JP6973102B2 - Information processing equipment, image forming equipment, information processing methods, and information processing programs - Google Patents

Description

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

A device for forming a laminated image in which a colored image made of a colored material such as CMYK and a spot color image made of a spot color material are laminated is known. The image forming method of the laminated image of the colored image and the special color image includes two-pass printing in which the special color image is formed and fixed on the medium and then the colored image is superimposed and fixed, or the special color image is formed on the medium. There is a one-pass printing in which a colored image is superimposed and then fixed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Patent Document 1 enables 1-pass printing regardless of the stacking order of the special color image and the colored image by making it possible to switch whether the colorless transparent toner or the white toner is developed before or at the end of the colored toner. The configuration is disclosed.

By forming a laminated image by 1-pass printing, it is possible to improve the usability of the user. However, when 1-pass printing is adopted, the spot color material and the colored material are mixed, and the image quality may be deteriorated as compared with the case where the same laminated image is formed by 2-pass printing.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to improve the image quality of a laminated image of a colored image and a spot color image.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the information processing apparatus uses a laminated image of a special color image made of a special color material and a colored image made of a colored material to form one of the special color image and the colored image. Two-pass printing, which is formed by forming and immobilizing on a medium and then laminating the other, or forming one of the special color image and the colored image on the medium and then laminating the other without interposing the immobilization. It is an information processing apparatus that controls an image forming unit formed by one-pass printing, and corresponds to an acquisition unit that acquires special color type information indicating the type of the special color material used for image formation, and the special color type information. The patch formed by the image forming unit by the image forming unit using the determination unit for determining the image data for the correction chart defining a plurality of patch areas having different color values and the image data for the correction chart. The above-mentioned is described by using a specific part for specifying a target characteristic showing a relationship between the first color measurement value of the first patch image as the laminated image corresponding to each region and the color value, and the image data for the correction chart. The actual measurement characteristic showing the relationship between the second color measurement value and the color value of the second patch image as the laminated image corresponding to each of the patch regions formed by the image forming unit by the one-pass printing is described above. A generation unit for generating a correction table for correcting the color value so as to approach the target characteristic is provided, and the specific unit determines the target characteristic using the determined image data for the correction chart. , The generation unit generates the correction table using the determined image data for the correction chart .

According to the present invention, there is an effect that the image quality of a laminated image of a colored image and a spot color image can be improved.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus of the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram conceptually showing image data. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an example of the stacking order. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of 1-pass printing and 2-pass printing. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the information processing apparatus. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the data structure of the correction management DB. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing an example of image data for a correction chart. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the data structure of the media management DB. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a calibration condition display screen. FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a patch image. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the target characteristic and the actually measured characteristic. FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing an example of correction table generation. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of the information processing procedure. FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an example of the information processing procedure. FIG. 17 is an example of a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the information processing apparatus. FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram showing an example of image data for a color correction chart. FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of target characteristics. FIG. 20 is an example of a diagram showing the target characteristics and the actually measured characteristics in a table. FIG. 21 is an example of a diagram showing the target characteristics and the actually measured characteristics. FIG. 22 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. 21. FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of the correction table. FIG. 24 is a diagram showing an example of the relationship between the correction table and the gamma-corrected color measurement value. FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a target characteristic, an actually measured characteristic, and a characteristic after γ conversion. FIG. 26 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the corrected correction table. FIG. 27 is a diagram showing an example of the relationship between the corrected correction table, the correction table, and the third colorimetric value. FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram of an example of the correction characteristic. FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing an example of the information processing procedure at the time of updating the correction table. FIG. 30 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the data structure of the color management table. FIG. 31 is a schematic diagram showing an example of correction characteristics. FIG. 32 is an explanatory diagram of an example of the correction characteristic. FIG. 33 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the data structure of the media management table. FIG. 34 is a schematic diagram showing an example of correction characteristics. FIG. 35 is an explanatory diagram of an example of the correction characteristic. FIG. 36 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the data structure of the transcription order management table. FIG. 37 is a diagram showing an example of the corrected color value. FIG. 38 is a schematic diagram showing an example of correction characteristics. FIG. 39 is an explanatory diagram of an example of the correction characteristic. FIG. 40 is a schematic diagram showing an example of correction characteristics. FIG. 41 is an explanatory diagram of an example of the correction characteristic. FIG. 42 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an image forming apparatus.

Hereinafter, embodiments of an information processing apparatus, an image forming apparatus, an information processing method, and an information processing program will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(First Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment.

The information processing device 10 is a device that performs information processing according to the present embodiment. A host computer 16 is connected to the information processing device 10. The host computer 16 is a PC (Personal Computer) or the like. The information processing device 10 receives image data from the host computer 16. Then, the information processing apparatus 10 processes information on the image data and outputs the information to the image forming apparatus 12.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram conceptually showing the image data 24. The image data 24 includes the colored image data 20 and the spot color image data 22. The image data 24 may further include a job command or the like indicating an image forming condition in the image forming apparatus 12.

The colored image data 20 is image data that defines colored density values such as RGB and CMYK. In the present embodiment, the colored image data 20 includes a plurality of types of color image data having different colors from each other. In the present embodiment, the case where the colored image data 20 includes the color image data (color image data 20Y, 20M, 20C, 20K) of each of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black will be described as an example.

In the present embodiment, a case where the colored image data 20 is image data in which a colored density value is defined for each pixel will be described. Therefore, in the present embodiment, each of the color image data (color image data 20Y, 20M, 20C, 20K) constituting the colored image data 20 is each of the corresponding colors (C, M, Y, K). This is image data in which the color density value is defined for each pixel. Further, in the present embodiment, the case where the colored image data 20 is data in which the density value of one pixel is represented by 8 bits will be described as an example.

The information processing apparatus 10 may receive image data 24 including color image data of R, G, and B from the host computer 16. In this case, the information processing apparatus 10 may convert the color image data of R, G, and B into the color image data (20Y, 20M, 20C, 20K) of each of C, M, Y, and K.

The spot color image data 22 is image data in which the density value of the spot color is defined for each pixel. Spot colors are colors other than the basic colors such as CMYK and RGB. Spot colors are, for example, metallic colors by metal, white, transparent, fluorescent colors, and the like. The metallic color is a color that reproduces metallic luster. The metallic color is, for example, gold or silver. The metallic color may be a color obtained by adding a tint such as CMYK or RGB to a basic metallic color such as gold or silver. Further, the fluorescent color may be any color such as CMYK, which is a fluorescent color. Further, the spot color material may contain a component that absorbs or reflects light in a specific wavelength region such as ultraviolet rays.

In the present embodiment, the case where the special color image data 22 is data in which the density value of one pixel is represented by 8 bits will be described as an example.

Returning to FIG. 1, the explanation will be continued. The information processing device 10 processes information on the image data 24 received from the host computer 16. By this information processing, the information processing apparatus 10 performs various corrections and other processes on the image data received from the host computer 16 and converts the image data into a format that can be processed by the image forming apparatus 12. Then, the information processing apparatus 10 outputs the image data that has undergone processing such as conversion / correction to the image forming apparatus 12.

That is, the information processing apparatus 10 controls the image forming apparatus 12 by transmitting the image data that can be processed by the image forming apparatus 12 to the image forming apparatus 12.

The information processing device 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 10A, a ROM 10B, a RAM 10C, an engine interface 10D, a panel interface 10E, a UI (user interface) unit 10J, a host interface 10F, and an HDD (hard disk drive). It is equipped with 10H. The CPU 10A, ROM 10B, RAM 10C, engine interface 10D, panel interface 10E, host interface 10F, and HDD 10H are connected to each other via a bus 10K so that data can be exchanged.

The panel interface 10E is a connection interface for the UI unit 10J. The UI unit 10J includes an input function for receiving an operation instruction from a user and a display function for displaying various images. The UI unit 10J may be configured to have an input function and a display function as separate bodies.

An example of an input function is a touch panel. An example of an input function is a keyboard, a mouse, and the like. An example of the display function is a liquid crystal display device, a display device using an organic EL, or the like.

The host interface 10F is a connection interface for the host computer 16. The engine interface 10D is a connection interface for the image forming apparatus 12.

Next, the colorimeter 14 will be described. The colorimeter 14 is a device that measures the color of an image formed on a medium. A known colorimeter may be used for the colorimeter 14. For example, the colorimeter 14 irradiates an object to be measured with light and receives the reflected light to measure the color. The colorimeter 14 may be an automatic scanning type or a manual scanning type. In the present embodiment, the colorimeter 14 measures each color of the patch image formed on the medium (details will be described later).

For example, the colorimeter 14 is connected to the host computer 16. Specifically, the colorimeter 14 is connected to the host computer 16 by a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable or the like. The connection form between the colorimeter 14 and the host computer 16 is not limited to the connection using a USB cable. Further, the colorimeter 14 may be connected to the information processing apparatus 10. In this embodiment, as an example, a mode in which the colorimeter 14 is connected to the host computer 16 will be described.

Next, the image forming apparatus 12 will be described. The image forming apparatus 12 is an example of an image forming unit. The image forming apparatus 12 forms an image on a medium by using the image data generated by the information processing apparatus 10.

The medium may be any medium that can form an image. The medium is, for example, a known paper medium (paper), synthetic paper, vinyl paper, or the like.

The image forming apparatus 12 is an apparatus capable of forming a laminated image of a spot color image made of a spot color material and a colored image made of a colored material. The image forming apparatus 12 is, for example, an electrophotographic type or an inkjet type image forming apparatus.

In the present embodiment, as an example, a case where the image forming apparatus 12 is an electrophotographic image forming apparatus will be described. Further, in the present embodiment, the case where the CMYK colored toner and the spot color toner are mounted on the image forming apparatus 12 as the color material and the spot color material will be described. The spot color toner is a toner used to realize the spot color. The spot color toner is, for example, a metal toner, a transparent (colorless) toner, a white toner, a fluorescent toner, or the like. The image forming apparatus 12 may be an apparatus that forms an image by using a CMYK colored ink and a spot color special color ink as the colored material and the spot color material.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of the image forming apparatus 12 of the present embodiment. The image forming apparatus 12 includes a panel operation unit 31 and a main body unit 30. The panel operation unit 31 accepts various operations by the user and displays various images. The main body 30 is provided with a mechanism used for image formation.

Specifically, the main body 30 includes a colored image forming unit 32 and a spot color image forming unit 33.

The colored image forming unit 32 includes the colored image forming units 32C, 32M, 32Y, and 32K. The colored image forming units 32C, 32M, 32Y, and 32K each include an image carrier on which a colored toner image is formed by each colored toner of CMYK. The colored toner image formed on the image carrier of the colored image forming unit 32 is primary transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 39 by each of the primary transfer units 34C, 34M, 34Y, and 34K.

The special color image forming unit 33 includes an image carrier on which a special color toner image is formed by the special color toner. The special color toner image formed on the image carrier of the special color image forming unit 33 is primary transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 39 by the primary transfer unit 34S. The media 40 stored in the paper feed tray 37 is conveyed to the secondary transfer unit 35 one by one.

The special color toner image and the colored toner image primaryly transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 39 are secondarily transferred to the medium 40 by the secondary transfer unit 35 and fixed by the fixing unit 36. That is, the fixing unit 36 fixes the colored image and the special color image on the medium 40. Fixation is an example of immobilization.

When the spot color ink and the color ink are used as the spot color material and the color material, the fixing unit 36 dries the ink (spot color ink, the color ink) applied to the secondary transfer unit 35. It may be fixed to the medium 40. That is, drying is also an example of immobilization.

The medium 40 on which the laminated image of the special color image and the colored image is formed is discharged to the discharge tray 38.

Here, in the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 12 can exchange the positions of the colored image forming unit 32 and the spot color image forming unit 33.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the image forming apparatus 12. In the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 12 can arrange the spot color image forming unit 33 on the upstream side of the moving direction X of the intermediate transfer belt 39 with respect to the colored image forming unit 32 (FIG. 4A). reference). Further, the image forming apparatus 12 can arrange the spot color image forming unit 33 on the downstream side of the moving direction X of the intermediate transfer belt 39 with respect to the colored image forming unit 32 (see FIG. 4B).

The arrangement positions of the colored image forming unit 32 and the spot color image forming unit 33 can be changed by, for example, a position exchange operation by the user. Further, the arrangement positions of the colored image forming unit 32 and the spot color image forming unit 33 may be exchangeable by the driving mechanism by providing a driving mechanism for exchanging these positions.

That is, the image forming apparatus 12 of the present embodiment has a configuration in which the stacking order of the colored image and the spot color image is variable with respect to the medium 40.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an example of the stacking order. For example, the arrangement of the colored image forming unit 32 and the spot color image forming unit 33 is such that the laminated image 50 in which the colored image 54 and the spot color image 52 are laminated in this order can be formed on the medium 40. In this case, the laminated image 50 formed by the image forming apparatus 12 is an image in which the colored image 54 and the special color image 52 are laminated in this order on the medium 40, as shown in FIG. 5A.

Further, the arrangement of the colored image forming unit 32 and the special color image forming unit 33 is such that the laminated image 50 in which the special color image 52 and the colored image 54 are laminated in this order can be formed on the medium 40. In this case, the laminated image 50 formed by the image forming apparatus 12 is a laminated image 50 in which the spot color image 52 and the colored image 54 are laminated in this order on the medium 40, as shown in FIG. 5 (B).

Here, there are 1-pass printing and 2-pass printing as a method of forming these laminated images 50 by the image forming apparatus 12. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of 1-pass printing and 2-pass printing.

FIG. 6A is an explanatory diagram of 2-pass printing. Two-pass printing is a printing method in which one of a special color image 52 and a colored image 54 is formed on a medium 40 and fixed, and then the other is laminated on the one.

Immobilization means immobilizing the coloring material on the medium 40. Specifically, when the coloring material is a toner (spot color toner, colored toner), immobilization means fixing. Further, when the coloring material is an ink (spot color ink, colored ink), immobilization means drying.

For example, in 2-pass printing, as shown in FIG. 6A, a special color toner 52'is applied on the medium 40 and then fixed to obtain a special color image 52, and a colored toner 54'is further applied on the special color image 52. By fixing it later, a laminated image 50 in which the colored image 54 is laminated on the spot color image 52 is formed.

FIG. 6B is an explanatory diagram of 1-pass printing. The one-pass printing is a printing method in which one of the special color image 52 and the colored image 54 is formed on the medium 40, and then the other is laminated on the one without intervention of immobilization.

