JP2022070514A - Printing equipment, programs, and information processing equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique for determining an appropriate output color space when a layout print is specified in a print job in a printing apparatus capable of color printing.
A printer 1 acquires a print job including print parameters and image data, and determines a sheet color space which is an output color space for one sheet based on the image data included in the print job. By rasterizing the page data for one sheet according to the sheet color space, print data for one sheet is generated, and printing is performed based on the generated print data. Further, when layout printing is specified for the print job, the printer 1 specifies one color space for all of the output color spaces specified for the plurality of page data used for layout printing for one sheet. If so, the sheet color space is used as the color space, and a plurality of page data are rasterized and laid out according to the sheet color space.
[Selection diagram] FIG. 5

Description

The technical fields disclosed herein relate to printing devices, programs, and information processing devices capable of color printing.

Conventionally, when color printing is performed by a printing device, a technique of determining an output color space (color space) to be used for color reproduction in the printing device is known based on a print object to be printed. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for converting a print object having a predetermined attribute into an RGB color space when processing a print job including a plurality of print objects.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2007-208531

In recent years, as is known in PDF 2.0, there is image data in which the output color space can be specified on a page-by-page basis. For a print job that prints an image based on this image data, how to determine the output color space when layout printing (for example, so-called Nin1 printing) for laying out and printing multiple page images on one sheet is specified. The question is whether to do it. Patent Document 1 discloses a process of determining an output color space based on the attributes of a print object, but discloses a procedure for determining an output color space when an output color space is specified for each page. Not.

The present specification discloses a technique for determining an appropriate output color space when a print job specifies layout printing in a printing apparatus capable of color printing.

The printing apparatus provided for the purpose of solving this problem is a printing apparatus including a printing device, a computer, and the computer includes an acquisition process for acquiring a print job including print parameters and image data, and the above-mentioned. Based on the image data included in the print job acquired in the acquisition process, the determination process for determining the sheet color space, which is the output color space for one sheet, and the sheet color space determined in the determination process. According to the above, the page data included in the image data is rasterized for one sheet to generate print data for one sheet, and the print data generated by the generation process. Based on this, it is possible to execute a printing process for causing the printing device to perform printing, and the printing parameters included in the printing job may include parameters for designating layout printing. This is printing in which a plurality of page images generated by rasterizing a plurality of page data are laid out on one sheet, and each page data included in the image data has a plurality of output color spaces used for rasterization. It is possible to include the page color space specification information specified from the output color space, and the computer further includes a parameter for designating the layout print in the print job acquired in the acquisition process. In this case, in the determination process, if all of the page color space designation information specified in the target page data specifies the first color space, the sheet color space is determined to be the first color space. The target page data is the page data used for the layout printing for one sheet to be determined for the sheet color space among the plurality of page data included in the image data, and is used in the generation process. By laying out a plurality of page images generated by rasterizing the target page data according to the first color space determined in the determination process, the print data used for the layout printing is generated. It is characterized by that.

According to the printing apparatus disclosed in the present specification, the pages laid out on one sheet when layout printing is performed on the image data whose output color space can be specified by the page color space specification information for each page data. If all the page color space designation information specified in the target page data which is the data is the first color space, the sheet color space is determined to be the first color space. As a result, printing is performed in the output color space specified in the page data, and an appropriate output color space can be determined.

A control method for realizing the functions of the printing device, a computer program, a storage medium that can be read by a computer that stores the program, and an information processing device that can execute the program are also new and useful.

According to the technique disclosed in the present specification, in a printing apparatus capable of color printing, a technique for determining an appropriate output color space when a print job specifies layout printing is realized.

It is a block diagram which shows the schematic structure of the printer of this embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the schematic structure of the print job. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of a print process. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of a color space determination process. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of output intent acquisition processing. It is a block diagram which shows the schematic structure of a PC. It is a block diagram which shows the schematic structure of a print system. It is a block diagram which shows the schematic structure of a print system.

Hereinafter, the printer according to this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. This embodiment discloses a printer capable of color printing.

As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 1 of this embodiment includes a controller 10 including a CPU 11 and a memory 12. Further, the printer 1 includes a user interface (hereinafter referred to as "user IF") 13, a communication interface (hereinafter referred to as "communication IF") 14, and an image forming unit 15, which are used in the controller 10. It is electrically connected. The printer 1 is an example of a printing device. The image forming unit 15 is an example of a printing device, and the CPU 11 is an example of a computer.

The CPU 11 executes various processes according to the program read from the memory 12 and based on the user's operation. As shown in FIG. 1, the memory 12 stores various programs including the print program 21 and various information. The memory 12 is also used as a work area when various processes are executed. The buffer included in the CPU 11 is also an example of the memory. The controller 10 in FIG. 1 is a general term for hardware and software used for controlling the printer 1, and does not necessarily represent a single hardware that actually exists in the printer 1.

