Printing apparatus, control method, and program

Abstract

To prevent printing from being executed with a setting not intended by a user.SOLUTION: A printing apparatus is capable of printing using special color recording material. Acquisition means acquires print data including image data about an image to be printed. Display control means displays a preview screen of the image to be printed on a display section of the printing apparatus. The display control means displays at least one of options of a plurality of printing modes having different degree of use of the special color recording material on the display section according to information concerning special color printing included in the print data together with the preview screen.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing device, a printing method, an information processing device, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, spot color printing using spot colors, which differ from normal printing using normal process colors (CMYK), has been known. In spot color printing, an image is printed using spot color recording materials (ink, toner, etc.) such as transparent, metallic, or fluorescent colors. By using spot color printing, it is possible to print high-quality images that cannot be achieved with normal process colors. One example of a method for generating print data for spot color printing is to replace a specific process color with a spot color. Patent Document 1 proposes an information processing device that generates image data by replacing portions of a specific process color whose density meets a predetermined condition with a spot color. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-213114 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, a printing device may execute printing according to the settings of a print command included in print data acquired from an information processing device or the like, or according to the settings included in the header of the image data. For example, such settings include paper size, single-sided / double-sided printing, and aggregate printing (4-in-1 or 2-in-1). Furthermore, a printing device may execute printing according to not only the settings included in the print command, but also the device's internal settings stored on the printing device. Therefore, depending on the settings that take priority, printing may be executed according to settings unintended by the user.

[0005] The present invention provides a technique for preventing printing from being executed with settings that are not intended by the user. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, A printing device capable of printing using a special color recording material, an acquisition means for acquiring print data including image data for an image to be printed; a display control means for displaying a preview screen of the image to be printed on a display unit of the printing device, the display control means displays, on the display unit, together with the preview screen, at least one of a plurality of print mode options with different degrees of use of spot color recording material, according to information on spot color printing included in the print data. A printing device is provided. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent printing from being executed with settings that are not intended by the user. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an image processing system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of a printing apparatus. [Figure 3] 3A and 3B are diagrams showing the configuration of print data generated by an information processing apparatus. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an image based on image data. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a display unit. [Figure 6] 4A to 4C are diagrams showing examples of preview screens displayed on a display panel. [Figure 7] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of processing by a CPU. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of processing by a CPU. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of processing by a CPU. [Figure 10] 8(a) is a diagram showing the display state of the display unit when the flowchart of FIG. 7 is executed, and FIG. 8(b) is a diagram showing the display state of the display unit when the flowchart of FIG. 8 is executed. [Figure 11] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of processing by a CPU. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention claimed. Although multiple features are described in the embodiments, not all of these multiple features are necessarily essential to the invention, and multiple features may be combined arbitrarily. Furthermore, in the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same or similar components, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[0010] First Embodiment (System Configuration) Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an image processing system 1 according to a first embodiment. The image processing system 1 is a system for executing printing of an image using print data 310 (see Figs. 3(a) and 3(b)), and includes a printing device 100 and an information processing device 110. The printing device 100 and the information processing device 110 are configured to be able to communicate with each other via a network 120.

[0011] The printing device 100 executes printing using print data 310 received from the information processing device 110. The printing device 100 is capable of normal printing using process colors (CMYK) and spot color printing using spot color recording materials. Various printing methods can be adopted for the printing device 100, such as inkjet printing, electrophotography, offset printing, and screen printing. In the following description, the printing device 100 is assumed to be an inkjet printing device that forms an image by ejecting ink onto a recording medium.

[0012] The information processing device 110 generates print data 310 and transmits the print data 310 to the printing device 100 via the network 120. Details of the print data 310 will be described later. The information processing device 110 may be, for example, a desktop PC (personal computer), a notebook PC, a tablet terminal, a smartphone, or a print server. Here, the information processing device 110 is shown as a single element, but multiple information processing devices 110 may be connected to each other via the network 120 to form a print server.

[0013] The network 120 is a computer network that enables data communication between the information processing device 110 and the printing device 100. The network 120 can be classified, for example, into a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), or the Internet depending on its scale. A LAN is constructed using, for example, a universal serial bus (USB) connection, a wireless LAN connection using Wi-Fi (registered trademark), or a wired LAN connection using a LAN cable. Furthermore, by using the Internet, it is also possible to transmit print data 310 stored on a cloud server to the printing device 100 via the Internet. For example, TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) can be used as a communication protocol for network communication. Using TCP / IP enables communication between various information processing devices 110, such as PCs, and the printing device 100.

[0014] (Hardware configuration) 2 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of the printing device 100. Each component can send and receive control signals via a bus 213.

[0015] The CPU (Central Processing Unit) 201 is a system control unit that performs overall control of the printing device 100. The volatile memory 202 is, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory) and operates as a work area for the CPU 201. The non-volatile memory 203 is, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory) and stores the CPU 201's control program, an operating system (OS) program, and print settings specified and set by the user via an operation unit. The CPU 201 executes various processes (for example, the processes shown in the flowchart in FIG. 7) by reading the control program stored in the non-volatile memory 203 into the volatile memory 202 and executing it. The volatile memory 202 is also used to store program control variables, etc. The volatile memory 202 is also used as a buffer for temporarily storing image data 300.

[0016] The HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 204 is used to store print data 310 received by the printing device 100. The interface (I / F) unit 209 relays the transmission and reception of signals with external devices. For example, print data 310 transmitted from the information processing device 110 is stored in the HDD 204 via the network 120 and the I / F unit 209. That is, the I / F unit 209 may include a communication interface. The I / F unit 209 may also include a port, such as a USB port, to which other storage devices can be connected.

[0017] The print data analysis unit 205 analyzes the print command 311 included in the print data 310 stored in the HDD 204 and reflects the print settings in the print job to be executed. The print command 311 will be described later (see FIG. 3(a)). The image data processing unit 206 processes the image data 300 included in the print data 310. For example, the image data processing unit 206 expands the compressed image data 300 to convert it into a printable data size. In this embodiment, the image data processing unit 206 can also determine whether the image data 300 contains pixel values ​​set for spot color printing. The display unit 207 displays various information. Details will be described later (see FIG. 5).

[0018] The scanner unit 208 is equipped with an ADF (automatic document feeder) and an FBS (flatbed scanner), and can read documents automatically fed by the ADF and read (scan) documents placed on the platen of the FBS by the user. The CPU 201 can generate print data 310 using the luminance signal (RGB, YCC, etc.) of the read scanned image as input, and store the generated print data 310 in the HDD 204.

[0019] The printing device 100 also includes a paper feed unit 210, a paper discharge unit 211, and a print head 212. When a print command is issued via the operation panel 520 or the information processing device 110 and printable data is stored in the volatile memory 202, the paper feed unit 210 transports the recording medium to a recording position for the print head 212 based on a command from the CPU 201. The print head 212 ejects ink onto the recording medium to form an image. The paper discharge unit 211 transports and discharges the recording medium on which the image has been formed. In this embodiment, the print head 212 is equipped with inks such as fluorescent colors called spot colors (hereinafter referred to as spot color inks) in addition to process color (CMYK) inks (hereinafter referred to as normal inks).

