Patent Publication Number: US-2011051156-A1

Title: Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer readable medium

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based upon and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-203037, filed Sep. 2, 2009. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a computer readable medium. 
     2. Related Art 
     There are printers that are provided with an image quality adjusting function for obtaining desired image quality in terms of lightness, chroma, etc. In such printers, the consumptions of recording materials may be reduced depending on results of image quality adjustments in which the user adjusts the values of lightness, chroma, etc. using the image quality adjusting function. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to an aspect of the invention, an image processing apparatus includes a first calculating unit, a second calculating unit, and a control unit. The first calculating unit calculates, for each print subject image, consumptions of recording materials when the print subject image is printed based on image data of the print subject image, a first value of a first element and a second value of a second element. The second calculating unit calculates a first consumption variation range of the recording materials that corresponds to a first adjustment range of the first element and a second consumption variation range of the recording materials that corresponds to a first adjustment range of the second element. The control unit controls a display device so that the display device displays the first adjustment range and the first variation range and displays the second adjustment range and the second variation range. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing functions of an image processing apparatus according to a first embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a flowchart of an image quality information setting process which is executed by the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  shows an example image quality adjustment picture used in the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates, in a more detailed manner, the image quality adjustment picture of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  shows an example image quality adjustment picture which is displayed when image quality adjustments have been performed using the image quality adjustment picture of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  shows an example color balance adjustment picture used in the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  shows example print setting property used in a second embodiment; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates an example procedure for changing the setting type of a recommendable image quality type in the print setting property of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates an example procedure for changing the setting mode of a color mode in the print setting property of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 11  illustrates an example procedure for changing the setting mode of a print mode in the print setting property of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 12  illustrates an example procedure for changing the setting mode of an image quality adjustment mode in the print setting property of  FIG. 8 ; and 
         FIG. 13  also illustrates an example procedure for changing the setting mode of the image quality adjustment mode in the print setting property of  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be hereinafter described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings for description of the embodiments, the same constituent elements are given the same reference symbol as a general rule and will not be described repeatedly. 
     First Embodiment 
     An image processing apparatus according to a first embodiment will be described below. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the image processing apparatus  10  is provided with an image processing section  100 , a default print setting information storage unit  101 , a graphical user interface  102 , an input unit  103 , and a display unit  104 . 
     Default setting values relating to printing (hereinafter referred to as “default print setting information”) are stored in the default print setting information storage unit  101 . 
     For example, the default print setting information includes plural setting items such as a size of a recording medium such as a sheet, the number of copies, a sheet direction, single-sided printing or double-sided printing, image quality information, an image quality type, a color mode, a print mode, and an image quality adjustment mode. 
     The image quality information includes a value(s) of one or more image-quality-determining elements (parameters) such as lightness, chromes, hue, color balance, sharpness, and contrast and information indicating adjustment ranges of the respective elements. The values of the individual parameters are changed by the user. The adjustment range of each element is a preset, fixed range from a first value to a second value and includes a default setting value. 
     For example, the image quality type includes parameters representing respective options such as “standard (default),” “photograph,” “presentation,” Web page,” “CAD,” and “POP.” 
     For example, the color mode includes parameters representing respective options such as “color” and “black and white.” 
     For example, the print mode includes parameters representing respective options such as “standard (default),” “high image quality,” and “high resolution.” 
     For example, the image quality adjustment mode includes parameters representing respective options such as “recommendation (default),” “ICM adjustment,” “CMS adjustment,” “no color conversion.” 
     When the value of at least one setting item among the plural setting items of the default print setting information is changed from its default setting value, the default print setting information becomes such that not all setting items have the default setting values. Therefore, default print setting information including a setting item(s) whose value has been changed from its default setting value is defined as print setting information. 
     The image processing section  100  is provided with a data reading section  110 , an image analyzing section  120 , a control section  130 , and an image output section  140 . 
     If receiving a print instruction from an application software, the data reading section  110  reads drawing information (print data) of a print-instructed print subject from the application software  105 , generates raster image data (print data) of respective colors (red (R), green (G), and blue (B)) based on the read-out drawing information, and outputs the generated RGB raster image data (print data) to an image analyzing section  120 . 
     The image analyzing section  120 , which is provided with a reduced image generating section  121 , a simulation section  122 , a first calculating section  123 , and a second calculating section  124 , performs reduced image generation processing, simulation processing, and calculation processing. 
     The reduced image generating section  121  generates a reduced image, that is, reduces an image of the print subject RGB image data into an image having a predetermined image size or reduces it at a predetermined reduction ratio. The thus-generated reduced image is supplied to the control section  130 . 
