Patent Publication Number: US-10771656-B2

Title: Information processing device and recording medium

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/110,455 filed Aug. 23, 2018, which is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-071770 filed Apr. 3, 2018. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to an information processing device and a recording medium. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided an information processing device including: an image acquirer that acquires an image to print onto a medium; a color converter that converts color in the image acquired by the image acquirer depending on a positional relationship between a white image forming section that forms an image on the medium with white color material and a color image forming section that forms an image on the medium with colored color material; and an image output unit that outputs the image whose color is converted by the color converter. 
    
    
     
       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 diagram illustrating an exemplary overall configuration of an image forming system applying an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary hardware configuration of a terminal device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary overall configuration of an image forming device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  are diagrams illustrating a print order of a white toner image when forming an image on a medium by the image forming device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a graph illustrating how hue curves differently depending on the print order of white toner; 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  are diagrams illustrating how toner of different colors sinks in between white toner depending on the print order of white toner; 
         FIG. 7  is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary functional configuration of a print server according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating an example of a profile creation screen that the print server displays during profile creation according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a flowchart illustrating exemplary operations during profile creation of the print server according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating an example of a profile selection screen that the print server displays when using a profile triggered by a white toner engine position according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a flowchart illustrating exemplary operations of the print sever when using the profile triggered by the white toner engine position according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a diagram illustrating an example of a profile selection screen that the print server displays when using a profile triggered by a type of media according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 13  is a flowchart illustrating exemplary operations of the print sever when using the profile triggered by the type of media according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment of the invention will be described in detail and with reference to the attached drawings. 
     [Overall Configuration of Image Forming System] 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary overall configuration of an image forming system  1  applying an exemplary embodiment. As illustrated, the image forming system  1  is configured by interconnecting a terminal device  10 , a print server  30 , and an image forming device  50  via a communication link  80 . Note that the diagram only illustrates a single terminal device  10 , print server  30 , and image forming device  50 , but multiple terminal devices  10 , print servers  30 , and image forming devices  50  may also be provided. 
     The terminal device  10  is a computer device used to issue instructions for printing on the image forming device  50 . Specifically, document data or the like to be printed is created by causing a document creation application or the like to operate. Additionally, by causing a printer driver corresponding to the print server  30  to operate, print instruction data giving instructions for printing the document data or the like is created and sent to the print server  30 . The print instruction data may be PDL data written in a page description language (PDL), or may be preliminary data to be converted into PDL data. Herein, a desktop PC, notebook PC, or the like is favorably used as the terminal device  10 . 
     The print server  30  receives print instruction data from the terminal device  10 , and accumulates the data as print data to be used for printing on the image forming device  50 . If the print instruction data is PDL data, it is sufficient to perform processing such as rasterization and color conversion on the PDL data and accumulate the result as print data, or if the print instruction data is preliminary data to be converted into PDL data, it is sufficient to convert the preliminary data into PDL data first, and after that, perform processing such as rasterization and color correction, and accumulate the result as print data. Subsequently, when there is a request to print the document data or the like from the image forming device  50 , the print data is transmitted to the image forming device  50 . Alternatively, the terminal device  10  may specify the image forming device  50  as an output destination, and thereby transmit the print data to the image forming device  50  without waiting for a print request from the image forming device  50 . Also, the print server  30  manages the type of medium contained in a medium container of the image forming device  50 . In the present exemplary embodiment, the print server  30  is provided as one example of an information processing device. 
     The image forming device  50  is a device that forms an image of document data or the like on a medium. The image forming device  50  may be equipped with only the functions of a printer, or additionally may be equipped with the functions of a scanner and a facsimile machine. Herein, an electrophotographic system may be used as the image forming method in the image forming device  50 , for example, but another method may also be used. 
     [Hardware Configuration of Terminal Device and Print Server] 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary hardware configuration of the terminal device  10  according to the present exemplary embodiment. As illustrated, the terminal device  10  is provided with a CPU  11 , main memory  12 , an HDD  13 , a communication interface (denote “communication I/F” in the diagram)  14 , a display device  15 , and an input device  16 . 
