JP2004080186A - Image processing apparatus and image processing program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing apparatus capable of easily discriminating a color wherein to what extent a feature reproduced by a proof image can accurately be reproduced. <P>SOLUTION: The image processing apparatus generates attached image data representing an attached image to describe reproduction performance of a feature of a print image in an output device outputting the proof image and outputs proof image data representing the proof image and attached image data to the output device. Confirming the attached image outputted from the output device can identify a reproduction method of the feature of the proof image. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus for creating a proof image used for color calibration performed prior to printing when an image including a spot color is printed by a color printer, and the computer is executed by being executed in the computer. The present invention relates to an image processing program that operates as such an image processing apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in printing using a color printing machine, four process inks of C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black) are used, and all of these process inks are overlapped. The color is expressed. However, for example, for colors that are difficult to express with a combination of process inks or colors that are frequently used, “special colors” are inks that are specially adjusted to express the colors as they are (hereinafter referred to as “special colors”). May be used as spot color inks).
[0003]
By the way, printing using a color printing machine is a large-scale and costly operation such as creating a film original plate and further creating a printing plate. Therefore, conventionally, before printing, a proof image that is as similar as possible to the color of the color image printed by the color printer is created using a printer that is easier than a color printer. The proof image is used to check the color and layout of the color image.
[0004]
Here, a proof image created before printing a color image including a spot color will be described.
[0005]
For example, when a spot color ink can be used even in an output device such as a printer that outputs a proof image, a proof image is created that includes a spot color image portion using spot color ink and a non-spot color image portion including process ink.
[0006]
Also, many output devices that output proof images cannot use spot color ink. In such output devices, the image portion of the spot color has been conventionally separated into process color components, and the image portion other than the spot color is used. And a proof image composed of process ink is created (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0007]
(Patent Document 1)
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-157074 (page 10, FIG. 9)
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Ideally, the proof image created using the above process ink and special color ink, or the color of the proof image created only with the process ink, should reproduce the same color as the color image of the print, Actually, it is difficult to say that the features are always consistent, especially with respect to the spot color. For example, in a printer that superimposes ink using a halftone dot pattern, the color of the proof image may differ slightly depending on the type of the halftone dot pattern. As described above, even in a proof image in which a printed color image is reproduced, depending on the reproduction method, a special color may be reproduced in a color that is different enough to be recognized by human eyes. In such a case, it is difficult to perform color calibration of the printed color image, which is the original purpose of use of the proof image. This is because even if the color of the proof image is unsatisfactory, it cannot be determined whether the color correctly reflects the printing color.
[0009]
For these reasons, when using the proof image to check the color of a color image printed on a color printing machine, it is possible to recognize how reliable the special color reproduced in the proof image is. It is preferable. However, there is a problem that even if the proof image is viewed, it cannot be easily determined how accurately the spot color of the color image actually printed is reproduced.
[0010]
In view of the above circumstances, the present invention relates to an image processing apparatus that can easily determine how accurately a spot color reproduced in a proof image is a reproduced color.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The image processing apparatus of the present invention that achieves the above object is obtained by printing a print image obtained by superimposing a process color plate image composed of process colors and a special color plate image composed of a special color. In an image processing apparatus that generates proof image data for an output device representing a proof image by processing the print image data representing the print image when the proof image reproducing the print image is output using the output device.
An image data acquisition unit for acquiring print image data;
An image data conversion unit that processes the print image data acquired by the image data acquisition unit on the premise of a print image reproduction method in the output device and converts the print image data into proof image data;
An additional image data generation unit for generating additional image data for an output device, representing an additional image describing the reproduction performance of the spot color in the reproduction method assumed when the image data conversion unit processes the print image data;
An image that causes the output device to output the proof image and the additional image by outputting the proof image data converted by the image data conversion unit and the additional image data generated by the additional image data generation unit to the output device. And a data output unit.
[0012]
The image processing apparatus of the present invention causes an output device to output an additional image describing the reproduction performance of a spot color reproduced by a proof image. By referring to this additional image, it is possible to easily confirm how reliable the spot color in the proof image is. For example, when the color of the proof image is an unsatisfactory color, It is possible to determine whether or not the image is the cause and perform color calibration correctly.
[0013]
Further, in the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the additional image data generation unit includes additional image data representing an additional image describing whether or not the spot color in the print image is a color within the color reproduction area of the output device. It is preferable to produce it.
