Patent ID: 8077348
Filing Date: 2011-12-13
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An apparatus having a printing unit which can print an image with a first combination of process color materials, and can print the image with a second combination of the process color materials and a spot color material, the apparatus comprising: a processor, arranged to perform color-separate processing on image data in accordance with a combination of color materials to generate the color-separated image data to be outputted to the printing unit; a first calculator, arranged to calculate a percentage of an amount of the spot color material used to an amount of the process color materials used in printing of the image data based on a result of the color-separate processing regarding the image data; a second calculator, arranged to calculate necessary times and fees in a case that the image data is printed with the first combination and in a case that the image data is printed with the second combination; a comparator, arranged to compare the percentage with a predetermined value; and a controller, arranged to control display of a message, wherein the message displayed in a case that the percentage is greater than or equal to the predetermined value recommends the printing with the second combination, and the message displayed in a case that the percentage is less than the predetermined value recommends the printing with the first combination, wherein the controller further displays the necessary times and fees, such that one of the first combination and the second combination is selected for printing after display of the recommendation and the necessary times and fees.