Color chart generation device and color chart generation method

Abstract

To generate a color chart that allows a user to easily understand how to move among a plurality of color patches to approach a desired color.SOLUTION: A color chart generating device for generating a color chart 200 including patches 210 to 218 of multiple colors, includes: a specified color input unit to which a specified color is input; an extraction unit which extracts multiple surrounding colors around the specified color in a color space; and an arrangement unit which arranges the patches 210 to 218 of the specified color and the multiple surrounding colors such that saturation increases in a specified direction X.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a color chart generating device and a color chart generating method. [Background technology]

[0002] There has been known a device for generating a color chart on which color patches of colors surrounding a specified color designated by a user are arranged. * a * b * The image processing device disclosed in Patent Document 1 causes a printer to print a color chart in which a plurality of surrounding colors around a specified color are arranged in a matrix in a color space. * is changed at a predetermined color difference interval, and b * A plurality of color patches are printed in which the color difference is changed at a predetermined interval. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2011-061519 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] As described in Patent Document 1, a first variable (e.g., a * ) at a predetermined color difference interval, and a second variable (e.g., b * A color chart in which the color difference between the color patches is changed at a predetermined color difference interval is not easy to understand at a glance. Even when a user looks at such a color chart, it is not always easy to understand how to move between the multiple color patches to get closer to the desired color.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a color chart generating device that allows a user to easily understand how to move among a plurality of color patches to come closer to a desired color, and also to provide a method for generating a color chart that allows a user to easily understand how to move among a plurality of color patches to come closer to a desired color. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The color chart generating device disclosed herein is a color chart generating device that generates a color chart including patches of multiple colors, and is equipped with a specified color input unit to which a specified color is input, an extraction unit that extracts multiple surrounding colors around the specified color in color space, and an arrangement unit that arranges patches of the specified color and the multiple surrounding colors so that saturation increases in a specified direction.

[0007] The color chart generating method disclosed herein is a method for generating a color chart including patches of multiple colors, and includes a specified color input step of inputting a specified color, an extraction step of extracting multiple surrounding colors surrounding the specified color in color space, and an arrangement step of arranging patches of the specified color and the multiple surrounding colors so that saturation increases in a specified direction.

[0008] According to the above-mentioned color chart generation device and color chart creation method, the saturation of the patches of the specified color and multiple surrounding colors in the color chart increases in a specified direction, making it easy for the user to understand how to move between the multiple patches to get closer to the desired color. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a printing system including a color chart generating device and a printer. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a specified color and surrounding colors in the L*a*b* color space. [Diagram 3]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing hue contours of a specified color on the a*b* plane. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of color patches when no rearrangement processing is performed. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of color patches after rearrangement processing. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing a rotated state of a color patch. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] [Printing system configuration] Hereinafter, a printing system according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiment described here is, of course, not intended to limit the present invention in any particular way. Also, members and parts that perform the same function are given the same reference numerals, and duplicated descriptions will be omitted or simplified as appropriate.

[0011] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a printing system 100 according to an embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the printing system 100 according to this embodiment includes an image processing device 10 and a printer 110 connected to the image processing device. The image processing device 10 performs, for example, RIP processing of a print image and transmits print data to the printer 110. The image processing device 10 includes a color chart generation unit 20.

[0012] The image processing device 10 is configured, for example, by a general-purpose computer. Software for performing image processing is installed in the computer. However, the image processing device 10 may be a dedicated device equipped with dedicated hardware or the like. Alternatively, the image processing device 10 may be built into a printer 110. The image processing device 10 includes a display device 11 that displays an operation screen, and an input device 12 (e.g., a keyboard, a mouse, etc.) through which a user performs input operations.

