JPH11348354A - Print system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a print system which can print particularly with superior readability. SOLUTION: A color change is designated at a printer driver 4 to print data formed with the use of an application software of a host apparatus 1, and the print data after changed is printed by a printer apparatus 2. The color change is designated for a predetermined color at a character system and a modification system and based on a character attribute information and a modification attribute information. Moreover, the designation is based on a physical condition such as a paper feed system, an application, etc. In this constitution, the print data is changed in color, thereby obtaining the print result, for example, easy to read.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a printing system for performing a printing process by changing a color of a decoration system such as a printing character and a hatching.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Today, color printing apparatuses are widely used. Such a color printing apparatus is connected to a host device, for example, a personal computer, and performs color printing of print data supplied from the personal computer.

In such a printing system, when printing print data created by various applications, printing is performed by selecting whether to perform color printing or monochrome printing.

[0004]

However, in color printing, an expected printing result may not be obtained due to the characteristics of the printing apparatus. In particular, when a light color or a character is modified such as hatching with a similar color, it becomes difficult to read the character.

In this case, the same application is used again to correct the data. However, depending on the data, not all of the data is created by oneself, but data created by another person may be corrected. In such a case, it takes time and effort to correct the data, and it is difficult to correct the data.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and makes it easy to correct colors such as printed characters and hatching.
An object of the present invention is to provide a printing system that enables easy-to-read printing.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an instruction means for instructing a change of a color of a predetermined color print character, and a print character of a color designated by the instruction means. This can be achieved by providing a printing system that includes a color changing unit that changes the color to another color, and a printing unit that prints the print character in the color changed by the color changing unit.

Here, the print character is print data created by an application such as word processing software and having a character code and the like. Further, the instruction means instructs, for example, to change a color given a predetermined color in the print data to another color for each job. The color changing unit changes the print character to the designated color, and prints the print character after the color change by the printing unit.

With this configuration, for example, a print character of a predetermined color close to the ground color of the paper can be changed to another easily-viewable character, and a print result that is easy to read can be obtained.

[0010] The above object is achieved according to the second aspect of the present invention.
Instructing means for instructing a color change of the modified printing of a predetermined color, color changing means for changing the color of the modified printing instructed by the instructing color to another color, and the color changed by the color changing means. This can be achieved by providing a printing system having printing means for performing modified printing.

Here, the modified printing means a modified printing for modifying printed characters such as hatching, inversion, underlining, inclined characters, bold characters, white characters, and the like. Further, the instruction means instructs, for example, to change a color given a predetermined color in the print data to another color for each job. Further, the color changing means changes the color of the modified printing to the designated color, and performs the modified printing after the color change by the printing means.

With this configuration, in this case as well, the modified print of a predetermined color close to the ground color of the paper can be changed to another easily-viewable color, and a print result that is easy to read can be obtained. . In the case of the decoration printing, when the color of the decoration character is close to the color of the decoration printing in relation to the printing character to be subjected to the decoration, by changing the color of the decoration printing, it is possible to obtain a print result that is more easily viewable.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, the instruction of the color change performed by the instruction means is approximately performed according to, for example, a color palette.
For example, when giving a color change instruction, the target print data is displayed on the display, a color palette is also displayed on the display at the same time, and the color change instruction can be made more easily by giving the change instruction, More appropriate color designation can be performed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, the instruction of the color change performed by the instruction means is, for example, a specification of a predetermined color before the change is a specification of a wide color range,
The color specification after the change is a specific color.

For example, the designation of a predetermined color before change is R
(Red), G (green), and B (blue) are divided into several levels.
Specify from the wide color range that can be created by this combination, and change the color specification to R (red), G (green), B
Each color of (blue) is divided into 256 levels, and a specific color created by this combination is designated and performed.

With this configuration, it is possible to more easily issue a color change instruction. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, for example, the color change instruction is performed based on character attribute information or modification attribute information.

Here, the character attribute information includes a character size and a font type, and the modification attribute information includes hatching, inversion, and underlining. With this configuration, not only the units of the character system and the modification system but also character attribute information such as character size and font type in more detail,
The printing color can be changed according to various kinds of modification information, and the color can be changed according to different character attributes or different modification attributes.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, for example, the instruction of the color change is performed based on physical conditions. Here, the physical condition is, for example, a condition relating to a paper feeding system. Further, the physical condition is a condition relating to an application, as defined in claim 8.