For example, in 1-pass printing, as shown in FIG. 6B, after applying the special color toner 52'on the medium 40, the colored toner 54'is laminated on the special color toner 52'without fixing. , Finally settled. As a result, the laminated image 50 in which the spot color image 52 and the colored image 54 are laminated on the medium 40 is formed.

When the laminated image 50 is formed by two-pass printing using the image forming apparatus 12, the toner image (colored toner image or the special color toner image) is transmitted to the medium 40 by either the colored image forming unit 32 or the special color image forming unit 33. Is formed and fixed by the fixing unit 36. Then, the medium 40 is set in the image forming apparatus 12 again, and the toner image (colored toner image or the special color toner image) is transmitted by the other unit (the other of the colored image forming unit 32 and the special color image forming unit 33). It is formed in 40 and fixed by the fixing unit 36. For this reason, in the case of 2-pass printing, the operability of the user is poor, and the medium 40 may be wrinkled or the like due to repeated transportation of the medium 40.

However, when the laminated image 50 is formed by 2-pass printing, as shown in FIG. 6A, the colored material and the spot color are compared with the laminated image 50 formed by 1-pass printing (see FIG. 6B). Mixing of coloring materials is suppressed, and the image quality is good.

On the other hand, when the laminated image 50 is formed by 1-pass printing, fixing (fixing) is not performed between the formation of the colored image and the formation of the spot color image, so that the operability is improved and the image formation time is shortened. The effect is obtained. However, in the case of 1-pass printing, as shown in FIG. 6B, the colored material and the spot color material may be mixed and the image quality may be deteriorated as compared with the case of 2-pass printing.

Therefore, in the information processing apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, in order to improve the image quality of the laminated image 50 formed by 1-pass printing, a correction table for correcting the color value of the image data is generated (details will be described later). .. The correction table for correcting the color value may be referred to as a gamma correction table.

Next, the functional configuration of the information processing apparatus 10 of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the information processing apparatus 10.

The information processing device 10 includes a control unit 60, a UI unit 64, and a storage unit 62. The UI unit 64 and the storage unit 62 are connected to the control unit 60 so as to be able to exchange data and signals.

The UI unit 64 is realized by the UI unit 10J (see FIG. 1). The storage unit 62 is realized by, for example, the HDD 10H (see FIG. 1). The storage unit 62 stores various data. In the present embodiment, the storage unit 62 stores the correction management DB 62A, the medium management DB 62B, and the initial correction table 70A (details will be described later).

The control unit 60 includes a color conversion processing unit 60A, a gamma correction unit 60B, a total amount regulation unit 60C, a halftone processing unit 60D, a transmission unit 60E, and an update processing unit 60F. The update processing unit 60F includes a UI control unit 60G, an acquisition unit 60H, a determination unit 60I, a specific unit 60J, a generation unit 60K, and an update unit 60L.

Color conversion processing unit 60A, gamma correction unit 60B, total amount regulation unit 60C, halftone processing unit 60D, transmission unit 60E, update processing unit 60F, UI control unit 60G, acquisition unit 60H, determination unit 60I, specific unit 60J, generation unit 60K, and some or all of the update unit 60L, are realized, for example, by one or more processors. For example, each of the above parts may be realized by causing a processor such as a CPU to execute a program, that is, by software. Each of the above parts may be realized by a processor such as a dedicated IC (Integrated Circuit), that is, hardware. Each of the above parts may be realized by using software and hardware in combination. When a plurality of processors are used, each processor may realize one of each part, or may realize two or more of each part.

The color conversion processing unit 60A acquires the image data 24 from the host computer 16. For example, the color conversion processing unit 60A acquires image data 24 in which one pixel is represented by an 8-bit density value. Then, the color conversion processing unit 60A performs color conversion processing on the colored image data 20 included in the acquired image data 24. For example, it is assumed that the colored image data 20 included in the image data 24 acquired from the host computer 16 is an RGB color space. In this case, the color conversion processing unit 60A converts the colored image data 20 in the RGB color space into the colored image data 20 in the CMYK color space. As a result, the color conversion processing unit 60A obtains colored image data 20 (color image data 20C, 20M, 20Y, 20K) of each color of CMYK. Then, the color conversion processing unit 60A outputs the color-converted colored image data 20 to the gamma correction unit 60B.

The color conversion processing unit 60A does not perform image processing on the spot color image data 22 included in the acquired image data 24, and outputs the spot color image data 22 to the gamma correction unit 60B as it is.

The γ correction unit 60B performs γ correction on the colored image data 20 (color image data 20C, 20M, 20Y, 20K) of each color of CMYK and the spot color image data 22. In the present embodiment, the γ correction unit 60B γ-corrects the color value (density value, gradation value) of the colored image data 20 by using the correction table. At this time, the γ correction unit 60B reads a correction table corresponding to the calibration condition described later from the storage unit 62, and performs γ correction using the read correction table (details will be described later).

The gamma correction unit 60B does not perform gamma correction on the spot color image data 22 included in the acquired image data 24, and outputs the spot color image data 22 to the total amount regulation unit 60C as it is.

This correction table is updated by the update processing unit 60F (details will be described later). That is, the gamma correction unit 60B performs gamma correction using the correction table corrected by the update processing unit 60F.

The total amount regulation unit 60C performs the total amount regulation process using the gamma-corrected colored image data 20 and the spot color image data 22. Here, there is a limit to the amount of color material (toner amount) that can be mounted on the image forming apparatus 12 in the region corresponding to one pixel on the medium 40. The total amount regulation is the pixel value (density value) of the colored image data 20 and the spot color image data 22 so that the total amount of the coloring material per region corresponding to one pixel on the medium 40 is equal to or less than the limit amount. ) Is corrected.

Then, the total amount regulation unit 60C outputs the color image data 20 (color image data 20C, 20M, 20Y, 20K) and the spot color image data 22 whose total amount is regulated to the halftone processing unit 60D.

The halftone processing unit 60D executes the halftone processing. The halftone processing unit 60D executes halftone processing on the colored image data 20 (color image data 20C, 20M, 20Y, 20K) received from the total amount regulation unit 60C and the spot color image data 22.

In the halftone processing, each of the colored image data 20 (color image data 20C, 20M, 20Y, 20K) and the special color image data 22 in which the pixel value of each pixel is represented by a gradation value of 0 to 255 represented by 8 bits. This is a process for reducing the pixel value (for example, binarizing). The halftone process is sometimes referred to as screen process.

Then, the transmission unit 60E outputs the image data 24 that has undergone the halftone processing by the halftone processing unit 60D to the image forming apparatus 12.

Here, the storage unit 62 that stores the correction table used by the gamma correction unit 60B will be described. As described above, the storage unit 62 stores the correction management DB 62A, the medium management DB 62B, and the initial correction table 70A.

The correction management DB 62A is a database for managing the correction table used at the time of γ correction of the γ correction unit 60B. The data format of the correction management DB 62A is not limited to the database. For example, the data format of the correction management DB 62A may be a table.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the data structure of the correction management DB 62A. The correction management DB 62A associates the calibration conditions, the image data for the correction chart, the target characteristics, and the correction table. The calibration conditions, the image data for the correction chart, the target characteristics, and the correction table in the correction management DB 62A are registered / updated by the update processing unit 60F described later.

The calibration condition indicates the condition at the time of gamma correction by the gamma correction unit 60B. The calibration conditions registered in the correction management DB 62A are defined according to the current settings of the image forming apparatus 12. In the present embodiment, the calibration condition includes a calibration ID, a medium ID, stacking order information, spot color type information, and information indicating whether or not to use a spot color for calibration.

The calibration ID is identification information of the calibration condition. The medium ID is identification information that identifies the medium information of the medium 40. The medium information is defined by a plurality of parameters for identifying the medium 40. For example, the medium information is defined by parameters such as medium name, size (width, height), weighing, color, type, and the like.

The stacking order information is information indicating the stacking order of the special color image 52 and the colored image 54 with respect to the medium 40. The stacking order information includes stacking order information indicating that the spot color image and the colored image are stacked in this order on the medium, and stacking order information indicating that the colored image and the spot color image are stacked in this order on the medium. There is.

The spot color type information is information indicating the type of the spot color material mounted on the image forming apparatus 12. In the present embodiment, the spot color type information is, for example, information indicating white, gold, transparent (clear), or fluorescence.

Whether or not to use a spot color for calibration indicates "use" indicating that gamma correction is performed using the spot color, or "not used" indicating that gamma correction is performed without using the spot color.

Next, the image data for the correction chart will be described. The image data for the correction chart is data that defines a plurality of patch areas having different color values. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing an example of image data 78 for a correction chart.

FIG. 9A is an example of image data 78 for a correction chart. The image data 78 for the correction chart is data that defines a plurality of patch areas P'with different color values. The patch region P'is a laminated region of the spot color patch region A and the colored region B.

Specifically, the image data 78 for the correction chart includes a plurality of patch areas PK', a plurality of patch areas PY', a plurality of patch areas PM', and a plurality of patch areas PC'. 'Include as. Each of the plurality of patch regions P'is a laminated region of the spot color patch region A and the colored region B.

The patch region PK'is a region in which a K-colored colored region B is laminated on a spot-colored patch region A. The density values of the K colors of the plurality of patch areas PK'are different from each other. The patch region PY'is a region in which a Y-colored colored region B is laminated on a spot-colored patch region A. The density values of the Y colors of the plurality of patch areas PY'are different from each other. The patch region PM'is a region in which a colored region B of M color is laminated on a patch region A of a spot color. The density values of the M colors of the plurality of patch areas PM'are different from each other. The patch region PC'is a region in which a colored region B of color C is laminated on a patch region A of a spot color. The density values of the C colors of the plurality of patch area PCs are different from each other.

Since each of the patch regions P'is a laminated region, the correction chart image data 78 is specifically composed of a spot color correction chart image data 76 and a color correction chart image data 77. As shown in FIG. 9B, the spot color correction chart image data 76 is data that defines the spot color value of the spot color patch region A by the spot color material. In the present embodiment, the case where the spot color patch region A is shown as a region of a solid image (100% density) will be described.

The storage unit 62 stores in advance image data 76 for a spot color correction chart corresponding to the spot color type information for each spot color type information. For example, the storage unit 62 stores in advance the spot color correction chart image data 76 that defines the spot color value (white density value) of the patch area A of the white spot color corresponding to the spot color type information “white”. Further, the storage unit 62 stores in advance the spot color correction chart image data 76 that defines the spot color value (gold density value) of the spot color patch area A of the gold color corresponding to the spot color type information “gold”. The storage unit 62 stores in advance the spot color correction chart image data 76 that defines the spot color value (density value) of the patch area A of the transparent spot color corresponding to the spot color type information “transparent”. Further, the storage unit 62 stores in advance the spot color correction chart image data 76 that defines the spot color value (fluorescence density value) of the spot color patch region A of the spot color corresponding to the spot color type information “fluorescence”.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9A, the color correction chart image data 77 is data that defines the colored color value of the colored region B by the colored material. The color correction chart image data 77 defines a plurality of colored regions B having different density values of K color, Y color, M color, and C color.

Returning to FIG. 8, the explanation will be continued. The correction chart image data 78 corresponding to the calibration condition is registered in the correction management DB 62A. The image data 78 for the correction chart corresponding to the calibration condition is registered in the correction management DB 62A by the update processing unit 60F described later.

The target characteristic indicates a target characteristic when the update processing unit 60F corrects the correction table. Although the details will be described later, in the present embodiment, the update processing unit 60F corrects the initial correction table 70A to generate a correction table corresponding to the calibration condition. The target characteristic indicates the target characteristic when the initial correction table 70A is corrected. The target characteristic may be referred to as a correction target. The details of the target characteristics will be described later.

The correction table is a gamma correction table used for gamma correction. For example, the initial correction table 70A is registered in the correction management DB 62A in advance. The initial correction table 70A is a gamma correction table used for gamma correction. The update processing unit 60F corrects the initial correction table 70A by using the target characteristic to generate a correction table corresponding to the calibration condition. For example, in the correction management DB 62A, correction tables (D1 to D4 in FIG. 8) corresponding to each of the calibration conditions are registered by the processing of the update processing unit 60F described later. The processing of the update processing unit 60F will be described later.

Next, the medium management DB 62B will be described. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the data structure of the medium management DB 62B. The media management DB 62B associates the media ID with the media information. The data format of the medium management DB 62B is not limited. The medium management DB 62B may be, for example, a database or a table. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the medium management DB 62B is registered in advance in the storage unit 62.

Returning to FIG. 7, the explanation will be continued. Next, the update processing unit 60F will be described.

The update processing unit 60F is a functional unit that generates a correction table used for gamma correction.

The update processing unit 60F includes a UI control unit 60G, an acquisition unit 60H, a determination unit 60I, a specific unit 60J, a generation unit 60K, and an update unit 60L.

First, the acquisition unit 60H will be described.

The acquisition unit 60H acquires spot color type information. In the present embodiment, the acquisition unit 60H acquires spot color type information from the image forming apparatus 12. When the image forming apparatus 12 receives the acquisition request of the spot color type information from the acquisition unit 60H, the image forming apparatus 12 transmits the spot color type information indicating the type of the spot color material currently mounted on the image forming apparatus 12 to the information processing apparatus 10.

For example, it is assumed that the storage unit for storing the spot color material mounted on the image forming apparatus 12 is equipped with a memory for storing the spot color type information indicating the type of the spot color material. In this case, the image forming apparatus 12 may read the spot color type information from the memory and transmit it to the information processing apparatus 10. By inputting the spot color type information of the spot color material mounted on the image forming apparatus 12, the user who operates the image forming apparatus 12 stores the spot color type information in the memory of the image forming apparatus 12. May be good. Then, when the image forming apparatus 12 receives the request for acquiring the special color type information from the information processing apparatus 10, the image forming apparatus 12 may read the special color type information from the storage unit 62 and transmit it to the information processing apparatus 10.

In this way, the acquisition unit 60H acquires the spot color type information of the spot color material currently mounted on the image forming apparatus 12.

Further, the acquisition unit 60H acquires the stacking order information. In the present embodiment, the acquisition unit 60H acquires stacking order information from the image forming apparatus 12. The stacking order information is information indicating the stacking order of the special color image 52 and the colored image 54 with respect to the medium 40 in the laminated image 50 formed by the current configuration of the image forming apparatus 12.

For example, in the image forming apparatus 12, the positions of the colored image forming unit 32 and the spot color image forming unit 33 are in a positional relationship of forming the laminated image 50 in the stacking order of the spot color image 52 and the colored image 54 with respect to the medium 40. It is specified whether the colored image 54 and the spot color image 52 have a positional relationship of forming the laminated image 50 in the stacking order with respect to the medium 40.

