JPH10322563A - Color conversion adjusting method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To exactly adjust color conversion while suppressing density nonuniformity. SOLUTION: When printing out a chart for the control or confirmation of color conversion onto recording paper concerning a color conversion control method for color printer, a checkered pattern alternately arranging white and black squares having one side for 2 to 4 mm like a checker board is printed out at the section of recording paper to become the background of chart. Since white and black squares are mixed almost equally in an area ratio inside any arbitrary background area wider than fixed scale in this checkered pattern, a duty ratio gets almost uniform within a print picture and load applied to a head is reduced. Thus, density nonuniformity is suppressed and exact color conversion can be controlled.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a color conversion adjustment method for a color printer which performs color conversion on image data.
More specifically, the present invention relates to a color conversion adjustment method that defines a background pattern to be output on a background portion of a chart for performing adjustment or confirmation of color conversion.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a color printing machine using a rotary press or the like,
A color print using a so-called halftone image is created. Before creating the color print, a color print proof image (also referred to as a color print proof) is created in advance by a color printer having a simple configuration, and the image is created. Based on this, proofreading of color printing is performed. By using this color printer, it is not necessary to make a plate making film and a printing plate (PS plate) for a color printing machine at the time of proofreading, and an image is easily formed on a sheet several times in a short time. A hard copy can be made, and the proofreading work can be made much more efficient.

By the way, before creating a color print proof image for calibration, it is necessary to correct in advance the variation in color density due to differences between color printers and changes over time (referred to as density calibration).

For example, as shown in FIG. 15A, a relationship between a printer signal input to an output unit and an output density is designed to be an output density curve 140 of a reference gradation indicated by a dashed line. Also, in the printer, an output density curve whose characteristics are different from the output density curve 140 with the individual difference of the apparatus or the passage of time, for example, the output density curve 1 shown by a solid line
It changes to 42. In this case, even if a printer signal P ₁ or P ₂ then inputted to the output unit of the printer as to obtain the output density D ₁ or D _2, concentrations that are actually output D ₁ 'or D _2', and this remains Cannot output a proper color print proof image.

Therefore, for example, the printer signal P is converted into a signal P 'according to a conversion curve 150 shown in FIG. 15 (b), and the corrected signal is inputted to an output section of the printer to thereby obtain the output density of the reference gradation. I'm going to get In this conversion curve 150, the printer signals P ₁ and P ₂ before correction become signals P ₁ ′ and P ₂ ′ after correction, and as shown in FIG. However, by inputting the corrected printer signals P ₁ ′ and P ₂ ′, appropriate output densities D ₁ and D ₂ can be obtained.

In such a method of correcting color density, conventionally, for example, the following steps are sequentially performed to adjust color conversion.

[Step 1] Density calibration reference chart output In this step 1, the halftone dot area of the four plates for each color of C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow) and K (black) in the chart data 4D (four-dimensional) for color correction built into the color printer using the rate data (also called halftone% data)
A density calibration reference chart obtained by conversion using a conversion table (hereinafter, referred to as a “standard color conversion 4D table”) is printed out on a first recording sheet. This chart is a printout of color patches for each of the colors C, M, Y, and K for each equal density difference.

Then, by comparing this density calibration reference chart with a previously prepared reference calibration chart (color patch),
A density difference between an actual printer output value and a theoretical value is determined, and a density calibration 1 for correcting the density difference is calculated.
A D (one-dimensional) conversion table (hereinafter, referred to as a “density calibration 1D table”) is selected.

[Step 2] Output of Density Calibration Confirmation Chart In this step 2, the chart data is converted into a standard color
The density calibration confirmation chart obtained by converting the D table and the density calibration 1D table selected in step 1 is printed out on the second recording sheet.

Then, it is confirmed from the output density calibration confirmation chart that the density corrected by the density calibration 1D table matches the reference density.

[Step 3] Gray correction reference chart output In this step 3, gray correction chart data is used in order to confirm a delicate gray balance when the C, M, and Y colors whose density differences have been corrected are mixed. To standard color conversion 4
The gray correction reference chart obtained by converting the D table and the density calibration 1D table selected in step 1 is printed out on the third recording sheet. This chart shows, for example, a plurality of color patches in which the C color is kept at a constant density and the densities of the M color and the Y color are gradually changed around a color patch obtained by mixing the respective colors of C, M, and Y at the same density. They are arranged.

Then, a color patch having the best gray balance is selected from the output gray correction reference chart, and this color patch is compared with a color patch in which each color is mixed at an equal density to obtain a density of C color and Y color. It is determined how much the difference is, and gray correction 1 is performed based on the density difference.
Select the D table.

[Step 4] Output of Gray Correction Confirmation Chart In step 4, the chart data for gray correction is converted into a standard color conversion 4D table, a density calibration 1D table selected in step 1, and step 3.
The gray correction confirmation chart obtained by conversion using the three tables of the gray correction 1D table selected in step 3 is printed out on the fourth recording sheet.

Then, it is confirmed from the outputted gray correction confirmation chart that the gray balance after the correction by the gray correction 1D table is optimized.

Thus, the color density and the gray balance are adjusted in the color printer. After the adjustment, the standard color conversion 4D table, the density calibration 1D table selected in step 1, and the gray correction 1D table selected in step 3 are combined based on a synthesis table obtained by synthesizing the three color conversion tables. Thus, a color printing proof image is printed, and color calibration of a color printing machine is performed based on the image.

[0016]

However, in the above-described conventional method for adjusting a color conversion table, in each step,
The pattern to be output in the background portion of the chart for adjusting or checking the color conversion table is not clearly defined, and for example, a solid white screen may be output. For this reason, the ratio (duty ratio) of the time for applying power to the print head for a fixed scanning time greatly differs in each area within the print screen, and a load is applied to the head. This allows
A problem arises in that unevenness in density, which makes it difficult to accurately adjust color conversion, occurs on the print screen.