With this configuration, it is possible to set conditions such as the presence or absence of a color change each time the paper feeding system is different or each time the application is different. According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the first or the second aspect of the invention, a color change instruction registered in advance is read, and a printing process is performed according to the color change instruction.

With this configuration, desired information can be read out of previously registered information, and color can be changed, or printing can be performed by changing the color information. Therefore, the print information once set can be used efficiently, and the print information can be used while changing the color information as needed.

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. <First Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of color printing according to the first embodiment.

Note that the printing system of the present embodiment includes a host device 1
And the printer device 2, and the printer device 2 is connected to the host device 1. In FIG. 1, a host device 1 includes an application 3 and a printer driver 4, and the application 3 is an application for creating print data such as word processing software or spreadsheet software. In application 3, print information is R (red), G
The color information is created as (green) and B (blue) color information and supplied to the printer driver 4 as print data having the color information. The printer driver 4 converts the print information into a command system corresponding to the printer device 2 to be connected.

On the other hand, the printer device 2 comprises an interface controller (hereinafter, referred to as an I / F controller) 5 and a printer engine 6, as shown in FIG. The I / F controller 5 includes a CPU 7 and a ROM
8, RAM 9, CG (character generator) 10,
It is composed of an image memory 11.

The CPU 7 inputs the print data supplied from the host device 1 through the host interface 12, analyzes the command, and converts the character code into the above-described CG.
The corresponding character pattern data is read out from 10 and the corresponding command processing is executed for the control command. still,
The above processing is performed according to a program stored in the ROM 8.

In the image memory 11, bit map data for each color is developed. The bitmap data developed as described above is output to the printer engine 6 via the video interface 13, and the printer engine 6 performs color printing. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the processing of this example. The print data created according to the application 3 as described above is supplied to the printer driver 4. Here, the printer driver 4 performs various settings for printing the supplied print data by the printer device 2.

First, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3, it is determined whether the printing is color printing (step (hereinafter referred to as S) 1). Since the present example is directed to a printing process in color printing, the determination (S1) is Y (yes).
When color printing is not performed, monochrome printing is performed. In this case, the determination (S1) is N (No).

In the case of color printing in the above determination (S1), it is next determined whether or not there is color change printing (S2). In this example, since the color change printing is performed, the determination (S2) is Y, and the print execution processing based on the color change information is performed (S3). When the color change printing is not performed (N in S2), the normal color printing is performed.

The color change setting instruction is performed separately for the character system and the decoration system. This is because the color information is individually given to the character system and the decoration system, and the color change processing is performed based on the color information.

The flowchart shown in FIG. 4 explains this processing. First, it is determined whether or not there is a change in the character system (step (hereinafter referred to as ST) 1). If there is an instruction to change the color of the character system (ST1 is Y), a color change instruction is performed (ST2). On the other hand, if there is no instruction to change the color of the character system (N in ST1), the color change of the next decoration system is determined (ST1).
3).

The same applies to the determination of the color change of the decoration system (ST3). If there is an instruction to change the color of the decoration system (Y in ST3), a color change instruction is issued (ST4), and the color change of the decoration system is performed. If there is no instruction to change the color (N in ST3), the end of the color change is determined (ST5).

Here, the above-described color change instruction will be described. The flowchart shown in FIG. 5 explains this. First, an original color to be changed is selected. This color selection is performed according to a color palette. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of this color palette. It should be noted that the color palette shown in the figure has R (red), G (green), B
(Blue) value is divided into three levels, that is, 0
A value of ~ 63 is A level, a value of 64 ~ 191 is B level,
The value of 192 to 255 is divided into three levels as C level,
Although indicated by level symbols of A rank, B rank, and C rank, they may be displayed in colors representative of the colors of the respective ranges.
By displaying the color pallet on, for example, a display for displaying print data, the color before the change can be easily specified. That is, since it is difficult for an operator to know color information by specific values of R (red), G (green), and B (blue), R (red), G (green), B
Approximate color designation levels, each of which has a width (blue), can be designated, and visually approximate colors.

For example, assume that the color a shown in FIG. 6 is selected (ST6) as the original color to be changed. In this case, a
The color of (A) is designated as R (red), and designated as B (G green).
The designation of the level, B (blue) is the B level, that is,
For the specified original color a, R (red) is 0 to 63, G (green)
Are in the range of 64-191 and B (blue) is in the range of 64-191, and all the colors in this range are selected.
That is, when colors in this range are specified in the print data, these colors are to be changed.

