Abstract:
An image processing method is provided. The image processing method includes: generating profiles for color reproduction, classified for each of recording papers, from at least one of particular characteristic data of the each recording paper, which is generated on the basis of factors that affect color reproduction and particular generation information of the each recording paper, which is obtained by printing plural patch patterns at the recording paper and performing colorimetry of the printed patch patterns; and when implementing basic extraction control for extracting a profile that matches in at least one of the characteristic data and the generation information, if no profile that matches in at least one of the characteristic data and the generation information is extracted, extracting a profile that approximates in accordance with a pre-specified order of priority determination procedure to be a candidate.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is based on, and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-135620, filed May 22, 2007. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to an image processing method and an image forming device which feature a function for simulating color reproduction. 
     2. Related Art 
     Heretofore, in an image processing device including a printing function, when image data in which input densities of image data constituted with cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y) and black (K), or of the individual colors C, M, Y and K, are at 100% (“solid densities”) is outputted, color reproduction varies with a type of recording paper that is being printed on, even with the same image data. 
     This is caused by direct causes from the types of recording paper themselves, such as differences between ground colors of the recording papers, whether or not there are coatings at the surfaces of the recording paper and the like, and by indirect causes, such as fixing temperatures, fixing durations and the like in accordance with thicknesses of the recording papers. 
     Therefore, in an image processing device which features a function for simulating color reproduction of printing targets (for example, JapanColor colors, JMPA Color colors or the like), in order to generate a profile, it is necessary to generate a profile for each of types of recording paper that are to be used. That is, even with the same printing targets, profiles for respective types of recording paper that are to be used are necessary, and reproduction of desired colors is not always possible. 
     To generate a profile, it is necessary to print out a patch pattern of patch sets based on numerous combinations of CMYK on a recording paper and, by performing colorimetry on the printed patch pattern, model printing characteristics for the CMYK inputs on that recording paper with that image recording device. Thus, generating a profile takes of the order of several hours. Further, to select from existing profiles a profile that approximates to a recording paper that is to be used, knowledge based on the experience of an operator is required. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances and provides an image processing method and an image forming device. 
     According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided an image processing method. The image processing method has a function which simulates color reproduction results in accordance with printing target data, which is a reproduction objective of a color to be printed, and that is capable of printing processing with desired color reproduction on the basis of results of the simulation. The image processing method includes: generating profiles for color reproduction, classified for each of recording papers, from at least one of particular characteristic data of the each recording paper, which is generated on the basis of factors that affect color reproduction, including at least one of a surface-processing condition, a thickness, and a ground color, and particular generation information of the each recording paper, which is obtained by printing plural patch patterns at the recording paper and performing colorimetry of the printed patch patterns; and when implementing basic extraction control for extracting a profile that matches in at least one of the characteristic data and the generation information, if no profile that matches in at least one of the characteristic data and the generation information is extracted, extracting a profile that approximates in accordance with a pre-specified order of priority determination procedure to be a candidate. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a front view showing structure of an image forming device relating to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view showing connections between a print server relating to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention and client terminals; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view of a data input screen relating to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a functional block diagram for implementing generation and extraction of profiles at the image forming device relating to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart showing a flow of processing of profile generation relating to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B  are a flowchart showing a flow of processing of profile extraction relating to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows an image forming device  10  relating to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     The image forming device  10  is structured with a print server  12  and a printer  14 . The print server  12  is equipped with a server main unit  12 S, a keyboard  12 K, a mouse  12 M, and a display section  12 L such as a CRT display, an LCD display or the like. The print server  12  implements printing output in accordance with a printing job. 
     The printer  14  is equipped with a printing section which prints an image and a scanner  42  which acquires image data, and is also equipped with a calorimeter  38  which acquires image data for color reproduction in accordance with a type of the printer. Here, provided the calorimeter  38  is present, the scanner  42  is not necessary for the present invention. 
     At the image forming device  10 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , an image forming device connected to a network  16  may be controlled by client terminals  18 . 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic view of a settings screen on a PC, which specifies characteristic data of a recording paper, at the display section  12 L of the print server  12  of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     A paper type settings screen  20  of the display section  12 L is structured with a list image  20 A at which one surface-processing condition is selected from four types, an image  20 B at which a basis weight is inputted to serve as a thickness, and a selection image  20 C at which a ground color is pinpointed on a color density pattern. 
     Herein, the image forming device  10  implements printing output by the printer  14  in accordance with a printing job. 
