JP2013156774A - Print data creating device and printer driver program - Google Patents

Abstract

A print data creation apparatus and a printer driver program capable of reflecting transparency or opacity in print data are provided.
An OS, an application, and a printer driver operate on a PC. The OS can pass data in a predetermined format (for example, RGB format) set in advance to the printer driver. When the opacity is reflected in the image 90, the printer driver acquires RGB format image data 70 from the OS. The printer driver acquires opacity image data 75 of the opacity image 95, which is an image representing opacity, from the OS. The opacity image data 75 is in RGB format that can be handled by the OS. Opacity is specified from the opacity image data 75, and an opacity file 76 is created. The opacity file 76 is applied to the intermediate data 71 obtained by converting the image data 70 into the CMYKW format, and print data is created.
[Selection] Figure 8

Description

  The present invention relates to a print data creation apparatus capable of creating print data for printing on a print medium, and a printer driver program.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a print data creation device that can create print data for printing by a printing device is known. For example, the print data creation apparatus described in Patent Document 1 converts CMYW print data or CMY print data expressed in print gradation (for example, two gradations) from image data expressed in RGB format of 256 gradations. Can be created. The created CMYW print data or CMY print data is transmitted to an ink jet printer (corresponding to a printing apparatus), and printing is executed. When the print medium (print medium) is a color other than white, printing can be performed using CMYW print data, and white (W) ink can be ejected to express white. Further, when the print medium is white, printing can be performed using CMY print data, and white can be expressed using the white color of the print medium without discharging white ink.

JP 2009-231992 A

  In general, a print data creation device (for example, a CPU that functions as a printer driver) uses an image created by an application via a delivery means (for example, a CPU that functions as an OS or another PC) that delivers image data. Data is acquired, and print data for printing is created based on the acquired image data. By the way, there are cases where it is desired to reflect transparency or opacity representing the degree of transparency in an image to be printed, such as when it is desired to represent a part of an image to be printed with transparency or gradation. However, some delivery means cannot handle transparency and opacity. If the delivery means cannot handle transparency and opacity, for example, the transparency and opacity are lost, or the transparency and opacity are converted to white by the application. In this case, there is a problem that even if the print data creation apparatus receives image data from the delivery means, it is not possible to create print data reflecting transparency and opacity. For this reason, an image having a degree of transparency different from that desired by the user may be printed.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a print data creation apparatus and a printer driver program capable of reflecting transparency or opacity in print data.

  A print data creation apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is a print data creation apparatus that obtains image data and creates print data that is data for causing the printing apparatus to print based on the obtained image data. Image data acquisition for acquiring the image data in a predetermined format for the image to be printed from the transfer means for transferring the image data, which cannot directly handle the transparency or opacity indicating the transparency of the image. A transparency acquisition means for acquiring the transparency or the opacity; the transparency or the opacity acquired by the transparency acquisition means; and the image data acquired by the image data acquisition means. Print data for creating the print data in which the transparency or the opacity is reflected in the image based on the image data And a creating means. In this case, the print data creation apparatus can acquire the image data from the delivery unit. Further, the print data creation apparatus can acquire transparency or opacity, and reflect the transparency or opacity in an image based on the image data. For this reason, it is possible to print an image having the same degree of transparency as the image desired by the user.

  In the print data creation apparatus, the transparency acquisition means includes transparency related data acquisition means for acquiring transparency related data, which is data in which the transparency or the opacity is converted into a format that can be handled by the delivery means, from the delivery means, May acquire the transparency or opacity by specifying the transparency or the opacity from the transparency-related data acquired by the transparency-related data acquisition means. Since the transparency-related data is data in which the transparency or opacity is converted into a format that can be handled by the delivery means, the transparency-related data can be acquired from the delivery means even when the delivery means cannot handle the transparency or opacity directly. Then, the transparency or opacity is specified from the transparency-related data, and print data reflecting the transparency or opacity can be created.

  In the print data creation apparatus, the delivery unit may be an operation system. The operation system can deliver (output) only data in a predetermined format determined by the manufacturer of the operation system to the print data creation apparatus. Since the transparency related data is data converted into a format that can be handled by the OS, the transparency related data can be transferred from the operation system to the print data creation apparatus. For this reason, the print data creation apparatus can acquire the transparency related data by the transparency related data acquisition means. The print data creation apparatus can create print data by reflecting transparency or opacity in an image based on image data. For this reason, the printing apparatus can perform printing on the print medium by using the print data created by the print data creation means to make the portion to be transparent transparent.

  In the print data creation device, the printing device may be capable of printing white ink on a print medium. The print data created by the print data creation means reflects transparency or opacity. For this reason, white and transparent are distinguished in the print data. For this reason, even if the printing apparatus can print white ink, it is possible to perform printing on the print medium by making the part to be transparent transparent and the part white to be white.

  In the print data creation apparatus, the predetermined format of the image data may be an RGB format. In this case, the print data creation apparatus can acquire RGB format image data that can be handled by the delivery means, and reflect the transparency or opacity in the acquired image. For this reason, the printing apparatus can print an image having the same transparency as the image desired by the user.

  In the print data creation device, the print data creation unit converts the image data acquired by the image data acquisition unit from the RGB format to the CMYKW format, and converts the converted image data into the converted image data by the transparency acquisition unit. The print data may be created after reflecting the acquired transparency or opacity. In this case, print data can be created by reflecting transparency or opacity in the image data converted into the CMYKW format. As a result, the printing apparatus can print an image having the same degree of transparency as the image desired by the user.