     The simulation section  122  performs, on the RGB image data, color conversion processing (for color conversion from the RGB color space to the CMYK color space) according to the image quality information and a color space conversion multi-dimensional (e.g., three-dimensional) look-up table (LUT), and performs, on color-converted image data in the CMYK color space, tone correction processing according to a tone reproduction curve (TRC). A result of this processing is CMYK image data. That is, the image analyzing section  120  simulates image processing such as color conversion processing and tone correction processing to be performed by a control means such as a controller of an image forming apparatus such as a printer. 
     The first calculating section  123 , which has functions of first calculating means, calculates, for each print subject image, consumptions of the recording materials based on image data of the print subject and a predetermined value(s) (default setting value(s)) of one or more image-quality-determining elements. The calculation of consumptions of the recording materials will be described later in detail. 
     The second calculating section  124 , which has functions of second calculating means, calculates, for each image-quality-determining element, a consumption variation range of the recording materials that corresponds to the adjustment range of the image-quality-determining element. The calculation of a consumption variation range of the recording materials will be described later in detail. 
     The control section  130 , which has functions of control means, performs the following processing (1) to processing (4): 
     (1) The control section  130  performs a control for displaying, on the display unit  104 , for each image-quality-determining element, information indicating an adjustment range (image quality adjustment range) of the image-quality-determining element (hereinafter referred to as “image quality adjustment range information”) and information indicating a consumption variation range of the recording materials (hereinafter referred to as “recording material consumption variation range information”) in such a manner that they are correlated with each other. 
     (2) When the value of at least one of the one or more image-quality-determining elements has been adjusted, the control section  130  performs a control for calculating a variation ratio of the total consumption of the recording materials (hereinafter referred to as “recording material total consumption variation ratio”) that corresponds to value(s), after the adjustment, of the one or more image-quality-determining elements and displaying the calculated recording material total consumption variation ratio on the display unit  104 . 
     (3) The control section  130  performs a control for displaying, on the display unit  104 , information indicating guides for suppressing the consumption of the recording materials which relates to adjustment of the one or more image-quality-determining elements (hereinafter referred to as “recording material consumption suppression guide information”). 
     (4) When receiving an image quality adjustment end instruction from the user, the control section  130  outputs print setting information including image quality information and the print subject image data to the image output section  140 . 
     The image output section  140  issues a print request to a printer (not shown) by outputting a print job of the received print setting information and print subject image data. 
     The graphical user interface (hereinafter abbreviated as GUI)  102 , which has GUI functions, outputs, to the display unit  104 , display information such as a print dialog (property) provided by the application software  105 , for example, print setting property provided by the image processing section  100 , or an image quality adjustment picture. And the GUI  102  outputs, to the image processing section  100 , input information that has been input through the print dialog, print setting property, or image quality adjustment picture. 
     The input unit  103 , which is an input device, for example, allows the user to input information such as an instruction to the effect that the user is going to make print setting or image quality adjustments through print setting property or an image quality adjustment picture being displayed on the display unit  104 , an instruction relating to selection of an option, or an instruction relating to setting of a value. 
     The display unit  104 , which has functions of display means, displays display information such as print setting property, an image quality adjustment picture, or the like which is supplied from the GUI  102 . The display unit  104  is a display device, for example. 
     In this specification, it is assumed that the image processing section  100  is a printer driver. However, in the invention, the image processing section  100  is not limited to a printer driver and may be dedicated software, firmware, or hardware. 
     Next, an image quality information setting process which is executed by the image processing apparatus  10  will be described with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
     When a print instruction is received from the application software  105 , in the image processing section  100  as a printer driver, at step S 101  the data reading section  110  reads drawing information (print data) of a print-instructed print subject from the application software  105 . The data reading section  110  generates RGB raster image data (print data) from the read-out drawing information and outputs the generated image data to the image analyzing section  120 . 
     The image analyzing section  120  reads the default print setting information from the default print setting information storage unit  101 . 
     At step S 102 , the first calculating section  123  calculates, for each print subject image (image data), consumptions of the recording materials based on the print subject image data and predetermined values (default values) of one or more image-quality-determining elements. 
     The processing of calculating consumptions of the recording materials which is performed by the first calculating section  123  will be described below. 
     When receiving image quality information, having default setting values, of the default print setting information from the first calculating section  123 , the simulation section  122  converts the RGB image data in the RGB color space into image data in the CMYK color space according to the received image quality information and a multi-dimensional (e.g., three-dimensional) look-up table (LUT) and performs a tone correction on the color-converted image data in the CMYK color space according to a tone reproduction curve (TRC). Resulting CMYK image data is output to the first calculating section  123 . 
     The RGB color space is a color space in which a color is represented by the individual colors of red (R), green (G), and blue (B). 
     The CMYK color space is a color space in which a color is represented by the individual colors of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and block (K). 
     The first calculating section  123  receives the simulation result, that is, the CMYK image data, from the simulation section  122 , generates pieces of output plane information (bit masks) of the respective colors (CMYK) based on the CMYK image data, and calculates image densities of images of the respective colors (hereinafter referred to as “CMYK image densities”) based on the generated pieces of output plane information of the respective colors. The CMYK image densities are defined as CMYK image densities with application of the default settings. 