The present invention has been made in view of the above facts,
An object of the present invention is to provide a color conversion adjustment method that enables accurate color conversion adjustment by suppressing the occurrence of density unevenness in a chart output in color conversion adjustment work of a color printer.

[0018]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a color conversion adjustment method for a color printer for performing color conversion on image data, wherein the color conversion is adjusted or confirmed. When outputting a chart for recording on a recording sheet, a white pattern unit and a black pattern unit in an arbitrary background area of a certain scale or more are arranged in an area ratio on a portion of the recording sheet serving as a background of the chart. The feature is to output a background pattern that is mixed equally or substantially equally.

According to the first aspect of the invention, in each step of the color conversion adjustment operation of the color printer, a chart for adjusting or confirming the color conversion is output on a recording sheet. At this time, a background pattern in which a white pattern unit and a black pattern unit are mixed equally or substantially equally in an area ratio in an arbitrary background area of a certain scale or more on a portion of the recording paper serving as a background of the chart. Is output on a recording sheet together with the chart. Here, the arbitrary background area refers to an area having an arbitrary size of a certain scale or more and an arbitrary shape at an arbitrary position in the background portion of the chart.

According to the present invention, in such an arbitrary background area, a background pattern in which a white pattern unit and a black pattern unit are equally or substantially equally mixed in area ratio is output. Becomes almost uniform in the print screen, and the load on the head is reduced. This makes it possible to suppress density unevenness and perform accurate color conversion adjustment. Furthermore, in the present invention, since the two colors are mixed, the density unevenness is reduced as compared with the method of making the duty ratio uniform by using a solid screen of a single color, and the illusion due to the background color is suppressed. Color adjustment can be performed accurately.

Also, as in the invention of claim 2, claim 1
Can be a checkerboard pattern in which white and black squares of a predetermined range of sizes are alternately arranged like a checkerboard pattern. In the case of a checkerboard pattern, white and black can be most easily equally divided in an arbitrary background area, and the illusion of the eyes is minimized, so that more accurate adjustment is possible.

In addition to the checkered pattern, as a pattern unit of either black or white, for example, a specific name or a sentence repeatedly printed, a hiragana, a katakana, an alphabet, various symbols, and other characters are repeatedly printed. A pattern unit of another color can be used as the whole area other than the character part. Also,
A so-called fractal figure that is self-similar at a certain scale or more may be used.

The present invention described above is applied to all color conversion adjustment methods for outputting a chart for adjusting or confirming color conversion, and is limited to a specific type and a specific number of color conversions. is not.

In the present invention, it is desirable to determine the density of the black and white pattern units so that the average density of the background pattern falls within the range of the average density of the general image.

[0025]

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

FIG. 1 shows an example of a system configuration for producing a color print proof image and a color print. As shown in FIG. 1, a system for creating a color print proof image includes a color printer 12 that outputs a color print proof image 14 for calibration by performing color correction by a plurality of stages of color conversion, And an editing device 10 functioning as an upper-level device 12. As the color printer 12, a small printer having a simple configuration such as a so-called thermal printer can be used as described later.

The editing apparatus 10 can be realized by, for example, a personal computer, thereby facilitating color conversion adjustment work (color density adjustment) of the color printer 12 connected at a lower level.

At the time of the density calibration, which is the first stage of the color density adjustment, the color printer 12 is used to correct variations in color density due to differences between color printers due to machine differences and aging, or to confirm this correction. Is output.

FIG. 8 shows a format example of the density calibration chart 16. As shown in the figure, the density calibration chart 16 shows K, C,
For each of the colors M and Y, the designated halftone density is a plurality of squares (color patches) which are printed and output stepwise in steps of 5% from 0% to 100%. Further, in this chart, in order to clearly show the density range, the color patches of the maximum density (100%) are arranged at the top, and the color patches of the minimum density (0%) are arranged next. Then, 95% to 5% are arranged in descending order of density.

In the 95% to 55% color patches, the smaller the halftone density, the smaller the interval between vertically adjacent patches is printed. And 50%
In color patches of up to 5%, adjacent patch intervals are printed at equal intervals (small intervals) irrespective of dot%. It should be noted that a K color of a constant density (middle area) is printed on the chart portion other than the patches.

In the first stage of the color density adjustment, the operator determines the density of each color patch in the density calibration chart 16 of FIG.
, And the measured value is transferred to the editing device 10 online. Alternatively, the density value displayed on the density measuring device 21 is manually input to the editing device 10. The editing device 10 selects a density calibration 1D table, which will be described later, for correcting variations in color density due to differences in color printers, aging, etc., based on the transferred or input density values.

At the time of gray correction, which is the second stage of color density adjustment, the color printer 12 outputs a gray correction chart 17 for correcting a delicate gray balance of each of C, M, and Y colors. If the color density is completely adjusted by the density calibration, theoretically,
When C, M, and Y are mixed in order to realize a gray color, a gray color having a color similar to black of a certain density should be obtained, but in reality, the gray balance is slightly distorted, and C, M In some cases, the color may be biased toward any of the colors M and Y. Therefore, gray correction is performed to correct this bias.

FIG. 9 shows a format example of the gray correction chart 17. As shown in the figure, the gray correction chart 17 has a chart of the same format for each of three density steps of highlight (low density), middle (medium density), and shadow (high density).

The chart of each density stage is composed of a total of 25 elliptical color patches of 5 rows and 5 columns, and these color patches have a cyan (C) density of a fixed value C ₀ (each density stage). , And magenta (M) density in the vertical direction, and yellow (Y) density in the horizontal direction.