[0013] The color chart generating unit 20 generates a color chart 200 (see FIG. 5 for both) including color patches 201 of a plurality of colors. The color chart 200 may be displayed on the display device 11 or printed by the printer 110. The color chart 200 here is for searching for a surrounding color that can replace the designated color when the designated color designated by the user is not printed as the desired color. For example, the designated color may not be printed as the desired color due to the model of the printer 110, individual differences of the printer 110, the type of recording medium, environmental factors, and the like. The designated color is, for example, a so-called "named spot color" that is given a name and is generally known. However, the designated color is not limited to a "named spot color". The designated color may be, for example, a color that the user has used in the past and given a name. The designated color may be, for example, a specific color in the input image to be printed.

[0014] The color chart generating unit 20 may be configured as a color chart generating device independent of the image processing device 10.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 1, the color chart generating unit 20 includes a specified color input unit 21, a surrounding color extracting unit 22, a patch placing unit 23, an angle calculating unit 24, and a color selecting unit 25.

[0016] A designated color is input to the designated color input unit 21. The designated color is input to the designated color input unit 21 by the user operating the operation screen displayed on the display device 11 with the input device 12. The designated color is input, for example, by selecting one "named spot color" from a list of "named spot colors" registered in advance.

[0017] The surrounding color extraction unit 22 extracts a plurality of surrounding colors around the designated color in a color space. * a * b * However, the color space is L * a * b *The color space is not limited to this. Details of the extraction of the surrounding colors will be described later.

[0018] The patch arrangement unit 23 arranges color patches 201 of the specified color and multiple surrounding colors on the color chart 200. More specifically, the patch arrangement unit 23 arranges the color patches 201 of the specified color and multiple surrounding colors so that the saturation increases in a predetermined direction. In specific processing, the patch arrangement unit 23 rearranges the color patches 201 of the multiple surrounding colors so that the direction of the iso-hue line of the specified color coincides with the above-mentioned predetermined direction, based on the angle calculated by the angle calculation unit 24. As a result, the color patches 201 of the specified color and multiple surrounding colors are arranged so that the saturation increases in the predetermined direction. As will be described in more detail later, the "iso-hue line" refers to a * b * It means a line connecting colors with the same hue on a plane. The angle calculation unit 24 is configured to obtain the angle between the direction of the iso-hue line of the designated color, which connects the designated color and colors with the same hue in the color space, and the above-mentioned predetermined direction on the color chart 200. The method of arranging the color patches 201 will be described in detail later. Note that hereinafter, the process in which the patch arrangement unit 23 rearranges the color patches 201 of multiple surrounding colors is also referred to as a rearrangement process.

[0019] The color selection unit 25 is configured to be able to select a color patch 201 of an alternative color to replace a specified color from among a plurality of color patches 201 of the color chart 200. The selection of the alternative color is performed by the user operating the operation screen displayed on the display device 11 using the input device 12.

[0020] [Generate color chart] The procedure for creating the color chart 200 will be described below. * The value is fixed. * The value represents the brightness of the color. In other words, in this embodiment, the brightness of the specified color is fixed, and the hue varies depending on the specified color. * a * b *1 is a schematic diagram showing a designated color C0 and surrounding colors C1 to C8 in a color space. Note that the eight surrounding colors C1 to C8 are a small number for the convenience of explanation, and the number of surrounding colors is not limited.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 2, the surrounding colors C1 to C8 are * a * b * In the color space, the specified colors C0 and L * The value is the same * b * The surrounding colors C1 to C8 are arranged on a plane. * b * In the plane, centered on the specified color C0, * The direction in which the value increases by a given value, a * The direction in which the value decreases by a given value, b * The direction in which the value increases by a given value, b * The colors are arranged in a direction in which the values ​​decrease by a predetermined value at a time. The designated color C0 and the surrounding colors C1 to C8 are arranged in a matrix shape with the designated color C0 at the center.