     In this specification, the CMYK image densities with application of default settings are defined as the above-described consumptions of the recording materials. 
     A description will now be made of the calculation of CMYK image densities (consumptions of the recording materials) with application of default settings which is performed by the first calculating section  123 . 
     Let Ca, Ma, Ya, and Ka represent image densities of C, M, Y, and K images of a CMYK image A which is expressed by the C, M, Y, and K colors of the CMYK color space. The first calculating section  123  calculates CMYK image densities by calculating the following equations (Formulae 1). It is assumed that the CMYK image A has an image size which is defined by parameters “width” (horizontal size) and “height” (vertical size). 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
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     In the above equations, P C (x, y), P M (x, y), P Y (x, y), and P K (x, y) represent a C-color value, an M-color value, a Y-color value, and a K-color value, respectively, of the pixel having the coordinates (x, y) of the image A. 
     When the CMYK image densities (consumptions of the recording materials) have been calculated by the first calculating section  123  in the above-described manner, at step S 103  (see  FIG. 2 ) the second calculating section  124  determines a relationship between the image quality adjustment range information and a recording material consumption variation range information. That is, the second calculating section  124  calculates a consumption variation range of the recording materials which corresponds to the adjustment range of each element. 
     A description will now be made of the processing of calculating a consumption variation range of the recording materials which is performed by the second calculating section  124 . 
     The second calculating section  124  changes the value of only an element of attention among the image quality information, that is, the one or more image-quality-determining elements, of the default print setting information from the default setting value to the first value in the adjustment range (image quality adjustment range). The values of the elements other than the element of attention are not changed, that is, they are kept equal to the default setting values which are included in the adjustment ranges. Default print setting information the value of whose element of attention has been changed is made print setting information. 
     For example, if the element of attention is lightness which is one of the image-quality-determining elements such as lightness, chrome, hue, color balance, sharpness, and contrast and the adjustment range of lightness is from “−100” to “+100,” “−100” and “+100” are employed as the first value and the second value, respectively. “+100” and “−100” may be employed as the first value and the second value, respectively. For every image-quality-determining element, the default setting value is set to “0.” Under these preconditions, the second calculating section  124  changes the value of only the element of attention (lightness) among the image quality information, that is, the one or more image-quality-determining elements, from the default value “0” to the first value “−100” of the adjustment range. 
     The second calculating section  124  supplies the simulation section  122  with image quality information in which the element of attention has the first value, acquires a simulation result (CMYK image data) from the simulation section  122 , generates pieces of output plane information of the respective colors (CMYK) based on the CMYK image data, and calculates CMYK image densities based on the pieces of output plane information of the respective colors. The thus-obtained CMYK image densities are defined as first CMYK image densities with application of the print settings. 
     Then, the second calculating section  124  changes the value of only the element of attention among the image quality information, that is, the one or more image-quality-determining elements, of the default print setting information from the default setting value to the second value in the adjustment range. The values of the elements other than the element of attention are not changed, that is, they are kept equal to the default setting values which are included in the adjustment ranges. Default print setting information the value of whose element of attention has been changed is made print setting information. 
     For example, under the above-described preconditions, the second calculating section  124  changes the value of only the element of attention lightness among the image quality information, that is, the one or more image-quality-determining elements, from the default value “0” to the second value “+100” of the adjustment range. 
     The second calculating section  124  supplies the simulation section  122  with image quality information in which the element of attention has the second value, acquires a simulation result (CMYK image data) from the simulation section  122 , generates pieces of output plane information of the respective colors (CMYK) based on the CMYK image data, and calculates CMYK image densities based on the pieces of output plane information of the respective colors. The thus-obtained CMYK image densities are defined as second CMYK image densities with application of the print settings. 
     Then, the second calculating section  124  calculates a first consumption ratio of the recording materials based on the CMYK image densities with application of the default settings calculated by the first calculating means  123  and the first CMYK image densities with application of the print settings calculated above. And the second calculating section  124  calculates a second consumption ratio of the recording materials based on the CMYK image densities with application of the default settings calculated by the first calculating means  123  and the second CMYK image densities with application of the print settings calculated above. 
     The first consumption ratio (in percent) of the recording materials and the second consumption ratio (in percent) of the recording materials are calculated according to the following equations: 
       (First consumption ratio of recording materials)={(first CMYK image density with application of print settings)/(CMYK image density with application of default settings)−1}·100
 
       (Second consumption ratio of recording materials)={(second CMYK image density with application of print settings)/(CMYK image density with application of default settings)−1}·100
 
     That is, the first (or second) consumption ratio of the recording materials is an increase or decrease from a consumption ratio (100%) of the recording materials corresponding to the CMYK image density with application of the default settings. 