More specifically, at the center of the chart, a cyan density C ₀ and a magenta density M in order to realize a gray color approximating a black tint of a predetermined density corresponding to each density step.
₀ , and a patch 19 in which each color of CMY is mixed at a yellow density Y ₀ (different according to each density step). Then, the magenta density increases as the patch is higher than the vertical position of the patch 19, and the magenta density decreases as the patch is lower. These vertical magenta density indices are represented by M-2, M-1,
M0, M + 1, and M + 2 are defined. Further, the patches on the right side of the patch 19 in the horizontal direction have a higher yellow density, and the patches on the left side have a lower yellow density. The indices of these horizontal yellow densities are Y-2, Y-1, Y0, Y in accordance with the position in the horizontal direction.
+1 and Y + 2.

The background color of the chart composed of these color patches is set to the K color, which is a reference for gray balance determination. The density of the K color is defined as highlight, middle, and shadow according to the chart of each density step. It has been.

In the second stage of the color density adjustment, the operator visually determines the shift amount of the gray balance based on the gray correction chart 17 and inputs the shift amount to the editing device 10 as described later. The editing device 10
A gray correction 1D table to be described later for correcting the input gray balance shift amount is selected.

The editing apparatus 10 can also be connected to a color printer 20 that outputs a plate making film 22 of layout data that has been subjected to printing conditions and color correction conversion by the editing apparatus. This plate making film 22 is used as a printing plate (PS
The final color print 26 is produced by passing through the printing plate 24.

Next, a detailed circuit configuration example of the editing apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG.
0 is a CPU 30 that controls and manages the entire apparatus based on a predetermined program, a program memory 32 in which the predetermined program is stored, and a work area of the CPU 30 and a storage location of input image data and bitmap data. RAM 34 to be used, a data memory 42 composed of nonvolatile memory for storing data, a keyboard (or mouse) 36 as an input means of an operator, a display 38 for displaying processing results and the like, an external input / output device And an input / output interface circuit 40 for controlling an input / output interface with the control unit, and are connected to each other via a system bus 46.

The data memory 42 stores the color printer 1
Printer condition correction data for correcting printer conditions such as a difference between two devices and a change with time are stored. The printer condition correction data includes a density calibration 1D
There are a table 43, a gray correction 1D table 44, etc., and a plurality of types of tables 1, 2,. . . , N are prepared.

The input / output interface circuit 40 can be connected to a color scanner 50 as an external input device, and a color printer 12 and a color printing machine 20 as external output devices.

The color scanner 50 scans an image document with light, and reflects reflected light from the document R (red), G (green), B
The image data is converted into image data for each color (blue), and the data is input to the editing device 10 via the input / output interface circuit 40. The input image data is interpreted by an interpreter (not shown) into layout data laid out with a print image and stored in the RAM 34. Image data may be read from a recording medium such as a magneto-optical disk or a CD-ROM. Note that this image data (R
GB), the dot area ratio data Y, M,
After being converted into C and K, it is output to the color printer 12.

The program memory 32 stores, in addition to the main program for control, image data R, G, and B read by the color scanner 50 into halftone dot area ratio data Y, M, C, and K. , A subroutine for converting chart data with printer condition correction data, and the like.

Next, a functional block diagram of the color printer 12 is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the color printer 12 includes a color correction calculation unit 58 that performs color correction on the halftone dot area data Y, M, C, and K sent from the editing device 10 based on the synthesis LUT 60. Color corrected Y, M, C,
A data output unit 62 for printing and outputting an image of K data on recording paper. This composite LUT 60
Is a four-dimensional table for converting Y, M, C, and K data prepared in advance in a readable / writable non-volatile memory of the color printer 12; It is a composite table.

In the composite LUT 60, if data is prepared for all gradations (for example, 256 gradations) of the input data, the data becomes extremely large. Therefore, a table corresponding to a smaller number of gradations (for example, 33) is usually used. Has been decimated. In this case, the color correction calculation unit 58
An interpolation operation is performed on the intermediate gradation data not provided for T60.

Printing condition correction data 66 for correcting the Y, M, C, and K data according to the printing conditions for color printing, standard color conversion data 68 for correcting and calibrating image data, The memory 65 stores a density calibration 1D table 70 for correcting a color density difference and a gray correction 1D table 71 for correcting a gray balance. For these data,
Each of a plurality of types of tables 1, 2,. . . Is prepared. The printing condition correction data is, for example, a color printing material type (coated paper, mat coated paper, uncoated paper, etc.) of the color print finally obtained, and a color difference due to a difference in the type of ink used for printing. This is data for correcting the difference.

The density calibration 1D table 70 and the gray correction 1D table 71 of the color printer 12 are exactly the same as the density calibration 1D table 43 and the gray correction 1D table 44 registered in the data memory 42 of the editing apparatus 10. The data is registered in the memory 65 in association with the data.

Further, the combining operation section 64 combines arbitrary data in the memory 65 in accordance with a command from the editing device 10 and stores the combined data in the combining LUT 60. When the color print proof image 14 is output, the combining operation unit 64 is used to match the print target.
Are print condition correction data 66, standard color conversion data 68,
One data is selected from each of the density calibration 1D table 70 and the gray correction 1D table, and the selected four data are converted into data 66, 68, 70, and 7.
The combined LUT 60 is created by combining in the order of 1.

On the other hand, when correcting machine differences and environmental differences, it is not always necessary to match print targets, so in such a case, the synthesis operation unit 64 uses any one of the density calibration 1D tables 70 in the density calibration 1D table 70. The composite LUT 60 can be created using only the data of the table 70, or the data of the table 70 and any data of the gray correction 1D table 71.

Here, the conversion by the data 66, 68, 70 and 71 when Y, M, C and K are inputted is as follows. Note that the output from the conversion table is Y ′,
M ', C', and K '.

[0051] In the printing condition correction data 66, performs Y translation _{'= I y (Y) M} ' = I m (M) C '= I c (C) K' = I k (K). That is, the converted dot area ratio data of each color is a function of only the dot area ratio data of the corresponding color.