[0014]
When the spot color in the print image is a color within the color reproduction region of the output device, the spot color is usually reproduced with an accuracy sufficiently satisfying the accuracy of the color necessary for color calibration using the proof image. On the other hand, when the spot color in the print image is outside the color reproduction area of the output device, the output device cannot reproduce the spot color. Therefore, the color in the color reproduction area of the output device determined by the predetermined process is Used as a spot color in a proof image. However, the spot color of the proof image corresponding to the spot color outside the color reproduction area of the output device often differs greatly from the spot color in the original print image. Therefore, by describing whether or not the spot color is a color within the color reproduction area of the output device in the additional image, the spot color of the printed image actually printed with reference to the additional image is the proof image. It is possible to determine how much it differs from the reproduced spot color.
[0015]
Further, in the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the additional image data generation unit generates additional image data representing an additional image in which a class is described numerically when the degree of reproduction performance is divided into a plurality of classes. It is preferable that
[0016]
The above-described preferred image processing apparatus causes the output device to output an additional image described with numerical values obtained by classifying the degree of reproduction performance. By checking such an additional image, it is possible to more easily determine how accurately the spot color in the proof image is reproduced.
[0017]
Further, in the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the additional image data generation unit described above generates additional image data representing an additional image in which the color performance of the special color constituting the special color plate image is associated with the description of the reproduction performance. It is preferable to produce it.
[0018]
By confirming an additional image generated by the image processing apparatus of the present invention in which the color chart and the reproduction performance of the spot color are associated with each spot color, for example, the proof image includes a plurality of spot colors. Even at times, the reproduction performance for each spot color can be determined for each spot color.
[0019]
Further, in the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the additional image data generation unit generates additional image data representing an additional image describing the name of the spot color constituting the spot color image in association with the reproduction performance. You may do.
[0020]
By referring to the name of the spot color, it is possible to recognize the color to be reproduced originally.
[0021]
The image processing program of the present invention is executed in a computer, and prints a print image formed by superimposing a process color plate image composed of process colors and a special color plate image composed of special colors. The proof image data for the output device representing the proof image is generated by processing the print image data representing the print image when the proof image reproducing the print image obtained by using the output device is output. In an image processing program,
An image data acquisition unit for acquiring print image data;
An image data conversion unit that processes the print image data acquired by the image data acquisition unit on the premise of a print image reproduction method in the output device and converts the print image data into proof image data;
An additional image data generation unit for generating additional image data for an output device, representing an additional image describing the reproduction performance of the spot color in the reproduction method assumed when the image data conversion unit processes the print image data;
An image that causes the output device to output the proof image and the additional image by outputting the proof image data converted by the image data conversion unit and the additional image data generated by the additional image data generation unit to the output device. And a data output unit.
[0022]
By executing the image processing program of the present invention in a computer, the computer can be operated as the above-described image processing apparatus.
[0023]
Note that the image processing program of the present invention includes all the various aspects corresponding to the various aspects of the image processing apparatus of the present invention.
[0024]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.
[0025]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image processing system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
[0026]
The color scanner 10 reads a document image and generates CMYK four-color color separation image data representing the read document image. This color separation image data is input to the workstation 20. In the workstation 20, electronic plate collection based on the input color separation image data is performed by an operator, and print image data representing an image for printing is generated. Here, the operator operating the workstation 20 decides to perform printing using not only the CMYK four-color process inks but also certain spot color inks, and an image including the spot colors is designed in the electronic plate collection. . As a result, here, as print image data representing the image for printing, a process color plate image data portion representing a process color plate image printed with process ink and a special color plate image representing a special color plate image printed with special color ink Print image data including the data portion is generated. This process color plane image data portion is a four-dimensional image data portion representing process color components of CMYK four colors. The spot color image data portion is a one-dimensional image data portion representing a spot color component, and there are as many spot color inks as used for printing. The process color plane image data portion and the special color plane image data portion are given aliases, and the name of the special color plane image data portion includes the spot color name. The print image data composed of the process color plane image data portion and the special color plane image data portion is input to the film printer 30 when printing is performed, and the film printer 30 corresponds to the input print image data. A printing film master comprising each plate and a special color plate is created.