Specifically, a sensor for identifying the positions of the colored image forming unit 32 and the spot color image forming unit 33 is arranged in the main body 30 of the image forming apparatus 12. Then, the image forming apparatus 12 specifies the stacking order information by specifying the positional relationship between the colored image forming unit 32 and the spot color image forming unit 33 by using the detection signal from the sensor. Then, when the image forming apparatus 12 receives the stacking order information acquisition request from the information processing apparatus 10, the stacking order information may be transmitted to the information processing apparatus 10. As a result, the acquisition unit 60H acquires the stacking order information from the image forming apparatus 12.

Further, the acquisition unit 60H acquires the medium ID. In the present embodiment, the acquisition unit 60H acquires the medium ID from the image forming apparatus 12. For example, the image forming apparatus 12 identifies the medium ID of the medium 40 stored in the paper feed tray 37. For example, the image forming apparatus 12 specifies the medium ID input by the operation of the panel operation unit 31 by the user. The image forming apparatus 12 may specify the medium ID of the medium 40 by detecting the medium 40 stored in the paper feed tray 37 by a known method. Then, the image forming apparatus 12 transmits the specified medium ID to the information processing apparatus 10. As a result, the acquisition unit 60H of the information processing apparatus 10 acquires the medium ID from the image forming apparatus 12.

Then, the acquisition unit 60H registers the acquired medium ID, stacking order information, and spot color type information in association with the correction management DB 62A as new calibration conditions (see FIG. 8).

Here, as described with reference to FIG. 8, the calibration conditions may further include information indicating whether or not to use a spot color for calibration. This information is updated by the operation instruction by the user.

For example, the UI control unit 60G displays a display screen showing the calibration conditions on the UI unit 64. FIG. 11 is an example of the calibration condition display screen 80.

As shown in FIG. 11, the calibration condition display screen 80 includes a medium information display area 80A, a selection window 80B, and an execution button 80C.

The medium information display area 80A is an area for displaying the medium information of the target medium 40 used for calibration. The UI control unit 60G reads the media information corresponding to the media ID acquired by the acquisition unit 60H from the media management DB 62B and displays it in the media information display area 80A. The calibration condition display screen 80 may further include at least one of the stacking order information and the spot color type information acquired by the acquisition unit 60H.

The selection window 80B is a window for selecting whether or not to use a spot color for calibration. The user inputs whether or not to use the spot color for calibration by operating the selection window 80B using the UI unit 64.

The execution button 80C is operated by the user when instructing the execution of calibration with the contents displayed on the calibration condition display screen 80. When the execution button 80C is operated by the user, the UI control unit 60G outputs to the acquisition unit 60H the information input via the calibration condition display screen 80 indicating whether or not to use the spot color for calibration. do.

As a result, the acquisition unit 60H acquires information indicating whether or not to use the spot color for calibration and registers it in the correction management DB 62A.

Returning to FIG. 7, the explanation will be continued. The determination unit 60I determines the image data 78 for the correction chart according to the spot color type information acquired by the acquisition unit 60H.

Specifically, the determination unit 60I determines the correction chart image data 78 by reading the spot color correction chart image data 76 corresponding to the spot color type information acquired by the acquisition unit 60H from the storage unit 62. Specifically, for example, when the spot color type information is information indicating white, the determination unit 60I determines the spot color value (white density value) of the white spot color patch region A corresponding to the spot color type information “white”. The spot color correction chart image data 76 that defines the above is read from the storage unit 62.

In addition, one kind of color correction chart image data 77 (see FIG. 9A) is stored in advance in the storage unit 62. Therefore, the determination unit 60I reads the color correction chart image data 77 from the storage unit 62.

As a result, the determination unit 60I determines the correction chart image data 78 including the spot color correction chart image data 76 and the color correction chart image data 77 corresponding to the spot color type information acquired by the acquisition unit 60H.

Here, the acquisition unit 60H may acquire information from the user via the calibration condition display screen 80 indicating that the spot color is not used for calibration. In this case, the determination unit 60I may determine the correction chart image data 78 by reading only the color correction chart image data 77 from the storage unit 62.

Next, the specific unit 60J will be described.

The specific unit 60J specifies the target characteristic by using the correction chart image data 78 determined by the determination unit 60I.

The target characteristics include the first color measurement value of the first patch image P1 formed by the image forming apparatus 12 by the image forming apparatus 12 using the image data 78 for the correction chart, the color value of the image data 78 for the correction chart, and the color value of the image data 78 for the correction chart. Shows the relationship between. The relationship is represented by a diagram or a function. In the present embodiment, the case where the target characteristic is represented by a diagram will be described. Further, the color value of the image data 78 for the correction chart used for the target characteristic is specifically the color value of the image data 77 for the color correction chart included in the image data 78 for the correction chart.

12 (A) and 12 (B) are explanatory views of an example of the first patch image P1 formed by 2-pass printing using the image data 78 for the correction chart.

For example, it is assumed that the stacking order information acquired by the acquisition unit 60H indicates that the spot color image 52 and the colored image 54 are laminated in this order on the medium 40. Then, it is assumed that the determination unit 60I determines the image data 76 for the spot color correction chart and the image data 77 for the color correction chart as the image data 78 for the correction chart.

In this case, the specific unit 60J transmits the determined image data 76 for the spot color correction chart to the image forming apparatus 12. The image forming apparatus 12 uses the received image data 76 for the spot color correction chart to form and fix the spot color image 52 corresponding to the patch area A of the spot color shown in the image data 76 for the spot color correction chart on the medium 40. (1st pass) (see FIG. 12 (A)). The user sets the fixed medium 40 of the special color image 52 in the paper feed tray 37 of the image forming apparatus 12 again.

Next, the specific unit 60J transmits the determined image data 77 for the color correction chart to the image forming apparatus 12. The image forming apparatus 12 uses the received image data 77 for the color correction chart to display the color image 54 corresponding to the color region B shown in the image data 77 for the color correction chart on the special color image 52 on the medium 40. Form and fix (second pass) (see FIG. 12B). As a result, the laminated image 50 corresponding to the correction chart image data 78 determined by the determination unit 60I is formed on the medium 40 by 2-pass printing.

By 2-pass printing, the medium 40 is in a state in which the first patch image P1 as the laminated image 50 corresponding to each of the patch regions P'shown in the correction chart image data 78 is formed (FIG. 12 (FIG. 12). B) See).

The colorimeter 14 measures each of the first patch images P1 to obtain a first color measurement value. Then, the colorimeter 14 outputs the first colorimetric value of each of the plurality of first patch images P1 to the information processing apparatus 10 via the host computer 16.

Then, the specific unit 60J of the information processing apparatus 10 has the colored color values indicated by each of the plurality of patch areas P'shown in the correction chart image data 78 determined by the determination unit 60I, and the plurality of patch areas P'. A target characteristic indicating a relationship with the first colorimetric value of the first patch image P1 corresponding to each is specified.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the relationship between the target characteristic 72 and the actually measured characteristic 74. The specifying unit 60J specifies, for example, the target characteristic 72 shown in FIG. The specific unit 60J specifies a target characteristic 72 indicating a relationship between a color value (colored color value) and a color measurement value (first color measurement value).

Returning to FIG. 7, the explanation will be continued. Next, the generation unit 60K will be described. The generation unit 60K generates a correction table using the correction chart image data 78 determined by the determination unit 60I.

Specifically, first, the generation unit 60K determines the measured characteristics using the correction chart image data 78 determined by the determination unit 60I.

The measured characteristics are the second color measurement value of the second patch image P2 formed by the image forming apparatus 12 by the image forming apparatus 12 using the image data 78 for the correction chart determined by the determination unit 60I, and the correction chart. The relationship with the color value of the image data 78 is shown. The relationship is represented by a diagram or a function. In the present embodiment, the case where the measured characteristics are represented by a diagram will be described. Further, the color value of the image data 78 for the correction chart used for the actual measurement characteristics is specifically the color value of the image data 77 for the color correction chart included in the image data 78 for the correction chart.

FIG. 12C is an explanatory diagram of an example of the second patch image P2 formed by one-pass printing using the image data 78 for the correction chart.

For example, it is assumed that the stacking order information acquired by the acquisition unit 60H indicates that the spot color image 52 and the colored image 54 are laminated in this order on the medium 40. Then, it is assumed that the determination unit 60I determines the image data 76 for the spot color correction chart and the image data 77 for the color correction chart as the image data 78 for the correction chart.

In this case, the determination unit 60I transmits the determined correction chart image data 78 (special color correction chart image data 76, colored correction chart image data 77) to the image forming apparatus 12. The image forming apparatus 12 uses the spot color correction chart image data 76 included in the received correction chart image data 78 to form the spot color image 52 corresponding to the spot color patch region A on the medium 40, and then performs fixing. Instead, the colored image 54 corresponding to the colored region B is formed and fixed on the special color image 52 by using the image data 77 for the colored correction chart (see FIG. 12C). As a result, the laminated image 50 corresponding to the correction chart image data 78 determined by the determination unit 60I is formed on the medium 40 by one-pass printing.

By 1-pass printing, a second patch image P2 as a laminated image 50 corresponding to each of the patch regions P'shown in the correction chart image data 78 is formed on the medium 40 (FIG. 12 (FIG. 12). See C).

The colorimeter 14 measures each of the second patch images P2 to obtain a second color measurement value. Then, the colorimeter 14 outputs the second colorimetric value of each of the plurality of second patch images P2 to the information processing apparatus 10 via the host computer 16.

Then, the generation unit 60K of the information processing apparatus 10 has the colored color values indicated by each of the plurality of patch areas P'shown in the correction chart image data 78 determined by the determination unit 60I, and the plurality of patch areas P'. The measured characteristics showing the relationship with the second colorimetric value of the second patch image P2 corresponding to each are specified.

For example, the generation unit 60K specifies the actually measured characteristic 74 shown in FIG. The generation unit 60K specifies the actually measured characteristic 74 indicating the relationship between the color value (colored color value) and the color measurement value (second color measurement value).

At the time of forming the first patch image P1 and forming the second patch image P2 used for specifying the target characteristic 72 and the actually measured characteristic 74, the image forming apparatus 12 is shown in the calibration conditions acquired by the acquisition unit 60H. It is in a state. That is, the image forming apparatus 12 is equipped with the medium 40 identified by the medium ID shown in the calibration conditions acquired by the acquisition unit 60H and the spot color material of the type indicated by the spot color type information. The laminated image 50 can be formed in the stacking order indicated by the stacking order information included in the calibration conditions.

Therefore, the target characteristic 72 specified by the specific unit 60J and the actual measurement characteristic 74 specified by the generation unit 60K are formed by the image forming apparatus 12 under the same calibration conditions using the same correction chart image data 78. It is a characteristic obtained from the laminated image 50. The target characteristic 72 specified by the specific unit 60J is a characteristic obtained from the laminated image 50 formed by 1-pass printing, whereas the measured characteristic 74 specified by the generation unit 60K is a laminated image formed by 2-pass printing. The difference is that it is a characteristic obtained from 50.

Then, the generation unit 60K generates a correction table for correcting the color value defined in the colored image data 20 so that the actually measured characteristic 74 approaches the target characteristic 72. The generation unit 60K preferably generates a correction table for correcting the color value so that the measured characteristic 74 matches the target characteristic 72.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing an example of correction table generation by the generation unit 60K. In the present embodiment, the generation unit 60K generates the correction table 70B by correcting the initial correction table 70A stored in advance in the storage unit 62.

Specifically, the generation unit 60K uses the color value in the target characteristic 72 as the input color value, and outputs the color value corresponding to the second color value indicating the first color measurement value of the target characteristic 72 in the actual measurement characteristic 74. A correction table 70B is generated as a value.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 13, the generation unit 60K has an actually measured characteristic corresponding to the second color measurement value a'which is the same value as the first color measurement value a corresponding to the color value b in the target characteristic 72. The color value b'at 74 is specified. Then, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the generation unit 60K generates a correction table 70B in which the color value b in the target characteristic 72 is used as the input color value and the color value b'in the measured characteristic 74 is used as the output color value. do.

In the present embodiment, the generation unit 60K initially sets the correction table 70B (see FIG. 14) for correcting the color value (colored color value) so that the actually measured characteristic 74 shown in FIG. 13 approaches the target characteristic 72. It is generated by correcting the correction table 70A.

In the initial correction table 70A and the correction table 70B, the color value (colored color value, that is, the colored density value) shown in the colored image data 20 is used as the input color value, and the corrected color value is used as the output color value. It's a table.

That is, the generation unit 60K has the color value (colored color value, colored density value) of the colored image data 20 in order to realize the same image quality as the laminated image 50 formed by the two-pass printing by the one-pass printing. ) Is corrected, and a correction table 70B is generated.

The update unit 60L registers the correction table 70B generated by the generation unit 60K in the correction management DB 62A in association with the calibration conditions acquired by the acquisition unit 60H. As a result, the update unit 60L updates the initial correction table 70A to the correction table 70B.

Therefore, the correction table 70B corresponding to the calibration condition is registered in the storage unit 62.

Then, in the above-mentioned γ correction unit 60B, the colored image data 20 (color image data 20C, 20M, 20Y) of each color of CMYK included in the image data 24 received from the host computer 16 via the color conversion processing unit 60A. , 20K), γ correction is performed using the correction table 70B. At this time, the γ correction unit 60B acquires the calibration conditions in the same manner as the acquisition unit 60H, and performs γ correction using the correction table 70B corresponding to the calibration conditions according to the settings of the current image forming apparatus 12. conduct. Then, the transmission unit 60E outputs the image data 24 after being gamma-corrected by the gamma correction unit 60B and processed by the total amount regulation unit 60C and the halftone processing unit 60D to the image forming apparatus 12.

Next, an example of the information processing procedure at the time of updating the correction table, which is executed by the control unit 60 of the information processing apparatus 10, will be described.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of an information processing procedure at the time of updating the correction table, which is executed by the control unit 60 of the information processing apparatus 10.

First, the acquisition unit 60H acquires the stacking order information, the spot color type information, and the medium ID from the image forming apparatus 12 (step S100).

Next, the acquisition unit 60H reads the media information corresponding to the media ID acquired in step S100 from the media management DB 62B (step S102). Next, the acquisition unit 60H displays the calibration condition display screen 80 including the medium information read in step S102 on the UI unit 64 (step S104) (see FIG. 11).

The user refers to the calibration condition display screen 80 and operates the selection window 80B to input information indicating whether or not to use a spot color for calibration. Then, the execution button 80C is operated.

