Print control device, print device, print control method, and program

Abstract

To perform printing with excellent finish in response to a difference in color of a nail.SOLUTION: A control device (print control device) 10 includes a control section 11 which functions as: acquisition means for acquiring color information on a nail T after a "first print" for printing a nail design (design D); calculation means for calculating a difference between the acquired color information and color information pre-set in the nail design (design D); and correction means for correcting a print concentration of the nail design (design D) in a "second print" for successively printing the nail design (design D) based on the calculated difference.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a print control device, a printing device, a print control method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a printing device (nail printing device) that prints designs on fingernails or the like using an inkjet print head (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2022-159727 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, fingernail colors vary from person to person, and so even if the same nail design is printed, there is a problem that the appearance will differ depending on the nail color.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and has an advantage of providing a print control device, a printing device, a print control method, and a program that can produce prints with good finishes that correspond to differences in nail colors. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problem, one aspect of the print control device according to the present invention is to An acquisition means for acquiring color information of the nail after the first printing of the nail design; A calculation means for calculating a difference between the color information acquired by the acquisition means and color information preset for the nail design; a correction means for correcting a print density of the nail design at a second printing time in which the nail design is subsequently printed based on the difference calculated by the calculation means; The present invention is characterized by the following. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to perform printing with a good finish in accordance with different nail colors. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a main part of a printing device according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main part of a control configuration of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment. [Diagram 3] 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a schematic positional relationship between a placement section on which a finger is placed and an imaging section; FIG. [Figure 4] 4 is a flowchart illustrating a print control process according to the present embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an example of a nail image of a natural nail. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is an image diagram illustrating how print data is generated by fitting design data to a nail area. [Figure 7] 6 is a plan view showing an example of a state in which a base is formed on the surface of the nail shown in FIG. 5. FIG. [Figure 8] 8 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which a design is printed on the nail after the base is formed as shown in FIG. 7 according to the print data shown in FIG. 6. FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 illustrates an example of corrected print data. [Figure 10] 10 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which a design is printed on the nail shown in FIG. 8 according to the corrected print data shown in FIG. 9. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] An embodiment of a print control device, a printing device, a print control method, and a program according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following embodiment, the print control device will be described as an example in which the print control device is a control device 10 (see FIG. 2) of a printing device 1 that prints nail designs on fingernails T or the like as described below. In addition, the embodiments described below are subject to various limitations that are technically preferable for implementing the present invention, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments and illustrated examples.

[0010] [composition] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of the main part of a printing device according to the present embodiment, Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the main control configuration of the printing device. In the following embodiment, up / down, left / right, and front / rear refer to the directions shown in Fig. 1. Additionally, the X direction and Y direction refer to the directions shown in Fig. 1. In this embodiment, the X direction is the width direction (horizontal direction) of the printing device 1, and the Y direction is the depth direction of the printing device 1.

[0011] As shown in FIG. 1, the printing device 1 has a housing 2 formed in a substantially box shape. The housing 2 has an opening 21 on the front side (the front side of the printing device 1, the near side in the Y direction in FIG. 1) approximately in the center in the left-right direction of the device (the X direction in FIG. 1). The opening 21 is an insertion port through which a finger U (see FIG. 3, etc.) corresponding to the nail T to be printed is inserted into the device, and is formed in a size that does not interfere with inserting and removing the finger U. Furthermore, on the top surface (top board) of the housing 2, an operation unit 22, a display unit 23, etc. are provided. The shape and arrangement of each part of the housing 2 are not limited to the illustrated example, and can be set as appropriate.

[0012] The operation unit 22 is used by the user to input various information. The operation unit 22 is, for example, an operation button (power switch button) for turning the power of the printing device 1 on and off. When the operation unit 22 is operated, an operation signal corresponding to the operation is output to a control unit 11 of the control device 10 described below, and the control unit 11 performs control according to the operation signal, causing each unit of the printing device 1 to operate. In addition, when the printing device 1 is linked to an external device such as various terminal devices (e.g., a smartphone) not shown, each part of the printing device 1 may operate in accordance with an operation signal input from an operation part of the external device instead of the operation unit 22.