An example of the memory 12 is not limited to the ROM, RAM, HDD, etc. built in the printer 1, and may be a storage medium that can be read and written by the CPU 11. A computer-readable storage medium is a non-transitional medium. In addition to the above examples, the non-transitory medium also includes recording media such as a CD-ROM and a DVD-ROM. The non-transitory medium is also a tangible medium. On the other hand, an electric signal that carries a program downloaded from a server on the Internet is a signal medium that can be read by a computer, which is a kind of medium that can be read by a computer, but is a storage that can be read by a non-transitory computer. Not included in the medium.

The user IF 13 is, for example, a touch panel, and includes hardware for displaying a screen for notifying the user of information and hardware for accepting operations by the user. The user IF 13 may be a set of a display unit and an operation button or the like.

The communication IF 14 includes hardware for communicating with the external device 2. The external device 2 is a device having a function of passing a print job to the printer 1, and is, for example, a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as “PC”), a print server, a scanner, a cloud server, and a USB memory. The communication standard of the communication IF14 is Ethernet (registered trademark), Wi-Fi (registered trademark), USB and the like. The printer 1 may include a plurality of communication IFs 14 corresponding to a plurality of communication standards.

The image forming unit 15 includes a configuration for printing an image on a printing medium such as a sheet. The image forming method of the image forming unit 15 is, for example, an electrophotographic method or an inkjet method. The printer 1 of this embodiment includes an image forming unit 15 having a configuration capable of color printing. The print program 21 is a program that generates print data to be used for printing by the image forming unit 15 based on a print job acquired from an external device 2 or the like.

Next, the operation of the printer 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart. The following processing basically indicates the processing of the CPU 11 according to the instruction described in the program. That is, the processes such as "judgment", "extraction", "selection", "calculation", "decision", "specification", "acquisition", "acceptance", and "control" in the following description are the processes of the CPU 11. Represents. The processing by the CPU also includes hardware control using the API of the OS. In this specification, the operation of each program will be described by omitting the description of the OS. That is, in the following description, the description to the effect that "program B controls hardware C" may refer to "program B controls hardware C using the API of the OS". Further, the processing of the CPU 11 according to the instruction described in the program may be described in abbreviated wording. For example, it may be described as "CPU 11 performs". Further, the processing of the CPU 11 according to the instruction described in the program may be described by a wording that omits the CPU, such as "program A performs".

Note that "acquisition" is used as a concept that does not require a request. That is, the process of receiving data without the CPU 11 requesting is also included in the concept of "the CPU acquires the data". Further, the "data" in the present specification is represented by a computer-readable bit string. Data having the same substantial meaning and different formats are treated as the same data. The same applies to "information" in the present specification. Further, "requesting" and "instructing" are concepts indicating that information indicating that a request is being made or information indicating that an instruction is being given is output to the other party. Further, the information indicating that the request is made or the information indicating the instruction is simply described as "request" or "instruction".

Further, the process of determining whether or not the information A indicates that the information A is the matter B by the CPU 11 is conceptually described as "determining whether or not the information A is the matter B from the information A". There is. The process of determining whether the information A indicates that the information A is the matter B or the matter C by the CPU 11 is "determined from the information A whether the information A is the matter B or the matter C." It may be described conceptually as in.

The printer 1 acquires a print job from the external device 2 and executes printing based on the acquired print job. The process in which the printer 1 acquires a print job is an example of the acquisition process. The printer 1 of this embodiment acquires, for example, a PDF (abbreviation of Portable Document Form) format file as a print job. The case where the PDF file is acquired as a print job will be described below.

First, the data structure of the print job will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the print job 100 includes a print parameter 110 indicating various setting information related to printing, and image data 120 indicating an image to be printed. The print parameter 110 includes various information related to printing such as printing paper, number of copies to be printed, layout printing, and the like. Layout printing is a printing setting for printing images of a plurality of pages included in the image data 120 side by side on one sheet. The layout printing of this specification is not limited to aggregate printing such as so-called Nin1 printing, but is set to generate and print one print data including images of a plurality of pages. For example, the image of a plurality of pages can be reduced. It also includes the setting to arrange them side by side and print them all together on long paper. The printer 1 of this embodiment can execute a print job including a layout print setting as a print parameter 110.

The image data 120 includes a document output intent 121, page data 122, 123, and the like of one or more pages. The document output intent 121 includes information that specifies the entire output color space of the image data 120, and is included in the print job 100 up to one. The output color space is information used when rasterizing image data. The document output intent 121 is an example of document color space designation information. There is also a print job 100 that does not include the document output intent 121.

The image data 120 includes page data 122, 123, etc. for each page in the order of pages for all the images to be printed. The page data 122 includes a page output intent 211, object data 212, 213, and the like indicating one or more print objects included in the page. The page output intent 211 includes information that specifies the output color space of the page represented by the page data 122, and is included in each page data 122 up to one. The page output intent 211 is an example of page color space designation information. The page data 123 and the like of other pages have the same configuration. The page data 122 and the like may not include the page output intent.

