JPH04331165A - Color image processing method and color image processor thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To form a color image at high speed without using a large number of memories. CONSTITUTION:Color image information described by a PDL input from a host 11 is analyzed in an intermediate code forming section 2 and color information is extracted, intermediate codes corresponding to color components (cyan, magenta and yellow) forming the color of the color information are output to intermediate code buffers 3 corresponding to each color.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a color image processing method and apparatus, and more particularly to a color image processing method and apparatus for inputting a PDL code containing color information, developing it into a color image, and outputting it in color. .

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional color image forming apparatuses use PDL (Page
After inputting a Page Description Language (Page Description Language) code, the PDL code is converted into an intermediate code that is valid only within the device, and from that intermediate code an image corresponding to the ink of each color component of the color printer is formed. It was outputting a printout.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the above conventional example, the PDL code containing color information was not converted into an intermediate code corresponding to each color of ink in the printer, so the output device was unable to print for each color of ink. Many thermal transfer type printers and electrophotographic type printers have disadvantages in that they require a large capacity buffer memory and take a long time to form images.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional example, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a color image processing method and an apparatus thereof, which enable high-speed image output without requiring a large capacity memory.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the color image forming method of the present invention comprises the following steps. That is, it is a color image processing method for receiving color image information sent from the outside, forming a color image, and outputting the same, which includes a step of inputting the color image information, and a step of inputting the color image information, and processing the color inputted by the step. a step of analyzing image information and extracting color information indicated by the color image information; a step of generating code information corresponding to a color component forming a color of the color information from the color image information; and a step of generating the code information corresponding to a color component forming a color of the color information. A color image processing method is provided, comprising a step of storing information for each color component.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a color image processing device that receives color image information sent from an external device, forms a color image, and outputs the same, the input device receiving the color image information. means, an analysis means for analyzing the color image information inputted by the input means and extracting color information indicated by the color image information, and color components forming a color of the color information from the color image information. A color image processing apparatus is provided, characterized in that it has a code generating means for generating code information corresponding to the color image processing apparatus, and a means for storing the code information for each color component.

[0007]

[Operation] With the above configuration, the present invention analyzes the input color image information, extracts the color information specified in the color image information, generates a code related to the color component forming the color of the color information, and It operates to form an image of color components corresponding to that code.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a color image printer device that is a typical embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is an input buffer section, 2 is an intermediate code forming section, 3 is an intermediate code buffer, 4 is a cyan intermediate code buffer, 5 is a magenta intermediate code buffer, 6 is a yellow intermediate code buffer, 7 is an image forming section, and 8 is a print buffer. 9 is a printer engine unit, 10 is printer paper, 11 is a host computer (hereinafter referred to as host) that transmits color image information, and 12 is an interface unit (hereinafter referred to as host) that receives color image information and writes it into the input buffer unit 1. I/F).

In this embodiment, the printer engine section 9
is equipped with cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) inks, and depending on whether or not each ink is printed on each dot, it is possible to print in eight colors, including white. It is assumed that the printer engine section 9 is of a page printer type.

Next, image forming processing using the color image printer having the above configuration will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, in step S10, image information input from the host 11 is input to the input buffer 1 via the interface 12 as a PDL code containing color information. Subsequently, in step S15, the intermediate code forming section 2 inputs the PDL code from the input buffer 1, and
The color information specified in the DL code is analyzed and each color (C, M
, Y) to create an intermediate code corresponding to the color.

In step S16, a color is designated based on the PDL code analysis result. In step S17, the color of the ink to be used to form the designated color is determined, and in step S18, the intermediate code for the ink to be used is stored in the intermediate code buffer 3 until the next color designation is input.

For example, if it is analyzed that the PDL code has a color designation of yellow (Y), the intermediate code regarding yellow (Y) is stored in the yellow intermediate code buffer 6 until the next color designation is input. do. Also, P.D.
If it is analyzed that there is a blue (B) color specification in the L code, the intermediate color between magenta (M) and cyan (C) that forms blue (B) will be used until the next color specification is input. The intermediate code is stored in a magenta intermediate code buffer and a cyan intermediate code buffer.

