JP2005001275A - Printing method and printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To maintain color reproducibility of a printing result by setting a quantity of a printing agent to be used in printing flexibly for each printing condition. <P>SOLUTION: Printing data set to be printed by an application 102 are provided with various kinds of restrictions on an imaging type and printing method and the like when printed, such as toner colors for use, the summed number, one side or double side printing, and the frequency of printing scanning, by a printer driver 103 or a printing information provider 107 in a printer 104. The printing information provider 107 sends the provided restrictions to a data calculator 113 in a use quantity controller 112, and switches over a controlled use quantity of the printing agent for each restriction provided. As a result, the use quantity of the printing agent can be varied, so that the use quantity of the printing agent is flexibly set. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printing method and a printing system for performing print output, and more particularly to a printing method and a printing system capable of limiting the amount of a printing agent used during printing.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, when printing processing is performed by a color printer, if data is expressed by luminance values of R (red), G (green), and B (blue), C (cyan), M (magenta), Y ( Yellow) is converted to data based on density value components. Further, if necessary, K (black) component generation is performed separately from CMY. This generation of K should theoretically be able to generate pure black by mixing all of CMY, but in reality it will be a greenish black, so K components are generated independently and pure black is generated. This is done to reproduce. The data converted into CMYK density values is printed by attaching to a sheet of paper as a printing medium using a printing agent (ink, toner, etc.) having each color component.
[0003]
Ink or toner, which is a printing agent, is a consumable that decreases each time it is ejected onto paper. A proposal has been made to manage the remaining amount of toner by counting the amount of toner consumed from the number of pixels of the printed matter to be printed, and storing the accumulated amount of toner, which is the consumable item. (See Patent Document 1 below).
[0004]
Also, when printing, there are printing restrictions as described below. For example, when using an ink jet printer that uses liquid ink, there is a limit to the amount of moisture that can be absorbed at one time by the paper, which is the medium to which the ink is attached. Color turbidity may occur or the paper may twist. In the case of a laser printer, depending on the type of medium to which the ink is attached, the toner may not be properly adsorbed on the paper and may be scattered around.
[0005]
Printing processing considering such restrictions is supported by limiting the amount of printing agent used during printing. For example, FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the flow of color data conversion performed in the conventional printing process and the amount of CMYK usage. As illustrated, a terminal device 101 that supplies print data such as a personal computer having an application 102 and a printer driver 103, and a printer 104 are connected directly or via a network.
[0006]
First, when a print instruction is issued by the application 102, color data included in the print data is sent to the printer driver 103. In the printer driver 103, general color adjustments for the entire image, such as saturation adjustment for adjusting the degree of hue, color balance adjustment for adjusting the color arrangement of each element of the color, and contrast adjustment for adjusting the brightness difference of the color. 105 functions are provided to the user in a usable form.
[0007]
Thereafter, using the color matching profile, color matching 106, which is color matching between devices such as the monitor and the printer 104, is performed. The color data adjusted by the color matching 106 is sent to the printer 104, and if necessary, the K generation 108 is performed to change the ink color data to be used by the printer 104. A γ conversion 109 is performed to align unique gamma values of an input / output device such as a color printer. Further, gradation processing 110 for controlling the number of dots per unit area is performed and sent to the print engine 111.
[0008]
For the color data conversion described above, the usage amount restriction unit 112 limits the usage amount of the printing agent CMYK. The usage amount restriction unit 112 performs a process of keeping the CMYK usage amount of the print data within a predetermined usage amount limit value. As the limit value of the predetermined amount of the printing agent used, the strictest value is selected according to restrictions such as moisture absorption of the paper when printing is performed, and is imposed on the entire print data.
[0009]
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a processing example when the usage amount of the CMYK component exceeds the restriction on printing. When the usage amount of the CMYK component shown in FIG. 11A exceeds the printing restriction, if printing is performed with this component amount, the problem that the ink becomes cloudy as described above occurs. In order to cope with this, as shown in FIG. 11B, the component of K is left as it is, and CMY removes the component amount of the same ratio. This reduces the amount of ink used while maintaining the hue.