The page data 122 includes object data 212, 213, and the like for all print objects included in the page. The object data 212 included in the page data 122 includes color space information 221 indicating an output color space designated for the print object, and object image data 222 indicating an image of the print object. The object data 213 and the like of other print objects have the same configuration.

In the color space information 221 of the print object such as the output intent 121 for documents and the output intent 211 for pages of PDF files, one of a plurality of types of output color spaces that can be specified is specified. As the output color space that can be specified, for example, there are the following 11 types. There are three types of device-dependent output color spaces, "DeviceGray", "DeviceRGB", and "DeviceCMYK", and device-independent output color spaces are "CalGray", "CalRGB", "Lab", and "ICCBased". , And four types. Further, as a special output color space, there are four types, "Pattern", "Indexed", "Separation", and "DeviceN".

Among the special output color spaces, "Separation" and "DeviceN" include colors that cannot be expressed by general colorants such as gold and silver, and are hereinafter referred to as "spot color system color spaces". Since the printer 1 of the present embodiment performs printing based on the print data expressed in the CMYK color space by using, for example, a CMYK colorant, the special color expressed in the spot color system color space is appropriately reproduced. Can not. Of the above 11 types of output color spaces, 9 types other than the spot color system color space are output color spaces that can be used in the print program 21, and are examples of corresponding color spaces.

In the PDF file, if different output color spaces are specified for the document output intent 121 and the page output intent 211 of each page included in the document, the page output intent is specified for each page. An output color space such as 211 is preferentially adopted. Further, some of the document output intent 121, the page output intent 211, and the color space information 221 may not include the output color space information.

Next, the procedure of the printing process executed by the printer 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This print process is a process by the print program 21, and is executed by the CPU 11 of the printer 1 when the printer 1 receives, for example, the print job 100 shown in FIG. 2 from the external device 2.

In the print process of FIG. 3, the CPU 11 first acquires the N value of layout printing based on the print parameter 110 included in the received print job 100 (S101). The N value is a value indicating the number of page images arranged on one sheet. The N value is an example of a parameter that specifies layout printing. If layout printing is not specified in the print parameter 110, the CPU 11 sets the N value to 1 in S101.

Then, the CPU 11 acquires the image data 120 included in the print job 100 (S102). Based on the acquired image data, the CPU 11 executes the color space determination process in order from the first sheet (S105). The color space determination process is a process for determining an output color space used for generating print data to be printed on one sheet. Even in layout printing in which a plurality of page images are arranged on one sheet, the printer 1 collectively generates print data for one sheet, so that the output color space for each sheet is one. You need to decide. In the following, the output color space for each sheet will be referred to as the sheet color space.

Next, the procedure of the color space determination process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the color space determination process, the CPU 11 executes an output intent acquisition process (S201). The output intent acquisition process is based on the document output intent 121 included in the print job 100, the page output intent 211 included in the page data of each page arranged on the sheet to be processed, and the like. This is a process for trying to determine the sheet color space to be used for the sheet to be processed.

The procedure of the output intent acquisition process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the output intent acquisition process, the CPU 11 sequentially sets the pages arranged on the sheet to be processed as the target page, and determines whether or not the output color space information is included as the page output intent of the page data of the target page. Judgment (S301). If the processing target is the first sheet, the CPU 11 first determines the page output intent 211 of the page data 122 of the first page. The page data of the target page is an example of the target page data.

When it is determined that the information of the output color space is included as the output intent for the page (S301: YES), the CPU 11 acquires the information of the output color space included in the output intent for the page (S302). On the other hand, when it is determined that the output color space information is not included in the page output intent 211 (S301: NO), the CPU 11 uses the document output intent 121 of the image data 120 to obtain the output color space information. It is determined whether or not it is included (S303). When it is determined that the information of the output color space is included in the document output intent 121 (S303: YES), the CPU 11 acquires the information of the output color space included in the document output intent 121 (S304).

After S302 or S304, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the acquired output color space is a spot color system color space (S305). Since the printer 1 of the present embodiment cannot appropriately reproduce the color expressed in the spot color system color space, the CPU 11 does not adopt the spot color system color space as the sheet color space even if it is specified as the information of the output intent.

When it is determined that the color space is not the spot color system (S305: NO), the CPU 11 determines whether or not the acquired output color space matches the already acquired output color space (S306). That is, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the output color space acquired for the target page this time matches the output color space acquired for the other pages arranged on one sheet to be processed. If the sheet to be processed is the first page of processing and there is no acquired output color space, the CPU 11 determines in S306 that they match.

If it is determined that they match (S306: YES), the CPU 11 determines whether or not the processing for N pages has been completed (S307). N is a value acquired in S101 of the printing process, and is the number of pages arranged on the sheet to be processed. If it is determined that the process has not ended (S307: NO), the CPU 11 returns to S301 and executes the processing of the page data with the next page as the target page.