Next, the changed color is selected (ST7).
In this example, it is assumed that b shown in FIG. 6 is selected. That is, R (red) is 255, G (green) is 0, and B (blue) is 25.
A particular color having a value of 5 is specified.

On the other hand, the same applies to the modification system (modification printing). The original color of the modification system, such as shading, is selected in accordance with the color palette (ST6), and the changed color is selected (ST7). ). In this case, as shown in the above example, the color a shown in FIG. 6 may be selected as the color data before the change, and the color b shown in FIG. 6 may be selected as the color data after the change. In addition, the operator can set freely.

As described above, for example, a color close to the ground color of the paper can be changed to another easily-viewable color, and a print result that is easy to read can be obtained. For example, if there is a yellow print character on a white recording paper, the color is close to the ground color of the paper, and the print character becomes very difficult to read.For example, by changing the print character to red or blue, Print characters that are very easy to read.

The same applies to the modification-type printing. When the character subjected to the modification has a blue color and the modification such as shading is performed in blue, the halftone printing is difficult to read. For example, by changing the decoration printing to yellow, the printing becomes very easy to see.

In the above description of the embodiment, the range of colors to be selected is set to the range of 27 color pallets shown in FIG. 6, but is selected using the 64 color pallet shown in FIG. Alternatively, a configuration using a color palette in another range may be used. <Second Embodiment> Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

Also in this embodiment, the printing system shown in FIG. 1 is used, and the printing system includes a host device 1 and a printer device 2, and the printer device 2 is connected to the host device 1. 3 and a printer driver 4. The application 3 is an application for creating print data such as word processing software or spreadsheet software. The application 3 creates print information as R (red), G (green), and B (blue) color information and supplies it to the printer driver 4 as print data having color information. The printer driver 4 converts the print information into a command system corresponding to the printer device 2 to be connected.

The printer device 2 also includes an interface controller (hereinafter, referred to as an I / F controller) 5 and a printer engine 6, as shown in FIG.
The F controller 5 includes a CPU 7, a ROM 8, a RAM 9, a C
G (character generator) 10, image memory 1
The CPU 7 receives the print data supplied from the host device 1 through the host interface 12 and analyzes the command.
The corresponding character pattern data is read from G10, and the corresponding command processing is executed for the control command.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the processing operation of this embodiment. The print data created according to the application 3 as described above is supplied to the printer driver 4. Here, the printer driver 4 performs various settings for printing the supplied print data by the printer device 2.

First, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7, it is determined whether or not there is a change in the character system (step (hereinafter, referred to as W) 1).
Y), the character size is specified (W2). For example, 9
Point characters, 12 point characters, etc. are specified. Further, the font type is specified (W2 '). The specification of the font type is, for example, a Mincho style, a square style, a Gothic style, and the like.

Next, a color change instruction is issued (W3). The color change instruction is a process of selecting the original color before the change shown in FIG. 5 (ST6) and a process of selecting the color after the change (ST7). In this example, at this time, the original color before the change and the color after the change are selected for each of the specified character size and font type. For example, in terms of the character size, the setting is performed such that 9-point characters are “blue” and 12-point characters are “red”. Further, regarding the font type, the setting is made such that “Mincho” is “yellow”, square type is “blue”, and Gothic is “red”.

Next, the color of the decoration system is changed. In this case, if there is an instruction to change the color of the decoration system (W4 is Y), the type of the decoration to be changed is specified (W5). For example, modification types such as shading, underlining, character surrounding, and the like are specified.

Next, a color change instruction is issued (W6). In this color change instruction, the original color before the change shown in FIG. 5 is selected (ST6) and the color after the change is selected (ST7). This color specification is performed as follows. For example, the above shading is "red", the underline is "blue", the character box is "yellow",
Set to say.

After setting the color change information as described above, it is determined whether the color change has been completed (W7). When there is no change in the character system or the modification system (W1 is N or W4
N), the corresponding processing is not performed.

The print data for which the character-based and decoration-based color change settings have been made as described above are sent from the host device 1 to the printer device 2 and the printer device performs a printing process.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when performing color change based on color information, not only units such as a character system and a modification system, but also character attribute information such as character size and font type, The print color is changed according to the decoration information, the color is changed according to different character attributes and different decoration attributes, and the original data is changed. It is also possible to demonstrate.