[0022] Figure 3 shows a * b * FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a hue line L1 of a specified color C0 on a plane. * b * In a plane, the hue is expressed by the position in the circumferential direction around the origin O. Therefore, the isohue line is a straight line passing through the origin O. Here, the hue is a * The angle is expressed with the positive direction of the axis as the starting point. The isohue line L0, which is the starting point of the hue, is * The axis is the positive side. However, the hue line L0, which is the starting point of the hue, is * As shown in FIG. 3, the angle between the iso-hue line L1 of a certain specified color C0 and the reference iso-hue line L0 is θ1. The angle calculation unit 24 calculates the angle θ1 between the iso-hue line L1 of the certain specified color C0 and the reference iso-hue line L0. * a * b * In the color space, the angle θ1 between the constant hue line L1 of the specified color C0 and the predetermined reference constant hue line L0 is calculated. *The angle indicated by the positive side of the axis is represented as 0 degrees.

[0023] a * b * In a plane, the saturation of a color is expressed by its distance from the origin O. The greater the distance from the origin O, the higher the saturation. A color that is closer to the origin O than the specified color C0 along the hue-isotherm L1 of the specified color C0 has the same hue as the specified color C0, but has a lower saturation. A color that is farther from the origin O than the specified color C0 along the hue-isotherm L1 of the specified color C0 has the same hue as the specified color C0, but has a higher saturation. * b * In the plane, the direction in which the designated color C0 is changed so that the saturation increases is the direction away from the origin O along the constant hue line L1 of the designated color C0.

[0024] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of the color patches 201 when the patch arrangement unit 23 does not perform the rearrangement process. In FIG. 4, the color patches 201 of the designated color C0 and the surrounding colors C1 to C8 are indicated by the reference symbols 210 to 218, respectively. As shown in FIG. 4, the arrangement of the color patches 210 to 218 in this case is the same as the arrangement of the designated color C0 and the surrounding colors C1 to C8 shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. The arrow L1 in FIG. 4 indicates the positive direction of the iso-hue line L1 of the designated color C0, that is, the direction in which the saturation increases. The direction L1 in which the saturation increases is the direction at an angle of θ1 away from the 0 degree direction. The conventional color chart is configured similarly to the color chart 200 shown in FIG. 4.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 4, in the color chart 200 before the rearrangement process, the direction L1 in which the saturation of the color patch 201 increases is a direction that is an angle θ1 away from the 0 degree direction, and differs depending on the specified color C0. Therefore, even if a user looks at the color chart 200 before the rearrangement process, it is difficult to find the direction in which the saturation increases from the specified color C0. For example, if the user judges that the specified color C0 actually printed by the printer 110 has a lower or higher saturation than the desired color, the user tries to select a color that has a higher or lower saturation than the specified color C0 as an alternative color. In that case, if the user cannot distinguish the direction in which the saturation increases from the specified color C0, the convenience of the color chart 200 is low. The same situation applies to conventional color charts.

[0026] In the rearrangement process, the patch arrangement unit 23 * b * The color patches 211 to 218 of the multiple surrounding colors C1 to C8 are rearranged so that the direction of the isochromatic line L1 of the designated color C0 on the plane coincides with a predetermined direction X (see FIG. 5) on the color chart 200. * b * The predetermined direction X in the color chart 200 is shown superimposed on a plane. As shown in FIG. 3, the predetermined direction X is a direction at a predetermined angle θ0 from the 0 degree direction. Therefore, the angle at which the direction of the iso-hue line L1 of the specified color C0 coincides with the predetermined direction X is (θ1-θ0) clockwise. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of the color patch 201 after the rearrangement process. The rearrangement process changes the arrangement of the color patches 210 to 218 to that shown in FIG. 5. In the color chart 200 after the rearrangement process, the direction in which saturation increases is the X direction, regardless of the color of the specified color C0.