[0010]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2003-107970 A
[0011]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, as shown in FIG. 11, it is not a preferable process for printing to provide a restriction for reducing the amount of ink used. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of the influence on the color gamut due to the restriction on the amount of ink used. For example, when comparing the color area da before use amount restriction and the color area db after use amount restriction shown in FIG. 12, the color area db after use amount restriction is an area with both brightness and saturation. The range of is narrowing. When the range of the lightness and saturation areas is narrowed, the printable color reproduction area is narrowed, resulting in a problem that the vividness of the appearance is impaired.
[0012]
Further, when determining the amount of printing agent used when printing certain print data, most of them are determined by the page that needs to be most restricted. Then, the determined amount of printing agent used is applied as a fixed restriction to the entire print data. This causes a problem that a restriction is added even to a page that essentially requires little restriction.
[0013]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described prior art, and provides a printing method and printing system capable of maintaining the color reproducibility of a printing result while limiting the amount of a printing agent used during printing. The purpose is to provide.
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, a printing method according to the first aspect of the present invention is a printing method for printing out print data using a plurality of colors. A print information acquisition step for acquiring color information for each unit area from the print data, and a usage amount for each unit area of the printing agent of each color used when printing the print data is set to a predetermined limit value or less. And a data calculation step for calculating.
[0015]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing system for printing out print data using a plurality of colors. Color information for each unit area when printing the print data is obtained from the print data. Print information acquisition means for acquiring, and data calculation means for calculating the amount of use of the printing agent of each color used for printing the print data for each unit area below a predetermined limit value It is characterized by.
[0016]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the printing system according to the second aspect, wherein the data calculating means uses the printing agent of each color used for printing the print data for each unit area. Is calculated below a predetermined limit value while maintaining the hue of the print data.
[0017]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the printing system according to the second or third aspect, wherein the data calculation means is predetermined for the combination of the color information acquired by the print information acquisition means. The usage amount of the printing agent of each color used for printing out the print data for each unit area is calculated so as to be equal to or less than the limit value.
[0018]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the printing system according to the second or third aspect, wherein the print information acquisition means is an aggregate for identifying the aggregate print from the print data when the aggregate print is performed. The print information is acquired, and the data calculation unit is configured to print the print data for each unit area for each color used when printing the print data so as to be equal to or less than the predetermined limit value for the aggregate print information. The usage amount is calculated.
[0019]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the printing system according to the second or third aspect, wherein the print information acquisition means acquires the aggregate number from the print data and performs the data calculation in the case of aggregate printing. The means calculates the amount of use of the printing agent of each color used for printing the print data for each unit area so as to be equal to or less than the predetermined limit value with respect to the aggregate number. .
[0020]
A printing system according to a seventh aspect of the invention is the printing system according to the second or third aspect, wherein the printing information acquisition means identifies double-sided printing from the print data when double-sided printing is performed. The print information is acquired, and the data calculation unit is configured to print the print data for each unit area for each color used when printing the print data so as to be equal to or less than the predetermined limit value for the duplex printing information. The usage amount is calculated.
[0021]
The printing system according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is the printing system according to the second or third aspect, wherein the print information acquisition unit acquires the number of scans required for printing when the print data is printed out. The data calculation means calculates a usage amount of the printing agent of each color used for each unit area used when printing the print data so as to be equal to or less than the predetermined limit value with respect to the number of scans. And
[0022]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Exemplary embodiments of a printing method and a printing system according to the present invention will be explained below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0023]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the flow of color data conversion performed in the printing system of the present invention according to this embodiment of the present invention and the usage limit. In FIG. 1, a terminal device 101 that supplies print data, such as a personal computer provided with an application 102 and a printer driver 103, and a printer 104 are connected directly or via a network.