[0020] Regular inks are inks used to print process colors (normal colors), and are inks of colors such as cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K), which are the basis of process colors. A process color is a color expressed using one color from CMYK, or a combination of two or more colors from CMYK. In process color printing, regular inks are used, and the special color inks described below are not used.

[0021] Special color ink is ink that produces a special color (also called a spot color), and for example, the color that is produced during printing cannot be displayed in the SRGB color space. In other words, the printing device 100 is configured to be capable of spot color printing, which is printing using spot color ink (that is, special color ink, hereinafter also called spot color ink) other than normal ink.

[0022] Spot color inks may include fluorescent pink ink, fluorescent orange ink, and the like. In other words, spot colors are colors that differ from process colors and cannot be expressed using only one CMYK color or a combination of two or more CMYK colors. However, this is not limited to this, and the number and colors of spot color inks may be arbitrary, and non-fluorescent color inks may also be used. For example, violet ink, green ink, orange ink, gold ink, silver ink, and the like may be used as spot color inks. Other metallic color inks may also be used. Furthermore, inks blended with spot color inks and other inks (e.g., regular inks) may also be treated as spot color inks. In other words, in spot color ink printing, at least spot color inks are used, but both spot color inks and regular inks may also be used. In spot color printing, pixels with pixel values ​​corresponding to the spot color are printed using the spot color. The pixel values ​​corresponding to the spot color may also be used as pixel values ​​corresponding to colors expressed using regular inks alone (i.e., regular colors). In other words, the same pixel value as the pixel value corresponding to the spot color may also be set for a pixel corresponding to a color expressed only with normal ink. In such a case, whether or not special ink is used to print the pixel with that pixel value is controlled by whether or not instruction information for spot color printing is added to the print data.

[0023] (Print data configuration) 3(a) and 3(b) are diagrams showing the configuration of print data 310 generated by the information processing device 110. The print data 310 is made up of a print command 311 and image data 300.

[0024] The print command 311 includes commands related to print settings such as paper size, single-sided / double-sided printing, and aggregate printing (4-in-1 or 2-in-1). In this embodiment, the print command 311 also includes a command related to spot color printing settings, which determine whether or not to print spot colors. As will be described in detail later, the printing device 100 switches the preview display based on the spot color printing settings, which determine whether or not to print spot colors, and the image data 300. Note that if spot color printing is set to be performed, the print command 311 includes a command related to the spot color printing settings, which indicates whether or not to print spot colors. However, if spot color printing is not set to be performed, the print command 311 may not include a command related to the spot color printing settings, which determines whether or not to print spot colors. The printing device 100 may recognize that spot color printing is not set to be performed when the print command 311 does not include a command related to the spot color printing settings, which determines whether or not to print spot colors.

[0025] The print command 311 is written in XML format. For example, the start tag and the closing tag The character string enclosed in can be set as print setting A. FIG. 3(b) shows examples of double-sided / single-sided settings and spot color printing settings. The print data analysis unit 205 can analyze this tag and read out the print settings. The read out print settings are stored in the volatile memory 202 and set as print job settings when printing is executed.

[0026] Image data 300 includes a header 312 and pixel data 320. The header 312 contains information about the image data 300, including, in this embodiment, information specifying pixel values ​​for spot color printing, the file format, and pixel data size. The pixel data 320 contains pixel values ​​for each pixel of the image to be printed. In this embodiment, the file format of the image data 300 is RGB format, and the pixel data 320 has pixel values ​​for red (R), green (G), and blue (B) for each pixel. For convenience, in the following description, when simply referring to a pixel value, it is assumed to mean a vector value composed of pixel values ​​for the three components red (R), green (G), and blue (B), and the pixel value is expressed as [R, G, B] = [253, 253, 253], for example. The pixel value may also be expressed as an RGB value.

[0027] Next, we will specifically describe the information specifying pixel values ​​for spot color printing, which is included in the header 312 of the image data 300. For example, in the example of FIG. 3B, the pixel values ​​specified for spot color printing (spot color printing specified pixels) are [R, G, B] = [253, 253, 253], [254, 254, 254]. For example, the pixel values ​​[R, G, B] = [254, 254, 254] and [253, 253, 253] can be assigned to fluorescent pink and fluorescent yellow, respectively. For example, if the spot color printing setting of the print command 311 is "print spot color," pixels in the pixel data 320 with pixel values ​​[R, G, B] = [253, 253, 253] are printed using fluorescent pink. That is, the image data 300 includes the spot color printing setting of the print command 311 and the pixel values ​​of each pixel in the pixel data 320 as information related to spot color printing.

[0028] Any value can be specified as the pixel value indicating the spot color. The assignment of the corresponding fluorescent color can be described in the image data as described here, or can be stored in the main body of the printing device 100. While two pixel values ​​are used as an example for specifying spot color printing, the number of pixel values ​​set for spot color printing is not limited to this, and can be one, three, or more. The number can be changed depending on the type of spot color ink that the printing device 100 can eject.

[0029] (Generating print data) In this embodiment, print data 310 is generated in the information processing device 110. In detail, application software is installed in the information processing device 110 that can generate print data 310 including image data 300 and print commands 311 and cause the printing device 100 to execute printing based on the generated print data 310. The information processing device 110 also has installed therein application software (application program) that sets objects and pixel values ​​to be printed in spot colors for the image data 300 of the image to be printed. An example of such application software is Illustrator (registered trademark), but is not limited to this.

[0030] Image data 300 generated by application software may be raster data expressed in RGB format, or vector data expressed by objects such as graphics, coordinates, and color information. For example, raster data is a file format such as JPEG that compresses RGB data. In the case of raster data, the object to be printed in the spot color in the application software may be specified by specifying an area of ​​any pixel value (for example, the pixel value [R, G, B] = [253, 253, 253] indicating fluorescent pink).

[0031] The application software can also display an area for accepting a selection of whether to set spot color printing, and switches between setting spot color printing and not based on an operation in the area. Specifically, for example, the application software can display a fluorescent pink spot color printing setting. The fluorescent pink spot color printing setting is an area for accepting a selection of whether to enable spot color printing (fluorescent pink spot color printing) for printing pixels having pixel values ​​corresponding to fluorescent pink in fluorescent pink. Note that if fluorescent pink spot color printing is not enabled, pixels having pixel values ​​corresponding to fluorescent pink are printed in a process color other than fluorescent pink. Therefore, the area can also be considered an area for accepting a selection of whether to print pixels having a specific pixel value in fluorescent pink or in a process color other than fluorescent pink. Furthermore, for example, the area can also be considered an area for accepting a selection of whether to print using spot color ink or using regular ink without using spot color ink.

[0032] When the check box is checked and fluorescent pink spot color printing is set, instruction information is added to the print data generated by the application software to instruct the printing device 100 to print using fluorescent pink. This instruction information corresponds to a spot color print setting that indicates spot color printing. If the print data to which this instruction information is added contains a pixel with a pixel value that corresponds to fluorescent pink, the printing device 100 will execute printing using fluorescent pink spot color ink based on the print data.