[0052] In standard color transformation data _{68, Y '= SM y (} Y, M, C, K) M' = SM m (Y, M, C, K) C '= SM c (Y, M, C, K) Conversion of K ′ = SM _k (Y, M, C, K) is performed. That is, the converted dot area ratio data of each color is a function of the dot area ratio data of all colors.

Density calibration 1D table 70
Then, the following conversion is performed: Y ′ = _Py (Y) M ′ = _Pm (M) C ′ = _Pc (C) K ′ = _Pk (K) That is, the converted dot area ratio data of each color is a function of only the dot area ratio data of the corresponding color. This functional relationship is represented by a conversion curve 150 in FIG.
It corresponds to.

The gray correction 1D table 71 performs the following conversion: Y ′ = Q _y (Y) M ′ = Q _m (M) C ′ = Q _c (C) K ′ = Q _k (K) That is, the converted dot area ratio data of each color is a function of only the dot area ratio data of the corresponding color. This functional relationship is also represented by the conversion curve 150 in FIG.
It corresponds to.

When all of the above four conversions are synthesized by the synthesis operation unit 64, the conversion by the synthesis LUT 60 is as follows.

Y ′ = CM _y (Y, M, C, K) = Q _y (P _y (SM _y (I _y (Y), M, C, K))) M ′ = CM _m (Y, M , C, K) = Q _m (P _m (SM _m (Y, _Im (M), C, K))) C ′ = CM _c (Y, M, C, K) = Q _c (P _c ( SM _c (Y, M, I _c (C), K))) K ′ = CM _k (Y, M, C, K) = Q _k (P _k (SM _k (Y, M, C, I _k ( K)))) Next, the configuration of a thermal printer as an example of the color printer 12 is shown in FIG. This thermal printer employs a two-component color developing system using two sheets, an intermediate sheet and an image receiving sheet.

As shown in FIG. 4, the color printer 12
Is covered by a housing 72, and a paper tray 98 on which thermal paper (recording paper) before printing is set is disposed at the bottom of the housing 72. The bottom surface of the paper tray 98 is provided with a gentle slope that becomes higher in the drawing direction R, and has a constant height near the paper drawing port. A spring 99 for pressing the thermal paper upward is provided at a lower portion of the upper bottom surface.

A semicircular pull-out roller 101 for pulling out the set thermal paper is disposed above the paper tray 98 in the paper pull-out direction R. The drawer roller 101 is normally disposed at a position where the bottom surface is substantially parallel to the sheet surface as shown in the figure, and rotates in the Q direction when the thermal paper is drawn. Due to this rotation, the heat-sensitive paper is successively pinched between the arc-shaped portion of the pull-out roller 101 and the bottom surface of the paper tray 98 pressed by the spring 99 for each sheet, and moves in the pull-out direction R with the rotation of the roller 101.

At the drawer of the paper tray 98, a transport roller 102 for transporting the drawn thermal paper is disposed. At the transport exit side of the roller 102, the thermal paper is guided to the upper right side. An arcuate paper path 103 is provided. A transport roller 104 for further transporting the paper is disposed at the end of the paper path 103, and a transport exit side of the transport roller 104 is an arc-shaped paper path for guiding the thermal paper to the upper left side. 105 is provided. The paper path 105 is disposed so that the position in the lateral direction is substantially the same as the position of the transport roller 102. The heat-sensitive paper pulled out from the paper tray 98 in this manner is drawn from the end of the paper path 105 in a direction opposite to the pull-out direction R in a semicircle.

In the vicinity of the end of the paper path 105, a guide lever 90 for switching the transport direction of the thermal paper is arranged. The guide lever 90 is rotatable in a P direction around a base shaft 91 by a driving means (not shown), and is normally set to a position 90a when the thermal paper exits from the end of the paper path 105. When the heat starts,
The guide lever 90 is rotated to move from the position 90a to the position 90b.
Is switched to.

On the left side of the guide lever 90, there is disposed a bottom plate 87 which is gently inclined at substantially the same height as the base shaft 91, and the thermal paper exiting from the paper passage 105 is set at the position 90a. The guide lever 90 guides the bottom plate 87.

[0062] Above the bottom plate 87, a belt drive pulley 8 is provided.
0, a platen roller 82, and a transport belt 92 stretched by the roller 84. The belt driving pulley 80 is supplied with torque by a driving unit (not shown) so as to rotate in the direction T at the time of drawing out the sheet and to rotate in the direction T 'at the start of heat sensing. In response to the rotation of the belt driving pulley 80 in the T and T 'directions,
Rotate in the S and S ′ directions, respectively.

The portion of the transport belt 92 between the belt drive pulley 80 and the roller 84 forms a paper path together with the bottom plate 87 when the paper is pulled out. A roller 88 is provided. The heat-sensitive paper guided to the bottom plate 87 is nipped by the transport belt 92 and the feed roller 88, and moves with the rotation of the transport belt.

In the portion of the transport belt 92 between the platen roller 82 and the belt driving pulley 80, two feed rollers 86 that are in contact with the transport belt 92 are arranged. , And are moved in the U direction or the U ′ direction by being sandwiched between the feed roller 86 and the transport belt 92 rotating in the S direction or the S ′ direction.

An extension 105 in the U direction of the transport belt 92 is provided for accommodating an upper portion of the thermal paper in the course of thermal recording. Into the storage part 105,
A drive roller 106 for discharging the toner from the storage unit 105 is provided.

It should be noted that the bottom plate 87 is
Is shaped to draw an arc along the shape of the pulley in the vicinity of
A discharge passage 10 serving as a passage for discharging the thermal paper on which an image is recorded is provided at an upper portion where the end of the arc-shaped bottom plate 87 is extended.
7 are arranged. A discharge roller 108 driven by a driving unit (not shown) is disposed at the end of the discharge passage. The discharge roller 108 draws in the heat-sensitive paper in the discharge passage 107 and discharges the heat-sensitive paper provided in the upper portion of the color printer 12. Discharge to tray 100.