When it is determined that the processing for N pages is completed (S307: YES), the CPU 11 determines that the output color space acquired based on the output intent is adopted as the sheet color space (S308). S308 is an example of the determination process. After S308, the CPU 11 ends the output intent acquisition process and returns to the color space determination process.

That is, if the output color spaces specified by the output intents for each page match all the pages arranged on one sheet except for the spot color system color space, the CPU 11 uses the output color space. The sheet color space. In this case, the output color space specified by the output intent for each page is an example of the first color space.

Also, even if the page output intent contains a page for which the output color space is not specified, the output color space specified by the document output intent is the output of the page output intent of another page. If it matches the color space, the CPU 11 uses the output color space as the sheet color space. In this case, the output color space specified by the page output intent and the document output intent is an example of the second color space.

If the page output intent is not specified for any of the N pages arranged on one sheet, and the output color space specified by the document output intent is not a spot color space, the document The output color space of the output intent is the sheet color space. If the N value is 1 and the layout printing is not performed, and the output color space other than the spot color system color space is specified in the page output intent or the document output intent, the output color space is the sheet. It becomes a color space.

On the other hand, when it is determined that neither the page output intent nor the document output intent is specified (S303: NO), or when it is determined that a spot color system color space is specified for either output intent. (S305: YES), or when it is determined that the output color spaces according to the output intent of page N do not match (S306: NO), the CPU 11 performs the output intent acquisition process without determining the sheet color space. Finish and return to the color space determination process.

Returning to the description of the color space determination process of FIG. The CPU 11 determines whether or not the sheet color space is determined by the output intent acquisition process of S201 (S202). When it is determined in S308 of the output intent acquisition process that the sheet color space is determined (S202: YES), the CPU 11 ends the color space determination process and returns to the print process.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the sheet color space has not been determined in the output intent acquisition process (S202: NO), the CPU 11 is based on all the object data 212, 213, etc. included in the page data 122, etc. for N pages. The color space information 221, 231 and the like are acquired (S203). Then, the CPU 11 determines whether or not even one of the output color spaces specified in the acquired color space information 221, 231 and the like includes the spot color system color space (S204).

When it is determined that the spot color system color space is not included (S204: NO), the CPU 11 determines whether or not all the output color spaces specified in the color space information 221, 231 and the like acquired in S203 match. Is determined (S205). If it is determined that they match (S205: YES), the CPU 11 determines that the matching output color space is adopted as the sheet color space (S206). S206 is an example of the determination process. For example, even if there is a page in N pages where the output color space specified by the page output intent does not match, if all the output color spaces specified in each object data match, then The CPU 11 adopts the output color space of the object data as the sheet color space. In this case, the output color space specified for each object data is an example of the third color space.

When it is determined that there is a print object whose output color spaces do not match (S205: NO), the CPU 11 determines whether or not all of the output color spaces acquired in S203 are "DeviceCMYK" or "DeviceGray". Judgment (S207). When it is determined that the output color space of the print object does not include an output color space that is neither "DeviceCMYK" nor "DeviceGray" (S207: YES), the CPU 11 determines the sheet color space to be "DeviceCMYK" (S208). .. S208 is an example of the determination process. Since "DeviceGray" can be expressed by "DeviceCMYK", an appropriate sheet color space can be obtained by setting the sheet color space to "DeviceCMYK".

On the other hand, when it is determined that the spot color system color space is included (S204: YES), or when it is determined that an output color space that is neither "Device CMYK" nor "Device Gray" is included (S207: NO), the CPU 11 is , The sheet color space is determined to be "Device RGB", which is the default output color space of the printer 1 (S209). S209 is an example of the determination process. After determining the color space in any of S206, S208, and S209, the CPU 11 ends the color space determination process and returns to the print process.

The default color space is predetermined as an output color space to be adopted when the output color space is not determined based on the image data, and is stored in the printer 1. The default color space may be fixed or may be specified by the user. The default output color space of the printer 1 of this embodiment is "Device RGB".

"Device RGB" is a color space that uses three colors of RGB. For example, the processing load of the printer 1 is smaller and rasterization is easier than the color space that uses four colors of CMYK. Therefore, the amount of memory used is small, and there is a high possibility that the processing time will be short. Further, by adopting "Device RGB", only one combination representing one color is used, and reduction in color quality can be suppressed as compared with the case of using CMYK values in which a plurality of combinations exist. Due to these advantages, it is finally converted to "DeviceCMYK" as described later, but in this embodiment, "DeviceRGB" is adopted as the default color space. The color space at the time of rasterization is determined in consideration of the output color space of the output intent because it has the same advantages such as reduction of memory usage and reduction of processing load.

Returning to the description of the printing process of FIG. The CPU 11 determines the sheet color space in the color space determination process of S105, and then rasterizes the page data of each page using the information of the determined sheet color space (S106). Specifically, the CPU 11 interprets page data, which is PDL data, and generates raster data, which is rasterized data. In this case, the color space of the generated raster data is the determined sheet color space. Then, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the rasterization for N pages arranged on the sheet to be processed has been completed (S107). If it is determined that the process has not ended (S107: NO), the CPU 11 returns to S106 and rasterizes the next page data.

