JPH10155094A - Color conversion processing unit, its method, extension method for program module linked dynamically, color conversion processing method adopting the method, and recording medium read by computer and recording program to allow the computer to execute the method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To conduct color matching processing automatically corresponding to a kind of an object at a printer driver side by allowing a color conversion means to use a color matching method selected by a selection means so as to execute color matching processing for each object. SOLUTION: A drawn image instruction conversion section 21 discriminates to which kind of object a received image drawing instruction corresponds. After the discrimination, the drawn image instruction conversion section 21 selects a color matching method corresponding to the kind of object based on cross reference information between the kind of object prepared in advance and a color matching method to set a color space for color matching. Simultaneously a parameter corresponding to the color matching method selecting a parameter of the color matching method in the image drawing instruction is set. A printer output data generating section 22 receiving the image drawing instruction built up again conducts color matching processing and outputs printer output data to an image drawing module 11.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a color conversion processing apparatus and method capable of executing a color matching process corresponding to the type of an object to be rendered on a color image output apparatus, and a dynamically linkable color conversion processing apparatus. The present invention relates to a method for expanding a program module, a color conversion processing method to which the method is applied, and a computer-readable recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to accurately output an image displayed on a color monitor to a color printer, a color matching method using device-independent colors is currently being studied. This color matching method aims at performing colorimetrically consistent color reproduction between various devices by using device-independent color signals in between. Generally, device independent color signals include CIE 1931 XYZ signals and L * a *
A signal suitable for human visual characteristics, such as a b * signal, is used.

[0003] However, the color reproduction that humans find desirable is generally different depending on the type of image, such as a natural image, a character, or a solid image. Therefore, in order to output color image information including various image types, color
An architecture is needed that can switch color processing according to the document structure included in the image.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-107312 entitled "Color Information Processing Method and Apparatus" discloses an example of a technique for switching color processing in accordance with the document structure contained in the color image. According to this color information processing method and apparatus, an application sets attribute information of color matching suitable for each image type, and according to the attribute information, a color information in a device driver or a printer.
That is, the matching processing unit executes an optimal color conversion process.

[0005]

However, according to the color image output method disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-107312, entitled "Color Information Processing Method and Apparatus", a color image is output for each image type on the application side. If the application does not have a function of adding color matching attribute information to add matching attribute information, there is a problem that only a single color matching process can be executed.

Also, how to set the attribute information also depends on the application. Therefore, there is a problem that the output result differs for each application even with the same color / image information.

Further, at present, most applications do not have a function of adding attribute information of color matching for each image type, so that it is practically impossible to switch the color matching method for each image type. There was a problem that is.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and has as its object to enable a printer driver to automatically execute a color matching process corresponding to the type of an object.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a color conversion processing apparatus, comprising: inputting color image information including at least one object; Color information
In a color conversion processing device having a color conversion means for performing a matching process and converting the data into transmission data to be transmitted to a color image output device, whether or not the input color image information specifies a color matching method Input means for determining the type of each object present in the color image information; and determining the type of each object existing in the color image information. Selecting means for selecting a color matching method corresponding to the determined object type from correspondence information between the object type and the color matching method prepared in advance, wherein the color conversion means comprises: Perform color matching processing for each object using the color matching method selected in It is intended to row.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the color conversion processing apparatus according to the first aspect, when the color image information is a drawing command based on a device-dependent color signal, the selection is performed. The color conversion means sets the color space and reconstructs the drawing command so that the means can convert the drawing command based on the device-dependent color signal into a drawing command based on the device-independent color signal. A reconstructed drawing command is input, the device-dependent drawing command is converted into a device-independent drawing command, and then the device-dependent drawing command is converted into transmission data to be transmitted to a color image output device. .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the color conversion processing device according to the second aspect, wherein the selecting means includes a tone preserving type color image data in the bitmap image drawing instruction. This specifies execution of the matching process.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a color conversion processing apparatus according to the second aspect, wherein the selecting means does not reconstruct a drawing command other than a bitmap image. is there.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the color conversion processing device according to the second aspect, wherein the selecting means includes a color preservation type color image processing device in the rendering instruction of the monochrome object. This specifies execution of the matching process.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the color conversion processing apparatus according to the second aspect, the selecting means includes a step of setting a color saturation in a drawing instruction of a predetermined pattern including a plurality of colors. This specifies execution of a color matching process intermediate between the preservation type and the gradation preservation type.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a color conversion processing apparatus comprising: a color conversion apparatus including at least one object;
In a color conversion processing device having color conversion means for inputting image information, performing color matching processing on the input color image information and converting the input color image information into transmission data to be transmitted to a color image output device, Determining means for determining whether or not each object present in the color image information has an attribute of the color matching method; and determining whether the object does not have the attribute of the color matching method. Type determining means for determining the type of the object, and inputting the type of the determined object, and performing color matching corresponding to the determined type of the object based on correspondence information between the type of the object and the color matching method prepared in advance. Select a method and the color matching method selected for the object Attribute information adding means for adding attribute information, wherein the color conversion means executes color matching processing for each object based on the attribute information of the color matching method added by the attribute information adding means. Things.

In the color conversion processing device according to the present invention, when the object is a bitmap image, the attribute information adding means may add the attribute information to the object. On the other hand, attribute information corresponding to a gradation preserving type color matching method is added.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the color conversion processing apparatus according to the seventh aspect, when the object is other than a bitmap image, the attribute information adding means includes: Is not added with the attribute information of the color matching method.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the color conversion processing apparatus according to the seventh aspect, when the object is a single color, the attribute information adding means sets a color for the object. The attribute information corresponding to the degree-preserving color matching method is added.

According to a eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the color conversion processing apparatus according to the seventh aspect, when the object is a predetermined pattern including a plurality of colors, the attribute information adding means is provided. Is to add attribute information corresponding to an intermediate color matching method between the saturation preservation type and the gradation preservation type to the object.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a color conversion processing device, comprising: a drawing control unit for controlling a drawing process for a color image output device; When a drawing command and drawing color information indicating a drawing color of the object are input, the drawing command is converted into a drawing command specific to a color image output device, and a color matching process is performed on the drawing color information in accordance with the attribute information. After performing the above, in a color conversion processing device having color conversion means for outputting the drawing command and the drawing color information after the color matching to the color image output device, based on the input drawing command, Type determining means for determining the type of the object, and attributes of the color matching method prepared for each type of the object A plurality of pieces of attribute information, and based on the determination result of the type determination means, selects corresponding attribute information from the plurality of pieces of attribute information, and replaces the attribute information added to the drawing instruction with the selected attribute information. And attribute information replacing means for outputting the drawing command and the drawing color information to the color converting means, wherein the color converting means is configured to output the drawing color information based on the attribute information replaced by the attribute information replacing means. Is subjected to color matching processing.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a color conversion processing device, comprising: a drawing control means for controlling a drawing process for a color image output device; and a drawing command for an arbitrary object and drawing color information indicating a drawing color of the object. And a drawing command conversion unit that does not support the color matching process that converts the input drawing command into a drawing command specific to the color image output device and outputs the drawing command together with the drawing color information to the color image output device. Color conversion processing device,
A drawing instruction of an arbitrary object to which attribute information of a predetermined color matching method is added and drawing color information indicating a drawing color of the object are input from the drawing control means, and based on the input drawing instruction, A plurality of type determining means for determining the type of the object, and a plurality of attribute information of the color matching method prepared for each type of the object are held. Selecting means for selecting attribute information; color converting means for performing color matching processing on the input drawing color information based on the attribute information selected by the selecting means; and Output means for outputting drawing color information after color matching processing together with a new drawing command to the drawing command conversion means; The image command converting means inputs a drawing command and drawing color information from the output means, converts the input drawing command into a drawing command unique to the color image output device, and sends the drawing command and the drawing color information to the color image output device. Output.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a color conversion processing device according to the twelfth or thirteenth aspect, further comprising:
Requesting the color conversion means to generate the plurality of pieces of attribute information,
The image processing apparatus further includes a holding unit that inputs and holds a plurality of pieces of attribute information generated by the color conversion unit.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a color conversion processing apparatus according to any one of the twelfth to fourteenth aspects, wherein the types of the object are a bitmap image, a character, There are three types of other graphic images.

A color conversion processing device according to claim 16 of the present invention is the color conversion processing device according to claim 15,
When the type determination unit determines that the object to be drawn is a character, the type determination unit determines whether the object to be drawn is a color image.
This is to prevent the matching process from being performed.

The color conversion processing device according to claim 17 of the present invention is the color conversion processing device according to claim 16,
When the type determination unit determines that the object to be drawn is a character, the type determination unit further determines whether the color of the character corresponds to any of cyan, magenta, yellow, black, red, green, blue, and white. If it is determined that the color of the character corresponds to any of the colors, the color matching processing is not performed on the corresponding drawing color information.

The color conversion processing method according to claim 18 of the present invention performs an input step of inputting color image information including at least one object, and performs a color matching process on the input color image information. A color conversion step of converting the input color image information into color data to be transmitted to a color image output device.
A determination step of determining whether or not a matching method is specified; a type determination step of determining a type of an individual object existing in the color image information if the color matching method is not specified; Selecting the type of the determined object and selecting a color matching method corresponding to the determined type of the object from correspondence information between the type of the object and the color matching method prepared in advance. The color conversion step executes a color matching process for each of the objects using the color matching method selected in the selection step.

According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a color conversion processing method according to the eighteenth aspect.
When the color image information is a drawing command using a device-dependent color signal, the selecting step converts the color space so that the drawing command using the device-dependent color signal can be converted into a drawing command using a device-independent color signal. Setting and reconstructing a drawing command, wherein the color conversion step inputs the drawing command reconstructed in the selecting step, converts the device-dependent drawing command into a device-independent drawing command, It converts a device-independent drawing command into transmission data to be transmitted to the color image output device.

According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a color conversion processing method according to the nineteenth aspect.
In the selection step, execution of a gradation preserving type color matching process is specified in a bitmap image drawing command.

A color conversion processing method according to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention is the color conversion processing method according to the nineteenth aspect,
The selecting step does not reconstruct a drawing command other than a bitmap image.

A color conversion processing method according to claim 22 of the present invention is the color conversion processing method according to claim 19, wherein
In the selecting step, execution of a color preservation type color matching process is designated during a drawing instruction of a single color object.

A color conversion processing method according to a twenty-third aspect of the present invention is the color conversion processing method according to the nineteenth aspect,
The selecting step includes, in a drawing command of a predetermined pattern including a plurality of colors, a color / color intermediate between a saturation preserving type and a gradation preserving type.
This specifies execution of the matching process.

In a color conversion method according to a twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention, an input step of inputting color image information including at least one object, and performing a color matching process on the input color image information. A color conversion step of converting the color data into transmission data to be transmitted to a color image output device. A determination step of determining whether or not there is a specification; a type determination step of determining the type of the object if the attribute of the color matching method is not specified for the object; and inputting the type of the determined object , Correspondence between object types prepared in advance and color matching methods An attribute information adding step of selecting a color matching method corresponding to the determined type of the object from the association information, and adding attribute information of the selected color matching method to the object. A color matching process for each object based on the attribute information of the color matching method added in the attribute information adding step.

The color conversion processing method according to claim 25 of the present invention is the same as the color conversion processing method according to claim 24,
When the object is a bitmap image, the attribute information adding step is to add attribute information corresponding to the gradation preserving type color matching method to the object.

The color conversion processing method according to claim 26 of the present invention is the same as the color conversion processing method according to claim 24,
If the object is other than a bitmap image,
The attribute information adding step does not add attribute information of the color matching method to the object.

The color conversion processing method according to claim 27 of the present invention is the color conversion processing method according to claim 24,
When the object is a single color, the attribute information adding step adds attribute information corresponding to the saturation preserving type color matching method to the object.

A color conversion processing method according to claim 28 of the present invention is the color conversion processing method according to claim 24,
When the object is a predetermined pattern including a plurality of colors, the attribute information adding step adds attribute information corresponding to an intermediate color matching method between a saturation preservation type and a gradation preservation type to the object. Is what you do.

According to a method of extending the function of a dynamically linkable program module according to claim 29 of the present invention, the function is linked when an upper module such as an operating system or an application program is executed, and an instruction is issued from the upper module. In the method for dynamically expanding a function of a dynamically linkable program module for inputting and executing a process according to the input instruction, a first instruction output from the upper module to the program module is input, and a predetermined instruction is input. An instruction generating step of changing an arbitrary argument in the input first instruction to generate a second instruction based on a condition, and outputting the generated second instruction to the program module; A processing result corresponding to the second instruction is input, and a higher order is performed based on the input processing result. A processing result output step of outputting the processing result for Joule to the upper module, is intended to include.

A function expansion method of a dynamically linkable program module according to claim 30 of the present invention is linked when an upper module such as an operating system or an application program is executed, and an instruction is issued from the upper module. In a method of expanding a function of a dynamically linkable program module for inputting and executing a process according to an input instruction, an instruction execution information having the same name and different content as instruction execution information of a routine or the like included in the program module is provided. At least one is provided, and when an instruction specifying any of the instruction execution information is input from the upper module, a process corresponding to the input instruction is executed based on the corresponding instruction execution information, and the executed process is executed. Including an instruction execution step of outputting a result to the upper module A.

A function expansion method of a dynamically linkable program module according to claim 31 of the present invention is linked when an upper module such as an operating system or an application program is executed, and an instruction is issued from the upper module. In a method for expanding a function of a dynamically linkable program module for inputting and executing a process in accordance with an input instruction, at least one instruction execution information such as a routine which can be designated by the upper module and which the program module does not have is provided. When a command specifying the command execution information is input from the upper module, a predetermined process is executed based on the corresponding command execution information, and an executed process result is output to the higher module. And the step of executing the instruction includes the step of executing the instruction. And outputs an instruction to the program module in accordance with the distribution, it is intended to include the step of executing a process based on the instruction execution information to the program module.

