second special color printing unit 66 and the printing of the process color object 83A by the process color printing unit 68 are completed, the first special color printing unit 64 Of the special color object 84A is printed.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the first spot color object 84A formed by the gloss ink is arranged at the forefront, so that the first spot color object 84A is replaced by another object (here, the overlapping procedure of the overlapping procedure). The process color object 83A and the second special color object 82A) are sequentially printed from the top without being knocked out. Therefore, the second spot color object 82A and the process color object 83A can be printed so as to overlap the first spot color object 84A so that the surface of the first spot color object 84A is coated.

<Third embodiment>
In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the number of objects constituting the printed matter 80 is three, but the number is not particularly limited and may be four or more. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printed matter 80B according to the third embodiment. FIG. 12 is an exploded view of the printed matter 80B shown in FIG. 11, showing a state where the second spot color object 82B has been knocked out by the process color object 83B. As shown in FIG. 11, a printed matter 80B according to the third embodiment is obtained by adding a third spot color object 84B to the printed matter 80 according to the first embodiment. The printed matter 80B includes a third special color object 84B in addition to the first special color object 81B, the second special color object 82B, and the process color object 83B. Here, the third special color object 84B is an object formed by gloss ink, which is a kind of special color ink.

  The gloss ink is an ink for coating the surface of the printed matter 80B to add a glossiness or to produce a fill effect such as a three-dimensional surface, and is hardly mixed with other types of ink. . The third special color object 84 </ b> B is arranged at the forefront of the recording paper 5. The third special color object 84B is arranged in front of other objects (here, in order from the top in the overlapping order, the process color object 83B, the second special color object 82B, and the first special color object 81B). The third spot color object 84B is printed so as not to be knocked out by another object but to cover the other object. In the third embodiment, the special color ink head 41G corresponds to the “third special color ink head” of the invention.

  In the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the first special color object 81B formed of white ink is arranged on the rearmost side. The first special color object 81B is arranged behind other objects (here, the third special color object 84B, the process color object 83B, and the second special color object 82B in this order from the top in the overlapping order). The first spot color object 81B is printed so as not to be knocked out by another object but to be a base layer of another object.

  In addition, the overlapping order of the second spot color object 82B and the process color object 83B is such that the second spot color object 82B is in front. Therefore, as in the first embodiment, in order to prevent color mixture by the second special color object 82B formed by metallic ink, in the overlapping area 88B where the process color object 83B overlaps the front surface of the second special color object 82B. As shown in FIG. 12, the second spot color object 82B is preferably knocked out by the color object 83B. The second special color printing unit 66 prints the second special color on the recording paper 5 such that the second special color object 82B has a shape excluding the overlapping area 88B (see FIG. 11) from the shape of the second special color object 82B as shown in FIG. The object 82B is printed. The process color printing unit 68 prints the process color object 83B on the recording paper 5 so as to have the shape of the process color object 83B.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, the control device 60B includes a third overlapping order setting unit 62c and a third special color printing unit 69. The third overlapping order setting section 62c sets the third spot color object 84B as the object arranged at the forefront. The third special color printing section 69 prints the third special color object 84B. For example, after the third special color object 84B is set as the object arranged at the forefront by the third overlapping order setting unit 62c, the third special color printing unit 69 performs recording corresponding to the third special color object 84B. In the area of the paper 5, the third special color object 84B is printed by ejecting gloss ink to the special color ink head 41G. The third special color object 84B is arranged on the foreground with respect to other objects (here, the first special color object 81B, the second special color object 82B, and the process color object 83B), and is arranged with respect to the other objects. Printed without knockout.

  The third spot color printing unit 69 prints the first spot color object 81B by the first spot color printing unit 64, prints the second spot color object 82B by the second spot color printing unit 66, and process color printing unit 68. After the printing of the process color object 83B is completed, the printing of the third special color object 84B may be performed. That is, the third special color object 84B is preferably printed so as to cover the front surfaces of the first special color object 81B, the second special color object 82B, and the process color object 83B.

