WO2000040002A1

WO2000040002A1 - Printing density setting device for printer and pseudo half tone controller

Info

Publication number: WO2000040002A1
Application number: PCT/JP1999/007340
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hirofumi Narita
Original assignee: Copyer Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 1998-12-25
Filing date: 1999-12-27
Publication date: 2000-07-06

Abstract

A printing density setting device capable of density correction for a tonal area only desired by a user and producing suitable printed data. A user inputs a desired numeric value to tonal area starting and ending values setting edit boxes (21 to 26) in a tonal range area (20) in a density correction screen to thereby divide the entire multiple-tone range into (n) sections. The user then inputs an appropriate correction value to each divided tonal area in density correction value setting edit boxes (31 to 33) in a correction value area (30). Whether to actually correct each divided tonal area or not is set in check boxes (11 to 13) in a correction presence/absence area (10). Pseudo half tone processing is performed for a tonal representation based on multivalue image data; a threshold value matrix used in an organizational dither method for that purpose is used to provide a customized function for the user's arbitrary setting. The customized function allows the user to designate a size of a threshold value matrix and each threshold value for storing in a storage unit.

Description

Specification

Print density setting device and pseudo halftone control device for printer

The present invention relates to a printer driver that processes multi-tone image data and generates print data for a printer, and more particularly to a method of setting a print density correction value that can be set by a user, and an organization that performs pseudo halftone processing. This is related to the setting of the threshold matrix of the dynamic dither method. Background art

Host devices such as a host computer usually include software called a printer driver for generating print data to be given to an external printer.

In the print density correction of the printer driver, the user may be able to set the print density correction value. For example, in order to increase or decrease the density, the user is allowed to set an arbitrary density correction value numerically within the range of −50 to +50, or to select a sample image, leaving the correction value setting to the user. ing.

However, the value set by the user is a value that affects all gradations of the multi-gradation image data (for example, 256 gradation data). As a result, even the density area was affected, and it was difficult to generate suitable print data desired by the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in order to solve such a disadvantage, and provides a print density setting device capable of performing density correction only in a tone region desired by a user and generating suitable print data. The purpose is to:

In addition, in order to realize the above-described multi-tone (half-tone) expression, the printer driver changes the number of recording dots in a unit area including a plurality of dots to convert multi-valued image data into two. There is a type that performs pseudo halftone processing for converting into value image data.

For pseudo halftone processing, error diffusion methods and systematic dithering methods are widely used. Which technique is better depends on the purpose, characteristics of the recording device, However, the systematic dither method has the characteristics that no complicated calculation is required and that it can be adapted to the characteristics of the recording device by giving a threshold value.

The threshold matrix used in the systematic dither method is dot-intensive.

(F attening type, etc.), dot distribution type (Bayer type, etc.), halftone type, etc. are known, and know how to determine the threshold value is known. The image quality obtained by organized dithering depends on the type of threshold matrix. The dot-centered type is superior when the dot density is high, and the dot-dispersed type is superior when the dot density force ^{s is} low. Naturally, it is not possible to obtain good image quality for all multi-valued image data with one threshold matrix.

For this reason, conventional printer dryno systems use either a fixed threshold matrix or a single threshold matrix that provides an average image quality for all multi-valued images. Was.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a printer which can obtain good image quality or desired image quality of a user based on arbitrary multi-valued image data by using an organized dither method for pseudo halftone processing. An object of the present invention is to provide a pseudo halftone control device. Disclosure of the invention

The present invention relates to a print density setting device for setting a print density of a printer, comprising: an area dividing means for arbitrarily dividing an entire range of multi-gradation into n (n is plural); It is characterized by comprising correction value setting means for setting a density correction value for each area, and density correction means for correcting a print density based on the set density correction value. As a result, it is possible to perform the density correction only on the gradation area desired by the user.

The area dividing means preferably rejects an instruction for area division such that a plurality of divided gradation areas overlap with each other.

The region dividing means may reject a region division instruction in which a plurality of adjacent divided gradation regions become discontinuous, or a region in which a plurality of adjacent divided gradation regions become discontinuous. You may allow the instruction to divide.

Whether to perform density correction for each of the divided gradation areas according to a user's instruction. The density correction means may be provided with a correction presence / absence setting means for setting whether or not to perform the density correction.