[0027]
A printing plate is created from the printing film original plate, and the created printing plate is mounted on the printing machine 40. Ink is applied to the printing plate mounted on the printing machine 40, and the applied ink is transferred onto a printing sheet to form a printed image 41 on the sheet. Usually, a print image is formed by superimposing a process color plate image composed of a combination of process inks of four colors of CMYK and a special color plate image composed of a special color ink, and the inks of the print images are overlapped. Although the image portion has a mixed color, for convenience of explanation, the following description will be made using a print image 41 in which there is no image portion having a mixed color in which the special color inks or the special color ink and the process ink are mixed. The print image 41 includes a process color portion 41a having a mixed color of process colors, a red spot color portion 41b having a color of only the red spot color ink, and a green spot color portion 41c having a color of only the green spot color ink. Has been. This process color plate image is an example of the process color plate image referred to in the present invention, and the red special color image and the green special color image correspond to an example of the special color plate image referred to in the present invention. Furthermore, the print image 41 corresponds to an example of the print image referred to in the present invention.
[0028]
For printing the print image 41, a film original plate is prepared by the film printer 30, a plate is further prepared and mounted on the printing machine 40, and ink is applied to the plate and printed on a sheet. It is a series of large-scale work and costs high. For this reason, before the actual printing operation is performed, the proof image 61 is created as follows, and the finished confirmation of the printed image 41 is performed in advance.
[0029]
In creating the proof image 61, print image data created by electronic plate collection on the workstation 20 is input to the personal computer 50. Here, the print image data input to the personal computer 50 is description language data described in a so-called PDL (Page Description Language). In the personal computer 50, the print image data is converted into a bitmap by a so-called RIP (Raster Image Processor). It is converted into expanded print image data. This print image data is substantially the same as the print image data input to the film printer 30.
[0030]
This print image data is proof image data suitable for a printer (here, referred to as printer 60a) of the plurality of printers 60a, 60b,... Is converted to
[0031]
Here, a typical data conversion method when the print image data is converted into proof image data suitable for the printer 60a by the personal computer 50 will be described.
[0032]
First, the first data conversion method will be described. In the first data conversion method, the printer 60a cannot use the spot color ink because the printer 60a does not support the spot color ink or the spot color ink is out. Further, the printer 60a This is a method used in the case of a printer that superimposes ink by one type of halftone dot pattern or superimposes ink without using a halftone dot pattern.
[0033]
According to the first data conversion method, the print image data composed of the process color plane image data portion and the special color plane image data portion as described above is converted into proof image data representing only the process color component for the printer 60a. Is done.
[0034]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the first data conversion method. Here, a process color conversion process 101, a spot color reference process 102, a gradation calculation process 103, and an adder 104 are shown.
[0035]
The personal computer 50 shown in FIG. 1 has a profile indicating a correspondence relationship between the process color component values of CMYK four colors in the image data for the printing press 40 and the process color component values of the image data for the printer 60a. In the process color conversion step 101 of FIG. 2, which is prepared in advance, the process color plate image data portion of the print image data sent from the workstation 20 to the personal computer 50 is referred to the printer 60a by referring to this profile. Are converted into process image data components which are image data components for use.
[0036]
Further, the personal computer 50 has image data composed of a spot color name and a process color component for the printer 60a for reproducing a color when the density of the spot color represented by the spot color name is 100%. A table showing the correspondence with the value of the spot color solid data is also prepared. In the spot color reference process 102, the spot color name of the spot color ink used in the printing machine 40 is recognized based on the name given to the spot color plane image data portion of the print image data, and the above table is referred to and the spot color is referred to. The spot color solid data corresponding to the name is acquired. This spot color solid data is multiplied by the spot color image data portion of the print image data sent from the workstation 20 to the personal computer 50 in the gradation calculation process 103, and the density of the spot color is adjusted. A special color reproduction image data component reproducing the above is generated.
[0037]
In the addition unit 104, the value of the process image data component converted in the process color conversion process 101 and the value of the spot color reproduction image data component generated in the gradation calculation process 103 are added to generate proof image data. .
[0038]
Further, in the case where the printer 60a is a printer that superimposes ink with a halftone dot pattern, halftone processing using a predetermined halftone dot pattern is performed on the proof image data generated by the adding unit 104.
[0039]
Next, the second data conversion method will be described. This second data conversion method is a method used when the printer 60a cannot use spot color ink and the printer 60a is a printer that superimposes ink by a plurality of halftone dot patterns. Also in the second data conversion method, the print image data is converted into proof image data representing process color components for the printer 60a.