     The CPU  11  realizes the functions of the terminal device  10  by loading various programs stored in the HDD  13  into the main memory  12  and executing the programs, for example. 
     The main memory  12  is memory used as work memory or the like for the CPU  11 , for example. 
     The HDD  13  is memory that stores various programs executed by the CPU  11 , data created or acquired by the terminal device  10 , and the like. 
     The communication I/F  14  transmits and receives various information to and from other devices via the communication link  80 . 
     The display device  15  is a device that displays various information output from the terminal device  10  internally. Herein, a liquid crystal display may be used as the display device, for example. 
     The input device  16  is a device that receives information input by the user, and inputs the information into the terminal device  10  internally. 
     In addition, the hardware configuration illustrated in  FIG. 2  may also be treated as a hardware configuration of the print server  30 . However, when describing the print server  30 , each of the CPU  11 , the main memory  12 , the HDD  13 , the communication interface  14 , the display device  15 , and the input device  16  in  FIG. 2  will be denoted as the CPU  31 , the main memory  32 , the HDD  33 , the communication I/F  34 , the display device  35 , and the input device  36 , respectively. 
     [Overall Configuration of Image Forming Device] 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary overall configuration of the image forming device  50  according to the present exemplary embodiment. The image forming device  50  is what is called a tandem device, and for example, is provided with multiple image forming units  51  ( 51 W 1 ,  51 Y,  51 M,  51 C,  51 K,  51 W 6 ) in which a toner image of each color component is formed by an electrophotographic system, an intermediate transfer belt  56  that successively transfers (a first transfer) and holds each color component toner image formed by each image forming unit  51 , a secondary transfer device  510  that performs a lump transfer (secondary transfer) of the layered image transferred on the intermediate transfer belt  56  onto a medium P, a fusing device  540  that fuses the secondarily transferred image onto the medium P, and a colorimetric sensor  550  that measures color-related features from the toner image fused onto the medium P. 
     In the image forming device  50 , besides the image forming units  51 Y,  51 M,  51 C, and  51 K that form toner images of the common colors (ordinary colors), namely yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), two image forming units  51 W 1  and  51 W 6  that form toner images of white (W) are provided as image forming units included in the tandem. Note that the image forming units  51 W 1  and  51 W 6  will be designated the image forming units  51 W when not being distinguished. 
     In each image forming unit  51  ( 51 W 1 ,  51 Y,  51 M,  51 C,  51 K,  51 W 6 ) of the present exemplary embodiment, around a photoreceptor drum  52  that rotates in the direction of the arrow A, electrophotographic devices such as a charger  53  that charges the photoreceptor drum  52 , a laser exposure device  54  that writes an electrostatic latent image onto the photoreceptor drum  52  (in the diagram, the exposure beam is labeled by the sign Bm), a developer  55  that contains toner of each color component toner and causes the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor drum  52  to become a visible image by the toner, a first transfer roller  57  that transfers each color component toner image formed on the photoreceptor drum  52  onto the intermediate transfer belt  56 , and a drum cleaner  58  that removes residual toner on the photoreceptor drum  52  are successively disposed. These image forming units  51  are disposed in order of the colors white (W), yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), black (K), and white (W) from the upstream side of the intermediate transfer belt  56 . 
     Also, the intermediate transfer belt  56  is configured to be rotatable in the direction of the arrow B in the diagram by various rollers. The various rollers include a drive roller  515  driven by a motor (not illustrated) that causes the intermediate transfer belt  56  to rotate, a tension roller  516  equipped a function of imparting a constant tension to the intermediate transfer belt  56  while also keeping the intermediate transfer belt  56  from meandering, an idle roller  517  that supports the intermediate transfer belt  56 , and a backup roller  512  (described later). 