Next, the acquisition unit 60H repeats the negative determination (step S106: No) until it is determined that the execution instruction has been accepted (step S106: Yes). The acquisition unit 60H determines in step S106 by determining whether or not the execution button 80C has been operated. If an affirmative judgment is made in step S106 (step S106: Yes), the process proceeds to step S108.

Next, the determination unit 60I determines whether or not the stacking order indicated by the stacking order information acquired in step S100 is the stacking order of the spot color image 52 and the colored image 54 on the medium 40 (step S108). ).

If an affirmative judgment is made in step S108 (step S108: Yes), the process proceeds to step S110. In step S110, the determination unit 60I determines whether or not to use the spot color for calibration (step S110). If an affirmative judgment is made in step S110 (step S110: Yes), the process proceeds to step S112. In step S112, the determination unit 60I determines the color correction chart image data 77 and the spot color correction chart image data 76 as the correction chart image data 78 (step S112). At this time, the determination unit 60I determines the spot color correction chart image data 76 corresponding to the spot color type information acquired in step S100.

Then, the determination unit 60I includes the stacking order information acquired in step S100, the spot color type information, the medium ID, the information indicating that the spot color is “used” for calibration, and the image data 78 for the correction chart determined in step S112. And are associated with each other and stored in the correction management DB 62A (step S114). Then, the process proceeds to step S120.

On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S108 (step S108: No), the process proceeds to step S116. If a negative determination is made in step S110 (step S110: No), the process proceeds to step S116.

In step S116, the determination unit 60I determines the color correction chart image data 77 as the correction chart image data 78 (step S116).

Then, the determination unit 60I determines the stacking order information, the spot color type information, the medium ID acquired in step S100, the information indicating the determination result in step S110 (the spot color is not used for calibration), and the information in step S116. The corrected image data 78 for the correction chart is associated with the corrected image data 78 and stored in the correction management DB 62A (step S118). Then, the process proceeds to step S120.

In step S120, the determination unit 60I transmits the image data 76 for the spot color correction chart determined in step S112 to the image forming apparatus 12 (step S120). The image forming apparatus 12 uses the received image data 76 for the spot color correction chart to form and fix the spot color image 52 corresponding to the patch area A of the spot color shown in the image data 76 for the spot color correction chart on the medium 40. (1st pass) (see FIG. 12 (A)). The user sets the fixed medium 40 of the special color image 52 in the paper feed tray 37 of the image forming apparatus 12 again. When the image formation on the medium 40 is completed, the image forming apparatus 12 outputs the image forming completion signal to the information processing apparatus 10.

The determination unit 60I of the information processing apparatus 10 repeats a negative determination (step S122: No) until it is determined that the image formation completion signal has been received (step S122: Yes). Then, if an affirmative judgment is made in step S122 (step S122: Yes), the process proceeds to step S124.

In step S124, the determination unit 60I transmits the color correction chart image data 77 determined in step S112 or step S116 to the image forming apparatus 12 (step S124). The image forming apparatus 12 uses the received image data 77 for the color correction chart to display the color image 54 corresponding to the color region B shown in the image data 77 for the color correction chart on the special color image 52 on the medium 40. Form and fix (second pass) (see FIG. 12B).

By the processing of steps S120 to S124, the laminated image 50 corresponding to the correction chart image data 78 determined in step S112 or step S116 is formed on the medium 40 by 2-pass printing. Since only the color correction chart image data 77 is determined as the correction chart image data 78 in step S116, in this case, only the color image 54 is formed on the medium 40.

Next, the specific unit 60J is the first of each of the first patch images P1 (see FIG. 12B) as the laminated image 50 formed on the medium 40 by two-pass printing by the processing of steps S120 to S124. The colorimetric value is acquired from the colorimeter 14 (step S126).

Then, the specific unit 60J is applied to each of the colored color values indicated by each of the plurality of patch areas P'and each of the plurality of patch areas P'shown in the color correction chart image data 77 determined in step S112 or step S116. A target characteristic 72 indicating a relationship with the first colorimetric value of the corresponding first patch image P1 is specified (step S128). By the process of step S128, for example, the target characteristic 72 shown in FIG. 13 is specified.

Then, the specifying unit 60J stores the target characteristic 72 specified in step S128 in the correction management DB 62A in association with the calibration conditions (stacking order information, spot color type information, medium ID) acquired in step S100 (step S130). ).

Next, the generation unit 60K transmits the correction chart image data 78 determined in step S112 or step S116 to the image forming apparatus 12 (step S132).

The image forming apparatus 12 uses the spot color correction chart image data 76 included in the received correction chart image data 78 to form the spot color image 52 corresponding to the spot color patch region A on the medium 40, and then performs fixing. Instead, the colored image 54 corresponding to the colored region B is formed and fixed on the special color image 52 by using the image data 77 for the colored correction chart (see FIG. 12C). As a result, the laminated image 50 corresponding to the correction chart image data 78 determined by the determination unit 60I is formed on the medium 40 by one-pass printing. When the image formation on the medium 40 is completed, the image forming apparatus 12 transmits an image forming completion signal to the information processing apparatus 10.

The generation unit 60K of the information processing apparatus 10 repeats the negative determination until it is determined that the image formation completion signal has been received from the image forming apparatus 12 (step S134: Yes) (step S134: No). If an affirmative judgment is made in step S134 (step S134: Yes), the process proceeds to step S136.

In step S136, the generation unit 60K of each of the second patch images P2 (see FIG. 12C) as the laminated image 50 formed on the medium 40 by one-pass printing by the processing of steps 132 to S134. The second colorimetric value is acquired from the colorimeter 14 (step S136).

Then, the generation unit 60K has a plurality of colored color values indicated by each of the plurality of patch areas P'shown in the correction chart image data 78 (colored correction chart image data 77) determined in step S112 or step S116. The measured characteristic 74 indicating the relationship between the second colorimetric value of the second patch image P2 corresponding to each of the patch regions P'of the above is specified (step S138) (see FIG. 13).

Then, the generation unit 60K generates a correction table 70B for correcting the color value so that the actually measured characteristic 74 specified in step S138 approaches the target characteristic 72 specified in step S128 (step S140).

Next, the update unit 60L repeats the negative determination until it is determined that the update OK signal indicating the update OK has been acquired (step S142: Yes) (step S142: No). For example, the update unit 60L receives an update OK signal from the UI unit 64 when the button image indicating the update OK is operated by the operation of the UI unit 64 by the user. Then, the update unit 60L determines in step S142 by determining whether or not the update OK signal has been received from the UI unit 64.

If an affirmative judgment is made in step S142 (step S142: Yes), the process proceeds to step 144. In step S144, the correction table 70B generated in step S140 is registered in the correction management DB 62A in association with the calibration condition acquired in step S100. As a result, the update unit 60L updates the correction table. Then, this routine is terminated.

Next, an example of the information processing procedure executed by the information processing apparatus 10 when the image data 24 is received from the host computer 16 will be described. FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an example of an information processing procedure executed when the image data 24 is received.

First, the color conversion processing unit 60A acquires the image data 24 from the host computer 16 (step S200). Next, the color conversion processing unit 60A performs color conversion processing on the colored image data 20 included in the image data 24 acquired in step S200 (step S202).

Next, the gamma correction unit 60B acquires the calibration condition (step S204). For example, the gamma correction unit 60B acquires stacking order information, spot color type information, and medium ID as calibration conditions from the image forming apparatus 12. At this time, the gamma correction unit 60B may acquire information indicating whether or not to use a spot color for calibration from the image forming apparatus 12. Further, the gamma correction unit 60B may acquire information indicating whether or not to use a spot color for calibration from the UI unit 64.

Next, the γ correction unit 60B corrects the color value of the colored image data 20 color-converted in step S202 (γ correction) using the correction table 70B corresponding to the calibration condition acquired in step S204 in the correction management DB 62A. ) (Step S206).

Next, the total amount regulation unit 60C performs the total amount regulation process using the colored image data 20 γ-corrected in step S206 and the spot color image data 22 included in the image data 24 acquired in step S200 (step). S208).

Next, the halftone processing unit 60D executes halftone processing on the colored image data 20 (color image data 20C, 20M, 20Y, 20K) and the spot color image data 22 that have been subjected to the total amount regulation processing in step S208. (Step S210). Then, the transmission unit 60E transmits the image data 24 (colored image data 20, special color image data 22) that has undergone halftone processing by the halftone processing unit 60D to the image forming apparatus 12 (step S212). Then, this routine is terminated.

As described above, the information processing apparatus 10 of the present embodiment controls the image forming apparatus 12 (image forming unit). The image forming apparatus 12 forms a laminated image 50 of a special color image 52 made of a special color material and a colored image 54 made of a colored material by two-pass printing or one-pass printing. Two-pass printing is formed by forming one of the spot color image 52 and the colored image 54 on the medium 40 and immobilizing them, and then laminating the other. The one-pass printing is formed by forming one of the spot color image 52 and the colored image 54 on the medium 40 and then laminating the other without immobilization.

The information processing apparatus 10 includes a specific unit 60J and a generation unit 60K. The specific unit 60J corresponds to each of the patch regions P'formed by the image forming apparatus 12 by 2-pass printing using the correction chart image data 78 defining a plurality of patch regions P'with different color values. A target characteristic 72 showing the relationship between the first color measurement value and the color value of the first patch image P1 as the laminated image 50 is specified. The generation unit 60K uses the image data 78 for the correction chart to form the second patch image P2 as the laminated image 50 corresponding to each of the patch regions P'formed by the image forming apparatus 12 by one-pass printing. A correction table for correcting the color value is generated so that the actually measured characteristic 74 showing the relationship between the color measurement value and the color value approaches the target characteristic 72.

As described above, in the information processing apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, the relationship between the second color measurement value and the color value of the second patch image P2 formed by one-pass printing is determined by using the image data 78 for the correction chart. The measured characteristic 74 shown approaches the target characteristic 72 showing the relationship between the first color measurement value and the color value of the first patch image P1 formed by 2-pass printing using the image data 78 for the correction chart. A correction table 70B for correcting color values is generated. That is, the information processing apparatus 10 sets the color value (colored color value, colored density value) of the image data in order to realize the same level of image quality as the laminated image 50 formed by the two-pass printing in the one-pass printing. A correction table 70B for correction is generated.

Then, in the image forming apparatus 12, the laminated image 50 is formed on the medium 40 by 1-pass printing using the image data whose color values have been corrected using the correction table 70B, so that the image quality is equivalent to that of 2-pass printing. The laminated image 50 can be formed by one-pass printing.

Therefore, in the information processing apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, it is possible to improve the image quality of the laminated image 50 of the special color image 52 and the colored image 54.

In other words, the information processing apparatus 10 of the present embodiment can provide a correction table 70B capable of improving the image quality of the laminated image 50 formed by one-pass printing.

Further, the acquisition unit 60H acquires spot color type information indicating the type of the spot color material used for image formation. The determination unit 60I determines the correction chart image data 78 according to the spot color type information. The specific unit 60J determines the target characteristic 72 using the determined image data 78 for the correction chart. The generation unit 60K generates the correction table 70B using the determined image data 78 for the correction chart.

The determination unit 60I determines the image data 78 for the correction chart including the image data 76 for the spot color correction chart and the image data 77 for the color correction chart. The image data 76 for the spot color correction chart defines the spot color value of the spot color patch region A by the spot color material of the type indicated by the spot color type information. The color correction chart image data 77 defines the colored color value of the colored region B by the colored material.

The image forming apparatus 12 is configured to be able to switch the stacking order of the colored image 54 and the spot color image 52 on the medium 40. The acquisition unit 60H acquires stacking order information indicating the stacking order from the image forming apparatus 12. The specific unit 60J is a spot color material of the type indicated by the spot color type information acquired by the acquisition unit 60H using the image data 78 for the correction chart determined by the determination unit 60I, and the stacking indicated by the acquired stacking order information. In order, the target characteristic 72, which is formed on the medium 40 by the image forming apparatus 12 by 2-pass printing and shows the relationship between the first color measurement value and the color value of the first patch image P1, is specified. The generation unit 60K is a spot color material of the type indicated by the spot color type information acquired by the acquisition unit 60H using the image data 78 for the correction chart determined by the determination unit 60I, and is a stacking indicated by the acquired stacking order information. In order, the actually measured characteristic 74, which shows the relationship between the second color value and the color value of the second patch image P2 formed on the medium 40 by one-pass printing by the image forming apparatus 12, corresponds to the target characteristic 72. As described above, the correction table 70B is generated.

The gamma correction unit 60B (correction unit) corrects the color value of the image data 24 to be formed by using the correction table 70B. The transmission unit 60E transmits the corrected image data 24 to the image forming apparatus 12.

The spot color material is a color material that exhibits any of a metallic color, white, transparent, and fluorescent color.

Further, in the information processing method of the present embodiment, a laminated image 50 of a special color image 52 made of a special color material and a colored image 54 made of a colored material is formed on a medium 40 with one of the special color image 52 and the colored image 54. Two-pass printing in which the other is laminated and formed after immobilization, or one-pass in which one of the special color image 52 and the colored image 54 is formed on the medium 40 and then the other is laminated and formed without intervention of immobilization. This is a control method for controlling an image forming apparatus 12 formed by printing.

In the information processing method of the present embodiment, the patch area P'formed by the image forming apparatus 12 by two-pass printing using the image data 78 for the correction chart defining a plurality of patch areas P'with different color values. Image formation using the step of specifying the target characteristic 72 showing the relationship between the first color measurement value and the color value of the first patch image P1 as the laminated image 50 corresponding to each of the above and the image data 78 for the correction chart. The target is the actual measurement characteristic 74 showing the relationship between the second color measurement value and the color value of the second patch image P2 as the laminated image 50 corresponding to each of the patch regions P'formed by the apparatus 12 by one-pass printing. It is an information processing method including a step of generating a correction table 70B for correcting a color value so as to approach the characteristic 72.

In the information processing program of the present embodiment, a laminated image 50 of a spot color image 52 made of a spot color material and a colored image 54 made of a colored material is formed on a medium 40 by forming one of the spot color image 52 and the colored image 54 on a medium 40. Two-pass printing, which is formed by stacking the other after immobilization, or one-pass printing, which is formed by laminating the other after forming one of the spot color image 52 and the colored image 54 on the medium 40 without intervention of immobilization. This is an information processing program for causing a computer to control an image forming apparatus 12 formed by the above.

The information processing program of the present embodiment uses the image data 78 for a correction chart that defines a plurality of patch regions P'with different color values, and the patch region P'formed by two-pass printing by the image forming apparatus 12. Image formation using the step of specifying the target characteristic 72 showing the relationship between the first color measurement value and the color value of the first patch image P1 as the laminated image 50 corresponding to each of the above and the image data 78 for the correction chart. The target is the actual measurement characteristic 74 showing the relationship between the second color measurement value and the color value of the second patch image P2 as the laminated image 50 corresponding to each of the patch regions P'formed by the apparatus 12 by one-pass printing. A step of generating a correction table 70B for correcting color values so as to approach the characteristic 72 is included.

