JP2004214724A - Image quality adjusting method, image adjuster, image forming apparatus, and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the number of outputted papers, allow a user to easily make color adjustment, and save the toner. <P>SOLUTION: Upon input of image data 100a, a reduced image is formed (S1), parameters of the lightness, saturation and hue of the reduced image are calculated by referring to a color profile 122 to adjust the image quality based on the calculation result (S2), the difference of the toner consumption between the quality-adjusted image and the original image is calculated (S3), and the calculation result is stored in a page memory, together with the image adjustment result (S4). This operation is repeated until finished about all the parameters (S5), reduced images different in image quality are stored in the page memory to output image data that the image quality adjustments have been finished, corresponding to all the parameters (S6). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image quality adjusting method for adjusting an output to an image quality preferred by a user in a color printer, an image quality adjusting device for performing the image quality adjusting method, an image forming apparatus equipped with the image quality adjusting device, and an image forming apparatus for performing image quality adjusting. Related to computer programs.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Since the output result of printing a color image by a printer does not have a one-to-one correspondence with the image quality of a color image displayed on a display, it is common practice to adjust the image quality when outputting a print image from a display image. . Also, the method of adjusting the output of the color printer to a color preferred by the user is difficult to understand unless the user actually looks at the actual output, so that the user may need to output the image several times to obtain a satisfactory image. Also, even with the method of performing adjustment and confirmation on the screen, the actual output may not be as expected due to the difference in the color reproduction range between the display and the printer.
[0003]
Therefore, as a technique relating to the image quality adjustment of such a color printer, the inventions disclosed in the following Patent Documents 1-4 have been proposed.
[0004]
Among these, in order to improve the convenience of the apparatus and the user, Patent Document 1 selects a specific area of image data, and repeatedly outputs that area in the main scanning and sub-scanning directions. There is disclosed an invention in which parameters such as characteristics are set, and color image data is processed and printed based on the parameters.
[0005]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-163873 discloses an invention in which an image to be printed is reduced and two types of image quality adjustment items are changed for printing in order to minimize waste caused by test printing for image quality setting. It has been disclosed.
[0006]
Patent Document 3 discloses that in order to facilitate color adjustment of a printer and to make adjustments while observing an actual output, a plurality of the same screens are output for one output by changing the color tone. There is disclosed an invention in which a desired color tone is selected.
[0007]
Further, Patent Document 4 discloses an invention in which an adjustment parameter is divided into n equal parts, and a reduced image subjected to each adjustment is output and selected on one sheet of paper.
[0008]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-6-178091
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-7-203191
[Patent Document 3]
JP-A-7-299934
[Patent Document 4]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-233931
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, when adjusting the image quality of the color printer, it is troublesome to change the adjustment parameters and output repeatedly to check the adjustment parameters, which is wasteful of paper. For this reason, a method has been proposed in which a plurality of reduced images applied by changing the parameters to be adjusted (brightness, saturation, hue, etc.) are output on one sheet of paper, and an image suitable for the purpose is selected from among them. I have. However, simply increasing or decreasing the color value of the original image data may cause a change in the parameter to be too small or a too large change due to the color reproduction characteristics. It is possible that they are far apart.
[0013]
The present invention has been made in view of such a situation of the related art, and an object thereof is to reduce the number of output papers, and to make it possible for a user to easily perform color adjustment and further save toner, an image quality adjustment method, An object of the present invention is to provide an image quality adjusting device, an image forming apparatus provided with the image quality adjusting device, and a computer program.
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a first means is that, in the image quality adjusting method for a color printer, different image quality adjustments are performed on an image obtained by reducing an original image, and a plurality of images having been subjected to different image quality adjustments are arranged in a grid. Then, a desired image is selected from these sheets, an image quality adjustment corresponding to the image quality of the selected image is performed on the original image, and the image quality desired by the user is obtained.
[0015]
A second means is the image processing apparatus according to the first means, wherein the image is selected by a number assigned to the image.