A color conversion processing method to which the method for extending the function of a dynamically linkable program module according to claim 32 of the present invention is applied is a dynamic conversion method according to any one of claims 29 to 31. A color conversion processing method applying a function expansion method of a program module that can be linked to
The upper module is drawing control means for controlling drawing processing for the color image output device, and the program module is a command for drawing an arbitrary object to which attribute information of a predetermined color matching method is added from the drawing control means. And drawing color information indicating the drawing color of the object, the drawing command is converted into a drawing command specific to the color image output device, and a color matching process corresponding to the attribute information is performed on the drawing color information. And applying the rendering command and the rendering color information after the color matching to the color image output device. And enter
A type determination step of determining the type of the object to be rendered based on the input rendering command; and attribute information of different color matching methods prepared for each type of object based on the determination result of the type determination step , And replaces the attribute information added to the drawing command with the selected attribute information.
An attribute information replacement step of outputting the drawing command and the drawing color information to the color conversion means, whereby the color conversion means outputs the drawing color information based on the attribute information replaced by the attribute information replacement means. Is subjected to color matching processing.

A color conversion processing method to which the method for extending the function of a dynamically linkable program module according to claim 33 of the present invention is applied is a dynamic conversion method according to any one of claims 29 to 31. A color conversion processing method applying a function expansion method of a program module that can be linked to
The upper module is drawing control means for controlling a drawing process for a color image output device, and the program module inputs a drawing command for an arbitrary object and drawing color information indicating a drawing color of the object from the drawing control means. Then, the input drawing command is converted into a drawing command specific to the color image output device, and the drawing command conversion means which does not support the color matching process which is output to the color image output device together with the drawing color information. In the color conversion processing method, a drawing command of an arbitrary object to which attribute information of a predetermined color matching method is added and drawing color information indicating a drawing color of the object are input from the drawing control means, and the input drawing command is input to the input drawing command. On the basis of,
A type determining step of determining the type of the object to be drawn; and, based on the determination result of the type determining step, selecting corresponding attribute information from attribute information of different color matching methods prepared for each type of object. A selection step, a color conversion step of performing a color matching process on the input drawing color information based on the attribute information selected in the selection step, and the drawing command conversion means based on the input drawing command. An output step of outputting the drawing color information after the color matching process together with the new drawing instruction, so that the drawing instruction conversion means uses the drawing instruction and the drawing color information output in the output step to output the drawing instruction. The drawing command is converted into a drawing command unique to the color image output device, and is output to the color image output device together with the drawing color information. Than it is.

The color conversion processing method to which the method for extending the function of a dynamically linkable program module according to claim 34 of the present invention is applied is a dynamically linkable program module according to claim 32 or 33. In the color conversion processing method to which the function expansion method is applied, further comprising: generating a plurality of pieces of attribute information according to the type of the object based on preset information, and holding the plurality of pieces of generated attribute information. Is included.

Also, a color conversion processing method to which the method of extending the function of a dynamically linkable program module according to claim 35 of the present invention is applied is a dynamically converting method according to any one of claims 32 to 34. In the color conversion processing method to which the function expansion method of the linkable program module is applied, the types of the objects are three types: bitmap images, characters, and other graphic images.

A color conversion processing method to which the method for extending the function of a dynamically linkable program module according to claim 36 of the present invention is applied is a method for extending the function of a dynamically linkable program module according to claim 35. In the color conversion processing method to which the method is applied, in the type determination step, when it is determined that the drawing target object is a character, the color matching processing is not performed on the corresponding drawing color information.

A color conversion processing method to which the method for extending the function of a dynamically linkable program module according to claim 37 of the present invention is applied is a method for extending the function of a dynamically linkable program module according to claim 36. In the color conversion processing method to which the method is applied, the type determining step further includes, when determining that the object to be rendered is a character, further changing the color of the character to cyan, magenta, yellow, black, red, green, and blue. And white are determined, and if the color of the character is determined to correspond to one of the colors, the color matching processing is not performed on the corresponding drawing color information. .

The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 38 of the present invention is the computer-readable recording medium according to claims 18 to 28.
And a program for causing a computer to execute the color conversion processing method according to any one of the above.

A computer-readable recording medium according to claim 39 of the present invention is the computer-readable recording medium according to claims 29 to 31.
And a program for causing a computer to execute the method for extending the function of a dynamically linkable program module according to any one of the above.

Further, a computer-readable recording medium according to claim 40 of the present invention is a computer-readable recording medium.
7 stores a program for causing a computer to execute a color conversion processing method to which the method for dynamically expanding a function of a program module that can be dynamically linked is described.

[0049]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, a color conversion processing apparatus and method according to the present invention, a method for expanding a dynamically linkable program module, a color conversion processing method to which the method is applied, and a method for causing a computer to execute those methods are described. An embodiment of a computer-readable recording medium on which a program is recorded will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[Embodiment 1] The color conversion processing apparatus and method according to Embodiment 1 are used in a system in which an application controls ON and OFF of color matching using a drawing command when color matching is OFF. Can be rewritten to the same drawing command as when the color matching is turned on. In the first embodiment, a case where a color image drawn on a monitor is output to a printer will be described as an example.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the color conversion processing device according to the first embodiment. The color conversion processing device shown in FIG. 1 receives a drawing command from an application 12, draws a drawing command from the drawing module 11 that manages a drawing process for a monitor and a printer, and executes a color matching process. And a printer driver 13 that converts the data into output data to be output to the printer 14.

FIG. 2 shows the printer driver 1 shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of No. 3; When the color matching is OFF, the printer driver 13 is activated as an interrupt processing module, inputs a drawing command output from the drawing module 11, sets a color space for color matching, and performs color matching. A rendering command conversion unit 21 for reconstructing a rendering command similar to the ON command;
The drawing command reconstructed by the drawing command converter 21 is input, and
A printer output data generation unit 22 that executes a color matching process and converts the output data into output data to be output to a color image output device.

The rendering command converter 21 performs an interrupt process to
A color space for color matching is set, and a drawing command when color matching is OFF is reconstructed into a drawing command when color matching is ON. In addition, the rendering command converter 21 determines the type of the object to be rendered, and determines the color / color corresponding to the determined type of the object.
When selecting the matching method and reconstructing the drawing instruction,
The parameters of the selected color matching method are set in the drawing command.

The printer output data generator 22 has a color matching module 23. Color·
The matching module 23 includes a device profile 27 that describes the characteristics of the device, and a plurality of color conversion engines 24 to 26 that execute a color matching process using the device profile 27. As shown in FIG. 3, the printer output data generation unit 22 selects one of a plurality of color conversion engines 24 to 26 based on the parameters of the color matching method set in the drawing command by the drawing command conversion unit 21. The color conversion engine 24 is activated, and the color matching processing is executed using the device profile 27.

In the configuration of the color conversion processing device according to the first embodiment, the drawing command conversion unit 21 is used as the determination unit, type determination unit and selection unit of the present invention, and the printer output data generation unit 22 is used as the output unit. This corresponds to the color conversion means of the present invention (claim 1).

Next, the operation of the color conversion processing apparatus according to the first embodiment will be described. In the following, in order to clarify the description, a method in which the application controls the color matching using the drawing command will be described, and then the operation of the color conversion processing device according to the first embodiment will be described. .

(Control of Color Matching by Application) The application performs color matching using a drawing command in the order of (1) an image printing process, (2) an object color designation method, and (3) a color matching process. A control method will be described.

(1) Image Printing Process FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a color image including various objects. Color image 4 shown in FIG.
1 is a natural image (bitmap image) 42, font 4
3, a line drawing 44, and a monochrome filling pattern 45. Such a composite document can be easily created by a general document creation application, and the demand for high-quality prints is increasing. Hereinafter, a general printing process will be described with an example of printing this color image.

The operator draws a color image 41 shown in FIG. 4 on the screen using a tool prepared in the application 12, and then instructs printing from a print menu. At this time, the document creation application stores the drawing data, and when printing is instructed, transmits the data to the printer driver 13 in accordance with the stored drawing data to execute printing.

The normal operating system is shown in FIG.
And the drawing module 11 manages a drawing process for a monitor or a printer as described above.

Output to Monitor For example, when drawing a color image 41 shown in FIG.
The drawing operation using the tool is converted into a drawing command that can be interpreted by the drawing module 11 in the application 12 and sent to the drawing module 11. Then, the drawing module 11 transmits a drawing command to a driver for the target monitor, and an image is drawn on the monitor by a device driver of the monitor.

Output to Color Printer In the case of printing, the same process as for drawing on the monitor is performed. When an operator outputs an image edited on a monitor using the application 12 to a printer,
A command to start a print job is transmitted from the application 12 to the drawing module 11. Upon receiving the print start message, the drawing module 11 starts transmitting a drawing command to the printer driver 13 in the same procedure as when drawing on the monitor. The printer driver 13 interprets a rendering command from the rendering module 11 and converts it into output data that can be interpreted by the printer, and transmits the data to a printer 14 that is locally or network-connected. When printing is completed, the application 12
Transmits a print end command to the drawing module 11, and the operator can edit again.

For example, when outputting to a PostScript printer, the printer driver 13 plays a role of converting a drawing command into PostScript code.

(2) Object Color Designation Method Next, a method of designating main colors for various objects will be described. Drawing is performed for each object supported by the drawing module 11. Here, the object means an individual figure to be drawn, for example, a bitmap, a font, a line, a pattern, or the like. The method of specifying colors for these objects can be roughly divided into the following three methods.

Method of specifying color of bitmap data Natural images and the like have a bitmap data structure. That is, each pixel has an RGB value, and the pixel value is sent to a monitor or a device driver of a printer. Drawing is performed by first securing a memory area for writing a bitmap and then transferring pixel values to the memory.

Font and line color designation method Fonts and lines are often drawn in a single color. That is, the text is displayed in a single color font, or lines are written. Also, when a predetermined area is filled with a single color, color designation is performed in the same manner as in the case where color designation is performed on fonts and lines. For fonts and lines, generally, a color is first specified, and then drawing with a predetermined object is started. For example, to draw a title line in red and then draw a green line: 1. Set the pen to red. Drawing fonts 3. 3. Set the pen to green. In many cases, an object called a pen stores the color information of the drawing, such as drawing a line, and the drawing is always performed using the color information of the pen.

Method of Designating Color of Specific Pattern The specific pattern is a pattern in which a predetermined area is provided with a gradation or a font is provided with a pattern.
In this case, drawing is performed using a plurality of colors. The difference from bitmap formats such as natural images is that while a bitmap has color information for all pixels, a small bitmap pattern can be enlarged, deformed, or clipped if it is a specific pattern. Is to color a predetermined area.

Here, the drawing of a specific pattern will be described by taking, as an example, a case where a rectangular area of 200 × 1000 pixels is painted with a gradation that changes from green to white. In the case of drawing with a specific pattern, first, an object called a pattern is created. The pattern is a small bitmap of, for example, about 64 × 64 pixels. On the application, a 64 × 64 pixel bitmap pattern that changes from green to white is generated in advance, and this bitmap pattern
The pattern is enlarged to 200 × 1000 pixels to fill the rectangular area. The enlargement, the filling, and the like are normally performed automatically by the drawing module 31. Drawing with such a pattern is convenient when the painted area is deformed.

(3) Color Matching Process The color signals used in the above-mentioned three color designation methods are usually RGB signals. Since the RGB signals are color signals depending on the device, the color matching processing cannot be realized as it is. So, RGB
A processing method when a color is designated by the following will be described.

An operating system capable of color matching is configured to be able to handle device-independent color signals in addition to RGB signals. The architecture itself varies depending on the operating system. For example, there are a case where drawing is performed using a drawing command dedicated to color matching on the application side, and a case where a code for color matching is generated on the driver side instead of the application side. As described above, the color conversion processing device according to the first embodiment is based on the premise that the application performs drawing using a drawing command dedicated to color matching.

The color matching is performed using a device profile 27 describing the characteristics of the device and a color conversion engine 24 for performing color conversion using the device profile 27, as shown in FIG. .

The device profile 27 usually contains C
The physical relationship between device independent signals such as IE XYZ and CIE LAB and device signals such as monitor RGB and printer CMYK is described. For example, monitor RG
When converting the B signal to the CMYK signal of the printer,
After the color conversion engine 24 converts the RGB signals into XYZ signals based on the monitor profile, it converts the XYZ signals into CMYK signals based on the printer profile. As described above, by using a device-independent color signal in the middle, colorimetrically consistent color reproduction can be performed.

However, the monitor and the printer have different color reproducible ranges, and the printer generally has a smaller color reproducible range than the monitor. Therefore, when a color that can be reproduced on a monitor is output to a printer, it is necessary to map a color that cannot be reproduced by the printer to a color that can be reproduced (gamut mapping). Although there are various methods for gamut mapping, it is generally desirable to use different methods depending on the type of image such as a natural image, graph, font, and the like. Therefore, the color conversion engine 24
In many cases, a plurality of color conversion methods corresponding to various gamut mappings can be executed.

To facilitate the above-described color matching, the operating system usually has a module for color matching. This module provides an interface for color conversion engine and device profile access control.

Next, the operation of the drawing module 11 when performing color matching will be described. When performing color matching, the color of an object is specified using a color space for color matching. Therefore, the drawing module 11 first calls a color matching start command. That is, by calling this color matching start command, the printer driver 13 can execute the color matching process.

The drawing module 11 then proceeds to the color
Set the color space for matching. There are various color spaces such as an RGB space, an XYZ space, and a CMYK space as a color space for color matching. In this color space, attribute information for describing a relationship with a device-independent color signal such as an XYZ signal is described. Therefore, it is necessary to set this attribute information before setting the color space for color matching. Generally, profile information of a monitor being used is used for setting the attribute information. For example, R
When the GB color space is set, XYZ tristimulus values, gamma, and the like of R, G, and B pure colors of the monitor are set.

After the color space is set, drawing of the object is started. The color specification of the object follows the type of the created color space. For example, when an XYZ space is set, an object is drawn using XYZ values.

Finally, when terminating the color matching, an end command is called. By calling this end command, the end of the color matching can be specified.

The drawing command described above is sent from the drawing module 11 to the printer driver 13 and is converted into printer code information. For example, in the case of a PostScript printer, a color signal designated as RGB is interpreted by the printer driver 13 as a CIE Based Color (calibrated color signal) and sent to the printer. In the CIE BasedColor, the attribute information of the RGB color space is also transmitted, so that the PostScript interpreter can perform the color conversion from RGB to CMYK in accordance with the characteristics of the printer. Color reproduction becomes possible.

On the other hand, the rendering command in the color matching OFF state is interpreted as a device signal by the PostScript printer driver. When a color signal is sent as a device signal, the printer characteristics are not considered.
The colors of the monitor output and the printer output do not match.