[0024]
First, the flow of color data conversion will be described below. When a print instruction is issued by the application 102, the color data included in the print data is sent to the printer driver 103. In the printer driver 103, general color adjustments for the entire image, such as saturation adjustment for adjusting the degree of hue, color balance adjustment for adjusting the color arrangement of each element of the color, and contrast adjustment for adjusting the brightness difference of the color. 105 functions are provided to the user in a usable form.
[0025]
Thereafter, using the color matching profile, color matching 106, which is color matching between devices such as a monitor and the printer 104, is performed. The color data adjusted by the color matching 106 is sent to the printer 104. Further, if necessary, K generation 108 is performed, and the ink color data used in the printer 104 is changed. After that, γ conversion 109 for aligning the unique gamma value of an input / output device such as a color printer is performed, and gradation processing 110 for controlling the number of dots per unit area is performed and sent to the print engine 111.
[0026]
On the other hand, the print information acquisition unit 107 receives print data including control commands and print setting values, which are sent to the printer 104 at the same time as the color data after the processing of the color matching 106, and the image type And information such as the printing method. The image type here refers to collective printing, double-sided printing, and the like, and the printing method refers to the color of CMYK of the printing agent to be used, the number of scans per unit area performed during printing, and the like. Then, the print information acquisition unit 107 sends the acquired image type and setting information for identifying the printing method to the data calculation unit 113 in the usage amount limiting unit 112.
[0027]
Then, the data calculation unit 113 calculates the amount of CMYK usage based on the limit value corresponding to the setting information received from the print information acquisition unit 107, and performs switching. As a result, the strictest limit value as shown in FIG. 10 is not imposed on the entire print data in a fixed manner, but a predetermined unit area (for example, a pixel or a page) is determined according to the image type or printing method. It becomes possible to switch the limit value flexibly for each time. The timing at which the usage amount restriction unit 112 performs the processing is performed before or after the γ conversion 109 in the series of color data conversion processing.
[0028]
The conventional usage amount of CMYK is restricted by the usage amount restriction unit 112 as shown in FIG. In the case of FIG. 10, the limit value of the CMYK usage amount used by the usage amount limiting unit 112 is a value determined by restrictions such as moisture absorption of the paper on which printing is performed, and is imposed on the entire print data. This limit value is usually set to the strictest limit value among a plurality of constraints that limit the usage amount of CMYK. For example, when there are three constraints from the first to the third, the limit value based on the first constraint is 300%, the limit value based on the second constraint is 280%, and the limit value based on the third constraint is 250%. Then, a limit value of 250% due to the strictest third constraint is set.
[0029]
However, if a limit on the amount of CMYK usage is imposed on the entire print data, there is a problem that the limit value is suppressed to a place where it is not necessary to apply the limit. This narrows the color reproduction range of lightness and saturation and impairs the vividness of appearance. In the present invention, the usage amount of CMYK is flexibly set by determining constraints by the print information acquisition unit 107 shown in FIG. 1 and switching the limit value by the data calculation unit 113 for each determined constraint. . As a result, it is possible to solve the problems of the conventional CMYK usage limit.
[0030]
In FIG. 1, the color matching 106 is performed in the printer driver 103 and the subsequent color data conversion is performed by the printer 104. However, the process from the color matching 106 to the gradation processing 110 is performed. It does not matter where the boundary between the printer driver 103 and the printer 104 is. The timing at which the usage amount limiting unit 112 performs the processing is performed before or after the γ conversion 109 in the series of color data conversion processing.
[0031]
Next, the contents of the image type and printing method performed by the print information acquisition unit 107 shown in FIG. 1 will be specifically shown. First, a processing procedure in which the print information acquisition unit 107 determines which CMYK toner is used for printing in one page of print data will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for determining the used color of toner according to this embodiment of the present invention.
[0032]
First, the print information acquisition unit 107 sequentially refers to the control commands sent at the time of printing, and determines whether or not the used color of toner at that time appears for the first time (step S201). If the used color appears for the first time (step S201: Yes), a used color flag (identification code) indicating that the color has appeared is set (step S202). Next, it is determined whether or not the control command determined in step S201 is the final data of one page (step S203). If it is not the final data (step S203: No), the process returns to step S201 again to continue the processing of the next control command. If it is the final data (step S203: Yes), the process is terminated as it is.
