JP2019038151A - Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and image forming program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a technique of managing an ink amount for each image region and image object on the basis of the selection of a user.SOLUTION: An image formation apparatus 100 includes: an image processing unit which generates halftone data expressing the formation state of dots formed by using a plurality of inks from a printing job; recording heads 123C-123K which form an image on a printing medium on the basis of the halftone data; and a discharge amount management unit 112 which calculates the ink total amount being the total amount of the plurality of inks in each region on the printing medium on the basis of the halftone data, and determines whether or not the ink total amount exceeds an allowable amount decided in accordance with the printing medium. The discharge amount management unit provides a user interface which receives the input for selecting an ink amount reduction object image being an image permitted for the reduction of the ink total amount when the ink total amount exceeds the allowable amount. The image processing unit reduces the ink total amount of the ink amount reduction object image on the basis of the input.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and an image forming program, and more particularly to a technique for managing the amount of ink discharged onto a print medium.

  Some typical image forming apparatuses form an image on a print medium using a combination of CMYK inks. If the total discharge amount of CMYK ink is excessively large, the ink may not be sufficiently absorbed by the print medium and may adhere to the transport roller. Ink adhering to the transport roller may cause dirt or jamming of other printed matter. To deal with such a problem, for example, Patent Document 1 determines whether or not the sum of the ink amounts on both sides exceeds a specified value in an area where the double-sided printed materials are stacked and overlaps each other. A technique has been proposed in which the total amount of ink on both sides of the exceeding region is changed to a color conversion condition that falls within a specified value. According to Patent Document 1, it is possible to prevent image defects caused by stacking of printed matter such as blocking phenomenon while maintaining output color.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2015-3413

  However, the print image includes an image area (or an image object) that is relatively important to the user and an image that is not important. Conventionally, from such a point of view, sufficient studies have not been made for the user to select an image area or image object and manage the ink amount for each selected image area or image object.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object thereof is to provide a technique for managing an ink amount for each image region or image object based on a user's selection.

  The present invention provides an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a print medium. The image forming apparatus includes: an image processing unit that generates halftone data representing a formation state of dots formed using a plurality of inks from a print job; and an image on the print medium based on the halftone data. Based on the recording head to be formed and the halftone data, an ink total amount that is a total amount of the plurality of inks in each region on the print medium is calculated, and the total amount of the ink is determined according to the print medium An ejection amount management unit that determines whether or not the total amount of ink exceeds the allowable amount, and the ejection amount management unit determines whether the total amount of ink is permitted to be reduced. Provided is a user interface that receives an input for selecting an image to be reduced in ink amount, and the image processing unit reduces the ink amount based on the input. Reducing the total amount of ink of the elephant picture.

  The present invention provides an image forming method for forming an image on a print medium. The image forming method includes: an image processing step for generating halftone data representing a formation state of dots formed using a plurality of inks from a print job; and an image on the print medium based on the halftone data. A total amount of ink, which is a total amount of the plurality of inks in each region on the print medium, is calculated based on the recording step to be formed and the halftone data, and an allowable amount in which the total amount of ink is determined according to the print medium A discharge amount management step for determining whether or not the total amount of ink exceeds the allowable amount, and the discharge amount management step determines whether the total amount of ink is permitted to be reduced. Including a step of providing a user interface that receives an input for selecting an image for reducing an ink amount, wherein the image processing step is based on the input. Comprising the step of reducing the total amount of ink of the ink reduction target image.

  The present invention provides an image forming program for controlling an image forming apparatus having a recording head for forming an image on a print medium based on halftone data. The image forming program includes: an image processing unit that generates halftone data representing a formation state of dots formed using a plurality of inks from a print job; and each region on the print medium based on the halftone data. The image forming apparatus is caused to function as an ejection amount management unit that calculates a total amount of ink that is a total amount of the plurality of inks and determines whether the total amount of ink exceeds an allowable amount determined according to the print medium. The ejection amount management unit receives an input for selecting an ink amount reduction target image that is an image for which the reduction of the total ink amount is permitted when the total ink amount exceeds the allowable amount. The image processing unit reduces the total ink amount of the ink amount reduction target image based on the input.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to manage the ink amount for each image region or image object based on the user's selection.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of an image forming system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the content of the printing processing procedure which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the content of the ink amount adjustment process which concerns on one Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the ink amount excess notification screen which concerns on one Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the surface / back surface tab of the ink amount management setting screen which concerns on one Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the area | region / color tab of the ink amount management setting screen which concerns on one Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the object tab of the ink amount management setting screen which concerns on one Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the reduction method of the ink amount which concerns on one Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as “embodiments”) will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of an image forming system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming system 10 includes an image forming apparatus 100 and a personal computer 200. The personal computer 200 is connected to the image forming apparatus 100 via a network (in this example, a LAN).