More preferably, there is provided a means for displaying a density correction screen having at least a gradation range area for setting a divided gradation area and a correction value area for setting a correction value. The area is divided by a user's input operation on the correction value area, and the correction value setting means sets a correction value by a user's input operation on the correction value area.

The present invention provides a function of arbitrarily dividing the entire range of multi-gradation into n (n is plural) in order to set the print density of the printer within the range, and dividing the entire gradation range by n according to a user's instruction. The present invention also includes a recording medium on which a computer-readable program is recorded for realizing a function of setting a density correction value in the printer and a function of correcting a print density based on the set density correction value.

Another device of the present invention is a pseudo halftone control device for a printer that performs pseudo halftone processing based on multi-valued image data, wherein at least one of the pseudo halftone processes employs an organized dither method. The feature is that the user has a customizing means for setting a threshold arbitrarily for the threshold matrix used for the dither method.

The customizing means includes, for example, means for setting a threshold matrix size, storage means for storing a threshold matrix, input means for inputting each threshold value in the threshold matrix, Means for registering a threshold value in a storage area of the storage means.

This enables the user to create a threshold matrix having a desired threshold arrangement of a desired size, thereby realizing pseudo halftone processing suitable for the user's individual environment and circumstances. .

Input means of the threshold value may be a means for inputting a user force ^s direct number in the display screen threshold matrix input region displayed on, or to have been filed Means for reading threshold matrix data may be used. According to the present invention, in order to perform pseudo halftone control of a printer that performs pseudo halftone processing based on multi-valued image data, at least one of The function that the user sets the threshold matrix size, the memory function that stores the threshold matrix, and the threshold matrix And a recording medium that records a computer-readable program that realizes an input function of inputting each threshold value in the above and a function of registering the input threshold value in the storage area of the storage means. I do. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of functions related to print density control according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on a display of a higher-level device when performing user power density correction.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display corresponding to FIG. 2 in another embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the correction value table shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a dither setting screen relating to pseudo halftone processing of the printer driver according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a screen for customizing a threshold matrix according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a matrix input setting screen according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a matrix storage setting screen according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are diagrams showing examples of a format of a threshold matrix storage file according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a setting screen for reading a matrix according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a system configuration to which the present invention is applied. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

First, a system configuration to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIG. The printer 200 receives binary image data from a host device 100 such as a workstation / personal computer and performs printing. Normally, the host device 100 generates binary data using dither or the like to express the density on the printer 200 based on the multi-valued image data. (Density) expression is realized. Host device 100 is CPU 101, memory 102, external storage device 105

(Hard disk device, etc.), CD-ROM device 106, FD device 107, input device (keyboard, mouse, etc.) 108, display device 109, input / output device (I / 0) 110 0, communication device 1 1 1 provided. The printer dryino (program) 104 is stored in the memory 102 (and / or the external storage device 105), and the CPU 101 executes this program to create and print data.ぴ The transfer process is performed. With the above-described power, the print density setting device of the printer of the present invention is realized as one function of the upper device 100.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of functions related to print density control according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The correction setting processing unit 1 is a function realized by the CPU 101, and includes a correction presence / absence setting unit 1, a gradation area division setting unit 3, and a correction value setting unit 4.

The tone area division setting unit 3 sets the start and end values of each of the n (partially n) divided tone areas according to a user's instruction. Along with this processing, control to disallow the setting of an overlapping area where the whole or part of a plurality of divided gradation areas overlap each other, and disallow setting of a discontinuous area where adjacent divided gradation areas are not continuous And control to reject numerical values outside the range of maximum and minimum gradation values.

The correction presence / absence setting unit 2 sets the presence / absence of correction and displays the status of each of the gradation regions n-divided by the gradation region division setting unit 3 in accordance with a user's instruction. For example, in the case of the setting without correction, control is performed so that the setting for the correction value setting unit 4 is disabled (or disabled).

The correction value setting unit 4 sets a density correction value for each divided gradation area according to a user's instruction. Also, control to reject numerical values outside the settable range, or respond to set values Display control of the same sample image (not shown).