[0033]
If the used toner color does not appear for the first time (step S201: No), it is determined whether or not the control command determined in step S201 is the last data in one page (step S203). When it is not the final data (step S203: No), the process returns to the process of step S201 again, and the process of the next control command is continued. If it is the final data (step S203: Yes), the process is terminated as it is. Using the used color flag set by the above processing, a combination of toner colors used in the print data is acquired.
[0034]
FIG. 3 is a chart showing an example of the relationship between toner color combinations and limit values according to this embodiment of the present invention. The items in the table indicate, from the left, “used toner” indicating a combination of toner used colors, and “limit values” corresponding to the individual used toners. The combination of used toners is combined from among the color components of CMYK, and in the case of two or more combinations, the characters of each color component are connected by a “+” symbol. Further, there are two types of limit values, limit value 1 and limit value 2. Limit value 2 is a more restrictive value.
[0035]
As can be seen from the table, the use toner is C + M, C + M + Y, C + M + K, and C + M + Y + K. As a result, in this example, when the toner to be used contains a combination containing C and M, the usage amount of the toner is severely limited, and for other color combinations, the restriction is lightened. Printing with a wide reproduction range can be performed. For example, if it is determined that the toner colors used in the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2 are C, M, and Y, the limit value for that is the limit value 2, which is severely limited. .
[0036]
Next, when the print data is aggregate printing, a processing procedure for acquiring the aggregation number by the print information acquisition unit 107 shown in FIG. 1 will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for acquiring the number of aggregates in the case of aggregate printing according to this embodiment of the present invention. First, the print information acquisition unit 107 refers to a control command related to aggregate printing sent from the printer driver 103 at the time of printing, acquires the aggregation number set in the control command (step S401), and ends the process.
[0037]
When the acquired aggregation number is 2 or more, that is, when document data for two pages or more is printed within one printing range, the limit value of the CMYK usage is switched according to the aggregation number. Usually, as the number of aggregates increases, the fonts to be printed also become smaller. Therefore, it is considered that the difficulty of reading due to ink smearing or toner dust is likely to increase as the font becomes smaller, so the limit is tightened as the aggregation number increases. For example, assuming that the limit value during normal printing is 100%, the limit value is 95% when two pages are printed on one sheet, and 90% when four pages are printed on one sheet.
[0038]
Further, according to this, the limit value at the time of normal printing is assumed to be a font size that is generally used (for example, 10 points), and is set to a limit value that causes no problem with the size. As a result, the limit value at the time of normal printing can be set to a light limit value compared to that at the time of aggregate printing, and it is possible to obtain a print output that does not cause a problem even at the time of aggregate printing.
[0039]
FIG. 5 is a chart showing an example of the relationship between the number of aggregations and the limit value according to this embodiment of the present invention. The items in the table indicate, from the left, an “aggregation number” indicating the aggregation number of print data, and a “limit value” corresponding to each of these aggregation numbers. The aggregation number is a value input from the application 102 or the printer driver 103 by the user. Further, there are four types of limit values, limit values 1 to 4, and the limit is tightened in ascending order from limit value 1 to limit value 4.
[0040]
Looking at the table, the limit value is 1 for normal printing with an aggregation count of 1, the limit value 2 for an aggregation count of 2, the limit value of 3 for an aggregation count of 4, and the limit value for an aggregation count of 8 4 Accordingly, as described with reference to FIG. 4, it can be seen that in this example, the limit on the amount of toner used is set to be stricter as the number of aggregation increases. For example, when the aggregation number is determined to be 8 by the processing described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4, the limit value for that is the maximum limit value 4, and a severe limit is imposed during printing.
[0041]
Next, a processing procedure for determining whether the print data is duplex printing from the control command acquired by the print information acquisition unit 107 shown in FIG. 1 will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for determining double-sided printing according to this embodiment of the present invention.