  The image forming apparatus 100 includes a control unit 110, an image forming unit 120, an operation display unit 130, a storage unit 140, and a communication interface unit (communication I / F unit) 150. The personal computer 200 includes a control unit 210, an operation display unit 230, a storage unit 240, and a communication interface unit (communication I / F unit) 250.

  The communication interface unit 150 and the communication interface unit 250 perform communication using a TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) protocol group.

  The image forming unit 120 includes a color conversion processing unit 121 having a gamma correction unit 121G, a halftone processing unit 122, a recording head 123C that ejects C ink, a recording head 123M that ejects M ink, and a Y ink ejection. And a recording head 123K that discharges K ink. The color conversion processing unit 121 performs color conversion of image data, which is RGB data, into CMYK data, and then performs gamma correction by the gamma correction unit 121G. The halftone processing unit 122 performs halftone processing on the CMYK data to generate CMYK halftone data. The CMYK halftone data represents a dot formation state using CMYK inks.

  The operation display unit 130 of the image forming apparatus 100 displays various menus as input screens. The operation display unit 130 functions as a touch panel and accepts user operation inputs from various buttons and switches (not shown). The operation display unit 230 of the personal computer 200 has a keyboard and a mouse (not shown).

  The control units 110 and 210 include main storage means such as RAM and ROM, and control means such as MPU (Micro Processing Unit) and CPU (Central Processing Unit). The control units 110 and 210 also have controller functions related to various I / O, USB (Universal Serial Bus), bus, and other hardware interfaces, and the entire image forming apparatus 100 and personal computer 200, respectively. To control.

  The control unit 110 includes a PDL analysis unit 111 and a discharge amount management unit 112. The PDL analysis unit 111 analyzes a print job described in a page description language, and includes a plurality of image objects (simply referred to as objects) such as text images (characters), images (for example, bitmap images), and vector images included in the print job. Called). The PDL analysis unit 111 generates RGB image data for each object based on the plurality of extracted objects. The PDL analysis unit 111, the color conversion processing unit 121, and the halftone processing unit 122 are also referred to as an image processing unit. The function of the discharge amount management unit 112 will be described later.

  The storage units 140 and 240 are storage devices such as a hard disk drive or a flash memory that are non-temporary recording media, and control programs (including image forming programs) and data of processes executed by the control units 110 and 210, respectively. Remember.

  The storage unit 140 stores medium characteristic data CD. In the medium characteristic data CD, for example, a print medium having an ink absorption characteristic that hardly absorbs ink is registered. As the ink absorption characteristics, for example, the allowable amount of the total amount of CMYK ink on one side (front side or back side) is 200%, and the allowable amount of the total amount of CMYK ink on both sides of duplex printing is 300%. To do.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the contents of a print processing procedure according to an embodiment. In step S <b> 10, the user executes print job generation processing on the personal computer 200. In the print job generation process, the user generates a print job using, for example, DTP (Desktop publishing) software.

  In this example, it is assumed that the print job is described in a page description language and stores data representing the image on the front surface, the image on the back surface, and the print settings of the print medium. It is assumed that the print setting includes the type of print medium and designation of double-sided printing. It is assumed that a special print medium registered in the medium characteristic data CD is designated as the print medium.

  In step S20, the image forming apparatus 100 executes print job reception processing. In the print job reception process, the user transmits a print job from the personal computer 200 to the image forming apparatus 100, and the image forming apparatus 100 receives the print job from the personal computer 200.

  In step S30, the PDL analysis unit 111 executes PDL analysis processing. In the PDL analysis processing, the PDL analysis unit 111 analyzes a print job described in a page description language, extracts objects included in the print job, and generates RGB image data for each object.

  In step S40, the color conversion processing unit 121 performs color conversion of image data, which is RGB data, into CMYK data, and then executes gamma correction by the gamma correction unit 121G. In step S50, the halftone processing unit 122 performs halftone processing on the CMYK data to generate CMYK halftone data.

  In step S60, the ejection amount management unit 112 executes an ink amount calculation process. In the ink amount calculation process, the discharge amount management unit 112 manages each area of the halftone data for each object, and calculates the ink discharge amount per unit area based on the CMYK halftone data.