A support arm 76 is disposed below the discharge tray 100. At the tip of the support arm 76, a heating element (not shown) or the like is provided with a heating element (not shown) in the main scanning direction (image recording perpendicular to the plane of the drawing). ) Are provided.

Below the support arm 76, a supply roll 74 for supplying a long ink sheet 110 coated with ink for thermal copying for each color is arranged. As shown in FIG. 5B, this ink sheet 110 has
Inks C, M, Y, and C for thermal copying are provided in areas having substantially the same shape and size as the recordable image area of the thermal paper.
K,. . . . Are applied in this order.

Further, a collecting roll 96 for collecting the ink sheet 110 is disposed at the lower end of the discharge tray 100 opposite to the supply roll 74. When the collection roll 96 is rotated in the V direction by a driving unit (not shown), the ink sheets wound around the supply roll 74 are sequentially taken up by the collection roll 96. In the course of collecting the ink sheet 110, a feed roller 94 for arranging the ink sheet 110 at a preferable position is arranged.

The ink sheet 110 is sandwiched between the thermal print head 78 and the transport belt 92 stretched by the platen roller 82, and the thermal paper is transported to the transport belt 92 side of the sandwiched portion. Is done. That is, the ink sheet 110 is disposed between the thermal print head 78 and the thermal paper.

At the time of image recording, each heating element of the thermal print head 76 converts an electric signal corresponding to image data sent from a control unit (not shown) into a heat signal, and heat-sensitive paper is conveyed in the U direction. . The thermal signal of the thermal print head 76 causes a chemical reaction between the ink applied to the ink sheet 110 and the thermal material applied to the thermal paper in accordance with the image, and an image corresponding to the image data is recorded on the thermal paper. .

The housing 7 of the color printer 12
An air cooling window 114 for taking in air for air cooling from the outside is provided at the back of the air conditioner 2, and an air cooling unit 112 having a built-in fan for device air cooling is arranged behind the air cooling window 114. .

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of the supply / recovery system of the ink sheet 110 and the thermal paper transport system.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the belt driving pulley 80 rotates in the direction T, and the rotation of the heat-sensitive paper 1
16 is transported in the U direction, and the thermal print head 78
It can be seen that the image is formed by the thermal transfer to the ink sheet 110 and the thermal paper 116 by the above. Further, since the image data is separately supplied as dot area ratio data C, M, Y, and K, the inks C, M shown in FIG.
The collection roll 96 is rotated in the V direction so that any one of M, Y, and K is thermally transferred to the thermal paper 116 in accordance with the dot area ratio data of the corresponding color, so that the collection roll 96 is always arranged at an appropriate position ( In the example of FIG. 5A, the ink sheet is “K”.

By the way, CMY is applied to one thermal paper 116.
In order to thermally transfer all of the K4 color inks, when one color is thermally transferred, the thermal paper 116 is returned to the position at the start of image recording, and the ink sheet 110 is arranged so that the next color is transferred. Therefore, a total of four image recordings are required, such as performing image recording again for the next color.
For this reason, the color printer 12 employs a transport system called a switchback system. Hereinafter, the transport path of the thermal paper in this transport format will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 (a) to 6 (e). In each of the drawings, the transport path of the thermal paper is indicated by a thick line.

As shown in FIG. 6A, first, the heat-sensitive paper set in the paper tray 98 is pulled out of the draw-out roller 10.
1 and the transport rollers 102 and 104
With the rotation of, the paper reaches the guide lever 90 while drawing a semicircle via the paper passages 103 and 105. At this time, since the guide lever 90 is set at the position 90a, the paper path 1
05 is inserted into the passage between the bottom plate 87 and the conveyor belt 92, and the conveyor belt 9 rotating in the S direction is
2 advances in the I direction along the bottom plate 87.

When the heat-sensitive paper that has advanced in the direction I reaches the arcuate portion at the end of the bottom plate 87, it rises along the arc and is inserted into the discharge passage 107 disposed above it, and FIG.
As shown in (2), the leading end stops at a position immediately before the discharge roller 108. At this time, the guide lever 90 is moved to the position 90a.
To the position 90b, and the transport belt 92 rotates in the opposite direction S ′.

The heat-sensitive paper set at the position shown in FIG. 6B advances in the direction I 'opposite to the direction of pulling out along the conveyor belt 92 rotating in the direction S', and is switched to the position 90b. Ascending along the lever 90, the thermal recording is started when the leading end is inserted into a position sandwiched between the thermal print head 78 and the platen roller 82. At the start of recording, the position of the ink sheet 110 is arranged such that any ink area (for example, “C”) of the ink sheet 110 matches the recording area of the thermal paper.

As shown in FIG. 6C, the thermal paper during thermal recording advances in the J direction, and the ink sheet 110 is supplied from the supply roller 74 in accordance with the advance. At this time, image data signals (C, M,
Y or K) is sent to the thermal print head 78, which converts the thermal print head 78 into a thermal signal corresponding to an image. The heat signal causes the ink sheet 1
A reaction occurs between the ink on 10 and the substance applied to the thermal paper, and an image of the corresponding color is recorded on the thermal paper as it proceeds in the J direction. As shown in FIG. 6C, the leading end of the thermal paper that has advanced in the J direction is
As a result, a part thereof is drawn into the housing portion 105.

When the image of the color concerned is recorded in all the image areas of the thermal paper, the transport belt 92 rotates in the S direction, whereby the thermal paper is reversed from the position of the thick line in FIG. It is stored at the position before the thermal recording indicated by the dotted line in FIG. Here, the position of the ink sheet 110 is reset so that the ink area of the color to be recorded next matches the recording area of the thermal paper. Then, in the same manner, the transport belt 92 rotates again in the S 'direction, the thermal print head 78 converts the image data of the next color into a heat signal, and the image of the color is recorded on the thermal paper. Thus, C of the ink sheet 110,
Thermal recording is repeated four times each for the M, Y, and K ink areas (switchback method).