  In the print data creation device, the transparency acquisition unit may acquire the transparency or the opacity via another device capable of handling the transparency or opacity. In this case, the print data creation device can acquire transparency or opacity from another device, and can create print data by reflecting the transparency or opacity in the image data. As a result, the printing apparatus can print an image having the same degree of transparency as the image desired by the user.

  A printer driver program according to a second aspect of the present invention is executed on a computer, acquires image data, and generates print data that is data for causing a printing apparatus to print based on the acquired image data. A printer driver program for causing the computer to function as an image to be printed from a delivery unit that delivers the image data to the computer and that cannot directly handle transparency or opacity indicating the degree of transparency of the image. Image data acquisition means for acquiring the image data in a predetermined format, transparency acquisition means for acquiring the transparency or opacity, the transparency or opacity acquired by the transparency acquisition means, and the image data acquisition means On the basis of the image data acquired by The transparency or the opacity to function as a print data creating means for creating the print data reflected in the image based on. In this case, the printer driver program causes the computer to function, the computer obtains the transparency or opacity, and the transparency or opacity can be reflected in the image based on the image data. For this reason, it is possible to print an image having the same degree of transparency as the image desired by the user.

1 is a perspective view showing an outline of a printing system 100. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the printing apparatus 30. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of PC1. 3 is a data configuration diagram of a color conversion table 21. FIG. 3 is a data configuration diagram of a white conversion table 22. FIG. It is a figure which shows the image 90. FIG. It is a data block diagram of the image data 70 of the image 90 shown in FIG. It is a data transition diagram showing a process of creating print data. It is a figure which shows the opacity image 95. FIG. It is a data block diagram of the opacity image data 75 of the opacity image 95 shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which an image 91 reflecting opacity based on the opacity image 95 shown in FIG. 9 is printed on the fabric 98 in the image 90 shown in FIG. 6. It is a flowchart of an opacity file creation process. It is a figure which shows the input screen. It is a data block diagram of the opacity file. It is a flowchart of an opacity file adaptation process. It is a data block diagram of the intermediate data 71 into which the image data 70 shown in FIG. 7 was converted into the CMYKW format. It is a data block diagram of the intermediate data 72 in which the opacity was applied to the intermediate data 71 shown in FIG. It is a data transition diagram which shows the process which produces the printing data in 2nd embodiment.

  Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. A printing system 100 including a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as “PC”) 1 and a PC 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The printing system 100 includes a PC 1 and a printing device 30. The printing apparatus 30 is a known fabric inkjet printer, and can scan a fabric 98 (see FIG. 11), which is a print medium, by scanning the ink head 35. A CPU 10 (see FIG. 3, hereinafter simply referred to as “printer driver”) functioning as a printer driver in the PC 1 can create print data for causing the printing apparatus 30 to execute printing.

  An outline of the printing apparatus 30 will be described. The lower left side and upper right side in FIG. 1 are the front side and the back side of the printing apparatus 30, respectively. The left-right direction and the up-down direction in FIG. 1 are the left-right direction and the up-down direction of the printing apparatus 30, respectively. The printing apparatus 30 includes a rectangular box-shaped casing 31. A pair of guide rails 33 extend in the left-right direction substantially at the center of the casing 31 in the front-rear direction. The carriage 34 is supported by the guide rail 33 so as to be movable in the left-right direction (main scanning direction) along the guide rail 33. Although details are not shown, the carriage 34 is scanned in the main scanning direction by a main scanning mechanism including a main scanning motor 46 (see FIG. 2) and a belt. The carriage 34 includes an ink head 35 at the bottom. A plurality of (for example, 128) fine nozzles are provided on the bottom surface of the ink head 35. The ink supplied from the ink cartridge (not shown) to the ink head 35 is ejected downward from the nozzle by driving the piezoelectric element.

  A pair of guide rails 37 extend in the front-rear direction at a substantially central lower portion in the left-right direction inside the housing 31. The platen support 38 is supported by the guide rail 37 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction (sub-scanning direction) along the guide rail 37. Although not shown in detail, the platen support 38 is scanned in the sub-scanning direction by a sub-scanning mechanism including a sub-scanning motor 47 (see FIG. 2) and a belt. A replaceable platen 39 is fixed substantially at the center in the left-right direction on the upper surface of the platen support 38. The platen 39 is a plate having a substantially pentagonal shape in plan view, and is for placing a fabric 98 such as a T-shirt on the upper surface thereof.

  The printing apparatus 30 can form dot rows in the main scanning direction by ejecting ink while causing the ink head 35 to scan in the main scanning direction. When one operation in the main scanning direction is completed, the printing apparatus 30 scans the ink head 35 in the sub-scanning direction and then forms a dot row in the main scanning direction again. The printing apparatus 30 repeatedly performs the above operation according to the print data, thereby forming a plurality of dot rows on the print medium and performing printing.

  The electrical configuration of the printing apparatus 30 will be described with reference to FIG. The printing apparatus 30 includes a CPU 40 that controls the printing apparatus 30. A ROM 41, a RAM 42, a head drive unit 43, a motor drive unit 45, a display control unit 48, an operation processing unit 50, and a USB interface 52 are connected to the CPU 40 via a bus 55.