In the above embodiment, as an example, a mode in which the information processing apparatus 10 is communicably connected to the host computer 16 has been described. However, the host computer 16 may not be provided, and only the information processing apparatus 10 may be used. In this case, the colorimeter 14 may be configured to be connected to the information processing device 10 so that data and signals can be exchanged.

(Modification 1)
In the above embodiment, the update processing unit 60F has described a mode in which the correction table 70B is generated according to the calibration conditions of the image forming apparatus 12. However, when the setting of the image forming apparatus 12 is fixed, the correction table 70B corresponding to one kind of calibration condition according to the fixed setting may be generated.

For example, it is assumed that the image forming apparatus 12 is configured to form the laminated image 50 by mounting white toner and forming the spot color image 52 and the colored image 54 on the medium 40 in this order. Further, it is assumed that only the medium 40 indicated by the medium information corresponding to the specific medium ID is mounted on the paper feed tray 37 as the medium 40.

In this case, the storage unit 62 of the information processing apparatus 10 stores the image data 77 for the color correction chart and the image data 76 for the special color correction chart corresponding to the special color type information “white” as the image data 78 for the correction chart. It may be memorized in advance. Then, the update processing unit 60F of the information processing apparatus 10 does not perform the processing of steps S100 to S118 in FIG. 15, and the special color correction chart image data 76 and the color correction chart image data stored in the storage unit 62. After the correction chart image data 78 is determined by reading 77, the processes of steps S120 to S144 may be executed.

As described above, when the calibration condition of the image forming apparatus 12 is fixed, the same effect as that of the above embodiment can be obtained, and the information processing of the information processing apparatus 10 can be simplified.

(Second embodiment)
In this embodiment, a mode for further modifying the correction table 70B will be described.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the information processing apparatus 11 of the present embodiment.

The information processing device 11 includes a control unit 61, a UI unit 64, and a storage unit 63. The UI unit 64 and the storage unit 63 are connected to the control unit 61 so as to be able to exchange data and signals.

The UI unit 64 is the same as that of the first embodiment. The storage unit 63 is the same as the storage unit 62 of the first embodiment except that the corrected color value is further stored.

The control unit 61 includes a color conversion processing unit 60A, a gamma correction unit 60B, a total amount regulation unit 60C, a halftone processing unit 60D, a transmission unit 60E, and an update processing unit 61F. The control unit 61 is the same as the control unit 60 of the first embodiment except that the update processing unit 61F is provided in place of the update processing unit 60F.

The update processing unit 61F includes a UI control unit 60G, an acquisition unit 60H, a determination unit 60I, a specific unit 60J, a generation unit 60K, an update unit 61L, and a correction unit 61M. The UI control unit 60G, the acquisition unit 60H, the determination unit 60I, the specific unit 60J, and the generation unit 60K are the same as those in the first embodiment.

Similar to the first embodiment, the determination unit 60I determines the image data 78 for the correction chart. Specifically, the determination unit 60I determines the correction chart image data 78 including the special color correction chart image data 76 and the colored correction chart image data 77.

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram showing an example of image data 77 for a color correction chart. As described above, the correction chart image data 78 is data that defines a plurality of patch areas P'with different color values. The patch region P'is a laminated region of the spot color patch region A and the colored region B. Further, the color correction chart image data 77 defines a plurality of colored regions B having different color values for each of the K color, the Y color, the M color, and the C color in each of the patch regions P'.

In this embodiment, a case where a gradation value is used as the color value will be described as an example.

Then, as in the first embodiment, the specific unit 60J specifies the target characteristic 72 by using the correction chart image data 78 determined by the determination unit 60I. The diagram showing the target characteristic 72 is, for example, the diagram shown in FIG. Further, when the target characteristic 72 is represented by a table, it is shown in FIG. 19, for example. FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of the target characteristic 72.

Similar to the first embodiment, the generation unit 60K characteristics the actual measurement characteristic 74 by using the correction chart image data 78 determined by the determination unit 60I. The diagram showing the actually measured characteristics 74 is, for example, the diagram shown in FIG.

FIG. 20 is an example of a diagram showing the target characteristic 72 and the measured characteristic 74 in a table. Note that FIG. 20 shows only the target characteristic 72 and the actually measured characteristic 74 of the K color. FIG. 21 is a diagram showing the target characteristic 72 and the measured characteristic 74 shown in FIG. 20.

When the relationship between the color value shown in FIG. 20 and the first color measurement value is obtained, the diagram showing the target characteristic 72 showing these relationships is shown in FIG. 21. Further, when the relationship between the color value shown in FIG. 20 and the second color measurement value is obtained, the diagram of the measured characteristic 74 showing these relationships is shown in FIG. 21.

The generation unit 60K generates a correction table 70B for correcting the color value specified in the colored image data 20 so that the actually measured characteristic 74 approaches the target characteristic 72, as in the first embodiment. See FIG. 14). FIG. 22 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. 21. As shown in FIG. 22, the generation unit 60K corresponds to the second color value a'that corresponds to the first color value a corresponding to the color value b in the target characteristic 72, and the color value b in the measured characteristic 74. 'Identify. Then, the generation unit 60K similarly performs the target characteristic 72 with respect to each color measurement value (first color measurement value, second color measurement value) of the patch image P'shown in the target characteristic 72 and the actual measurement characteristic 74. The color value b and the color value b'in the measured characteristic 74 are derived.

Then, the generation unit 60K uses the color value b in the target characteristic 72 as the input color value for each of the combinations of the plurality of color values b and the color value b'derived for each of the color measurement values, and sets the actual measurement characteristic 74. The correction table 70B is generated with the color value b'as the output color value.

For example, it will be described using the color value “191”. The generation unit 60K specifies the first color measurement value “0.96” corresponding to the color value “191” in the target characteristic 72 (see FIGS. 20 to 22). Then, the generation unit 60K specifies the color value “237” corresponding to the second color measurement value of “0.96” in the actually measured characteristic 74 (see FIGS. 20 to 22).

Then, the generation unit 60K derives the color value "191" which is the color value b as the input color value and the color value "237" which is the color value b'as the output color value. Similarly, the generation unit 60K performs the same processing on each color measurement value of the other patch image P'to obtain the color value b in the target characteristic 72 and the color value b'in the actual measurement characteristic 74. It is derived and the correction table 70B is generated.

The second colorimetric value having the same value as the first colorimetric value may not be measured as the colorimetric value of the actually measured characteristic 74. In this case, if the generation unit 60K specifies the color value in the actually measured characteristic 74 by interpolating between the color values corresponding to each of the two second color values that are closest to the first color measurement value. good. For the interpolation, for example, linear interpolation, spline interpolation, or the like may be used.

For example, the generation unit 60K has two second color measurement values “0.85”, which are close to the first color measurement value “0.96” corresponding to the color value “191” in the target characteristic 72 of FIG. Specify "1.00". Then, the generation unit 60K linearly interpolates the point showing the second color measurement value "0.85" and the point showing the second color measurement value "1.00" in the actually measured characteristic 74. As a result, the generation unit 60K may specify the color value "237" corresponding to the second color measurement value "0.96" in the actually measured characteristic 74. Then, the generation unit 60K may generate the correction table 70B using the specified color value.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of the correction table 70B. FIG. 23 is an example of the correction table 70B generated by using the target characteristic 72 and the actually measured characteristic 74 shown in FIGS. 20 to 22.

Returning to FIG. 17, the explanation will be continued. Here, as in the first embodiment, the gamma correction unit 60B uses the correction table 70B to display the color values (density value, gradation) of the colored image data 20 (color image data 20C, 20M, 20Y, 20K). Value) is assumed to be gamma-corrected. Then, it is assumed that the gamma-corrected colored image data 20 and the spot color image data 22 are output to the image forming apparatus 12 via the total amount regulation unit 60C, the halftone processing unit 60D, and the transmission unit 60E.

Then, the color measurement value of the laminated image 50 formed by the one-pass printing using the gamma-corrected colored image data 20 becomes the value corrected by the gamma correction.

FIG. 24 shows the measurement of the laminated image 50 formed by one-pass printing using the correction table 70B showing the relationship between the input color value and the output color value and the colored image data 20 whose color values have been corrected by the correction table 70B. It is a figure which shows the relationship with a color value (hereinafter, referred to as a γ-corrected color measurement value). The number of gradations of the input color value and the output color value represented by the gradation value and the value of the gradation value are not limited to the form shown in FIG. 24.

FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram showing a target characteristic 72, an actually measured characteristic 74, and a characteristic after γ conversion 75. The γ-converted characteristic 75 shows the relationship between the color value and the γ-corrected color measurement value using the correction table 70B.

As shown in the γ-converted characteristic 75 of FIGS. 24 and 25, the γ-corrected post-measurement of the laminated image 50 formed by 1-pass printing using the γ-corrected colored image data 20 using the correction table 70B. The color value becomes saturated as the color value approaches the maximum color value (for example, the gradation value “255”). This is because the correction table 70B is a correction table for achieving the same level of image quality as the laminated image 50 formed by 2-pass printing in 1-pass printing.

Therefore, when the laminated image 50 is formed by 1-pass printing using the gamma-corrected colored image data 20 using the correction table 70B, the larger the color value (gradation value) defined in the colored image data 20 is. In some cases, it may be difficult for the γ-corrected color measurement value of the formed laminated image 50 to differ depending on the difference in the color value of the colored image data 20.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the correction table 70B is modified. Returning to FIG. 17, the explanation will be continued. The correction unit 61M corrects the correction table 70B generated by the generation unit 60K.

This will be described with reference to FIG. 23. The correction unit 61M corrects the output color value of the correction range S from the predetermined correction color value to the maximum color value in the correction table 70B to an output color value that monotonically increases.

The correction range S is a range of output color values from a predetermined correction color value to the maximum color value which is the maximum value of the output color value of the correction table 70B.

The correction color value is an output color value indicating the lower limit of the correction range S. FIG. 23 shows a case where the corrected color value is “237” as an example. The correction color value may be determined in advance. For example, the correction color value may be an output color value in the correction table 70B at which the increase in the output color value starts to saturate with respect to the increase in the input color value.

In the present embodiment, the update processing unit 61F measures the modified color value satisfying the above conditions in advance and stores it in the storage unit 63 in advance (see the modified color value 63C in FIG. 17). Then, the correction unit 61M may read the correction color value from the storage unit 63 and use it for correction of the correction table 70B.

The correction unit 61M corrects the output color value of the correction range S in the correction table 70B to an output color value that is not constant or substantially constant but monotonically increases with an increase in the input color value.

FIG. 26 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the corrected correction table 70C. FIG. 27 is a diagram showing the relationship between the corrected correction table 70C and correction table 70B and the third color measurement value described later. In FIGS. 26 and 27, the case where the corrected color value is “237” is shown as an example. When the correction unit 61M corrects the output color value of the correction range S in the correction table 70B, the output color value of the correction range S becomes the maximum color value from the input color value "191" corresponding to the correction color value "237". It is corrected to an output color value that monotonically increases toward 255 ". By this correction process, the correction table 70C after correction is generated.

Returning to FIG. 17, the explanation will be continued. In the present embodiment, the correction unit 61M corrects the correction table 70B by using the target characteristic 72 and the actually measured characteristic 74 used for generating the correction table 70B, and the correction color value.

Specifically, the correction unit 61M includes a color value specifying unit 61N, a characteristic generation unit 61P, and a color value correction unit 61Q.

The color value specifying unit 61N specifies an input color value corresponding to an output color value indicating a corrected color value in the correction table 70B. For example, it is assumed that the modified color value is "237". In this case, the color value specifying unit 61N specifies the input color value "191" corresponding to the output color value "237" from the correction table 70B shown in FIGS. 23 and 24.

The color value specifying unit 61N may acquire the corrected color value by reading the corrected color value from the storage unit 63 and use it for specifying the input color value.

The characteristic generation unit 61P generates a correction characteristic. The modified characteristic is a characteristic in which a part of the characteristic 75 after γ conversion (see FIG. 25) is modified, and shows the relationship between the color measurement value (hereinafter referred to as the third color measurement value) and the color value.

FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram of an example of the correction characteristic 71. FIG. 28 shows a case where the corrected color value is “237” as an example. The characteristic generation unit 61P generates the correction characteristic 71 by using the target characteristic 72 and the measured characteristic 74 used for generating the correction table 70B and the correction color value.

First, the characteristic generation unit 61P specifies a color measurement value (for example, “0.96”) when an image having a modified color value “237” is formed on a medium by one-pass printing by an image forming apparatus 12. Then, the characteristic generation unit 61P identifies the first point X1 indicating the color measurement value "0.96" in the target characteristic 72. Further, the characteristic generation unit 61P identifies the second point X2 showing the maximum color value "255" in the actually measured characteristic 74. Then, the characteristic generation unit 61P generates the correction characteristic 71 by interpolating between the first point X1 and the second point X2. For the interpolation, for example, linear interpolation, spline interpolation, or the like may be used. Hereinafter, a case where linear interpolation is performed will be described as an example.

Therefore, the correction characteristic 71 is the γ-corrected color measurement value corresponding to the correction color value “237” in the γ-converted characteristic 75 showing the relationship between the color value and the γ-corrected color measurement value using the correction table 70B. The range from "0.96" to the second color measurement value "1.2" corresponding to the maximum color value "255" is interpolated by linear interpolation.

In other words, the characteristic generation unit 61P has the γ-corrected color measurement value shown in the range V1 in which the output color value corresponds to the corrected color value “237” to the maximum color value “255” in the γ-converted characteristic 75 shown in FIG. The relationship between the color and the input color value is corrected to the relationship between the third color measurement value in the range V2 and the input color value shown in FIG. 27. As a result, the characteristic generation unit 61P generates the correction characteristic 71.

Returning to FIG. 17, next, the color value correction unit 61Q will be described. The color value correction unit 61Q corrects the output color value of the correction range S in the correction table 70B to the color value corresponding to the second color measurement value indicating the third color measurement value of the correction characteristic 71 in the actual measurement characteristic 74.

This will be described with reference to FIGS. 27 and 28. It is assumed that the correction range S of the output color value in the correction table 70B is the correction color value “237” to the maximum color value “255” (see the area S1 in FIG. 27). In this case, the color value correction unit 61Q corrects the output color value "237" to the maximum color value "255" in the correction table 70B to the values shown in the area S2 of FIG. 27.