In the above description, a PostScript printer has been described. However, even in the case of a raster image printer such as an ink jet printer, basically, only the format of the code generated by the printer driver is different. Similarly, color matching is used or stopped according to a drawing command transmitted from the drawing module 11.

As described above, in the above-described system for controlling color matching on the application side, when color matching is not turned on, color matching is not performed for a figure directly drawn in RGB. . As a result, when an image is output from an application that does not support color matching, color matching cannot be performed even if the printer driver supports color matching.

(Operation of Color Conversion Processing Apparatus According to First Embodiment) In the above-described color matching architecture, an object drawn in a state where color matching is OFF is sent to a printer as a device signal as it is. . Therefore, the color conversion processing apparatus according to the first embodiment operates the printer driver 13 so that an object drawn with the color matching turned off can be handled in the same manner as the color matching turned on. It is an extension. Further, the color conversion processing device according to the first embodiment performs an optimum color matching process while considering the attributes of a drawing object when converting a drawing command into an output code to a printer. .

The operation of the color image converter according to the first embodiment will be described below. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure of the color image conversion device according to the first embodiment.

In step S501, the drawing module 11 outputs a drawing command received from the application 12 to the printer driver 13, and the printer driver 13 inputs the output drawing command.

The printer driver 13 determines whether the input drawing command is color matching ON (S502). If the color matching is ON, the process proceeds to step S507, where the printer output data generation unit 2
2 activates one of the color conversion engines 24-26, and uses a color matching method designated in advance to perform color conversion.
A matching process is performed (S508).

On the other hand, when the color matching is OFF, it means that the drawing command specified in the RGB colors is transmitted from the drawing module 11 to the printer driver 13 as it is. Therefore, in this case, the color matching process cannot be executed. Then, the printer driver 13 activates the drawing command converter 21 (S50).
3) The above-described color matching color space setting processing is executed by interrupt processing.

The rendering command converter 21 first determines what kind of object the input rendering command corresponds to (S504).

After determining the type of the object, the rendering command conversion unit 21 selects a color matching method corresponding to the type of the object from the correspondence information between the type of the object and the color matching method prepared in advance ( S505), the color space for color matching is set, and the parameter of the color matching method in the drawing command is set to a parameter corresponding to the selected color matching method (S506).

That is, as described above, the rendering command conversion unit 21 calls the color matching start command and sets the color space for color matching. In the color space, attribute information for describing a relationship with a device-independent color signal such as an XYZ signal is described. And, for example,
When a bitmap image drawing command is input, the parameter of the color matching method in the drawing command is set to the natural image mode. When a font drawing command is input, the parameter of the color matching method in the drawing command is set to the solid color mode. However, the selection of the color matching method based on the type of the object depends on what kind of object a color conversion engine is prepared in the color matching module 23. In the first embodiment, the natural image color conversion engine 24 and the solid color solid color conversion engine 2
5 and a pattern color conversion engine 26 are provided.

The rendering command conversion unit 21 determines the R
Set color matching for drawing command specified by GB value to O
The reconstructed drawing command is reconstructed to the same drawing command as when N was set, and the reconstructed drawing command is output to the printer output data generation unit 22.

The printer output data generation unit 22 inputs and analyzes the drawing command reconstructed by the drawing command conversion unit 21, and executes a color conversion engine corresponding to the parameter of the color matching method set in the drawing command. Select and activate from the color matching module 23 (S50
7). For example, when the parameter of the color matching method is set to the natural image mode, the natural image color conversion engine 24 is selected and activated. If the single color solid mode is set, the single color solid color conversion engine 25 is selected and activated.

Then, for example, the natural image color conversion engine 2
4 is activated, the natural image color conversion engine 24
Referring to the device profile 27 as shown in FIG.
(S508). That is, the natural image color conversion engine 24 converts the RGB signals into device-independent color signals such as XYZ signals based on the monitor profile in the device profile 27, and then converts the XYZ signals based on the printer profile. Is converted to a CMYK signal. In addition, since the color reproduction range of the printer is generally smaller than that of the monitor, colors that cannot be reproduced by the printer are mapped to reproducible colors using a method suitable for natural images.

The color matching processing is executed by the printer output data generation unit 22 in this way, and the generated printer output data is output to the drawing module 11. The same processing is performed on other objects, and output data is transmitted to the drawing module 11. The drawing module 11 includes a printer driver 13
, And enters a drawing routine with the printer 14 (S509), and terminates the color matching processing.

In the above-described method for reconstructing the drawing command by the drawing command converter 21, the optimum color / color
Matching processing can be realized. At that time, it is important to determine what color matching method is suitable for each object.

In the present invention, there is no restriction on the selection method of the color matching method, but it is basically desirable to switch the color conversion mode according to the gradation of the drawing object.

That is, for an object such as a bitmap image in which a color is specified for each pixel, the gradation is given the highest priority. Therefore, color reproduction that emphasizes the gradation is performed. To As a color reproduction method that emphasizes gradation, for example, there is a method of compressing a color that cannot be reproduced by a printer with a constant hue and brightness as shown in FIG.

On the other hand, in the case of a single-color font, line drawing, or the like, it is necessary to reproduce conspicuous color regardless of gradation. In particular, a solid image of yellow or magenta has less graininess when reproduced in a single color even with a printer, and the color distinction is clear. Therefore, for solid objects of a single color, color reproduction that emphasizes saturation is performed. As a color reproduction method emphasizing saturation, for example, there is a method of mapping to a color having the smallest color difference as shown in FIG.

Further, the following color conversion may be performed by regarding the solid image as a device signal without performing color matching.

Cyan = R-min (r, g, b) Magenta = G-min (r, g, b) Yellow = B-min (r, g, b) Black = min (r, g, b)

Furthermore, for an object drawn using a specific pattern, such as a gradation pattern or a design font, importance is placed on both the saturation and the gradation. Performs intermediate color reproduction of the color reproduction method. In particular, gradation patterns
Since it is often drawn in the area adjacent to the solid image,
The boundary strain must be inconspicuous. Therefore, while making the color of high saturation a conversion result similar to that of a single color, the color reproduction of low saturation color is made similar to the bitmap. Such adjustment of the color reproduction method can be easily performed by interpolation calculation.

As described above, according to the color conversion processing method and apparatus according to the first embodiment, color matching OFF
Since the rendering command specified by the RGB value in the case of (1) is converted into the same rendering command as when color matching is turned on, even if the application does not support color matching, the printer driver 13 Above, the color matching process can be performed.
In addition, since the color matching method is switched according to the type of the object, it is possible to realize an optimal color matching process for each object.

In the color conversion processing device according to the first embodiment, the printer driver 13 is provided with the drawing command conversion unit 21 for executing the interrupt processing when the color matching is OFF. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it can be provided between the drawing module 11 and the printer driver 13 as shown in FIG. FIG.
In the case of the configuration shown in FIG. 7, the drawing command converter 21 is started under the control of the drawing module 11 to set the color space for color matching, and then the drawing command is transmitted to the printer driver 13. Become.

In the first embodiment, the case where the color image drawn on the monitor is output to the printer is used as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this case, and the color conversion method according to the present invention is not limited to this case. It goes without saying that the device and the apparatus can be applied to any scene where a color matching process is required.

[Embodiment 2] The color conversion method and apparatus according to Embodiment 2 can control ON / OFF of color matching on the printer driver side, but exist in a color image. The color matching method for each object is controlled by the application side, and the color matching method is applied to a system in which the color matching method is specified in the attribute of the object. That is, when a color conversion processing method and apparatus according to the second embodiment receives a drawing object having no color matching attribute specified, the color conversion processing method and apparatus add color matching attribute information according to the type of the object. According to the attribute information, transmission data to be transmitted to the color output device is generated. In the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, a case where a color image drawn on a monitor is output to a printer will be described as an example. In the description of the second embodiment, the first embodiment
A detailed description of the same configuration as that of the color conversion processing device according to the first embodiment will be omitted.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a color conversion processing device according to the second embodiment. The color conversion processing apparatus shown in FIG. 9 includes a drawing module 11 that manages drawing processing for a monitor and a printer (not shown), and image data input from the drawing module 11, executes color matching processing, and executes a color matching process. And a printer driver 91 which converts the data into output data to be output to the printer 14.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the printer driver 91 shown in FIG. The printer driver 91 turns color matching ON and OFF.
Can be controlled. This printer driver 9
1 is a CMM (color matching module) that adds attribute information of a color matching method to an object to be drawn when the attribute of the color matching method is not specified for the object by an interrupt process.
A printer that executes a color matching process for each object according to the attribute setting unit 92 and the attribute information of the color matching method added by the CMM attribute setting unit 92, and converts the data into output data to be output to a color image output device. An output data generation unit 93 is provided.

The CMM attribute setting section 92 is activated as an interrupt module when the attribute of the color matching method is not specified for the object to be rendered. Through the interrupt processing by the CMM attribute setting unit 92, the type of the object to be rendered is determined, a color matching method corresponding to the determined type of the object is selected, and the attribute information of the color matching method selected for the object is determined. Is added.

The printer output data generator 93 has a color matching module 94. Color·
The matching module 94 includes a device profile 98 describing the characteristics of the device, and a plurality of color conversion engines 95 to 97 that execute a color matching process using the device profile 98. The printer output data generation unit 93 activates the corresponding color conversion engine from the color conversion engines 95 to 97 of the color matching module 94 according to the attribute information of the color matching method added by the CMM attribute setting unit 92.
The color matching process is executed using the device profile 98.

In the configuration of the color conversion processing apparatus according to the second embodiment, the CMM attribute setting unit 92 corresponds to the determining unit, the type determining unit, and the attribute information adding unit of the present invention, and generates printer output data. The unit 93 corresponds to the color conversion means of the present invention (claim 7).

The operation of the color conversion processing device according to the second embodiment will be described below. FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure of the color conversion processing device according to the second embodiment.

Depending on the operating system,
From the beginning, the device driver turns on color matching
Some are set to N or OFF. However, even in such an operating system, the color conversion mode for each object may be based on the control on the application side.

In the above operating system, information on color matching is often described in an attribute of an object. Then, the driver switches color matching according to the object attribute. However, if the attribute of the color matching method is not specified for the object, the default color conversion method will be used.

In the color conversion processing apparatus according to the second embodiment, first, in step S1101, the drawing module 11 outputs the image data received from the application 12 to the printer driver 91, and the printer driver 91 outputs the image data. Enter the entered image data.

The printer driver 91 determines whether an attribute of the color matching method is specified for each object existing in the input image data (S1102). If the attribute of the color matching method is specified for the object, the process proceeds to step S1107, where the printer output data generation unit 93 activates one of the color conversion engines 95 to 97, and sets the color matching method designated in advance. Is used to execute a color matching process (S1108).

If the attribute of the color matching method is not specified for the object, the printer driver 91 activates the CMM attribute setting unit 92 as an interrupt process (S1).
103).

The CMM attribute setting unit 92 determines what kind of object is to be drawn (S110).
4).

After determining the type of the object, the CMM
The attribute setting unit 92 selects a color matching method corresponding to the object type from the correspondence information between the object type and the color matching method prepared in advance (S1105), and determines the color matching method selected for the object. The attribute information is added (S1106).

The printer output data generation unit 93 outputs the CM
According to the attribute information of the color matching method added by the M attribute setting unit 92, the corresponding color conversion engine is selected from the color matching module 94 and activated (S
1107), a color matching process is executed (S1).
108).

The color matching processing is executed by the printer output data generation section 93 in this way, and the generated printer output data is output to the drawing module 11. The same processing is performed on other objects, and output data is transmitted to the drawing module 11. The drawing module 11 includes a printer driver 13
, And enters a drawing routine with the printer 14 (S1109), ending the color matching process.

Since the correspondence between the type of object and the color conversion method is the same as in the first embodiment, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As described above, according to the color conversion processing method and apparatus according to the second embodiment, even when an attribute of color matching is not specified for an object, the object is not assigned to each object. By adding the attribute information of the color matching method corresponding to the type, it is possible to execute the optimum color matching processing for each object existing in the image data.

In the color conversion processing device according to the second embodiment, a CM for executing an interrupt process when the attribute of the color matching method is not specified for each object.
Although the M attribute setting unit 92 is provided in the printer driver 91, the present invention is not limited to this configuration.
As shown in (1), a CMM attribute setting unit 92 can be provided between the drawing module 11 and the printer driver 91. In the case of the configuration shown in FIG. 12, the CMM attribute setting unit 92 is started under the control of the drawing module 11 to add attribute information of the color matching method to each object, and then the image driver is sent to the printer driver 91. The data will be sent.

In the second embodiment, the case where the color image drawn on the monitor is output to the printer is used as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this case, and the color conversion processing method according to the present invention is not limited to this case. It goes without saying that the device and the apparatus can be applied to any scene where a color matching process is required.

[Third Embodiment] In the third embodiment, instead of creating a new printer driver, the functions of the existing printer driver are extended, so that the printer driver can handle the type of object in accordance with the type of the object. This is a description of a method for enabling a color matching process to be performed.

In today's personal computer environment, the printer driver is provided in the form of a dynamically linkable program module (such as a DLL described later). In view of this, the third embodiment proposes a method for extending the function of the dynamically linkable program module, and applies this method to an existing printer driver. Make the matching method applicable. However, it goes without saying that this method can be used not only for extending the functions of the printer driver but also for extending the functions of other dynamically linkable program modules.

As shown in FIG. 13, in the software, the upper module 130 is replaced by the lower module 131.
(For example, a library), the called lower module 131 performs a predetermined process, and the result (return value) of the process is returned to the upper module 130.

In a multitask environment, that is, an environment in which a plurality of programs run simultaneously, in order to avoid wasteful loading of the library commonly used between the applications (between the upper modules 130) into the memory in duplicate. Generally, a library is shared as a dynamically linkable program module among a plurality of applications. Here, the dynamically linkable program module is, for example, Windows.
And UNIX with DLL (Dynamic Link)
(Library) and Macintosh are called components (Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation, UNIX is a registered trademark licensed by X / OPEN Company Limited, M
acintosh is a registered trademark of Apple Computer Inc.). In the following third to fifth embodiments, a dynamically linkable program module will be described as a DLL.

A DLL is a set of routines that can be dynamically linked and called from another module. Generally, the header of a DLL file contains a routine name that can be called from another module. Is listed. Here, being able to be called from another module is called "exported". As a result, the upper module is DLL
By specifying the file name and the routine name (or routine number) of the file, the exported routine can be called.