     The second calculating section  124  employs, as adjustment range information (image quality adjustment range information), the adjustment range for the element of attention from the first value to the second value. And the second calculating section  124  employs, as variation range information indicating a consumption variation range of the recording materials (recording material consumption variation range information), a range from the first consumption ratio of the recording materials that has been calculated for the first value to the second consumption ratio of the recording materials that has been calculated for the second value. The second calculating section  124  outputs the image quality adjustment range information and the recording material consumption variation range information to the control section  130 . 
     The second calculating section  124  generates image quality adjustment range information and recording material consumption variation range information in the above-described manner for all of the image-quality-determining elements such as lightness, chroma, hue, color balance, sharpness, and contrast, and outputs them to the control section  130 . 
     After performing the above processing, the image analyzing section  120  outputs the print subject image data and the default print setting information to the control section  130 . 
     At step S 104  (see  FIG. 2 ), the control section  130  displays, on the display unit  104 , via the GUI  102 , an image quality adjustment picture containing a reduced image supplied from the reduced image generating section  121 , the pieces of image quality adjustment range information and the pieces of recording material consumption variation range information (i.e., information indicating relationships between the pieces of image quality adjustment range information and the pieces of recording material consumption variation range information) supplied from the second calculating section  124 , and recording material consumption suppression guide information (i.e., information indicating guides for suppression of the consumption of the recording materials) relating to adjustment of the one or more image-quality-determining elements. 
       FIG. 3  shows an example image quality adjustment picture. As shown in  FIG. 3 , recording material consumption variation range information  400 , recording material consumption suppression guide information  510 , and recording material total consumption variation ratio information  520  are displayed in the image quality adjustment picture  300 . 
     The image quality adjustment picture  300  is a picture of a state that an item (tab) “image quality adjustment”  301  is selected or an initial state. 
     For the convenience of description, the image quality adjustment picture  300  of  FIG. 3  will be described in such a manner that it will be divided into the recording material consumption variation range information  400 , the recording material consumption suppression guide information  510 , the recording material total consumption variation ratio information  520 , and an image quality adjustment picture  300   a  in which none of the pieces of information  400 ,  510 , and  520  are displayed.  FIG. 4  shows the image quality adjustment picture  300  as so divided. 
     In the example image quality adjustment picture  300   a  shown in  FIG. 4 , reference numeral  310  denotes a reduced image, numeral  320  denotes a lightness adjustment item to be used for adjustment of the lightness, numeral  330  denotes a contrast adjustment item to be used for adjustment of the contrast, and numeral  340  denotes a chroma adjustment item to be used for adjustment of the chroma. 
     The user adjusts the lightness by moving a slide bar position mark  321  of the lightness setting item  320  rightward (toward +100) or leftward (toward −100). An adjusted lightness value is displayed in a lightness value indication box  322 . The lightness adjustment range is from “−100” to “+100.” At a time point when the image quality adjustment picture  300  is displayed, the slide bar position mark  321  is located at the center corresponding to the lightness initial setting value “0.” 
     The user adjusts the contrast by moving a slide bar position mark  331  of the contrast adjustment item  330  rightward (toward +100) or leftward (toward −100). An adjusted contrast value is displayed in a contrast value indication box  332 . The contrast adjustment range is from “−100” to “+100.” At a time point when the image quality adjustment picture  300  is displayed, the slide bar position mark  331  is located at the center corresponding to the contrast initial setting value “0.” 
     Furthermore, the user adjusts the chroma by moving a slide bar position mark  341  of the chroma adjustment item  340  rightward (toward +100) or leftward (toward −100). An adjusted chroma value is displayed in a chroma value indication box  342 . The chroma adjustment range is from “−100” to “+100.” At a time point when the image quality adjustment picture  300  is displayed, the slide bar position mark  341  is located at the center corresponding to the chroma initial setting value “0.” 
     The recording material consumption variation range information  400  consists of lightness recording material consumption variation range information  410 , contrast recording material consumption variation range information  420 , and chroma recording material consumption variation range information  430 . 
     In the recording material consumption variation range information  400 , the pieces of recording material consumption variation range information  410 ,  420 , and  430  of the respective image-quality-determining elements each include a first consumption ratio  401 , a second consumption ratio  402 , and a recording material consumption variation range scale  403 . 
     If the user pays attention to the lightness, for example, and moves the slide bar position mark  321  to a desired value in the lightness adjustment range (−100 to +100) by manipulating the input unit  103  (i.e., if the user adjusts the lightness to the desired value), the recording material consumption ratio takes a value corresponding to the above desired value in the lightness recording material consumption variation range (+40% to −30%). The recording material consumption ratio is calculated in the same manner as the first recording material consumption ratio or the second recording material consumption ratio is calculated (described above). 