[0033] If the checkbox is unchecked and fluorescent pink spot color printing is not set, instruction information instructing the printing device 100 to print using fluorescent pink is not added to the print data generated by the application software. In this case, a spot color print setting indicating that spot color printing is not to be performed may be added to the print data. Even if print data to which this instruction information is not added contains pixels with pixel values ​​corresponding to fluorescent pink, fluorescent pink spot color ink is not used to print those pixels, and only regular ink is used. Note that other spot color print settings may be displayed in the same way as the fluorescent pink spot color print setting. When spot color printing is set, spot color ink is ejected at pixels with the specified pixel values ​​in print data for which spot color printing is specified.

[0034] The print data generated as described above may be transmitted from the information processing device 110 to the printing device 100 via a network, or may be stored in a memory provided in the information processing device 110. The memory provided in the information processing device 110 may be an external memory attached to the information processing device 110. The external memory may be a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, an SD card, an external hard disk, or the like.

[0035] The program that receives print settings from the user and generates the print data 310 is not limited to the application program described above, but may be, for example, a printer driver or an OS.

[0036] (Example of spot color printing) Here, an example of a printing device 100 is described in which, when spot color printing is set in the application software, the printing device 100 uses spot color ink and is capable of printing in six predetermined colors (special colors) using the spot color. When spot color printing is set in the application software, pixels in the print data that have specific pixel values ​​corresponding to the set spot color are printed using spot color ink. In this embodiment, specific pixel values ​​are assigned to each of the six predetermined colors.

[0037] In this embodiment, specific pixel values ​​are, for example, R=254, G=254, and B=254. Pixels with these pixel values ​​are printed in fluorescent pink, a special color, by using fluorescent pink ink. That is, the pixel value corresponding to fluorescent pink is [R, G, B]=[254, 254, 254]. Specific pixel values ​​are, for example, R=253, G=253, and B=253. Pixels with these pixel values ​​are printed in fluorescent yellow, a special color, by using fluorescent yellow ink. That is, the pixel value corresponding to fluorescent yellow is [R, G, B]=[253, 254, 254]. Also, specific pixel values ​​are, for example, R=255, G=85, and B=0. Pixels with these pixel values ​​are printed in orange, a special color, by using a blend of fluorescent pink ink, M, and Y inks. That is, the pixel value corresponding to orange is [R, G, B]=[255, 85, 0].

[0038] For example, if orange ink is available as spot color ink, printing in orange may be performed by using only orange ink. In other words, pixels with specific pixel values ​​corresponding to the spot color need only be printed using at least the spot color ink, and may or may not be printed by blending it with regular ink. As described above, even in spot color printing, pixels that do not have specific pixel values ​​corresponding to the spot color are printed using only regular ink. Spot color printing is performed only when spot color printing is enabled by user operation. In other words, if the spot color printing setting is not enabled, pixels with specific pixel values ​​corresponding to the spot color are also printed using only regular ink, with the pixel values ​​referenced as normal.

[0039] Specifically, if the application software enables the fluorescent pink spot color print setting and the pixel values ​​of pixels included in the transmitted print data are R=255, G=0, and B=255, the printing device 100 can perform spot color printing using fluorescent pink ink. The same is true for other spot colors. In other words, if the application software enables the print setting for each spot color and the pixel values ​​of pixels included in the transmitted print data correspond to that spot color, the printing device 100 can perform corresponding spot color printing. However, if the printer driver 103 has enabled the spot color print setting but the print data does not contain pixels with the above-mentioned specific pixel values ​​corresponding to spot color printing, spot color printing is not possible.

[0040] (An example of an image based on image data) 4 is a diagram showing an example of an image 300a based on image data 300. The image 300a is The image data includes the characters "12 / 1" 401, the characters "OPEN" 402, a coffee cup 403, and a background 404. The file format of this image data is RGB, and each is represented by an 8-bit value. For example, a user uses application software installed on the information processing device 110 to create image 300a by embedding the characters "12 / 1" 401 and the characters "OPEN" 402 into an original image consisting of a coffee cup 403 and a background 404. The characters "12 / 1" 401 and the characters "OPEN" 402 are data having their own pixel values. For example, the characters "12 / 1" 401 are data having pixel values ​​[R,G,B]=[254,254,254], and the characters "OPEN" 402 are data having pixel values ​​[R,G,B]=[253,253,253].

[0041] As shown in Figure 3(b), the print command 311 includes a spot color printing setting. For example, if the spot color printing setting is set to "Print spot color," the pixels whose pixel values ​​are indicated by the spot color printing designation pixel included in the header 312 of the image data 300 will be printed in spot color. The spot color printing designation pixel values ​​are [253,253,253] and [254,254,254]. Therefore, the characters "12 / 1" 401 are assigned a pink fluorescent color, which is a spot color, and the characters "OPEN" 402 are assigned a yellow fluorescent color, which is also a spot color.

[0042] On the other hand, the coffee cup 403 and background 404 are data having pixel values ​​(RGB values) for which no special color is specified, and are objects that are normally printed with normal ink.

[0043] (Display unit) 5 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the display unit 207 (display section). The display unit 207 includes an operation panel 520 that allows the user to operate the printing device 100, and a display panel 510 that displays a preview screen of the image 300a to be printed before printing is executed. In this embodiment, the CPU 201 executes display control to display the preview screen of the image 300a to be printed on the display unit 207. Furthermore, the display unit 207 of this embodiment also functions as an input device for the user to input operations, as will be described in detail below.

[0044] In this embodiment, a display panel 510 is disposed on the left side of the display unit 207 for displaying a preview of an image based on image data 300. The display panel 510 is a touch panel compatible liquid crystal display, allowing the user to select objects such as text and graphics in the image displayed on the display panel 510. The display panel 510 allows the user to check whether the image will be printed in spot colors as intended.

[0045] For example, the display panel 510 can indicate to the user that the characters "12 / 1" 401 and "OPEN" 402, which are designated for spot color printing, are designated for spot color printing by flashing these characters. In addition, the display panel 510 displays the coffee cup 403 and background 404, which are not designated for spot color printing, without flashing. This allows the user to recognize the object designated for spot color printing by the difference in the way it is displayed from other objects.

[0046] In this embodiment, an operation panel 520 is disposed on the right side of the display unit 207. The operation panel 520 is a touch panel compatible liquid crystal display, similar to the display panel 510. The user can instruct the operation of the printing device 100 by pressing each button displayed on the operation panel 520 as desired.

[0047] 5, an option (i) button 521, an option (j) button 522, an option (k) button 523, an option (l) button 524, and a confirm button 525 are displayed on the operation panel 520. That is, the display unit 207 can display a preview screen on the display panel 510, as well as a plurality of options (option (i) button 521 to option (l) button 524) for specifying the print mode on the operation panel 520. After checking the preview screen displayed on the display panel 510, the user can select an option displayed on the operation panel 520 without switching the screen display, and determine the print mode of the printing device 100. The buttons for each option will be described below.