When an image is recorded for the C, M, Y, and K image data, the transport belt 92 rotates in the S direction at the position before the image recording indicated by the dotted line in FIG. Rises through the discharge passage 107. And FIG.
As shown in (d), when the leading end reaches the discharge roller 108, the discharge roller
It is discharged at 00.

When the ejection of the thermal paper on which the image is recorded onto the discharge tray 100 is completed, the guide lever 90 is switched from the position 90b to the position 90a as shown in FIG. Is completed.

Next, the working steps of the color conversion adjustment according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 7, in step 1, a density calibration reference chart serving as a criterion for density calibration is output. In the present embodiment, the chart is output according to the following procedure.

First, the editing device 10 outputs to the color printer 12 the density calibration chart data converted into halftone dot area ratio data for each of C, M, Y, and K colors. The color printer 12 converts the input halftone dot area ratio data using the standard color conversion 4D table 150, and converts the halftone dot ratio data into one based on the converted C ′, M ′, Y ′, and K ′ data.
The density calibration chart data 152 in the format shown in FIG. 8 is printed out on the second recording sheet.

Here, the standard color conversion 4D table 1 shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 50 denotes a conversion table to which neither the density correction based on the density calibration 1D table nor the gray correction based on the gray correction 1D table is applied. That is, the density calibration reference chart 152
Is a standard chart without these corrections.

The standard color conversion 4D table 150
Can be configured as a color correction conversion for performing matching with a print target. However, the standard color conversion 4D table 150 can be configured by managing the respective reference values according to the input to the correction system by the system. Do not use
The density calibration chart data can be directly output as a density calibration chart without conversion. Since the conversion part of the print target may be changed due to version upgrade or the like, it is preferable to output the data without conversion by appropriately setting the reference value.

Then, the operator measures the density of each color patch of the density calibration reference chart 152 printed on the first sheet by the density measuring device 21 and transfers the measurement result to the editing device 10 online.
Alternatively, input manually from the keyboard.

Next, the editing device 10 calculates the density difference between the measured density value for each color patch and the reference density for each color patch stored in the memory in advance, and corrects this density difference. The optimal density calibration 1D table is selected from the data 43 stored in the data memory 42 in FIG. Alternatively, a density calibration 1D table that can correct the obtained density difference may be newly calculated. In this case, the newly calculated table is also registered in the memory 65 of the color printer 12.

The selected density calibration 1D table is displayed on the display 38 of the editing device 10.
For example, as shown in the upper right of the screen in FIG.
It can also be displayed as a table function for each color of K. Next, in step 2 of FIG. 7, the density calibration confirmation chart 156 and the gray correction reference chart 1
58 is printed out on the second recording paper. In this step 2, the C, M, Y, and K data of the density calibration chart and the gray correction chart are color-converted by the standard color conversion 4D table 150 in the preceding stage, and the density calibration 1 in the subsequent stage obtained in step 1 is obtained.
The printout is performed based on the data converted by the D table 154. For the same reason as described above, the standard color conversion 4D table 150 is not converted, and the density calibration 1D table 154 obtained in step 1 is used.
Color conversion can also be performed using only the color.

Here, the operator checks the density calibration confirmation chart 15 displayed on the second recording sheet.
6, it is determined whether or not the color density matches the reference density, and it is confirmed whether or not the color calibration has been properly performed by the density calibration in step 1. In this checking operation, the density measuring device 21 measures the halftone density of the color patch of the density calibration check chart 156, and checks whether or not the measurement result matches the reference density. If the color density of the check chart 156 does not match the reference density, the density calibration 1D table 15
4 and perform the same operation.

Here, the confirmation measurement result in step 2 or the adjustment measurement result in step 1 is transmitted to the editing device 10.
, For example, in the screen format of FIG. In the example of FIG.
Are output for each color patch (represented by identification numbers A, B, 1 to 19 shown in FIG. 8).

In the screen of FIG. 13, the identification numbers are A,
Since the columns B, 1 to 9 (dot% is 55%) and the identification numbers 10 (dot% is 55%) to 19 are different, the density calibration chart in FIG. ,
By setting the patch intervals of the halftone density of 55% and 50% larger than the other patch intervals, the correspondence between the screen and the chart is clarified for easy viewing.

Further, the operator judges the bias of the gray balance based on the gray correction reference chart 158 displayed on the second recording sheet, and compares the result with the editing device 1.
Enter 0.

As a method of judging the bias of the gray balance, the following method is exemplified in the chart example of FIG.

That is, by comparing with the background K color, the patch having the best gray balance (not biased toward any of C, Y, and M) from the patches of the gray correction reference chart is highlighted and middle , Each concentration step of the shadow is visually determined. The index of the magenta density of the patch with the best gray balance (M-2 to
M + 2) and yellow density indices (Y−2 to Y + 2), and deviations of these indices from M0 and Y0 (−2 to Y + 2).
+2) is input to the editing apparatus 10 as the gray balance bias. FIG. 14 shows an example of the input screen at this time. In the example of the screen shown in the figure, since the patch with the best gray balance is (M0, Y0) at any density stage, +0.0 is input as the deviation between Y and M at each density stage.

When such a deviation is input, the editing apparatus 10 generates an optimal gray correction 1D table for correcting the input deviation from the data 44 stored in the data memory 42 of FIG. Select. Alternatively, a gray correction 1D table capable of correcting the obtained deviation may be newly calculated. In this case, the newly calculated table is also registered in the memory 65 of the color printer 12.

Next, in step 3 of FIG. 7, the gray correction confirmation chart 162 is printed out on the third recording sheet. In this step 3, C,
The M, Y, and K data are color-converted by the standard color conversion 4D table 150, and further color-converted by the subsequent density calibration 1D table 154 obtained in step 1, and then the gray correction 1D table obtained in step 2. The printout is performed based on the color-converted data by 160.