  The ROM 41 stores a control program for controlling the operation of the printing apparatus 30, initial values, and the like. The RAM 42 temporarily stores various data such as print data received from the printer driver. The head driving unit 43 is connected to the ink head 35 that ejects ink, and drives the piezoelectric element provided in each ejection channel of the ink head 35. The motor driving unit 45 drives a main scanning motor 46 that moves the ink head 35 in the main scanning direction and a sub scanning motor 47 that moves the ink head 35 in the sub scanning direction. The display control unit 48 controls display on the display 49 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 40. The operation processing unit 50 detects an operation input to the operation panel 51. The USB interface 52 connects the printing apparatus 30 to an external device such as the PC 1.

  The electrical configuration of the PC 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The PC 1 includes a CPU 10 that controls the PC 1. A ROM 11, a RAM 12, a CD-ROM drive 13, an HDD 14, a display control unit 16, an operation processing unit 17, and a USB interface 18 are connected to the CPU 10 via a bus 19.

  The ROM 11 stores a program such as BIOS executed by the CPU 10. The RAM 12 temporarily stores various information. A CD-ROM 6 as a recording medium is inserted into the CD-ROM drive 13. Data recorded on the CD-ROM 6 is read by the CD-ROM drive 13. The PC 1 acquires a printer driver program such as an opacity file creation process and an opaque file adaptation process according to the present invention via the CD-ROM 6 and the Internet, and stores them in an HDD (hard disk drive) 14. The HDD 14 is a nonvolatile storage device, and stores various programs and various tables (see, for example, FIGS. 4 and 5) in the present embodiment. The display control unit 16 controls the display on the monitor 2. The operation processing unit 17 is connected to the keyboard 3 and the mouse 4 for the user to perform operation input, and detects the operation input. The USB interface 18 connects the PC 1 to an external device such as the printing device 30.

  The color conversion table 21 will be described with reference to FIG. The color conversion table 21 is a table for converting image data expressed in 256 gradations in the RGB format into data expressed in 256 gradations in the CMYK format. In the color conversion table 21, CMYK values corresponding to the RGB values are associated with each other. The color conversion table 21 is created by a known method and stored in the HDD 14 of the PC 1 in advance.

  The white conversion table 22 will be described with reference to FIG. The white conversion table 22 is a table for converting image data expressed in 256 gradations in the RGB format into data expressed in 256 gradations in the W format. In the white conversion table 22, the W value corresponding to each RGB value is associated with each other. The white conversion table 22 is created by a known method and stored in the HDD 14 of the PC 1 in advance. The CMYK values converted by the color conversion table 21 and the W values converted by the white conversion table 22 constitute CMYKW format data of 256 gradations.

  The image 90 to be printed and the image data 70 will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 6, the image 90 is an image created using an application (see FIG. 8, described later), and the image data 70 (see FIG. 7) is RGB format data. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the upper left part of the image 90 (a part having a size of ¼ of the image 90) 951 and the lower left part 952 are (R, G, B) = (255). , 64, 0) (a color close to orange). In FIG. 7, pixels (X1, Y1), (X2, Y2), (X3, Y3)... Represent the coordinates of the pixels of the part 951. Pixels (X301, Y301), (X302, Y302), (X303, Y303)... Represent the coordinates of the pixel of the part 952. Similarly, the upper right portion 953 of the image 90 has a color of (R, G, B) = (128, 192, 255) (a color close to light blue). In FIG. 7, pixels (X601, Y601), (X602, Y602), (X603, Y603),... Further, a lower right portion 954 of the image 90 has a color of (R, G, B) = (255, 255, 255) (white). In FIG. 7, pixels (X901, Y901), (X902, Y902), (X903, Y903)... Represent the coordinates of the pixels of the part 954.

  With reference to FIG. 8, the data flow in the present embodiment will be described. The CPU 10 of the PC 1 of the present embodiment can execute an application program, an operation system (hereinafter referred to as “OS”) program, a printer driver program, and the like. That is, the CPU 10 of the PC 1 can operate an application and operates as an OS and a printer driver. FIG. 8 shows the flow of data in the application, OS, and printer driver. Assume that the application of the present embodiment is an application that can create and edit an image.

  For example, a case where the image 90 (see FIG. 6) is printed by the printing apparatus 30 will be described. As described above, the image 90 is an image created using an application, and the image data 70 (see FIG. 7) is RGB format data. The CPU 10 functioning as the OS (hereinafter simply referred to as “OS”) acquires the image data 70 (see FIG. 7) of the image 90 created by the application (path 801) and transfers it to the printer driver (path 802). ). Here, the OS generally operates according to the specifications of the OS manufacturer. For this reason, the format of data output from the OS and input to the printer driver is limited to a predetermined format (for example, RGB format or CMYK format) determined by the OS manufacturer. It is assumed that the OS of the present embodiment can handle RGB format image data. That is, it is assumed that the data format when the OS delivers data to the printer driver is limited to the RGB format only. Therefore, the OS delivers the RGB format image data 70 to the printer driver (path 802).

Here, when the user desires to reflect the opacity indicating the degree of transparency in the image 90, the user creates an image indicating the opacity (hereinafter referred to as “opacity image”). In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the user sets an opacity image by setting a portion whose transparency is to be increased to a color having a large R value. The opacity is specified by the following formula (1).
[Opacity] = (255-R value) (1)

  In the case of Expression (1), the opacity decreases as the user configures the opacity image with a color having a large R value. That is, the transparency is increased. Therefore, the user creates an opacity image by setting a portion that is more transparent to a color having a larger R value. When the opacity is “0”, it becomes completely transparent.