     Also, a voltage of opposite polarity to the charging polarity of the toner is applied to the first transfer roller  57 , thereby causing the toner image on each of the photoreceptor drums  52  to be successively attracted by electrostatic force to the intermediate transfer belt  56 , and causing a layered toner image to be formed on the intermediate transfer belt  56 . 
     Furthermore, the secondary transfer device  510  is provided with a secondary transfer roller  511  disposed pressed against the toner image holding face of the intermediate transfer belt  56 , and the backup roller  512  that is disposed on the back face of the intermediate transfer belt  56  to form an opposite electrode of the secondary transfer roller  511 . A metal feed roller  513  to which a secondary transfer bias is stably applied is disposed in contact with the backup roller  512 . Additionally, a brush roller  514  that removes unwanted material adhering to the secondary transfer roller  511  is disposed in contact with the secondary transfer roller  511 . 
     Also, on the downstream side of the secondary transfer roller  511 , a belt cleaner  521  that cleans the surface of the intermediate transfer belt  56  after the secondary transfer is provided. 
     Furthermore, in the present exemplary embodiment, as a medium transport system, there are provided a medium container  530  that contains the medium P, a pickup roller  531  that picks up and transports the medium P accumulated in the medium container  530 , a transport roller  532  that transports the medium P sent by the pickup roller  531 , a medium transport path  533  that supplies the medium P transported by the transport roller  532  to a secondary transfer position of the secondary transfer device  510 , and a transport belt  534  that transports the medium P after the secondary transfer to the fusing device  540 . 
     Overview of Exemplary Embodiment 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  are diagrams illustrating a print order of a white toner image when forming an image on a medium by the image forming device  50 . 
     Of these,  FIG. 4A  illustrates a print order often seen in the case in which the medium is a transparent medium Pt such as a transparent film. In this print order, a white toner image is formed uppermost on the back side of the transparent medium Pt as seen from a viewpoint V. This print order is realized by the image forming units  51 W 1 ,  51 Y,  51 M,  51 C, and  51 K. Hereinafter, the print order of such a white toner image is designated “overprinting”. Also, the position of the image forming unit  51 W 1  used for overprinting is denoted “#1”. 
     Also,  FIG. 4B  illustrates a print order in the case in which the medium is a colored medium Pc such as colored paper. Alternatively, this print order may be taken to be the print order in the case in which the medium is the transparent medium Pt such as a transparent film. In this print order, a white toner image is formed lowermost on the front side of the colored medium Pc or the transparent medium Pt as seen from the viewpoint V. This print order is realized by the image forming units  51 Y,  51 M,  51 C,  51 K, and  51 W 6 . Hereinafter, the print order of such a white toner image is designated “underprinting”. Also, the position of the image forming unit  51 W 1  used for underprinting is denoted “#6”. 
     Meanwhile, in the present exemplary embodiment, it is presupposed that, in order to obtain concealment, white toner is designed to have large toner particles compared to color toner. Under such a presupposition, if color toner is laid on top of white toner, the color toner sinks in between the white toner, hue curving occurs, and color reproduction is degraded. 
     Also, the hue curves differently depending on the print order of white toner. 
       FIG. 5  is a graph illustrating this phenomenon. The graph plots, on the ab plane, the hue obtained while varying toner quantities of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) for each of the case of overprinting white toner on a transparent film, and the case of underprinting white toner on a transparent film. 
     For example, in the case of overprinting white toner on a transparent film, the line connecting the hues in the case in which the toner quantities of yellow (Y) and magenta (M) are set to the same and the toner quantity of cyan (C) is set to 0 is illustrated by the solid line in the red (R) region, the line connecting the hues in the case in which the toner quantities of yellow (Y) and cyan (C) are set to the same and the toner quantity of magenta (M) is set to 0 is illustrated by the solid line in the green (G) region, and the line connecting the hues in the case in which the toner quantities of cyan (C) and magenta (M) are set to the same and the toner quantity of yellow (Y) is set to 0 is illustrated by the solid line in the blue (B) region. 