     Image data created by a PC or the like is image data in an RGB color space (RGB signals), but the printer  14  handles image data in a CMYK color space (CMYK signals). Accordingly, using a profile, the RGB signals are converted to data in a device-independent color space, for example, the L*a*b* color space, and then converted to CMYK signals in a color space dependent on the output side device, and printed. 
     With printing using a profile, printed results are close to printing targets, which are reproduction objectives of colors that are printed. However, recording papers that are printed on may not be able to reproduce desired colors using the same profile, due to factors such as surface-processing conditions, thicknesses, ground colors and so forth. 
     Hitherto, from the experience of an expert, characteristics of a recording paper to be used have been judged and a profile of which color reproduction characteristics are favorable has been extracted depending on printing targets. However, in cases in which experience is insufficient or the like, extracting a favorable profile has been difficult. 
     Accordingly, in the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in order to create a profile, generation information is obtained by printing a CMYK patch pattern and performing colorimetry, and the generation information and characteristic data, such as a surface-processing condition, a thickness, a ground color and the like which are factors affecting color reproduction on the recording paper, are associated with a profile and saved. 
     Below, details of generation and extraction of a profile of the present invention will be described. 
       FIG. 4  is a functional block diagram for implementing generation and extraction of a profile in the image forming device  10  of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     A control section  30  is connected to a profile generation section  32 , a profile extraction section  34 , a generation information acquisition section  48  and a characteristic data input section  50 . When an operator instruction is a profile creation instruction, the control section  30  sends the profile creation instruction and printing target data to the profile generation section  32 . When an operator instruction is a printing instruction with employment of a profile, the control section  30  sends printing target data and printing data to the profile extraction section  34 . The control section  30  also sends profile creation instructions and profile-employing printing instructions to the generation information acquisition section  48  and to the characteristic data input section  50 . 
     The profile generation section  32  is connected to a printing section  36  and a memory section  52 . The profile generation section  32  sends patch pattern data to the printing section  36  in accordance with a profile creation instruction from the control section  30 , so as to print a patch pattern which is a CMYK patch set. 
     The printing section  36  is connected to the calorimeter  38 . The printing section  36  prints a patch pattern on the basis of the patch pattern data and sends printing results to the calorimeter  38 . 
     The calorimeter  38  is connected to a colorimetry data analysis section  40 . The calorimeter  38  performs colorimetry of the patch pattern which has been printed by the printing section  36 , and sends colorimetry data, which is results of the colorimetry, to the colorimetry data analysis section  40 . 
     The colorimetry data analysis section  40  is connected to a reference data generation section  46 . The colorimetry data analysis section  40  analyses the colorimetry data sent from the colorimeter  38 , and sends analysis results data to the reference data generation section  46 . 
     Here, provided the image forming device  10  is equipped with the colorimeter  38 , colorimetry of a patch pattern printed by the printing section  36  can be performed using the calorimeter  38 . However, if the image forming device  10  is not equipped with the calorimeter  38 , a patch pattern can be acquired using the scanner  42 . 
     The scanner  42  is connected with an acquired data analysis section  44 . The scanner  42  acquires a patch pattern printed by the printing section  36 , and sends data that is acquired to the scanner  42 . 
     The acquired data analysis section  44  is connected to the reference data generation section  46 . The acquired data analysis section  44  analyses acquired data sent from the scanner  42 , and sends analysis results data to the reference data generation section  46 . 
     The reference data generation section  46  is connected to the generation information acquisition section  48 , the profile generation section  32  and the memory section  52 . The reference data generation section  46  generates reference data on the basis of analysis results data sent from the colorimetry data analysis section  40 , and sends the reference data to the generation information acquisition section  48  and the profile generation section  32 . The reference data generation section  46  also sends characteristic data such as ground color data and the like of the recording paper, which is included in the analysis results sent from the colorimetry data analysis section  40 , to the memory section  52 . 
     The generation information acquisition section  48  is connected to the profile generation section  32 , the profile extraction section  34  and the memory section  52 . On the basis of the reference data sent from the reference data generation section  46 , the reference data generation section  46  obtains generation information such as: colorimetry data for primary color solid density data, of C, M, Y and K, in the patch pattern; colorimetry data for secondary color solid density data, of R, G, B and suchlike which are obtained by combining C, M and Y; colorimetry data for intermediate density data; colorimetry data for density data of process grays; ground color data of the recording paper; and the like. The generation information acquisition section  48  also obtains generation information of colorimetry data for density data which is obtained by combining C, M, Y and K for particular color ranges, such as skin tones, skies, corporate colors or the like, in consideration of the priorities of a user. When a profile creation instruction is sent from the control section  30 , the generation information acquisition section  48  sends the obtained generation information to the profile generation section  32  and the memory section  52 , and when a profile-employing printing instruction is sent from the control section  30 , the generation information acquisition section  48  sends the obtained generation information to the profile extraction section  34  in order to specify a profile. 