Conventionally, to extend the functions of the above DLL,
As shown in FIG. 14, the source program is re-edited, compiled and a new DLL is created, and the old DLL is created.
It was necessary to perform a process to replace with. However, if the old DLL is an existing DLL created by another person and the source program is not at hand (for example, if it is provided as part of the operating system), create this DLL from scratch, Or had to give up the expansion. However, when a DLL is created from one, the interface between the higher-level module and the DLL, that is, the types of arguments and return values of the exported routine must be known.

In the following, on the assumption that the interface between the higher-level module and the DLL, that is, the types of the arguments and return values of the routine to be exported, are known, the link of the third embodiment can be dynamically linked. A method for extending a program module will be described.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a first example of a method for expanding a dynamically linkable program module according to the third embodiment. In FIG. 15, 130 indicates the above-described upper module, 150 indicates a DLL whose function is to be extended, and 151 indicates an extended DLL for extending the function of the DLL 150.

In FIG. 15, the file name of DLL 150 is changed to another file name, and
1 is given the original file name of the DLL 150. The extended DLL 151 exports all routines exported by the DLL 150, and can receive all calls issued from the upper module 130 to the routines included in the DLL 150. I have. Therefore, when the upper module 130 specifies and calls the file name of the DLL 150, the routine having the same name in the extended DLL 151 is called as a result. And the extended DLL
The 151 calls the DLL 150 by changing any argument of the call as necessary so that the function of the DLL 150 can be extended.

Next, the operation of the extended DLL 151 will be described with reference to the schematic flowchart of FIG. First, when the upper module 130 outputs the call A by specifying the file name and the routine name of the DLL 150, the extended DLL 15
1 inputs the call A (S1601).

Then, the extended DLL 151 determines whether it is necessary to change the argument in the input call A based on a preset condition (S1602). If it is not necessary to change the argument, the process advances to step S1604 to output the call A as the call B to the DLL 150 without changing the argument.

On the other hand, when it is necessary to change the argument, a new call B is generated by changing a part of the argument in the call A based on a predetermined procedure (S1603), and the generated call B is stored in the DLL 150. (S1604). The argument to be changed is necessary for extending the function of the DLL 150, and the argument is set in the extension DLL 151 in advance.

After that, the DLL 150 executes a predetermined process based on the call B, and outputs a return value A as a result of the process to the extended DLL 151. The extension DLL 151 is DL
The return value A is input from L150, and the input return value A is output as it is to the upper module 130, and the process ends (S1605). The return value A is the extended DLL1
Since this is for call B output by 51, it is different from the return value for call A output by upper module 130. However, the extended DLL 151 is
The input return value A may be output to the upper module 130 as another return value B. In addition, extended DLL
The return value returned from 151 to the upper module 130 is DL
The return value A returned by L150 to call B may be returned as it is, or another return value B may be returned as described above. At this time, the return value B may be an original value for the call A of the upper module 130. In addition, in steps S1602 and S1604 in FIG. 16, it is determined that no
The return value when output to LL 150 is the return value for call A.

As described above, as a result of the extension DLL 151 changing the call A from the upper module 130 to the DLL 150 in the middle, a different return value is returned to the upper module 130, and as a result, the DLL 150 Can be obtained as in the case where is replaced with a new DLL.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a second example of the method of extending a dynamically linkable program module according to the third embodiment. Extended DLL 17 shown in FIG.
0 implements a new routine R ′ having the same name as the routine R of the DLL 150.
When a call designating the routine R output to the LL 150 is input, a process based on the routine R 'is executed, and
A return value different from the return value based on the routine R of the LL 150 is output to the upper module 130.

Next, the operation of the extended DLL 170 will be described with reference to the schematic flowchart of FIG. First, when the upper module 130 outputs a call by specifying the file name of the DLL 150 and the routine R, the extended DLL 151
Inputs the call (S1801).

Then, the extension DLL 170 executes a process based on the routine R 'corresponding to the routine R specified by the call (S1802). It should be noted that the routine R ′ may include a step of calling the DLL 150 and executing a predetermined process (the dotted arrow 17 in FIG. 17).
1).

Thereafter, the extended DLL 170 outputs a return value as a result of the processing based on the routine R 'to the upper module 130, and ends the processing (S1803). When the DLL 150 is caused to execute a predetermined process, the return value is input (see a broken arrow 172 in FIG. 17).
A return value to be output to the upper module 130 is generated using the input return value.

As described above, the DLL1 is added to the extended DLL 170.
By implementing a routine having the same name as that of the DLL 50, the function of the DLL 150 can be expanded more directly and freely.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a third example of the method of extending a dynamically linkable program module according to the third embodiment. Extended DLL1 shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 90 denotes an interface other than the interface between the upper module 130 and the DLL 150, that is, DLL1.
A new routine which is not present in 50 but can be called by the upper module 130 is implemented, and this routine has been exported.

Next, the operation of the extended DLL 190 will be described with reference to the schematic flowchart of FIG. First, extended DL
When the L190 inputs a call designating a newly implemented routine (routine unique to the extended DLL 190) from the upper module 130 (S2001), it executes processing based on the designated routine (S2002). In addition,
The routine may include a step of calling the DLL 150 to execute a predetermined process (see a wavy arrow 191 in FIG. 19).

After that, the extended DLL 190 sends the return value, which is the result of the routine-based processing, to the upper module 130.
And the process ends (S2003). Note that DL
When the predetermined process is executed by the L150, the return value is input (see the dashed arrow 192 in FIG. 19), and the return value to be output to the upper module 130 is generated using the input return value.

As described above, the DLL1 is added to the extended DLL 190.
By implementing a routine that is not provided in the routine 50, the function of the DLL 150 can be expanded by the amount that the processing based on the routine can be executed.

In the description of the first to third examples, “return value” is naturally replaced with “output argument (called DL
(Argument written by L)), and it is also possible to configure an extended DLL combining the first to third examples. Also, it has been described that all routines exported by the DLL are exported to the extended DLL. However, when unnecessary functions occur in the functions of the DLL, only the necessary routines are extended. What is necessary is just to export to DLL.

In the following fourth and fifth embodiments, a description will be given of a color conversion processing apparatus to which the above-described method for expanding a dynamically linkable program module is applied and a method thereof.

[Embodiment 4] In the embodiment 4, the function of the existing printer driver which supports the color matching but cannot specify the color matching method for each object is used. A color conversion processing apparatus to which the dynamically linkable program module expansion method described in the third embodiment is applied and a method thereof will be described by taking expansion as an example.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a setting screen for designating the presence or absence of color matching in the color conversion processing device and the printer driver used in the method according to the fourth embodiment. (Based on the settings screen of the PostScript printer driver used as standard in typical operating systems), FIG.
2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a setting screen for designating a color matching method (denoted as rendering in FIG. 22). By using the setting screens shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, the setting of whether or not to perform color matching and the method of color matching such as preserving saturation and preserving contrast (color conversion parameters)
Can be set. However, it can be seen from FIGS. 21 and 22 that there is no designated field for the drawing target.
This is because, in the current printer driver, when specifying color matching, the color
This means that a matching method cannot be set (color conversion parameter setting), and only one color matching method can be designated for the entire screen. Therefore, the color conversion processing apparatus and method according to the fourth embodiment support the color matching, but extend the functions of the printer driver which does not support the color matching on an object basis. ,
This is to enable optimal color matching processing to be performed for each character or bitmap image (object) to be drawn.

FIG. 23 is a block diagram of a color conversion processing device according to the fourth embodiment. In FIG. 23, 210
Denotes an application, 211 denotes a drawing module corresponding to the upper module 130 described in the third embodiment,
Reference numeral 212 denotes the extended DLL 151, 1 described in the third embodiment.
The extended printer drivers corresponding to 70 and 190 are
13, a printer driver corresponding to the DLL 150 described in the third embodiment; 214, a monitor profile 2
217, a color conversion engine that executes a color matching process based on the printer profile 216 and the printer profile 216.
Indicates a printer.

The drawing module 211 inputs a drawing command (print command) of an arbitrary object and drawing color information indicating a drawing color of the object from the application 210, and supports a color matching method generated by initialization processing described later. The added parameters (hereinafter referred to as “color conversion parameters”) are added to the input drawing command, and the drawing command and the drawing color information are added to the extended printer driver 212.
Output to Note that the color conversion parameter added to the drawing command by the drawing module 211 is common to each object to be drawn.

Also, the extended printer driver 212
It is provided between the drawing module 211 and the printer driver 213, and is called by the drawing module 211. In the third embodiment, the DLL
Although the file name of the file 150 is made a file name of the extended DLL 151 or the like so that it can be called from the upper module 130, when the printer driver is installed in the computer, the DLL file name called from the drawing module 211 is changed. Since it is usually possible to specify the file name, the file name to be specified is set as the file name of the extended printer driver 212, so that the extended printer driver 212 can be called from the drawing module 211.

The extended printer driver 212 inputs a drawing command and drawing color information from the drawing module 211, and determines what kind of object the drawing command is based on the input drawing command. Based on the determination result, a color conversion parameter of a corresponding type is selected from a plurality of color conversion parameters prepared according to the type of the object generated in the initialization processing described later, and the genus color conversion added to the drawing command is selected. The parameters are replaced with the selected color conversion parameters and output to the printer driver 213 together with the drawing color information.

The printer driver 213 supports color matching as described above.
That is, it can receive a drawing command to which a color conversion parameter is added (having a parameter argument). As described with reference to FIGS. 21 and 22,
The user can use this printer driver 213 to specify the presence / absence of color matching and the method (not for each object).

When the drawing command and the drawing color information are input from the extended printer driver 212, the printer driver 213 outputs the color conversion command to which the color conversion parameter is added and the drawing color information to the color conversion engine 214. Then, the rendering command is converted into a rendering command unique to the printer 217, the rendering color information subjected to the color matching processing is input from the color conversion engine 214, and the rendering command and the rendering color information are output to the printer 217.

Further, the color conversion engine 214 receives the color conversion command added with the color conversion parameter and the drawing color information from the printer driver 213, and monitors the monitor profile 215 as the color characteristic information of the input device and the output device. Based on the printer profile 216, which is color characteristic information, color matching processing is performed on the drawing color information.
Note that the details of the color matching processing by the color conversion engine 214 are as described in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted here.

In the configuration of the color conversion processing device according to the fourth embodiment, the extended printer driver 21
2 is a type determining means and an attribute information replacing means of the present invention,
Printer driver 213 and color conversion engine 214
Correspond to the color conversion means (claim 12).

Next, the color conversion processing method according to the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to flowcharts in the order of (1) processing at the time of driver initialization, and (2) drawing command issuing processing by the extended printer driver.

(1) Processing at the time of driver initialization FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure at the time of driver initialization in the color conversion processing method according to the fourth embodiment.

The drawing module 211 inquires of the printer driver 213 about printer information / driver information regarding the presence / absence of color matching and acquires printer information / driver information (S2401).
Specifically, first, the extended printer driver 212 receives an inquiry from the drawing module 211, and receives the received inquiry as it is as the printer driver 213.
Pass to. Then, the extended printer driver 212 receives a return value related to printer information and driver information from the printer driver 213, and passes the received return value to the drawing module 211 as it is. As a result, the drawing module 211 executes the printer driver 21 as usual.
3, printer information and driver information can be obtained.

Then, based on the acquired printer information and driver information, the drawing module 211
The driver 213 supports color matching,
In addition, it is determined whether or not designation of color matching has been received (S2402). The printer driver 213 supports color matching as described above. On the other hand, the designation with color matching is performed as shown in FIG.
And on the setting screen shown in FIG.

At step S2402, the printer
If the driver 213 determines that it does not support color matching, or determines that the driver 213 supports color matching but does not specify that there is color matching, the initialization process ends.

On the other hand, if the printer driver 213 determines in step S2402 that the printer driver 213 supports color matching and that there is a designation that color matching is to be performed, the drawing module 211 performs color conversion to the printer driver 213. Issue a parameter generation instruction (S
2403).

The extended printer driver 212 receives a color conversion parameter generation command from the drawing module 211 and sends a color conversion parameter to the printer driver 213 for each of the three types of objects to be drawn based on preset conditions. Is issued (S2404). Here, the three types of objects are bitmap images, characters, and other graphic images. The three types of objects are based on the fact that the names of drawing instructions used in a general computer environment are different for bitmap images, characters, and other graphics. . In addition, the bitmap image and the other graphic images here correspond to “graphics such as presentation” and “graphic image” in the rendering column shown in FIG. 22, respectively.

Then, the printer driver 213 receives the color conversion parameter generation command from the extended printer driver 212, and outputs the input color conversion parameter generation command to the color conversion engine 214 (S2505).

When a color conversion parameter generation command is input from the printer driver 213, the color conversion engine 214 generates a color conversion parameter for a bitmap image, a color conversion parameter for a character, and a color conversion parameter for another graphic image. The generated three types of color conversion parameters are output to the printer driver 213 (S
2406).

When three types of color conversion parameters are input from the color conversion engine 214, the printer driver 213 outputs the input three types of color conversion parameters as they are to the extended printer driver 212 (S2407).

Subsequently, the extended printer driver 212
Receives three types of color conversion parameters from the printer driver 213, holds the three types of input color conversion parameters, and outputs one of the color conversion parameters to the drawing module 211 (S2408, S24).
09). Here, the reason that only one color conversion parameter is output to the drawing module 211 is that the drawing module 211 in a general computer environment can only specify a color matching method common to a plurality of types of objects to be drawn. This is because the color matching method cannot be designated for each object.
One color conversion parameter to be output can be determined according to the setting on the setting screen shown in FIG. 23, for example.

Then, the drawing module 211 receives and holds one color conversion parameter from the extended printer driver 212, and ends the initialization processing (S241).
0). The drawing module 211 adds the held color conversion parameters when actually outputting the drawing command.

In the above description, for the sake of convenience, the processing of generating three types of color conversion parameters between the extended printer driver 212 and the color conversion engine 214 is performed simultaneously. The output of the color conversion parameter generation command and the generation of the color conversion parameter are performed for each type of object. That is, when generating color conversion parameters for the three types of objects described above, step S2404 shown in FIG.
Steps S2408 to S2408 are repeated three times.

As described above, by providing the extended printer driver 212 to which the method of extending a program module that can be dynamically linked described in the third embodiment is applied, normally, one color conversion parameter generation instruction is provided. 1
Where only one color conversion parameter is generated,
The function of the printer driver 213 can be extended so that three color conversion parameters can be generated.