[0013] Furthermore, on the top surface (top board) of the housing 2, a display unit 23 is provided. The display unit 23 is configured with, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic electroluminescence display, or another flat display. A touch panel for performing various inputs may be integrally configured on the surface of the display unit 23. In this case, the touch panel functions as the operation unit 22.

[0014] The housing 2 accommodates an apparatus main body (not shown) provided with a placement unit 3, a printing mechanism 4, an imaging unit 5 (see FIG. 2), and the like. The placement portion 3 is disposed at a position corresponding to the inside of the opening 21 so as to be able to receive a finger U inserted through the opening 21. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram that illustrates a schematic positional relationship between the placement section on which a finger is placed and the imaging section.

[0015] 3, the placement unit 3 has an opening 31 on the front side of the device. The lower surface of the placement unit 3 is a portion that receives the pad of a finger U, and may be provided with a cushion member or the like made of a flexible material such as resin. The front side (the front side of the device) of the mounting section 3 is formed in a frame shape, and the top surface 33 of the frame-shaped part functions as a regulating section that regulates the height position of the upper surface of the finger U inserted from the opening 31 so that it does not rise too high. Further, on the upper surface of the placement portion 3, on the back side of the frame-shaped portion (the rear side of the device), a window portion 34 is formed for exposing the nail T of the finger U inserted through the opening 31. At the rear part (the rear side of the device, the innermost part) inside the placement unit 3, there is provided a claw locking part 35 against which the tip of the finger U comes into contact and into which the tip part of the claw T is hooked.

[0016] A finger U is inserted through the opening 31 until the nail T is engaged with the nail engagement portion 35, and the pad side of the finger U is held by a cushioning material or the like while the upper surface of the finger U is abutted against the top surface 33 of the frame-shaped portion, so that the nail T is positioned below the camera 51 of the imaging unit 5 as shown in FIG. 3, and its position in the XY direction and height direction become suitable for imaging by the camera 51 and printing operation by the print head 41 of the printing mechanism 4, etc. In addition, optical means such as a mirror or a prism may be provided near the window in the placement unit 3. By providing the optical means, it is possible to allow the camera 51 arranged on the upper part of the printing device 1 to capture an image of the nail T viewed from the side via the optical means.

[0017] 2, the printing mechanism 4 includes a print head 41, an X-direction movement motor 45, and a Y-direction movement motor 47. The print head 41 is a printing means that prints a nail design (design D) on the nail T.

[0018] The print head 41 of this embodiment is an inkjet head that uses an inkjet system in which the surface facing the surface to be printed (for example, the surface of a nail T) is an ink ejection surface (neither of which is shown) equipped with a plurality of nozzle openings for ejecting ink, and prints by forming the ink into fine droplets and spraying the ink from the ink ejection surface directly onto the surface of the print target, such as the nail T. The configuration of the print head 41 is not particularly limited, but for example, it is a cartridge-integrated head in which an ejection mechanism such as the ink ejection surface is integrated with an ink cartridge (neither of which is shown) that stores ink. The print head 41 is capable of ejecting ink (color ink for design printing) for printing nail designs (hereinafter also simply referred to as "designs"), such as cyan (C; CYAN), magenta (M; MAGENTA), and yellow (Y; YELLOW). The printing device 1 may be provided with a base head as the print head 41, capable of ejecting base ink, such as white, as paint for forming the base. The type of ink provided in the print head 41 is not limited to this.

[0019] The X-direction movement motor 45 is a motor for moving the print head 41 in the left-right direction (X direction) of the device, and the Y-direction movement motor 47 is a motor for moving the print head 41 in the front-rear direction (Y direction) of the device. The X-direction movement motor 45 and the Y-direction movement motor 47 are, for example, stepping motors, and constitute a head movement mechanism for moving the print head 41. The operations of the print head 41, the X-direction movement motor 45, and the Y-direction movement motor 47 that constitute the print mechanism 4 are controlled by a control unit 11, which will be described later.