[0040]
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a second data conversion method. FIG. 3 shows a process color conversion process 111, a spot color reference process 113, and a gradation calculation process 114, as well as the first data conversion method shown in FIG. And the spot color screening process 115 is shown. Further, a synthesizer 116 is shown instead of the adder 104 of the first data conversion method.
[0041]
Similar to the first data conversion method, when the process color plane image data portion of the print image data is converted into the process image data component which is the image data for the printer 60a in the process color conversion step 111, the process color In the halftone process 112, the process image data component is subjected to a halftone process using a predetermined halftone pattern for each process color.
[0042]
Similarly to the first data conversion method, when the special color reproduction image data component is generated in the special color reference process 113 and the gradation calculation process 114, the special color reproduction image data component is converted into the special color reproduction image data component in the special color shading process 115. A halftone process using a halftone dot pattern is performed so that the color of the image portion represented by the reproduced image data component is as close as possible to the spot color of the print image 41.
[0043]
In the synthesis unit 116, for each process color, the halftone dot shape represented by the process image data component after the halftone processing and the halftone dot shape represented by the spot color reproduction image data component are synthesized to generate proof image data. According to the second conversion method, the image portion composed of the spot color in the proof image can be expressed by a halftone dot pattern adjusted so that the spot color of the image portion is as close as possible to the spot color of the print image. Therefore, it is possible to reproduce a color that is closer to the color of the print image 41 than in the first data conversion method.
[0044]
Next, the third data conversion method will be described. The third data conversion method is a method used when the printer 60a can use special color ink. In the third data conversion method, unlike the first and second methods, the print image data includes a process color image data component representing a process color component for the printer 60a and a spot color image data component representing a spot color component. Is converted into proof image data consisting of
[0045]
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a third data conversion method. 4 shows a process color conversion process 121, a process color halftone process 122, a spot color reference process 123, a gradation calculation process 124, and a spot color halftone process 125, as in the second data conversion method shown in FIG. Although shown, portions corresponding to the adding unit 104 in FIG. 2 and the combining unit 116 in FIG. 3 are not shown.
[0046]
Similarly to the second data conversion method, the process color plane image data portion of the print image data is processed for the printer 60a in which the halftone process is performed in the process color conversion process 121 and the process color halftone process 122. Converted to process image data components.
[0047]
The spot color image data portion is converted into a spot color image data component for the printer 60a subjected to the halftone process in a special color reference process 123, a gradation calculation process 124, and a special color halftone process 125.
[0048]
In the third method, the process image data component and the spot color image data component for the printer 60a subjected to the halftone process are not added, and proof image data including the process image data component and the spot color image data component is generated. . In the third method, by using a special color ink close to the special color ink used in the printing machine 40, a color closer to the color of the print image 41 is more stable than the first and second data conversion methods. And can be reproduced.
[0049]
By creating a proof image and confirming the proof image as described above, it is possible to confirm the print finish in advance.
[0050]
Here, the feature of the image processing system shown in FIG. 1 as an embodiment of the present invention resides in the processing content executed inside the personal computer 50. The personal computer 50 will be described below.
[0051]
5 is an external perspective view of the personal computer 50 of FIG. 1, and FIG. 6 is a hardware configuration diagram thereof.
[0052]
The personal computer 50 has an appearance configuration, a main body device 51, an image display device 52 that displays an image on a display screen 52a in accordance with an instruction from the main body device 51, and a main body device 51 according to various key operations. And a mouse 54 for inputting an instruction corresponding to, for example, an icon or the like displayed at that position by designating an arbitrary position on the display screen 52a. The main body device 51 has a flexible disk loading port 51a for loading a flexible disk and a CD-ROM loading port 51b for loading a CD-ROM.
[0053]
As shown in FIG. 6, the main body device 51 includes a CPU 511 that executes various programs, a main memory 512 that is read for execution by the CPU 511, and a program stored in the hard disk device 513. 1 and the hard disk device 513 storing data and the like, the flexible disk 200 is loaded, the flexible disk drive 514 accessing the flexible disk 200, the CD-ROM drive 515 accessing the CD-ROM 210, and the workstation 20 of FIG. An input interface 516 for receiving data, an output interface 517a for sending image data to the printer 60n in FIG. 1,..., And an output interface 517n are built-in. The image display device 52 shown in FIG. 5, a keyboard 53, a mouse 54 are connected to each other via a bus 55 to.