  In step S70, the ejection amount management unit 112 determines whether or not the ink amount is excessive based on the allowable amount of the total ink amount. If it is determined that the ink amount is excessive, the ejection amount management unit 112 proceeds to step S90. If it is not determined that the ink amount is excessive, the ejection amount management unit 112 performs processing. Advances to step S80. The allowable amount of the total ink amount is determined based on the medium characteristic data CD in accordance with the print medium designated in the print job.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the contents of the ink amount adjustment processing according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an ink amount excess notification screen according to an embodiment. In step S81, the ejection amount management unit 112 executes an excessive ink amount notification display process. In the ink amount excess notification display process, the ejection amount management unit 112 transmits a message for notifying that the ink amount is excessive to the personal computer 200.

  The operation display unit 230 of the personal computer 200 pops up an ink amount excess notification screen 231a in response to reception of the message. The ink amount excess notification screen 231a includes a print stop icon 232 for selecting print stop, a print continuation icon 233 for reducing the ink amount and continuing printing, and a preview window 234.

  The preview window 234 displays a preview image that is printed by the print job. In this example, in the preview image, the front side print image PF1 is displayed on the left side, and the back side print image PR1 is displayed on the right side. The printed image PF1 on the front surface includes a front surface text area TF, a circular object OB1, a triangular object OB2, a rectangular background object OB3, and a mark object CM representing a corporate mark. The printed image PR1 on the back side has a mark object CM, a back side text region TR, and a rectangular bitmap region BMR. A printed image is also simply called an image.

  The preview window 234 further shows excess ink areas Zf and Zr. In this example, in the excess ink areas Zf and Zr, the total amount of CMYK ink on both sides of duplex printing is allowed depending on the ink amount for forming the triangular object OB2 and the ink amount for forming the rectangular bitmap area BMR. It is assumed that the capacity exceeds 300%. The excessive ink area Zf indicates that the triangular object OB2 on the surface is a cause of excessive ink. The excessive ink area Zr indicates that the rectangular bitmap area BMR on the back surface is a cause of excessive ink. The allowable amount (300% on both sides in this example) is determined based on the print medium specified in the print job.

  The user can click the print cancel icon 232 to instruct the image forming apparatus 100 to cancel the execution of the print job via the personal computer 200. The user can click the print continue icon 233 and continue printing via the personal computer 200. It is also possible to transmit a message including the selection of “” to the image forming apparatus 100 (step S 82).

  In step S83, the user executes an ink amount reduction setting process to continue printing. In the ink amount reduction setting process, the user considers reducing the ink amounts of the triangular object OB2 and the rectangular bitmap area BMR based on the excess ink areas Zf and Zr.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the front / back tab 235 of the ink amount management setting screen 231b according to the embodiment. The ink amount management setting screen 231b is a screen displayed in response to a click on the print continuation icon 233. On the ink amount management setting screen 231b, the front / back tab 235 is selected. The front / back tab 235 includes a front priority radio button 235R1 for giving priority to the image quality of the front image, a back priority radio button 235R2 for giving priority to the image quality of the back image, and the priority of the image quality of the front image and the back image. There is no priority radio button 235R3 that is not provided.

  In step S84, the ejection amount management unit 112 executes ink amount reduction processing. The ink amount reduction process is performed in real time when the user selects any one of the front priority radio button 235R1, the rear priority radio button 235R2, and the no priority radio button 235R3. As a result, the user has selected the front image, the back image, or the double-sided image as the ink amount reduction target image that is an image for which the reduction of the total ink amount is permitted.

  Specifically, the discharge amount management unit 112 reduces the ink amount in the rectangular bitmap area BMR on the back surface according to the selection of the front surface priority radio button 235R1, and the triangular object on the front surface according to the selection of the back surface priority radio button 235R2. The ink amount of OB2 is reduced, and the ink amounts of both the triangle object OB2 and the rectangular bitmap area BMR are reduced according to the selection of the no priority radio button 235R3. In this example, since the front face priority radio button 235R1 is selected, the ink amount in the rectangular bitmap area BMR on the back face is reduced.

  In step S85, the discharge amount management unit 112 executes a simulation display. The simulation display is performed for both the rectangular bitmap area BMR, the triangular object OB2, or both the triangular object OB2 and the rectangular bitmap area BMR according to the selection of the front priority radio button 235R1, the reverse priority radio button 235R2, or the no priority radio button 235R3. A print image as a simulation result in which the ink amount is reduced is displayed in real time.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an area / color tab 236 of the ink amount management setting screen 231b according to the embodiment. The area / color tab 236 includes a protection area selection mode radio button 236R1 for setting a protection area selection mode that is a mode for selecting a protection area, and a protection color selection mode that is a mode for selecting a protection color. A protection color selection mode radio button 236R2 for setting, a reduction area selection mode radio button 236R3 for setting a reduction area selection mode for preferentially selecting an area for which the ink amount is to be reduced, and a priority. A reduction color selection mode radio button 236R4 for setting a reduction color selection mode for selecting a color to be reduced in ink amount.