This will be specifically described with reference to FIG. 28. The color value correction unit 61Q specifies the color value d'in the actually measured characteristic 74, which corresponds to the second color measurement value c'which is the same value as the third color measurement value c corresponding to the color value d in the correction characteristic 71.

Then, the color value correction unit 61Q performs the same processing as above for each of the output color values of the correction range S in the correction table 70B, so that the color value d in the correction characteristic 71 and the color in the actual measurement characteristic 74 are obtained. Identify a pair of values d'. Then, the color value correction unit 61Q sets the correction table 70B so that the color value d in the correction characteristic 71 is the input color value and the color value d'in the actual measurement characteristic 74 is the output color value in each of these pairs. Correct and generate the corrected correction table 70C.

In this way, the correction unit 61M corrects the output color value of the correction range S from the correction color value to the maximum color value to the output color value that monotonically increases with respect to the correction table 70B generated by the generation unit 60K. See FIG. 26). As a result, the correction unit 61M corrects the correction table 70B to the corrected correction table 70C.

Returning to FIG. 17, the explanation will be continued. The update unit 61L registers the corrected correction table 70C corrected by the correction unit 61M in the correction management DB 62A (see FIG. 8) in association with the calibration conditions acquired by the acquisition unit 60H. That is, the update unit 61L is the update unit 60L of the first embodiment except that the correction table 70C after the correction table 70B is modified instead of the correction table 70B generated by the generation unit 60K. Perform the same process. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the corrected correction table 70C is registered in the correction management DB 62A of the storage unit 63 instead of the correction table 70B.

Next, an example of the information processing procedure at the time of updating the correction table, which is executed by the control unit 61 of the information processing apparatus 11, will be described.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing an example of the information processing procedure at the time of updating the correction table, which is executed by the control unit 61 of the information processing apparatus 11.

First, the control unit 61 executes the correction table generation process (step S300). The process of step S300 is the same as that of steps S100 to S140 of FIG. 15 described in the first embodiment. Therefore, the correction table 70B is generated by the process of step S300.

Next, the color value specifying unit 61N acquires the corrected color value (step S302). In the present embodiment, the color value specifying unit 61N acquires the corrected color value by reading the corrected color value from the storage unit 63.

Next, the color value specifying unit 61N specifies an input color value corresponding to the output color value indicating the corrected color value acquired in step S302 in the correction table 70B generated in step S300 (step 304).

Next, the characteristic generation unit 61P uses the target characteristic 72 and the actual measurement characteristic 74 used for generating the correction table 70B generated in step S300, and the correction color value acquired in step S302 to correct the characteristic 71. Is generated (step S306).

Next, the color value correction unit 61Q corrects the correction table 70B generated in step S300 (step S308). The color value correction unit 61Q corrects the output color value of the correction range S from the correction color value acquired in step S302 to the maximum color value in the correction table 70B. At this time, the color value correction unit 61Q corrects the color value to the color value corresponding to the second color measurement value indicating the third color measurement value of the correction characteristic 71 generated in step S306 in the actual measurement characteristic 74 specified in step S300. Correct the output color value of S.

Next, the update unit 61L transfers the corrected correction table 70C corrected in step S308 to the correction management DB 62A in association with the calibration conditions acquired in step S300 (specifically, step S100 in FIG. 15). to register. As a result, the update unit 61L updates the correction table (step S310). Then, this routine is terminated.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the correction unit 61M increases the output color value of the correction range S from the predetermined correction color value to the maximum color value in the correction table 70B to an output color value that monotonically increases. Correct.

Therefore, in the information processing apparatus 11 of the present embodiment, it is suppressed that the color measurement value of the formed image is saturated as the output color value approaches the maximum color value (for example, the gradation value “255”). can do.

Therefore, the information processing apparatus 11 of the present embodiment can further improve the image quality of the laminated image 50 of the special color image 52 and the colored image 54.

Further, the correction unit 61M includes a color value specifying unit 61N, a characteristic generation unit 61P, and a color value correction unit 61Q. The color value specifying unit 61N specifies an input color value corresponding to an output color value indicating a corrected color value in the correction table 70B. The characteristic generation unit 61P has a first point showing the color measurement value when the image of the corrected color value in the target characteristic 72 is formed on the medium by 1-pass printing by the image forming apparatus 12, and the maximum color value in the actual measurement characteristic 74. The second point indicating the above is interpolated to generate a correction characteristic 71 indicating the relationship between the color measurement value and the color value. The color value correction unit 61Q corrects the output color value of the correction range S of the correction table 70B to the color value corresponding to the second color measurement value indicating the color measurement value of the correction characteristic 71 in the actual measurement characteristic 74.

(Third embodiment)
In the second embodiment, the mode in which the corrected color value of one value is stored in the storage unit 63 in advance has been described. In the present embodiment, a mode in which the correction table 70B is corrected for each color will be described using the correction color values corresponding to the colors of the color materials used for image formation.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the information processing apparatus 11A of the present embodiment.

The information processing device 11A includes a control unit 65, a UI unit 64, and a storage unit 63. The UI unit 64 and the storage unit 63 are connected to the control unit 65 so as to be able to exchange data and signals.

The UI unit 64 is the same as that of the first embodiment. The storage unit 63 is the same as the second embodiment except that the color management table 63D (details will be described later) is stored in advance instead of the modified color value 63C.

The control unit 65 is the same as the control unit 61 of the second embodiment except that the update processing unit 65F is provided in place of the update processing unit 61F. The update processing unit 65F is the same as the update processing unit 61F of the second embodiment except that the correction unit 65M is provided in place of the correction unit 61M.

The correction unit 65M corrects the correction table 70B for each color of the coloring material by using the correction color value corresponding to the color of the coloring material used for image formation.

For example, the correction unit 65M acquires correction color values corresponding to each of the colors (for example, C, M, Y, K) of the colored color material used by the image forming apparatus 12 for image formation.

In this case, the storage unit 63 stores the color management table 63D in advance. FIG. 30 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the data structure of the color management table 63D. The color management table 63D associates each color of C, M, Y, and K with a modified color value corresponding to each color in advance.

The corrected color value registered in the color management table 63D is a result measured by using the image forming apparatus 12 and the colorimeter 14 so that the modified color value is a value that suppresses saturation of the color measurement value on the high color value side. It may be used and determined in advance.

As shown in FIG. 30, the corrected color value is preferably a smaller value as the brightness of the image to be formed is lower. That is, it is preferable that the lower the lightness of the color, the smaller the correction color value is registered in the color management table 63D in advance.

In the present embodiment, correction color values having smaller values are registered in the color management table 63D in advance in association with each other from high lightness to low lightness colors (in this order of Y, C and M, K). Has been done.

Then, the correction unit 65M reads the correction color value corresponding to the color of the color material used for image formation from the color management table 63D. It is preferable that the correction unit 65M corrects the correction table 70B for each color by using the correction color value acquired for each color.

Specifically, the correction unit 65M of the present embodiment includes a color value specifying unit 65N, a characteristic generation unit 65P, and a color value correction unit 65Q.

The correction unit 65M performs the same processing as the color value specifying unit 61N of the second embodiment except that the correction color values corresponding to the colors of C, M, Y, and K are used. That is, the correction unit 65M specifies an input color value corresponding to an output color value indicating the correction color value of the color from the correction table 70B corresponding to the color for each color of the color material used for image formation.

For example, the correction unit 65M acquires the correction color value “159” corresponding to the K color from the color management table 63D. Then, the correction unit 65M specifies the input color value corresponding to the output color value "159" from the correction table 70B generated for the K color. The correction unit 65M also specifies the input color value for each of the colors C, M, and Y.

The characteristic generation unit 65P specifies the correction characteristic 71. In the present embodiment, the characteristic generation unit 65P performs the same processing as the characteristic generation unit 61P of the second embodiment except that the correction characteristic 71 is specified for each of the colors C, M, Y, and K. ..

That is, the characteristic generation unit 65P has the target characteristic 72 and the actual measurement characteristic 74 used for generating the correction table 70B for each color for each of the colors C, M, Y, and K, and the correction color values (“207”, “” for each color. 207 ”,“ 223 ”,“ 159 ”), and each of them are used to generate the correction characteristic 71.

The second embodiment, except that the color value correction unit 65Q corrects the correction table 70B corresponding to each color by using the correction color value corresponding to each color for each of the colors C, M, Y, and K. Performs the same processing as the color value correction unit 61Q of.

That is, the color value correction unit 65Q corrects the output color value of the correction range S in the correction table 70B corresponding to each of the colors C, M, Y, and K in the actual measurement characteristic 74 corresponding to each color. The color value corresponding to the second color measurement value indicating the third color measurement value of the characteristic 71 is corrected.

In this way, the correction unit 65M corrects the correction table 70B corresponding to each color to the correction table 70C after correction using the correction color value corresponding to each color.

Therefore, the gamma correction unit 60B uses the corrected correction table corresponding to each color for the colored image data 20 (color image data 20C, 20M, 20Y, 20K) of each color of C, M, Y, and K. Gamma correction can be performed using 70C.

Here, when the corrected color value corresponding to each color of C, M, Y, and K is not used and the corrected color value of one value is used, the colored image data corrected by gamma using the corrected correction table 70C. In some cases, the saturation of the γ-corrected color measurement value of the laminated image 50 formed by 1-pass printing using 20 was not improved. This is because when a modified color value of one value is used regardless of the color, a modified characteristic 71 may be generated, which shows a characteristic in which the change in the measured value is small even if the color value changes.

FIG. 31 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the correction characteristic 71. FIG. 31 (A) is a schematic diagram showing a target characteristic 72, an actually measured characteristic 74, and a modified characteristic 71 corresponding to the Y color. FIG. 31B is a schematic diagram showing a target characteristic 72, an actually measured characteristic 74, and a modified characteristic 71 corresponding to the K color. It should be noted that FIGS. 31 (A) and 31 (B) are diagrams showing a case where the correction characteristic 71 is generated by using the same correction color value “223”.

As shown in FIG. 31 (A), when the same correction color value is used for each color, the color measurement value of the correction characteristic 71 corresponding to the Y color having higher brightness increases monotonically according to the change of the color value. It shows the relationship. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 31B, the correction characteristic 71 corresponding to the K color having a lower lightness has a substantially color measurement value regardless of the change in the color value when the same correction color value as the Y color is used. It may indicate a certain relationship. As described above, when the same modified color value is used for each color, the saturation of the color measurement value may be suppressed for one color, but the saturation of the color measurement value may not be suppressed for another color.

Therefore, for K color, when the correction table 70B is corrected by using the correction characteristic 71 shown in FIG. 31 (B), it is possible to suppress that the color measurement value of the formed image is saturated in the vicinity of the maximum color value. May not be possible.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, as described above, the color value correction unit 65Q uses the correction color value corresponding to each color for each of the colors C, M, Y, and K, and the correction table 70B corresponding to each color. To fix. Therefore, the correction characteristic 71 generated by using the correction color value corresponding to the K color is shown in FIG. 32, for example. FIG. 32 is an explanatory diagram of the correction characteristic 71 generated by using the correction color value corresponding to the K color.

As shown in FIG. 32, the correction characteristic 71 generated by using the correction color value corresponding to the K color is the correction characteristic 71 generated by using the same correction color value as the Y color (see FIG. 31 (B)). Compared with, it shows the relationship that the color measurement value monotonically increases according to the change of the color value.

Therefore, the correction characteristic 71 is generated for each color using the correction color value corresponding to each color, and the correction table 70B is corrected for each color using the correction characteristic 71 to further improve the image quality. Can be done.

As described above, the correction unit 65M of the information processing apparatus 11A of the present embodiment uses the correction color value corresponding to the color of the color material used for image formation, and sets the correction table 70B for each color of the color material. Correct.

Therefore, the information processing apparatus 11A of the present embodiment can further improve the image quality of the laminated image 50 of the special color image 52 and the colored image 54.

(Fourth Embodiment)
In the second embodiment, the mode in which the corrected color value of one value is stored in the storage unit 63 in advance has been described. In this embodiment, a mode for modifying the correction table 70B will be described using the modified color values corresponding to the medium 40 to be image-formed.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the information processing apparatus 11B of the present embodiment.

The information processing device 11B includes a control unit 66, a UI unit 64, and a storage unit 63. The UI unit 64 and the storage unit 63 are connected to the control unit 66 so as to be able to exchange data and signals.

The UI unit 64 is the same as that of the first embodiment. The storage unit 63 is the same as the second embodiment except that the medium management table 63E (details will be described later) is stored in advance instead of the modified color value 63C.

The control unit 66 is the same as the control unit 61 of the second embodiment except that the update processing unit 66F is provided in place of the update processing unit 61F. The update processing unit 66F is the same as the update processing unit 61F of the second embodiment except that the correction unit 66M is provided in place of the correction unit 61M.

The correction unit 66M corrects the correction table 70B by using the correction color value corresponding to the medium 40 to be image-formed.

In this case, the storage unit 63 stores the medium management table 63E in advance. FIG. 33 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the data structure of the medium management table 63E. The medium management table 63E associates the medium ID of the medium 40 with the corrected color value. The medium ID is the same as in the first embodiment.

The modified color value registered in the medium management table 63E is determined by the medium ID using the image forming apparatus 12 and the colorimeter 14 so that the modified color value becomes a value that suppresses saturation of the color measurement value on the high color value side. It may be determined in advance using the results measured for each of the identified media 40.

The correction unit 66M acquires the medium ID of the medium 40 to be image-formed from the image forming apparatus 12 via the acquisition unit 60H. Then, the correction unit 66M may acquire the correction color value corresponding to the medium 40 by reading the correction color value corresponding to the acquired medium ID from the medium management table 63E.

Then, the correction unit 66M may correct the correction table 70B by using the acquired correction color value. The correction of the correction table 70B by the correction unit 66M is the same as that of the second embodiment except that the correction color value corresponding to the medium 40 to be image-formed is used.

Specifically, the correction unit 66M of the present embodiment has a color value specifying unit 66N, a characteristic generation unit 66P, and a color value correction unit 66Q.

The color value specifying unit 66N, the characteristic generation unit 66P, and the color value correcting unit 66Q have the color value specifying unit 61N and the characteristic generating unit 61P of the second embodiment except that the corrected color value corresponding to the medium 40 is used. , And the same processing as each of the color value correction unit 61Q is performed.

When the correction unit 65M corrects the correction table 70B using the correction color value corresponding to the medium 40, the gamma correction unit 60B can perform gamma correction using the corrected correction table 70C.