  For example, assume that the user has created an opacity image 95 shown in FIG. The opacity image 95 is an image created using an application, and the opacity image data 75 (see FIG. 10) is assumed to be RGB format data. The pixel existing in the upper left portion 951 in the opacity image 95 is R = 128. Therefore, the pixels (X1, Y1), (X2, Y2), (X3, Y3)... Existing in the part 951 in the opacity image data 75 include (R, G, B) = (128, 0). , 0) is registered. Similarly, the pixel existing in the lower left portion 952 is R = 64. The pixel existing in the upper right part 953 is R = 0. The pixel present in the lower right portion 954 is R = 255. That is, the user desires that the portion 954 be completely transparent, and that the portion 952 does not reflect the transparency. The opacity image 95 shown in FIG. 9 represents the state displayed on the display 2 (see FIG. 1). The smaller the R value, the smaller the amount of red light emitted. The color is approaching black.

  Returning to the description of FIG. The OS acquires the opacity image data 75 (see FIG. 10) of the opacity image 95 created by the application (path 811) and transfers it to the printer driver (path 812). As described above, the data format when the OS delivers data to the printer driver is limited to the RGB format. However, since the opacity image data 75 is expressed in the RGB format that can be handled by the OS, the OS The opacity image data 75 can be transferred to the printer driver. Next, the printer driver specifies opacity from the opacity image data 75 and creates an opacity file 76 (path 813) by S16 (see FIG. 12) described later.

  The created opacity file 76 is adapted to data after the image data 70 in the RGB format is converted into the intermediate data 71 in the CMYKW format 256 values (path 803) (path 804 and path 815). Thus, intermediate data 72 to which the opacity is applied is created. The intermediate data 72 is converted into CMYKW format print data in binary (binary representing ink ejection and non-ejection) (path 805). As a result, print data reflecting opacity is created. The created print data is transferred to the printing apparatus 30 (path 806). The printing apparatus 30 performs printing on the fabric 98 that is a print medium according to the print data. Since the opacity is reflected in the print data, the printing apparatus 30 can print the image 91 (see FIG. 11) reflecting the opacity on the image 90 (see FIG. 6). Details of the image 91 will be described later.

  The data flow shown in FIG. 8 will be described in detail with reference to flowcharts of opacity file creation processing (see FIG. 12) and opacity file adaptation processing (see FIG. 15). The opacity file creation process and the opacity file adaptation process are processes executed by the printer driver. First, the opacity file creation process will be described with reference to FIGS. The opacity file creation process is a process for creating an opacity file. The opacity file creation process is executed when the user gives an instruction to print an image by operating the printer driver. In the following description, an example in which the opacity file 76 (see FIG. 14) is created from the opacity image data 75 (see FIG. 10) of the opacity image 95 (see FIG. 9) will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 12, first, a screen for allowing the user to input whether or not to create the opacity file 76 is displayed (S11). Next, it is determined whether or not an instruction to create the opacity file 76 is input by the user (S12). In S11, for example, the input screen 61 shown in FIG. 13 is displayed. On the input screen 61, a check box 611 for inputting an instruction for creating an opacity file, a selection field 612 for selecting data to be created for the opacity file, and the like are displayed. In this embodiment, as an example, the file name of the data for which the opacity file 76 is created is “opacity image 95” (see FIG. 9), and the position where the opacity image 95 is stored is the C drive. Suppose that

  If the instruction to create the opacity file 76 is not input (S12: NO), the process of S12 is repeated. When the user checks the check box 611, selects the C drive file “opacity image 95” and presses the OK button 615, it is determined that an instruction to create the opacity file 76 is input (S12: YES). ). Then, opacity image data 75 (see FIG. 10) of the opacity image 95 is acquired (see S13, paths 811 and 812 in FIG. 8). At this time, as described above, the OS acquires the opacity image data 75 and transfers it to the printer driver.

  Next, the resolution, the number of vertical pixels, and the number of horizontal pixels are detected from the opacity image data 75 of the opacity image 95 acquired in S13, and are written as header information in the opacity file 76 (see FIG. 14) ( S14).

  Next, one pixel of the opacity image data 75 (see FIG. 10) is selected (S15). Note that although S15 is repeatedly executed, each time it is executed, a pixel that has not been selected in the past S15 is selected. Next, the opacity is specified from the RGB value of one pixel selected in S15 (S16). The opacity is specified by the above equation (1). In the opacity image data 75 (opacity image 95), since the pixel existing in the upper left portion 951 is R = 128, the opacity is specified as “127” from Expression (1). Similarly, since the pixel existing in the lower left portion 952 has R = 64, the opacity is specified as “191”. Since the pixel existing in the upper right portion 953 has R = 0, the opacity is specified as “255”. Since the pixel existing in the lower right portion 954 is R = 255, the opacity is specified as “0”.

  Next, for the pixel selected in S15, the opacity specified in S16 is written in the opacity file 76 (see FIG. 14) (S17). Next, in S15, it is determined whether or not all the pixels have been selected (S18). If there is a pixel that is not selected in S15 (S18: NO), the process returns to S15, the next pixel is selected, and the processes of S15 to S18 are repeated. When the processes of S15 to S18 are performed for all the pixels, the opacity file 76 is completed (path 813 in FIG. 8). When all the pixels are selected in S15 (S18: YES), the opacity file creation process is terminated. It is assumed that the created opacity file 76 is stored in the HDD 14 with the file name “opacity file 76”.

  An example of the opacity file 76 completed by the opacity file creation process is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 14, for example, the opacity “127” is registered in the pixel (X1, Y1) or the like existing in the upper left portion 951. Further, the opacity “191” is registered in the pixels (X301, Y301) and the like existing in the lower left portion 952, and the opacity “255” is registered in the pixels (X601, Y601) and the like present in the upper right portion 953. Is registered. Opacity “0” is registered in the pixels (X901, Y901) and the like existing in the lower right portion 954. Thus, in the opacity file creation process, opacity (opacity file 76) is created from the opacity image data 75.

