JP2010272045A - Print setting reception program, apparatus and method - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention makes it possible to easily recognize a change in setting contents when a print setting is changed from a current setting to a user setting.
A print density setting is received by a user interface that selects a reference density or a low density lighter than the reference density, and if the received print density setting is the low density, a specific color is printed. A selection unit for selecting whether or not the printing density at the time of printing is higher than the low density is displayed on the user interface in a selectable manner.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a print setting reception program, apparatus, and method.

  Conventionally, a technique (for example, Patent Document 1) that prints an image with a density lower than a reference density, and a technique that performs printing in a state in which the image is thinned from the reference ink density (for example, Patent Document 2) are known. Yes.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-66629 JP-A-7-125226

In the conventional technique, printing can be performed with a printing density lower than a reference density, but it may be difficult to read an image of a specific color by reducing the density. In other words, when reducing the print density, it is normal to allow the print quality to decrease, but the effect of decreasing the print density on the print quality and the extent to which the decrease in print quality is allowed Is significantly different for each color to be printed. For example, characters are usually expressed in black, and the highlighted part in the document is shown with an emphasized color such as red. However, if these black and red colors are reduced, the characters in the document become unreadable. In addition, there may be a print result in which the intention of emphasis of the creator to be printed does not appear. Therefore, if the print density is reduced in the entire print target, the print quality may be significantly reduced.
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for suppressing a decrease in print quality when the print density is reduced.

  In the present invention, when a low density lighter than the reference density is selected as the print density setting, the user interface is configured so that a state in which the print density is higher than the low density can be selected for a specific color. Therefore, the user can select whether or not the print density for printing a specific color is higher than the low density by the user interface. As a result, the user can select whether or not to suppress the decrease in the print quality when the print quality is significantly decreased by printing a specific color at a low density.

  Here, the reference density may be a density that serves as a reference when the density is relatively compared, and is a setting of the print density when printing is performed with a predetermined amount of the colorant used as a reference. The low concentration may be a concentration lower than the reference concentration, and a plurality of options may be provided as the low concentration. For example, a “thin density” that is thinner than the reference density and a “thin density” that is thinner than the reference density may be selectable. Various techniques can be used to adjust the print density. For example, the use of a colorant such as adjusting the recording density of the colorant per unit area or the recording amount of the colorant per unit recording frequency. A configuration for adjusting the amount can be adopted.

  In addition, various methods can be adopted as processing methods for specifically adjusting the print density, and are referred to when converting the color component indicated by the image data to be printed into the color component for each color of the colorant. As the color conversion table, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which a color conversion table corresponding to a reference density and a color conversion table corresponding to a low density are prepared. Further, in a configuration in which the recording amount of the colorant per unit recording area can be adjusted (for example, an ink jet printer capable of ejecting a plurality of ink droplets), the color recorded per unit recording area in setting the reference density The amount of the colorant recorded per unit recording area in the setting of the amount of the agent and the low concentration may be changed. Of course, even when the print density for a specific color is made higher than the low density, the color conversion table or the amount of the colorant recorded per unit recording area may be changed. Since the density differs depending on the gradation value that specifies the color, the density at the reference density and the low density may be compared for the print results for the same gradation value.

  In the user interface control function, it is only necessary to be able to switch whether or not the selection by the selection unit of the user interface is possible depending on whether the print density setting is the reference density or the low density. That is, when a low density is selected by the user, the selection unit selects a state where the print density for printing a specific color is darker than the low density and a state where a specific color is printed at a low density. Configure as possible. In addition, when the reference density is selected by the user, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which selection by the selection unit cannot be performed.

  Certain colors have a relatively large impact on the print quality when the print density is reduced compared to other colors, or the degree to which a decrease in print quality is allowed is relatively small compared to other colors. Any small color may be used. Therefore, black for expressing characters, red for highlighting, and the like can be set as specific colors. Of course, the specific color may be determined in advance, may be selectable by the user, or may be determined according to the content, type, importance, etc. of the document.