[0048] The option (i) button 521 is a button for selecting spot color printing for one or more objects that have been specified for spot color printing. The option (j) button 522 is a button for selecting whether or not to print each object that can be printed in spot color in an individual manner. In other words, the option (j) button 522 is a button selected when printing some of the objects that can be printed in spot color in spot color. The option (k) button 523 is a button for selecting normal printing and canceling the spot color printing designation for all objects that can be printed in spot color. Alternatively, the option (k) button 523 is a button for selecting normal printing when the image data 300 does not contain any objects that can be printed in spot color. The option (l) button 524 is a button for selecting the option to cancel printing. The confirm button 525 is a button for selecting the printing mode of the printing device 100. The user checks the preview screen, which changes depending on the option buttons and the object selected on the preview screen, and presses the confirm button 525 when the desired settings are met. As a result, the printing mode of the printing device 100 is determined.

[0049] Here, the options selectable using option (i) button 521 to option (k) button 523 are multiple printing mode options with different levels of spot color ink (spot color recording material) usage. That is, option (i) button 521 is a button for selecting the printing mode option with the highest level of spot color ink usage (printing all objects specified for spot color printing in spot color). option (k) button 523 is a button for selecting the printing mode option with the lowest level of spot color ink usage (cancelling the spot color printing specification for all objects that can be spot color printed). option (j) button 522 is a button for selecting the printing mode option with a level of spot color ink usage between the above two (printing some of the objects that can be spot color printed in spot color). In this way, by being presented with multiple printing mode options with different levels of spot color ink usage, the user can instruct printing device 100 to print in a mode that better suits their intentions.

[0050] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as will be described in detail later, options to be displayed on the operation panel 520 are displayed according to the information about spot color printing included in the acquired image data 300. Because an option is selected according to the information about spot color printing, options that meet the user's intentions can be presented.

[0051] In addition to the operation panel 520, the display unit 207 may be provided with a numeric keypad for inputting numbers, a STOP button for canceling the printing operation or other operations of the printing device 100, and the like. At least some of these keys and buttons may be configured as hard keys rather than a touch panel. In this embodiment, the display unit 207 has two independent panels (display panel 510 and operation panel 520), but a single panel may have an area for displaying a preview screen and an area for displaying option buttons. In other words, the display unit 207 may be configured to simultaneously display a preview screen and option buttons, and the specific structure and the like may be modified as appropriate.

[0052] (Example of preview screen) 6(a) to 6(c) are diagrams showing examples of preview screens displayed on display panel 510. FIG.

[0053] Fig. 6(a) shows a preview screen when all objects that can be printed in spot colors are printed in spot colors. For example, when option (i) button 521 is selected, the preview screen in Fig. 6(a) is displayed. In Fig. 6(a), the characters "12 / 1" 401 and the characters "OPEN" 402 are displayed by blinking or the like so that they can be distinguished from objects that are normally printed with normal ink.

[0054] FIG. 6(b) shows a preview screen when some of the objects that can be printed in spot color are printed in spot color. For example, when option (j) button 522 is selected and the spot color printing designation for the characters "12 / 1" is canceled, the preview screen of FIG. 6(b) is displayed. FIG. 6(b) shows a preview screen when the characters "OPEN" 402 are printed in spot color and the characters "12 / 1" are printed in normal color instead of spot color. For example, when the preview screen shown in FIG. 6(a) is displayed on the display panel 510, if the user selects option (j) button 522 and selects the characters "12 / 1" 401 on the display panel 510, the preview screen switches to the preview screen of FIG. 6(b). In other words, the spot color printing designation for the characters "12 / 1" is canceled, and the characters "12 / 1" 401 are changed to the characters "12 / 1" 601. The characters "12 / 1" 601 do not blink or the like and are displayed so that it can be recognized as an object that is normally printed with normal ink.

[0055] FIG. 6(c) shows a preview screen when all objects are printed normally. For example, when the option (k) button 523 is selected, the preview screen in FIG. 6(c) is displayed. The characters "12 / 1" 601 show the state in which the spot color printing designation for the characters "12 / 1" that can be printed in spot color has been canceled, and the characters "OPEN" 602 show the state in which the spot color printing designation for the characters "OPEN" that can be printed in spot color has been canceled. In FIG. 6(c), the characters "12 / 1" 601 and the characters "OPEN" 602 are displayed without blinking or the like, so that it is recognizable that they are objects that will be printed normally with normal ink.

[0056] The user selects, for example, the characters "12 / 1" 401 in the image 300a previewed on the display panel 510, and then presses the option (j) button 522 on the operation panel 520. The preview display on the display panel 510 then switches from FIG. 6(a) to FIG. 6(b), indicating that the spot color printing designation for the characters "12 / 1" 601 has been canceled. The user can confirm this display result, and if it is as intended, press the confirm button 525 to instruct the printing device 100 to execute printing. Furthermore, when the option (k) button 523 is selected, the printing device 100 switches the preview display from FIG. 6(a) to FIG. 6(c), and displays the image 300a in a state where the spot color printing designation has been canceled for all objects that can be printed in spot colors.

[0057] Note that the example described here is one in which, after the characters "12 / 1" 401 are selected on the display panel 510, when the option (j) button 522 on the operation panel 520 is pressed, the preview display on the display panel 510 switches from Fig. 6(a) to Fig. 6(b). However, it is also possible to employ a configuration in which the spot color designation of the selected object is cancelled after the option (j) button 522 is pressed.

[0058] When the cancellation of the spot color printing designation is selected, the image data processing unit 206 switches the pixel values ​​designated for spot color printing to normal pixel values. Canceling the spot color printing designation switches to pixel values ​​for use with normal ink, resulting in normal printing. For example, suppose that cancellation of the spot color printing designation is instructed for the characters "OPEN" 402. In this case, the image data processing unit 206 replaces the pixel value [253,253,253] of fluorescent yellow designated for the characters "OPEN" 402 with the pixel value [255,255,0] of the process color yellow, and generates new image data (corrected data).

[0059] (Processing example) 7 is a flowchart showing an example of processing by the CPU 201. In this embodiment, when the printing device 100 receives (acquires) print data 310, the display content of the display unit 207 is determined based on information about spot color printing included in the print data 310. An example of this is described below. Note that this flowchart is realized when the CPU 201 reads a program stored in the non-volatile memory 203 into the volatile memory 202 and executes it, causing each component of the printing device 100 to operate.

[0060] In S700, the CPU 201 acquires the print data 310. For example, the CPU 201 acquires the print data 310 by storing the print data 310 received from the information processing device 110 via the network 120 and the I / F unit 209 in the HDD 204. The print data 310 here includes image data 300 for the image 300a to be printed.

[0061] Note that the printing device 100 can acquire the print data 310 by methods other than receiving the print data 310 from the information processing device 110. For example, the printing device 100 may acquire the print data 310 by inserting an external memory (such as a USB memory) into the printing device 100, on which print data 310 created in advance by application software is saved. In this case, the insertion of the USB memory into a USB port included in the I / F unit 209 of the printing device 100 triggers the CPU 201 to copy the print data 310 stored in the USB memory to the HDD 204. More specifically, for example, assume that with the USB memory inserted into the USB port, "Print from USB memory" (not shown) displayed on the operation panel 520 is selected. Then, the CPU 201 starts the flowchart of FIG. 7 and acquires the print data 310 stored in the USB memory at S700.