[0054]
Here, the CD-ROM 210 stores an image processing program for operating the personal computer 50 as an embodiment of the image processing apparatus of the present invention. The CD-ROM 210 is loaded in the CD-ROM drive 515. Then, the image processing program stored in the CD-ROM 210 is uploaded to the personal computer 50 and stored in the hard disk device 513. Thus, the personal computer 50 operates as the image processing apparatus 600 (described later) in FIG. 8 which is an embodiment of the image processing apparatus of the present invention.
[0055]
Next, an image processing program executed in the personal computer 50 will be described.
[0056]
FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing a CD-ROM 210 in which an embodiment of the image processing program of the present invention is stored.
[0057]
The image processing program 310 includes an image data acquisition unit 311, an image data conversion unit 312, an additional image data generation unit 313, and an image data output unit 314. Here, the image data acquisition unit 311 is an image data acquisition unit in the image processing program of the present invention. Similarly, the image data conversion unit 312 is an image data conversion unit, the additional image data generation unit 313 is an additional image generation unit, and the image data output. The unit 314 corresponds to an example of an image data output unit. Details of each part of the image processing program 310 will be described together with the operation of each part of the image processing apparatus 600 which is an embodiment of the image processing apparatus of the present invention shown in FIG.
[0058]
FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of the image processing apparatus 600 when the image processing program 310 is installed in the personal computer 50 of FIG. 1 and the personal computer 50 is operated as an embodiment of the image processing apparatus of the present invention.
[0059]
An image processing apparatus 600 illustrated in FIG. 8 includes an image data acquisition unit 610, an image data conversion unit 620, an additional image data generation unit 630, and an image data output unit 640. In addition, the storage unit 700 corresponding to the hard disk device 513 in FIG. 6 stores in advance the correspondence between the spot color name and the reproduction method to be described later, and the reproduction performance when the spot color is reproduced by the reproduction method in the printer 60a in FIG. Has been.
[0060]
When the image processing program 310 is installed in the personal computer 50, the image data acquisition unit 311 of the image processing program 310 of FIG. 7 constitutes the image data acquisition unit 610 of FIG. 8, and the image data conversion unit 312 is the image data conversion unit 620, The additional image data generation unit 313 and the image data output unit 314 constitute an additional image data generation unit 630 and an image data output unit 640, respectively.
[0061]
The image data acquisition unit 610 acquires print image data including a process color plane image data portion and a special color plane image data portion from the workstation 20 shown in FIG. 1 via the input interface 516 in FIG. The image data acquisition unit 610 corresponds to an example of an image data acquisition unit in the image processing apparatus of the present invention. The acquired print image data is sent to the image data conversion unit 620.
[0062]
The image data conversion unit 620 converts the print image data input from the image data acquisition unit 610 into proof image data using the data conversion method described above based on the reproduction method of the print image 41 in the printer 60a shown in FIG. Convert. The reproduction method here refers to the type of ink used to reproduce the spot color, the type of halftone dot pattern, and the like. This reproduction method corresponds to an example of a print image reproduction method according to the present invention, and the image data conversion unit 620 corresponds to an example of an image data conversion unit in the image processing apparatus of the present invention. The converted proof image data is sent to the image data output unit 640. The image data conversion unit 620 recognizes the spot color name of the spot color to be reproduced based on the name given to the spot color image data portion of the print image data at the time of data conversion, and recognizes the recognized spot color name and its spot color. The reproduction method is sent to the additional image data generation unit 630.
[0063]
The additional image data generation unit 630 acquires the spot color name acquired from the image data conversion unit 620 and the reproduction performance corresponding to the reproduction method from the storage unit 700, and generates additional image data representing the additional image describing the reproduction performance. To do. The additional image data generation unit 630 corresponds to an example of the additional image data generation unit in the image processing apparatus of the present invention. The generated additional image data is sent to the image data output unit 640.
[0064]
The image data output unit 640 outputs the proof image data input from the image data conversion unit 620 and the additional image data input from the additional image data generation unit 630 to the printer 60a in FIG. The image data output unit 640 corresponds to an example of the image data output unit in the image processing apparatus of the present invention.
[0065]
The image processing apparatus 600 is basically configured as described above. Next, a procedure for generating a proof image 61 of the print image 41 shown in FIG. 1 using the image processing apparatus 600 will be described. explain.