  Furthermore, when the print density is set to a low density, it may be configured to assist the print density for printing a specific color so that it is darker than the low density. For example, a configuration in which a state in which selection for making a specific color darker than a low density is made may be adopted as an initial setting of the selection unit. According to this configuration, unless the user performs a selection operation in the selection unit, the print density for printing a specific color is determined as a density higher than the low density. Accordingly, it is possible to configure such that a density higher than the low density is selected almost automatically as the print density of the specific color.

  Of course, the setting may be automatically performed without displaying the user interface. For example, a print density reception function that accepts a print density setting by a user interface that selects a reference density or a lower density that is lower than the reference density, and the received print density setting is the low density You may comprise the print setting reception program which makes a computer implement | achieve the specific color density determination function which sets the said printing density at the time of printing a color so that it may become darker than the said low density. According to this configuration, the print density for printing a specific color can be automatically set so as to be darker than the low density.

  Furthermore, as a configuration for performing a printing process according to the set print density, a configuration in which the print density is adjusted by adjusting the recording amount of the colorant per unit recording area may be employed. For example, a configuration is assumed in which the reference recording amount of the colorant per unit recording area is specified based on image data indicating an image to be printed. In this configuration, when the print density is set to a low density and the specific color is set to a density higher than the low density, the specific color is printed with the reference recording amount, and the reference recording amount A color other than a specific color is printed with a smaller recording amount. As a result, it is possible to print a specific color darker than the low density, and print colors other than the specific color at a low density.

  Further, the print density may be adjusted according to the content to be printed. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which printing is performed with a reference recording amount for either or both of characters and graphics. In other words, characters and graphics composed of drawing data such as outline data and vector data often carry important information in the manuscript. Susceptible to weight loss. Therefore, even if a low density is set as the print density, the character and graphics are not set to a low density, and if the density is higher than the low density, the deterioration of the print quality can be effectively suppressed. It becomes possible.

  Furthermore, as in the present invention, when a low density lower than the reference density is set as the print density, a user interface for selecting whether or not to make the print density for printing a specific color higher than the low density Can be applied as a device or a method. Further, the above-described program, apparatus, and method may be realized as a single apparatus or may be realized by combining a plurality of apparatuses, and include various aspects. For example, it is possible to provide a program, an apparatus, and a method according to the present invention by cooperation of a computer and a printing apparatus. Further, some changes may be made as appropriate, such as a part of software and a part of hardware. Furthermore, the invention is also established as a recording medium for a program for controlling the printing apparatus. Of course, the software recording medium may be a magnetic recording medium, a magneto-optical recording medium, or any recording medium to be developed in the future.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a print setting reception apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows a printing process. It is a figure which illustrates a user interface.

Here, embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order.
(1) Configuration of print setting reception apparatus:
(2) Other embodiments:

(1) Configuration of print setting reception apparatus:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a computer 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The computer 10 includes a control unit 20 including a RAM, a ROM, a CPU, and the like (not shown) and a recording medium 30, and the control unit 20 can execute a program recorded in the ROM or the recording medium 30. In the present embodiment, the printer driver 21, an application program, and the like can be executed as this program.

  Further, the computer 10 includes an interface (not shown), and the input unit 50, the display unit 51, and the printer 52 are connected to the computer 10 through the interface. The input unit 50 is a device such as a mouse or a keyboard that outputs a signal corresponding to a user input content, and the control unit 20 specifies the user input content based on the signal. The display unit 51 is a device such as a display that displays an arbitrary image in accordance with a signal output from the control unit 20, and in this embodiment, a user interface for using the functions of the printer driver 21 and application programs is displayed. Displayed on the part 51. The printer 52 is a printing device that prints an image indicated by the print data based on the print data output by the control unit 20.

  The recording medium 30 records a color conversion table 31 for specifying the recording amount of ink to be recorded per unit area when a printing target is printed. The printer 52 according to the present embodiment is an ink jet printer, and can adjust the amount of ink to be recorded per unit recording area in a plurality of stages. That is, it is possible to adjust the ejection amount of ink droplets per time in a plurality of stages. The color conversion table 31 is data that is referred to when generating data indicating the ink droplet ejection amount per time when printing the print target from the image data indicating the print target. For example, a color conversion table referred to when converting 256 gradation RGB data into 256 gradation CMYK data for each ink color, or 256 gradation CMYK data as gradation values for each ink droplet size. A color conversion table 31 is composed of a color conversion table to be converted and a combination of these color conversion tables. Here, it is assumed that the printer 52 can eject three levels of ink droplets and can express four levels of gradation per number of times of ink ejection. Called large, medium, and small in order of increasing number.