For the same reason as above, the standard color conversion 4D table 150 is not converted, and the density calibration 1D table 154 obtained in step 1 and the gray correction 1D table 160 obtained in step 2 are used.
It is also possible to print out based on the color-converted data alone. In this case, the two tables are combined into
4 may be combined into a single-stage combined LUT 60.

Here, based on the gray correction confirmation chart 162 displayed on the third recording sheet, the operator visually confirms that there is no bias in the gray balance. That is, it is confirmed that the patch having the best gray balance for each density stage is the (M0, Y0) patch, and the color density adjustment operation is completed. In addition,
When it is determined that there is a bias in the gray balance, a gray correction 1D table for correcting the bias is selected again, and the same operation is performed.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the density calibration check chart 156 and the gray correction reference chart 158 are printed on one recording sheet, instead of being printed on separate recording sheets as in the related art. ,
Output time and paper for one sheet can be saved. That is, compared with the case where the reference chart and the confirmation chart are individually output by dividing into four sheets, only three sheets are required in the present embodiment, so that the adjustment man-hour and the material consumption can be reduced to about ／. .

Further, in the gray correction chart according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, since the color layer serving as the reference of the gray balance uses a stable K color as the background color, the gray balance determination is not performed. The work efficiency can be improved because the gray balance can be determined without preparing another chart for comparison, as well as accurately. Also, depending on the type of paper, the gray balance of C, M, and Y may be lost, making it impossible to make an appropriate determination. In the present embodiment,
Since the color patch and the background of the K color are printed on the same paper, the gray balance of C, M, and Y and the K color collapse in the same direction. And accurate gray balance can always be determined.

Furthermore, since the elliptical patches are used in the gray correction chart, the determination of the gray balance becomes extremely easy and accurate. For example, compared to the case of using a square or rectangular patch having vertices, the area of the background portion surrounded by four adjacent patches can be increased without reducing the patch area, so that the patch color and the background Is easy to compare with the K color. Further, in a patch having a vertex, there is a possibility that an error occurs in the gray balance determination because the color density appears dark due to an optical illusion near the vertex, particularly at an intersection where the four vertices are adjacent. Such an illusion can be reduced, and accurate judgment can be made.

The above effects are not limited to elliptical shapes,
This can be achieved by using a patch enclosed by a smooth closed curve having no vertices formed by the intersection of the straight lines and having a non-negative curvature on the outside. FIG. 10 shows an example of such a patch shape.

As shown in FIG. 10, in addition to the elliptical shape, a figure in which the vertices of a perfect circle or a rectangle (square) are smoothed by a circle or a quadratic curve, a figure in which the vertices of a diamond are smoothed, There are a figure in which a semicircle is connected to opposite sides of a square (rectangle), an oval, and the like. Of course, the invention is not limited to this example.

In the shape of FIG. 10, a perfect circle is considered to be the optimal shape for increasing the area of the background portion and effectively preventing the illusion of the eyes. In order to facilitate comparison with the background K color by making the patch area as large as possible, in the present embodiment, the patch shape is an ellipse.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, the background of the chart of the recording sheet used in steps 1 to 3 of FIG. It is desirable to output a so-called checkered pattern arranged. FIG. 12 shows a print example (density calibration confirmation chart + gray correction reference chart) of step 2 in FIG. 7 in which the background portion is output in a checkered pattern.
The image in FIG. 12 is an image obtained by back-transferring the image of the thermal paper to plain paper, as described later.

By printing such a checkered pattern on the background portion, the load on the thermal print head 78 shown in FIG. 5 can be dispersed, so that the color density unevenness in each portion is reduced, and as a result, the density adjustment can be performed. Can be done accurately. That is, the time ratio (duty ratio) of applying power to the thermal print head for a fixed scanning time can be made substantially uniform within the print screen.

For example, if no image is output in the background portion of the chart, the load of the thermal print head 78 in FIG. 5 concentrates on the chart portion. Further, since heat remains in the thermal print head 78, the density of an image recorded after outputting a high-density area tends to be higher, and conversely, the density of an image recorded after outputting a low-density area. However, such density unevenness can be suppressed by outputting a checkered pattern in which white and K colors are almost equally mixed in an arbitrary background area.

As another method for reducing such a head load, a method of printing the background area on a solid screen of a single color is conceivable. As a result, the visual judgment of the chart may be erroneous. However, in the case of a checkered pattern, since two colors are mixed, unevenness and an illusion of a screen can be suppressed to a minimum.

The above-described head load dispersion effect and illusion prevention effect can be obtained not only by a checkered pattern but also by a white pattern unit and a single color (preferably K color) in any background area having a size equal to or greater than a certain scale. This can be achieved as long as the pattern unit is almost equally mixed in area ratio. In addition,
It is preferable that the scale be smaller than the size of the patch (for example, the length of one side). If the scale is larger than the patch, the unit of the pattern becomes too large and the effect of dispersing the head load is reduced, and the background portion is too conspicuous and the visual judgment of the patch may be erroneous. Further, it is preferable that the scale has a certain size or more. This is because, if an unlimited number of small pattern units (in the case of a checkerboard pattern, a checkerboard pattern) are recognized, the pattern may be too fine, resulting in an optical illusion.

As a pattern other than the checkered pattern, for example, a pattern in which a specific name or text is repeatedly printed,
There are prints of characters such as hiragana, katakana, alphabets, and various symbols repeatedly printed. Also, a so-called fractal figure or the like that is self-similar at a certain scale or more can be used.

As shown in FIG. 11, the size of the checkered grid is set to about 2 to 4 mm on one side, more preferably about 2 to 3 mm. If one side is smaller than 2 mm, the pattern becomes too fine and unevenness is conspicuous, so that the visual judgment of the chart may be confused, and conversely, if it is larger than 3 mm, the pattern becomes coarse and the patch size becomes large. And the pattern size conflict with each other, which affects the visual judgment of the chart. Further, when it is larger than 4 mm, the effect of dispersing the load on the head is reduced.

