JPH08298586A - Image processor and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To freely enable the setting control of a converted color by the desire of a user. CONSTITUTION: An editor 101 detects the coordinates that a user inputs. In the part of the coordinates, plural color patch parts holding color patches are provided. An operator designates the color number assigned to each color patch part and registers the color patch parts and the color numbers in a RAM 602. When a color conversion is performed, an original image is converted into the designated color and is outputted only if one of the color patch parts is selected.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method,
More specifically, the present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method for converting an image into a desired color and outputting the color.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a full-color copying machine or the like, when a document image, for example, a monochrome image is converted into a desired color and copied, the converted color is designated by a predetermined color number. Was common.

[0003]

However, the color number is generally unfamiliar, and
There is a problem that what color the number indicates may be confused, and in some cases, an image of the intended color cannot be obtained.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus and method capable of freely setting and managing conversion colors according to user's request.

To solve this problem, for example, an image processing apparatus of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, in an image processing apparatus that converts an image into a desired color and outputs the converted color information, the converted color information and index information corresponding to the color information are associated with each other, and are registered in a predetermined storage unit, and an index. Designating means for designating information, and reading means for reading corresponding color information from the storage means based on the index information designated by the designating means,
And an output unit for converting the image into the color information read by the reading unit and outputting the color information.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the index information is information for specifying a plurality of operation switches, and it is preferable that the specifying means operates the specification switches. As a result, the operator assigns the conversion color to the desired designated switch, which makes the management easier.

Further, it is desirable that the designating switch is provided with a mechanism for holding the colored patches in a visible state. Thus, for example, if a patch having the same color as the color set in the designated switch is held, the converted color can be visually confirmed, and erroneous designation can be prevented.

The color information registered in the storage means is
It is desirable that the color number information is provided in advance to identify the color. This eliminates the need for setting individual color components in the registration work, which facilitates registration.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the embodiment, a copying machine will be described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this and can be applied to various other apparatuses.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a copying machine in the embodiment. In the figure, 100 is a main body of a full-color copying machine, 102 is an operation section for instructing the operation of the apparatus, and a liquid crystal display 103 is provided there.

Reference numeral 101 denotes an editor which also functions as a pressure plate for holding a document, and can use a dedicated pen (not shown) to indicate a specific region of the document and read its coordinates.
The editor 101 is also provided with a color patch section 104. On the lower surface of the editor 101, a document table (platen glass) for reading a document image is provided.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic structure of the editor 101. As shown in the figure, the color patch section 104 has a circular transparent window with 12 numbers, and through the window,
The color printed on the color patch sheet set below it can be seen. Since the digitizing sensor of the editor is also placed under this color patch part, if this circular window part is specified with a pen, which color was specified from the coordinates, the entire device provided inside the device The CPU that controls the control can be known. Information for printing a color corresponding to this color patch is stored in advance.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration around the CPU. Of course, although not shown, the reading unit that reads the document image and the printing unit that actually performs full-color printing are also controlled by the CPU 601.

The ROM 605 stores the operation program and data of the CPU 601. The RAM 606 stores the CP.
It is the memory of the work area of U.

The CPU 601 performs serial communication with the editor 101 via the serial communication controller 604 and receives coordinate data from the editor 101.

The liquid crystal controller 602 includes an operation unit 102.
The image data for display in the RAM 603 and the control signal are sent to the liquid crystal unit 103 of FIG. Therefore, the image data for display (for example, the bit map of the message character string) is stored in the RAM 603, and the liquid crystal controller 6
When an instruction is given to 02, the liquid crystal controller 602 can display the image by sending the data of the RAM 603 to the liquid crystal unit 103.

FIG. 3 shows a display example on the liquid crystal screen. In the figure, in addition to the display of magnification, paper type, and multiple sheets, it is possible to display any softkey.By pressing the transparent touch panel attached on the liquid crystal screen with a finger or a pen, various softkeys can be displayed. Input instructions can be given.

So far, in the industry specializing in this color,
When designating a color, a standard color number is generally used. The standard color number is the Q-No. I will call it.

When the "Q-No. Registration" soft key in FIG. 3 is pressed, the liquid crystal screen changes to the screen shown in FIG. Here, the operator specifies the color patch provided in the editor 101 and the color number (Q-N
o. ) Operate the number keys provided on the operation panel,
When the "register" key is pressed, the color patch and its color number can be associated and registered in the RAM 606. In this way, other color patches can be registered in association with similar color numbers.

When the "user's color" key is pressed on the screen of FIG. 3, the liquid crystal display changes as shown in FIG. When a user's color is designated by operating the color patch 104, the printing process can be performed in a state in which the original image is the designated color and the light and shade in the original is reflected as it is.
At this time, for confirmation, the Q-No. Is also displayed.

As the concrete processing, for example, the original image RGB read by the scanner is converted into hue, saturation, and lightness (or density), and only the hue is changed to the hue of the color number of the designated color patch. Saturation and lightness are achieved by using the original image as it is or by slightly correcting it and finally converting it into recording color components Y, M, C, and Bk for recording.

FIG. 7 shows a color table reserved in the RAM 605 in the embodiment.

As shown, all Q-No. The print color data corresponding to is defined, and the switch number of the color patch is assigned to the rightmost item. Here, Q-No. = 3 indicates that the fifth color patch switch is assigned. Unassigned Q-No. "0" is stored in the table so that it can be distinguished.

