JPH10233931A - Color adjustment method for color image processor and device therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a color adjustment method for color image processor by which complicatedness required to decide a parameter for color adjustment is reduced to provide a pleasant environment for the user, and to provide the device therefor. SOLUTION: A main controller 19 equally divides a maximum value and a minimum value of color adjustment parameters designated by the user or preset to the controller 19 into n divisions and sends the result to a color adjustment section 11. The color adjustment section 11 generates an image resulting from applying the color adjustment parameter to an original image read from a storage device 10. An image reduction section 12 reduces the image and an image integration section 13 integrates n-sets of reduced images into an image to be contained on one screen. The integrated image is displayed on a display device 15 and printed out by a printer 18. The user selects an image in a desired color from a print out and the selected image is pointed out on the display device 15 and the color adjustment parameter is automatically decided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a color adjusting method and apparatus for a color image processing apparatus, and more particularly to a color image processing apparatus in which a user can intuitively select and designate a color adjusting parameter of an output image in a color printer or the like. The present invention relates to a color adjustment method and apparatus for a processing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the following two methods have been adopted as methods for adjusting the color of an image output from a color printer. The first is to change the color adjustment parameters of the color printer, print out the data on the paper using the parameters each time, repeat this operation many times, and print the desired color on the paper. Is a method for determining the parameters that can be obtained and adjusting the color.

The second is a method of performing color adjustment on a display device and outputting an image created by the display device to a color printer device. According to this method, the parameter adjustment can be immediately reflected on the output image of the display device.

[0004]

Generally, when a color printer is used to change color adjustment parameters and print out, it takes several seconds to several tens of seconds from the parameter change to the printout of an image. Become. In the first method, as described above, it is necessary to repeat the work of changing the color adjustment parameters and printing out many times, so that the color adjustment takes time and the work is troublesome. There is also a problem that productivity is low.

In the second method, color adjustment on the display device does not take much time. However, since the color development mechanism is different between the display device and the color printer device, it is necessary to take both measures. However, there is a problem that it is inappropriate to use color adjustment on a display device as a means of color adjustment for a color printer device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, reduce the complexity required for determining color adjustment parameters, and provide a color image processing apparatus capable of providing a user with a comfortable environment. An object of the present invention is to provide an adjustment method and apparatus.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a color adjusting method for a color image processing apparatus which prints out a color according to a color adjusting parameter.
A plurality of images obtained by applying a multi-value color adjustment parameter to the original image are reduced, and the combined images are printed out on a sheet, and an image equivalent to the image printed out on the sheet is displayed on a display device, The first point is that a color adjustment parameter used in the color image processing apparatus is determined by causing the user to select an image corresponding to a print image of a color requested by the user on the display device. There are features.

The present invention also relates to a color adjustment apparatus of a color image processing apparatus having a color printer apparatus for printing and outputting a color in accordance with a color adjustment parameter and a display apparatus capable of specifying a position with a pointing device. Means for reducing and generating a plurality of images subjected to a plurality of color adjustment parameters, means for printing and outputting the plurality of reduced images on paper, and the plurality of reduced images printed and output to the display device. Means for displaying an equivalent image, calculating a color adjustment parameter from a position on the display device designated by the pointing device, and sending the calculated color adjustment parameter to the color printer device. The point has a second feature.

According to the first and second features, a plurality of original images to which multi-value color adjustment parameters are applied are generated, and reduced images of the plurality of original images are generated. Next, the reduced images of the plurality of original images are printed out and displayed on a display device. Next, when a position of a desired reduced image is designated on the display device, a color adjustment parameter is calculated from the data of the position. The calculated color adjustment parameters are provided to a color printer device. For this reason, the user intuitively selects an image of a desired color visually from the printed and output reduced image, and designates a position on the display device corresponding to the selected image, thereby setting a desired color adjustment parameter. Since the determination can be made, the complexity required for determining the parameters for color adjustment can be reduced, and a comfortable environment can be provided to the user.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a color image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the color image processing apparatus includes a storage device 10 for storing an original image, a color adjustment unit 11 for performing color adjustment according to a color adjustment parameter provided from a main control unit 19, and the same as the original image. In response to an instruction from the main control unit 19, an image reduction unit 12 that reduces the size of the color-adjusted image at a magnification given from the main control unit 19, an image integration unit 13 that integrates and arranges the reduced images, and The display control unit 14 and the main control unit 1 that output an image to the display device 15 and notify the main control unit 19 of a position indicated by the pointing device 16.
The printer controller 17 outputs an image to the printer device 18 in response to an instruction from the printer 9. The main controller 19 functions to integrate the entire color image processing system.