  The opacity file adaptation process will be described with reference to FIG. The opacity file adaptation process is a process for creating print data reflecting the opacity. The opacity file adaptation process is executed after the opacity file creation process (see FIG. 12) ends. In the following description, print data for printing an image 91 (see FIG. 11) reflecting opacity (opacity file 76) based on the opacity image 95 shown in FIG. 9 is created in the image 90 shown in FIG. This will be described by way of example.

  As shown in FIG. 15, in the opacity file adaptation process, first, a screen for allowing the user to input whether or not to apply the opacity file 76 is displayed (S21). Next, it is determined whether or not an instruction for adaptation of the opacity file 76 is input by the user (S22). In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the input screen 61 (see FIG. 13) is displayed (S21) as in S11 (see FIG. 12). On the input screen 61, a check box 613 for inputting an instruction for adaptation of the opacity file and a selection field 614 for selecting the opacity file to be adapted are displayed. When the instruction for adaptation of the opacity file 76 is not input (S22: NO), the process of S22 is repeated.

  When the user checks the check box 613, selects the “opacity file 76” stored in the HDD 14 and presses the OK button 615, it is determined that an instruction to adapt the opacity file 76 has been input (S22). : YES) Then, image data 70 (see FIG. 7) for the image 90 to be printed is acquired from the OS (S23). Here, as described above, the OS of the present embodiment acquires the image data 70 (RGB format) created by the application, and transfers the acquired image data 70 to the printer driver (path 801, FIG. 8). 802). In S23, the printer driver acquires the image data 70 from the OS. As described above, in this embodiment, data when the OS delivers data to the printer driver is limited to the RGB format. For this reason, for example, if the image data created by the application is not in the RGB format, the image data is converted to the RGB format by the application and then transferred to the printer driver via the OS.

  Next, the opacity file 76 (see FIG. 14) created by the opacity file creation process (see FIG. 12) is acquired (S24). Next, in accordance with the resolution of the image data 70 acquired in S23, the opacity file 76 acquired in S24 is resampled and the resolution is changed (S25). In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the resolution of the image data 70 and the resolution of the opacity file 76 are the same. In this case, the resolution is not changed. However, if the resolution of the image data 70 and the resolution of the opacity file 76 are different, the resolution of the opacity file 76 is changed in S25.

  Next, one pixel of the image data 70 (image 90) is selected (S26). In addition, although S26 is repeatedly performed, the pixel which was not selected in past S26 is selected each time it is performed. Next, among the pixels of the opacity file 76 (see FIG. 14), the opacity of the pixel at the same position as the pixel selected at S26 is selected (S27).

  Next, among the image data 70 expressed in 256 gradations in the RGB format, the RGB value of the pixel selected in S26 is obtained by the color conversion table 21 (see FIG. 4) and the white conversion table 22 (see FIG. 5). It is converted into intermediate data 71 (see FIG. 16) expressed in 256 gradations in the CMYKW format (S28, path 803 in FIG. 8). The converted intermediate data 71 is stored in the HDD 14. As a result, the image data 70 (see FIG. 7) is converted into intermediate data 71 shown in FIG. For example, the pixel (X1, Y1) in the image data 70 (see FIG. 7) is (R, G, B) = (255, 64, 0). In the color conversion table 21 (see FIG. 4), (R, G, B) = (255, 64, 0) has (C, M, Y, K) = (0, 180, 250, 0). Are associated. Therefore, (C, M, Y, K) = (0, 180, 250, 0) is registered in the intermediate data 71 (see FIG. 16). In the white conversion table 22 (see FIG. 5), W = 255 is associated with (R, G, B) = (255, 64, 0). Therefore, W = 255 is registered in the intermediate data 71 (see FIG. 16). Similarly, RGB values are converted into CMYKW values for other pixels.

Next, the opacity selected in S27 is applied to the intermediate data 71 (CMYKW value) converted in S28 (S29, paths 804 and 815 in FIG. 8). In this embodiment, as an example, when opacity is applied, the following formulas (2) to (6) are used.
C = C × (opacity) / 255 (2)
M = M × (opacity) / 255 (3)
Y = Y × (opacity) / 255 (4)
K = K × (opacity) / 255 (5)
W = W × (opacity) / 255 (6)

  For example, when the opacity file 76 (see FIG. 14) is used and the above formulas (2) to (6) are calculated for the intermediate data 71 shown in FIG. 16, the intermediate data 71 shown in FIG. 17 is converted into intermediate data 72 shown in FIG. In FIG. 17, the decimal part is rounded down. For example, in the opacity file 76 (see FIG. 14), the opacity of the pixel (X1, Y1) is “127”. Therefore, when the calculations of Expressions (2) to (6) are performed on the CMYKW value of the pixel (X1, Y1) of the intermediate data 71 (see FIG. 16), (C, M, Y, K, W) = (0, 89, 124, 0, 127). Then, it is registered in the intermediate data 72 shown in FIG. In the opacity file 76 (see FIG. 14), the opacity of the pixel (X901, Y901) is “0”. Therefore, when the calculation of Expression (6) is performed on the W value of the pixel (X901, Y901) of the intermediate data 71, the W value becomes “0”. Then, it is registered in the intermediate data 72 shown in FIG. Since the opacity represents “0” (that is, transparent), the W value (white) data is set to “0” and is transparent.