[0020] In addition, on the inside of the upper surface (top plate) of the housing 2, at a position corresponding to above the nail T of the finger U placed on the placement section 3, there is provided an imaging section 5 that can capture an image (nail image) of the nail T (finger U including the nail T) exposed from the window section of the placement section 3 (see Figure 3). The imaging unit 5 only needs to be disposed at a position where it can image the nail T of the finger U placed on the placement unit 3, and the specific placement thereof is not particularly limited. The imaging unit 5 captures an image of the nail T from above to obtain a nail image (an image of the top surface of the finger U including the nail T). As described above, if an optical means such as a mirror is provided near the placement unit 3, an image of the nail T viewed from the side may be obtained by the camera 51 via the optical means.

[0021] The imaging unit 5 includes a camera 51, which is a compact camera or the like equipped with a solid-state imaging element such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) type or a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) type having 2 million or more pixels, a lens, etc., and a light source 52, which is an LED or the like that illuminates the subject to be imaged (see FIG. 2). In this embodiment, as described below, an image is obtained by capturing an image of the nail T after the “first printing” in which a nail design is printed, and the camera 51 is an imaging means for capturing the nail image after the “first printing”. An image such as a nail image captured by the camera 51 of the imaging unit 5 is sent to the control device 10 and acquired by the control unit 11.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 2, the printing device 1 includes a communication unit 25, a control device 10, and the like in addition to the printing mechanism 4 and the imaging unit 5 described above. The communication unit 25 is configured to enable transmission and reception of information between the printing device 1 and various external devices. The external devices are, for example, various terminal devices such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal. The communication between the printing device 1 and the external device is performed, for example, by wireless LAN or the like. However, the communication between the printing device 1 and the external device is not limited to this, and may be by any method. For example, it may be a method using a network line such as the Internet, or a method using wireless communication based on a short-range wireless communication standard such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or Wi-Fi. This communication is not limited to wireless, and may be configured to enable transmission and reception of various data between the two devices via a wired connection. The communication unit 25 is equipped with an antenna chip or the like that corresponds to the communication method of the external device with which the communication is to be performed.

[0023] The control device 10 installed in the printing device 1 is a computer equipped with a control unit 11 having a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) not shown, and a memory unit 12 having a ROM (Read Only Memory) and RAM (Random Access Memory) (neither shown). The ROM or the like of the storage unit 12 is provided with a program storage area 121 that stores various programs for operating the printing device 1. The storage unit 12 also stores various data necessary for various arithmetic processing and the like. In this embodiment, the storage unit 12 also stores design data for a nail design (design D). Information on the colors that make up the nail design (design D) (hereinafter referred to as "color information") is set in advance in the design data. The color information is specified (set) by, for example, RGB values.

[0024] In this embodiment, the control device 10 comprehensively controls the operations of each part of the printing device 1 by the control unit 11 expanding various programs stored in a program storage area 121 such as a ROM into a working area of ​​a RAM and executing them. The control unit 11 cooperates with a program (for example, a print control processing program) to realize various functions for the printer 1 to perform print control processing and the like.

[0025] First, the control unit 11 controls the camera 51 and light source 52 of the imaging unit 5 to capture an image of the finger U including the nail T placed on the placement unit 3 (see FIG. 3) and obtain a nail image (an image of the fingertip including the area of ​​the nail T). When printing the nail design (design D), a base coat of white or the like and an ink receiving layer (preprint coat) are formed before printing the design. In this embodiment, it is preferable that the control unit 11 first captures an image of the natural nail before the base coat or the like is formed using the camera 51 of the imaging unit 5 to obtain a nail image of the natural nail (see FIG. 4).

[0026] When the control unit 11 of this embodiment acquires a natural nail image, it detects a nail contour that defines the area of ​​the nail T based on the natural nail image, and sets the area inside the nail contour (nail area) as the target area for printing. There is no particular limitation on the method by which the control unit 11 detects the nail contour. For example, the control unit 11 performs various image analyses on the nail image to detect the brightness difference between the nail T and other parts (such as the skin of the finger U) and detects the nail contour that defines the area of ​​the nail T. When the nail area (the area inside the nail contour) is extracted from the nail image, the control unit 11 appropriately enlarges or reduces the design data of the nail design (design D) selected by the user, adjusts the position, etc., to fit it to the nail area, and generates printing data PD (see Figure 6) of the design to be printed on the nail T.