     Also, in the case of underprinting white toner on a transparent film, the line connecting the hues in the case in which the toner quantities of yellow (Y) and magenta (M) are set to the same and the toner quantity of cyan (C) is set to 0 is illustrated by the dashed line in the red (R) region, the line connecting the hues in the case in which the toner quantities of yellow (Y) and cyan (C) are set to the same and the toner quantity of magenta (M) is set to 0 is illustrated by the dashed line in the green (G) region, and the line connecting the hues in the case in which the toner quantities of cyan (C) and magenta (M) are set to the same and the toner quantity of yellow (Y) is set to 0 is illustrated by the dashed line in the blue (B) region. 
     The graph demonstrates that for the primary colors, there is little difference in how the hue curves between the case of overprinting and the case of underprinting white toner, but for the secondary colors, the way the hue curves is greatly different between the case of overprinting and the case of underprinting white toner. This is because toner of different colors sinks in between white toner depending on the print order of the white toner. 
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  are diagrams illustrating how toner of different colors sinks in between white toner depending on the print order of white toner, taking as an example the case of forming a red image on the medium P with yellow toner and magenta toner. Of these,  FIG. 6A  is the case of overprinting white toner, in which the yellow toner sinks in between the white toner. On the other hand,  FIG. 6B  is the case of underprinting white toner, in which the magenta toner sinks in between the white toner. 
     Accordingly, in the present exemplary embodiment, a profile for the case of overprinting white toner and a profile for the case of underprinting white toner are created, and the profile is switched depending on the print order of white toner. 
     Since the image forming unit  51 W 1  is used in the case of overprinting white toner and the image forming unit  51 W 6  is used in the case of underprinting white toner, the above may be considered to be converting colors in the image by using profiles corresponding to the positional relationship between the image forming units  51 W 1  and  51 W 6  that form images with white toner on the medium, and the image forming units  51 Y,  51 M,  51 C, and  51 K that form images with color toner on the medium. Alternatively, the above may be further generalized to a higher-level concept and considered to be converting colors in the image depending on the positional relationship between the image forming units  51 W 1  and  51 W 6  that form images with white toner on the medium, and the image forming units  51 Y,  51 M,  51 C, and  51 K that form images with color toner on the medium. 
     Herein, white toner is one example of a white color material, the image forming unit  51 W 1  is one example of a white image forming section and a first white image forming section, and the image forming unit  51 W 6  is one example of a white image forming section and a second white image forming section. Additionally, color toner is one example of colored color material, and the image forming units  51 Y,  51 M,  51 C, and  51 K are one example of color image forming sections. Furthermore, a profile is one example of color conversion information. 
     [Functional Configuration of Print Server] 
       FIG. 7  is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary functional configuration of the print server  30  according to the present exemplary embodiment. As illustrated in the diagram, the print server  30  is provided with a profile creator  41 , a colorimetric data acquisition unit  42 , profile storage  43 , an image acquisition unit  44 , a color converter  45 , and an image output unit  46 . 
     The profile creator  41  receives a selection of the position of the image forming unit  51 W for white toner, and a selection of the medium container  530 . Subsequently, the image forming device  50  uses the image forming unit  51 W for white toner at the selected position, and instructs the image output unit  46  to output a chart image to the image forming device  50  such that a chart image is formed by white (W), yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) on the medium contained in the selected medium container  530 . Additionally, the colorimetric data acquisition unit  42  is instructed to acquire color features (hereinafter called “colorimetric data”) obtained by the colorimetric sensor  550  of the image forming device  50  from the chart image formed on the medium. With this arrangement, a profile associating the position of the selected image forming unit  51 W for white toner with the type of medium contained in the selected medium container  530  is created. 
     The colorimetric data acquisition unit  42  acquires colorimetric data acquired by the colorimetric sensor  550  of the image forming device  50  via the communication link  80 . Alternatively, colorimetric data acquired by a colorimetric device other than the colorimetric sensor  550  of the image forming device  50  may be acquired. 
     The profile storage  43  stores profiles created by the profile creator  41 . 