The contents of the operation processing of the CPU 601 according to the above processing will be described below with reference to the flow charts of FIGS. It should be noted that these processing procedures are stored in the ROM 605.

First, FIG. 8 shows a process executed when "Q-No. Registration" in FIG. 3 is selected.

First, in step S1, a display image as shown in FIG. 4 is formed and displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 103, the operator is made to select one of the color patches 104, and the selected color is selected. Get the patch number.

Next, in step S2, the color number assigned to the selected color patch is input using the ten-key pad provided on the operation panel.
Get that number.

Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S3, and the RAM 21
Search for the color number (Q-No) in the color table inside,
The designated color patch number is stored in the item on the right end, and the present processing ends.

Although the color patch number is stored in the corresponding portion of the color table having all Q-Nos here, a table mainly including the color patch number is provided and the color patch number is set. The color number may be registered so as to correspond to the designated color number. In the latter case, there is an effect that the memory capacity is small.

Next, the actual contents of color conversion processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. It should be noted that this process is started when an instruction to perform color conversion is given on the operation panel.

First, in step S11, a color patch is designated, and which color patch is designated is detected. Then, based on the designated color patch number, the color information is read by referring to the color table.

Next, when an original reading instruction is given from the operation panel, the original image is read in step S13,
The non-white pixels in the image read in step S14 are converted into the hue of the designated color information, and are converted into the final recording color components Y, M, C, and Bk. Then, in step S15, an image is recorded on a recording sheet (not shown) based on the values of Y, M, C, and Bk.

As described above, in the present embodiment, since it is possible to easily associate the color numbers and the color patches that are commonly used, the color selection can be judged directly and intuitively. , Its designation becomes easy.

In the above embodiment, the original image is assumed to be a monochrome image having light and shade, but it may be a color original, for example. In this case, by designating the color to be changed in the document with the editor 101, the coordinate data of the position is read, and the color of the document at the coordinate position is read.
The hue may be changed to the hue of the color designated by the color patch.

In the above embodiment, the color table is R
Although the example in which the information is provided in the AM is shown, it is desired to retain the information even when the power of the device is turned off. Therefore, this R
AM is always supplied with backup power or is a non-volatile writable memory (eg EEPROM)
Alternatively, a magnetic disk or the like may be used instead.

In the above embodiment, 12 color patches are provided. However, the number of color patches is not limited to this, and more may be provided. However, in order to make it possible to specify a color that is rarely used (to enable specification without registration), the operation unit 102
The Q-No can be directly specified by pressing the predetermined key above and operating the ten-key pad 105.

Further, the color number (Q-No.) Is assigned to the operation unit 1.
If it is specified by the ten key 105 on 02, if it is registered, the number of the color patch on the editor corresponding to it is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 103. As a result, it is possible to easily associate the color numbers and the color patches that are commonly used, and it is easy to select colors.

In the above embodiment, an example in which it is adapted to a copying machine has been described, but a color printer is connected to a general-purpose information processing device, and an image created on the information processing device, or
The present invention is not limited to the above copying machine, since it can be applied to the case of printing an image from a scanner connected to it (the color patch will be displayed on the screen).
That is, the present invention may be applied to a system including a plurality of devices or an apparatus including one device. The present invention can also be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

[0039]

As described above, according to the present invention, the conversion color can be freely set and managed according to the user's request.

[0040]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of an editor unit in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a liquid crystal display screen in the example.

4 is a diagram showing a screen displayed when a "Q-No. Registration" switch in FIG. 3 is operated.

5 is a diagram showing a screen displayed when a "user's color" switch in FIG. 3 is operated.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a screen when performing color conversion.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of a color table in the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the content of color number registration processing for a color patch.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of color conversion copying.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100 full-color copying machine 101 editor 102 operation unit 103 liquid crystal display unit 104 color patch unit 105 numeric keypad

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An image processing apparatus for converting an image into a desired color and outputting the converted color information, and registering the converted color information and index information corresponding to the color information in a predetermined storage means in association with each other. And specifying means for specifying the index information, and based on the index information specified by the specifying means,
An image processing apparatus comprising: a reading unit that reads corresponding color information from the storage unit; and an output unit that converts an image into the color information read by the reading unit and outputs the color information. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the index information is information for specifying a plurality of designated switches, and the designation unit operates the designated switches. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the designated switch is provided with a mechanism for holding a colored patch in a visible state. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the color information registered in the storage unit is color number information provided in advance to identify the color. 5. An image processing method for converting an image into a desired color and outputting the color, the registering step of associating the converted color information with index information corresponding to the color information and registering them in a predetermined storage means. Based on the index information designated in the designated step and the designated step for designating the index information,
An image processing method comprising: a reading step of reading corresponding color information from the storage means; and an output step of converting an image into the color information read in the reading step and outputting the color information. 6. The image according to claim 5, wherein the index information is information for specifying a plurality of designated switches, and the designated step is a step of operating the designated switches. Processing method. 7. The image processing method according to claim 7, wherein the designated switch is provided with a mechanism for holding a colored patch in a visible state. 8. The image processing method according to claim 5, wherein the color information registered in the storage means is color number information provided in advance to identify the color.