When it is determined that the rasterization for N pages is completed (S107: YES), the CPU 11 generates print data for one sheet based on the data after rasterization (S108). S108 is an example of the generation process. For example, in the case of Nin1 printing, the CPU 11 appropriately reduces and arranges the data of each page to generate one print data. The print data for one sheet generated in S108 is also raster data, and the color space of the raster data is the determined sheet color space.

Further, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the determined sheet color space is in a format that can be used as it is for printing in the image forming unit 15, that is, DeviceCMYK (S110). When it is determined that the device is not CMYK (S110: NO), the CPU 11 converts the print data generated in S108 into the CMYK color space (S111). The image forming unit 15 of the printer 1 of the present embodiment is configured to print raster data whose color space is DeviceCMYK. Therefore, when the color space of the raster data for one sheet generated in S108 is not DeviceCMYK, the CPU 11 converts the color space of the raster data into DeviceCMYK. That is, the CPU 11 generates raster data for one sheet in which the color space is converted into DeviceCMYK in S111.

After S111 or when it is determined that the color space determined in S105 is DeviceCMYK (S110: YES), the CPU 11 transfers the image forming unit 15 to one sheet based on the generated raster data. Printing is executed (S112). S112 is an example of a printing process.

The CPU 11 determines whether or not printing based on all the page data has been completed for the image data acquired in S102 (S113). If it is determined that the process has not ended (S113: NO), the CPU 11 returns to S105, determines the sheet color space for printing on the next sheet, rasterizes each page data, and executes printing. do. When it is determined that the printing based on all the page data is completed (S113: YES), the CPU 11 ends the printing process. According to this printing process, even in the case of layout printing, since an appropriate output color space is adopted for each sheet, there is a high possibility that a printed matter desired by the user can be obtained.

The process of generating print data based on the print job is not limited to the process of the print program 21 of the printer 1, and may be performed by, for example, a PC or a server capable of communicating with the printer. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, in the case of a system including a printer 5 capable of color printing and a PC 3 connected to the printer 5, the PC 3 generates print data based on a print job and is generated. By passing the print data to the printer 5, the printer 5 can be made to perform printing. In this case, unlike the printer 1, the printer 5 may or may not have a function of determining an output color space and rasterizing it.

In this configuration, as shown in FIG. 6, the PC 3 includes a controller 30 including a CPU 31 and a memory 32, and further includes a user IF 33 and a communication IF 34. The PC 3 is an example of an information processing device, and the CPU 31 is an example of a computer.

For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the memory 32 of the PC 3 incorporates an operating system (hereinafter referred to as “OS”) 41, a print application 42, and a printer driver 43. OS41 is, for example, Windows (registered trademark), macOS (registered trademark), iOS (registered trademark), Android (registered trademark), Linux (registered trademark).

The print application 42 is a program that receives a user's instruction regarding printing. The print application 42 accepts, for example, designation of a device for printing, designation of an image to be printed, an instruction to edit print settings, and an instruction to execute printing, by a user operation. The printer driver 43 determines the output color space, performs rasterization, and generates print data based on the print job, in the same manner as the print process by the print program 21 of the printer 1. The printer driver 43 is a program corresponding to the model of the printer 5, and has information on the output color space compatible with the printer 5. The printer driver 43 is an example of a program.

For example, when the print application 42 or the like receives an instruction to execute printing on the printer 5, the print job 100 having the configuration shown in FIG. 2 is passed to the printer driver 43. The printer driver 43 executes the printing process shown in FIG. 3 when the print job is received. However, in the print process by the printer driver 43, the CPU 31 outputs the generated print data to the printer 5 as the destination instead of the print execution procedure of S112. The process of outputting the print data to the printer 5 as the destination is an example of the output process. The printer driver 43 may pass the print data to the OS 41 and transmit the print data to the printer 5 via the OS 41, or may directly transmit the print data to the printer 5. As a result, the printer 5 can perform appropriate color printing based on the received print data.

Further, for example, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the system may include the printer 5, the server 6, and the PC 7. The printer 5 is a device capable of color printing similar to that shown in FIG. The server 6 includes a program similar to the printer driver 43 shown in FIG. 6, receives image data from another device, generates data for printing, and transmits the generated data for printing to image data. It has a function to pass to the device. The PC 7 accepts a print instruction by the user.

The image data received by the server 6 does not have to have the configuration of the print job 100 shown in FIG. For example, the image data indicating the image to be printed and the parameter information including the print setting information may be related to each other and may not be one data. Further, the information regarding the output color space and the information regarding the print settings such as the designation of layout printing may be transmitted as different data.

The server 6 determines the sheet color space, rasterizes the page data for one sheet, and generates raster image data which is the rasterized image data for one sheet. Among the processes by the server 6, the process of receiving the image data is an example of the reception process, the process of determining the sheet color space is an example of the determination process, and the process of generating the raster image data is an example of the generation process. This is just one example.