[0066]
First, from the workstation 20 shown in FIG. 1, the image data acquisition unit 610 obtains a process color plane image data portion representing a process plate image and a red spot color image data portion representing a red spot color image including a red spot color portion 41b. And print image data including a green spot color image data portion representing a green spot color image including the green spot color portion 41c. This print image data corresponds to an example of the print image data referred to in the present invention. The acquired print image data is output to the image data conversion unit 620.
[0067]
When print image data is input from the image data acquisition unit 610, the image data conversion unit 620 converts the print image data into proof image data on the premise of the reproduction method of the print image 41 in the printer 60a of FIG. For example, if the printer 60a is a halftone dot printer that superimposes ink using a plurality of halftone dot patterns, and the special color ink cannot be used, the image data conversion unit 620 uses the second data conversion method described above. Is applied to convert the print image data into proof image data. The converted proof image data is sent to the image data output unit 640, and the spot color name recognized at the time of data conversion and the reproduction method of the spot color are sent to the additional image data generation unit 630.
[0068]
Further, when the image data conversion unit 620 receives the spot color name and the spot color reproduction method, the additional image data generation unit 630 acquires the spot color reproduction performance corresponding to the spot color name and the spot color reproduction method from the storage unit 700. To do. Further, the additional image data generation unit 630 generates additional image data representing an additional image in which the spot color reproduction performance acquired from the storage unit 700 is associated with the color chart of the spot color, and the generated additional image data is displayed. The data is output to the image data output unit 640.
[0069]
The image data output unit 640 outputs the proof image data and the additional image data input from the image data conversion unit 620 and the additional image data generation unit 630 to the printer 60a of FIG. 1 via the output interface 517a of FIG.
[0070]
The printer 60a inputs proof image data from the image data output unit, and creates a proof image based on the proof image data.
[0071]
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a proof image 61. The proof image 61 includes a process image portion 61a corresponding to the process color portion 41a of the print image 41, a red spot color image portion 61b corresponding to the red spot color portion 41b, and a green spot color image portion 61c corresponding to the green spot color portion 41c. In addition, an additional image 62 is added. The process image portion 61a is made up of process ink. Similarly, the red spot color image portion 61b and the green spot color image portion 61c are combinations of process inks, and red and green of the spot colors are respectively expressed. The proof image 61 corresponds to an example of the proof image referred to in the present invention. Here, the spot color of the proof image 61 (the color of the red spot color image portion 61b and the color of the green spot color image portion 61c) is the same as the spot color of the print image 41 (the color of the red spot color portion 41b and the green spot color portion 41c). It is difficult to determine whether the proof image 61 is reproduced, that is, how much the proof image 61 can be trusted by looking at the proof image 61 alone.
[0072]
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the additional image 62. The additional image 62 includes an image ID display unit 62a, a date display unit 62b, and a reproduction performance display unit 62c. The image ID display unit 62 a represents the image ID of the print image 41. In this example, it can be determined that the image ID of the print image 41 is 1. The date display part 62b represents the date when the proof image 61 was created. In this example, it can be determined that it was created on June 12. The reproduction performance display unit 62c represents the reproduction performance for each spot color. A color chart 62c_1 that reproduces the spot color and a symbol 62c_2 that indicates whether the spot color is a color that can be expressed by the printer 60a (a color in the color reproduction area) It consists of In this example, the spot color of the print image 41 corresponding to the left red color chart 62c_1 is a color that can be expressed by the printer 60a, and the color of the red spot color image portion 61b of the proof image 61 is the color of the red spot color portion 41b of the print image 41. The spot color of the print image 41 corresponding to the right green color chart 62c_1 is a color that cannot be expressed by the printer 60a, and the color of the proof image 61 is determined by a predetermined process. Since the green spot color image portion 61c is configured, it can be determined that the color of the green spot color image portion 61c has low reliability. The color chart 62c_1 of the reproduction performance display unit 62c is an example of the color chart referred to in the present invention, and the symbol 62c_2 described in the color chart describes “whether or not the color is in the color reproduction area” according to the present invention. It corresponds to an example. As described above, the proof image 61 created using the image processing apparatus 600 according to the present embodiment confirms the additional image 62 to determine how reliable the spot color reproduced in the proof image is. It can be easily distinguished.
[0073]
Above, description of 1st Embodiment of this invention is complete | finished, Next, the image processing apparatus of 2nd Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated. This second embodiment has a configuration similar to that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 8, but differs only in that the form of the additional image to be created is different.
[0074]
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an additional image 72 represented by additional image data generated by the additional image data generation unit of the image processing apparatus according to the second embodiment.