[0042]
First, the print information acquisition unit 107 refers to a control command regarding double-sided printing sent from the printer driver 103 during printing, and determines whether the print data is double-sided printing (step S601). If it is not double-sided printing (step S601: No), the process ends. If the print data is double-sided printing (step S601: Yes), a double-sided printing flag (identification code) indicating double-sided printing is set (step S602), and the process is terminated. Through the above processing, information on whether the target print data is double-sided printing is acquired.
[0043]
FIG. 7 is a chart showing an example of the relationship between the duplex printing and the limit value according to the embodiment of the present invention. The items in the table indicate, from the left, a “printing method” indicating the print type of the print data, and a “limit value” corresponding to each printing method. The printing method is a setting instructed by the user from the application software, the printer driver 103, or the like. Further, there are two types of limit values, limit value 1 and limit value 2. Limit value 2 is a more restrictive value.
[0044]
Usually, in the case of double-sided printing, there are many cases where regulations are stricter due to problems caused by the operation during conveyance of single-sided printed paper and the effects of show-through during single-sided printing. For example, if the limit value assuming only single-sided printing is 100%, an 80% limit may be required to enable double-sided printing. In such a case, during duplex printing, a limit value is set to 80% of that during single-sided printing, and the maximum restriction value can be set for the limit value in single-sided printing. For example, if it is determined that the print data is double-sided printing by the processing described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 6, the limit value for the print data is the limit value 2, and a stricter limit is imposed during double-sided printing.
[0045]
Next, a processing procedure for determining the number of print scans per unit area from the control command acquired by the print information acquisition unit 107 shown in FIG. 1 will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for acquiring the number of print scans per unit area according to the embodiment of the present invention. First, the print information acquisition unit 107 refers to the print settings sent during printing, acquires the number of print scans per unit area set in the print settings (step S801), and ends the process.
[0046]
Here, the number of print scans is related to how dots are formed when printing is performed directly without creating an intermediate image. For example, one line for printing one line composed of a plurality of colors is one scan, and when one line is printed several times for each color, a plurality of scans are used. In addition, there are other complicated scanning methods.
[0047]
Since the scan operation is determined for each print mode of the normal printer 104, the print information acquisition unit 107 determines the number of scans according to each print mode. Then, the limit value of the amount of ink used is switched according to the number of print scans per unit area. As a result, when one printer 104 has a plurality of print modes, different limit values can be switched depending on the order of colors placed on the paper.
[0048]
FIG. 9 is a chart showing an example of the relationship between the number of print scans and the limit value according to this embodiment of the present invention. The items in the table, from the left, indicate “number of print scans” and “limit value” corresponding to each number of print scans. The number of print scans is a set value determined by the printer 104 for each print mode. Further, the types of limit values can be set as much as the limit values 1, 2, 3,... Corresponding to the number of print scans, and the limit values are tightened as the number increases. For example, if the number of print scans is determined to be 2 by the process described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 8, the limit value for this is the limit value 2, and the second limit is applied during printing.
[0049]
Normally, restrictions are tightened when the number of print scans is large. This is because, in general, when the number of scans is large, the next printing is often performed before the toner or ink printed before is completely fixed on the paper or dried. By switching the number of print scans in this way, when one printer 104 has multiple print modes, it is possible to reduce the limit value and expand the printable color gamut in the mode with a small number of print scans. It becomes.
[0050]
In the present embodiment, the description has been given using CMYK components, but the present invention is not limited to the four colors of CMYK. In addition to the four CMYK component values, this is a color printer with more than four colors that uses ink or toner to handle subtle color sensations such as light and dark colors. Also good.
[0051]
The present invention not only restricts the amount of printing agent used according to the above-mentioned image types and printing methods, but also reduces the amount of ink and toner used when using a color printer, and also for the purpose of saving. Can be used.