[0027] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the color patches 210 to 218 are rotated clockwise by (θ1-θ0). In the rearrangement process, the color patches 210 to 218 are rearranged based on the arrangement of the color patches 210 to 218 rotated clockwise by (θ1-θ0) around the color patch 210 of the specified color C0 as shown in FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, in the rearrangement process, for example, the color patch 211 with the highest saturation is arranged at the most highly saturated position along the X direction, here the upper right corner. In addition, in the rearrangement process, for example, the color patch 218 with the lowest saturation is arranged at the least saturated position along the X direction, here the lower left corner. In the subsequent process, the color patch adjacent to the right of the color patch 218 with the lowest saturation in FIG. 6, here the color patch 215, is arranged adjacent to the color patch 218 immediately to the right as shown in FIG. 5. Similarly, the color patch adjacent to the left of the color patch 211 with the highest saturation in Fig. 6, here color patch 214, is placed adjacent to the left of color patch 211 as shown in Fig. 5. In the rearrangement process, this rearrangement is repeated to rearrange the color patches 210 to 218 so that the saturation increases in the X direction. However, the above-mentioned method of rearrangement process is merely an example, and is not limited to this. Note that Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an image of internal processing, and the patch arrangement unit 23 does not actually create a color chart 200 as shown in Fig. 6.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 5, in this embodiment, the X direction is the upper right direction. Preferably, the angle θ0 may be 45°. According to the knowledge of the inventors of the present application, an arrangement of the color patches 201 in which the saturation increases toward the upper right is intuitively natural and easily accepted by many people. Therefore, in this embodiment, the direction X in which the saturation increases in the multiple color patches 201 is the upper right direction. However, the direction X in which the saturation increases in the multiple color patches 201 is not particularly limited.

[0029] [Effects of the embodiment] The following describes the effects that can be achieved by the color chart generating unit 20 according to this embodiment.

[0030] The color chart generating unit 20 according to the present embodiment is a color chart generating unit that generates a color chart 200 including color patches 201 of a plurality of colors. The color chart generating unit 20 includes a designated color input unit 21 to which a designated color C0 is input, and a color space (here, L * a * b * The color chart generating unit 20 includes a surrounding color extracting unit 22 that extracts multiple surrounding colors C1 to C8 around a specified color C0 in a color space, and a patch arranging unit 23 that arranges color patches 210 to 218 of the specified color C0 and the multiple surrounding colors C1 to C8 so that the saturation increases in a predetermined direction X. According to this color chart generating unit 20, since the saturation of the color patches 210 to 218 of the specified color C0 and the multiple surrounding colors C1 to C8 in the color chart 200 increases in the predetermined direction X, it is easy for a user to understand how to move among the multiple color patches 210 to 218 to get closer to a desired color.

[0031] The color chart generating unit 20 according to this embodiment is * a * b * The color chart 200 further includes an angle calculation unit 24 that calculates the angle (θ1-θ0) between the direction of a constant hue line L1 of the specified color C0, which connects colors with the same hue as the specified color C0 in the color space, and a predetermined direction X in the color chart 200. The patch arrangement unit 23 rearranges the color patches 211-218 of the multiple surrounding colors C1-C8 based on the angle (θ1-θ0) calculated by the angle calculation unit 24 so that the direction of the constant hue line L1 of the specified color C0 coincides with the predetermined direction X. With this configuration, it is possible to generate a color chart 200 in which the saturation of the color patches 211-218 of the multiple surrounding colors C1-C8 increases in the direction of the predetermined direction X.

[0032] In this embodiment, the predetermined direction X is the upper right direction, which is intuitively natural and easily accepted by many people, as described above.

[0033] [Other embodiments] Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the above embodiment is merely an example, and the technology disclosed herein can be embodied in various other forms.

[0034] For example, in the above embodiment, the color chart 200 is automatically generated by the color chart generating unit 20. However, the color chart may be generated partially or entirely manually. The color chart generating method disclosed herein is a method for generating a color chart including color patches of multiple colors, and includes a designated color input step of inputting a designated color, an extraction step of extracting multiple surrounding colors around the designated color in a color space, and an arrangement step of arranging patches of the designated color and the multiple surrounding colors so that the saturation increases in a predetermined direction. There is no particular limitation as to whether each step is performed automatically or manually.

[0035] The color chart generating unit 20 may be configured so that the user can set a predetermined direction in which saturation increases (the X direction in the above-described embodiment). As shown in parentheses in Fig. 1, the color chart generating unit 20 may further include a direction input unit 26 to which the predetermined direction X is input. With this configuration, the user can determine the direction in which saturation increases according to his / her preference.