[0075]
The additional image 72 includes an image ID display unit 72a, a date display unit 72b, and a reproduction performance display unit 72c. In the reproduction performance display section 62c of the additional image 62 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the spot color chart 62c_1 is associated with the symbol 62c_2 indicating whether or not the spot color is a color that can be expressed by the printer 60a. In the ink type display portion 72c of the additional image 72, the color chart 72c_1 of the special color is associated with a number 72c_2 representing the class when the reproduction performance of the special color is divided into a plurality of classes. In the present embodiment, the larger the number 72c_2, the greater the difference between the spot color of the proof image 61 and the spot color of the print image 41. In this example, the reproduction performance of the red spot color image portion 61b including the spot color of the left color chart 72c_1 belongs to class 1, and the reproduction performance of the green spot color image portion 61c including the spot color of the right color chart 72c_1 belongs to class 2. For example, it can be confirmed that the color of the red spot color image portion 61b is a sufficiently reliable color, and that the color of the green spot color image portion 61c is somewhat inferior in reproduction performance but is somewhat reliable. A number 72c_2 described in the color chart 72c_1 corresponds to an example of "a numerical value of a class when the degree of reproduction performance is divided into a plurality of classes" according to the present invention. As described above, by describing the numerical value expressing the reproduction performance of the spot color in the class in the additional image, it is possible to more easily determine the reproduction performance of the spot color.
[0076]
Above, description of 2nd Embodiment of this invention is complete | finished, Next, the image processing apparatus of 3rd Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated. The third embodiment has a configuration similar to that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 8, but the form of the additional image to be created is different from the first embodiment and the second embodiment.
[0077]
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the additional image 82 represented by the additional image data generated by the additional image data generation unit of the third embodiment.
[0078]
The additional image 82 includes an image ID display portion 82a, a date display portion 82b, and a reproduction performance display portion 82c. In the reproduction performance display section 72c of the additional image 72 of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the color chart 72c_1 of the special color is associated with a number 72c_2 representing the class when the reproduction performance of the special color is divided into a plurality of classes. However, in the ink type display portion 82c of the additional image 82, the spot color name 82c_1 is described instead of the spot color chart 72c_1, and the symbol 82c_2 indicating the class is displayed instead of the number 72c_2 indicating the class. Has been described. In the present embodiment, “*” is used for the symbol 82c_2 representing the class, and the class is represented by the number of “*”. In this example, the red (red) spot color reproduction performance belongs to class 1, and the green (green) spot color reproduction performance belongs to class 2. The color name 82c_1 of the reproduction performance display unit 82c is an example of the color name referred to in the present invention. As described above, the additional image data generation unit according to the present invention may generate additional image data representing an additional image in which the color name of the special color is associated with the reproduction performance. Further, the additional image data generation unit referred to in the present invention may represent a class of reproduction performance not by numbers but by the number of symbols.
[0079]
Here, in the above description, the image processing apparatus that creates the additional image describing the reproduction performance of the spot color stored in the storage unit in advance has been described. However, the image processing apparatus according to the present invention is, for example, print image data Additional image data describing the reproduction performance of the spot color calculated from the image data part representing the spot color and the image data part representing the spot color in the proof image data may be created.
[0080]
In the above description, the image processing apparatus for creating an additional image in which the color chart of the special color and the reproduction performance or the color name of the special color and the reproduction performance are associated has been described. However, the image processing apparatus according to the present invention has the reproduction performance. It is also possible to create an additional image describing only the above.
[0081]
Further, in the image processing apparatus described above, the degree of reproduction performance is expressed by a numerical value that is classified so as to indicate that the spot color of the proof image is significantly different from the spot color of the printed image as the numerical value increases. The image processing apparatus, for example, on the contrary, represents the degree of reproduction performance with a numerical value that is classified so as to indicate that the spot color of the printed image is accurately reproduced as the numerical value increases. Good.
[0082]
In the above description, the example using the one-dimensional spot color image data portion that exists as many as the number of spot colors used for printing has been described. However, the image processing apparatus of the present invention has, for example, the same number of dimensions as the number of spot colors. The spot color image data portion having
[0083]
Furthermore, in the above description, an image processing apparatus that creates a proof image to which an additional image is added has been described. However, the image processing apparatus according to the present invention may create the additional image separately from the proof image.
