JPH07203191A - Color printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To exclude waste caused in a test print to the utmost for setting image quality by printing out a reduced image over plural rows and plural columns, printing the image over plural rows changed according to 1st image quality and printing out the image over plural columns changed according to a 2nd image quality. CONSTITUTION:A digital image signal is fed to a CPU 10, in which the signal is reduced by the software and the result is written in an image synthesis circuit 3. Two kinds of image quality are set by manual operation on a control panel 9 and gives a command to the CPU 10 as a parameter. The CPU 10 controls a density conversion circuit 4 and a color conversion circuit 5 according to the commanded two kinds of parameters. The density conversion circuit 4 and the color conversion circuit 5 read a digital image signal written in the image synthesis circuit 3 according to the commanded parameter and writes the signal to a line buffer 6. The written digital image signal is fed to a recording head 8 via a driver 7 and printed out on one print paper sheet.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a color printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With respect to the image quality of an output image of a color printer, the result is often unpredictable unless actually output. Therefore, conventionally, the image is printed with an appropriate image quality setting parameter, and the output result is The process of adjusting the parameters for image quality setting again and performing print output was repeated, and then the print output image of the desired image quality was obtained.

A color printer capable of outputting a test pattern (for example, a checkerboard pattern) in which image quality parameters are changed stepwise is also known, but the test pattern output is used for adjusting the equipment of the color printer. It was not used for the purpose of obtaining the best image quality for print output images.

[0004]

As described above, in the conventional color printer, it is necessary to print many sheets before the output result of the desired image quality is obtained, which wastes time and materials. There is.

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object thereof is to eliminate waste that occurs in a test print for image quality setting as much as possible.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image reducing means for reducing an image to be printed in a color printer capable of adjusting image quality such as density, gamma or color tone, and image quality. 2 types of image quality from the first
Image quality setting means for setting the image quality and the second image quality, and printing the image reduced by the image reducing means over a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, and printing a plurality of rows that change according to the first image quality, It is configured to print a plurality of columns that change according to the second image quality.

[0007]

In the color printer having the above construction, the image reduced by the image reducing means is printed over a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, and a plurality of lines that change according to the first image quality are printed and then change according to the second image quality. Since printing is performed in multiple columns, it is possible to efficiently obtain the print output of the desired image quality by changing the image quality of the image of the same pattern and outputting it in one print output. It is possible to eliminate waste caused by the test print for setting.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block connection diagram showing an embodiment of a color printer according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a digital image signal is applied to the input terminal 2 from a computer or the like. The digital image signal is supplied to the CPU circuit 10, where it is reduced to about 1/9 in area by software. The reduced digital image signal is written in the image synthesizing circuit 3 and synthesized into an image for one page.

The control panel 9 connected to the CPU circuit 10 is manually operated to set two kinds of image quality and to instruct the CPU circuit 10 as a parameter. As the parameter relating to the image quality, a density value, a gamma value, a yellow color balance, a magenta color balance, a cyan color balance, or the like can be considered. The CPU circuit 10 is
The conversion circuits of the density conversion circuit 4 and the color conversion circuit 5 are controlled according to the instructed two kinds of parameters. The density conversion circuit 4 and the color conversion circuit 5 read the digital image signal written in the image synthesis circuit 3 according to the parameter instructed by the CPU circuit 10 and write it in the line buffer 6. The digital image signal written in the line buffer 6 is supplied to the recording head 8 via the driver 7 and output as an image on one sheet of print paper 1 (see FIG. 3).

The CPU circuit 10 controls the density conversion circuit 4, the color conversion circuit 5, and the line buffer 6 according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In FIG. 2, when the program starts, a test print mode, that is, a mode in which nine reduced images are output on one print sheet 1 (see FIG. 3) is set (step S1). Next, the two types of image quality parameters set on the control panel 9 are read (step S2), and the change amount of the test print is set (step S3). To set the change amount of the test print,
In the case of changing the output in three steps and outputting, it means defining two change amounts. CPU circuit 10 is instructed
The conversion circuits of the density conversion circuit 4 and the color conversion circuit 5 are controlled according to the type parameters. The density conversion circuit 4 and the color conversion circuit 5 read the digital image signal written in the image synthesis circuit 3 according to the parameter instructed by the CPU circuit 10 and write it in the line buffer 6. The digital image signal written in the line buffer 6 is supplied to the recording head 8 via the driver 7 and output as an image on one sheet of print paper 1 (see FIG. 3).