(2) Drawing Command Issuing Process by Extended Printer Driver Next, the drawing command issuing process by the extended printer driver 212 will be described. FIG. 25 shows the extended printer driver 21 in the color conversion processing method according to the fourth embodiment.
4 is a flowchart showing a drawing command issuing procedure according to No. 2;

When the drawing module 211 receives a drawing command (printing command) and drawing color information from the application 210, the drawing module 211 adds the color conversion parameter generated in the initialization processing to the drawing command, and draws the image with the color conversion parameter added. Outputs command and drawing color information. Upon input of the drawing command and the drawing color information from the drawing module 211, the extended printer driver 212 determines what kind of object the input drawing command is for (S2501, S2503, S2505).

Here, the process of determining the type of an object by the extended printer driver 212 will be described.
The extended printer driver 212 determines whether the object to be rendered is a bitmap image, a graphic image, or a character based on the rendering command. The reason why these three types are used is that, as described above, the names of the drawing instructions used in a general computer environment are different for bitmap images, graphic images, and texts. Because it is convenient.

In general, a series of commands including a drawing command issued from the drawing module to the printer driver includes, for example, a DDI (Device Driver In).
There is a function called a "terface" function, and this function can be classified as shown in FIG. 26 when classified by function. Then, the DDI function is exported to the extended printer driver 212, and DDI corresponding to desired classification, that is, bitmap drawing, text drawing, and graphics drawing is found, and the type of the object is determined. . Here, the name of the drawing command is used to determine the type of the object. After the determination of the type of the object, if the corresponding type of the three types of color conversion parameters generated in the initialization processing can be added to the drawing command, as described later, a printer at the subsequent stage can be used. In the driver 212 and the color conversion engine 214, color matching processing can be performed for each object.

Returning to the description of FIG. Extended printer
The driver 212 inputs a drawing command and drawing color information from the drawing module, and determines whether or not the drawing command is a command for drawing a bitmap image based on the input drawing command (S2501).

If it is determined in step S2501 that the command is a bitmap image drawing command, the extended printer driver 212 uses the three types of color conversion parameters generated and held in the initialization process to generate a bitmap image. A color conversion parameter is selected, the color conversion parameter added by the drawing module 211 is replaced with the selected color conversion parameter, a drawing command with a color conversion parameter for a bitmap image is generated, and the printer driver 213 is generated together with the drawing color information. And the process is terminated (S2502).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2501 that the command is not a bitmap image drawing command, the extended printer driver 212 determines whether the input drawing command is a graphic image drawing command (S2).
503).

If it is determined in step S2503 that the instruction is a graphic image drawing instruction, the extended printer driver 212 converts the color conversion parameters for the graphic image from the three types of color conversion parameters generated and held in the initialization processing. A parameter is selected, the color conversion parameter added by the drawing module 211 is replaced with the selected color conversion parameter, a drawing command with a color conversion parameter for a graphic image is generated, and output to the printer driver 213 together with the drawing color information. Then, the process ends (S2504).

If it is determined in step S2503 that the command is not a graphic image drawing command, the extended printer driver 212 determines whether the input drawing command is a character drawing command (S2505).

If it is determined in step S2505 that the command is a character drawing command, the extended printer driver 2
In step 12, a character color conversion parameter is selected from the three types of color conversion parameters generated and held in the initialization processing, and the color conversion parameter added by the drawing module 211 is replaced with the selected color conversion parameter. Then, a rendering command with a color conversion parameter for characters is generated and output to the printer driver 213 together with the rendering color information, and the process ends (S2504).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 2505 that the command is not a character drawing command, the extended printer driver 212 does not change its argument without any change.
The data is output to the printer driver 213 as it is, and the process is terminated. That is, the extended printer driver 212
In addition to the determination of the type of the object and the replacement of the color conversion parameter, it is compatible with the printer driver 213.

After that, the printer driver 213 receives the drawing command and the drawing color information from the extended printer driver 212, adds the color conversion parameter added to the drawing command to the color conversion command, and outputs it to the color conversion engine 214. I do. The color conversion engine 214 performs a color matching process on the drawing color information based on the added color conversion parameters, and outputs the drawing color information after the color matching process to the printer driver 213. The printer driver 213 converts the drawing command into a drawing command corresponding to the printer 217, inputs drawing color information from the color conversion engine 214, and outputs the drawing command together with the converted drawing command.
Output to

As described above, according to the color conversion processing apparatus and method of the fourth embodiment, the extended printer driver 212 for adding the color conversion parameter corresponding to the type of the object to the drawing command is provided. By simply providing the driver 212, it is possible to expand the functions of a printer driver that supports color matching but does not have a function of determining the type of drawing target, and can perform appropriate processing according to the type of object. A color matching process can be performed.

In the fourth embodiment, the extended printer
Although the three types of color conversion parameters held by the driver 212 are generated at the time of initialization of the driver, a rendering command is issued, and after it is determined what kind of object the rendering command is. , Can be generated according to the determined type.

Further, the extended printer driver 212
It is determined whether the drawing command is a bitmap image, a graphic image, or a character drawing command. However, the determination is not limited to these three types. good.

Further, here, first and second modified examples of the color conversion processing method and apparatus according to the fourth embodiment will be described.

(First Modification) The extended printer driver 212 determines whether the drawing command is a drawing command of a bitmap image, a graphic image, or a character, and adds the drawing command to the drawing command according to the determination result. Is replaced with a color conversion parameter corresponding to the type of the object. By the way, with respect to a specific object, for example, a character in graphics for presentation, a color more appealing for presentation may be required than a color close to a monitor screen. Generally, the print output without color conversion is
In many cases, the image is output to the eyes that are darker and brighter than the monitor screen. Therefore, in the first modification, when it is determined that the instruction is a character drawing instruction, the color conversion parameter is originally added without replacement. Clear the color conversion parameters
Prevent color matching processing from being performed.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the first modification. In FIG. 27, FIG.
The same steps as those described above are denoted by the same step numbers, and description thereof is omitted.

The processing for clearing the color conversion parameters described above is executed in step S2701. As a result, the extended printer driver 212 sends the printer driver 2
13 is output to the printer 217 via the printer driver 213 without performing color matching processing on the drawing color information. Note that the process of clearing the color conversion parameters can be performed when determining the type of the object to be drawn.

(Second Modification) Next, a second modification will be described. In the second modified example, similarly to the first modified example, clearing the color conversion parameter in a specific case will be described.

For cyan, magenta, yellow, black,
Primary colors such as red, green, blue, and white (including solid and low-density colors) or colors similar to them (hereinafter referred to as “special colors”) tend to have large errors in color matching. In some cases, it is better not to perform color matching in order to avoid errors. Therefore, in the second modification, when the color of a character is any of the above colors, the color matching processing is not performed on the drawing color information of the character. However, in order to prevent the adverse effects caused by not performing color matching in the gradation part, color matching should not be performed only when the above special color is used in the character part where gradation is hardly applied. It is desirable to do.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the second modification. In FIG. 28, FIG.
The same steps as those described above are denoted by the same step numbers, and description thereof is omitted.

When the extended printer driver 212
If it is determined in step S2505 that the command is a character drawing command, it is further determined based on the drawing color information whether the character color is the special color (S280).
1). If it is determined in step S2801 that the character is not a spot color, as described above, the color conversion parameter added to the drawing command is replaced with the character color conversion parameter (S2802). On the other hand, if it is determined that the character has a spot color, the color conversion parameter added to the drawing command is cleared. As a result, a rendering command without a color conversion parameter is output from the extended printer driver 212 to the printer driver 213, and the printer driver 213 does not perform the color matching process on the rendering color information. 217.

[Fifth Embodiment] The color conversion processing apparatus and method according to the fifth embodiment are applied to the color matching by applying the function expansion method of the dynamically linkable program module according to the third embodiment. It expands the functions of printer drivers that do not support it to support color matching.

If the printer driver supports color matching, the color conversion engine can be called as described in the fourth embodiment, but the printer driver supports color matching. Otherwise, the color conversion engine cannot be called, and as a result, the color matching process cannot be performed. Therefore, in the fifth embodiment, an extended printer driver capable of calling a color conversion engine is provided by a color printer.
By adding to a printer driver that does not support matching, it is possible to perform color matching processing that was originally impossible.

FIG. 29 is a block diagram of a color conversion processing apparatus according to the fifth embodiment. In FIG. 29, reference numeral 290 denotes an application, 291 denotes a drawing module corresponding to the upper module 130 described in the third embodiment,
2 is extended DLLs 151 and 17 described in the third embodiment.
The extended printer driver corresponding to 0, 190
Reference numeral 3 denotes a color conversion engine that executes color matching processing based on the monitor profile 294 and the printer profile 295, and 296 denotes D described in the third embodiment.
A printer driver corresponding to the LL 150 is shown, and 297 is a printer.

The drawing module 291 receives a drawing command (print command) and drawing color information from the application 290, and sets parameters (hereinafter referred to as “color conversion parameters”) corresponding to a color matching method generated in an initialization process described later. Is added to the input drawing command, and the drawing command and the drawing color information are added to the extended printer driver 292.
Output to

The extended printer driver 292 is
It is provided between the drawing module 291 and the printer driver 296 and is called by the drawing module 291. The extended printer driver 292 receives a drawing command and drawing color information from the drawing module 291 and determines, based on the input drawing command, what kind of object the drawing command is a drawing command of. Based on a plurality of color conversion parameters prepared in accordance with the type of the object generated in the initialization process described later, a corresponding color conversion parameter is selected, and a color conversion command to which the selected color conversion parameter is added is generated. Then, the image data is output to the color conversion engine 293 together with the input drawing color information. After that, color conversion engine 293
The drawing color information subjected to the matching processing is input, and a drawing command and drawing color information are output to the printer driver 296.

The color conversion engine 293 receives a color conversion command to which color conversion parameters are added and drawing color information from the extended printer driver 292, and outputs a monitor profile 294, which is color characteristic information of the input device, and an output device. The color matching processing is performed on the drawing color information based on the printer profile 295 which is the color characteristic information of. Note that the details of the color matching processing by the color conversion engine 293 are as described in the first embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted here.

Further, as described above, the printer driver 296 does not support color matching. The printer driver 296 receives the drawing command and the drawing color information subjected to the color matching processing from the extended printer driver 292, converts the drawing command into a drawing command unique to the printer 297, and outputs the drawing command together with the drawing color information. Output to

Since the printer driver 296 does not support color matching, it does not have the setting screen as shown in FIGS. 21 and 22 described in the fourth embodiment. Therefore, in the fifth embodiment, the setting screen is provided in the extended printer driver 292.
The user can specify the presence / absence of color matching and the method of color matching via the extended printer driver 292.

Further, in the configuration of the color conversion processing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment, the extended printer driver 29
2 is a type determination unit, a selection unit, and an output unit of the present invention;
The driver 296 corresponds to each of the drawing command conversion means (claim 13).

Next, a flowchart of the color conversion processing method according to the fifth embodiment will be described in the order of (1) processing at the time of driver initialization, (2) processing for determining the type of object, color conversion processing, and drawing command issuing processing. It will be described with reference to FIG.

(1) Processing at the time of driver initialization FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure at the time of driver initialization in the color conversion processing method according to the fifth embodiment.

The drawing module 291 makes an inquiry about printer information and driver information to the printer driver 296, and acquires printer information and driver information (S3001). Specifically, first, the extended printer driver 292 receives an inquiry from the drawing module 291 and passes the received inquiry to the printer driver 296. Then, the extended printer driver 29
2 receives a return value relating to printer information / driver information from the printer driver 296, adds information relating to color matching to the received return value, and passes the return value to the drawing module 291. as a result,
From the drawing module 291, the printer driver 29
6 would appear to correspond to color matching.

[0209] Then, based on the acquired printer information / driver information, the drawing module 291 outputs
Driver 296 supports color matching,
In addition, it is determined whether or not the color matching is specified (S3002). The printer driver 296 does not support color matching, but the extended printer driver supports color matching. In addition, the specification with color matching is available for extended printers.
21 and 22 described above in the driver 292.
Is performed by the user based on the setting screen shown in FIG.

In step S3002, the printer
If the driver 296 determines that it does not support color matching, or determines that it supports color matching but does not specify that color matching is to be performed, the initialization process ends.

On the other hand, if the printer driver 296 determines in step S3002 that the printer driver 296 supports color matching and that there is a designation of color matching, the drawing module 291 issues a color conversion parameter generation command. (S3003).

Since the extended printer driver 292 supports color matching, that is, has an argument for a color conversion parameter, and exports a color conversion command, the extended printer driver 292 outputs a color conversion parameter generation command from the drawing module 291. Upon input, a color conversion parameter generation command for generating a color conversion parameter for each of three types of objects to be rendered is issued to the color conversion engine 293 based on preset conditions (S3004). Here, the three types of objects are bitmap images, characters, and other graphic images as described in the fourth embodiment.

The color conversion engine 293 is an extended printer
When three types of color conversion parameter generation instructions are input from the driver 292, the color conversion parameters of the bitmap image,
A color conversion parameter for characters and a color conversion parameter for other graphics are generated, and the generated three types of color conversion parameters are output to the extended printer driver 292 (S3005).

The extended printer driver 292 receives three types of color conversion parameters from the color conversion engine 293, holds the three types of input color conversion parameters, and sends one of the color conversion parameters to the drawing module 291. Output (S3006, S3007).

Then, the drawing module 291 receives and holds one color conversion parameter from the extended printer driver 292, and ends the initialization processing (S300).
8). The drawing module 291 adds the held color conversion parameters when actually outputting the drawing command.

In the above description, for the sake of convenience, the processing of generating three types of color conversion parameters between the extended printer driver 292 and the color conversion engine 293 has been described as being performed simultaneously. The output of the color conversion parameter generation command and the generation of the color conversion parameter are performed for each type of object. That is,
The processing of steps S3004 to S3006 shown in FIG. 30 is repeated three times.

(2) Object Type Judgment Processing, Color Conversion Processing, and Drawing Command Issuing Processing Next, the object type judgment processing, color conversion processing, and drawing instruction issuing processing will be described. FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing the procedure of object type determination processing, color conversion processing, and rendering command issuing processing in the color conversion processing method according to the fifth embodiment.