  In this example, in the simulation display, the user selects one of the protection area selection mode radio button 236R1, the protection color selection mode radio button 236R2, the reduction area selection mode radio button 236R3, or the reduction color selection mode radio button 236R4, This is done in real time by selecting an object with the cursors CR1 and CR2.

  Specifically, the user selects, for example, the protection color selection mode radio button 236R2, and selects the mark object CM representing the corporate mark with the cursor CR1. Thereby, the user can set the color (for example, predetermined red) of the mark object CM as the protection target color.

  When the protection target color is set, when one of the triangle object OB2 and the rectangular bitmap area BMR is a predetermined red color, for example, when the triangle object OB2 is red, the triangle object OB2 is protected. Thus, the ink amount reduction process is executed in the rectangular bitmap area BMR. In this way, the user can exclude a print image reproduced using the color of the mark object CM from the ink amount reduction target image. The predetermined red color is a color defined as a corporate color, for example.

  The user selects, for example, the protection area selection mode radio button 236R1, and selects the rectangular bitmap area BMR with the cursor CR2. Thereby, the user can set the rectangular bitmap area BMR as a protection target area. When the rectangular bitmap area BMR is set as the protection target area, the ink amount reduction process is executed in the triangular object OB2.

  FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the object tab 237 of the ink amount management setting screen 231b according to the embodiment. The object tab 237 automatically selects a bitmap image selection check box 237C1 for automatically selecting a bitmap image, a vector image selection check box 237C2 for automatically selecting a vector image, and a text image. A text image selection check box 237C3.

  In this example, the user can select at least one of the bitmap image selection check box 237C1, the vector image selection check box 237C2, and the text image selection check box 237C3. The simulation display is performed in real time by automatically selecting a target object in accordance with the check box selected by the user. As described above, the user can select the bitmap image, the vector image, and the text image as the ink amount reduction target image that is an image permitted to reduce the total ink amount.

  FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a method for reducing the amount of ink according to an embodiment. FIG. 8A shows the contents of the ink amount reduction process in the HSV color space. FIG. 8B represents the content of the ink amount reduction process using the hue angle and the saturation. In the ink amount reduction process, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, while increasing the lightness while maintaining the hue, the saturation is decreased. That is, in the ink amount reduction process, as shown in FIG. 8A, the saturation is lowered while increasing the brightness, and the saturation is lowered while maintaining the hue angle θ shown in FIG. 8B. . Thereby, it is possible to effectively reduce the ink amount while suppressing a sense of incongruity caused by human vision.

  In step S86, the user confirms the simulation display, and if the print image is as intended, clicks the OK icon 238. If the print image is not as intended, the user executes the ink amount reduction setting process (step S83) again. be able to. When the OK icon 238 is clicked, the discharge amount management unit 112 advances the process to step S90 (see FIG. 2). The user can cancel the printing process by clicking the cancel icon 239.

  In step S90, the image forming apparatus 100 adjusts the halftone data of the image to be reduced in ink corresponding to the selected object, for example, based on the setting content of the ink amount reduction setting process (step S83), and then forms an image. Run. That is, the image forming apparatus 100 performs printing by discharging ink from the four recording heads 123C, 123M, 123Y, and 123K onto the printing medium based on the adjusted halftone data.

  As described above, the image forming system 10 according to the embodiment clearly indicates to the user the image area and the image object that cause the ink amount to be excessive, and sets the image area and the image object for each image area and the image object based on the user's selection. A user interface that can reduce the amount of ink can be provided. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a print image that matches a user's intention by taking into consideration what is relatively important and what is not important to the user.

  The present invention can be implemented not only in the above embodiment but also in the following modifications.

  Modification 1: In the above embodiment, the image forming apparatus 100 increases the lightness while maintaining the hue while reducing the amount of ink by decreasing the saturation, but the amount of UCR (Under Color Removal) is reduced. Adjustment (increase) and adjustment (increase) of the usage amount of CMY secondary color ink (RGB ink) may be combined, or adjustment of UCR and secondary color ink may be executed independently.

  However, the ink amount reduction process for changing the brightness and hue in the embodiment has a high degree of freedom in the ink reduction amount, and can provide a remarkable effect in combination with provision of a user interface that allows the user to select.