<Modification>
In the present invention, the type of the special color ink forming the first special color object and the type of the special color ink forming the second special color object may be selectable by the user. Although illustration is omitted, for example, in a personal computer or the like having a display screen and an operating device such as a keyboard or a mouse, the respective types of ink of the first spot color object and the second spot color object displayed on the display screen The user sees a screen for selecting. Then, the user operates the operating device while looking at the display screen to select the respective ink types of the first special color object and the second special color object. The information of the selected ink type is transmitted to the control device of the present invention. As described above, the user may select the respective special color inks of the first special color object and the second special color object.

  As described above, the recording medium of the present invention is not limited to the recording paper 5 and may be, for example, a transparent sheet. In this case, for example, in the first embodiment, after the printing of the second special color object 82 by the second special color printing unit 66 and the printing of the process color object 83 by the process color printing unit 68, the first The special color printing unit 64 may print the first special color object 81 on the recording paper 5. That is, the first spot color object 81 may be printed on the front surface of the second spot color object 82 and the process color object 83 printed on a recording medium that is a transparent sheet. As described above, when the reverse printing is performed on the transparent print medium, the desired printed matter 80 can be obtained by visually observing the recording paper 5 from the back surface.

  The above embodiments and modified examples may be appropriately combined.

  As described above, the storage unit 61, the first overlapping order setting unit 62 a, the second overlapping order setting unit 62 b, the area specifying unit 63, and the first spot color printing unit 64 which are the respective units of the control device 60 of the printing apparatus 1. The second spot color printing unit 66 and the process color printing unit 68 may be configured by software. That is, the above-described units may be realized by the computer when the computer program is read by the computer. The present invention includes a computer program for printing that causes a computer to function as each of the above units. Further, the present invention includes a computer-readable recording medium on which the computer program is recorded.

1 printing device 5 recording paper (recording medium)
40 ink head (process color ink head)
41 Special color ink head 41W Special color ink head (first special color ink head)
41M special color ink head (second special color ink head)
Reference Signs List 60 Control device 61 Storage unit 62a First overlapping order setting unit 62b Second overlapping order setting unit 63 Area specifying unit 64 First spot color printing unit 66 Second spot color printing unit 68 Process color printing unit 80 Printed matter 81 First Special color object 82 second special color object 83 process color object

Claims (13)