Upon input of a drawing command (print command) and drawing color information from the application 290, the drawing module 291 adds the color conversion parameter generated by the above-described initialization processing to the drawing command, and adds the color conversion parameter. Output drawing command and drawing color information. Extended printer
As described in the fourth embodiment, the driver 292 has a function of determining what kind of object drawing command is based on the name of the drawing command. Therefore, the extended printer driver 29
2 receives the drawing command and the drawing color information from the drawing module 291 and determines whether or not the input drawing command is a drawing command of what kind of object (S3).
101, S3103, S3105).

That is, the extended printer driver 292
Inputs a drawing command and drawing color information from the drawing module 291 and determines whether or not the drawing command is a bitmap image drawing command based on the name of the input drawing command (S3101).

If it is determined in step S3101 that the command is a bitmap image drawing command, the extended printer driver 292 uses the three types of color conversion parameters generated and held in the initialization process to generate a bitmap image. The color conversion parameter is selected, and a color conversion command and drawing color information to which the selected color conversion parameter is added are output to the color conversion engine 293 (S3102).

The color conversion engine 293 is an extended printer
A color conversion command and drawing color information are input from the driver 292, and a color matching process is performed on the drawing color information based on a bitmap image color conversion parameter added to the input color conversion command. Is output to the extended printer driver 292 (S3103).

The extended printer driver 292
Inputs the drawing color information after the color matching processing from the color conversion engine, outputs the drawing command and the drawing color information to the printer driver 296, and ends the processing (S310).
4). Here, the drawing command to which the color conversion parameter is added is regenerated as a new drawing command in order to output the drawing command to a printer driver that does not support color matching.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S3101 that the command is not a bitmap image drawing command, the extended printer driver 292 determines whether the input drawing command is a graphic image drawing command (S3).
105).

If it is determined in step S3105 that the command is a graphic image drawing command, the extended printer driver 292 converts the three types of color conversion parameters generated and held in the initialization process into color conversion parameters for the graphic image. A parameter is selected, and a color conversion command to which the selected color conversion parameter is added and drawing color information are output to the color conversion engine 293 (S3106).

A color conversion engine 293 is an extended printer
A color conversion command and drawing color information are input from the driver 292, and a color matching process is performed on the drawing color information based on a color conversion parameter for a graphic image added to the input color conversion command. The applied drawing color information is output to the extended printer driver 292 (S3107).

Then, the extended printer driver 292
Inputs the drawing color information after the color matching processing from the color conversion engine, outputs the drawing command and the drawing color information to the printer driver 296, and ends the processing (S310).
8).

If it is determined in step S3105 that the command is not a graphic image drawing command, the extended printer driver 292 determines whether the input drawing command is a character drawing command (S3109).

If it is determined in step S3109 that the command is a character drawing command, the extended printer driver 2
92, a color conversion parameter for characters is selected from the three types of color conversion parameters generated and held in the initialization processing, and a color conversion command to which the selected color conversion parameter is added and drawing color information are subjected to color conversion. Output to the engine 293 (S3
110).

The color conversion engine 293 is an extended printer
A color conversion command and drawing color information are input from the driver 292, and a color matching process is performed on the drawing color information based on the character color conversion parameter added to the input color conversion command, and a color matching process is performed. The resulting drawing color information is output to the extended printer driver 292 (S31).
11).

The extended printer driver 292
Inputs the drawing color information after the color matching processing from the color conversion engine, outputs the drawing command and the drawing color information to the printer driver 296, and ends the processing (S311).
2).

If it is determined in step S3109 that the command is not a character drawing command, the extended printer
The driver 292 outputs the argument to the printer driver 296 without any change, and ends the process.

Thereafter, the printer driver 296 inputs a drawing command and drawing color information from the extended printer driver 292, converts the input drawing command into a drawing command specific to the printer 297, and outputs the drawing command together with the drawing color information.
Output to That is, the printer driver 296
Regardless of the presence of the extended printer driver 292, it is only necessary to receive the drawing command and the drawing color information after the color matching processing and execute the normal processing.

As described above, according to the color conversion processing method and the apparatus of the fifth embodiment, since the extended printer driver 292 which supports color matching and can determine the type of object is provided, -Printer drivers that do not support matching can be expanded to support color matching, and appropriate colors can be used depending on the type of object.
A matching process can be performed.

In the fifth embodiment, the extended printer
Although the three types of color conversion parameters held by the driver 292 are generated at the time of initialization of the driver, a rendering command is issued and after it is determined what kind of object the rendering command is. , Can be generated according to the determined type.

Further, the extended printer driver 292 is
It is determined whether the drawing command is a bitmap image, a graphic image, or a character drawing command. However, the determination is not limited to these three types. good.

Although detailed description is omitted here, the first and second modifications described in the fourth embodiment can be applied to the color conversion processing apparatus and the method in the fifth embodiment.

Finally, Embodiments 1 to 3 described above with reference to FIG.
5 illustrates an example of a hardware configuration that implements No. 5. In the figure, 1
01 is a CPU, 102 is a ROM, 103 is a RAM, 10
Reference numeral 4 denotes a hard disk, 105 denotes a floppy disk drive, 106 denotes an operation unit, 107 denotes a CD-ROM drive, 108 denotes a communication unit, 109 denotes a network expansion board, and 110 denotes a printer.

In the above configuration, the color conversion processing device of the present invention is realized as a program,
04. Then, the color conversion processing device of the present invention is realized by being read into the RAM 103 by the CPU 101 and executed.

Further, the color conversion processing method of the present invention, the method of extending a dynamically linkable program module, and the color conversion processing method to which the method is applied are programmed respectively.
Floppy disk, hard disk, CD-
It can be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a ROM and a DVD. Then, through the floppy disk device 105 and the CD-ROM device 107, the CPU
The above-described processing can be performed by the 101 reading and executing the program from these recording media. Further, the CPU 101 can also transmit or receive the program via the communication unit 108, the network expansion board 109, and the like.

[0240]

As described above, according to the color conversion processing apparatus according to the present invention (claim 1), color image information including at least one object is input, and color information is input to the input color image information. In a color conversion processing device having a color conversion means for performing a matching process and converting the data into transmission data to be transmitted to a color image output device, whether or not a color matching method is designated in the input color / image information If no color matching method is specified, the type determining means for determining the type of each object present in the color image information, and the type of the determined object are input and prepared in advance. From the information on the correspondence between the object type and the color matching method, the Selecting means for selecting a matching method, wherein the color conversion means specifies a color matching method in order to execute color matching processing for each object using the color matching method selected by the selecting means. Even for color image information that is not present, appropriate color matching processing can be executed for each object, and color image information can be output with high image quality.

According to the color conversion processing device of the present invention, when the color image information is a drawing command based on a device-dependent color signal, A color space is set and the drawing command is reconstructed so that the selecting device can convert the drawing command based on the device-dependent color signal into a drawing command based on the device-independent color signal. After inputting the rendering command, the device-dependent rendering command is converted into a device-independent rendering command, and then the device-independent rendering command is converted into transmission data to be transmitted to the color image output device. In a system for controlling color matching, even when color matching is OFF, color matching can be easily performed.

According to the color conversion processing device of the present invention (claim 3), in the color conversion processing device of claim 2, the selection means includes a gradation preserving type in the bitmap image drawing instruction. Since the execution of the color matching process is specified, the optimum color matching process can be executed according to the type of the object.

According to the color conversion processing device of the present invention, the selecting means does not reconstruct a drawing command other than a bitmap image. Therefore, optimal color matching processing can be executed according to the type of the object.

According to the color conversion processing device of the present invention, the selecting means may include a saturation preserving type in the drawing instruction of the single color object. Since the execution of the color matching process is specified, the optimum color matching process can be executed according to the type of the object.

Further, according to the color conversion processing device of the present invention, the selecting means may be arranged such that the selecting means includes a command for drawing a predetermined pattern including a plurality of colors. Since the execution of the color matching process between the saturation preserving type and the gradation preserving type is designated, the optimum color matching process can be executed according to the type of the object.

Further, according to the color conversion processing device of the present invention (claim 7), color image information including at least one object is input, and the input color image information is subjected to color matching processing. In a color conversion processing device provided with a color conversion means for converting into transmission data to be transmitted to a color image output device, an attribute of a color matching method is specified for each object present in the input color image information. Determination means for determining whether or not the object has not been specified, and if the attribute of the color matching method is not specified for the object, type determination means for determining the type of the object; inputting the determined type of the object; Corresponding to the type of object determined from the correspondence information between the object and the color matching method Attribute information adding means for selecting a color matching method and adding attribute information of the selected color matching method to the object, wherein the color converting means adds the attribute information of the color matching method added by the attribute information adding means. In order to execute the color matching process for each object based on the object, in the system that controls the color matching using the attributes of the object,
Even when the attribute of the color matching method is not specified for the object, the color matching process for each object can be easily executed.

According to the color conversion processing device of the present invention, when the object is a bitmap image, the attribute information adding means can control the object by adding the attribute information. Since attribute information corresponding to the gradation preserving type color matching method is added to the image data, optimal color matching processing can be executed according to the type of the object.

According to the color conversion processing apparatus of the present invention, when the object is other than a bitmap image,
Since the attribute information adding means does not add the attribute information of the color matching method to the object, it is possible to execute an optimum color matching process according to the type of the object.

According to the color conversion processing device of the present invention, when the object is a single color, the attribute information adding means can determine whether the object has a single color. Since the attribute information corresponding to the saturation preserving type color matching method is added, it is possible to execute the optimum color matching processing according to the type of the object.

According to the color conversion processing device of the present invention, when the object is a predetermined pattern including a plurality of colors, attribute information is added. Means for executing an optimal color matching process according to the type of the object in order to add attribute information corresponding to a color matching method intermediate between the saturation preserving type and the gradation preserving type to the object; Can be.

Further, according to the color conversion processing device of the present invention (claim 12), the arbitrary color information to which the attribute information of the predetermined color matching method is added from the drawing control means for controlling the drawing process for the color image output device. When the drawing command of the object and the drawing color information indicating the drawing color of the object are input, the drawing command is converted into a drawing command specific to the color image output device, and the color matching processing according to the attribute information is performed on the drawing color information. After performing the processing, the color conversion processing device having a color conversion means for outputting the drawing command and the drawing color information after the color matching to the color image output device determines the type of the object to be drawn based on the input drawing command. Holding a plurality of attribute information of a color matching method prepared for each type of object; Based on the judgment result of the judging means, the corresponding attribute information is selected from the plurality of pieces of attribute information, the attribute information added to the drawing command is replaced with the selected attribute information, and the drawing command and the drawing color information are converted into color conversion means. And color conversion means for performing color matching processing on the drawing color information based on the attribute information replaced by the attribute information replacement means. However, it is possible to execute appropriate color matching processing according to the type of the object while using a color conversion unit (printer driver) that cannot determine the type of the object to be drawn.

According to the color conversion processing device of the present invention, the drawing control means for controlling the drawing process for the color image output device draws an arbitrary object and displays the drawing color of the object. A drawing command conversion unit that does not support color matching processing that inputs color information, converts the input drawing command into a drawing command specific to the color image output device, and outputs the drawing command together with the drawing color information to the color image output device. And inputting a drawing instruction of an arbitrary object to which attribute information of a predetermined color matching method is added and drawing color information indicating a drawing color of the object from the drawing control means. Type determining means for determining the type of the object to be rendered based on the image, and a color mask prepared for each type of the object. A plurality of attribute information of the ching method are held, and a selection means for selecting the corresponding attribute information from the plurality of attribute information based on the determination result of the type determination means, and an input based on the attribute information selected by the selection means. Color conversion means for performing color matching processing on drawing color information; and output means for outputting drawing color information after color matching processing together with a new drawing command to the drawing command conversion means based on the input drawing command. The drawing command conversion means receives a drawing command and drawing color information from the output means, converts the input drawing command into a drawing command unique to the color image output device, and outputs the drawing command together with the drawing color information to the color image output device. Therefore, while using rendering command conversion means (printer driver) that does not support color matching, an appropriate color It may perform quenching process.

According to the color conversion processing apparatus of the present invention, the color conversion processing apparatus according to the twelfth or thirteenth aspect further comprises a color conversion means based on preset information. Request generation of multiple attribute information,
Since a plurality of attribute information generated by the color conversion means is provided and stored, a plurality of pieces of attribute information can be prepared by the simplest processing, and appropriate color matching according to the type of the object can be performed. Processing can be performed.

According to the color conversion processing device of the present invention (claim 15), in the color conversion processing device of any one of claims 12 to 14, the type of the object is a bitmap image, Since there are three types of characters and other graphic images, it is possible to easily determine the type of the object by the drawing command.

According to the color conversion processing device of the present invention, in the color conversion processing device according to the fifteenth aspect, the type determining means determines that the object to be drawn is a character. In order to prevent the color matching processing from being performed on the corresponding drawing color information, a color / color that can satisfy the demand for the user who gives priority to the density and vividness of the character over the color matching. Matching processing becomes possible.

According to the color conversion processing device of the present invention, the type determining means determines that the object to be drawn is a character. Furthermore, it is determined whether the character color corresponds to any of cyan, magenta, yellow, black, red, green, blue, and white. If it is determined that the character color corresponds to any of the colors, To prevent color matching processing from being performed on the relevant drawing color information, avoid color discontinuities,
It is possible to perform an appropriate color matching process for each object while suppressing an error in color matching.

According to the color conversion processing method (claim 18) of the present invention, an input step of inputting color image information including at least one object, and a color matching process for the input color image information And a color conversion step of converting the input color image information into color data to be transmitted to a color image output device.
A determining step of determining whether or not a matching method is specified; a type determining step of determining the type of an individual object existing in the color image information if no color matching method is specified; Selecting a color matching method corresponding to the determined object type from the correspondence information between the object type and the color matching method prepared in advance, and selecting a color matching method corresponding to the determined object type. Since the color matching process selected for each object is performed using the color matching method selected in the selection step, even if the color image information for which the color matching method is not specified is appropriate for each object, The color matching process can be executed. It is possible to output the over-character information on the image quality.

According to a color conversion processing method according to the present invention (claim 19), in the color conversion processing method according to claim 18, when the color image information is a drawing command based on a device-dependent color signal, The selecting step includes a step of setting a color space and reconstructing the drawing command so that the drawing command based on the device-dependent color signal can be converted into a drawing command based on the device-independent color signal. After inputting the drawing command reconstructed in step 2, the device-dependent drawing command is converted into a device-independent drawing command, and then the device-independent drawing command is converted into transmission data to be transmitted to the color image output device. In a system that controls color matching using, even when color matching is OFF, color matching can be easily performed. It may enable execution.