  Next, it is determined whether or not all the pixels have been selected in S26 (S30). When there is an unselected pixel (S30: NO), the process returns to S26, and the next pixel is selected. When all the pixels are selected (S30: YES), error diffusion processing is performed on the intermediate data 72 (CMYKW value) converted in S28, and converted into print data expressed in binary in the CMYKW format. (S31, path 805 in FIG. 8). The error diffusion process is a known process for binarizing 256 gradation data into print gradations. Next, the opacity file adaptation process is terminated.

  In the opacity file adaptation processing, the created print data is transferred to the printing apparatus 30 (path 806 in FIG. 8). The printing apparatus performs printing on the fabric 98 according to the print data. As a result, the image 91 shown in FIG. 11 is printed on the fabric 98.

  FIG. 11 shows a state in which an image 91 reflecting the opacity (opacity file 76) is printed on the fabric 98. In the opacity file 76 (see FIG. 14), the opacity of the pixel (X1, Y1) of the part 951 is “127”, and the opacity of the pixel (X301, Y301) of the part 952 is “191”. . This means that the user desires the part 951 to be closer to the transparent than the part 952. For this reason, the portion 951 and the portion 952 have the same degree of transparency in the image 90 (see FIG. 6) in which the opacity is not reflected, but in the image 91 (see FIG. 11) in which the opacity is reflected, the portion 951 Is more transparent than the region 952.

  In the opacity file 76 (see FIG. 14), the opacity of the pixel (X601, Y601) and the like of the portion 953 is “255”. This indicates that it is opaque (that is, not transparent). Therefore, the degree of transparency of the part 953 of the image 90 (see FIG. 6) and the part 953 of the image 91 (see FIG. 11) are the same. Further, in the opacity file 76 (see FIG. 14), the opacity of the pixel (X901, Y901) and the like of the portion 954 is “0”. This means that the user desires to make the portion 954 transparent. For this reason, regarding the portion 954, the portion 954 of the image 90 (see FIG. 6) is white, but the portion 954 of the image 91 (see FIG. 11) reflecting the opacity is transparent. More specifically, in the case of a pixel (X901, Y901) of the portion 954 of the image 90 that does not reflect opacity, the W value is “255” and the other CMYK values are “0” in the intermediate data 71 in FIG. It has become. For this reason, when the opacity is not reflected, white is printed on the fabric 98. However, by reflecting the opacity “255”, the intermediate data 71 (see FIG. 16) is converted into the intermediate data 72 (see FIG. 17), and the W value of the pixel (X901, Y901) or the like of the portion 954 is “ 0 ”. The other CMYK values are also “0”. That is, the pixel of the part 954 is converted to transparent. For this reason, white ink or the like is not ejected to the portion 954 that the user originally wants to make transparent, and can be made transparent. For this reason, if the fabric 98 is black, the portion 954 is in a state where the black color of the fabric 98 can be seen.

  As described above, the processing in this embodiment is executed. In the present embodiment, the printer driver can acquire the image data 70 from the OS. Further, the printer driver can acquire the opacity (opacity file 76) and reflect the opacity in the image 90 based on the image data 70. For this reason, it is possible to print an image having the same degree of transparency as the image desired by the user.

  As described above, the OS can pass only data in a predetermined format (in this embodiment, RGB format) to the printer driver. Some applications allow image data to include opacity data, but the OS cannot handle opacity. For this reason, opacity may be lost in the process of transferring image data to the printer driver. In some cases, the opacity is converted to white by the application and then transferred from the OS to the printer driver.

The case where the opacity is converted to white by the application will be described in detail. When image data is transferred from the OS to the printer driver, the format that can be handled by the OS is limited to a predetermined format (for example, RGB format). For this reason, a general application converts the RGB value and opacity of the image data into RGB values as in the following formulas (7) to (9), for example. The converted RGB values are transferred to the printer driver via the OS.
R = {(R-255) / 255} × (opacity) +255 (7)
G = {(G-255) / 255} × (opacity) +255 (8)
B = {(B-255) / 255} × (opacity) +255 (9)

  When the opacity is “0 to 255” (the opacity “0” is completely transparent), if the transparency is increased (the opacity is brought close to “0”), conversion is performed according to the above formulas (7) to (9). The obtained RGB value approaches white (R, G, B) = (255, 255, 255). As described above, the process of approaching white is performed as the color becomes transparent, and then the RGB value is transferred to the printer driver via the OS. Since the OS operates according to the specifications of the OS manufacturer, such a problem caused by the fact that the OS cannot handle the opacity cannot be solved by the printer driver manufacturer. For this reason, if the print data is created as it is, the printer driver creates the print data so that white is printed using white ink. Therefore, the portion that the user wants to make transparent is printed in white. There was a problem of end.

  In the present embodiment, for example, the opacity image data 75 of the opacity image 95 created so as to make the portion that the user wants to be transparent (in this embodiment, R value = 255) is printed. Separately from the image data 70, it is acquired from the OS. Although the opacity is replaced by the opacity image data 75 in the RGB format, the printer driver can acquire the opacity by specifying the opacity from the opacity image data 75. The opacity can be applied to the image data 70 to be printed. As a result, it is possible to make the part which the user originally wants to make transparent. That is, the OS cannot directly handle opacity, but without changing the OS specifications, the printer driver can receive data from the OS (in this embodiment, the opacity is converted to the RGB format that the OS can handle). It is possible to specify the opacity from the transparency image data 75) and reflect the opacity. For this reason, the part which the user desires to be transparent can be printed transparently.