In the example shown in FIG. 7, when the PC 7 receives a print instruction by the user, the PC 7 transmits the image data including the image to be printed and the information based on the designated print parameter to the server 6. The server 6 receives the image data and the parameter information, executes a printing process by the printer driver 43 based on the received data, and generates raster image data.

Further, the server 6 compresses the generated raster image data and transmits the compressed raster image data to the PC 7. By compressing, the communication load can be reduced. The process of transmitting the raster image data generated by the server 6 to the PC 7 is an example of the transmission process. For example, when layout printing is specified as a parameter, the server 6 generates raster image data including N pages of images, and further compresses the generated raster image data into JPEG format data. JPEG data is transmitted to PC7.

The PC 7 returns the received compressed raster image data as it is or returns it to uncompressed data and transmits it to the printer 5. The printer 5 executes printing based on the data received from the PC 7. Since the data received from the PC 7 is generated using an appropriate output color space, an appropriate printed matter is generated.

The PC 7 may output the raster image data received from the server 6 to a device other than the printer 5. For example, the PC 7 may convert the received raster image data into a device color space of a device other than the printer 5 and output the data to that device. For example, the PC 7 may be converted into the device color space of the display, output to the display, and displayed on the display.

In the example shown in FIG. 8, when the PC 7 receives a print instruction by the user, the PC 7 sends a print job to the printer 5. The printer 5 transmits the image data included in the received print job and the information based on the print parameters to the server 6. The server 6 receives the image data and the parameter information, and generates raster image data based on the received data. Further, the server 6 compresses the generated raster image data and transmits the compressed raster image data to the printer 5. The process of transmitting the raster image data generated by the server 6 to the printer 5 is an example of the transmission process. The printer 5 executes printing based on the raster image data received from the server 6.

The server 6 may convert the raster image data into a CMYK color space before compressing it, or may transmit the data without conversion and let the PC 7 or the printer 5 perform the conversion to the CMYK color space. ..

As described in detail above, the printer 1 of the present embodiment acquires the print job 100 including the image data 120 capable of including the page output intent 211 in the page data 122, and performs layout printing. If the output color spaces specified in the page output intent 211 and the like for each page data 122 laid out on one sheet are all one color space, the sheet color space is determined to be that color space. do. As a result, even in layout printing, the printer 1 prints in the output color space specified in the page output intent 211 or the like, and an appropriate output color space can be determined.

Further, in this embodiment, among the page data for one sheet, the page data for which the output intent for the page is not specified is substituted by the output color space specified by the output intent for the document, which is appropriate. The possibility of being determined by the output color space increases.

Further, in this embodiment, if the output color space specified in the page output intent does not match, or the output color space that cannot be used in the generation process is specified in the page output intent, the page is included. In this case, the sheet color space is determined based on the print objects included in the image of each page, so that the possibility of determining an appropriate output color space is increased. In particular, if all the output color spaces specified for the print object included in the page data for one sheet are one color space, the sheet color space is determined to be the output color space, so that it is specified for the print object. Printing will be performed in the output color space, and an appropriate output color space can be determined.

Further, in this embodiment, the output color space specified for the print object does not match, and the sheet color space cannot be determined even for the output color space specified for the print object, or the output color space cannot be used in the generation process. If a print object with is specified is included, it determines the default output color space. As a result, an output color space suitable for the printing apparatus is adopted, so that suitable printing can be expected, and a state in which the output color space is not determined can be avoided.

It should be noted that the present embodiment is merely an example and does not limit the present invention in any way. Therefore, the techniques disclosed in the present specification can of course be variously improved and modified without departing from the gist thereof. For example, an example of a printing device is not limited to a printer having a single printing function, and can be applied to any device having a color printing function, such as a multifunction device, a copying machine, and a fax machine.

Further, for example, in the present embodiment, the printer 1 and the printer 5 do not correspond to the color space by "Separation" or "Device N", but if the printer can support these, the determination of the spot color system color space is made. (S204 in FIG. 4 and S305 in FIG. 5) may be omitted.

Further, for example, in the present embodiment, the output color space of the document output intent is used as a substitute for the page for which the page output intent is not specified, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, if a page with a page output intent and a page without a page output intent are mixed in multiple page data laid out on one sheet, the page output intent of the specified page If the output color spaces match other than the spot color system color space, the sheet color space may be determined as the output color space.

Further, for example, in this embodiment, when a page in which a spot color system color space is specified is included in the page output intent, the output color space of the page output intent or the document output intent is not adopted and printing is performed. The sheet color space is determined based on the object, but it is not limited to this. For example, for a page for which a spot color system color space is specified for the page output intent, the output color space of the document output intent may be used as a substitute to determine whether or not the output color spaces match. good.

Further, for example, in the present embodiment, when the output color space includes a print object in which the spot color system color space is specified, the sheet color space is set as the default output color space, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, if the output color spaces of the print objects other than the print object to which the special color space is specified match, the sheet color space may be determined as the output color space.