     For example, if the user pays attention to the lightness and moves the slide bar position mark  321  leftward to a lightness value “−100,” the first recording material consumption ratio  401  takes a value “+40%.” If the user moves the slide bar position mark  321  rightward to a lightness value “+100,” the second recording material consumption ratio  402  takes a value “−30%.” That is, when the lightness is varied from “−100” to “+100” in the lightness adjustment range, the consumption ratio of the recording materials (toner consumption ratio) varies from “+40%” to “−30%.” 
     The recording material consumption suppression guide information  510  is the details of example guides for suppression of the consumption of the recording materials. Taking the details of the recording material consumption suppression guide information  510 , the user tries to suppress the consumption of the recording materials by adjusting one of the image quality adjustment items which are the lightness adjustment item  320 , the contrast adjustment item  330 , and the chrome adjustment item  340 . 
     The recording material total consumption variation ratio information  520  consists of an item name “recording material total consumption variation ratio” (toner total consumption variation ratio)  521  and a recording material total consumption variation ratio indication box  522  where an actual recording material total consumption variation ratio (toner total consumption variation ratio) is to be displayed. At a time point when the image quality adjustment picture  300  is displayed, a value “0%” is shown in the recording material total consumption variation ratio indication box  522  as a recording material total consumption variation ratio. Where the recording materials are toners, it can be said that the recording material total consumption variation ratio is a toner total consumption variation ratio. 
     In the first embodiment, the recording material consumption variation range information  400 , the recording material consumption suppression guide information  510 , the recording material total consumption variation ratio information  520  are pieces of information relating to the consumption of the recording materials. 
     When the user has adjusted at least one of the image quality adjustment items which are the lightness adjustment item  320 , the contrast adjustment item  330 , and the chroma adjustment item  340  by manipulating the input unit  103 , a value of the adjusted image quality adjustment item is supplied to the control section  130  of the image processing section  100  via the GUI  102 . 
     At step S 105  (see  FIG. 2 ), the control section  130  calculates a recording material total consumption variation ratio based on the image quality adjustment result (a value, after the image quality adjustment, of one or more elements) obtained via the GUI  102 . At step S 106 , the control section  130  displays the calculated recording material total consumption variation ratio in the recording material total consumption variation ratio indication box  522  of the image quality adjustment picture  300  in real-time. 
     For example, if only the lightness adjustment item  320  has been adjusted, the control section  130  calculates a recording material total consumption variation ratio (toner total consumption variation ratio) in the lightness adjustment range (=100 to +100). It is noted that the value in the lightness adjustment range and the recording material total consumption variation ratio (toner total consumption variation ratio) do not always have a linear relationship (Y=aX). 
     The control section  130  alters the image quality information of the default print setting information or the print setting information based on the acquired image quality adjustment result (the value, after the image quality adjustment, of one or more elements). If the image quality adjustment result acquired this time is a first one, the image quality information of the default print setting information is altered. In this case, if a default setting value of the default print setting information is altered, the default print setting information is changed to print setting information. On the other hand, if the image quality adjustment result acquired this time is a second or later one, the image quality information of the print setting information is altered. 
       FIG. 5  shows an example image quality adjustment picture  300  which is displayed when the lightness adjustment item  320  and the contrast adjustment item  330  have been adjusted from the state of the image quality adjustment picture  300  of  FIG. 3  (also see  FIG. 4 ). In the image quality adjustment picture  300  of  FIG. 5 , the lightness and contrast are set at values “+65,” and “−61,” respectively, and a recording material total consumption variation ratio (toner total consumption variation ratio) “−15%” is shown in the recording material total consumption variation ratio indication box  522 . 
     At step S 107  (see  FIG. 2 ), the control section  130  judges whether the image quality adjustments have finished or not depending on whether or not it has received, via the GUI  102 , an image quality adjustment result and a notice to the effect that an OK button  350  has been pressed. 
     If judging at step S 107  that the image quality adjustments have not finished yet (only an image quality adjustment result has been received), the control section  130  returns to step S 105 . On the other hand, if judging at step S 107  that the image quality adjustments have finished (an image quality adjustment result and a notice to the effect that the OK button  350  has been pressed have been received), the control section  130  outputs post-image-quality-adjustment print setting information and the print subject image data to the image output section  140 . 
     At step S 108 , the image output section  140  issues a print request to the printer (not shown) by outputting a print job of the received print setting information and print subject image data. 
     To adjust the color balance which is one of the image-quality-determining elements, the user selects an item (tab) “color balance”  302  in the image quality adjustment picture  300  of  FIG. 5 . 
     In response, the image quality adjustment picture  300  being displayed on the display unit  104  is changed to a color balance adjustment picture  600  shown in  FIG. 6 . The color balance adjustment picture  600  of  FIG. 6  is a picture in an initial state. 