[0062] In S701, analysis of the print command 311 is executed. Based on instructions from the CPU 201, the print data analysis unit 205 analyzes the print command 311 included in the print data 310 stored in the HDD 204. In this embodiment, the print data analysis unit 205 analyzes the print command 311 written in XML format and reads out the print settings of the print data 310. The print settings read out by the print data analysis unit 205 are saved in the volatile memory 202 by the CPU 201.

[0063] In S702, the CPU 201 determines whether the spot color print setting in the read print settings is “print spot color” or “do not print spot color.” If the spot color print setting is “print spot color,” the CPU 201 proceeds to S703, and if the spot color print setting is “do not print spot color,” the CPU 201 proceeds to S705.

[0064] If the process proceeds to S703, the image data 300 is analyzed. Based on an instruction from the CPU 201, the image data processing unit 206 analyzes whether pixel values ​​designated for spot color printing are included in the pixel data 320 of the image data 300. Specifically, the image data processing unit 206 first analyzes the header 312 of the image data 300, acquires pixel values ​​designated for spot color printing, and stores them in the volatile memory 202. In the example of FIG. 3(b), the image data processing unit 206 acquires pixel values ​​designated for spot color printing [R, G, B] = [253, 253, 253], [254, 254, 254] and stores them in the volatile memory 202. The image data processing unit 206 then analyzes whether the acquired pixel values ​​designated for spot color printing are included in the pixel data 320, and stores the analysis result in the volatile memory 202. In the example of FIG. 3(b), if a pixel value designated for spot color printing is present in the pixel data 320, the image data processing unit 206 determines that a pixel value designated for spot color printing is present, and stores the result in the volatile memory 202. On the other hand, if a pixel value designated for spot color printing is not present in the pixel data 320, the image data processing unit 206 determines that a pixel value designated for spot color printing is not present, and stores the result in the volatile memory 202. Note that, as described above, in the case of raster data, an area of ​​any pixel value (for example, a pixel value [R, G, B]=[253, 253, 253] indicating fluorescent pink) can be specified as an object. Therefore, it can be said that the image data processing unit 206 determines whether an object designated for spot color printing is included.

[0065] In S704, the CPU 201 determines, based on the analysis result of S703, whether or not a pixel value designated as a spot color is included in the pixel data 320. If the pixel data 320 includes a pixel value designated as a spot color, the CPU 201 proceeds to S707; otherwise, the CPU 201 proceeds to S708.

[0066] If the process proceeds to S707, the CPU 201 displays a preview screen on the display panel 510 and also displays the option (i) button 521, the option (j) button 522, the option (l) button 524, and the enter button 525 on the operation panel 520. If the process proceeds to S707, the spot color printing setting is set to "spot color printing" and the pixel data 320 contains pixel values ​​designated as spot color (i.e., objects designated as spot color are included). In such a case, it is highly likely that the user intends to perform spot color printing. Therefore, options are displayed on the operation panel 520 so that the user can select one of the following: (1) print all objects designated as spot color in spot color; (2) individually specify whether or not to print objects designated as spot color in spot color; or (3) cancel printing. The preview screen displayed at this time is, for example, the one shown in FIG. 6(a). If the enter button 525 is selected while the option (i) button 521 or the option (j) button 522 is selected on the operation panel 520, the CPU 201 proceeds to S710. If the decision button 525 is selected while the option (l) button 524 is selected on the operation panel 520, the CPU 201 ends the flow chart without executing printing.

[0067] On the other hand, if the process proceeds to S708, the CPU 201 displays a preview screen on the display panel 510 and also displays the option (k) button 523, the option (l) button 524, and the enter button 525 on the operation panel 520. If the process proceeds to S707, the spot color printing setting is "Print spot color," but the pixel data 320 does not include a pixel value specifying a spot color. In other words, the print command 311 is set to print spot color, but no object capable of spot color printing exists. In such a case, options are displayed on the operation panel 520 so that the user can select either (1) perform normal printing without using spot color ink, or (2) cancel printing. The preview screen displayed at this time is, for example, the one shown in FIG. 6C. If the enter button 525 is selected while the option (k) button 523 is selected on the operation panel 520, the CPU 201 proceeds to S710. If the decision button 525 is selected while the option (l) button 524 is selected on the operation panel 520, the CPU 201 ends the flow chart without executing printing.

[0068] On the other hand, when the process proceeds from S702 to S705, the image data 300 is also analyzed. Specific processing is the same as in S703. Then, in S706, the CPU 201 determines whether the pixel data 320 includes a pixel value designated as a spot color. If the pixel data 320 includes a pixel value designated as a spot color, the CPU 201 proceeds to S709; if not, the CPU 201 proceeds to S710 without displaying the preview screen or various options related to spot color printing.

[0069] If the process proceeds to S709, the CPU 201 displays a preview screen on the display panel 510 and also displays a choice (i) button 521, a choice (k) button 523, a choice (l) button 524, and a confirm button 525 on the operation panel 520. If the process proceeds to S709, the spot color printing setting is “no spot color printing,” but the pixel data 320 contains pixel values ​​designated as spot color (i.e., contains objects designated as spot color). In other words, the print command 311 is set to not print spot color, but spot color printing can be executed. In such a case, options are displayed on the operation panel 520 so that the user can select one of the following: (1) print all objects designated as spot color in spot color, (2) perform normal printing without using spot color ink, or (3) cancel printing. The preview screen displayed at this time is, for example, the one shown in FIG. 6C. This allows the user to be informed that spot color printing is possible while prioritizing the setting of the print command 311 (no spot color printing). When the decision button 525 is selected with the option (i) button 521 or the option (k) button 523 selected on the operation panel 520, the CPU 201 proceeds to S710. Note that when the decision button 525 is selected with the option (l) button 524 selected on the operation panel 520, the CPU 201 ends the flowchart without executing printing.

[0070] On the other hand, if S706 is No, the process proceeds to S710 without displaying the preview screen and options as shown in S707 to S709. In other words, if the spot color print setting is "Do not print spot color" and the image data 300 does not contain any pixel values ​​designated as spot colors (i.e., does not contain any objects designated as spot colors), the CPU 201 does not display the preview screen.

[0071] Finally, in S710, the CPU 201 executes printing. The printing process itself can employ known techniques as appropriate, so a detailed description will be omitted. In summary, the CPU 201 converts the pixel data 320 expressed in RGB by the image data processing unit 206 into pixel data expressed in CMYK+spot colors. The print head 212 then records an image on a recording medium based on the converted pixel data.

[0072] Fig. 9 is a flowchart showing a specific example of the processing of S707 to S709. Fig. 9 shows the processing of the CPU 201 when updating the screen in response to a user operation while a preview screen and options are being displayed on the display unit 207.

[0073] In S901, the CPU 201 acquires input content. Specifically, the CPU 201 acquires input content from the display unit 207 regarding the selection of an object on the display panel 510 or the selection of each button on the operation panel 520. In other words, the CPU 201 accepts input to the display unit 207 by the user.