Further, according to the color conversion processing method of the present invention, the selecting step may include the step of storing a gradation preserving type in the bitmap image drawing instruction. Since the execution of color matching processing is specified, the optimal color
A matching process can be performed.

According to the color conversion processing method of the present invention, the selecting step does not reconstruct a drawing command other than a bitmap image. Therefore, optimal color matching processing can be executed according to the type of the object.

According to the color conversion processing method of the present invention, the selecting step may include the step of setting the saturation preserving type in the drawing instruction of the monochrome object. Since the execution of the color matching process is specified, the optimum color matching process can be executed according to the type of the object.

According to the color conversion processing method according to the present invention (claim 23), in the color conversion processing method according to claim 19, the selecting step includes the step of executing a predetermined pattern drawing instruction including a plurality of colors. Since the execution of the color matching process between the saturation preserving type and the gradation preserving type is designated, the optimum color matching process can be executed according to the type of the object.

According to the color conversion processing method (claim 24) of the present invention, an input step of inputting color image information including at least one object, and a color matching process for the input color image information And a color conversion step of performing a color conversion process to convert the color data into transmission data to be transmitted to a color image output device. A determination step for determining whether or not there is a specification, and a type determination step for determining the type of the object when the attribute of the color matching method is not specified for the object. From the correspondence information between the type of object and the color matching method. A color matching method corresponding to the type of the selected object, and an attribute information adding step of adding attribute information of the selected color matching method to the object, wherein the color conversion step is added in the attribute information adding step. In order to execute the color matching process for each object based on the attribute information of the color matching method, the attribute of the color matching method is specified for the object in the system that controls the color matching using the attribute of the object. Even when there is no color matching processing, the color matching processing for each object can be easily executed.

According to a color conversion processing method according to the present invention (claim 25), in the color conversion processing method according to claim 24, when the object is a bitmap image,
Since the attribute information adding step adds attribute information corresponding to the gradation preserving type color matching method to the object, it is possible to execute an optimum color matching process according to the type of the object.

According to the color conversion processing method according to the present invention (claim 26), in the color conversion processing method according to claim 24, if the object is other than a bitmap image, the attribute information adding step includes the step of: Since the attribute information of the color matching method is not added to the object, it is possible to execute the optimum color matching processing according to the type of the object.

According to a color conversion processing method according to the present invention (claim 27), in the color conversion processing method according to claim 24, when the object is a single color, the attribute information adding step includes: To add attribute information corresponding to the saturation preserving color matching method,
Optimal color matching processing can be executed according to the type of object.

According to a color conversion processing method according to the present invention (claim 28), in the color conversion processing method according to claim 24, if the object is a predetermined pattern including a plurality of colors, attribute information is added. The step is to execute an optimal color matching process according to the type of the object in order to add attribute information corresponding to an intermediate color matching method between the saturation preservation type and the gradation preservation type to the object. Can be.

Further, according to the method of extending the function of a dynamically linkable program module according to the present invention (claim 29), the link is performed at the time of execution of an upper module such as an operating system or an application program, and the upper module is linked. In a method for dynamically expanding a function of a program module capable of inputting an instruction and executing a process according to the input instruction, a first instruction output from a higher-level module to the program module is input, and a predetermined instruction is input. An instruction generating step of generating a second instruction by changing an arbitrary argument in the input first instruction based on a condition, and outputting the generated second instruction to a program module; Input the processing result according to the instruction of the above, based on the input processing result,
And a process result output step of outputting a process result for a higher-level module to a higher-level module. Therefore, even if the program module is already available and its source program is not at hand, the program can be executed in the simplest form. The function of the module can be extended and changed.

According to the method of extending the function of a dynamically linkable program module according to the present invention (claim 30), the link is performed when an upper module such as an operating system or an application program is executed, and the upper module is linked from the upper module. A method for expanding a function of a dynamically linkable program module for inputting an instruction and executing a process corresponding to the input instruction, the instruction execution information having the same name as the instruction execution information of a routine or the like included in the program module and having a different content. At least one is provided, and when an instruction that specifies any of the instruction execution information is input from the upper module, processing corresponding to the input instruction is executed based on the corresponding instruction execution information, and the executed processing result is displayed. Since it includes an instruction execution step to output to the upper module, Lumpur are of established, even when the source program is not at hand, it is possible to extend or change the functionality of the program modules.

According to the method of extending the function of a dynamically linkable program module according to the present invention (claim 31), the link is performed at the time of execution of a higher-level module such as an operating system or an application program, and the higher-level module is linked. In a method for expanding a function of a dynamically linkable program module for inputting an instruction and executing a process according to the input instruction, at least one instruction execution information such as a routine that can be specified from a higher-level module and has no program module is provided. Are prepared,
When an instruction specifying instruction execution information is input from the upper module, a predetermined process is executed based on the corresponding instruction execution information, and an instruction execution step of outputting the executed processing result to the upper module is included. Including the step of outputting instructions to the program module according to the instruction execution information and causing the program module to execute processing based on the instruction execution information, so that the program module is already available and the source program is not available Even in this case, the function of the program module can be extended and changed in a form having the greatest degree of freedom.

According to a color conversion processing method to which the method of extending the function of a dynamically linkable program module according to the present invention is applied (claim 32), the color conversion processing method according to any one of claims 29 to 31 is provided. A color conversion processing method to which a function expansion method of a dynamically linkable program module is applied, wherein a higher-level module is a drawing control unit for controlling a drawing process for a color image output device, and the program module is a drawing control unit. When a drawing instruction of an arbitrary object to which attribute information of a predetermined color matching method is added and drawing color information indicating a drawing color of an object are input from the user, the drawing instruction is converted into a drawing instruction specific to the color image output device. After applying color matching processing according to attribute information to drawing color information, drawing instruction and color matching In the color conversion processing method in which the color conversion means outputs the drawing color information to the color image output device, a drawing instruction and drawing color information are input from the drawing control means, and the drawing target is determined based on the input drawing instruction. A type determining step of determining the type of the object; and, based on the determination result of the type determining step, selecting the corresponding attribute information from the attribute information of the different color matching methods prepared for each type of the object. Replacing the attached attribute information with the selected attribute information and outputting a drawing command and drawing color information to the color conversion means. Color matching is performed on the drawing color information by the color conversion means based on the Made while using the color conversion means can not determine the type of object (printer driver) can perform a proper color matching process according to the type of object.

According to a color conversion processing method to which the method of extending the function of a dynamically linkable program module according to the present invention is applied (claim 33), the color conversion processing method according to any one of claims 29 to 31 is provided. A color conversion processing method to which a function expansion method of a dynamically linkable program module is applied, wherein a higher-level module is a drawing control unit for controlling a drawing process for a color image output device, and the program module is a drawing control unit. Input drawing command of an arbitrary object and drawing color information indicating the drawing color of the object from, convert the input drawing command into a drawing command specific to the color image output device, and output the drawing command together with the drawing color information to the color image output device. In the color conversion processing method when the rendering command conversion means does not support the color matching processing to be performed, Inputting a drawing instruction of an arbitrary object to which attribute information of the color matching method is added and drawing color information indicating a drawing color of the object, and determining a type of an object to be drawn based on the input drawing instruction A determination step, a selection step of selecting corresponding attribute information from a plurality of pieces of attribute information indicating different color matching methods prepared for each type of object based on a determination result of the type determination step, and a selection step. A color conversion step of performing a color matching process on the input drawing color information based on the input attribute information, and drawing after the color matching process together with a new drawing command to the drawing command conversion means based on the input drawing command. And an output step of outputting color information, so that the drawing command and the drawing color information output in the output step can be used. The drawing command conversion means converts the drawing command into a drawing command unique to the color image output device, and outputs the drawing command together with the drawing color information to the color image output device. (Driver) while executing appropriate color matching processing according to the type of object.

Further, according to the color conversion processing method to which the method of extending the function of the dynamically linkable program module according to the present invention is applied (claim 34),
In the color conversion processing method to which the function expansion method of the dynamically linkable program module described in (1) is applied, furthermore, after generating a plurality of attribute information according to the type of the object based on preset information, Since the method includes a step of holding the generated plurality of pieces of attribute information, the plurality of pieces of attribute information can be prepared by the simplest processing, and appropriate color matching processing according to the type of the object can be performed.

According to the color conversion processing method (claim 35) to which the function expansion method of the dynamically linkable program module according to the present invention is applied, any one of claims 32-34. In the color conversion processing method to which the function expansion method of the dynamically linkable program module is applied, there are three types of objects: bitmap images, characters, and other graphic images. It is possible to easily determine the type.

According to a color conversion processing method to which the method of extending the function of a dynamically linkable program module according to the present invention is applied (claim 36), the dynamically linkable program module according to claim 35 is provided. In the color conversion processing method to which the function expansion method of the above is applied, in the type determination step, when it is determined that the object to be drawn is a character,
A color matching process that satisfies the needs of users who prioritize darkness and vividness over color matching for characters so that color matching processing is not performed on the corresponding drawing color information. Becomes possible.

According to the color conversion processing method to which the method of extending the function of a dynamically linkable program module according to the present invention is applied (claim 37), the dynamically linkable program module according to claim 36 is provided. In the color conversion processing method to which the function expansion method of the above is applied, in the type determination step, when it is determined that the object to be drawn is a character,
Furthermore, it is determined whether the color of the character corresponds to any of cyan, magenta, yellow, black, red, green, blue, and white. In order to prevent the color matching processing from being performed on the drawing color information, it is possible to avoid the color discontinuity, suppress the error of the color matching, and perform the appropriate color matching processing for each object.

According to the computer-readable recording medium of the present invention (claim 38), claims 18 to
28, a program for causing a computer to execute the color conversion processing method described in any one of 28 is recorded. By causing the computer to execute the program, even if color image information for which a color matching method is not specified, Appropriate color matching processing can be performed for each object, color image information can be output with high image quality, and in a system that controls color matching using object attributes, Even if the attribute of the color matching method is not specified in, the color matching processing for each object can be easily executed.

According to the computer-readable recording medium of the present invention (Claim 39), Claims 29 to
31 has recorded a program for causing a computer to execute the method for dynamically expanding the function of a dynamically linkable program module described in any one of the items 31. By executing the program on a computer, the program module is a ready-made program module. Even if the source program is not at hand, the functions of the program module can be extended and changed.

Furthermore, according to the computer-readable recording medium of the present invention (claim 40), claim 32
37, a program for causing a computer to execute a color conversion processing method to which the method of extending a function of a dynamically linkable program module described in any one of the above-described embodiments is applied. , But using color conversion means (printer driver) that cannot determine the type of object to be rendered, and performing appropriate color matching processing according to the type of object In addition, it is possible to execute appropriate color matching processing according to the type of the object while using a drawing command conversion unit (printer driver) that does not support color matching.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a color conversion processing device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the printer driver shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an operation of a printer output data generation unit illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a color image including various graphics.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the color image conversion apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows a case where an object is a bitmap image.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a method of mapping colors that cannot be reproduced by a printer with constant hue and brightness.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of mapping a color that cannot be reproduced by a printer to a color having the smallest color difference when an object is a monochromatic font or a line drawing.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a modification of the color conversion processing device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a color conversion processing device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the printer driver shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the color image conversion device according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a modification of the color conversion processing device according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a method of expanding a dynamically linkable program module according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a method of expanding a dynamically linkable program module according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a first example of a method for expanding a dynamically linkable program module according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a schematic flowchart illustrating a first example of a method of expanding a dynamically linkable program module according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a second example of the method of extending a dynamically linkable program module according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a schematic flowchart illustrating a second example of the method of extending a dynamically linkable program module according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a third example of the method of extending a dynamically linkable program module according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a schematic flowchart illustrating a third example of the method of extending a dynamically linkable program module according to the third embodiment;

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a setting screen for designating the presence or absence of color matching in the color conversion processing device according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a setting screen for designating a color matching method in the color conversion processing device according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a block diagram of a color conversion processing device according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure at the time of driver initialization in the color conversion processing method according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing a drawing command issuing procedure by an extended printer driver in the color conversion processing method according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram for explaining functions of DDI functions by classifying the functions;

FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a first modification of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a second modified example in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 29 is a block diagram of a color conversion processing device according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure at the time of driver initialization in the color conversion processing method according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of an object type determination process, a color conversion process, and a drawing command issuing process in the color conversion processing method according to the fifth embodiment;

FIG. 32 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration for realizing the present invention (Embodiments 1 to 5).