FIG. 3 shows a state in which test printing is performed in 3 rows and 3 columns. For example, the images 1a to 3a in the horizontal direction can be output by changing the yellow color balance in three steps, and the images 1a to 1c in the vertical direction can be output by changing the image density in three steps. You can try 9 different image quality parameter combinations at the output.

After the test print, the normal print mode is set (step S5), and it is inquired whether or not the test print is further repeated (step S6). When the test print is repeated, the process returns to step S1. To end the test print, a desired value is set in the control panel 9 from the nine types of image quality parameters output in step S4 (step S7). After the setting, a print output image (see FIG. 4) having a desired image quality is obtained (step S8).

The images 1a to 3c shown in FIG. 3 are output by changing the image quality of images having the same pattern. As described above, the function of changing the image quality by preparing a predetermined number of patterns for changing the image quality and calling the pattern is convenient because it can be used in various ways. As an example, a method of simultaneously changing two parameters of a combination pattern of parameters relating to image quality (density value, gamma value, yellow color balance, magenta color balance, cyan color balance, etc.) can efficiently find an appropriate value. . That is, 2 of the density value and the yellow color balance
When two parameters are selected, the parameters other than the density value and the yellow color balance are the values set at that time, and the image 2b is printed with the density value and the yellow color balance value at that time, and the image 2b is printed in the vertical and horizontal directions of the screen. A screen is printed in which the values of the three parameter values are changed in the ± directions.

In FIG. 3, the image density increases in the order of images 1a, 1b, 1c, and the yellow ratio increases in the order of images 1a, 2a, 3a. Similarly, images 2a, 2
The image density increases in the order of b, 2c, and images 3a, 3b, 3c, and the yellow ratio increases in the order of images 1b, 2b, 3b, and images 1c, 2c, 3c. In addition, if the amount of change in the parameter value that is shaken in the ± direction can be changed, it becomes easier to handle.

By recognizing the print output parameter of the desired image quality in the image of the output result, setting the value in the print, and printing with the normal screen size, the print of the desired image quality can be obtained. Will be obtained. If the print with the desired image quality cannot be estimated, print with this method until the image with the desired image quality is obtained by changing other parameter values (Fig. 2 step S1 to step S6).

As the number of images with the same pattern to be output increases, various parameters can be set.
In the case of a printer that prints a large sheet of paper, it is preferable to output as many images as possible (for example, 7 rows and 7 lines).

[0020]

As described above, according to the present invention, the image reduced by the image reducing means is printed over a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, and a plurality of rows that change according to the first image quality is printed. Since the printing is performed in a plurality of columns that change according to the image quality, it is possible to efficiently obtain the print output of the desired image quality by changing the image quality of the image of the same picture in one print output. Becomes possible,
It is possible to eliminate waste caused by test printing for image quality setting.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block connection diagram showing an embodiment of a color printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of a color printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing an embodiment of a color printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing an embodiment of a color printer according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 print paper 2 input terminal 3 image composition circuit 4 density conversion circuit 5 color conversion circuit 6 line buffer 7 driver 8 recording head 9 control panel 10 CPU circuit

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Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A color printer capable of adjusting image quality such as density, gamma, or color tone, and image reducing means for reducing an image to be printed, and two types of image quality among the image quality are first image quality and second image quality. Image quality setting means for setting as image quality, the image reduced by the image reducing means is printed over a plurality of columns in a plurality of rows, and a plurality of rows that change according to the first image quality is printed. A color printer that prints in a plurality of columns that change according to image quality. 2. The color printer according to claim 1, further comprising image quality selection means for selecting a reduced image printed in the m-th row and the n-th column (m and n are natural numbers) as the optimum image quality. A color printer characterized in that the image quality selecting means prints a full-size image with the selected optimum image quality.