     In the example picture  600  of  FIG. 6 , reference numeral  610  denotes a color specifying box to be used for specifying a subject color of the color balance adjustment. Reference numeral  621  denotes a low-density adjustment item to be used for a low-density adjustment, numeral  622  denotes a medium-density adjustment item to be used for a medium-density adjustment, and numeral  623  denotes a high-density adjustment item to be used for a high-density adjustment. Reference numerals  631 - 633  denote pieces of recording material consumption variation range information corresponding to the respective density adjustment items  621 - 623 . Reference numeral  640  denotes recording material consumption suppression guide information, and numeral  650  denotes recording material total consumption variation ratio information. 
     Color names “black,” “cyan,” “magenta,” and “yellow” are shown in the color specifying box  610 , and the user selects a desired color as a subject of the color balance adjustment by manipulating the input unit  103 . In this example, black is selected in the initial state (default setting). 
     In each of the low-density adjustment item  621 , the medium-density adjustment item  622 , and the high-density adjustment item  623 , the adjustment range is “−3” to “+3” and the density is set at a default setting value “0.” 
     Recording material consumption variation range information  631  having a recording material consumption variation range from “−10%” to “+5%” is displayed so as to correspond to the low-density adjustment item  621 , recording material consumption variation range information  632  having a recording material consumption variation range from “−20%” to “+30%” is displayed so as to correspond to the medium-density adjustment item  622 , and recording material consumption variation range information  633  having a recording material consumption variation range from “−40%” to “+50%” is displayed so as to correspond to the high-density adjustment item  623 . 
     The recording material consumption suppression guide information  640  is recording material consumption suppression guides for the case that black is selected as a subject color of the color balance adjustment. 
     The recording material total consumption variation ratio information  650  is such that a recording material total consumption variation ratio (toner total consumption variation ratio) corresponding to density values of the density adjustment items  621 - 623  is displayed in a recording material total consumption variation ratio indication box  651 . In this example, since the density values of the density adjustment items  621 - 623  are default setting values “0,” a recording material total consumption variation ratio “0%” is shown in the recording material total consumption variation ratio indication box  651 . 
     If the user selects a subject color from the colors in the color specifying box  610  and performs a density adjustment (image quality adjustment) for at least one of the density adjustment items  621 - 623  in the color balance adjustment picture  600  of  FIG. 6  by manipulating the input unit  103 , the control section  130  calculates a recording material total consumption variation ratio corresponding to an image quality adjustment result and displays, via the GUI  102 , the calculated recording material total consumption variation ratio in the recording material total consumption variation ratio indication box  651  of the color balance adjustment picture  600  being displayed on the display unit  104 . 
     If an OK button  660  is pressed, density values of the density adjustment items  621 - 623  in the color balance adjustment picture  600  are supplied to the control section  130  of the image processing section  100  via the GUI  102 . 
     Recording material consumption variation ranges of the lightness recording material consumption variation range information  410 , the contrast recording material consumption variation range information  420 , and the chroma recording material consumption variation range information  430  which correspond to the lightness adjustment item  320 , the contrast adjustment item  330 , and the chroma adjustment item  340  and recording material consumption variation ranges of the pieces of recording material consumption variation range information  631 - 633  which correspond to the low-density adjustment item  621 , the medium-density adjustment item  622 , and the high-density adjustment item  623  are calculated for each print subject image (image data) and hence vary. Even if the image quality adjustment ranges of the respective image-quality-determining elements (lightness, contrast, chroma, color balance, etc.) are kept the same, the recording material consumption variation ranges corresponding to the respective image quality adjustment ranges vary depending on, for example, the patterns and the colors used of the print subject image. 
     As described above, in the first embodiment, the user performs a desired image quality adjustment(s) taking a consumption of the recording materials into consideration by visually recognizing a relationship between an image quality adjustment amount (a result of the image quality adjustment) and the consumption of the recording materials. 
     More specifically, recording material consumption variation range information is displayed which includes a decrease ratio and an increase ratio with respect to a consumption of the recording materials corresponding to a predetermined value (default setting value) of each of pieces of image quality information (image-quality-determining elements) is displayed so as to corresponding to an adjustment range of the piece of image information (image-quality-determining element). The user adjusts a desired image-quality-determining element taking the recording material consumption variation range information into consideration. 
     As described above, recording material consumption variation range information also includes an increase ratio with respect to a consumption of the recording materials corresponding to a predetermined value (default setting value) of each of pieces of image quality information (image-quality-determining elements). Therefore, even a user who does not aim at saving the recording materials can perform an image quality adjustment so as to suppress increase of the consumption of the recording materials by taking the recording material consumption variation range information into consideration. 
     Next, a hardware configuration of the image processing apparatus  10  will be described with reference to  FIG. 7 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the image processing apparatus  10  is equipped with a CPU  11 , a storage device  12 , a ROM  13 , a RAM  14 , an input interface (I/F)  15 A, an output I/F  15 B, a communication I/F  15 C, an input device  16  which is connected to the input I/F  15 A, and a display device  17  which is connected to the output I/F  15 B. The constituent elements  11 - 14  and  15 A- 15 C are connected to a system bus  18 . 