[0027] Furthermore, when a nail design (design D) is printed (this will be referred to as the "first printing") on the nail T after a base or the like has been formed, the control unit 11 causes the camera 51 of the imaging unit 5 to capture an image of the nail T (finger U including the nail T) after this "first printing" to obtain a nail image after the first printing. The image (nail image) captured by the camera 51 is sent from the imaging unit 5 to the control device 10 and obtained by the control unit 11. When the first printed nail image on which the nail design (design D) is printed is acquired from the imaging unit 5, the control unit 11 functions as an acquisition unit that acquires color information of the nail T for this first printed nail image. The color information is, for example, the RGB values ​​of each of all pixels in the nail area. The control unit 11 calculates the difference between the acquired color information of the nail T and color information preset for the nail design (design D) stored in the storage unit 12 etc. The difference is calculated for each color by, for example, comparing the RGB values ​​of the color information of the nail T and the color information of the nail design. In addition, the color information is not limited to being specified (set) by RGB values ​​as long as it can calculate the difference between the color information of the nail T and the color information that is preset in the nail design (design D).

[0028] Furthermore, the control unit 11 generates corrected print data PDc (see FIG. 9) for correcting the print density of the nail design (design D) the next time the nail design (design D) is printed (this will be referred to as the "second print") based on the calculated difference. The corrected print data PDc corrects, for example, the print density of the nail design (design D) for each color that constitutes the nail design (design D). Specifically, the control unit 11 corrects the print data PD based on the difference between the color information preset in the nail design (design D) and the color information of the nail image of the nail T that is actually printed, and generates data for printing (corrected print data PDc) that is composed of each value of CMY.

[0029] The control unit 11 also controls each part of the printing mechanism 4 to execute printing. Specifically, the control unit 11 controls the print head 41 based on the print data PD (or the corrected print data PDc) to eject ink as appropriate, and also operates the X-direction movement motor 45 and the Y-direction movement motor 47 as appropriate to move the print head 41 in the X and Y directions as appropriate. As a result, the nail design (design D) is printed on the nail T to which the base has been applied, according to the print data PD (or the corrected print data PDc).

[0030] [Effect] Next, the operation of the printing apparatus and print control processing of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a print control process related to the print operation of the printing device in this embodiment.

[0031] 4, when performing printing processing by the printing device 1, first, the control unit 11 controls the display unit 23 to display, on a display screen (not shown) of the display unit 23, a message or the like urging the user to place a finger U corresponding to a nail T to which a nail design (design D) is to be applied, on the placement unit 3 of the printing device 1 (step S1). At this time, the nail T of the finger U placed on the placement unit 3 is a natural nail without a base color such as white.

[0032] When the finger U is set on the placement unit 3, the control unit 11 operates the camera 51 of the imaging unit 5 to capture an image of the finger U including the nail T (natural nail) with the camera 51, and obtains an image of the natural nail from the imaging unit 5 (step S2). FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a nail image of a natural nail. Although there are individual differences, the nail T has a tip part t1, a central part t2, and a half-moon part t3 at the root of the nail T, as shown in Figure 5. In many cases, the central part t2 is pink or beige, while the tip part t1 and the half-moon part t3 are almost white. The color of the central part t2 varies depending on the nail T, and in some cases it is close to white, but in other cases it is quite dark.

[0033] When the image of the natural nail is acquired, the control unit 11 extracts a nail area from the nail image (step S3). Then, the control unit 11 fits a nail design desired by the user (design D in FIG. 6) into the extracted nail area, and generates print data PD for printing the design (step S4). Fig. 6 is an image diagram showing how a nail design (design D) is fitted to the nail area to generate print data PD. Fig. 6 illustrates an example in which a nail design (design D) in which the entire nail T is painted in a single color is selected as the desired design. Note that when generating the print data PD, it is preferable to apply any necessary corrections, such as curvature correction according to the curved shape of the nail T. When the print data PD is generated, a first print process is performed on the nail T in accordance with the print data PD (first design printing, step S5). Specifically, the control unit 11 controls each part of the printing mechanism 4 to perform a printing operation.

