Sharing system for printed matter confirmation and printed matter sharing apparatus

Abstract

To accurately proofread a printed matter in a remote place.SOLUTION: In a sharing system for confirming printed matters to be shared in a first place and a remote place, a monitor 1 in the first place and a monitor 2 in the remote place are adjusted so that the same color is displayed. In the first place, a placing table 5, an imaging apparatus 6 which images a printed matter 10 for proofreading placed on the placing table 5, a light source 7, and a darkroom 8 in which a shooting environment of the imaging apparatus becomes a darkroom state that blocks external light are provided. The system includes, in advance, at least conversion information 20 for correcting light quantity variability that is caused by imaging conditions and color characteristics, corrects, based on the conversion information 20, raw data of the printed matter 10 for proofreading obtained by imaging of the imaging apparatus, stores, in a cloud 21, image data 10A of the printed matter obtained by converting the corrected raw data into image data in a correctable format, and shares the data on the cloud.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a shared system for checking printed matter and a shared device for checking printed matter, which enables proofreading of printed matter after color matching even in a remote location. The present invention is applicable to proofreading of printed matter for packaging and building materials such as wallpaper, for example. The present invention is a technology that is particularly effective when the display of the pattern of the printed matter is fine, i.e., precise. [Background technology]

[0002] Printed matter having patterns for building materials, such as wood grain patterns or stone grain patterns used for wallpaper, tables, etc., is used as building materials, for example, by printing the pattern on the surface of the building material (film, titanium paper, etc.).

[0003] Here, when a customer requests wallpaper, conventionally, a sales representative would cut out a portion of the actual wallpaper, store it on a recording medium, carry it around, and read the sample from the recording medium to show to the customer. The sales representative would then ask the customer what color they would like for the design they selected, and a designer would convert the color based on that color and create a square plate (a printed material for proofreading). This square plate would then be shown to the customer, and if there were no problems at this stage, a square proof would be made and the final plate would be created. This final plate would then be shown to the customer, and if there were no problems at this stage, a proof would be made and the building materials would be mass-produced.

[0004] However, the sales base and the proofreading base (client) are not always the same, or the two bases are not always close to each other. For this reason, with the above method, it was necessary to go to the proofreading base to be present. Also, if the customer made any corrections, it was necessary to go to the proofreading base each time, which was time-consuming and costly.

[0005] In response to this, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a method for checking the color tone of a printed matter in a remote location.

[0006] In Patent Document 1, a print and a sample of the print are photographed under the same lighting, and the photographed image is sent by email to a second device for checking the color tone of the print, and the images of the print and the sample of the print are displayed on the monitors of the first device and the second device, which have the same performance, and an observer on the second device side adjusts the color of the print based on the print image and the print sample image displayed on the monitor. Patent Document 1 also describes that this allows accurate instructions to be given from a remote location, such as color adjustment to match the color tone of the print to the color tone of the print sample, without any discrepancy in color recognition between the observation room and the photographing room. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-176546 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] However, when a print is simply captured, the amount of light may be uneven and the print color may appear different between the actual print and the image data depending on the capture conditions such as the orientation of the light source when capturing the image. For this reason, the method of Patent Document 1 may not capture an image that accurately captures the color tone of the print.

[0009] In addition, when a printed matter is color-matched by printing the image of a sample printed matter on a substrate such as titanium paper, the color may have a different tone from the sample printed matter due to the color matching. Furthermore, when image data is attached to an email and sent, depending on the software used to expand the data, there is a risk that color correction will be automatically performed on the expanded image.

[0010] In this way, with the method disclosed in Patent Document 1, there is no guarantee that the image data will have correct colors, and there is a risk that incorrect color calibration will be confirmed or instructions will be issued.