Here, regardless of the medium 40, when the corrected color value of one value is used, the laminated image formed by one-pass printing using the colored image data 20 γ-corrected using the corrected correction table 70C. The saturation of the 50 γ-corrected color measurement values may not be improved. This is because, depending on the color, type, weighing, etc. of the medium 40, a correction characteristic 71 may be generated, which shows a characteristic in which the change in the measured value is small even if the color value changes.

FIG. 34 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the correction characteristic 71. FIG. 34 (A) is a schematic diagram showing a target characteristic 72, an actually measured characteristic 74, and a correction characteristic 71 corresponding to the medium 40 of the medium ID “A”. FIG. 34 (B) is a schematic diagram showing a target characteristic 72, an actually measured characteristic 74, and a correction characteristic 71 corresponding to the medium 40 of the medium ID “B”. It should be noted that FIGS. 34 (A) and 34 (B) are diagrams showing a case where the correction characteristic 71 is generated by using the same correction color value “223”.

As shown in FIG. 34 (A), when the same correction color value is used regardless of the medium 40, the correction characteristic 71 corresponding to the medium 40 of the medium ID “A” has a color measurement value according to the change in the color value. Indicates a monotonically increasing relationship. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 34 (B), the correction characteristic 71 of the medium ID “B” generated by using the same correction color value as the medium ID “A” has a color measurement value regardless of the change in the color value. May indicate a substantially constant relationship. As described above, when the same modified color value is used for each of the media 40, the saturation of the color measurement value may be suppressed in one medium 40, but the saturation of the color measurement value may not be suppressed in the other medium 40.

Therefore, depending on the type of the medium 40 and the like, if the correction table 70B is corrected by using the same correction color value regardless of the medium 40, the color measurement value of the formed image is saturated in the vicinity of the maximum color value. It may not be possible to suppress it.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, as described above, the color value correction unit 66Q corrects the correction table 70B by using the correction color value corresponding to the medium 40 to be image-formed. Therefore, for example, the correction characteristic 71 generated by using the correction color value “191” corresponding to the medium ID “B” is shown in FIG. 35, for example. FIG. 35 is an explanatory diagram of the correction characteristic 71 generated by using the correction color value corresponding to the medium ID “B” of the medium 40 to be formed.

As shown in FIG. 34, the correction characteristic 71 generated by using the correction color value “191” corresponding to the medium ID “B” is generated by using the same correction color value “223” as the medium ID “A”. Compared with the correction characteristic 71 (see FIG. 34 (B)), it shows a relationship in which the color measurement value increases monotonically according to the change in the color value.

Therefore, the correction characteristic 71 is generated by using the correction color value corresponding to the medium 40, and the correction table 70B is corrected by using the correction characteristic 71, so that the image quality can be further improved.

As described above, the correction unit 66M of the information processing apparatus 11B of the present embodiment corrects the correction table 70B by using the correction color value corresponding to the medium 40 to be image-formed.

Therefore, the information processing apparatus 11B of the present embodiment can further improve the image quality of the laminated image 50 of the special color image 52 and the colored image 54.

(Fifth Embodiment)
In the second embodiment, the mode in which the corrected color value of one value is stored in the storage unit 63 in advance has been described. In this embodiment, a mode is described in which the correction table 70B is corrected for each color in the transfer order by using the correction color values according to the transfer order of the color material used for image formation to the transfer member (intermediate transfer belt 39). ..

FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the information processing apparatus 11D of the present embodiment.

The information processing device 11D includes a control unit 68, a UI unit 64, and a storage unit 63. The UI unit 64 and the storage unit 63 are connected to the control unit 68 so that data and signals can be exchanged.

The UI unit 64 is the same as that of the first embodiment. The storage unit 63 is the same as the second embodiment except that the transfer order management table 63F (details will be described later) is stored in advance together with the modified color value 63C.

The control unit 68 is the same as the control unit 61 of the second embodiment except that the update processing unit 68F is provided in place of the update processing unit 61F. The update processing unit 68F is the same as the update processing unit 61F of the second embodiment except that the correction unit 68M is provided in place of the correction unit 61M.

The correction unit 68M corrects the correction table 70B for each transfer order by using the correction color values corresponding to the transfer order of the primary transfer to the intermediate transfer belt 39. Specifically, the correction unit 68M corrects the correction table 70B for each color of the color material transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 39 in the image forming apparatus 12 by using the correction value according to the transfer order of the color material of the color. do.

In the present embodiment, the correction unit 68M corrects the correction table 70B for each transfer order by using the correction color value having a value smaller than the reference value as the transfer order to the intermediate transfer belt 39 is earlier. The early transfer order of the intermediate transfer belt 39 means that the intermediate transfer belt 39 is located closer to the intermediate transfer belt 39 when the primary transfer is performed.

For example, the correction unit 68M acquires the transfer order from the image forming apparatus 12 for each of the colors of the colored material used by the image forming apparatus 12 for image forming. The correction unit 68M may acquire the transfer order of each color from the image forming apparatus 12 via the acquisition unit 60H.

Then, the correction unit 68M acquires the correction color value corresponding to each of the transfer orders.

For example, the storage unit 63 stores the modified color value 63C of one value and the transfer order management table 63F in advance. The modified color value 63C of one value is an example of the reference value.

FIG. 36 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the data structure of the transcription order management table 63F. The transfer order management table 63F associates the transfer order with the correction amount of the reference value in advance. In the transfer order management table 63F, a correction amount for correcting the reference value to a smaller value is registered in advance as the transfer order is earlier (the smaller the value).

The correction unit 68M reads the correction amount corresponding to each transfer order of the colors (C, M, Y, K) used for image formation from the transfer order management table 63F. Then, the correction unit 68M corrects the correction color value 63C, which is a reference value, with the read correction amount. As a result, the correction unit 68M calculates the correction color value of a value smaller than the reference value for each color that is primarily transferred in the transfer order as the transfer order to the intermediate transfer belt 39 is earlier. As a result, the correction unit 68M acquires the correction color value for each color transfer order of the color material used for image formation.

FIG. 37 is a diagram showing an example of corrected color values corresponding to the color transfer order of the color material used for image formation. As shown in FIG. 37, the correction unit 68M acquires a smaller correction color value for each color as the transfer order of the primary transfer to the intermediate transfer belt 39 is earlier.

Then, the correction unit 68M corrects the correction table 70B for each transfer order (that is, for each color) by using the correction color values acquired for each transfer order of the colors of the coloring materials used for image formation.

Specifically, the correction unit 68M of the present embodiment has a color value specifying unit 68N, a characteristic generation unit 68P, and a color value correction unit 68Q.

The correction unit 68M performs the same processing as the color value specifying unit 61N of the second embodiment except that the correction color values corresponding to the transfer order of each of the colors C, M, Y, and K are used. That is, the correction unit 68M inputs from the correction table 70B corresponding to the color for each transfer order of the color of the color material used for image formation, corresponding to the output color value indicating the correction color value of the transfer order. Specify the color value.

The characteristic generation unit 68P specifies the modified characteristic 71. In the present embodiment, the characteristic generation unit 68P is the same as the characteristic generation unit 61P of the second embodiment except that the correction characteristic 71 is generated for each transfer order of the colors C, M, Y, and K. Perform the same process.

The color value correction unit 68Q corrects the correction table 70B corresponding to each color by using the correction color value corresponding to each transfer order for each transfer order of the colors C, M, Y, and K. The same processing as that of the color value correction unit 61Q of the second embodiment is performed.

In this way, the correction unit 68M corrects the correction table 70B corresponding to each color to the correction table 70C after correction using the correction color values corresponding to the transfer order of each color.

Therefore, the gamma correction unit 60B has an intermediate transfer belt 39 for each color material with respect to the colored image data 20 (color image data 20C, 20M, 20Y, 20K) of each color of C, M, Y, and K. Gamma correction can be performed using the corrected correction table 70C corresponding to the transfer order of the primary transfer to.

Here, when the corrected color value corresponding to the transfer order of each color of C, M, Y, and K is not used and the corrected color value (for example, the reference value) of one value is used, the corrected correction table 70C is used. In some cases, the saturation of the γ-corrected color measurement value of the laminated image 50 formed by 1-pass printing using the γ-corrected colored image data 20 is not improved. This is because when a modified color value of one value is used regardless of the transfer order, a modified characteristic 71 may be generated, which shows a characteristic in which the change in the measured value is small even if the color value changes.

FIG. 38 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the correction characteristic 71. FIG. 38 (A) is a schematic diagram showing a target characteristic 72, an actually measured characteristic 74, and a correction characteristic 71 corresponding to the colors to be primarily transferred in the transfer order “4”. FIG. 38B is a schematic diagram showing a target characteristic 72, an actually measured characteristic 74, and a correction characteristic 71, which correspond to the colors to be primarily transferred in the transfer order “1”. It should be noted that FIGS. 38 (A) and 38 (B) are diagrams showing a case where the correction characteristic 71 is generated by using the same correction color value “207”. Further, FIGS. 38 (A) and 38 (B) are views showing a case where a coloring material having the same color is used.

As shown in FIG. 38 (A), when the same correction color value is used for the same color regardless of the transfer order, the correction characteristic 71 in the case of the slowest transfer order “4” depends on the change in the color value. It shows the relationship that the colorimetric value increases monotonically. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 38 (B), the correction characteristic 71 in the case of the earliest transfer order "1" may show a substantially constant relationship in the color measurement values regardless of the change in the color values. be. It is considered that the earlier the transfer order of the primary transfer is, the lower the transferability to the intermediate transfer belt 39 may be. Therefore, it is considered that the earlier the transfer order of the primary transfer is, the smaller the amount of the coloring material to be secondarily transferred to the medium 40, and the above result may be obtained.

Therefore, when the same correction color value is used regardless of the transfer order, the color transferred in the earliest transfer order “1” is formed by modifying the correction table 70B using the correction characteristic 71 shown in FIG. 38 (B). It may not be possible to suppress the saturation of the colorimetric value of the image in the vicinity of the maximum color value.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, as described above, the color value correction unit 68Q has the correction color corresponding to the transfer order for each transfer order of the primary transfer of the colors C, M, Y, and K to the intermediate transfer belt 39. The values are used to modify the correction table 70B corresponding to each color. Therefore, the correction characteristic 71 generated by using the correction color value corresponding to the earliest transfer order “1” is shown in FIG. 39, for example. FIG. 39 is an explanatory diagram of the correction characteristic 71 generated by using the correction color value corresponding to the transfer order “1”.

As shown in FIG. 39, the correction characteristic 71 generated by using the correction color value corresponding to the transfer order “1” is the correction characteristic 71 generated by using the same correction color value as the transfer order “4” (FIG. 39). Compared with 38 (B)), it shows the relationship that the color measurement value monotonically increases according to the change of the color value.

Therefore, the correction characteristic 71 is generated for each color in the transfer order using the correction color value corresponding to the transfer order, and the correction table 70B is modified for each color in the transfer order using the correction characteristic 71. It is possible to improve the image quality.

As described above, in the information processing apparatus 11D of the present embodiment, a plurality of images are laminated on the intermediate transfer belt 39 (transfer member) for primary transfer, and then the laminated image is secondarily transferred to the medium 40. The image forming apparatus 12 (image forming unit) is controlled. Then, the correction unit 68M of the information processing apparatus 11D uses the correction color value of a value smaller than the reference value as the transfer order to the intermediate transfer belt 39 (transfer member) is earlier, and the correction table 70B is used for each color in the transfer order. To fix.

Therefore, the information processing apparatus 11D of the present embodiment can further improve the image quality of the laminated image 50 of the special color image 52 and the colored image 54.

(Sixth Embodiment)
In the second embodiment described above, a mode in which the correction table 70B is modified by using the modified color value of one value has been described. In the present embodiment, a mode in which the corrected color value stored in the storage unit 63 is updated and the corrected color value after the update is used to correct the correction table 70B will be described.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the information processing apparatus 11E according to the present embodiment.

The information processing device 11E includes a control unit 69, a UI unit 64, and a storage unit 63. The UI unit 64 and the storage unit 63 are connected to the control unit 69 so as to be able to exchange data and signals.

The UI unit 64 is the same as that of the first embodiment. The storage unit 63 is the same as the storage unit 62 of the first embodiment. That is, the correction color value of one value is stored in advance in the storage unit 63.

The control unit 69 is the same as the control unit 61 of the second embodiment except that the update processing unit 69F is provided in place of the update processing unit 61F. The update processing unit 69F is the same as the update processing unit 61F of the second embodiment except that the correction unit 69M is provided in place of the correction unit 61M.

The correction unit 69M updates the correction color value stored in the storage unit 63 when a predetermined condition is satisfied, and corrects the correction table 70B by using the updated correction color value.

The correction unit 69M of the present embodiment includes a color value specifying unit 69N, a characteristic generation unit 69P, and a color value correction unit 69Q. The color value specifying unit 69N, the characteristic generation unit 69P, and the color value correction unit 69Q have the color value specification unit 61N, the characteristic generation unit 61P, and the color value correction unit 61P of the second embodiment, except that the modified color value after the update is used. And the same processing as the color value correction unit 61Q is performed.

Specifically, in the present embodiment, the correction unit 69M has a target characteristic 72 in which the predetermined correction color value corresponds to the first color measurement value indicating the second color measurement value of the maximum color value in the actual measurement characteristic 74. If it is equal to or more than the color value in, the modified color value is updated to less than the color value. Then, the correction unit 69M corrects the correction table 70B by using the updated correction color value.

FIG. 40 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the correction characteristic 71. FIG. 40 is a schematic diagram showing a target characteristic 72 and an actually measured characteristic 74 when the predetermined corrected color value is “218” or more.

The color value "218" corresponds to the first color value "1.00" indicating the second color value "1.00" of the maximum color value "255" in the actual measurement characteristic 74 shown in FIG. 40, and the color value "in the target characteristic 72". 218 ".

When the corrected color value is equal to or more than such a color value (color value "218" in the example shown in FIG. 40), the measured color value may show a substantially constant relationship regardless of the change in the color value. be. Therefore, in this case, if the correction table 70B is corrected by using this correction color value, it may not be possible to suppress that the color measurement value of the formed image is saturated in the vicinity of the maximum color value.

Therefore, the corrected color value is preferably less than the color value in the target characteristic 72, which corresponds to the first color measurement value indicating the second color value of the maximum color value in the actual measurement characteristic 74.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the correction unit 69M has the color in the target characteristic 72 in which the predetermined correction color value corresponds to the first color measurement value indicating the second color measurement value of the maximum color value in the actual measurement characteristic 74. If it is equal to or more than the value, the modified color value is updated to less than the color value. Then, the correction unit 69M corrects the correction table 70B by using the updated correction color value.