The correction value table generation unit 5 includes a correction value table 6 having a size corresponding to the number of image gradations based on the information set by the correction presence / absence setting unit 2, the gradation area division setting unit 3, and the correction value setting unit 4. Is generated. FIG. 4 shows an example of a correction value table 6 for converting input values 0 to 255 into corresponding output values. As each output value of the correction value table 6, a value obtained by reflecting a corresponding correction value (increase / decrease value) with respect to a corresponding input value is set.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a screen displayed on the display 109 of the host device 100 when the user performs density correction. Here, a case is shown in which the density correction setting can be set up to three divisions for the 256 tone image data of [0] to [255]. The density correction screen has a correction presence / absence area 10, a gradation range area 20, and a correction value area 30. These areas 10, 20, and 30 correspond to the correction presence / absence setting unit 2, the gradation area division setting unit 3, and the correction value setting unit 4 in FIG. 1, respectively. The correction area 10 has check boxes 11 to 13 that can be set ON / OFF with a pointing device (mouse or the like). These check boxes 11 to 13 are in the ON state (with a check mark). , Indicates that there is correction for each divided gradation area. The OFF state of the check boxes 11 to 13 indicates that there is no correction for each divided gradation area. If there is no correction, the correction value setting unit 4 is controlled to disable the setting of the correction value for the divided gradation area. In the case of no correction, it is also specified that the user cannot perform a correction value setting operation due to a change in the display state (for example, a decrease in luminance) in the correction value area 30. In the correction value area 30, a correction value (addition value or subtraction value) for the density value in each divided gradation area is set.

If the correction value set in the correction value area 30 is set to 0, it is equivalent to the case without correction. By enabling the setting of no compensation in the compensation area 10, the previous compensation value (other than 0) can be left in the compensation value area 30. The correction value can be made valid again only by making it exist.

The gradation range area 20 has edit boxes 21 to 26 in which numerical values can be set, and the user can set a division range of the gradation region by inputting a numerical value here. In the example of the figure, the gradation range of [0] to [50] is the first area, [51] The gradation range of [199] to [199] is set as the second region, and the gradation range of [200] to [255] is set as the third region. In this embodiment, the control of the magnitude of the opening / closing value between the areas is controlled such that the second area is smaller than the first area <the third area (ascending order), and the setting of the overlapping area and the setting of the discontinuous area are not permitted. Perform control.

In the correction value area 30, in the example shown in the figure, edit boxes 31 to 33 that can be set numerically in the range of density correction values [-50] to [+50], and analog settings can be made using a pointing device, etc. Scroll bars 34 to 36 are provided to the user. The correction value setting section 4 (Fig. 1) controls the settings of the scroll bars 34 to 36 and the settings of the edit boxes 31 to 33 in conjunction with each other so that the same setting value is indicated.

The correction value set for each divided gradation area has been described as increasing or decreasing the input density value, but how the correction value is reflected in the print gradation level is not limited to this. is not.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a screen displayed on the display 109 corresponding to FIG. 2 in another embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment has the same functional configuration as shown in FIG. 1, but the correction presence / absence setting unit 2 is omitted. Further, the gradation area division setting unit 3 performs a control for disabling the setting of the overlapping area and a control for setting the discontinuous area in the division gradation area setting. In the example of FIG. 3, the first divided gradation area [0] to [50] and the second divided gradation area [200 :! ~ [224] are discontinuous. The correction force s by the correction value does not work for the gradation of the unset area that is not included in any of the set areas. Other functions are the same as in the first embodiment. In the example of FIG. 3, the actual number of divided gradation areas including the unset areas [51] to [199] is four. In the second embodiment, when edit boxes 21 to 26 are used in the gradation range area 20, the number of areas with correction is 3 and the number of areas without correction is 4 (the area before the edit box 21 and the edit box 21). A maximum of 7 divided gradation areas (including the area after box 26) can be set.

Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, various modifications and changes are possible. For example, correction of print density can be applied to correction of the density of each color of a color printer. According to the present embodiment, multi-gradation Range can be arbitrarily divided into n, and a correction value can be set for each of the divided gradation areas, so that suitable print data desired by the user can be generated. In addition, operability can be improved by enabling the setting of the presence or absence of correction for each of the n-divided gradation areas.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention relating to pseudo halftone processing will be described. To express the above gradation (after correction) with binary data, pseudo halftone processing is performed. The systematic dither method and the error diffusion method itself of the pseudo halftone processing are known as described above, and only the systematic dither method will be briefly described here. The system configuration used in the present embodiment is as shown in FIG. The printer dryino (program) for performing pseudo halftone processing is stored in the memory 102 (and Z or the external storage device 105). When the CPU 101 executes this program, Pseudo halftone processing is performed. Therefore, the pseudo halftone control device of the printer of the present invention is realized as one function in the host device 100.