In the above-described embodiment, the character size, font type, and modification system are individually specified. However, they may be set according to so-called AND (AND) or OR (OR) conditions. May be set redundantly. <Third Embodiment> Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

Also in this embodiment, the printing system shown in FIG. 1 is used, and the printing system includes a host device 1 and a printer device 2, and the printer device 2 is connected to the host device 1. 3 and a printer driver 4. The application 3 is an application for creating print data such as word processing software or spreadsheet software. The application 3 creates print information as R (red), G (green), and B (blue) color information and supplies it to the printer driver 4 as print data having color information. The printer driver 4 converts the print information into a command system corresponding to the printer device 2 to be connected.

The printer device 2 also includes an interface controller (hereinafter referred to as an I / F controller) 5 and a printer engine 6, as shown in FIG.
The F controller 5 includes a CPU 7, a ROM 8, a RAM 9, a C
G (character generator) 10, image memory 1
The CPU 7 receives the print data supplied from the host device 1 through the host interface 12 and analyzes the command.
The corresponding character pattern data is read from G10, and the corresponding command processing is executed for the control command. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the processing operation of this example.

The print data created according to the application 3 as described above is supplied to the printer driver 4. Here, the printer driver 4 performs various settings for printing the supplied print data by the printer device 2.

As shown in the flow chart of this figure, in this example, first, a paper feeder is designated (step (hereinafter, referred to as U) 1). The specification of the paper feeder is, for example, manual paper feed, cassette paper feed, or the like. Further, the paper size is specified (U2). This paper size specification is
For example, to specify the size of the recording paper to be used,
A4 size, B5 size, etc. are specified. Further, double-sided printing and front / back designation are performed (U3). The double-sided printing and front / back designation are specified, for example, when the printing apparatus 2 performs double-sided printing or front / back designation. Further, if there is a page range designation, the setting is performed (U4). The page range is set, for example, from page 1 to page 5 or from page 11 to page 15.

After performing the above processing, it is determined whether or not there is a change in the character system (U5). If there is an instruction to change the color of the character system (U5 is Y), the character size is specified (U6). ). Also in this case, for example, a 9-point character, a 12-point character, and the like are specified. Also, specify the font type (U
7). The specification of the font type is, for example, a Mincho style, a square style, a Gothic style, and the like.

Next, a color change instruction is issued (U8). The color change instruction is a process of selecting the original color before the change shown in FIG. 5 (ST6) and a process of selecting the color after the change (ST7). In this example, the above selection is performed in the same manner as in the above-described second embodiment. However, in this example, the color of characters is changed in accordance with the above-mentioned setting conditions of “designation of paper feeding device”, “designation of paper size”, “designation of double-sided printing, front and back”, and “designation of page range”. .

For example, in the case of "manual paper feeding" in the specification of the paper feeding device, the color change processing is not performed, and "cassette paper feeding" is performed.
In this case, the color change processing is performed. By performing such processing, color change printing and non-color change printing can be mixed, and printing corresponding to the ground color of the paper to be used can be performed.

Further, for example, it is also possible to specify the presence or absence of color-change printing by combining "designation of paper feeding device" and "designation of paper size", or "designation of paper feeding device" and "designation of page range". . For example, it is also possible to perform color change printing only when printing paper of “manual feed” and “postcard size”.

The same applies to the case where the color change is performed for the modification system (U9 is Y), the modification type to be changed is specified (U10), and the color change instruction is performed (U11). At the time of this color change instruction, the above-mentioned setting conditions such as “designation of paper feeding device”,
"Specify paper size", "Duplex printing, Specify front and back",
Change the color according to "Specify page range".

For example, in the case of "manual feed" in the specification of the paper feeder, the color change processing is not performed, and "cassette feed" is performed.
In this case, the color change processing is performed. By performing such processing, color change printing and non-color change printing can be mixed, and printing corresponding to the ground color of the paper to be used can be performed.