The corrected color value is the maximum color value of the measured characteristic 74 and the color value from the color value in the target characteristic 72 corresponding to the first color measured value indicating the second color value of the maximum color value in the measured characteristic 74. It is preferable that the color value is obtained by subtracting the difference from.

Therefore, the correction unit 69M changes the corrected color value determined in advance from the color value in the target characteristic 72, which corresponds to the first color measurement value indicating the second color value of the maximum color value in the actual measurement characteristic 74, to the actual measurement characteristic. It is preferable to correct the color value by subtracting the difference between the maximum color value of 74 and the color value.

In the case of the example shown in FIG. 40, the correction unit 69M subtracts the difference “37” between the maximum color value “255” of the actually measured characteristic 74 and the color value “218” from the color value “218” to obtain the color value “181”. ”, Update the correction color value. Then, the correction unit 69M corrects the correction table 70B by using the updated color value.

Therefore, for example, the correction characteristic 71 generated by using the corrected color value after the update is as shown in FIG. 41. FIG. 41 is an explanatory diagram of the correction characteristic 71 generated by using the corrected color value after the update.

As shown in FIG. 41, the modified characteristic 71 generated by using the modified color value “181” after the update is the modified characteristic 71 generated by using the modified color value (value of “218” or more) before the update. Compared with (see FIG. 40), it shows the relationship that the color measurement value monotonically increases according to the change of the color value.

Therefore, by generating the correction characteristic 71 using the updated correction color value and modifying the correction table 70B using the correction characteristic 71, further improvement in image quality can be achieved.

As described above, in the correction unit 69M of the information processing apparatus 11E of the present embodiment, the predetermined correction color value becomes the first color measurement value indicating the second color measurement value of the maximum color value in the actual measurement characteristic 74. When the color value is equal to or higher than the corresponding color value in the target characteristic 72, the modified color value is updated to less than the color value, and the corrected color value after the update is used to modify the correction table 70B.

Therefore, the information processing apparatus 11E of the present embodiment can further improve the image quality of the laminated image 50 of the special color image 52 and the colored image 54.

Further, the corrected color value is the maximum color value of the measured characteristic 74 and the color value from the color value in the target characteristic 72 corresponding to the first color measured value indicating the second color value of the maximum color value in the measured characteristic 74. It is more preferable that the color value is obtained by subtracting the difference from.

Further, the corrected color value is a smaller value as the difference between the first color measurement value corresponding to the maximum color value in the target characteristic 72 and the second color measurement value corresponding to the maximum color value in the actual measurement characteristic 74 is larger. It is preferable to have.

(Modification 2)
In the above embodiment, the image forming apparatus 12 and the information processing apparatus 10, 11, 11A, 11B, 11D, 11E are shown as an example. However, the image forming apparatus 12 and the information processing apparatus 10, 11, 11A, 11B, 11D, or 11E may be integrally configured.

FIG. 42 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the image forming apparatus 15 of this modification. The image forming apparatus 15 includes an information processing apparatus 10, 11, 11A, 11B, 11C, 11D, or 11E, an image forming unit 13, and a colorimeter 14. The information processing devices 10, 11, 11A to 11E are the same as the information processing devices 10, 11, 11A to 11E of the above-described embodiment. The image forming unit 13 is the same as the image forming apparatus 12 of the above embodiment. The colorimeter 14 is the same as the colorimeter 14 of the above embodiment. The information processing devices 10, 11, 11A to 11E and the image forming unit 13 are connected so as to be able to exchange data and signals. The information processing devices 10, 11, 11A to 11E and the colorimeter 14 are connected so as to be able to exchange data and signals.

As described above, the image forming apparatus 15 includes the information processing apparatus 10, 11, 11A, 11B, 11C, 11D, or 11E, the image forming unit 13 (image forming apparatus 12), and the colorimeter 14. It may be a configuration.

In the above embodiment, the embodiment in which the colorimeter 14 is connected to the information processing devices 10, 11, 11A, 11B, 11C, 11D, or 11E has been described as an example. However, the colorimeter 14 and the image forming apparatus 12 may be directly connected to each other.

The processing executed by the information processing apparatus 10, 11, 11A, 11B, 11C, 11D, and 11E of the above-described embodiment and modification is a CD-ROM, which is a file in an installable format or an executable format. It is recorded on a computer-readable storage medium such as a flexible disk (FD), CD-R, or DVD (Digital Versaille Disc) and provided as a computer program product.

Further, the programs executed by the information processing devices 10, 11, 11A, 11B, 11D, and 11E of the above-described embodiment and modifications are stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and downloaded via the network. It may be configured to provide by. Further, the programs executed by the information processing devices 10, 11, 11A, 11B, 11D, and 11E of the above-described embodiment and modifications may be configured to be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

Further, the program executed by the information processing apparatus 10, 11, 11A, 11B, 11D, 11E of the above-described embodiment and the modification may be configured to be provided by incorporating it into a ROM or the like in advance.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and modification as it is, and at the implementation stage, the components can be modified and embodied within a range that does not deviate from the gist thereof. In addition, various inventions can be formed by an appropriate combination of the plurality of components disclosed in the above-described embodiments and modifications. For example, some components may be removed from all the components shown in the embodiments. In addition, components across different embodiments may be combined as appropriate. In addition, various modifications are possible.

10, 11, 11A, 11B, 11D, 11E Information processing device 12, 13, 15 Image forming device 60B γ correction unit 60E Transmission unit 60H Acquisition unit 60I Determination unit 60J Specific unit 60K Generation unit 60L Update unit 61M, 65M, 66M, 68M, 69M Correction part 61N, 65N, 66N, 68N, 69N Color value specification part 61P, 65P, 66P, 68P, 69P Characteristic generation part 61Q, 65Q, 66Q, 68Q, 69Q Color value correction part

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-031511

Claims (19)

Two-pass printing in which a laminated image of a special color image made of a special color material and a colored image made of a colored material is formed by forming one of the special color image and the colored image on a medium and fixing the image, and then laminating the other. Or, it is an information processing apparatus that controls an image forming unit formed by one-pass printing in which one of the special color image and the colored image is formed on a medium and then the other is laminated and formed without intervention of the immobilization. hand,
An acquisition unit for acquiring spot color type information indicating the type of the spot color material used for image formation, and an acquisition unit.
A determination unit that determines image data for a correction chart that defines a plurality of patch areas having different color values according to the spot color type information.
Using the correction chart image data, the first colorimetric value and the color of the first patch image as the laminated image corresponding to each of the patch regions formed by the image forming unit by the two-pass printing. A specific part that identifies the target characteristic that shows the relationship with the value,
Using the correction chart image data, the second color measurement value and the color of the second patch image as the laminated image corresponding to each of the patch regions formed by the image forming unit by the one-pass printing. A generation unit that generates a correction table for correcting the color value so that the actually measured characteristic showing the relationship with the value approaches the target characteristic.
Equipped with
The specific unit determines the target characteristic using the determined image data for the correction chart.
The generation unit generates the correction table using the determined image data for the correction chart.
Information processing device. The generator is
The color value in the target characteristic is used as an input color value, and the color value corresponding to the second color value indicating the first color measurement value of the target characteristic in the measured characteristic is used as an output color value. Generate a correction table,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1. The decision-making part
Image data for a spot color correction chart that defines the spot color value of the spot color area of the spot color material of the type indicated by the spot color type information, and image data for the color correction chart that defines the color value of the color area of the color material. The correction chart image data defining the patch area in which the spot color region and the colored region are laminated is determined by the spot color value including the spot color value and the color value including the colored color value.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. The image forming unit is configured to be able to switch the stacking order of the colored image and the special color image on the medium.
The acquisition unit acquires stacking order information indicating the stacking order from the image forming unit.
The specific part is
Using the determined image data for the correction chart, the spot color material of the type indicated by the acquired spot color type information, and the stacking order indicated by the acquired stacking order information, the two passes by the image forming unit. The target characteristic, which shows the relationship between the first color value and the color value of the first patch image formed on the medium by printing, is specified.
The generator is
Using the determined image data for the correction chart, the spot color material of the type indicated by the acquired spot color type information was formed on the medium by the image forming unit in the acquired stacking order by the one-pass printing. The correction table is generated so that the actually measured characteristic showing the relationship between the second color value and the color value of the second patch image matches the target characteristic.
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3. A correction unit that corrects the color value of the image data to be formed using the correction table, and
A transmission unit that transmits the corrected image data to the image forming unit, and a transmission unit.
To prepare
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the spot color material is a color material exhibiting any one of a metallic color, white, transparent, and fluorescent color. Two-pass printing or two-pass printing in which a laminated image of a special color image made of a special color material and a colored image made of a colored material is formed by immobilizing one of the special color image and the colored image on a medium and then laminating the other. Information processing that controls an image forming unit formed by one-pass printing, in which one of the special color image and the colored image is formed on a medium and then the other is laminated without intervention of the immobilization. An image forming apparatus equipped with an apparatus and
The information processing device is
An acquisition unit for acquiring spot color type information indicating the type of the spot color material used for image formation, and an acquisition unit.
A determination unit that determines image data for a correction chart that defines a plurality of patch areas having different color values according to the spot color type information.
Using the correction chart image data, the first colorimetric value and the color of the first patch image as the laminated image corresponding to each of the patch regions formed by the image forming unit by the two-pass printing. A specific part that identifies the target characteristic that shows the relationship with the value,
Using the correction chart image data, the second color measurement value and the color of the second patch image as the laminated image corresponding to each of the patch regions formed by the image forming unit by the one-pass printing. A generation unit that generates a correction table for correcting the color value so that the actually measured characteristic showing the relationship with the value approaches the target characteristic.
Equipped with
The specific unit determines the target characteristic using the determined image data for the correction chart.
The generation unit generates the correction table using the determined image data for the correction chart.
Image forming device. Two-pass printing in which a laminated image of a special color image made of a special color material and a colored image made of a colored material is formed by forming one of the special color image and the colored image on a medium and fixing the image, and then laminating the other. Alternatively, it is an information processing method for controlling an image forming unit formed by one-pass printing in which one of the special color image and the colored image is formed on a medium and then the other is laminated and formed without intervention of the immobilization. hand,
An acquisition step for acquiring spot color type information indicating the type of the spot color material used for image formation, and
A determination step for determining image data for a correction chart that defines a plurality of patch areas having different color values according to the spot color type information, and
Using the correction chart image data, the first colorimetric value and the color of the first patch image as the laminated image corresponding to each of the patch regions formed by the image forming unit by the two-pass printing. Specific steps to identify target characteristics that relate to values, and
Using the correction chart image data, the second color measurement value and the color of the second patch image as the laminated image corresponding to each of the patch regions formed by the image forming unit by the one-pass printing. A generation step of generating a correction table for correcting the color value so that the actually measured characteristic showing the relationship with the value approaches the target characteristic.
Only including,
In the specific step, the target characteristic is determined using the determined image data for the correction chart.
The generation step generates the correction table using the determined image data for the correction chart.
Information processing method. Two-pass printing in which a laminated image of a special color image made of a special color material and a colored image made of a colored material is formed by forming one of the special color image and the colored image on a medium and fixing the image, and then laminating the other. Or, in order to cause a computer that controls an image forming unit to be formed by one-pass printing, in which one of the special color image and the colored image is formed on a medium and then the other is laminated and formed without intervention of the immobilization. It is an information processing program of
An acquisition step for acquiring spot color type information indicating the type of the spot color material used for image formation, and
A determination step for determining image data for a correction chart that defines a plurality of patch areas having different color values according to the spot color type information, and
Using the correction chart image data, the first colorimetric value and the color of the first patch image as the laminated image corresponding to each of the patch regions formed by the image forming unit by the two-pass printing. Specific steps to identify target characteristics that relate to values, and
Using the correction chart image data, the second color measurement value and the color of the second patch image as the laminated image corresponding to each of the patch regions formed by the image forming unit by the one-pass printing. A generation step of generating a correction table for correcting the color value so that the actually measured characteristic showing the relationship with the value approaches the target characteristic.
Only including,
In the specific step, the target characteristic is determined using the determined image data for the correction chart.
The generation step generates the correction table using the determined image data for the correction chart.
Information processing program. A correction unit that corrects the output color value in the correction range from the predetermined correction color value to the maximum color value in the correction table to the output color value that monotonically increases.
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising the information processing apparatus according to claim 1. The correction part
In the correction table, a color value specifying unit that specifies an input color value corresponding to the output color value indicating the corrected color value, and
In the target characteristic, the first point showing the color measurement value when the image of the corrected color value is formed on the medium by the image forming unit by the one-pass printing, and the second point showing the maximum color value in the measured characteristic. And a characteristic generator that interpolates between and generates a correction characteristic that indicates the relationship between the color measurement value and the color value.
A color value correction unit that corrects the output color value in the correction range of the correction table to the color value corresponding to the second color measurement value indicating the color measurement value of the correction characteristic in the actual measurement characteristic. When,
The a, information processing apparatus according to claim 1 0. The modified color value is less than the color value in the target characteristic corresponding to the first color measurement value indicating the second color value of the maximum color value in the measured characteristic.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 0 or claim 1 1. The modified color value is the maximum color value of the measured characteristic and the maximum color value of the measured characteristic from the color value in the target characteristic corresponding to the first color measured value indicating the second color value of the maximum color value in the measured characteristic. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 1 and 2 , which is a color value obtained by subtracting a difference from the color value. The corrected color value is a smaller value as the difference between the first color measurement value corresponding to the maximum color value in the target characteristic and the second color measurement value corresponding to the maximum color value in the actually measured characteristic is larger. in it, the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 0 to claim 1 3. Said modified color values as brightness of forming target image is low, a small value, the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 0 to claims 1-4. The correction part
The correction table is modified for each color of the coloring material by using the correction color value according to the color of the coloring material used for image formation.
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 0 to claim 1 5. The correction part
The correction table is modified by using the modified color value according to the medium to be image-formed.
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 0 to claims 1-6. The information processing apparatus controls the image forming unit that secondarily transfers the laminated body of the images to a medium after laminating a plurality of images on the transfer member and performing the primary transfer.
The correction part
The earlier the transfer order to the transfer member, the more the correction table is modified for each color in the transfer order by using the modified color value having a value smaller than the reference value.
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 0 to Claim 1 7. The correction part
The predetermined correction color value is
When the color value is equal to or higher than the color value in the target characteristic corresponding to the first color measurement value indicating the second color value of the maximum color value in the measured characteristic, the modified color value is updated to less than the color value. The correction table is modified by using the modified color value after the update.
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 0 to claims 1 to 8.

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