  The printer driver 21 is a module that executes printing by generating print data from image data indicating a print target and outputting the print data to the printer 52. When a text, an image, or the like to be printed is created by an application program or the like and printing is executed, the printer driver 21 is activated and printing processing is executed. In the present embodiment, the printer driver 21 includes a print setting reception program and a print control program, and the computer 10 functions as a print setting reception device and a print control device when the control unit 20 executes processing by the printer driver 21. To do.

  The printer driver 21 includes a print density receiving unit 21a and a UI (user interface) control unit 21b for executing print setting receiving processing in the course of print processing, and a reference recording amount specifying unit for executing print control processing. 21c and a print control unit 21d. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a printing process by the printer driver 21. When an instruction to start printing to be printed is issued by an application program or the like, the control unit 20 activates the printer driver 21 and starts the printing process shown in FIG. When the printing process is started, the control unit 20 displays a user interface for accepting print settings on the display unit 51 by the process of the printer driver 21 (step S100). In the user interface, the control unit 20 accepts user input content. That is, when a signal corresponding to the user's selection content is output from the input unit 50, the control unit 20 receives the user's selection based on the signal.

  The print density receiving unit 21a is a module that causes the control unit 20 to realize a function of receiving a print density setting via a user interface. The print density is classified into a reference density and a low density lower than the reference density, and the control unit 20 determines whether or not the user has selected a low density (step S105). In the present embodiment, the reference density is a print density when printing is performed with a reference ink usage amount set as default in the printer 52. The low density is a density lower than the standard density.

  In step S105, the control unit 20 displays a user interface for selecting a print density by outputting a control signal to the display unit 51 by the process of the print density receiving unit 21a. 3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating an example of a user interface displayed on the display unit 51. FIG. In FIGS. 3A and 3B, print settings are tab-displayed in a window W for specifying the print settings. After the user selects a desired tab with a mouse or the like, the user can select the setting contents of the print setting items classified in each tab. In this example, the print setting items for the print density are classified in the “basic settings” tab, and either “reference density” or “low density” can be selected from the pull-down list. That is, the control unit 20 specifies whether the print density selected by the user is “reference density” or “low density” based on the output signal of the input unit 50 by the processing of the print density receiving unit 21a.

  The UI control unit 21b is a module that causes the control unit 20 to realize a function of changing the display content of the user interface according to the content received in step S105. When the print density accepted in step S105 is a low density, the control unit 20 selects a selection unit for selecting whether or not the print density for printing a specific color on the user interface is higher than the low density. Active display is performed on the user interface (step S110). That is, when the print density received in step S105 is a low density, the control unit 20 displays the selection unit, and determines whether or not to darken a specific color in the selection unit based on the output signal of the input unit 50. Accept selection.

  In the present embodiment, when the user interface is actively displayed in step S110, the initial state in the selection unit is the state in which the selection for making the print density when printing a specific color higher than the low density is made. Display the user interface as a setting. Accordingly, when the user confirms the setting without changing the initial setting of the user interface that is actively displayed in step S110, the dark black state is obtained. For this reason, even when a low density lower than the reference density is selected by the user, it can be set so that black is almost automatically darkened.

  On the other hand, when the print density received in step S105 is not low density, the control unit 20 displays a grayed out user interface for selecting either a specific color or a non-dark state (inactive state). To display). In this case, the control unit 20 does not accept selection of whether or not to darken a specific color. Note that FIG. 3A shows a state in which a selection unit S (check box) for selecting whether to make black a specific color and whether to darken black is actively displayed. In addition, FIG. 3B shows by dotted lines that the selection portion S for selecting whether or not to darken black is displayed in gray. In this state, it is not possible to select whether or not to darken black.