In this embodiment, 75% and 0% are adopted as the checkerboard K and white dot% densities, respectively. As a result, the average density of the background portion becomes 75
÷ 2 = approximately 37.5%, which is within the range of the background density of the general image (20 to 40%), so that the illusion of eyes can be suppressed. Of course, it is also possible to set the density of the checkered K color to another halftone density so as to fall within the above density range.

Further, in order to reduce the load on the thermal print head 78, not only the background portion but also the chart portion are devised. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, in the range of the dot% density of 95% to 55%, the interval is larger as the interval between the patches having the larger dot% density.
The load can be reduced by resting the head. In addition,
In the range of 50% to 5%, the patch interval is reduced because the density is low and the head does not need to rest.

Further, as shown in FIG. 12, when the density calibration confirmation chart and the gray correction reference chart are printed on one sheet of recording paper, the directions from the highlight portion to the shadow portion of these charts are reversed. Each chart is arranged in the direction. That is, in the example of FIG. 12, the density calibration confirmation chart is arranged so that the lower patch has a lower density, and the gray correction reference chart is arranged so that the lower patch has a higher density. By thus arranging them alternately, the load on the head is reduced.

The density calibration chart, the gray correction chart, and the color print proof image used for the adjustment are actually transferred from the thermal paper on which the image is recorded to the plain paper used for the actual color printing. Is used. The transfer to the plain paper is performed by using the thermal paper 116 shown in FIG. 5 which also serves as the laminated paper, printing the back images of K, C, M, and Y sequentially to create a four-color back image. A method of thermally transferring a four-color back image to plain paper is employed.

Also, images of each color of K, C, M, and Y are printed one by one on a transparent film, and the images of the four colors of the transparent film are transferred one by one to a laminate paper, thereby forming a four-color backing image. A method of creating an image and thermally transferring the four-color back image to plain paper can be adopted. The reason why the color print proof image is transferred to plain paper used for actual printing is that the thermal paper is coated with a heat-sensitive material, and the plain paper is also glossy or matte. This is to ensure fairness of the color proofing because the visual impression of the operator is different.

The color conversion adjustment method for the color printer 12 according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described example, and any suitable method can be used without departing from the gist of the present invention. Can be changed to For example, a density calibration 1D table and a gray correction 1D
The present invention can be applied to a case where color conversion other than a table is performed or a case where three or more types of color conversion are performed. In this case, the confirmation chart of the preceding color conversion of the two adjacent color conversions and the reference chart of the subsequent color conversion are printed on one recording sheet.

In the present embodiment, a thermal printer is used as an example of a color printer. However, an ink jet printer, an electrophotographic printer, a printer using a photo sensitive material, or the like may be used.

Further, in the present embodiment, the determination of the gray balance is made visually, but in the chart output method of the present invention, the color of each color patch of the gray correction chart is measured by a colorimeter, and the measurement result is used. The determination of the gray balance may be performed.

Further, in the color printer 12, color correction was performed on the dot area ratio data Y, M, C, and K.
The present invention can be applied to a case where color correction is performed on R, G, and B data. In this case, the composite LUT 60 is a three-dimensional table.

Further, although the synthesis LUT 60 for color correction is in a table format, for example, a neural network may be used for color correction instead of a table.

[0124]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In any background area, a white pattern unit and a black pattern unit are output as a background pattern that is equally or almost equally mixed in area ratio, so that uneven density and dazzling due to the background color are suppressed. Therefore, the effect that the color conversion can be accurately adjusted by visual judgment can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration for creating a color print proof image and a color print.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of an editing device functioning as a higher-level device of the color printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the color printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a color printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a thermal printer as an example.

5A and 5B are partial views of the thermal printer according to the embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 5A is a perspective view of an ink sheet supply / recovery system and a thermal paper transport system in the thermal printer, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing each ink area of an ink sheet.

6A and 6B are diagrams showing a thermal paper transport path of the thermal printer according to the embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 6A is at the time of drawing out from a paper tray, FIG. FIG. 7D is a diagram illustrating a transport path when the switchback method is executed, FIG. 7D illustrates a sheet discharging path, and FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing steps of color density adjustment of the color printer according to the embodiment of the present invention and a chart printed out on a recording sheet in each step.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a format example of a density calibration chart (reference chart and confirmation chart) according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a format example of a gray correction chart (reference chart and confirmation chart) according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a shape example of a color patch of a gray correction chart according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a checkered pattern printed and output in a background area of a chart.

FIG. 12 is a print diagram of a density calibration confirmation chart and a gray correction reference chart in which a checkered pattern is printed out in a background area.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a screen of the editing device during density calibration.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a screen of the editing device during gray correction.

15A and 15B are diagrams for explaining the necessity of correction using printer condition correction data, wherein FIG. 15A is a graph showing a relationship between a printer signal and an output density, and FIG. 6 is a graph showing a relationship with the printer signal of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 Editing device 12 Color printer 58 Color correction operation unit 60 Synthesis LUT 62 Data output unit 64 Synthesis operation unit 68 Standard color conversion data 70 Density calibration 1D table 71 Gray correction 1D table 152 Density calibration reference chart 156 Density calibration confirmation chart 158 Gray correction reference chart 162 Gray correction confirmation chart

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A color conversion adjustment method for a color printer that performs color conversion on image data, the method comprising: outputting a chart for adjusting or confirming the color conversion to recording paper; In a portion of the recording paper, a white pattern unit and a black pattern unit in an arbitrary background area of a certain scale or more are output as a background pattern mixed equally or substantially equally in area ratio. Color conversion adjustment method. 2. The color conversion adjustment method according to claim 1, wherein the background pattern is a checkerboard pattern in which white and black squares of a predetermined range are alternately arranged like a checkerboard pattern.