[0034] In addition, before performing design printing, it is preferable that a base coat of white or the like and an ink receiving layer (preprint coat) are formed in advance on the nail T. The base coat, etc. may be formed by hand painting by a user, etc., or may be printed by the printing device 1, and either may be used. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a state in which a base color such as white is formed on the surface of the nail shown in FIG. In the case of a nail T in which the color of the central portion t2 is a relatively dark pink or beige and is significantly different from the toe portion t1 and the half-moon portion t3, which are almost white, even if a base is applied uniformly over the entire nail area, the color may be different between the toe portion t1 and the half-moon portion t3 and the central portion t2, as shown in Figure 7. Note that such color differences depending on the location may be caused by the original color of each area of ​​the nail T, or may also be caused by uneven application of the base.

[0035] Originally, design printing is performed on the assumption that the entire nail T is painted uniformly in white, etc. Therefore, if the color of the nail T differs in parts as in Figure 7, the print result may differ from what was originally expected. For example, FIG. 8 shows an example of a print result when printing is performed on the nail T shown in FIG. 7 according to the print data PD shown in FIG. As shown in Figure 7, if the nail T after the base formation has a nearly white tip portion t1 and half-moon portion t3 and a somewhat light pink or light beige center portion t2, when design printing (first printing) is performed, the color of the tip portion t1 and half-moon portion t3 will be lighter than the color of the center portion t2, as shown in Figure 8.

[0036] When the first printing (first design printing) is performed on the nail T, the control unit 11 operates the imaging unit 5 to capture an image of the nail T after the first printing with the camera 51, and acquires the nail image from the imaging unit 5 (step S6). Then, the control unit 11 acquires the RGB values ​​(color information of the nail T) of all pixels in the nail area for this nail image after the first printing (step S7). When acquiring the color information of the nail T, the control unit 11 further calculates the difference between the acquired color information of the nail T and color information that is preset in the nail design (design D) stored in the memory unit 12, etc. (step S8).

[0037] When the difference is calculated, the control unit 11 judges whether or not there is a portion where the difference is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold (step S9). Note that the threshold is a matter to be set appropriately. If there is no portion where the difference is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold value (step S9; NO), the printing process ends.

[0038] On the other hand, if there is a location where the difference is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold value (step S9; YES), the control unit 11 generates corrected print data PDc according to the calculated difference (step S10). FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the corrected print data. As described above, in the example shown in Fig. 8, the center t2 of the nail area is painted in the original color, and the difference between the color information (RGB value) of each pixel and the color information (RGB value) preset in the nail design (design D) is within a threshold value, so correction is not required (part d2 in Fig. 9). In contrast, in the toe part t1 and the half-moon part t3, the difference between the pixel color information (RGB value) and the color information (RGB value) preset in the nail design (design D) is equal to or greater than the threshold value, and as shown in Fig. 8, the color is lighter than the center t2 painted in the original color. For this reason, the control unit 11 generates corrected printing data PDc by correcting the printing data PD so that the printing density of the portions printed on the toe portion t1 and the crescent portion t3 (portions d1 and d3 in FIG. 9) is darker than that of the central portion t2 according to the difference, as shown in FIG. 9.

[0039] Then, a second printing process is performed on the nail T according to this corrected print data PDc (second design printing, step S11). By performing the second printing (second design printing) using the corrected print data PDc, it is possible to apply nail printing in colors that match the image of the original nail design (design D) to the entire nail T, as shown in FIG.

[0040] Depending on the design, etc., the user may not mind that the color varies depending on the location (tip t1, center t2, half-moon t3, etc.). Also, there may be cases where the user wants to finish the nail print early due to lack of time. In order to meet such user needs, when the control unit 11 compares the color information of the nail image of the nail T after the first print with the color information of the original nail design (design D) and calculates a difference equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the control unit 11 may inquire of the user as to whether correction is necessary. In this case, for example, the control unit 11 controls the display of the display unit 23 to display a display screen on the display unit 23 that displays a nail image of the nail T after the first printing and the original nail design (design D) in a comparative manner, and prompts the user to input whether correction is necessary. At this time, the display screen may be devised to display the difference exceeding the threshold value in an easy-to-understand manner for the user, such as by encircling the part in the display screen.

[0041] This allows for a good-looking nail print to be achieved even if the color of the nail T before the design is printed varies from part to part, and if the result of the first print (first print) does not look good, it can be corrected with the second print (second print).