The outline of the processing performed by the color adjustment unit 11 and the image reduction unit 12 will be described with reference to FIG. The color adjustment unit 11 performs, for example, color adjustment on an original image 20 stored in the storage device 10 in accordance with a color adjustment parameter specified by a user from the operation panel 15a or already set in the main control unit 19 or the like. 21 to generate a color-adjusted image 22.
The image reduction unit 12 converts the color adjusted image 22 into the main control unit 1.
The reduction process 23 is performed at the reduction ratio instructed from 9 to generate a reduced image 24. In the present embodiment, a plurality of reduced images 24 are generated, as will be apparent from the following description.

Next, an outline of the processing performed by the image integration unit 13 will be described with reference to FIG. The image integration unit 13 performs an image integration process on the plurality of reduced images 30 to 34 obtained as described above, and arranges the reduced images 30 to 34 in a row in a region having the same size as the original image to generate an integrated image 36. In this example, the reduced images are arranged in one horizontal row, but the present invention is not limited to this.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.
This will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. In step S1, first, the maximum value of the color adjustment parameter
(pmax) and the minimum value (pmin) are determined. As the maximum value (pmax) and the minimum value (pmin), a value specified by the user from the operation panel 15a or a value set in the main control device 19 can be used. Examples of the color adjustment parameters include brightness, vividness, redness, and blueness. When the color adjustment parameter is, for example, brightness, the maximum value (pmax) of the color adjustment parameter becomes bright and the minimum value (pmin) becomes dark.
In the case of redness and blueness, the maximum value (pmax) becomes reddish and the minimum value (pmin) becomes bluish.

In step S2, the number of images to be selected (n)
That is, the number of reduced images to be generated is determined. As the number (n) of images, the number designated by the user from the operation panel 15a or the number (n) set in the main controller 19 is used. Next, in step S3, the variable i representing the color adjustment image is set to 0. Here, P (i) is defined as a parameter of the color adjustment image i. In step S4, pmin to pmax
The parameter P (i) of the color-adjusted image i is obtained by the following equation that equally divides the period up to the above number (n). P (i) = pmin + (pmax-pmin) / (n-1) * i where * represents multiplication.

In step S5, the parameter P (i) is passed to the color adjustment section 11, and a color adjustment image i is generated from the original image stored in the storage device 10. In step S6, the image reducing unit 12 generates a reduced image from the color adjustment image i. Then, 1 is added to i. In step S7, it is determined whether i <n is satisfied. If this determination is affirmative, the process returns to step S4, where the parameter P (2)
Is processed.

When the above processing is repeatedly performed to obtain n reduced images color-adjusted by each of the n parameters P (0) to P (n-1), the determination in step S7 is made. No, the process proceeds to step S8 in FIG. In step S8, the n reduced images are stored in the image
Sent to The image integration unit 13 outputs the reduced images 0 to (n−
1) is integrated to generate an integrated image.

In step S9, the integrated image is sent to the display controller 14 and displayed on the display device 15. On the display device 15, the n reduced images are displayed side by side in a row. Step S10
Then, the integrated image is sent to the printer control unit 17 and printed out from the printer device 18. The printout is also printed out in the same arrangement as the display on the display device 15.

The user looks at the print output from the printer device 18 and selects a color-adjusted image whose color has been well adjusted.
Since the same image as the print output from the printer device 18 is displayed on the display device 15, the user instructs the image on the display device 15 with the pointing device 16 to select the print output. Select the same image. In step S11, the display control unit 14 calculates the image number (j) designated by the user with the pointing device 16, and
Notify 9. Upon receiving the notification, main controller 19 determines P (j) as the final color adjustment parameter and sets it in printer control unit 17 in step S12.

As described above, according to this embodiment, an image with a desired color can be intuitively selected by comparing a plurality of reduced images printed out from the color printer. This selection result can be reflected on the printer device via the display device. As a result, the complexity required for determining color adjustment parameters is greatly reduced, and a comfortable environment can be provided to the user.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the main part of the present embodiment, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the operation. The flowchart of FIG.
10 are the same as those in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 and are omitted, and only the processing after step S10 is shown.

In this embodiment, in the first embodiment, only the color adjustment parameter P (i) can be selected, and the range of the selection is improved. .