  Variation 2: In the above embodiment, the ink amount management setting screen 231b as the user interface has various setting modes such as the front / back tab 235, the area / color tab 236, and the object tab 237. It is not limited to setting mode. Furthermore, priority between these setting modes may be settable, or contents set later in time may be prioritized.

  Modification 3: In the above embodiment, the ink amount adjustment process (step S80) is executed by the image forming apparatus 100, and the personal computer 200 is used as a user interface. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and the personal computer 200 may execute the ink amount adjustment process (step S80), and re-send the print job in which the total amount of ink is reduced by editing the page description language. . Note that the total amount of ink can be reduced by the image forming apparatus 100 by editing the page description language.

  Modification 4: In the above embodiment, the print job generated by the personal computer 200 is processed by the image forming apparatus 100. However, the present invention is also applicable to a print job generated by copying processing in the image forming apparatus 100. can do. Even in such a case, the user interface may be provided using a device such as the personal computer 200, a smartphone, or a tablet.

100 Image forming apparatus 110, 210 Control unit 111 PDL analysis unit 112 Discharge amount management unit 120 Image forming unit 121 Color conversion processing unit 121G Gamma correction unit 122 Halftone processing unit 123C, 123M, 123Y, 123K Recording head 130, 230 Operation display Units 140 and 240 Storage units 150 and 250 Communication interface unit 200 Personal computer

Claims (8)

An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a print medium,
An image processing unit for generating halftone data representing the formation state of dots formed using a plurality of inks from a print job;
A recording head for forming an image on the print medium based on the halftone data;
A total ink amount that is a total amount of the plurality of inks in each region on the print medium is calculated based on the halftone data, and whether the total ink amount exceeds an allowable amount determined according to the print medium. A discharge amount management unit for determining
With
The ejection amount management unit has a user interface that receives an input for selecting an ink amount reduction target image that is an image permitted to reduce the total ink amount when the total ink amount exceeds the allowable amount. Offer to,
The image forming apparatus is configured to reduce the total ink amount of the ink amount reduction target image based on the input. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
The discharge amount management unit receives the input for selecting one of images formed on the front and back surfaces of the print medium as the user interface as the ink amount reduction target image,
The image forming apparatus adjusts the halftone data of a surface selected as the ink amount reduction target image. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
The print job is described in a page description language,
The image processing unit includes a PDL analysis unit that analyzes an image described in the page description language and extracts an object;
The discharge amount management unit manages each region of the halftone data for each object, and accepts the input for selecting the object as the user interface,
The image processing apparatus is configured to reduce the total ink amount by adjusting the halftone data of the ink amount reduction target image corresponding to the selected object. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein
The ejection amount management unit is an image forming apparatus that excludes an image reproduced using a color of the object from a target of reduction of the total ink amount in response to the input for selecting the object. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:
The PDL analysis unit analyzes an image described in the page description language and extracts at least one object from a bitmap image, a vector image, and a text image;
The discharge amount management unit is an image forming apparatus that receives the input for selecting the at least one object as the user interface. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 5,
The discharge amount management unit is an image forming apparatus that displays an excessive ink area, which is an area where the total ink amount exceeds the allowable amount, in the user interface. An image forming method for forming an image on a print medium,
An image processing step for generating halftone data representing a formation state of dots formed using a plurality of inks from a print job;
A recording step of forming an image on the print medium based on the halftone data;
A total ink amount that is a total amount of the plurality of inks in each region on the print medium is calculated based on the halftone data, and whether the total ink amount exceeds an allowable amount determined according to the print medium. A discharge amount management process for determining
With
The ejection amount management step includes a user interface that receives an input for selecting an image for reducing the ink amount that is an image for which the reduction of the total amount of ink is permitted when the total amount of ink exceeds the allowable amount. Including providing a process,
The image forming method includes the step of reducing the total ink amount of the ink amount reduction target image based on the input. An image forming program for controlling an image forming apparatus having a recording head for forming an image on a print medium based on halftone data,
An image processing unit that generates, from a print job, halftone data representing the formation state of dots formed using a plurality of inks;
A total ink amount that is a total amount of the plurality of inks in each region on the print medium is calculated based on the halftone data, and whether the total ink amount exceeds an allowable amount determined according to the print medium. The image forming apparatus functions as a discharge amount management unit for determining
The ejection amount management unit has a user interface that receives an input for selecting an ink amount reduction target image that is an image permitted to reduce the total ink amount when the total ink amount exceeds the allowable amount. Offer to,
The image processing unit is an image forming program that reduces the total ink amount of the ink amount reduction target image based on the input.

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