     The image acquisition unit  44  acquires an image obtained by rasterizing print instruction data received from the terminal device  10 . In the present exemplary embodiment, the image acquisition unit  44  is provided as one example of an image acquirer that acquires an image to print on a medium. 
     The color converter  45  acquires a profile to use for color conversion from among the profiles stored in the profile storage  43 . 
     Specifically, in the case of using the image forming units  51 W 1 ,  51 Y,  51 M,  51 C, and  51 K, a profile to be used when overprinting white toner (hereinafter called the “white toner overprint profile”) is acquired, whereas in the case of using the image forming units  51 Y,  51 M,  51 C,  51 K, and  51 W 6 , a profile to be used when underprinting white toner (hereinafter called the “white toner underprint profile”) is acquired. Also, in the case in which image forming units  51  for toner other than white toner are installed in #1 and #6, or in the case of using only the image forming units  51 Y,  51 M,  51 C, and  51 K even when the image forming units  51 W 1  and  51 W 6  are installed in #1 and #6, a profile to be used when using only CMYK toner (hereinafter called the “CMYK-only profile”) is acquired. In the present exemplary embodiment, the positional relationship of the image forming units  51 W 1 ,  51 Y,  51 M,  51 C, and  51 K is used as one example of a first positional relationship, and the positional relationship of the image forming units  51 Y,  51 M,  51 C,  51 K, and  51 W 6  is used as one example of a second positional relationship. Also, the white toner overprint profile is used as one example of first color conversion information, and the white toner underprint profile is used as one example of second color conversion information. 
     Also, in some cases the color converter  45  acquires a profile when triggered by the position of the image forming unit  51 W for white toner (hereinafter called the “white toner engine position”), while in other cases the color converter  45  acquires a profile when triggered by the type of medium. In the case of acquiring a profile when triggered by the white toner engine position, a selection of whether to overprint or underprint white toner is received, and depending on this selection, the image forming unit  51 W for white toner to use from among the image forming units  51 W 1  and  51 W 6  for white toner is specified, and a profile to be used when using the specified image forming unit  51 W for white toner is acquired. In the case of acquiring a profile when triggered by the type of medium, a selection of the medium container  530  is received, and depending on the type of medium contained in the medium container  530 , the image forming unit  51 W for white toner to use from among the image forming units  51 W 1  and  51 W 6  for white toner is specified, and a profile to be used when using the specified image forming unit  51 W for white toner is acquired. In the present exemplary embodiment, the color converter  45  is provided as one example of a specifier that specifies a white image forming section from among the first white image forming section and the second white image forming section. Also, whether to overprint or underprint white toner is used as one example of a vertical relationship between an image formed by white color material on a medium and an image formed by colored color material on the medium, and the type of medium is used as one example of a classification of medium. 
     Additionally, when a profile is acquired, the color converter  45  may also display identification information such as the name of the profile. In the present exemplary embodiment, the color converter  45  is also provided as one example of an information output unit that, before the color in an image is converted, outputs identification information identifying the first color conversion information in the case in which the positional relationship is the first positional relationship, and outputs identification information identifying the second color conversion information in the case in which the positional relationship is the second positional relationship. 
     Furthermore, the color converter  45  executes color conversion using the acquired profile on the image acquired by the image acquisition unit  44 . In the present exemplary embodiment, the color converter  45  is provided as one example of a color converter that converts the colors in an image. 
     The image output unit  46  transmits the image color-converted by the color converter  45  included in print data to the image forming device  50 . In the present exemplary embodiment, the image output unit  46  is provided as one example of an image output unit that outputs a color-converted image. 
     [Operations of Print Server] 
     (Operations During Profile Creation) 
       FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating an example of a profile creation screen  300  that the print server  30  displays on the display device  35  during profile creation. As illustrated in the diagram, the profile creation screen  300  includes selection items  301 ,  302 , and  303 , and also a button  304 . 