  The control unit 20 accepts a user input operation using the user interface shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, and selects other print setting items such as the paper size in addition to the selection of whether or not to increase the print density and black. It is possible to accept setting contents and a print start instruction. Then, the control unit 20 determines whether or not a print start instruction is given by the print start button displayed on the user interface (step S115). If it is not determined that the print start instruction is given in step S115, the control unit 20 and subsequent steps. Repeat the process. If it is determined in step S115 that an instruction to start printing has been issued, the control unit 20 determines the setting content of the print setting item currently input on the user interface as the setting content at the time of printing. Thereafter, the control unit 20 executes a print control process after step S120.

  The reference recording amount specifying unit 21c is a module that causes the control unit 20 to realize a function of specifying the reference recording amount of the colorant per unit recording area based on image data indicating an image to be printed. That is, the control unit 20 acquires image data, and refers to the color conversion table 31 to specify the size of the ink droplet per one ink discharge from the image data (step S120). More specifically, the control unit 20 refers to the color conversion table 31 and converts 256 gradation RGB values in the image data into 256 gradation CMYK values for each ink color. Further, referring to the color conversion table 31, the CMYK values are converted into gradation values for large, medium, and small ink droplets, and halftone processing is performed based on the gradation values for large, medium, and small ink droplets. Data indicating whether large, medium, and small ink droplets are recorded at each dischargeable timing is created. That is, data specifying whether large, medium, and small ink droplets are recorded per unit recording area is created. In the present embodiment, the ink amount recorded by the data is the reference recording amount.

  Next, the control unit 20 controls the printer 52 based on the data by the processing of the print control unit 21d to print the print target. In the present embodiment, the control unit 20 corrects the reference recording amount according to the print density set by the user interface in the process of the print control unit 21d. For this purpose, the control unit 20 determines whether the print density set in steps S100 to S115 is the reference density or the low density (step S125). When the set print density is the reference density, the control unit 20 skips steps S130 to S140. And the control part 20 performs a printing process in step S145, controls the printer 52 based on the data produced | generated in step S120, and prints a printing object. That is, the print target is printed in the state of the reference recording amount.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S125 that the set print density is low, the control unit 20 further determines whether or not the “darken black” setting has been selected in the selection unit. (Step S130). If it is determined in step S130 that the “darken black” setting has been selected, the control unit 20 reduces the ink recording amount from the reference recording amount for colors other than black (step S135). That is, for a color other than black, a low density which is a print density set by the user interface is applied, and thus correction for reducing the reference recording amount is performed for a color other than black. In this embodiment, in order to reduce the reference recording amount, the reference recording is performed for pixels whose original image data (image data before conversion in step S120) has a color other than black (RGB gradation values are all 0). Reduce the amount. For example, the data generated in step S120 is converted so that large ink is printed with medium ink, medium ink with small ink, and small ink with no ink recorded.

  On the other hand, if it is not determined in step S130 that the “darken black” setting has been selected, the control unit 20 reduces the ink recording amount (step S140). That is, in order to apply a low density, which is a print density set by the user interface, for both black and non-black colors, the reference recording amount is reduced for all colors. Table 1 is a table showing the size of ink droplets for colors other than black and black when the printing density is the reference density and when the printing density is low. In the case where the print density is low, the case where the setting to further darken the black is set and the case where the setting to darken the black is not made are shown.

According to the above processing, as shown in Table 1, when the reference density is set as the print density, either large, medium, or small ink droplets are used for all colors, and the gradation value of the image data is used. Accordingly, large, medium, and small ink droplets are appropriately selected and printed. On the other hand, when a low density is set as the print density, large ink is not used when printing at least one of black and a color other than black. Therefore, the amount of ink used can be suppressed compared to the reference density. Furthermore, when the print density is set so that the density is low and the black is dark, black is printed with one of large, medium, and small ink droplets, and the color other than black is printed with one of medium and small inks. Therefore, while suppressing the amount of ink used for printing, it is possible to perform printing for black objects that often carry important information such as characters without deteriorating print quality.

(2) Other Embodiments The above embodiment is an example for carrying out the present invention, and a printing density for printing a specific color when a low density lower than a reference density is set as a printing density. Various other embodiments can be adopted as long as a user interface for selecting whether or not to make the density higher than the low density can be displayed on the display unit.