Further, for example, the system configuration shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is an example, and the number of PCs and printers and the connection configuration are not limited to these examples. For example, the system may include a printer having a function of determining a color space and a printer not having a function.

Further, in any flowchart disclosed in the embodiment, the plurality of processes in any plurality of steps can be arbitrarily changed in the execution order or executed in parallel as long as the processing contents do not conflict with each other.

Further, the process disclosed in the embodiment may be executed by a single CPU, a plurality of CPUs, hardware such as an ASIC, or a combination thereof. Further, the process disclosed in the embodiment can be realized in various aspects such as a recording medium or a method in which a program for executing the process is recorded.

1, 5 printers 3, 7 PCs
6 Server 11, 31 CPU
15 Image forming part

Claims (11)

With printing devices
With a computer
Is a printing device equipped with
The computer
Acquisition process to acquire a print job including print parameters and image data,
A determination process for determining a sheet color space, which is an output color space for one sheet, based on the image data included in the print job acquired in the acquisition process.
A generation process for generating print data for one sheet by rasterizing the page data included in the image data for one sheet according to the sheet color space determined in the determination process.
A printing process for causing the printing device to print based on the print data generated in the generation process, and a printing process.
It is possible to include a parameter for designating layout printing in the print parameter included in the print job, and the layout print is generated by rasterizing a plurality of page data. This is printing in which a page image is laid out on one sheet, and each page data included in the image data includes page color space specification information for designating an output color space used for rasterization from among a plurality of output color spaces. It is possible to make
Furthermore, the computer is
When the print job acquired in the acquisition process includes a parameter for designating the layout print.
In the determination process, if all of the page color space designation information specified in the target page data specifies the first color space, the sheet color space is determined to be the first color space, and the target page is determined. The data is the page data used for the layout printing for one sheet to be determined for the sheet color space among the plurality of page data included in the image data.
In the generation process, the print data used for the layout printing is laid out by laying out a plurality of page images generated by rasterizing the target page data according to the first color space determined in the determination process. To generate,
A printing device characterized by that. In the printing apparatus according to claim 1,
The image data can include document color space designation information that specifies the output color space used for rasterizing the page data included in the image data from the plurality of output color spaces.
Furthermore, the computer is
When the print job acquired in the acquisition process includes a parameter for designating the layout print.
In the determination process, if all of the page color space designation information designated in the target page data specifies the first color space, the sheet color space is determined to be the first color space, and the said. If the page color space designation information is not included in all of the target page data and the document color space designation information is included in the image data, the sheet color space is subjected to the document color space designation information. Determines the specified output color space,
A printing device characterized by that. In the printing apparatus according to claim 2,
Furthermore, the computer is
When the print job acquired in the acquisition process includes a parameter for designating the layout print.
In the determination process, if all of the page color space designation information designated in the target page data specifies the first color space, the sheet color space is determined to be the first color space, and the said. If the page color space designation information is not included in all of the target page data and the document color space designation information is included in the image data, the sheet color space is subjected to the document color space designation information. The page data is determined to be the designated output color space, and the page data in which the page color space designation information is included in the target page data and the page data in which the page color space designation information is not included are mixed, and the page data is not included. If the image data includes the document color space designation information, and all of the page color space designation information designated in the target page data and the document color space designation information specify the second color space. For example, the sheet color space is determined to be the second color space.
A printing device characterized by that. In the printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
Furthermore, the computer is
When the print job acquired in the acquisition process includes a parameter for designating the layout print.
In the determination process, if all of the page color space designation information specified in the target page data specifies the first color space, the sheet color space is determined to be the first color space, and the said. If the page color space specification information specified in the target page data does not match, the sheet color space is determined based on the output color space specified in the print object included in the target page data.
A printing device characterized by that. In the printing apparatus according to claim 4,
Furthermore, the computer is
When the print job acquired in the acquisition process includes a parameter for designating the layout print.
In the determination process, if all of the page color space designation information designated in the target page data specifies the first color space, the sheet color space is determined to be the first color space, and the said. If the page color space specification information specified in the target page data does not match, and all the print objects included in the target page data specify the third color space, the output specified in the print object. In determining the sheet color space based on the color space, the sheet color space is determined to be the third color space.
A printing device characterized by that. In the printing apparatus according to claim 5,
Furthermore, the computer is
When the print job acquired in the acquisition process includes a parameter for designating the layout print.
In the determination process, if all of the page color space designation information designated in the target page data specifies the first color space, the sheet color space is determined to be the first color space, and the said. If the page color space designation information specified in the target page data does not match, and all the print objects included in the target page data specify the third color space, it is designated as the print object. In the determination of the sheet color space based on the output color space, the sheet color space is determined to be the third color space, the page color space designation information specified in the target page data does not match, and the target page data If the output color space specified for the print object included in is not the same, the sheet color space is predetermined to the printing device in determining the sheet color space based on the output color space specified for the print object. Determines the default output color space that is set,