In step S20 of FIG. 6, the main controller 1
Reference numeral 9 denotes the numbers (j and j +) of the reduced images on both sides of the position designated by the user on the display device 15.
1) is calculated, and then the internal division ratio r (0.0 to 1.0) of the image j and the image j + 1 is calculated. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, when the user uses the pointing device 16 to move the center lines j ′ and (j +) of the image j on the display device 15 instead of on the center line (j + 1) ′ of the image j + 1. 1) ′, the main controller 19 specifies an image j and an image j from the point r.
Calculate the internal division ratio r (0.0 to 1.0) of +1.

In step S21, main controller 19
P (j) + r (pmax-pmin) / (n-1) or P (j) + r (P
(j + 1) -P (j)) is used as a parameter for color adjustment, and is notified to the printer control unit 17.

In this embodiment, the display device 15
Since the internal division ratio between the image j and the image j + 1 is determined based on the image pointing position r above, and the color adjustment parameters are determined based on the internal division ratio, P (j) and P (j + 1), the color adjustment parameters can be selected, and finer color adjustment can be performed as compared with the first embodiment.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the first and second embodiments, the individual color adjustment parameters are determined independently, but in the present embodiment, a plurality of color adjustment parameters are determined in association with each other. is there.

In step S31 of FIG. 9, the maximum value (p1max and p2max) and the minimum value (p1min and p2min) of the two kinds of color adjustment parameters are determined. As the maximum value and the minimum value of the two types of color adjustment parameters, those specified by the user or the values set in the main control device 19 can be used. As the two types of color adjustment parameters, for example, brightness and vividness, brightness and redness, and the like can be increased.

In step S32, the number of images to be selected
Determine (n). As the number (n) of images, a value designated by the user or a value set in the main controller 19 can be used. In the next step S33, i, j = 0 is set,
Let P1 (i) and P2 (j) be the parameters of the color adjusted image (i, j). In step S34, the number (n) between p1min and p1max and between p2min and p2max
The parameters P1 (i) and P2 (j) of the color-adjusted image (i, j) are obtained by the following equation that is equally divided by

P1 (i) = p1min + (p1max-p1min) / (n-1) * i P2 (j) = p2min + (p2max-p2min) / (n-1) * j In step S35, the color adjustment is performed. The parameters P1 (i) and P2 (j) are passed to the color adjustment unit 11 to generate a color adjustment image (i, j) from the original image stored in the storage device 10.
In step S36, a reduced image is generated from the color adjusted image i, and 1 is added to j. In step S37 of FIG.
A determination is made as to whether j <n holds. If this determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S34, where P2 (j + 1) is obtained. Then, the processing of steps S35 and S36 described above is repeated. These processes are repeatedly executed, and if the determination in step S37 is negative, the process proceeds to step S38, where 1 is added to i. Then, proceeding to step S39, it is determined whether or not i <n is satisfied. When this determination is affirmative, the process returns to step S34, and P1 (i + 1) is obtained. Then, the processing of steps S35 and S36 described above is repeated.

As a result of the above processing being repeated, the process proceeds to step S40, where the reduced images (i = 0 to n-1, j = 0 to n-1) of the color-adjusted image (i, j) are The image is sent to the integration unit 13, and the integrated image is generated by the image integration unit 13. In step S41, the integrated image is sent to the display control unit 14 and displayed on the display device 15. On the display device 15, a plurality of reduced images are displayed in a matrix, for example, as shown in FIG.

In step S42, the integrated image is sent to the printer control unit 17 and printed out from the printer device 18. The arrangement of the reduced image in the print output is the same as that on the display device 15. Step S43
Then, on the display device 15, the number of the color adjustment image,
For example, (k, m) is calculated. FIG. 10 shows that the user operates the pointing device 14 on the display device 15.
Shows how to specify a reduced image of a desired color by using. In step S44, the main controller 19 determines P1 (k) and P2 (m) as color adjustment parameters and sends them to the printer controller 17.

As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to change a plurality of color adjustment parameters in association with each other and to select and determine a color adjustment parameter for printing out a desired color among them. In this embodiment, the second
Is applied, the intermediate value of P1 (k) to P1 (k + 1),
An intermediate value between 2 (m) and P2 (m + 1) may be adopted as the color adjustment parameter.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
1, will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This embodiment is different from the second embodiment in that P (j) and P (j +
1) You can select the color adjustment parameter during the above, but it was not possible to see in advance in the reduced print image what color it would be when printed with the selected color adjustment parameter. It was done.