[0074] In S902, CPU 201 checks whether there has been a change in the target for spot color printing, and if there has been a change in the target, proceeds to S903; if not, proceeds to S905. Examples of cases in which there has been a change in the target include when option (j) button 522 is selected on operation panel 520, and some objects are selected on display panel 510, thereby canceling the spot color printing designation. Another example is when option (k) button 523 is selected on operation panel 520, thereby canceling the spot color printing designation for all objects that can be printed in spot color.

[0075] In S903, CPU 201 modifies the image data. For example, if option (j) button 522 is selected and the spot color printing specification for characters "12 / 1" 401 is canceled, data is generated in which the pixel values ​​of characters "12 / 1" 401 are replaced from [254,254,254] ​​to [255,255,0]. That is, CPU 201 accepts the selection of an option displayed on operation panel 520 in S901, and modifies image data 300 in S903 to correspond to the option accepted in S901.

[0076] In step S904, the CPU 201 updates the preview screen displayed on the display panel 510 based on the image data 300 corrected in step S903.

[0077] In S905, the CPU 201 checks whether the decision button 525 has been selected, and if so, proceeds to S906; if not, returns to S901. In S906, when the decision button 525 is selected, if the option (l) button 524 is selected among the option buttons displayed on the operation panel 520, the CPU 201 cancels printing. Furthermore, if a button other than the option (l) button 524 is selected, the CPU 201 proceeds to S710. In other words, if the option (l) button 524 is selected, the flowchart ends without returning to the flowchart in FIG. 7. This allows the user to cancel printing if, for example, the user finds after checking the preview screen that printing cannot be performed with the expected settings.

[0078] According to the above processing example, as shown in steps S707 to S709, the CPU 201 displays at least one of a plurality of print mode options with different degrees of use of spot color recording material on the display unit 207, in accordance with the information related to spot color printing included in the print data 310. This allows the user to select a print mode option while referring to the preview screen, enabling printing as intended.

[0079] In detail, CPU 201 controls the display of multiple print mode options (S702, S704, etc.) depending on the spot color printing setting, which is included in print command 311 and relates to whether spot color printing is to be performed, and whether image data 300 includes an object designated as a spot color. Therefore, print mode options are displayed depending on both the content of the spot color printing setting and the content of image 300a itself to be printed, so that options according to the user's intention can be presented.

[0080] The multiple print mode options that can be displayed by the operation panel 520 include an option for printing an object with a specified spot color using a spot color recording material (e.g., option (i)), and options that use a lesser amount of spot color recording material than the option (e.g., option (j) or (k)). This allows the user to set the print mode for spot color printing in more detail.

[0081] Furthermore, the printing device 100 may be configured to be able to retain print job settings previously set by the user in the non-volatile memory 203 or the like as settings on the main unit side. According to this embodiment, a preview screen and options are displayed according to information related to spot color printing included in the image data 300. Therefore, it is possible to prevent settings related to spot color printing that the user assigned to the image data 300 when the image data 300 was generated from being unintentionally changed by settings on the main unit side of the printing device 100 and then printed.

[0082] Also, if the result in step S706 is No, the CPU 201 executes printing in step S710 without displaying a preview screen on the display panel 510. This reduces the amount of work required by the user to perform printing and improves printing throughput.

[0083] Note that if the process proceeds to No in S706, CPU 201 may not display a preview on display panel 510, but may display option (l) button 524 and decision button 525 on operation panel 520. In other words, if the spot color print setting is "do not print spot color" and pixel data 320 does not contain a pixel value designated as a spot color, the user may be prompted to select whether to perform normal printing or cancel printing.

[0084] The above processing example is merely an example, and the specific processing contents and processing order can be changed as appropriate. For example, the necessary analyses (analysis of the print command 311 (S701) and analysis of the image data 300 (S703, S705)) may be performed once before proceeding to each conditional branch (S702, S704, S706).

[0085] Furthermore, in the above processing example, the display of options is divided into three patterns (four patterns if non-display is included) depending on the information related to spot color printing included in image data 300. However, the way options are displayed can be changed as appropriate. For example, if pixel data 320 contains pixel values ​​specifying a spot color, CPU 201 may display all of option (i) button 521 through option (l) button 524 on operation panel 520 regardless of the content of the spot color printing setting in print command 311.

[0086] Second Embodiment In the second embodiment, the printing device 100 is configured to be able to store print job settings set in advance by the user in the non-volatile memory 203 or the like. Specifically, in the printing device 100, either "print spot color" or "do not print spot color" is selected as the main body setting for spot color printing. The CPU 201 then switches the options to be displayed together with the preview screen based on the setting stored in the main body. Hereinafter, the same components as those in the first embodiment will be assigned the same reference numerals, and their description may be omitted.

[0087] Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of processing by the CPU 201. The same steps as those in the flowchart of Fig. 7 of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. The following description will focus on steps (S801 to S804) specific to the second embodiment.

[0088] In S702, if the result of analyzing the print command 311 in S701 indicates that the spot color print setting is "print spot color," the CPU 201 proceeds to S801; if the result is "do not print spot color," the CPU 201 proceeds to S803.

[0089] In S801, the CPU 201 checks the main body settings. The CPU 201 reads the settings stored in the nonvolatile memory 203 or the like, and checks whether the main body settings are "print spot color" or "do not print spot color."

[0090] In S802, if the result of the check in S801 indicates that the main body setting is "print spot color," the CPU 201 proceeds to S703; if the result is "do not print spot color," the CPU 201 proceeds to S705.

[0091] On the other hand, when the process proceeds from S702 to S803, the CPU 201 also checks the device settings in the same way as when the process proceeds to S801. Then, in S804, if the result of the check in S803 shows that the device settings are "print spot color," the CPU 201 proceeds to S705; if the result is "do not print spot color," the CPU 201 proceeds to S710 without displaying the preview screen or various options related to spot color printing. The processing in each step below is the same as in the flowchart of FIG. 7, but the destinations to which the process proceeds differ in some of the conditional branches. Specifically, if the answer is No in S706, the process proceeds to S710 in the flowchart of FIG. 7, but proceeds to S708 in the flowchart of FIG. 8.

[0092] The display state of the display unit 207 when the flowchart of Fig. 8 is executed will be described below in comparison with when the flowchart of Fig. 7 is executed. Fig. 10(a) is a diagram showing the display state of the display unit 207 when the flowchart of Fig. 7 is executed, and Fig. 10(b) is a diagram showing the display state of the display unit 207 when the flowchart of Fig. 8 is executed.

[0093] For example, consider a case where, as a result of analyzing the print data 310, the spot color print setting of the print command 311 is "do not print spot color" and the pixel value specified as the spot color is not included in the image data 300 (condition A). In this case, the preview screen and option buttons are not displayed in the flowchart of FIG. 7 (No in S706→S710).

[0094] 8, in the case of condition A, if the device setting is "spot color printing," the preview screen, option (k) button 523, and option (l) button 524 are displayed (S706 No → S708). Even if the spot color printing setting of the print command 311 is "do not print spot color," if the device setting is "print spot color," there is a possibility that the user intends to perform spot color printing. In such a case, by displaying the preview screen, option (k) button 523, and option (l) button 524, the user can be made aware that spot color printing will not be performed with the current image data 300.