A printing device characterized by that. In the printing apparatus according to claim 5 or 6.
There are a plurality of corresponding color spaces that are output color spaces that can be used in the generation process, and the first color space is one of the corresponding color spaces.
Furthermore, the computer is
When the print job acquired in the acquisition process includes a parameter for designating the layout print.
In the determination process, if all of the page color space designation information designated in the target page data specifies the first color space, the sheet color space is determined to be the first color space, and the said. The page color space designation information specified in the target page data does not match, and all the print objects included in the target page data specify the third color space, and the third color space is the plurality. If it is included in the corresponding color space of, in the determination of the sheet color space based on the output color space designated for the print object, the sheet color space is determined to be the third color space, and the target page data is used. The designated page color space designation information does not match, the print objects included in the target page data all specify the third color space, and the third color space is the plurality of corresponding color spaces. If not included in, in determining the sheet color space based on the output color space specified for the print object, the sheet color space is determined to be the default output color space predetermined for the printing device.
A printing device characterized by that. In the printing apparatus according to claim 4,
There are a plurality of corresponding color spaces that are output color spaces that can be used in the generation process, and the first color space is one of the corresponding color spaces.
Furthermore, the computer is
When the print job acquired in the acquisition process includes a parameter for designating the layout print.
In the determination process, if all of the page color space designation information designated in the target page data specifies the first color space, the sheet color space is determined to be the first color space, and the said. If the page color space designation information specified in the target page data does not match, the sheet color space is determined based on the output color space specified in the print object included in the target page data, and the target is described. If the page color space specification information specified in the page data includes information that specifies an output color space that is not included in the plurality of corresponding color spaces, the output color specified in the print object included in the target page data. The sheet color space is determined based on the space.
A printing device characterized by that. In the printing apparatus according to claim 4,
Furthermore, the computer is
When the print job acquired in the acquisition process includes a parameter for designating the layout print.
In the determination process, if all of the page color space designation information designated in the target page data specifies the first color space, the sheet color space is determined to be the first color space, and the said. If the page color space specification information specified in the target page data does not match and the output color space specified in the print object included in the target page data is all DeviceCMYK or DeviceGray, it is designated as the print object. In determining the sheet color space based on the output color space, the sheet color space is determined to be DeviceCMYK.
A printing device characterized by that. A program that can be executed by the computer of the information processing device.
To the computer
Acquisition process to acquire a print job including print parameters and image data,
A determination process for determining a sheet color space, which is an output color space for one sheet, based on the image data included in the print job acquired in the acquisition process.
A generation process for generating print data for one sheet by rasterizing the page data included in the image data for one sheet according to the sheet color space determined in the determination process.
An output process for outputting the print data generated in the generation process to a printing apparatus, and an output process.
It is possible to include a parameter for designating layout printing in the print parameter included in the print job, and the layout print is generated by rasterizing a plurality of page data. This is printing in which a page image is laid out on one sheet, and each page data included in the image data includes page color space specification information for designating an output color space used for rasterization from among a plurality of output color spaces. It is possible to make
moreover,
When the print job acquired in the acquisition process includes a parameter for designating the layout print.
In the determination process, if all of the page color space designation information specified in the target page data specifies the first color space, the sheet color space is determined to be the first color space, and the target page is determined. The data is the page data used for the layout printing for one sheet to be determined for the sheet color space among the plurality of page data included in the image data.
In the generation process, the print data used for the layout printing is laid out by laying out a plurality of page images generated by rasterizing the target page data according to the first color space determined in the determination process. To generate,
A program characterized by that. Communication interface and
With a computer
It is an information processing device equipped with
The computer
Reception processing for receiving image data from an external device via the communication interface,
A determination process for determining a sheet color space, which is an output color space for one sheet, based on the image data received in the reception process, and a determination process.
A generation process for generating raster image data for one sheet by rasterizing page data included in the image data for one sheet according to the sheet color space determined in the determination process.
A transmission process of compressing the raster image data generated in the generation process and transmitting the compressed raster image data to the external device via the communication interface.
It is possible to associate a parameter that specifies layout printing with the image data, and in the layout printing, a plurality of page images generated by rasterizing a plurality of page data are combined into one sheet. It is a print layout, and each page data included in the image data can include page color space specification information for designating an output color space used for rasterization from a plurality of output color spaces.
Furthermore, the computer is
When the parameter for specifying the layout printing is associated with the image data received in the reception process,
In the determination process, if all of the page color space designation information specified in the target page data specifies the first color space, the sheet color space is determined to be the first color space, and the target page is determined. The data is the page data used for the layout printing for one sheet to be determined for the sheet color space among the plurality of page data included in the image data.
In the generation process, the raster image used for the layout printing is laid out by laying out a plurality of page images generated by rasterizing the target page data according to the first color space determined in the determination process. Generate data,
An information processing device characterized by this.

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