  Further, as described above, since the OS cannot directly handle the opacity, there is a case in which processing becomes closer to white as it becomes transparent. For this reason, when a printing apparatus capable of ejecting white prints on a print medium other than white, white ink may be ejected to a portion where the transparency is originally desired to be increased. In this case, there is a fear that the pattern desired by the user may be completely different. The printing apparatus 30 according to this embodiment can print white ink on the fabric 98, but the opacity is reflected in the print data created in S31. For this reason, white and transparent are distinguished in the print data. Therefore, even if the printing apparatus 30 can print the white ink, it is possible to print on the fabric 98 by making the part to be transparent transparent and the part to be white white.

  Further, the CPU 10 can acquire RGB format image data 70 that can be handled by the OS, and reflect the opacity in the image 90 based on the acquired image data 70. For this reason, the printing apparatus 30 can print an image having the same degree of transparency as the image desired by the user.

  Further, the CPU 10 can create print data by reflecting the opacity in the image data (intermediate data 71) converted into the CMYKW format. In the present embodiment, print data is created by such a method, and the printing apparatus 30 prints an image having the same degree of transparency as the image desired by the user.

  In the present embodiment, the printer driver acquires the opacity image data 75 via the OS (S13). Then, the opacity is specified from the opacity image data 75 (S16). For example, if a dedicated printing software for printing is created instead of a printer driver, the opacity can be acquired without using the OS. However, in this case, an application for creating / editing an image to be printed is limited. In this embodiment, the image data 70 and the opacity image data 75 are transferred from the OS to the printer driver. Since the OS can handle a large number of applications, the image data 70 created by various applications can be transferred (output) to the printer driver. In other words, in the case of the present embodiment, it is possible to print with the opacity reflected in an image created and edited by many applications that can be handled by the OS. Therefore, user convenience is improved.

  In the above embodiment, the CPU 10 functioning as a printer driver corresponds to the “print data creating apparatus” of the present invention. The CPU 10 functioning as the OS corresponds to the “delivery means” of the present invention. The CPU 10 that performs the process of S23 corresponds to the “image data acquisition unit” of the invention. The CPU 10 that performs the process of S16 corresponds to the “transparency acquisition unit” of the present invention. The CPU 10 that performs the processes of S29 and S31 corresponds to the “print data creating means” of the present invention. The opacity image data corresponds to “transparency related data” of the present invention. The CPU 10 that performs the process of S13 corresponds to the “transparency related data acquisition unit” of the present invention.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to said embodiment, A various change is possible. For example, although opacity has been described as an example, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, transparency indicating the degree of transparency may be used.

  Further, although the opacity of the opacity file 76 is applied to the entire image 90 (more specifically, the intermediate data 71 of the image data 70), the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the opacity of the opacity file 76 may be applied only to a part of the image 90. In this case, the user may designate a position on the image 90 to which the opacity of the opacity file 76 is applied.

  Further, although only the R value of the RGB value of the opacity image data 75 is used to specify the opacity by the equation (1) (S16), the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the opacity may be an average value of R, G, B values of the opacity image data 75 (that is, [opacity] = (R + G + B) / 3). The opacity may be a value calculated from the RGB value by an arbitrary expression (for example, [opacity] = R × 0.6 + G × 0.3 + B × 0.1).

  Moreover, although the user created the opacity image 95 and created the opacity file 76 from the opacity image 95, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, some files (for example, png files, tiff files) created by a conventional application have opacity (transparency) information (for example, alpha channel information) in addition to color information such as RGB. Even in this case, conventionally, since the OS can output only RGB format information to the printer driver, the opacity may not be output to the printer driver. However, by separating the opacity data from the image data, it is possible to pass the opacity data separately from the image data to the printer driver. At this time, the separated opacity data may not be in a format that can be handled by the OS, but is converted into a predetermined format (for example, RGB format) that can be handled by the OS by an application and transferred to the printer driver via the OS. In the present embodiment, even if the format of opacity data is converted, the opacity can be specified from the transferred opacity data and applied to the image data. As a result, the printer driver can create print data for printing an image reflecting the acquired opacity.

  Further, although the opacity data created by the application (in this embodiment, the opacity image data 75) is in the RGB format, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the created opacity data may be in a format other than the RGB format (for example, the CMYKW format). In this case, the opacity data is converted into the RGB format by the OS and then transferred to the printer driver. Even in this case, the opacity may be specified from the passed opacity data.

  The opacity data (in this embodiment, the opacity image data 75) is in the same RGB format as the image data 70, but is not limited to this. The opacity data may be in a format that can be handled by the OS, and the opacity data may be different from the data format of the image data 70.

  Further, instead of creating the opacity image 95 by the user, an image stored in advance in the HDD 14 or the like may be used as the opacity image. The format that the OS can pass to the printer driver is not limited to the RGB format. For example, the CMYKW format may be used.

  In addition, the OS is the “delivery means” in the present embodiment, and the system using the application, the OS, and the printer driver has been described as an example (see FIG. 8). For example, in a system using a plurality of PCs, when printing an image, at least one of them may function as the “delivery means” of the present invention. Hereinafter, the second embodiment which is this modification will be described in detail.