     Among these, the selection item  301  is a selection item for selecting whether the type of profile to create is the profile in the case of using CMYK toner only or the profile in the case of using white toner. The selection item  302  is a selection item for selecting whether the white toner engine position is the position (#1) for overprinting or the position (#6) for underprinting. The selection item  303  is a selection item for selecting which medium container  530  to use from among multiple medium containers  530 . 
     Also, the button  304  is a button for carrying out the creation of a profile using the information selected in the selection items  301 ,  302 , and  303 . 
       FIG. 9  is a flowchart illustrating exemplary operations during profile creation of the print server  30 . Note that these operations are started by pressing the button  304  in  FIG. 8 . 
     In the print server  30 , first, the profile creator  41  receives the selection of the type of profile performed with respect to the selection item  301  (step  401 ). Additionally, it is determined whether the selected type of profile is one for the case of using white toner or one for the case of using CMYK toner only (step  402 ). 
     As a result, if it is determined that the selected type of profile is one for the case of using white toner, the profile creator  41  receives the selection of the white toner engine position performed with respect to the selection item  302  (step  403 ). Also, the profile creator  41  receives the selection of the medium container  530  performed with respect to the selection item  303  (step  404 ). Herein, assume that the print server  30  holds medium stock information indicating what types of media are contained in each medium container  530  of the image forming device  50 . Accordingly, the profile creator  41  references the medium stock information to specify the type of medium contained in the medium container  530  selected in step  404  (step  405 ). Subsequently, the profile creator  41  advances the process to step  406 . 
     On the other hand, if it is determined that the selected type of profile is one for the case of using CMYK toner only, the profile creator  41  advances the process to step  406 , without executing steps  403  to  405 . 
     Subsequently, according to the instructions of the profile creator  41 , the image output unit  46  outputs a chart image using white (W), yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) to the image forming device  50  (step  406 ). 
     With this arrangement, the image forming device  50  forms the chart image on a medium. At this time, the colorimetric sensor  550  of the image forming device  50  obtains colorimetric data by colorimetrically measuring the medium on which the chart image is formed. Alternatively, a colorimetric device other than the colorimetric sensor  550  of the image forming device  50  may be configured to obtain colorimetric data by colorimetrically measuring the medium on which the chart image is formed. Subsequently, in the print server  30 , the colorimetric data acquisition unit  42  acquires the colorimetric data obtained in this way (step  407 ). 
     After that, the profile creator  41  creates a profile (step  408 ). Specifically, if it is determined in step  402  that the selected type of profile is one for the case of using white toner, a profile associating the white toner engine position selected in step  403  and the type of medium specified in step  405  is created. Note that, in the case in which the profile created here is associated with the engine position #1, the profile corresponds to the white toner overprint profile described above, whereas in the case in which the profile created here is associated with the engine position #6, the profile corresponds to the white toner underprint profile described above. Also, in the case of determining in step  402  that the selected type of profile is one for the case of using CMYK toner only, a profile is created without making such an association. Note that the profile created here corresponds to the CMYK-only profile described above. 
     Note that the profile created in this way is stored in the profile storage  43 . 
     (Operations when Using Profile Triggered by White Toner Engine Position) 
       FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating an example of a profile selection screen  350  that the print server  30  displays on the display device  35  when using a profile triggered by the white toner engine position. As illustrated in the diagram, the profile creation screen  350  includes selection items  351  and  352 . 
     Among these, the selection item  351  is a selection item for selecting the position of the image forming unit  51  for special toner (hereinafter called the “special toner engine position”). The selection item  352  is a selection item for selecting a profile to use. In the present exemplary embodiment, when the special toner engine position is selected in the selection item  351 , a profile corresponding to the special toner engine position is displayed selected in the selection item  352 , thereby reducing complexity due to the user manually selecting the profile to use from among a large number of profiles. 
       FIG. 11  is a flowchart illustrating exemplary operations of the print sever  30  when using the profile triggered by the white toner engine position. 