     The profile generation section  32  then generates a profile on the basis of the printing target data sent from the control section  30 , the reference data sent from the reference data generation section  46  and the generation information data sent from the generation information acquisition section  48 . The profile generation section  32  sends the profile that has been generated to the memory section  52 . 
     The characteristic data input section  50  is connected to the profile extraction section  34  and the memory section  52 . The characteristic data input section  50  sends recording paper characteristic data, which is inputted by an operator, to the memory section  52  when a profile creation instruction has been sent from the control section  30 , and sends the same to the profile extraction section  34  when a profile-employing printing instruction has been sent from the control section  30 . 
     The memory section  52  stores profiles sent from the profile generation section  32 . The memory section  52  also stores characteristic data sent from the reference data generation section  46 , generation information obtained by the generation information acquisition section  48  and characteristic data inputted at the characteristic data input section  50 , in association with the profiles. 
     The profile extraction section  34  is connected to the printing section  36  and the memory section  52 . On the basis of generation information sent from the generation information acquisition section  48  and characteristic data of a recording paper inputted from the characteristic data input section  50 , the profile extraction section  34  matches up and extracts a profile stored at the memory section  52 . The profile extraction section  34  sends the information of this profile and printing data, which is sent from the control section  30 , to the printing section  36 . The printing section  36  prints the printing data, employing the profile. 
     Below, operation of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described. 
     Printing data which is sent, for example, directly from the print server  12  provided at the image forming device  10  or from the client terminals  18  is subjected to image processing by the print server  12 . The printing data is sent to the printer  14 , and printing is implemented. Here, printing using a profile for color reproduction is possible. 
     First, for extracting profiles in the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, generation of a profile will be described. 
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart showing a flow of processing of generation of a profile. 
     In step  100 , the printing section  36  prints a patch pattern, which is a CMYK patch set, and the process advances to step  102 . 
     In step  102 , colorimetry of the patch pattern printed by the printing section  36  is performed by the colorimeter  38 . If the calorimeter  38  is not present, the patch pattern is acquired by the scanner  42 . When colorimetry has been performed, the process advances to step  104 . 
     In step  104 , the colorimetry data from step  102  is analyzed by the colorimetry data analysis section  40  or the acquired data analysis section  44 . The reference data generation section  46  generates reference data, and the process advances to step  106 . 
     In step  106 , the profile generation section  32  generates a profile on the basis of the printing target data and the reference data that has been generated by the reference data generation section  46 , and the process advances to step  108 . 
     In step  108 , the generation information acquisition section  48  extracts generation information included in the reference data, and the process advances to step  110 . 
     In step  110 , it is judged whether or not characteristic data of the recording paper is to be inputted by an operator. If the judgement is negative, that characteristic data of the recording paper is not to be inputted, the process advances to step  111 . If the judgement is positive, that characteristic data is to be inputted, the process advances to step  112 . 
     In step  111 , the profile and the generation information are associated and stored at the memory section  52 , and this routine ends. 
     In step  112 , characteristic data of the recording paper is inputted by an operator, and the process advances to step  114 . 
     In step  114 , the profile, the generated information and the characteristic data are associated and stored at the memory section  52 , and this routine ends. 
     Next, extraction of a profile will be described. 
       FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B  are a flowchart showing a flow for extracting a profile. 
     In step  200 , it is judged whether or not a new recording paper is to be used. If the judgement is negative, that new recording paper is not to be used, the process advances to step  202 . 
     In step  202 , an existing profile is selected, and the process advances to step  242 . 
     If the judgement in step  200  is positive, that there is a new recording paper being used, the process advances to step  204 . 
     In step  204 , it is judged whether or not generation information is to be inputted. If the judgement is negative, that generation information will not be inputted, the process advances to step  206 , and if the judgement is positive, that generation information will be inputted, the process advances to step  220 . 
     In step  206 , a patch pattern, which is a CMYK patch set, is printed by the printing section  36 , and the process advances to step  208 . 