[0036] In the above embodiment, the surrounding color extraction unit 22 extracts the designated colors C0 and L * The value is the same * b * The surrounding colors C1 to C8 located on the plane were extracted, but the specified color C0 was not included in the L * Intersects with the axis at a point, a * b * The surrounding color extraction unit 22 may extract surrounding colors located on a plane that is not parallel to the specified color C0. * Surrounding colors with different values ​​may be extracted.

[0037] In the above embodiment, L * a * b *Although the surrounding colors are extracted in a color space, the present invention is not limited to this, and the surrounding colors may be extracted in, for example, an XYZ color space. In the case of an XYZ color space, it is possible to define saturation in the XY plane. The color space from which the surrounding colors are extracted is not particularly limited as long as it is a color space in which saturation can be defined.

[0038] In the above embodiment, the color patch 210 of the designated color C0 is placed at the center of the color chart 200, but the color patch 210 of the designated color C0 does not have to be placed at the center. In this case, the patch placement unit 23 may rearrange not only the color patches of the multiple surrounding colors but also the position of the color patch 210 of the designated color C0 so that the direction of the iso-hue line L1 coincides with the predetermined direction X.

[0039] In the above embodiment, the designated color C0 and the surrounding colors C1 to C8 are arranged in a matrix with the designated color C0 at the center, but this is not limited to the above. For example, the surrounding colors may be arranged in a concentric circle with the designated color C0 at the center. For example, the designated color C0 and the surrounding colors may be arranged in a triangular lattice.

[0040] The configuration of the color chart generating device and the printer are not limited unless otherwise specified. For example, the printer may be an inkjet printer or another type of printer. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 20 Color chart generation section 21 Specified color input section 22 Surrounding color extraction unit (extraction unit) 23 Patch placement section (placement section) 24 Angle calculation unit 26 Directional input section 200 Color Chart 201 Color Patch (Patch) 210 Color patch of specified color 211~218 Surrounding color patch C0 Specified color C1~C8 Surrounding colors L1 Color equality line of specified color X: The direction in which saturation increases (in the given direction) θ0 Angle in the X direction θ1 Angle of the hue line of the specified color

Claims

1. A color chart generating device that generates a color chart including patches of multiple colors, a designated color input section for inputting a designated color; an extraction unit that extracts a plurality of surrounding colors surrounding the specified color in a color space; and an arrangement unit that arranges patches of the specified color and the plurality of surrounding colors so that saturation increases in a predetermined direction. Color chart generator.

2. an angle calculation unit that calculates an angle between a direction of a constant hue line of a designated color that connects colors having the same hue as the designated color in a color space and the predetermined direction on the color chart, the arrangement unit rearranges the patches of the plurality of surrounding colors based on the angle calculated by the angle calculation unit so that a direction of a constant hue line of the specified color coincides with the predetermined direction.

2. The color chart generating device according to claim 1.

3. The predetermined direction is the upper right direction.

2. The color chart generating device according to claim 1.

4. The device further includes a direction input unit to which the predetermined direction is input.

2. The color chart generating device according to claim 1.

5. 1. A method for generating a color chart containing patches of multiple colors, comprising the steps of: A designated color input step for inputting a designated color; an extraction step of extracting a plurality of surrounding colors around the specified color in a color space; and arranging the patches of the specified color and the plurality of surrounding colors so that saturation increases in a predetermined direction. How to generate a color chart.

6. The method further includes an angle calculation step of calculating an angle between a direction of a constant hue line of a designated color that connects colors having the same hue as the designated color in a color space and the predetermined direction on the color chart, In the arranging step, the patches of the plurality of surrounding colors are rearranged based on the angle calculated in the angle calculation step so that a direction of a constant hue line of the specified color coincides with the predetermined direction. The method for generating a color chart according to claim 5 .

7. The predetermined direction is upper right. The method for generating a color chart according to claim 5 .

8. Further comprising a direction input step of inputting the predetermined direction, The method for generating a color chart according to claim 5 .

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