  As shown in FIG. 18, in the second embodiment, three PCs 101, 102, and 103 are provided. The electrical configuration of the PCs 101, 102, and 103 is substantially the same as that of the PC 1 shown in FIG. Note that the PC 103 is connected to the printing apparatus 30. In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, image data created by an application is transferred to the printer driver via the OS, and print data is created reflecting the opacity (FIG. 8). reference). In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 18, image data is transferred from the PC 101 to the PC 103 via the PC 102, and print data is created by reflecting the opacity in the PC 103. In FIG. 18, the same paths and various data as in FIG. 8 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In FIG. 18, a PC 102 is a PC that cannot handle opacity, like the OS of the first embodiment (see FIG. 8). PC 101 and PC 103 are PCs that can handle opacity. As shown in FIG. 18, it is assumed that image data 70 (see FIG. 7) of an image 90 (see FIG. 6) is created in the PC 101. Further, since the PC 101 can handle opacity, it is assumed that the opacity file 76 (see FIG. 14) is created in the PC 101. The opacity file 76 may be created directly by the user, or when the opacity information is included in the image data 70, the opacity may be extracted from the image data 70. Further, the opacity file may be created from the opacity image 95 by executing processing similar to the opacity file creation processing (see FIG. 12) of the first embodiment on the PC 101.

  In the second embodiment, the opacity file adaptation process shown in FIG. 15 is executed by the CPU 10 of the PC 103. The opacity file adaptation processing is almost the same as in the case of the first embodiment, so it will be described briefly, and only the differences will be described in detail.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the processes of S21 and S22 are executed as in the first embodiment. Next, image data 70 is acquired from the PC 102 (S23, path 802 in FIG. 18). Note that the image data 70 acquired in S23 is image data created by the PC 101 and transferred (transferred) to the PC 102 (path 801 in FIG. 18). The image data 70 may be transferred to the PC 103 after being edited by the PC 102 or may be transferred to the PC 103 without editing.

  Next, the opacity file 76 is acquired (S24). In S24 in the second embodiment, the opacity file 76 is acquired from the PC 1 (path 821 in FIG. 18). As described above, since the PC 102 cannot handle opacity, it does not acquire the opacity file 76 from the PC 102 but acquires the opacity file 76 from the PC 101 that can handle opacity.

  Next, the image data 70 acquired in S23 and the opacity file acquired in S24 are used, and the processing in S25 to S31 is performed as in the first embodiment (paths 803, 804, 815 in FIG. 18). 805). As a result, print data reflecting opacity is created. The created print data is transferred to the printing apparatus 30 (path 806 in FIG. 18) and printed on the fabric 98 by the printing apparatus 30.

  As described above, the processing according to the second embodiment is performed. In the second embodiment, the PC 103 can acquire the image data 70 from the PC 102. Further, the PC 103 can acquire the opacity (opacity file 76) from the PC 101 that can handle the opacity, and can reflect the opacity in the image 90 based on the image data 70. For this reason, an image having the same degree of transparency as the image desired by the user can be printed.

  In the present embodiment, the PC 103 corresponds to the “print data creation apparatus” in the present embodiment, and the PC 102 corresponds to the “delivery means” in the present embodiment. The CPU 10 of the PC 103 that performs the process of S23 corresponds to the “image data acquisition unit” of the present invention, and the CPU 10 of the PC 103 that performs the process of S24 corresponds to the “transparency acquisition unit” of the present invention. The CPU 10 of the PC 103 that performs the processes of S30 and S31 corresponds to the “print data creating unit” of the present invention, and the PC 101 corresponds to “another apparatus” of the present invention.

1, 101, 102, 103 PC
10 CPU
30 Printing device 70 Image data 71, 72 Intermediate data 75 Image data 75 Opacity image data 76 Opacity file 98 Fabric

Claims (8)

A print data creation device that obtains image data and creates print data that is data for causing the printing device to print based on the obtained image data.
Image data acquisition means for acquiring the image data in a predetermined format for the image to be printed from the transfer means for transferring the image data, which cannot directly handle the transparency or opacity indicating the transparency of the image;
Transparency obtaining means for obtaining the transparency or the opacity;
Based on the transparency or the opacity acquired by the transparency acquisition unit and the image data acquired by the image data acquisition unit, the transparency or the opacity is reflected in the image based on the image data. And a print data creating device for creating the print data. Transparency-related data acquisition means for acquiring transparency-related data, which is data in which the transparency or the opacity is converted into a format that can be handled by the delivery means, from the delivery means,
2. The transparency acquiring unit acquires the transparency or opacity by specifying the transparency or the opacity from the transparency related data acquired by the transparency related data acquiring unit. The print data creation device described in 1.   The print data creation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the delivery unit is an operation system.   The print data creation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus is capable of printing white ink on a print medium.   5. The print data creation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined format of the image data is an RGB format.   The print data creation unit converts the image data acquired by the image data acquisition unit from the RGB format to the CMYKW format, and converts the transparency acquired by the transparency acquisition unit or the converted image data into the converted image data. The print data creating apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the print data is created after reflecting the opacity.   The print data creating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transparency obtaining unit obtains the transparency or the opacity via another device capable of handling the transparency or opacity. A printer driver program that is executed on a computer, obtains image data, and based on the obtained image data, causes the computer to function to create print data that is data to be printed by a printing apparatus.
The computer,
Image data acquisition means for acquiring the image data in a predetermined format for the image to be printed from the transfer means for transferring the image data, which cannot directly handle transparency or opacity indicating the transparency of the image;
Transparency acquisition means for acquiring the transparency or the opacity,
Based on the transparency or the opacity acquired by the transparency acquisition unit and the image data acquired by the image data acquisition unit, the transparency or the opacity is reflected in the image based on the image data. A printer driver program that functions as print data creation means for creating the print data.