[0042] [effect] As described above, according to this embodiment, the control device (printing control device) 10 is equipped with a control unit 11 that functions as an acquisition means for acquiring color information of the nail T after the "first printing" in which the nail design (design D) is printed, a calculation means for calculating the difference between the acquired color information and color information that is preset for the nail design (design D), and a correction means for correcting the printing density of the nail design (design D) during the second printing in which the nail design (design D) is next printed based on the calculated difference. As a result, even if there are differences in color in different parts of the nail T before the design is printed or unevenness in the base coat, and the color intensity varies depending on the location when the design is printed, resulting in a poor finish (appearance), the second print can achieve a well-finished nail print in the color intended by the original nail design (design D).

[0043] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the control unit 11 corrects the print density of the nail design (design D) for each color that constitutes the nail design (design D). This allows similar correction to be performed for the same color, making it possible to simplify the processing.

[0044] In this embodiment, the printing device 1 includes a control device 10 which is a print control device, and a print head 41 which serves as a printing means for printing a nail design (design D) on the nail T. This allows the printing device 1 alone to make appropriate corrections and perform printing that corresponds to differences in the colors of the nails T.

[0045] The printing device 1 of this embodiment also includes a camera 51 as an imaging means for imaging the nail T after "first printing" in which the nail design (design D) is printed, and acquiring a nail image after "first printing". Therefore, it is possible to always obtain a nail image by capturing an image of the nail T under the same environmental conditions, and it is possible to prevent color information from being influenced by differences in environmental conditions.

[0046] [Variations] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0047] For example, in the embodiment, the control unit 11 acquires color information (RGB values) for all pixels in the nail region, but color information does not have to be acquired for each pixel. For example, the nail T may be divided into a plurality of regions, and color information of the nail T may be acquired for each region. In this case, the average value or median value of the color information (RGB values) of the pixels in each region is set as the color information (RGB value) of the region. For example, as described above, the nail T can be divided into regions such as the tip portion t1, the central portion t2, and the half-moon portion t3 at the base of the nail T. Color information (RGB values) of the pixels for each of these regions (the tip portion t1, the central portion t2, and the half-moon portion t3) can be obtained, and the color information (RGB values) preset in the nail design (design D) can also be divided into regions corresponding to each region, and the differences can be calculated by comparing each region. This allows the difference calculation process to be completed more quickly than if the difference were calculated by comparing each pixel one by one.

[0048] In the present embodiment, the control unit 11 corrects the print density of the nail design (design D) for each color that constitutes the nail design (design D), but the method of correction is not limited to this. For example, the control unit 11 may correct the print density of the nail design (design D) on a design-by-design basis. In this case, correction can be performed collectively rather than by converting each color, and processing can be performed more quickly.

[0049] In addition, in this embodiment, a case has been illustrated in which the "first printing" and the "second printing" are both applied to the same nail T, but the "second printing" may be applied to a nail T different from the nail T on which the "first printing" has been applied. Each person's nails T have different color tendencies, and in the case of the same user's nails T, the pinky nail T and the thumb nail T often have similar color information (RGB values). For this reason, for example, in order to obtain color information (RGB values), the "first print" performed according to the uncorrected print data PD is performed on the pinky nail T, etc., where the print result is relatively less noticeable, and color information (RGB values) of the pixels in each area of ​​the tip t1, center t2, and half-moon t3 of the pinky nail T is obtained, and the difference from the color information (RGB values) preset in the nail design (design D) is calculated.

[0050] If there is an area where the difference is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, corrected print data PDc is generated to correct the print density based on the calculated difference for the areas among the toe t1, center t2, and half-moon t3 where the difference is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold. Then, a "second print" is performed on the little finger nail T according to the corrected print data PDc, and for the nails T of fingers U other than the little finger, a "second print" based on the corrected print data PDc may be performed from the beginning without performing a "first print" to obtain color information (RGB values).

[0051] In this case, the nail T to be subjected to the "first printing" may be the nail T of any one of the fingers U, and the printing time for the nails T of the other fingers U can be shortened. In this case, for the nail T of the finger U on which the "first printing" has been performed (the nail T of the little finger in the above example), only the "first printing" may be performed, and the "second printing" based on the corrected print data PDc may not be performed. In this case, design printing may be performed only once for each nail T, further shortening the time required for printing.