     In the print server  30 , first, the image acquisition unit  44  acquires an image obtained by rasterizing print instruction data (step  451 ). 
     Next, the color converter  45  receives the selection of a special toner engine position performed with respect to the selection item  351  (step  452 ). Additionally, it is determined whether or not the image forming unit  51 W for white toner is installed at the selected engine position (step  453 ). 
     As a result, if it is determined that the image forming unit  51 W for white toner is not installed at the selected engine position, the color converter  45  executes color conversion using the CMYK-only profile from among the profiles stored in the profile storage  43  (step  454 ). 
     On the other hand, if it is determined that the image forming unit  51 W for white toner is installed at the selected engine position, the color converter  45  determines whether the selected engine position is #1 or #6 (step  455 ). Subsequently, if it is determined that the selected engine position is #1, the color converter  45  executes color conversion using the white toner overprint profile (step  456 ). At this time, the name of the white toner overprint profile may be displayed in the selection item  352 . Also, if it is determined that the selected engine position is #6, the color converter  45  executes color conversion using the white toner underprint profile (step  457 ). At this time, the name of the white toner underprint profile may be displayed in the selection item  352 . 
     After that, the image output unit  46  outputs the image subjected to color conversion in step  454 , step  456 , or step  457  to the image forming device  50  (step  458 ). 
     (Operations when Using Profile Triggered by Type of Medium) 
       FIG. 12  is a diagram illustrating an example of a profile selection screen  370  that the print server  30  displays on the display device  35  when using a profile triggered by the type of medium. As illustrated in the diagram, the profile creation screen  370  includes selection items  371  and  372 . 
     Among these, the selection item  371  is a selection item for selecting the medium container  530 . The selection item  372  is a selection item for selecting a profile to use. In the present exemplary embodiment, when the medium container  530  is selected in the selection item  371 , a profile corresponding to a white toner engine position suitable for the type of medium contained in the medium container  530  is displayed selected in the selection item  372 , thereby reducing complexity due to the user manually selecting the profile to use from among a large number of profiles. 
       FIG. 13  is a flowchart illustrating exemplary operations of the print sever  30  when using the profile triggered by the type of medium. 
     In the print server  30 , first, the image acquisition unit  44  acquires an image obtained by rasterizing print instruction data (step  471 ). 
     Next, the color converter  45  receives the selection of a medium container  530  performed with respect to the selection item  371  (step  472 ). Additionally, it is determined whether or not a special medium is contained in the selected medium container  530  (step  473 ). It is sufficient to make the determination on the basis of the medium stock information indicating what types of media are contained in each medium container  530  of the image forming device  50 . 
     As a result, if it is determined that a special medium is not contained in the selected medium container  530 , or in other words, if it is determined that, for example, white paper is contained in the selected medium container  530 , the color converter  45  executes color conversion using the CMYK-only profile from among the profiles stored in the profile storage  43  (step  474 ). 
     On the other hand, if it is determined that a special medium is contained in the selected medium container  530 , the color converter  45  checks the white toner engine position (step  475 ). Additionally, it is determined whether or not the image forming unit  51 W for white toner is installed (step  476 ). Subsequently, if it is determined that the image forming unit  51 W for white toner is not installed, the color converter  45  executes color conversion using the CMYK-only profile from among the profiles stored in the profile storage  43  (step  474 ). Also, if it is determined that the image forming unit  51 W for white toner is installed, the color converter  45  determines the position at which the image forming unit  51 W for white toner is installed (step  477 ). 
     As a result, if it is determined that the image forming units  51 W for white toner are installed at both the #1 and #6 positions, the color converter  45  determines what type of special medium is contained in the selected medium container  530  (step S 478 ). It is sufficient to make the determination on the basis of the medium stock information. Subsequently, if it is determined that the type of special medium is a transparent medium, since white toner is often overprinted, the color converter  45  executes color conversion using the white toner overprint profile from among the profiles stored in the profile storage  43  (step  479 ). At this time, the name of the white toner overprint profile may be displayed in the selection item  372 . Also, if it is determined that the type of special medium is a colored medium, since white toner is underprinted, the color converter  45  executes color conversion using the white toner underprint profile from among the profiles stored in the profile storage  43  (step  480 ). At this time, the name of the white toner underprint profile may be displayed in the selection item  372 . 