A first special color object that is an object printed with a first type of special color ink that is a predetermined type of special color ink, and a second object that is printed with a second special color ink that is different in type from the first special color ink. 2. A printing apparatus for printing, on a recording medium, a printed matter in which at least a part of any two objects among two special color objects and a process color object printed by a process color ink are overlapped,
A first special color ink head that discharges the first special color ink onto the recording medium;
A second special color ink head for discharging the second special color ink onto the recording medium,
A process color ink head for discharging the process color ink onto the recording medium,
A control device connected to the first special color ink head, the second special color ink head, and the process color ink head;
With
The control device includes:
A storage unit in which the first spot color object, the second spot color object, and the process color object are stored;
A first overlapping order setting unit that sets the first spot color object as an object arranged at the foreground or the backmost;
A second overlapping order setting unit that sets the process color object as an object arranged in front of the second spot color object;
An area specifying unit that specifies an overlapping area that is an area where the second spot color object and the process color object overlap;
After the first spot color object is set as the object arranged at the foreground or the back by the first overlapping order setting unit, the first spot color object is set in the area of the recording medium corresponding to the first spot color object. A first special color printing unit that prints the first special color object by discharging the first special color ink to one special color ink head;
After the process color object is set as an object arranged in front of the second special color object by the second overlapping order setting unit, the process color object is set in an area of the recording medium corresponding to the second special color object. In the overlapping area specified by the area specifying unit, the second special color ink head is not ejected to the second special color ink head, and the second special color ink head is formed in an area excluding the overlapping area. A second special color printing unit that prints the second special color object by discharging the second special color ink
After the process color object is set by the second overlapping order setting unit to an object arranged in front of the second special color object, the process color object is set in an area of the recording medium corresponding to the process color object. By discharging the process color ink to a color ink head, a process color printing unit that prints the process color object,
With
The first special color ink is a gloss ink,
The printing device , wherein the second special color ink is a metallic ink . The first overlapping order setting unit sets the first spot color object as an object arranged on the foreground,
The first special color printing unit sets the recording medium corresponding to the first special color object after the first special color object is set as an object in which the first special color object is arranged in the foreground by the first overlapping order setting unit. in the region, the first the first color ink to color ink head by ejecting, prints the first spot color objects, printing device according to claim 1.   3. The printing method according to claim 2, wherein the first spot color printing unit prints the first spot color object after the second spot color printing unit prints the second spot color object. apparatus.   4. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first spot color printing unit prints the first spot color object after the process color object is printed by the process color printing unit. 5. The printing of the second special color object by the second special color printing unit and the printing of the process color object by the process color printing unit are performed simultaneously, according to any one of claims 2 to 4. Printing device.   The printed matter is at least any one of the first special color object, the second special color object, a third special color object that is an object printed by white ink, and the process color object. Some overlap,
  A third special color ink head that discharges the white ink onto the recording medium,
  The control device is connected to the third special color ink head,
  The third storage unit stores the third special color object,
  The control device includes:
    A third overlapping order setting unit that sets the third spot color object as an object arranged at the rearmost position;
    After the third special color object is set as the object arranged at the rearmost position by the third overlapping order setting unit, the third special color object is set in an area of the recording medium corresponding to the third special color object. A third special color printing unit that prints the third special color object by ejecting the white ink to an ink head;
The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 5, further comprising:   The third special-color printing unit prints the first special-color object by the first special-color printing unit, prints the second special-color object by the second special-color printing unit, and the process color printing unit. 7. The printing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the printing of the third special color object is performed before the printing of the process color object is performed. The process color inks, cyan ink, magenta ink, a yellow ink and black ink, printing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7. A first special color object that is an object printed with a first type of special color ink that is a predetermined type of special color ink, and a second object that is printed with a second special color ink that is different in type from the first special color ink. A printing method for printing, on a recording medium, a printed material in which at least a part of any two objects of a second special color object and a process color object that is an object printed by the process color ink are overlapped,
A first overlapping order setting step of setting the first spot color object as an object arranged at the foreground or the backmost;
A second overlapping order setting step of setting the process color object to an object arranged in front of the second spot color object;
An area specifying step of specifying an overlapping area that is an area where the second spot color object and the process color object overlap;
In the first overlapping order setting step, after setting the first spot color object as an object arranged on the foreground or the back side, in the area of the recording medium corresponding to the first spot color object, A first special color printing step of printing the first special color object by discharging the special color ink of
After setting the process color object as an object arranged in front of the second special color object in the second overlapping order setting step, of the area of the recording medium corresponding to the second special color object, In the overlapping area specified in the area specifying step, the second special color ink is ejected in an area excluding the overlapping area without ejecting the second special color ink, so that the second special color ink is ejected. A second spot color printing step for printing the object;
After setting the process color object as an object arranged in front of the second special color object in the second overlapping order setting step, the process color object is set in an area of the recording medium corresponding to the process color object. A process color printing step of printing the process color object by discharging ink;
Encompasses,
The first special color ink is a gloss ink,
The printing method , wherein the second special color ink is a metallic ink .   In the first overlapping order setting step, the first spot color object is set as an object arranged on the foreground,
  In the first special color printing step, after the first special color object is set as the object arranged at the forefront in the first overlapping order setting step, the recording medium of the recording medium corresponding to the first special color object is set. The printing method according to claim 9, wherein the first special color object is printed by ejecting the first special color ink in an area.   The printing method according to claim 10, wherein the first spot color printing step is performed after the second spot color printing step.   The printing method according to claim 10, wherein the first spot color printing step is performed after the process color printing step. And printing of the second spot color objects that in the second spot color printing process, the printing of the process colors an object performed in the process color printing process, carried out at the same time, to any one of claims 10 to 12 The printing method described.

Images