[0016]
A third means is the image processing apparatus according to the first means, wherein the image quality adjustment is performed by calculating a parameter relating to an item to be adjusted from a color matching profile prepared in advance.
[0017]
A fourth means is the image processing apparatus according to the first means, wherein the image quality adjustment includes a mode for unifying the color of the image to a desired hue, and further adjusting the saturation to convert the image to a sepia tone. And
[0018]
Fifth means is that, in the first means, an increase or decrease in the amount of use due to image adjustment is described next to each reduced image, based on the amount of toner used when the original image is printed, for each of the reduced images. It is characterized by.
[0019]
Sixth means is an image quality adjustment device for adjusting the image quality of an input image and outputting the adjusted image, generating a plurality of reduced images having different image qualities from the input image, and dividing the reduced images into grids. Output means for arranging the images in a matrix, and selecting an image having a desired image quality from the output reduced images, and performing adjustment corresponding to the image quality of the selected image from a color matching profile prepared in advance. Image quality adjusting means for calculating the parameters relating to the input image and applying the parameters to the input image.
[0020]
A seventh means is the image processing apparatus according to the sixth means, wherein the image is selected by a number assigned to the image.
[0021]
Eighth means is the sixth means, wherein, for each of the reduced images, an increase or decrease in the amount of use due to image adjustment is described beside each reduced image, based on the amount of toner used when the original image is printed. It is characterized by.
[0022]
The ninth means comprises an image forming apparatus comprising the image quality adjusting device according to the sixth to eighth means, and an image forming means for forming a visible image on a recording medium based on the image quality adjusted by the image quality adjusting device. It is characterized by having done.
[0023]
The tenth means is a computer program which performs a color output adjustment by being downloaded to a computer and executed by the computer, wherein a different image quality adjustment is performed on the reduced image of the original image, and a different image quality adjustment is performed. A step of outputting a sheet in which a plurality of images are arranged in a grid, and, when a desired image is selected from the images arranged in the sheet and the image is specified, the image quality adjustment corresponding to the image quality of the selected image is performed. It is characterized in that a procedure for applying to the original image and a procedure for printing and outputting an image on which the selected image quality has been adjusted are written by a computer so as to be executable.
[0024]
According to the first means, the image quality of the original image is adjusted by selecting a suitable image quality based on the image quality of the reduced image output in a different image quality, so that the amount of paper used is suppressed and the image quality desired by the user can be easily reduced. Can be obtained.
[0025]
According to the second means, the image quality is selected by inputting a number, so that the image quality can be selected and input easily.
[0026]
According to the third means, by calculating a parameter relating to an item to be adjusted based on a color matching profile prepared in advance, it is possible to avoid a large deviation of the color or a constant color, etc. It is possible to realize image quality adjustment along the line.
[0027]
According to the fourth means, since a mode specializing in conversion to sepia tone is provided, the user can easily obtain a sepia tone image.
[0028]
According to the fifth means, for each of the reduced images, the increase or decrease of the toner usage due to the image quality adjustment is described on the side of each reduced image, based on the toner usage when the original image is printed. It is possible to save the toner by considering the image quality and the toner usage.
[0029]
According to the sixth means, by calculating a parameter relating to an item to be adjusted based on a color matching profile prepared in advance, it is possible to avoid a large deviation of the color or a constant color, etc. It is possible to realize image quality adjustment along with the amount of paper used and to easily obtain the image quality desired by the user.
[0030]
According to the seventh means, the image quality is selected by inputting a number, so that the image quality can be selected and input easily.
[0031]
According to the eighth means, it is possible to consider the adjusted image quality and the amount of toner used, and to save toner.
[0032]
According to the ninth means, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus including the sixth and seventh image quality adjusting devices.
[0033]
According to the tenth means, by calculating a parameter related to an item to be adjusted based on a color matching profile prepared in advance, it is possible to avoid a large deviation of the color or a constant color, etc. Adjustment of the image quality along with it can be realized only by downloading to a computer.