[0052] In addition, in the embodiment, an example is given of the control unit 11 of the printing device 1 functioning as an acquisition means, calculation means, correction means, etc., and the printing device 1 completing the printing process by itself, but the functioning as an acquisition means, calculation means, correction means, etc. is not limited to the control unit 11 of the printing device 1. For example, when the printing device 1 is linked to an external device (for example, a terminal device such as a smartphone), the control unit of the external device may function as an acquisition unit, a calculation unit, a correction unit, or the like, as a printing control device. In this case, for example, a storage unit of the external device stores a nail print application program for linking with the printing device 1, a program for causing the printing device 1 to perform predetermined control processing, and various data.

[0053] In this case, the control unit of the external device, for example, may obtain an image (nail image) of the finger U including the area of ​​the nail T from the printing device 1 and extract the nail area, or generate print data PD of the nail design (design D) according to the nail area. The control unit of the external device may also obtain a nail image of the nail T captured after the "first printing" from the printing device 1 and obtain color information of the nail T from the nail image. Furthermore, the control unit of the external device may calculate the difference between the color information (RGB value) of the nail T and the color information (RGB value) preset for the nail design (design D), and generate correction print data PDc based on the calculated difference to correct the print density of the nail design (design D) during the second printing in which the nail design (design D) is next printed.

[0054] In this way, when the control unit or the like of an external device such as a smartphone functions as an acquisition unit, a calculation unit, a correction unit, or the like, the control unit 11 on the printing device 1 side receives the calculation results and processing results calculated in the control unit or the like of the external device, various data generated, and the like from the external device, and controls the operation of the printing mechanism 4, etc. based on the calculation results and various data, etc. This reduces the load on the control unit 11 and memory unit 12 of the printing device 1, and makes it possible to simplify the control configuration of the printing device 1.

[0055] In this embodiment, the printing device 1 is configured to include an inkjet print head 41 as the print head 41, but the configuration of the print head 41 is not limited to this. For example, a syringe-type head, a pen-type head, or the like, having a configuration different from the inkjet print head 41 may be provided. In this case, good printing is possible even when the printing mechanism 4 is printing liquids for forming a white base or ink receiving layer, various coating agents, liquids containing solutes with larger particles than normal ink, or liquids with high viscosity, etc.

[0056] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but includes the scope of the invention described in the claims and its equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0057] 1 Printing device 3. Placement section 4 Printing mechanism 41 Print Head 5. Imaging unit 51 Camera 52 Light source 10 Control device 11 Control unit (acquisition means, calculation means, correction means) 12 Storage section D Design (Nail Design) PD Print data PDc correction print data T-claw U finger

Claims

1. An acquisition means for acquiring color information of the nail after the first printing of the nail design; A calculation means for calculating a difference between the color information acquired by the acquisition means and color information preset for the nail design; a correction means for correcting a print density of the nail design at a second printing time in which the nail design is subsequently printed based on the difference calculated by the calculation means; A print control device comprising:

2. the correction means corrects the print density of the nail design for each color constituting the nail design; 2. The print control device according to claim 1.

3. The acquiring means divides the nail into a plurality of regions and acquires color information of the nail for each region.

2. The print control device according to claim 1.

4. A print control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, A printing means for printing the nail design on the nail; A printing device comprising:

5. an imaging means for imaging the nail after the first printing on which the nail design is printed, to obtain a nail image after the first printing; 5. The printing apparatus according to claim 4.

6. An acquisition step of acquiring color information of the nail after the first printing of the nail design; a calculation step of calculating a difference between the color information acquired in the acquisition step and color information preset for the nail design; a correction step of correcting the print density of the nail design at the time of a second printing in which the nail design is subsequently printed based on the difference calculated in the calculation step; A printing control method comprising:

7. On the computer, A first function of printing a nail design and acquiring color information of the nail after printing; A calculation function that calculates a difference between the color information acquired by the acquisition function and color information preset for the nail design; a correction function for correcting the print density of the nail design at the time of a second printing in which the nail design is next printed based on the difference calculated by the calculation function; A program for realizing the above.

Images