Simple threshold comparison by the systematic dither method The binarization process compares each pixel value of multi-valued image data with a threshold value on a threshold matrix determined by the pixel position.

When pixel value ≥ threshold, binarized data = 1

When the pixel value is lower than the threshold value, binarized data = 0

Is output.

As described above, the threshold matrix used in the systematic dither method includes a dot concentration type (Fattening type, etc.), a dot dispersion type (Bayer type, etc.), a dot type, and the like. The size of the matrix also has various sizes such as "4 x 4", "8 x 8", "16 16",…. Which threshold matrix is appropriate for the systematic dithering of the printer driver depends on the know-how of the printer dryino provider.

Hereinafter, an example of a printer driver in which the threshold matrix can be customized so as to reflect the know-how ^s of the printer dryno user will be described.

FIG. 5 is an example of a dither setting screen relating to pseudo halftone processing of the printer driver according to the present embodiment. This screen is displayed on the display device 1 09 in Fig. 11. Will be displayed. The same applies to other various screens described below.

In the example of FIG. 5, three types of “dither”, “custom dither”, and “ED” can be set as the type of the pseudo middle interrogation process. “Dithering” is a systematic dithering method that uses a fixed threshold matrix. "Custom dither" is a systematic dithering method that uses a threshold matrix customized by the printer driver user. “ED” is a processing method using the error diffusion method. Printer driver users can customize the threshold matrix by selecting “custom dither”.

When the user wants to customize the threshold matrix, the user can display or enable the “Custom dither” by selecting the “Matrix setting” button in the screen shown in Fig. 5 and pointing the mouse or other pointing device or keypad. Specify by key input.

In response to this instruction, the screen in Fig. 6 is displayed. This is an example of a screen for customizing the threshold matrix. The “setting size” part 61 in the matrix setting screen is a part for setting the size of the threshold matrix. In the example shown in the figure, the setting format is selected from three types, "4 x 4", "8 x 8", and "16 x 16". However, the size and type of the threshold matrix are not limited to this.

The "matrix input" button in the screen of Fig. 6 is displayed when the user presses this button (instruction with a mouse or the like), and the matrix input setting screen (described later in Fig. 7) corresponding to the instructed setting size is displayed. . "Matrix read" Potan is, when the user instructs this, (described later in FIG. 1 0) Setting screen of the write Mutame read the files that are stored custom matrix force ^power? Is displayed. Pressing the OK button on the screen in Fig. 6 enables the threshold matrix force ^s for the currently selected set size. Pressing the Cancel button cancels the input information being set and returns to the screen shown in Fig. 5.

FIG. 7 is an example of a matrix input setting screen. This screen has a display section 13 1 that displays the “set size” selected in the “set size” section 6 1 of FIG. 6, and a “threshold” matrix input area 1 32 for this size. . Threshold The portion that cannot be displayed in the display area of the trix input area 132 can be displayed by scrolling the image in the area 132 by operating the scroll bars 134 and 135 on the right side. The user inputs an arbitrary threshold value from the input device 108 such as a keyboard into each matrix position of the “threshold” matrix input area 132 to construct a threshold matrix. When the user instructs the “Save File” button, a screen for saving the constructed threshold matrix to a file (Fig. 8) is displayed. After inputting the matrix on the screen in Fig. 7, press ΟΚ button to enable the customized matrix. Press the Cancel button to cancel the input information and return to the screen in Fig. 6. Although not shown, by providing the “Read Matrix” button in Fig. 6 on this “Matrix Input Settings” screen, the saved custom threshold matrix file is read, and the threshold settings are used as the initial values. However, it becomes possible to set individual "threshold input" sections, and partial customization becomes easy.

FIG. 8 is an example of a matrix storage setting screen. This screen is used to save the customized threshold matrix created on the matrix input setting screen shown in Fig. 7 as a file.If you set the save destination file name and press the OK button, the The file is saved in a predetermined storage area (in this case, the external storage device 105) with the file name. If you press the C anc e button, you will return to Figure 7 without performing this save process. -Fig. 9 (a) shows an example of the format of the save file. This format example corresponds to the case where the 4 x 4 dot dispersed (Bayer type) threshold matrix of Fig. 9 (b) is saved in a file. The format of the storage file is not particularly limited to that shown in the figure.