[0034]
In the following embodiments, an output unit that generates a plurality of reduced images having different image qualities from an input image, arranges the reduced images in a grid, and outputs the reduced images, and An image quality adjusting means for selecting an image of a desired image quality and adjusting the image quality of the selected image to the input image by calculating parameters relating to an item to be adjusted from a color matching profile prepared in advance; Corresponds to the color adjustment unit 121 of the printer driver 120, and the former corresponds to the image reduction step of step S1, and the latter corresponds to the image quality adjustment step of step S2. In addition, the color adjustment unit 121 also indicates, on each reduced image, the increase or decrease in the amount of use due to image adjustment based on the amount of toner used when the original image is printed, beside each reduced image. This corresponds to a toner use amount calculation step of step S3.
[0035]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0036]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a flow of image designation and color adjustment from an application according to the embodiment of the present invention. When an image is designated by the application 100 of the personal computer, the designated image is passed to the OS (Operation System) 110, and further passed from the OS 110 to the printer driver 120. A color adjustment unit 121 and a color matching profile 122 are provided in the printer driver 120, and the color adjustment unit 121 applies the specified (input) saturation adjustment, color balance adjustment, and contrast adjustment to the entire image. A general color adjustment function is provided in a form usable by a user. In this adjustment, the color adjustment is performed with reference to the color matching profile 122 provided by the manufacturer.
[0037]
That is, the color adjustment is performed by calculating an item to be adjusted based on the color matching profile 122 prepared in advance, for example, parameters relating to the saturation adjustment, the color balance adjustment, and the contrast adjustment. The color information subjected to the color adjustment by the color adjustment unit 121 is sent to the printer 130. The printer 130 includes a K generation unit 131, a γ conversion unit 132, a gradation processing unit 133, and a printer engine 134. Color matching is performed by the printer 130, and color information is generated by the K generation unit 131K if necessary. Is performed to change the color of the ink used in the printer. Then, the γ process and the gradation process are performed in accordance with the printer, and the result is transferred to the printer engine 134.
[0038]
Here, as an example, an example in which color adjustment is performed in the printer driver 120 and the subsequent adjustment is performed in the printer 130 has been described, but anywhere between the color adjustment unit 121 and the gradation processing unit 133, And the boundary of the printer 130.
[0039]
In the present embodiment, a color adjustment sheet 300 for reflecting the color preference as shown in FIG. 3 is created by the color adjustment unit 121, and the color adjustment sheet 300 is printed out from the printer 130, and the color adjustment sheet 300 is printed. The adjustment can be easily performed by selecting the image of. Selection of an image is performed by assigning a number below or above each reduced image and inputting the number from a computer that executes the application. The number may be a continuous number or a number indicating the length and width of the matrix. In any case, as long as the image is compatible with the image, the image may be specified in any manner, and the same image as the printed image may be displayed on the display and specified by the pointer. In this embodiment, the reference image is located at the center, and the reduced image is output by changing the brightness change on the vertical axis and the saturation change on the horizontal axis.
[0040]
At this time, in addition to the above-mentioned number for specifying the image, for each of the reduced images, the increase or decrease in the amount of toner used by adjusting the image quality is reduced based on the amount of toner used when the original image (reference image) is printed. It can also be written on the side of the image. As a result, the relationship between the image quality and the used toner amount can be known at a glance. When such a notation is added, it is possible to select the image quality by examining the adjusted image quality and the amount of toner used, which leads to saving of toner.
[0041]
In addition, it is conceivable to set a mode specialized for this conversion for the sepia of a photographic image considered as a user's request. In this case, a group of reduced images in which the hues of the images are unified to 30 to 50 are arranged at one end of the sheet, and the image whose saturation is changed is arranged on an axis that intersects vertically, so that a sepia image preferred by the user can be easily created. Can be selected.
[0042]
In particular, when performing an adjustment such as decreasing the color saturation and fading as in the case of the above-described sepia, the desired image quality can be set in consideration of the above-described trade-off between the image quality and the toner usage. This can save toner.