When the color change process is completed as described above (U12 is Y), the print data is sent from the host device 1 to the printer device 2, and the printer device performs the print process. <Fourth Embodiment> Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In this embodiment, the printing system shown in FIG. 1 is used. The printing system is composed of a host device 1 and a printer device 2. The printer device 2 is connected to the host device 1. 3 and a printer driver 4. The application 3 is an application for creating print data such as word processing software or spreadsheet software. The application 3 creates print information as R (red), G (green), and B (blue) color information and supplies it to the printer driver 4 as print data having color information. The printer driver 4 converts the print information into a command system corresponding to the printer device 2 to be connected.

The printer device 2 also comprises an interface controller (hereinafter referred to as an I / F controller) 5 and a printer engine 6, as shown in FIG.
The F controller 5 includes a CPU 7, a ROM 8, a RAM 9, a C
G (character generator) 10, image memory 1
The CPU 7 receives the print data supplied from the host device 1 through the host interface 12 and analyzes the command.
The corresponding character pattern data is read from G10, and the corresponding command processing is executed for the control command. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the processing operation of this example.

As described above, the print data created according to the application 3 is supplied to the printer driver 4. Here, the printer driver 4 performs various settings for printing the supplied print data by the printer device 2.

As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 11, in the present example, first, a process of reading registered data is performed (step (hereinafter denoted by V) 1). The registration reading process in this example is a configuration in which the print information described in the above-described embodiment is stored in an EEPROM (not shown) or the like, and is used as needed. For example, the character-based and modification-based color change information set in the second embodiment described above is stored, and the information is read out and set in the RAM 9 (V
2) Perform the corresponding color change setting (V3).

For example, if “b” shown in FIG. 6 is selected as the original color to be changed and “a” shown in FIG. 6 is selected as the changed color, the corresponding information is registered in the memory, and the information is read out. Thus, printing of the above-described settings can be performed.

When the character size and the color before change and the color after change for each font type set in the second embodiment are registered, for example, regarding the character size, the 9-point character is " Blue and 12-point characters are set to say "red", and font types are set to say "yellow" for Mincho font, "blue" for square font, and "red" for Gothic font. In this case, by reading the registration information, the printing process can be immediately performed using the setting conditions.

When the color change processing performed by reading the above-mentioned registration information is completed (Y in V4), for example, if there is a new setting condition, it is determined whether or not the setting is registered (V5). If there is, perform registration processing (V
6). In this case, the registered color information is read out, and this information is changed again.

By performing the processing as described above, desired information can be read out of the information registered before and the color can be changed, or the color information can be changed and printing can be performed. Therefore, the print information once set can be used efficiently, and the color information can be changed and used as needed.

In the above description of the embodiment, reading of single information from registered information has been described.
A configuration in which a plurality of pieces of information are simultaneously read and used may be employed. <Fifth Embodiment> Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

Also in this example, the printing system shown in FIG. 1 is used, and the printing system includes a host device 1 and a printer device 2, and the printer device 2 is connected to the host device 1. 3 and a printer driver 4. The application 3 is an application for creating print data such as word processing software or spreadsheet software. The application 3 creates print information as R (red), G (green), and B (blue) color information and supplies it to the printer driver 4 as print data having color information. The printer driver 4 converts the print information into a command system corresponding to the printer device 2 to be connected.

The printer device 2 also includes an interface controller (hereinafter, referred to as an I / F controller) 5 and a printer engine 6, as shown in FIG.
The F controller 5 includes a CPU 7, a ROM 8, a RAM 9, a C
G (character generator) 10, image memory 1
The CPU 7 receives the print data supplied from the host device 1 through the host interface 12 and analyzes the command.
The corresponding character pattern data is read from G10, and the corresponding command processing is executed for the control command. FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating the processing operation of this example.

The print data created according to the application 3 as described above is supplied to the printer driver 4. Here, the printer driver 4 performs various settings for printing the supplied print data by the printer device 2.

As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 10, in this example, it is first determined whether or not there is color-change printing (step (hereinafter referred to as X) 1). Then, when performing color change printing (X1 is Y), it is determined whether the physical conditions are met (X
2). The physical conditions include, for example, printing such as “designation of paper feeding device”, “designation of paper size”, “duplex printing, designation of front and back”, and “designation of page range” described in the third embodiment. The condition is read, the corresponding data is read (X3), and the print execution process is performed based on the color change information (X3
4).