[0052]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, print data for which a print instruction has been issued by the application 102 is used by the print information acquisition unit 107 in the printer driver 103 or the printer 104, The image type, printing method, and the like at the time of printing, such as the number of aggregations, single-sided / double-sided printing, and the number of print scans, are identified. Then, the data calculation unit 113 in the usage amount restriction unit 112 switches the printing material usage amount limit value determined for each of the identified constraints, thereby allowing the printing agent usage amount to be widened. Can be set flexibly.
[0053]
Therefore, the printing agent usage limit that is usually determined and fixed according to the most severe constraints during printing can be flexibly controlled by restrictions imposed when printing, such as image type and printing method. And can be applied. As a result, the amount of printing agent used can be widened. In addition, since restrictions can be applied as necessary for each print page, the color reproducibility of a lightly restricted page can be maintained, and the best possible print result can be obtained.
[0054]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to maintain the color reproducibility of the printing result while limiting the amount of the printing agent used during printing.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a flow of color data conversion performed in the printing system of the present invention according to the embodiment of the present invention and a usage limit.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for determining a used color of toner according to the embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a chart showing an example of a relationship between a combination of toner colors and a limit value according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for acquiring the number of aggregates in the case of aggregate printing according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a chart showing an example of the relationship between the number of aggregations and the limit value according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for determining double-sided printing according to the embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a chart showing an example of a relationship between double-sided printing and a limit value according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for acquiring the number of print scans per unit area according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a table showing an example of a relationship between the number of print scans and a limit value according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a flow of color data conversion performed in a conventional printing process and a CMYK usage limit.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a processing example when the usage amount of CMYK components exceeds a restriction on printing.
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the influence on the color reproduction range due to the restriction on the amount of ink used.
[Explanation of symbols]
101 Terminal device
102 applications
103 Printer driver
104 Printer
105 Color adjustment
106 Color matching
107 Print information acquisition unit
108 K generation
109 gamma conversion
110 gradation processing
111 print engine
112 Usage restriction part
113 Data calculator

Claims (8)

In a printing method that prints out print data using multiple colors,
A print information acquisition step of acquiring color information for each unit area when printing the print data from the print data;
A data calculation step for calculating the amount of use of the printing agent of each color used for printing the print data for each unit area below a predetermined limit value;
The printing method characterized by including. In a printing system that prints print data using multiple colors,
Print information acquisition means for acquiring color information for each unit area when printing the print data from the print data;
Data calculation means for calculating the amount of use of the printing agent of each color used for printing out the print data for each unit area below a predetermined limit value;
A printing system comprising: The data calculating means calculates the usage amount of the printing agent of each color used for printing out the print data for each unit area to be equal to or less than a predetermined limit value while maintaining the hue of the print data. The printing system according to claim 2, wherein: The unit of the printing agent of each color used when the print data is printed out so that the data calculation means is below a predetermined limit value for the combination of the color information acquired by the print information acquisition means The printing system according to claim 2, wherein the usage amount for each area is calculated. The print information acquisition means acquires aggregate print information for identifying aggregate print from the print data in the case of aggregate print;
The data calculation means calculates a usage amount for each unit area of the printing agent of each color used when printing the print data so as to be equal to or less than the predetermined limit value for the aggregate print information. The printing system according to claim 2, wherein: The print information acquisition means acquires the aggregation number from the print data in the case of aggregate printing,
The data calculation means calculates a usage amount of the printing agent of each color used for each unit area used when printing the print data so as to be equal to or less than the predetermined limit value with respect to the aggregate number. The printing system according to claim 2, wherein the printing system is a printing system. The printing information acquisition means acquires double-sided printing information for identifying double-sided printing from the print data when double-sided printing;
The data calculation means calculates a usage amount for each unit area of the printing agent of each color used when printing the print data so as to be equal to or less than the predetermined limit value for the duplex printing information. The printing system according to claim 2, wherein: The print information acquisition means acquires the number of scans required for printing when printing the print data,
The data calculation means calculates a usage amount for each unit area of the printing agent of each color used when printing the print data so as to be equal to or less than the predetermined limit value with respect to the number of scans. The printing system according to claim 2, wherein the printing system is a printing system.

Images