  Various configurations other than the configuration for reducing the reference recording amount can be adopted as the configuration for adjusting the print density. For example, if the print density is set to a low density and a specific color is set to be darker than the low density, a specific color is printed with the reference recording amount, and the reference recording amount is increased to increase the specific color. Other colors may be printed. Alternatively, a different color conversion table 31 may be prepared in advance for each print density, and color conversion may be performed with reference to the color conversion table corresponding to the print density. Of course, it may be configured such that a difference according to the print density occurs when converting RGB data into CMYK data, or when converting from 256 CMYK data to gradation values for each ink droplet size. A difference may be generated depending on the print density. Further, a difference according to the print density may be generated in the process of performing the halftone process.

  Further, the print density may be adjusted to three or more levels. For example, the print density can be selected in three or more stages, and any one of the print densities is set as a reference density. A density lower than the reference density is regarded as a low density. The concentration classified as low concentration may be two or more levels. For example, when there are two levels of density classified as low density, a configuration in which “reference density”, “thin density”, and “thinner density” are provided as print density options can be employed.

  Furthermore, it is good also as a structure which changes printing density with an attribute among the objects of a specific color. For example, when the print density is set to a low density and the print density of a specific color is set to be darker than the low density, the print density is increased for characters of a specific color. A configuration may be adopted in which an object other than a character is printed at a low density even if it is a color. Further, although the print density is increased for graphics of a specific color, a configuration may be adopted in which an object other than a character is printed at a low density even for a specific color. According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent the print quality from being significantly deteriorated by reducing the print density of characters and graphics.

  In the above-described embodiment, the selection unit that selects whether or not to darken a specific color according to the setting content of the print density is configured to be actively displayed. However, the selection unit is automatically displayed without displaying the selection unit. You may set to. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which the display related to the selection unit S shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B is omitted, and when the print density is set to a low density, the black is automatically darkened. That is, in the flowchart shown in FIG. 2, steps S105, S110, S130, and 140 may be omitted, and step S135 may be executed when it is determined that the concentration is low in step S125.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the selection unit is configured to select whether or not the print density for a specific color is set to be darker than the low density. May be specified. For example, a configuration in which the position in the image where the print density is higher than the low density may be designated.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Computer, 20 ... Control part, 21 ... Printer driver, 21a ... Print density reception part, 21b ... UI control part, 21c ... Standard recording amount specific | specification part, 21d ... Print control part, 30 ... Recording medium, 31 ... Color conversion Table, 50 ... input unit, 51 ... display unit, 52 ... printer

Claims (6)

A print density acceptance function that accepts a print density setting by a user interface that selects a reference density or a lower density lower than the reference density;
When the received print density setting is the low density,
A user interface control function for selectively displaying in the user interface a selection unit for selecting whether or not the printing density when printing a specific color is darker than the low density;
Is a print setting reception program that enables a computer to realize this. The user interface control function, when the received print density setting is the low density,
Displaying the user interface as an initial setting of the selection unit in a state in which the selection for making the print density at the time of printing the specific color higher than the low density is made;
The print setting reception program according to claim 1. A print control program for controlling a printing apparatus according to print settings received by the print setting reception program according to claim 1,
A reference recording amount specifying function for specifying a reference recording amount of the colorant per unit recording area based on image data indicating an image to be printed;
When the setting of the print density is the low density and the user interface is set to make the print density when printing the specific color darker than the low density,
For a specific color in the image, the reference recording amount,
A print control function for controlling the printing apparatus to perform printing with a recording amount smaller than the reference recording amount for colors other than the specific color in the image;
A printing control program comprising: The print control function controls the printing apparatus to perform printing at the reference recording amount for either or both of a character of specific color and graphics in the image.
The printing control program according to claim 3. A print density receiving step of receiving a print density setting by a user interface that selects a reference density or a lower density lower than the reference density;
When the received print density setting is the low density,
A user interface control step for selectively displaying in the user interface a selection unit for selecting whether or not the printing density for printing a specific color is darker than the low density;
Print setting reception method including A print density receiving means for receiving a print density setting by a user interface for selecting a reference density or a lower density lower than the reference density;
When the received print density setting is the low density,
User interface control means for selectively displaying in the user interface a selection unit for selecting whether or not the printing density for printing a specific color is darker than the low density;
A print setting receiving apparatus.

Images