When the physical conditions do not match (X2
N), a normal color printing process is performed without performing the color changing process. By performing the processing as described above, the printing processing in which the color change setting is automatically performed every time the physical conditions match can be realized. <Sixth Embodiment> Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In this embodiment, the printing system shown in FIG. 1 is used, and the printing system is composed of a host device 1 and a printer device 2, and the printer device 2 is connected to the host device 1. 3 and a printer driver 4. The application 3 is an application for creating print data such as word processing software or spreadsheet software. The application 3 creates print information as R (red), G (green), and B (blue) color information and supplies it to the printer driver 4 as print data having color information. The printer driver 4 converts the print information into a command system corresponding to the printer device 2 to be connected.

The printer device 2 also comprises an interface controller (hereinafter referred to as an I / F controller) 5 and a printer engine 6, as shown in FIG.
The F controller 5 includes a CPU 7, a ROM 8, a RAM 9, a C
G (character generator) 10, image memory 1
The CPU 7 receives the print data supplied from the host device 1 through the host interface 12 and analyzes the command.
The corresponding character pattern data is read from G10, and the corresponding command processing is executed for the control command.

In this example, there is no flowchart explaining the processing operation. However, in the determination of the physical condition (X2), the physical condition is used as application information, for example, and the flowchart of FIG. 11 is used. be able to. That is, it is determined whether applications such as word processing software, spreadsheet software, and graphic software match (X2), and if the applications match, print execution processing is performed based on the color change information.

In this case, the type of the application is registered at the same time as the color change registration. By performing the processing as described above, at the time of printing the application data, the color change setting is automatically performed for each type of application, and color printing can be performed with the corresponding color. <Seventh Embodiment> This embodiment is similar to the first to sixth embodiments described above.
In the processing up to the embodiment, a configuration for performing color printing will be described.

FIG. 12 is an overall configuration diagram of the printer device in this case. The printer used in the description of the present embodiment is a so-called tandem type color printer. In the figure, a color printer 51 includes a paper supply / conveyance mechanism 52, a plurality of image forming units 53, and a fixing device 54. The paper supply / transport mechanism 52 includes a paper feed cassette 55 in which paper P is stacked and stored, and a paper transport system 56. The paper transport system 56 includes a paper feed roller 57 for carrying out the paper P from the paper feed cassette 55,
A paper transport path 58 for transporting the paper P carried out by the paper feed roller 57, a standby roll 59 for feeding the paper P so that the paper position matches the toner image, driving rolls 60 and 61 driven by a motor (not shown), The transport belt 62 is configured to rotate by rolls 60 and 61.

The sheet P conveyed from the sheet cassette 55 to the sheet transport path 58 by the rotation of the sheet feeding roller 57 is sent to the standby roll 59 by the rotation of the sheet feeding roller 57, and is formed on a photosensitive drum described later. It moves on the conveyor belt 62 at a timing coincident with the toner image to be formed.

While the paper P moves on the transport belt 62, the image forming units 65,
The toner of each color is transferred by 66, 67, 68, and color transfer is performed on the paper P. Thereafter, a heat fixing process is performed by the fixing device 54, and the sheet P is carried out of the apparatus.

The fixing device 54 includes a heat roll 54a and a pressure roll 54b.
For example, while being conveyed by being pinched between the press roller 54b and the pressing roller 54b, for example, the color toners of
Printed on

On the other hand, the image forming unit 53 has four image forming units 6 of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (BK) as described above.
5 to 68, and are arranged in this order. Yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) image forming units 65 to 67 that perform color printing by subtractive color mixing
The black (BK) image forming unit 68 is an image forming unit used for monochrome printing.

Each of the image forming units 65 to 68 has exactly the same configuration except for the (color of) the developer contained in the developing container.
In this configuration, a developing device and a transfer device are sequentially arranged. Where 4
The configuration of the image forming units 67 for cyan will be described as an example of the image forming units 65 to 68. The peripheral surface of the photoconductor drum 70 is made of, for example, an organic photoconductive material.
1a, print head 71b, developing roll (developing device 71c,
The transfer rolls 71d are sequentially arranged. The photoreceptor drum 70 rotates in the direction of the arrow, and first charges the peripheral surface of the photoreceptor drum 70 uniformly by applying a charge from the charger 71a. Next, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the peripheral surface of the photoreceptor drum 70 by optical writing based on print information from the print head 71b, and a toner image is formed by a developing process using the developing roll 71c. At this time, the toner image formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 70 is the cyan (C) toner stored in the developing container 71c.
Depends on the color toner. The toner image formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 70 in this way reaches the position of the transfer roll 71d with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 70 in the direction of the arrow, and is transported on the transport belt 62 by the transfer roll 71d. Is transferred to the paper P to be printed.