[Explanation of symbols]

11, 211, 291 Drawing module 12, 210, 290 Application 13, 91, 213, 296 Printer driver 14, 217, 297 Printer 21 Drawing command converter 22, 93 Printer output data generator 23, 94 Color matching module 24 to 26, 95 to 97, 214, 293 Color conversion engine 27, 98 Device profile 41 Color image 42 Natural image (bitmap image) 43 Font 44 Line drawing 45 Monochromatic fill pattern 92 CMM attribute setting unit 130 Upper module 150 DLL 151, 170, 190 Extended DLL 212, 292 Extended Printer Driver 215, 294 Monitor Profile 216, 295 Printer Profile

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification symbol FI H04N 1/46 G06F 15/66 310 H04N 1/46 Z (72) Inventor Takanori Yano 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo No. Ricoh Co., Ltd. (54) [Title of the Invention] Color conversion processing device and method, dynamically linkable program module expansion method, color conversion processing method to which it is applied, and execution of those methods on computer Computer-readable recording medium recording a program to be executed

Claims (40)

[Claims] 1. Color conversion for inputting color image information including at least one object, performing color matching processing on the input color image information, and converting the input color image information into transmission data to be transmitted to a color image output device. Means for judging whether or not the input color image information has a color matching method specified therein, and if the color matching method has not been specified, the color conversion processing apparatus comprises: Type determining means for determining the type of each object present in the image information, and inputting the determined type of the object, and performing the determination based on correspondence information between the type of the object prepared in advance and the color matching method. Selection means for selecting a color matching method corresponding to the type of object. A color conversion processing apparatus, wherein the color conversion means executes a color matching process for each object using a color matching method selected by the selection means. 2. The color conversion processing device according to claim 1, wherein, if the color image information is a drawing command based on a device-dependent color signal, the selection unit transmits the drawing command based on the device-dependent color signal to the device. A color space is set and the drawing command is reconstructed so that the drawing command can be converted into a drawing command using an independent color signal. The color conversion means inputs the drawing command reconstructed by the selection means and outputs the device-dependent drawing command. A color conversion processing apparatus comprising: converting a command into a device-independent drawing command; and converting the device-independent drawing command into transmission data to be transmitted to a color image output device. 3. The color conversion processing device according to claim 2, wherein said selection means designates execution of a tone-conserving type color matching process in a bitmap image drawing command. Processing equipment. 4. The color conversion processing device according to claim 2, wherein said selection means does not reconstruct a drawing command other than a bitmap image. 5. A color conversion apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said selection means designates execution of a saturation-conserving type color matching process in a rendering command of a single-color object. Processing equipment. 6. The color conversion processing device according to claim 2, wherein said selection means includes a color / color conversion intermediate between a saturation preserving type and a gradation preserving type in a drawing command of a predetermined pattern including a plurality of colors.
A color conversion processing device for designating execution of a matching process. 7. Color conversion for inputting color image information including at least one object, performing color matching processing on the input color image information, and converting the input color image information into transmission data to be transmitted to a color image output device. Means for determining whether an attribute of a color matching method is designated for each object present in the input color image information, and・
If the attribute of the matching method is not specified, the type determining means for determining the type of the object and the type of the determined object are input, and the correspondence information between the previously prepared object type and the color matching method is used. Attribute information adding means for selecting a color matching method corresponding to the determined type of the object and adding attribute information of the selected color matching method to the object; A color conversion processing device for performing a color matching process for each object based on attribute information of a color matching method added by an adding unit. 8. The color conversion processing device according to claim 7, wherein the object is a bitmap image.
A color conversion processing apparatus, wherein the attribute information adding means adds attribute information corresponding to a tone preserving type color matching method to the object. 9. The color conversion processing device according to claim 7, wherein when the object is other than a bitmap image, the attribute information adding unit does not add attribute information of a color matching method to the object. A color conversion processing device characterized by the above-mentioned. 10. The color conversion processing device according to claim 7, wherein, when the object is a single color, the attribute information adding means transmits attribute information corresponding to a saturation-preserving color matching method to the object. A color conversion processing device characterized by adding. 11. The color conversion processing device according to claim 7, wherein when the object is a predetermined pattern including a plurality of colors, the attribute information adding means determines whether the object has a saturation preserving type and a gradation. A color conversion processing device, wherein attribute information corresponding to a storage type intermediate color matching method is added. 12. A drawing control unit for controlling a drawing process for a color image output device, a drawing command of an arbitrary object to which attribute information of a predetermined color matching method is added, and drawing color information indicating a drawing color of the object. When input, the rendering command is converted into a rendering command unique to the color image output device, and after performing a color matching process on the rendering color information according to the attribute information,
In a color conversion processing device having a color conversion unit for outputting the drawing command and drawing color information after color matching to the color image output device, a type of an object to be drawn is determined based on the input drawing command. A plurality of attribute information of a color matching method prepared for each type of object, and selecting corresponding attribute information from the plurality of attribute information based on a determination result of the type determining means. And attribute information replacement means for replacing the attribute information added to the drawing command with the selected attribute information and outputting the drawing command and the drawing color information to the color conversion means. , Based on the attribute information replaced by the attribute information replacing means,
A color conversion processing device that performs a color matching process on the drawing color information. 13. A drawing command for an arbitrary object and drawing color information indicating a drawing color of the object are input from drawing control means for controlling a drawing process for the color image output device, and the input drawing command is sent to the color image output device. A color conversion processing apparatus comprising: a rendering command conversion unit that does not support a color matching process that is converted into a unique rendering command and output to the color image output device together with the rendering color information. A drawing instruction of an arbitrary object to which attribute information of a predetermined color matching method is added and drawing color information indicating a drawing color of the object are input, and a type of an object to be drawn is determined based on the input drawing instruction. And a plurality of attribute information of color matching methods prepared for each type of object. Selecting means for selecting corresponding attribute information from the plurality of pieces of attribute information based on the determination result of the type determining means; and color-coding the input drawing color information based on the attribute information selected by the selecting means. -Color conversion means for performing matching processing; and output means for outputting drawing color information after color matching processing together with a new drawing command to the drawing command conversion means based on the input drawing command, The drawing command conversion means receives a drawing command and drawing color information from the output means, converts the input drawing command into a drawing command unique to the color image output device, and sends the drawing command together with the drawing color information to the color image output device. A color conversion processing device for outputting. 14. The color conversion processing device according to claim 12, further comprising: requesting the color conversion unit to generate the plurality of pieces of attribute information based on preset information. A color conversion processing device, comprising: a holding unit that inputs and holds a plurality of pieces of attribute information generated in (1). 15. The color conversion processing device according to claim 12, wherein the types of the objects are three types of bitmap images, characters, and other graphic images. Color conversion processing device. 16. The color conversion processing device according to claim 15, wherein the type determination means does not perform color matching processing on the corresponding drawing color information when determining that the drawing target object is a character. A color conversion processing device. 17. The color conversion processing device according to claim 16, wherein said type determining means further determines that the color of the character is cyan, magenta, yellow, black when the object to be drawn is determined to be a character. , Red, green, blue or white, and if it is determined that the color of the character corresponds to any of the above colors, no color matching processing is performed on the corresponding drawing color information. A color conversion processing device. 18. An input step of inputting color image information including at least one object, and performing color matching processing on the input color image information to convert the input color image information into transmission data to be transmitted to a color image output device. A color conversion processing method comprising the steps of: determining whether a color matching method is specified in the input color image information; and not specifying the color matching method. A type determining step of determining the type of an individual object existing in the color image information; inputting the determined type of the object; and obtaining correspondence information between a previously prepared object type and a color matching method. , Color match corresponding to the determined object type A color conversion process, wherein the color conversion process includes performing a color matching process for each of the objects using the color matching method selected in the selection step. Method. 19. The color conversion processing method according to claim 18, wherein, if the color image information is a drawing command based on a device-dependent color signal, the selecting step includes the step of transmitting the drawing command based on the device-dependent color signal to the device. Setting a color space and reconstructing the drawing command so that the drawing command can be converted into a drawing command using an independent color signal, wherein the color conversion step inputs the drawing command reconstructed in the selecting step, A color conversion processing method comprising: converting a dependent rendering command into a device-independent rendering command; and then converting the device-independent rendering command into transmission data to be transmitted to a color image output device. 20. A color conversion method according to claim 19, wherein said selecting step designates execution of a tone preserving type color matching process in a bitmap image drawing command. Conversion processing method. 21. The color conversion processing method according to claim 19, wherein said selecting step does not reconstruct a drawing command other than a bitmap image. 22. A color conversion method according to claim 19, wherein said selecting step designates execution of a saturation-preserving type color matching process in a rendering command of a single-color object. Processing method. 23. A color conversion processing method according to claim 19, wherein said selecting step includes a color matching process between a saturation preserving type and a gradation preserving type in a drawing command of a predetermined pattern including a plurality of colors. A color conversion processing method, wherein execution of the color conversion is designated. 24. An inputting step of inputting color image information including at least one object, and performing a color matching process on the input color image information to convert the input color image information into transmission data to be transmitted to a color image output device. A color conversion processing method comprising: determining whether an attribute of a color matching method is specified for each object present in the input color image information;
If the attribute of the color matching method is not specified for the object, a type determining step of determining the type of the object, and inputting the determined type of the object, and inputting the type and color
An attribute information adding step of selecting a color matching method corresponding to the determined type of the object from the correspondence information with the matching method, and adding attribute information of the selected color matching method to the object;
Wherein the color conversion step performs a color matching process for each object based on the attribute information of the color matching method added in the attribute information adding step. 25. The color conversion processing method according to claim 24, wherein, when the object is a bitmap image, the attribute information adding step corresponds to a gradation matching type color matching method for the object. A color conversion processing method characterized by adding attribute information. 26. The color conversion processing method according to claim 24, wherein when the object is other than a bitmap image, the attribute information adding step does not add attribute information of the color matching method to the object. A color conversion processing method. 27. The color conversion processing method according to claim 24, wherein, if the object is a single color, the attribute information adding step includes, for the object, attribute information corresponding to a saturation preserving type color matching method. A color conversion processing method characterized by adding. 28. The color conversion processing method according to claim 24, wherein, when the object is a predetermined pattern including a plurality of colors, the attribute information adding step includes: A color conversion processing method characterized by adding attribute information corresponding to a storage type intermediate color matching method. 29. A dynamically linkable program module which is linked when an upper module such as an operating system or an application program is executed, inputs an instruction from the upper module, and executes a process according to the input instruction. In the function expansion method, a first instruction output from the higher-level module to the program module is input, and an arbitrary argument in the input first instruction is changed based on a preset condition to change a second instruction.
An instruction generating step of generating the second instruction and outputting the generated second instruction to the program module; and inputting a processing result corresponding to the second instruction from the program module, based on the input processing result. A process result output step of outputting a process result for a higher-level module to the higher-level module. 30. A dynamically linkable program module which is linked when an upper module such as an operating system or an application program is executed, inputs an instruction from the upper module, and executes a process according to the input instruction. In the function expansion method, at least one piece of instruction execution information having the same name and different content as instruction execution information of a routine or the like included in the program module is prepared, and one of the instruction execution information is designated from the upper module. Dynamically linking when an instruction is input, the instruction execution step of executing a process corresponding to the input instruction based on the corresponding instruction execution information and outputting a result of the executed process to the upper module. How to extend the functionality of possible program modules. 31. A dynamically linkable program module that is linked when an upper module such as an operating system or an application program is executed, receives an instruction from the upper module, and executes a process according to the input instruction. In the function expansion method, at least one piece of instruction execution information such as a routine that can be specified from the upper module and that the program module does not have is prepared, and when an instruction specifying the instruction execution information is input from the upper module, An instruction execution step of executing a predetermined process based on the corresponding instruction execution information and outputting a result of the executed process to the upper module, wherein the instruction execution step includes an instruction to the program module according to the instruction execution information. Is output to the program module A method of expanding the function of a dynamically linkable program module, comprising a step of executing a process based on the instruction execution information. 32. A color conversion processing method to which the function expansion method of a dynamically linkable program module according to any one of claims 29 to 31 is applied, wherein said higher-level module outputs a color image. Drawing control means for controlling a drawing process for an apparatus, wherein the program module indicates a drawing command of an arbitrary object to which attribute information of a predetermined color matching method is added from the drawing control means and a drawing color of the object When the drawing color information is input, the drawing command is converted into a drawing command unique to the color image output device, and the drawing color information is subjected to a color matching process according to the attribute information. Color conversion when the color conversion means outputs drawing color information after color matching to the color image output device In the processing method, the drawing command and the drawing color information are input from the drawing control means, and a type determining step of determining a type of an object to be drawn based on the input drawing command; Based on the attribute information of the different color matching methods prepared for each type of object, and replacing the attribute information added to the drawing instruction with the selected attribute information. An attribute information replacement step of outputting a drawing command and drawing color information to the color conversion means, the color conversion means converting the drawing color information based on the attribute information replaced by the attribute information replacement means. A color change applying a function expansion method of a dynamically linkable program module characterized by being subjected to a color matching process. Processing method. 33. A color conversion processing method to which the function linking method of a dynamically linkable program module according to claim 29 is applied, wherein said higher-level module outputs a color image. Drawing control means for controlling drawing processing for the apparatus, wherein the program module inputs a drawing command for an arbitrary object and drawing color information indicating a drawing color of the object from the drawing control means, and converts the input drawing command into a color The color conversion processing method according to claim 1, wherein said rendering command conversion means converts the rendering command into a rendering command specific to the image output device and outputs the rendering command together with the rendering color information to the color image output device. A rendering command for an arbitrary object to which attribute information of a predetermined color matching method is added from the control unit, and Inputting drawing color information indicating the drawing color of the object, determining a type of the object to be drawn based on the input drawing command, and determining the type of the object based on the determination result of the type determining step. A selecting step of selecting the corresponding attribute information from the attribute information of the different color matching methods prepared for each, and based on the attribute information selected in the selecting step,
A color conversion step of performing a color matching process on the input drawing color information; and outputting the drawing color information after the color matching process together with a new drawing command to the drawing command conversion means based on the input drawing command. Output step, using the drawing command and the drawing color information output in the output step, the drawing command conversion means converts the drawing command into a drawing command specific to a color image output device, A color conversion processing method to which a function expansion method of a dynamically linkable program module is applied, which is output to the color image output device together with drawing color information. 34. A color conversion processing method to which the function linking method of a dynamically linkable program module according to claim 32 or 33 is applied, further comprising the step of determining the type of the object based on preset information. A color conversion processing method applying a function expansion method of a dynamically linkable program module, comprising a step of generating a plurality of pieces of attribute information corresponding to the plurality of pieces of attribute information, and holding the plurality of pieces of generated attribute information. 35. A color conversion processing method to which the method of extending a function of a dynamically linkable program module according to claim 32 is applied, wherein the type of the object is a bitmap image, a character, And a color conversion processing method to which a function expansion method of a dynamically linkable program module, which is of three types of graphic images, is applied. 36. A color conversion processing method to which the method for dynamically expanding a function of a program module capable of dynamically linking according to claim 35 is applied, wherein the type determination step is performed when it is determined that the object to be drawn is a character. A color conversion processing method to which a function expansion method of a dynamically linkable program module is applied, wherein color matching processing is not performed on corresponding drawing color information. 37. A color conversion processing method to which the method of dynamically expanding linkable program modules according to claim 36 is applied, wherein said type determination step is performed when it is determined that the object to be drawn is a character. , And the colors of the characters are cyan, magenta, yellow, black,
It is determined whether the color corresponds to any of red, green, blue, and white. If it is determined that the color of the character corresponds to any of the colors, the color matching processing is not performed on the corresponding drawing color information. A color conversion processing method to which a function expansion method of a dynamically linkable program module is applied. 38. A computer-readable recording medium recording a program for causing a computer to execute the color conversion processing method according to claim 18. 39. A computer-readable recording medium recording a program for causing a computer to execute the method for dynamically expanding a function of a dynamically linkable program module according to any one of claims 29 to 31. 40. A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a color conversion processing method to which the method for extending a function of a dynamically linkable program module according to claim 32 is applied. Recording medium.