[0015] In step S19, it is checked whether intermediate code generation should be continued. Here, if it is determined that intermediate code generation should be continued, the process returns to step S15 and intermediate code generation is continued, but if it is determined that intermediate code generation is complete, the process proceeds to step S20.

In step S20, in order to print out one page, the image forming section 7 first forms an image corresponding to yellow (Y) ink from the yellow intermediate code buffer 6 on the print buffer 8, and then sends it to the printer engine section. 9, a signal is sent to print with yellow (Y) ink. In step S25, the printer engine section 9 prints the image developed in the print buffer 8 using yellow (Y) ink.

Next, in step S30, the image forming unit 7 confirms that printing with yellow (Y) ink has been completed, and then in step S35, the image forming unit 7 converts magenta (M) ink from the magenta intermediate code buffer 5 of the intermediate code section. The image to be printed is formed on the print buffer and then sent to the printer engine section 9.
A signal is sent to the printer to print with magenta (M) ink. In step S40, the printer engine section 9
The image developed on print buffer 8 is printed in magenta (M
) print with ink.

Further, in step S45, the image forming unit 7 confirms that printing with magenta (M) ink has been completed, and then in step S50, the image forming unit 7 changes the cyan (C) ink from the cyan intermediate code buffer 4 of the intermediate code section. An image is formed on the print buffer 8, and a signal is sent to the printer engine section 9 to print it with cyan ink. In step S55, in response to this, the printer engine section 9 prints the image developed in the print buffer 8 using cyan (C) ink, and a desired color image is printed.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, the intermediate code buffer for each color stores only the intermediate code related to that color. As a result, the image forming unit only needs to use the intermediate codes to form images corresponding to each ink color in the printer, without having to be aware of color information. This eliminates the need for processing such as color interpretation, making it possible to print out images in a short time. Furthermore, since there is no need for a buffer for developing image data for each color component, memory capacity is reduced, which is advantageous in terms of production costs.

In this embodiment, the ink of the printer is explained as having three colors, cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y), but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, with a black (Bk) intermediate code buffer, cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y)
, black (Bk).

Further, in this embodiment, only two cases have been described, in which the printer prints with each color of ink or not, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it may be possible to print in multiple gradations for each color of ink.

Further, in this embodiment, the output device is described as a color printer, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a display such as a CRT may be used as the output device. However, in the case of a CRT, the intermediate code buffers are intermediate code buffers corresponding to the colors of the light emitting elements, ie, red (R) intermediate code buffers, green (G) intermediate code buffers, and blue (B) intermediate code buffers. Further, as the output device, the output device itself is a one-color printer, such as a color printing draft preparation device, but a device that forms images corresponding to each color ink used for printing may be used.

The present invention may be applied to a system made up of a plurality of devices, or to a device made up of one device. It goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to cases where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or device.

[0024]

As explained above, according to the present invention, the color information specified in the input color image information is extracted, and the code corresponding to the color component forming the color included in the color information is extracted. There is no need to hold image data for each color component, and there is no need to sequentially analyze color components from input color image information to form an image, reducing processing time for image formation. becomes shorter, and high-speed image output becomes possible without requiring large-capacity memory.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a color image printer device that is a typical embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing image forming processing.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Input buffer section 2 Intermediate forming part 3 Intermediate code buffer 7 Image forming section 8 Print buffer 9 Printer engine section

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A color image processing method for receiving color image information sent from the outside, forming and outputting a color image, comprising a step of inputting the color image information, and a step of inputting the color image information. a step of analyzing said color image information and extracting color information indicated by said color image information; and a step of generating code information corresponding to a color component forming a color of said color information from said color image information. , a step of storing the code information for each color component. 2. A color image processing apparatus that receives color image information sent from an external device, forms a color image, and outputs the image, the apparatus comprising: an input means for inputting the color image information; and an input means for inputting the color image information. an analyzing means for analyzing the color image information and extracting color information indicated by the color image information; and generating code information corresponding to a color component forming a color of the color information from the color image information. A color image processing device comprising: a code generating means; and a means for storing the code information for each color component.