     Also, if it is determined that the image forming unit  51 W for white toner is installed at the #1 position only, the color converter  45  executes color conversion using the white toner overprint profile (step  479 ). At this time, the name of the white toner overprint profile may be displayed in the selection item  372 . Also, in this case, if a transparent medium is contained in the medium container  530  selected in step  472 , there is no issue since the overprinting normally desired by the user is executed, but if a colored medium is contained in the medium container  530  selected in step  472 , the underprinting normally desired by the user is not executed. Consequently, it may be configured such that the processes from step  479  are executed only in the case in which a transparent medium is contained in the medium container  530 , whereas the processes from step  479  are not executed in the case in which a colored medium is contained in the medium container  530 . 
     Furthermore, if it is determined that the image forming unit  51 W for white toner is installed at the #6 position only, the color converter  45  executes color conversion using the white toner underprint profile (step  480 ). At this time, the name of the white toner underprint profile may be displayed in the selection item  372 . Also, in this case, if a colored medium is contained in the medium container  530  selected in step  472 , there is no issue since the underprinting normally desired by the user is executed, but if a transparent medium is contained in the medium container  530  selected in step  472 , the overprinting normally desired by the user is not executed. Consequently, it may be configured such that the processes from step  480  are executed only in the case in which a colored medium is contained in the medium container  530 , whereas the processes from step  480  are not executed in the case in which a transparent medium is contained in the medium container  530 . 
     After that, the image output unit  46  outputs the image subjected to color conversion in step  474 , step  479 , or step  480  to the image forming device  50  (step  481 ). 
     [Modification of Present Embodiment] 
     In the foregoing, an image forming device  50  in which six image forming units  51 W 1 ,  51 Y,  51 M,  51 C,  51 K, and  51 W 6  are disposed in that order from the upstream side is presupposed, and the profile is switched between the case of using the image forming unit  51 W for white toner in the #1 position farthest upstream and the case of using the image forming unit  51 W 6  for white toner in the #6 position farthest downstream, but the configuration is not limited to the above. An image forming device  50  in which five image forming units  51 W,  51 Y,  51 M,  51 C, and  51 K are arrangeable may be presupposed, and the profile may be switched between the case in which the image forming unit  51 W for white toner is arranged in the #1 position farthest upstream, and the case in which the image forming unit  51 W for white toner is arranged in the #5 position farthest downstream. Herein, it is sufficient to achieve the change between the state in which the image forming unit  51 W for white toner is arranged in the #1 position farthest upstream and the state in which the image forming unit  51 W for white toner is arranged in the #5 position farthest downstream by, for example, interchanging the image forming unit  51 W and the image forming unit  51 K from the state in which the five image forming units  51 W,  51 Y,  51 M,  51 C, and  51 K are arranged in that order from the upstream side. 
     Also, in the foregoing, both the process of creating a profile and the process of performing color conversion using the profile are executed on the print server  30 , but at least one of these processes may also be executed on a controller inside the image forming device  50 . 
     [Program] 
     Processes executed by the print server  30  or a controller of the image forming device  50  according to the present exemplary embodiment are prepared as a program such as application software, for example. 
     In other words, a program that realizes the present exemplary embodiment may be treated as a program for causing a computer to achieve an image acquisition function of acquiring an image to print onto a medium, a color conversion function of converting color in the image acquired by the image acquisition function depending on a positional relationship between a white image forming section that forms an image on the medium with white color material and a color image forming section that forms an image on the medium with colored color material, and an image output function of outputting the image whose color is converted by the color conversion function. 
     Note that a program realizing an exemplary embodiment obviously may be provided via a communication medium, and may also be provided by being stored on a recording medium such as CD-ROM. 
     The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.