     The storage device  12 , which is a hard disc drive, for example, is stored with installed programs such as an image processing program  12 A and the GUI  102  and the application software  105  which are shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     The image processing program  12 A includes software (programs) for implementation of the functions of the image processing section  100  (constituent elements  110 - 140 ; see  FIG. 1 ) and software (program) corresponding to the image quality setting process (see  FIG. 2 ). 
     The functions of the image processing section  100  (constituent elements  110 - 140 ) include the functions of the constituent elements  121 - 124  of the image analyzing section  120 . 
     In the image processing section  100 , the first calculating section  123  and the second calculating section  124  of the image analyzing section  120  executes a first calculation process and a second calculation process, respectively, and the control section  130  executes a control process. 
     The storage device  12  performs the function of the default print setting information storage unit  101  (see  FIG. 1 ). 
     The ROM  13 , which is a read-only memory, is stored with formula information corresponding to the equations of Formulae 1, communication protocol information which is necessary for communication with an external apparatus, and other information. 
     The RAM  14 , which is a random access memory, stores programs including the image processing program  12 A, the GUI  102 , and the application software  105  which are read from the storage device  12 , the default print setting information which is also read from the storage device  12 , and the formula information and the communication protocol information which are read from the ROM  13 . 
     The RAM  14  is assigned a storage area (work area) which is necessary for processing that is performed by the image processing section  100 . An interim result or a final result of each of such pieces of processing as reduced image generation processing which is performed by the reduced image generating section  121 , simulation processing which is performed by the simulation section  122 , calculation processing which is performed by the first calculating section  123 , calculation processing which is performed by the second calculating section  124 , and control processing which is performed by the control section  130 , print subject image data, print setting information, the image quality adjustment picture, the default print setting information which is read from the default print setting information storage unit  101  (storage device  12 ) by the image processing section  100 , etc. are stored in the RAM  14 . 
     Each of the input I/F  15 A and the output I/F  15 B is provided with a CPU (central processing unit) for performing a data communication. And the input I/F  15 A performs a data communication with the input device  16  and the output I/F  15 B performs a data communication with the display device  17 . The input device  16  performs the functions of the input unit  103  (see  FIG. 1 ) and the display device  17  performs the functions of the display unit  104  (see  FIG. 1 ). 
     Provided with a CPU for performing a data communication, the communication I/F  15 C performs a data communication with a printer (image forming apparatus)  90  by reading the above-mentioned communication protocol information into the RAM  14  from the ROM  13  and using it. 
     The CPU  11 , which is a central processing unit, realizes the functions of the individual constituent elements of the image processing section  100  and the processing functions corresponding to the image processing program  12 A by reading programs including the image processing program  12 A into the RAM  14  from the storage device  12  and executing them. Furthermore, the CPU  11  controls the entire image processing apparatus  10 . 
     Second Embodiment 
     An image processing apparatus according to a second embodiment has the same functional configuration as the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     In the second embodiment, the control section  130  of the image processing section  100  has, in addition to the functions of the control section  130  of the first embodiment, a function of performing a control for displaying, on the display unit  104 , information relating to a variation of the consumption of the recording materials that corresponds to each of plural options for each of setting items that affect the consumption of the recording materials other than the one or more image-quality-determining elements. 
     Example setting items that affect the consumption of the recording materials are a color mode, a print mode, an image quality adjustment mode, and an image quality type. 
       FIG. 8  shows example print setting property for changing those setting items. 
     The print setting property  700  of  FIG. 8  is a picture of a default state that an item (tab) “graphics”  701  is selected, and contains setting items of a color mode  710 , a print mode  720 , an image quality adjustment mode  730 , and a recommendable image quality type  740 , an item of a toner use amount (toner consumption ratio)  750 , and a reduced image  760 . Setting modes and type of the setting items  710 - 740  are default modes and type and the setting value of the toner use amount (toner consumption ratio)  750  is a default setting value “0%.” 
     The print setting property  700  is also provided with an image quality adjustment button  702  for displaying an image quality adjustment picture, a color balance button  703  for displaying a color balance adjustment picture, and an OK button  704  for deciding on setting modes, type, value of the above setting items. If the image quality adjustment button  702  is pressed, the image quality adjustment picture  300  used in the first embodiment (see  FIG. 3 ) is displayed on the display unit  104 . 
     First, an example procedure for changing the setting type of the recommendable image quality type  740  will be described with reference to  FIG. 9 . 
     As shown in the example of  FIG. 9 , “Web page,” for example, is selected from options “standard (default),” “photograph,” “presentation,” “Web page,” “CAD,” and “POP” of the recommendable image quality type  740  in the picture  700  of  FIG. 8 , whereby the setting mode of the recommendable image quality type  740  is changed to “Web page.” 