The “size ID” part in Fig. 9 (a) is the part where the size ID for determining the matrix size is stored (for example, “4X4” is 0, “8X8” is 1, and “1”). 6 x 16 "is composed of 2) and comma (", "). This comma indicates the separation from the following "matrix contents" part. The “matrix contents” part consists of the threshold values (in the order from the upper row left to the lower row right column) in each cell of the matrix in Fig. 9 (b) and the comma separating the thresholds. It is configured. Figure 9 (a) Although this is an example of a text format, the present invention is not limited to this, including a comma delimited. The threshold value of the matrix content is set to 0 to 15 in accordance with the size of 4 × 4, but the threshold value may be scaled according to the value of 100% of the input density. For example, if the input density value 100% is 255, each threshold value is multiplied by 16 times. That is, numbers from “0” to “2440” are assigned to 16 cell positions of the 4 × 4 matrix in 16 steps, respectively.

FIG. 10 is an example of a setting screen for reading the matrix described in FIG. This is a setting screen for reading the saved customized threshold matrix file. By setting the name of the file to be read and pressing the 0K button, the specified storage means (for example, external storage device 1) 0 5, CD-ROM 106, FD device 107, etc.) or communication device 111, etc., the specified file power is read. Press the C anc e 1 button to return to the previous screen without reading the file.

According to the present embodiment, by providing a customizing means for the threshold matrix used in the systematic dither method, it becomes possible to set a threshold matrix suitable for each characteristic of the multi-valued image data. Good image quality can be obtained. In addition, the know-how of the user can be reflected in the threshold matrix, and the image quality desired by the user can be obtained. Industrial applicability

The present invention can be used for designing and developing a printer driver.

Claims

The scope of the claims

1. A print density setting device for setting the print density of a printer,

An area dividing means for arbitrarily dividing the entire range of multi-gradation into n (n is plural), a correction value setting means for setting a density correction value for each divided gradation area in accordance with a user's instruction,

A print density setting device for correcting print density based on a set print density correction value.

2. The print density setting of a printer according to claim 1, wherein the area dividing unit rejects an instruction of area division such that a plurality of divided gradation areas overlap with each other.

3. The print density according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the area dividing means rejects an instruction of area division such that a plurality of adjacent divided gradation area forces ³ 'become discontinuous. Setting device. 3. The printer print density setting device according to claim 1, wherein the area dividing unit allows an instruction for area division such that a plurality of adjacent divided gradation areas become discontinuous.

5. A correction presence / absence setting means for setting whether or not to perform density correction for each of the divided gradation areas in accordance with a user's instruction, wherein the density correction means includes The print density setting device for a printer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the density correction is not performed on the gradation area.

6. A means for displaying a density correction screen having at least a gradation range area for setting a divided gradation area and a correction value area for setting a correction value, wherein the area dividing means comprises: The area is divided by the input operation. 6. The printing density setting device according to claim 1, wherein the correction value setting means sets the correction value by a user input operation to the correction value area.

7. To set the print density of the printer,

A function that arbitrarily divides the entire range of multi-gradation into n (n is plural)

A function for setting a density correction value for each divided gradation area in accordance with a user's instruction, and a function for correcting a print density based on the set density correction value.

A recording medium on which a computer-readable program is recorded to realize the functions.

8. In a pseudo halftone control device for a printer that performs pseudo halftone processing based on multi-valued image data,

A storage device that adopts at least an organized dither method in one of the pseudo halftone processes and stores a threshold matrix used for the organized dither method;

Customization means for the user to arbitrarily set the threshold value of the threshold matrix,

A pseudo halftone control device for a printer, comprising: 9. The customizing means includes:

Means for setting a threshold matrix size;

Input means for inputting each threshold value in the threshold value matrix;

Means for registering the input threshold value in a storage area of the storage device;

9. The pseudo halftone control device for a printer according to claim 8, comprising:

10. The threshold input means includes a means for the user to directly input a numerical value in a threshold matrix input area displayed on the display screen, and a filed threshold. Having at least one of means for reading matrix data 10. The pseudo halftone control device for a printer according to claim 9, wherein:

1.In order to perform pseudo-halftone control of a printer that performs pseudo-halftone processing based on multi-valued image data, at least one of the pseudo-halftone processes employs the systematic dither method.

A function for the user to set the threshold matrix size for the threshold matrix used for the systematic dither method,

A storage function for storing a threshold matrix,

An input function for inputting each threshold in the threshold matrix,

A function to register the entered threshold value in the storage area of the storage device;

A recording medium on which a computer-readable program is recorded.