[0084]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image processing apparatus that can easily determine how accurately a spot color reproduced in a proof image is a reproduced color.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image processing system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a first data conversion method.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a second data conversion method.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a third data conversion method.
FIG. 5 is an external perspective view of a personal computer 50. FIG.
6 is a hardware configuration diagram of the personal computer 50. FIG.
FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing a CD-ROM 210 in which an embodiment of an image processing program of the present invention is stored.
8 is a functional block diagram of an image processing apparatus 600. FIG.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a proof image 61;
10 is a diagram showing an additional image 62. FIG.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an additional image 72;
12 is a diagram showing an additional image 82. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Color scanner
20 workstations
30 Film printer
40 printing press
41 Print image
41a Process color part
41b Red feature
41c green spot
50 Personal computer
51 Main unit
52 Image display device
52a Display screen
53 keyboard
54 mouse
55 bus
51a Flexible disk loading slot
51b CD-ROM loading slot
511 CPU
512 Main memory
513 Hard disk device
514 Flexible disk drive
515 CD-ROM drive
516 Input interface
517a Output interface
...
517n output interface
60a printer
60b printer
...
60n printer
61 Proof Image
61a Process color image part
61b Red spot image part
61c Green spot image part
62 Additional images
62a Image ID display section
62b Date display section
62c Reproduction performance display
62c_1 Color chart
62c_2 Symbol
72 Additional images
72a Image ID display section
72b Date display section
72c Reproduction performance display
72c_1 Color chart
72c_2 numbers
82 Additional images
82a Image ID display section
82b Date display section
82c Reproduction performance display
82c_1 Color name
82c_2 symbol
101 Process color conversion process
102 Spot color reference process
103 Gradation calculation process
104 Adder
111 Process color conversion process
112 Process color netting process
113 spot color reference process
114 gradation calculation process
115 Special Coloring Process
116 Synthesizer
121 Process color conversion process
122 Process color netting process
123 spot color reference process
124 gradation calculation process
125 Special Coloring Process
200 Flexible disk
210 CD-ROM
310 Image processing program
311 Image data acquisition unit
312 Image data converter
313 Additional image data generation unit
314 Image data output unit
600 Image processing device
610 Image data acquisition unit
620 Image data converter
630 Additional image data generation unit
640 Image data output unit
700 storage unit

Claims (5)

Using an output device, a proof image reproducing the print image obtained by printing a print image obtained by superimposing a process color plate image composed of process colors and a special color plate image composed of special colors In the image processing apparatus for generating the proof image data for the output device representing the proof image at the time of outputting by processing the print image data representing the print image,
An image data acquisition unit for acquiring the print image data;
An image data conversion unit that processes the print image data acquired by the image data acquisition unit on the premise of a print image reproduction method in the output device and converts the print image data into the proof image data;
Additional image data generation unit for generating additional image data for the output device, which represents an additional image describing the reproduction performance of the spot color in the reproduction method assumed when the image data conversion unit processes the print image data When,
By outputting the proof image data converted by the image data conversion unit and the additional image data generated by the additional image data generation unit to the output device, the proof image and the additional image are output to the output device. An image processing apparatus comprising an image data output unit for outputting an image. The additional image data generation unit generates additional image data representing an additional image describing whether or not the spot color in the print image is a color within a color reproduction region of the output device. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1. The additional image data generation unit is configured to generate additional image data representing an additional image in which the class is numerically described when the degree of reproduction performance is divided into a plurality of classes. The image processing apparatus according to 1. The additional image data generation unit generates additional image data representing an additional image in which a description of reproduction performance is associated with a color chart of a special color constituting the special color plane image. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1. A print image obtained by printing a print image obtained by superimposing a process color plate image composed of process colors and a special color plate image composed of spot colors is executed by the computer. In the image processing program for generating the proof image data for the output device representing the proof image when the reproduced proof image is output using the output device by processing the print image data representing the print image,
An image data acquisition unit for acquiring the print image data;
An image data conversion unit that processes the print image data acquired by the image data acquisition unit on the premise of a print image reproduction method in the output device and converts the print image data into the proof image data;
Additional image data generation unit for generating additional image data for the output device, which represents an additional image describing the reproduction performance of the spot color in the reproduction method assumed when the image data conversion unit processes the print image data When,
By outputting the proof image data converted by the image data conversion unit and the additional image data generated by the additional image data generation unit to the output device, the proof image and the additional image are output to the output device. An image processing program comprising an image data output unit for outputting an image.

Images