Steps S1 to S7 in FIG. 11 and FIG.
Steps S8 to S11 are the same as those in FIG. 4 and FIG. In step S51 subsequent to step S11, it is determined whether the color adjustment parameter is P (j). When this determination is affirmative, the series of processing ends. On the other hand, when the result is negative, step S5
Proceeding to 2, the maximum value pmax and the minimum value pmin of the color adjustment parameters set in step S1 are updated to P (j + 1) and P (j-1), respectively. Then, the process returns to step S2, and the processes of steps S2 to S11 are repeated.
In steps S9 and S10 performed by the repetition, a reduced integrated image obtained by equally dividing P (j + 1) to P (j-1) into n is:
Each is displayed on the display device 15 and printed out from the printer device 18.

As is clear from the above description, according to this embodiment, the reduced integrated images between the maximum value P (j + 1) and the minimum value P (j-1) are respectively displayed on the display device 15. Since it is possible to display and print out from the printer device 18, it is possible to visually confirm a plurality of reduced images between P (j + 1) and P (j-1) to determine the color adjustment parameters. become able to.

[0035]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, an image of a desired color can be intuitively selected from a reduced image to which a multi-valued color adjustment parameter is output by printing. By simply designating a position on the display device corresponding to the selected image, a desired color adjustment parameter can be determined. For this reason, it is possible to reduce the complexity required for determining the parameters for color adjustment and to provide a comfortable environment for the user.

According to the present invention, a color adjustment parameter corresponding to each intermediate image of the plurality of reduced images can be determined, and fine color adjustment can be performed. Further, the color adjustment parameters can be determined using a plurality of reduced images obtained by changing a plurality of types of color adjustment parameters in association with each other. Further, a reduced image of an image embodied by a color adjustment parameter corresponding to each intermediate image of the plurality of reduced images can be visually checked, and a color adjustment parameter corresponding to each intermediate image of the plurality of reduced images can be checked. Decisions can be made easily.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating operations of a color adjustment unit and an image reduction unit in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the image integration unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart continued from FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a main part of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of a main part of the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart continued from FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of a main part of the third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a continuation of the flowchart in FIG. 11;

[Explanation of symbols]

10 storage unit, 11 color adjustment unit, 12 image reduction unit, 1
3 ... image integration unit, 14 ... display control unit, 15 ... display device, 16 ... pointing device, 17
... Printer control unit, 18 ... Printer device, 19 ... Main control unit.

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hideaki Sugimoto 3-7-1 Fufu, Iwatsuki-shi, Saitama Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.

Claims (5)

[Claims] In a color adjustment method of a color image processing apparatus for printing and outputting in a color according to a color adjustment parameter, a plurality of images obtained by applying a multi-value color adjustment parameter to an original image are reduced and integrated. Printout on paper, display an image equivalent to the image printed out on the paper on a display device, and select an image corresponding to the print image of the color requested by the user on the display device. A color adjustment parameter to be used in the color image processing apparatus. 2. The color adjustment method according to claim 1, wherein a user selects an image according to a position specified on the display device, the image being around the position. A color adjustment method for a color image processing apparatus, wherein an intermediate value of a color adjustment parameter assigned to a color image processing apparatus is calculated, and the intermediate value is determined as a color adjustment parameter. 3. The color adjustment method for a color image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of types of multi-value color adjustment parameters to be applied to the original image are provided, and the image displayed on the print output or the display device is A color adjustment method for a color image processing apparatus, wherein the color adjustment parameter reflects the plurality of types of color adjustment parameters. 4. The color adjustment method according to claim 1, wherein the color adjustment parameters around the selected image are further subdivided and printed out, so that the color adjustment parameters can be selected in more detail. A color adjusting method for a color image processing apparatus, comprising: 5. A color adjusting apparatus for a color image processing apparatus comprising: a color printer for printing and outputting in a color in accordance with a color adjustment parameter; and a display device capable of specifying a position with a pointing device. Means for reducing and generating a plurality of images to which the color adjustment parameters have been applied; means for printing and outputting the plurality of reduced images on paper; and displaying, on the display device, an image equivalent to the plurality of printed and reduced images. Display, from the position on the display device specified by the pointing device,
A color adjustment apparatus for a color image processing apparatus, comprising: means for calculating a color adjustment parameter; and means for sending the calculated color adjustment parameter to the color printer.