[0095] Also, for example, consider a case where, as a result of analyzing the print data 310, the spot color print setting of the print command 311 is "do not print spot color" and the image data 300 includes pixel values ​​designated as spot colors (condition B). In this case, the flowchart in Fig. 7 displays a preview screen and option (i) button 521, option (k) button 523, and option (l) button 524 (S706 Yes → S709).

[0096] On the other hand, in the flowchart of Figure 8, even in the case of condition B, if the main setting is "do not print spot color," printing is performed without displaying a preview screen or the like. In other words, if the spot color print setting of the print command 311 is "do not print spot color" and the main setting is also "do not print spot color," it is highly likely that the user does not intend to print spot color. Therefore, in such a case, even if the image data 300 contains pixel values ​​designated as spot colors, the effort required of the user can be reduced by omitting the display of a preview screen or the like.

[0097] As described above, according to this embodiment, by presenting a preview screen and print mode options according to the print data 310 and the main body settings of the printing device 100, it is possible to present print mode options that are more in line with the user's intentions.

[0098] Third Embodiment The third embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the print mode options displayed together with the preview screen are changed according to the remaining amount of special color recording material. Fig. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of processing by the CPU 201. The same steps as those in the flowchart of Fig. 7 of the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals. The following description will focus on the steps (S1101 to S1103) unique to the third embodiment.

[0099] In S1101, the CPU 201 detects the remaining amount of spot color ink as a spot color recording material. For example, the CPU 201 detects the remaining amount of spot color ink by acquiring measurements from a sensor or the like provided in an ink tank or by estimating the remaining amount from the cumulative value of the ink ejection amount in past printing operations. Note that this step may be performed, for example, before S1102 and S1103.

[0100] Furthermore, if S704 is Yes, that is, if the spot color print setting is "print spot color" and the image data 300 includes a pixel value designated as a spot color, the CPU 201 proceeds to S1102. In S1102, the CPU 201 checks whether the remaining amount of spot color ink detected in S1101 is equal to or greater than a threshold, and if it is equal to or greater than the threshold, proceeds to S707, and if it is less than the threshold, proceeds to S708.

[0101] If S706 returns Yes, i.e., the spot color printing setting is "do not print spot color" and the image data 300 contains pixel values ​​designated as spot colors, the CPU 201 proceeds to S1103. In S1103, the CPU 201 checks whether the remaining amount of spot color ink detected in S1101 is equal to or greater than a threshold value, and if it is equal to or greater than the threshold value, proceeds to S709, and if it is less than the threshold value, proceeds to S708.

[0102] As described above, in this embodiment, even if the image data 300 contains pixel values ​​for which a spot color is specified, if the remaining amount of spot color ink is less than the threshold value, the CPU 201 does not display the option (i) button 521 or the option (j) button 522. In other words, if the remaining amount of spot color recording material is insufficient for spot color printing, the CPU 201 does not display the option for the print mode of printing all or some of the multiple objects for which a spot color is specified using the spot color recording material. This makes it possible to encourage the user to perform normal printing when there is insufficient remaining amount of spot color recording material.

[0103] If the remaining amount of spot color ink does not meet the threshold, the CPU 201 may display a notice on the display unit 207 that printing using the spot color recording material cannot be performed. As a specific example, the CPU 201 may display a message such as "Spot color printing cannot be performed because the remaining amount of spot color ink (fluorescent pink) is insufficient" on the display unit 207. This can prompt the user to replenish the missing spot color recording material, for example.

[0104] <Other embodiments> In the above embodiment, the printing device 100 displayed a preview screen of the image to be printed, along with at least one of multiple print mode options with different degrees of use of spot color recording material. However, a configuration in which such display control is performed by an information processing device capable of communicating with the printing device may also be adopted. For example, in the image processing system 1, the information processing device 110 may execute the process shown in FIG. 7 instead of the printing device 100. In this case, the CPU of the information processing device 110 may execute, for example, application software installed on the information processing device 110, to generate image data 300 and print data 310 including the image data 300. The information processing device 110 may then analyze the generated print data 310 and display a preview screen and print mode options on the display unit of the information processing device 110 based on the analysis results.

[0105] In the above embodiment, the printing device 100 controlled whether to display a preview screen and options, and which options to display, depending on the print settings related to spot color printing included in the print data. However, this is not limited to this configuration, and for example, the preview screen may not be displayed. In this case, whether to display options and which options to display are controlled depending on the print settings related to spot color printing included in the print data. Conversely, the options may not be displayed. In this case, only whether to display a preview screen is controlled depending on the print settings related to spot color printing included in the print data. Alternatively, for example, the printing device 100 may control whether to display a preview screen and options depending on the print settings related to spot color printing included in the print data, but not control which options to display depending on the print settings related to spot color printing included in the print data. In this configuration, when options are displayed, the same options may be displayed across the board.

[0106] The present invention can also be realized by supplying a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and having one or more processors in the computer of the system or device read and execute the program.The present invention can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