The toner image transferred onto the upper surface of the sheet P is transported in the direction of the arrow along with the movement of the transport belt 62, and is sequentially transferred by another image forming unit 65, 66 having the same structure as described above. Color printing based on subtractive color mixing is performed with the toners of (Y) and magenta (M).

For example, if the print image is blue, the magenta (M) toner is transferred from the image forming unit 66 to the paper P based on the principle of subtractive color mixture, and then the cyan (C) color is transferred from the image forming unit 67. The toner is transferred to the paper P to realize a blue image. For example, if the print image is red, the yellow (Y) toner is transferred from the developing unit 65 to the paper P, and then the magenta (M) toner is transferred from the image forming unit 66 to the paper P. Realize a red image.

The paper P on which the color printing has been performed as described above is guided to the paper discharge unit by the transport roll 22, and is discharged to the paper discharge unit 74 by the paper discharge roll 73. A desired color printing can be performed by the printer device having the above-described mechanism and performing the above-described processing. <Eighth Embodiment> This embodiment is similar to the first to sixth embodiments described above.
5 illustrates a configuration in which a program for performing processing up to the embodiment is stored in a storage medium and used.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example in this case. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the host device.
It comprises a PU, a storage device such as a ROM and a RAM, and a display. Further, the storage device stores program data 80 for performing the processing of this example. Also, as shown in FIG.
2 or the storage medium of the CD-ROM 83, the program data 80 can be supplied from the storage medium. Further, the program data 80 can be supplied from, for example, a server via a network line.

In this example, the program data 80
Based on the above, the CPU performs the processing.

[0089]

As described above, according to the present invention, the legibility of characters and figures in color printing can be improved.

Further, by setting the changed color using a color palette or the like, the changed color can be set easily and efficiently. Furthermore, by registering the previous color change data, the color change of the print data can be performed without performing the color change setting process each time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a color printing apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a printer device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a basic processing operation of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a color change instruction.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a color palette of 27 colors.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a color palette of 64 colors.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a third embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a seventh embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an eighth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Host device 2 Printer device 3 Application 4 Printer driver 5 Interface controller 6 Printer engine 7 CPU 8 ROM 9 RAM 10 CG 11 Image memory 12 Host interface 13 Video interface 51 Printer device 52 Paper supply / transport mechanism 53 Image forming unit 54 Fixing device 55 paper feed cassette 56 paper transport system 57 paper feed roller 58 paper transport path 59 standby roll 60, 61 drive roll 62 transport belt 63 auxiliary roll 65-68 image forming unit 70 photosensitive drum 71a charger 71b print head 71c developing device 71d Transfer Roll 72 Transport Roll 73 Discharge Roll 74 Discharge Unit 80 Program Data 81 Driver 82 Floppy Disk 83 CD-ROM

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Masamichi Arai 2-229 Sakuragaoka, Higashiyamato-shi, Tokyo Inside Casio Electronics Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masaki 2-229 Sakuragaoka, Higashiyamato-shi, Tokyo Inside Casio Electronics Co., Ltd.

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An instructing means for instructing a change of the color of a print character of a predetermined color, a color changing means for changing a print character of a color designated by the instructing color to another color, and the color changing means A printing unit that prints the print character in a changed color. 2. An instructing means for instructing a color change of a modified printing of a predetermined color, a color changing means for changing the modified printing of the color designated by the instructing color to another color, and changing by the color changing means. And a printing unit for performing the decoration printing in a specified color. 3. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the instruction of the color change performed by the instruction unit is approximately performed according to a color palette. 4. The color change instruction given by the instruction means, wherein the specification of a predetermined color before the change is a specification of a wide color range, and the color specification after the change is a specific color. Or the printing system according to 2. 5. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the instruction to change the color is issued based on character attribute information or modification attribute information. 6. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the instruction to change the color is issued based on physical conditions. 7. The printing system according to claim 6, wherein the physical condition is a condition relating to a paper feeding system. 8. The printing system according to claim 6, wherein the physical condition is a condition related to an application. 9. A color change instruction registered in advance is read,
3. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein a printing process is performed in accordance with the color change instruction.