     In step  208 , it is judged whether or not the calorimeter  38  is present. If the judgement is positive, that the calorimeter  38  is present, the process advances to step  210 . 
     In step  210 , colorimetry of the printed patch pattern is performed by the calorimeter  38 , and the process advances to step  212 . 
     In step  212 , colorimetry data which has been measured by the calorimeter  38  is analyzed by the colorimetry data analysis section  40 . The generation information acquisition section  48  obtains generation information of the new recording paper, and the process advances to step  220 . 
     If the judgement in step  208  is negative, that there is no calorimeter  38 , the process advances to step  214 . 
     In step  214 , a notification prompting acquisition of the patch pattern using the scanner  42  is implemented, and the process advances to step  216 . 
     In step  216 , the printed patch pattern is acquired by the scanner  42 , and the process advances to step  218 . 
     In step  218 , the patch pattern that the scanner  42  has acquired is analyzed by the acquired data analysis section  44 . The generation information acquisition section  48  obtains generation information for the new recording paper, and the process advances to step  220 . 
     In step  220 , an operator inputs characteristic data of the recording paper from the characteristic data input section  50 , and the process advances to step  222 . 
     In step  222 , it is judged whether or not input of data relating to generation information and characteristic data has finished. If the judgement is negative, that the input has not finished, the process advances to step  204  and, again, input of generation information of the new recording paper is implemented. 
     If the judgement in step  222  is positive, that data input relating to the new recording paper has finished, the process advances to step  224 . 
     In step  224 , the generation information of the new recording paper is compared with generation information included in existing profiles, and the process advances to step  226 . 
     In step  226 , it is judged whether or not predetermined matching conditions are met. For these predetermined matching conditions, usually, degrees of matching are judged in sequence for: colorimetry data for primary color solid density data of C, M, Y and K; colorimetry data for secondary color solid density data of R, G, B and the like, which are provided by combining C, M and Y; colorimetry data for process gray density data; recording paper ground color data; and particular colors considered important by a client. An order of priority of these matching conditions can be altered in accordance with matters that are considered important by a client. 
     If the judgement in step  226  is negative, that the predetermined matching conditions are not met, the process advances to step  228 . 
     In step  228 , a message that there is no profile matching the new recording paper is displayed, and the process advances to step  230 . 
     In step  230 , it is judged whether or not an existing profile is to be selected manually. If this is positive, that an existing profile is to be selected manually, the process advances to step  232 . 
     In step  232 , an existing profile is selected, and the process advances to step  242 . 
     If the judgement in step  230  is negative, that an existing profile is not to be selected manually, the process advances to step  234 . 
     In step  234 , it is judged whether or not a new profile for the new recording paper is to be generated. If the judgement is negative, that a new profile is not to be generated, this routine ends. If the judgement is positive, that a new profile is to be generated, the process advances to step  236 . 
     In step  236 , processing for generating a new profile is implemented, and this routine ends. 
     If the judgement in step  226  is positive, that there is a profile for which the predetermined matching conditions are met, the process advances to step  238 . 
     In step  238 , candidate profiles are displayed in order of higher degrees of matching, including complete matching, and the process advances to step  240 . 
     In step  240 , the operator selects a profile, and the process advances to step  242 . 
     In step  242 , printing processing is implemented using a profile included in the selected profile, and this routine ends. 
     As has been described hereabove, a profile is generated and stored on the basis of printing target data representing a reproduction objective to be printed, and reference data obtained by printing and performing colorimetry on a patch pattern of a patch set based on arbitrary combinations of C, M, Y and K. Here, generation information included in the reference data obtained by colorimetry of the patch pattern, and characteristic data of the recording paper, such as a surface-processing condition, a thickness, a ground color and the like, are associated with the profile and stored. Hence, for a new recording paper for which there is no profile, it is possible to extract a profile that approximates thereto, including complete matching, from pre-existing profiles on the basis of generation information and recording paper characteristic data thereof. Furthermore, because an order of priority for extracting approximating profiles can be altered, closer approximating profiles can be extracted. 
     Herein, the generation information and recording paper characteristic data are stored in association with a profile, but this is not a limitation. For example, it is possible to store such data in a log file or the like in association with a profile. 
     Furthermore, a settings screen for specifying recording paper characteristic data is shown in  FIG. 3 , but this is not a limitation. Settings other than the items shown in  FIG. 3  may be added as appropriate. Moreover, a screen or the like which performs detailed settings for the generation information may be provided.