[0107] <Additional Notes> The disclosure of this specification includes the following printing device, printing method, information processing device, and program. (Item 1) A printing device capable of printing using a special color recording material, an acquisition means for acquiring print data including image data for an image to be printed; a display control means for displaying a preview screen of the image to be printed on a display unit of the printing device, the display control means displays, on the display unit, together with the preview screen, at least one of a plurality of print mode options with different degrees of use of spot color recording material, according to information on spot color printing included in the print data. A printing device characterized by: (Item 2) Item 1, the printing device the print data further includes a spot color print setting regarding whether or not spot color printing is to be performed; the display control means displays at least one of the plurality of print mode options depending on the spot color print setting and whether or not the image data includes an object designated with a spot color. A printing device characterized by: (Item 3) Item 2. The printing device according to item 2, The plurality of print mode options are: a first option which is an option of a printing mode in which an object designated as a special color is printed using a special color recording material; a second option which is an option of a printing mode in which the degree of use of the special color recording material is lower than that of the first option, A printing device characterized by: (Item 4) Item 2. The printing device according to item 2, The plurality of print mode options are: a third option which is an option of a printing mode in which all objects among the plurality of objects designated with a special color are printed using a special color recording material; a fourth option which is an option of a printing mode in which some of the plurality of objects are printed using a special color recording material; a fifth option which is an option of a printing mode in which a plurality of objects designated with a special color are printed without using a special color recording material; A printing device characterized by: (Item 5) Item 4. The printing device according to item 4, a first receiving unit for receiving a selection of an object to be printed using a special color recording material from among the plurality of objects; the part of objects is an object whose selection has been accepted by the first accepting means; A printing device characterized by: (Item 6) Item 4. The printing device according to item 4, the display control means displays at least the third option and the fourth option when the spot color print setting indicates that spot color printing is to be executed and the image data includes an object designated as a spot color. A printing device characterized by: (Item 7) Item 4. The printing device according to item 4, the display control means displays at least the third option and the fifth option when the spot color print setting indicates that spot color printing is not to be performed and the image data includes an object designated with a spot color. A printing device characterized by: (Item 8) 8. The printing device according to any one of items 1 to 7, the display control means displays, on the display unit, at least one of the plurality of print mode options and a sixth option for canceling printing. A printing device characterized by: (Item 9) 8. The printing device according to any one of items 2 to 7, When the spot color printing setting indicates that spot color printing is not to be performed and the image data does not include an object designated as a spot color, the display control means does not display the preview screen. A printing device characterized by: (Item 10) 10. The printing device according to any one of items 1 to 9, a second accepting means for accepting a selection of the option displayed on the display unit; a correcting means for correcting the image data so as to correspond to the option accepted by the second accepting means; Further provided with A printing device characterized by: (Item 11) Item 11. The printing device according to item 10, the display control means updates the preview screen based on the image data corrected by the correction means. A printing device characterized by: (Item 12) 8. The printing device according to any one of items 2 to 7, the printing device is capable of setting whether or not to perform spot color printing as a main body setting of the printing device; the display control means displays the preview screen when the image data includes an object designated as a spot color even if the main body setting is a setting that does not execute spot color printing. A printing device characterized by: (Item 13) 8. The printing device according to any one of items 4 to 7, Further, a detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of the special color recording material is provided, the display control means does not display the third option and the fourth option on the display unit when the remaining amount of the special color recording material is less than a threshold value. A printing device characterized by: (Item 14) 13. The printing device according to any one of items 1 to 12, Further, a detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of the special color recording material is provided, the display control means displays a notice that printing using the special color recording material cannot be performed when the remaining amount of the special color recording material is less than the threshold value. A printing device characterized by: (Item 15) A printing method using a special color recording material, obtaining print data including image data for an image to be printed; and displaying a preview screen of the image to be printed on a display unit. In the display, at least one of a plurality of print mode options with different degrees of use of the spot color recording material is displayed on the display unit along with the preview screen in accordance with the information on spot color printing included in the print data. A printing method characterized by: (Item 16) An information processing device capable of communicating with a printing device capable of printing using a special color recording material, a generating means for generating print data including image data for an image to be printed by the printing device; a display control means for displaying a preview screen of the image to be printed on a display unit of the information processing device, the display control means displays, on the display unit, together with the preview screen, at least one of a plurality of print mode options with different degrees of use of spot color recording material, according to information on spot color printing included in the print data. 1. An information processing device comprising: (Item 17) A program for causing a computer to function as each means of the information processing device described in item 16.

[0108] The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following claims are appended to apprise the public of the scope of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0109] 100: Printing device, 110: Information processing device, 120: Network, 207: Display unit, 300: Image data, 310: Print data, 510: Display panel, 520: Operation panel

Claims

A printing apparatus capable of performing special printing using a special recording material that is a color different from process colors, comprising acquisition means for acquiring print data including image data for an image to be printed, and display control means for displaying a preview screen of the image to be printed on a display unit of the printing apparatus, wherein when the print data is data for causing the printing apparatus to execute the special printing, the print data includes information regarding the special printing, and whether to display the preview screen on the display unit of the printing apparatus is controlled based on the print data, characterized by the above. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that when the print data includes a print setting corresponding to execution of the special printing, it is controlled to display the preview screen on the display unit of the printing apparatus. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that when the print data does not include a print setting corresponding to execution of the special printing but includes a pixel value designated to be printed using the special recording material, it is controlled to display the preview screen on the display unit of the printing apparatus. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that when the print data does not include a print setting corresponding to execution of the special printing and does not include a pixel value designated to be printed using the special recording material, it is controlled not to display the preview screen on the display unit of the printing apparatus. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising reception means for receiving a setting as to whether to execute the special printing, wherein when the print data does not include a print setting corresponding to execution of the special printing but a setting corresponding to execution of the special printing is received by the reception means, it is controlled to display the preview screen on the display unit of the printing apparatus, characterized by the above. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising reception means for receiving a setting as to whether to execute the special printing, wherein when the print data does not include a print setting corresponding to execution of the special printing and a setting corresponding to not executing the special printing is received by the reception means, it is controlled not to display the preview screen on the display unit of the printing apparatus, characterized by the above.

7. The display control means displays, on the display unit, at least one of a plurality of printing modes with different degrees of use of the special recording material, according to the information regarding the special printing included in the print data, together with the preview screen. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that.

8. The print data further includes a special printing setting regarding whether to execute the special printing. The display control means displays at least one of the plurality of printing mode options according to the special printing setting and whether the image data includes an object designated with a special feature. The printing apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that.

9. The options of the plurality of printing modes are a first option which is an option of a printing mode for printing an object designated with a special feature using the special recording material, and a second option which is an option of a printing mode with a lower degree of use of the special recording material than the first option. The printing apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that.

10. The options of the plurality of printing modes are a third option which is an option of a printing mode for printing all of a plurality of objects designated with a special feature using the special recording material, a fourth option which is an option of a printing mode for printing some of the plurality of objects using the special recording material, and a fifth option which is an option of a printing mode for printing a plurality of objects designated with a special feature without using the special recording material. The printing apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that.

11. The printing apparatus further includes first receiving means for receiving a selection of an object to be printed using the special recording material from among the plurality of objects. The some of the objects are the objects selected by the first receiving means. The printing apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that.

12. The display control means displays at least the third option and the fourth option when the special printing setting indicates that the special printing is to be executed and the image data includes an object designated with a special feature. The printing apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that. ​ ​ ​

13. The display control means is characterized in that when the special printing setting indicates that the special printing is not to be executed and the image data includes an object specified with a special feature, at least the third option and the fifth option are displayed, and the printing apparatus according to claim 10 is characterized in that.

14. The printing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the display control means displays a sixth option for canceling printing together with at least one of the plurality of printing mode options on the display unit.

15. A second accepting means for accepting a selection of an option displayed on the display unit; A correcting means for correcting the image data so as to correspond to the option accepted by the second accepting means; The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

16. The printing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the display control means updates a preview screen based on the image data corrected by the correcting means.

17. Further comprising a detecting means for detecting a remaining amount of the special recording material, wherein when the remaining amount of the special recording material is less than a threshold value, the display control means does not display the third option and the fourth option on the display unit, and the printing apparatus according to claim 10 is characterized in that.

18. Further comprising a detecting means for detecting a remaining amount of the special recording material, wherein when the remaining amount of the special recording material is less than a threshold value, the display control means displays a notification indicating that printing using the special recording material cannot be executed, and the printing apparatus according to claim 1 is characterized in that.

19. A control method for a printing apparatus capable of special printing using a special recording material that is a color different from process color, comprising: an acquiring step of acquiring print data including image data of an image to be printed; a display control step of displaying a preview screen of the image to be printed on a display unit of the printing apparatus, and having, when the print data is data for causing the printing apparatus to execute the special printing, the print data includes information regarding the special printing, whether to display the preview screen on the display unit of the printing apparatus is controlled based on the print data, and the control method is characterized in that.

20. A program for causing a computer of a printing apparatus to function as each means of the printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 18.

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