[0043]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of the image quality processing of the color adjustment unit 121. When the image data 100a is input, the color adjustment unit 121 creates a reduced image (step S1), and sets the brightness, saturation, and hue parameters of the reduced image with reference to the color profile 122. The calculation is performed, and the image quality is adjusted based on the calculation result (step S2). Then, the difference between the amount of toner used for the image whose image quality has been adjusted and the amount of toner used for the original image is calculated (step S3), and the calculation result is stored in the page memory together with the image adjustment result (step S4). This operation is repeated until all the parameters are completed (step S5), the reduced images having different image qualities are stored in the page memory, and the image data whose image quality adjustment corresponding to all the parameters is completed is output (step S6).
[0044]
The image data output from the color adjustment unit 121 in step S6 is input to the printer 130, and the print engine 134 prints out the color adjustment sheet 300 as shown in FIG. The user looks at the printed output image, selects a suitable image, and inputs information for specifying the image from the computer.Here, when the user inputs a number, the original image is processed at an image quality corresponding to the image quality. Are output from the print engine 134.
[0045]
Therefore, the user can output an image of a desired image quality only by reducing the original image in a grid shape and selecting an image on which different image quality adjustment has been performed.
[0046]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the number of output papers can be reduced, and the user can easily perform color adjustment. In addition, color adjustment that can save toner can be performed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a flow of image designation and color adjustment from an application according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of image quality processing of a color adjustment unit in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an output example of a color adjustment sheet for selecting an image for color adjustment according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
100 Application 110 0S
120 Printer Driver 121 Color Adjustment Unit 122 Color Profile 130 Printer 134 Print Engine 300 Color Adjustment Sheet

Claims (10)

In the image quality adjustment method of the color printer,
Perform different image quality adjustments on the reduced image of the original image,
Outputs a sheet in which multiple images with different image quality adjustments are arranged in a grid,
Select the desired image from these,
Performs image quality adjustments on the original image that correspond to the image quality of the selected image,
An image quality adjustment method for a color printer, characterized by obtaining an image quality desired by a user. 2. The image quality adjusting method for a color printer according to claim 1, wherein the selection of the image is performed by a number assigned to the image. 2. The image quality adjustment method according to claim 1, wherein the image quality adjustment is performed by calculating a parameter relating to an item to be adjusted from a color matching profile prepared in advance. 2. The image quality adjustment method according to claim 1, wherein the image quality adjustment includes a mode for converting the image into a sepia tone by unifying the color of the image to a desired hue and further adjusting the saturation. 2. The image quality adjusting method according to claim 1, wherein an increase or decrease in the amount of use due to image adjustment is indicated beside each reduced image, based on the amount of toner used when the original image is printed on each of the reduced images. . In an image quality adjustment device that adjusts the image quality of an input image and outputs the image,
Output means for generating a plurality of reduced images having different image quality from the input image, and arranging and outputting these reduced images in a grid shape,
By selecting an image of a desired image quality from the output reduced image, and adjusting the image quality of the selected image by calculating parameters relating to an item to be adjusted from a color matching profile prepared in advance, Image quality adjusting means for applying to the input image;
An image quality adjustment device comprising: The image quality adjustment device according to claim 6, wherein the selection of the image is performed by a number assigned to the image. 7. The image quality adjustment device according to claim 6, wherein an increase / decrease in the usage amount due to the image adjustment is described beside each reduced image, based on a toner usage amount when the original image is printed, for each of the reduced images. . An image quality adjustment device according to claim 6,
Image forming means for forming a visible image on a recording medium based on the image quality adjusted by the image quality adjustment device,
An image forming apparatus comprising: In a computer program downloaded to a computer and executed by the computer to perform color output adjustment,
Performing different image quality adjustments on the reduced image of the original image;
A procedure for outputting a sheet in which a plurality of images with different image quality adjustments are arranged in a grid,
When a desired image is selected from the images arranged on the sheet and the image is specified, a procedure for performing image quality adjustment corresponding to the image quality of the selected image to the original image,
A procedure for printing out the image with the selected image quality adjusted on the original image,
A computer program characterized by being written by a computer to be executable.

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