     In this case, internal image processing in which importance is attached to display reproducibility is employed, and the information relating to a variation of the consumption of the recording materials, that is, the toner use amount (toner consumption ratio), varies accordingly. Therefore, a varied toner use amount (toner consumption ratio) is displayed in the item the toner use amount (toner consumption ratio)  750 . 
     Next, an example procedure for changing the setting mode of the color mode  710  will be described with reference to  FIG. 10 . 
     As shown in the example of  FIG. 10 , switching is made between options “color (automatic judgment)” and “black and white” of the color mode  710  in the picture of  FIG. 8 . For example, where the print subject image is a color image, the setting mode of the color mode  710  is changed from “color (automatic judgment)” which is selected by automatic judgment to “black and white.” In this case, a color image is printed as a black-and-white image, and the information relating to a variation of the consumption of the recording materials, that is, the toner use amount (toner consumption ratio), varies accordingly. Therefore, a varied toner use amount (toner consumption ratio) is displayed in the item the toner use amount (toner consumption ratio)  750 . 
     Next, an example procedure for changing the setting mode of the print mode  720  will be described with reference to  FIG. 11 . 
     As shown in the example of  FIG. 11 , a desired option is selected from options “standard,” “high image quality,” and “high resolution” of the print mode  720  in the picture of  FIG. 8 . In this case, the resolution of internal processing and the screen structure are changed according to a selected option, and the information relating to a variation of the consumption of the recording materials, that is, the toner use amount (toner consumption ratio), varies accordingly. Therefore, a varied toner use amount (toner consumption ratio) is displayed in the item the toner use amount (toner consumption ratio)  750 . 
     Finally, an example procedure for changing the setting mode of the image quality adjustment mode  730  will be described with reference to  FIG. 12 . 
     As shown in the example of  FIG. 12 , a desired option is selected from options “recommendation,” “ICM adjustment,” “CMS adjustment,” and “no color conversion” of the image quality adjustment mode  730  in the picture of  FIG. 8 . The color conversion profile depends on a selected option, and the toner use amount (toner consumption ratio), varies accordingly. Therefore, a varied toner use amount (toner consumption ratio) is displayed in the item the toner use amount (toner consumption ratio)  750 . 
     If “ICM adjustment” is selected and set as a setting mode of the image quality adjustment mode  730 , as shown in  FIG. 13  an item “intent”  770  for the image quality adjustment mode  730  is displayed and a desired option (color conversion method) is selected from options of the intent  770  (color conversion methods) “saturation,” “perceptual,” and “colorimetric.” The information relating to a variation of the consumption of the recording materials, that is, the toner use amount (toner consumption ratio), varies according to a selected option (color conversion method). Therefore, a varied toner use amount (toner consumption ratio) is displayed in the item the toner use amount (toner consumption ratio)  750 . 
     If “ICM adjustment” is selected, color conversion is performed by using an ICM function of the printer driver, that is, the image processing section  100 . A color conversion method is selected from the intent  770 . In this case, an ICC profile corresponding to a printer (print destination) is specified using a tab “color management” (not shown). 
     If “CMS adjustment” is selected, color conversion is not performed by the printer driver, that is, the image processing section  100 . Where an application having a dedicated CMS (color management system) makes print instructions, color data produced by a conversion that is suitable for the characteristics of a printer main body is given to the printer driver, that is, the image processing section  100 . In this case, the item “CMS adjustment” should be selected to avoid double color conversions by the printer driver. 
     If “no color conversion” is selected, color conversion is not performed by the printer driver, that is, the image processing section  100  or an application. The printer main body does not perform any special color conversion processing and performs only a complementary color conversion. 
     Although the invention made by the present inventors has been described above using the embodiments, the embodiments disclosed in the specification are just examples in all respects and the invention should not be construed as being limited to the disclosed techniques. That is, the technical scope of the invention should not be construed restrictively based on the description of the embodiments and should be construed based on the claims, and encompasses techniques that are equivalent to the techniques described in the claims and all modifications that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the claims. 
     Where programs are used, they may be provided over a network or being stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM. 
     That is, the method for providing programs including the image processing program is not limited to storing them in a storage medium such as a hard disk drive, and they may be provided in the following manners. 
     For example, the programs may be provided in such a manner that they are stored in a ROM in advance and a CPU loads them into the main storage device from the ROM and runs them. 
     The programs may be distributed being stored in a computer-readable storage medium such as a DVD-ROM, a CD-ROM, an MO (magneto-optical disc), or a flexible disk. 
     Furthermore, a system may be provided in which an image processing apparatus or the like is connected to a server or a host computer via a communication line (e.g., the Internet) and the programs are downloaded from the server or the host computer and then run. In this case, example download destinations of the programs are a memory such as a RAM and a storage device (storage medium) such as a hard disk drive. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The invention may be applied to an image processing apparatus which sends print data to an image forming apparatus which forms an image with toners (electrophotographic process type image forming apparatus) or an image forming apparatus which forms an image with inks (ink-jet image forming apparatus).