[0011] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and has as its object to perform proofreading (especially scale proofreading) of printed matter at a remote location with higher accuracy. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] In order to solve the problem, one aspect of the present invention is a shared system for checking printed matter, in which a proofread printed matter, which has been color-matched to a sample printed matter, is shared between a monitor at a first location and a monitor provided at a remote location away from the first location, the monitor at the first location and the monitor at the remote location are adjusted so that the same colors are displayed, and the first location includes a mounting table on which the proofread printed matter is placed, an imaging device that images the proofread printed matter placed on the mounting table, a light source that brightens the proofread printed matter placed on the mounting table when imaging, and an imaging device that captures the image of the proofread printed matter. and a darkroom means for making the imaging environment a darkroom state where no external light enters, and the imaging device has in advance conversion information for correcting at least the unevenness in light amount and color characteristics that occurs due to the imaging conditions from data information obtained by imaging a sheet for correcting unevenness in light amount and color characteristics under the same imaging conditions as those for imaging the printed matter for proofreading, and corrects the raw data of the printed matter for proofreading obtained by imaging with the imaging device based on the conversion information, and converts the corrected raw data into image data in a format that can be modified, to obtain image data of the printed matter, which is stored in the cloud, enabling the sharing on the cloud. Effect of the Invention

[0013] According to an aspect of the present invention, it is possible to perform proofreading of a printed matter at a remote location with higher accuracy. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a system configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a calculation unit. [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the evaluation results of the examples. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the proofreading of a pattern sheet (e.g., wallpaper) that is a building material will be described as an example. A sample printout with the pattern printed on paper is proposed to the client. Once the pattern is decided, a proofreading printout (square plate) is created by color-matching the sample printout of the pattern.

[0016] A proof print is made by printing the image of the sample print onto the target building material sheet (base material). The sheet is made of a resin sheet, titanium paper, etc., and is generally made of a different material than the base material of the sample print. For this reason, there is a risk that the sample print and the proof print that has been color-matched will look different.

[0017] This printout for proofreading must be presented to the client, who must then check the color proofreading and provide instructions. This embodiment enables this checking work to be done remotely. In this embodiment, the sheet production side is the first location, and the request destination is a remote location.

[0018] The system of this embodiment will be described below. <Monitor> The monitor 1 at the first location ARA-1 and the monitor 2 at the remote location ARA-2 are set in advance by a known method so as to display the same color. Reference numeral 4 denotes a computer at the remote location ARA-2. <First Location> The first location ARA-1 includes a darkroom 8, a monitor 1, and a computer 3, as shown in Fig. 1. Note that in Fig. 1, for ease of viewing, the monitor 1 and the computer 3 are illustrated outside the darkroom 8, but the monitor 1 and the computer 3 may be located inside the darkroom 8.

[0019] <Darkroom> The darkroom 8 is formed, for example, by covering the imaging environment with a blackout curtain to prevent external light from entering during imaging. This makes it possible, for example, to keep the light source constant. As shown in FIG. 1, a mounting table 5, an imaging device 6, and a light source 7 are provided in the darkroom 8. FIG. 1 shows a state in which a print 10 to be proofread is placed on a placement table 5. As shown in FIG.

[0020] <Imaging device> The imaging device 6 is made up of a camera, and is installed above the mounting table 5. In this embodiment, the imaging axis of the imaging device 6 is disposed at a position perpendicular to the upper surface of the mounting table 5. The resolution of the imaging device 6 depends on the fineness of the image on the printed matter to be imaged, but is preferably 12 million pixels or more. In other words, the resolution should be set appropriately according to the precision of the image on the printed matter. Although the imaging axis may be tilted, the image must be converted to an image from above, which reduces the accuracy of the image data. The imaging range of the imaging device 6 on the mounting table 5 is set to, for example, an angle of view of 300 mm×300 mm or more and 1000 mm×1000 mm or less.

[0021] The light source 7 is installed so as to irradiate the upper surface of the mounting table 5 with illumination light from an oblique lateral direction. The color of the light source 7 may be, for example, neutral white or daylight color. The illuminance of the light source 7 on the upper surface of the mounting table 5 is set to, for example, 400 lx to 700 lx. The lower limit can be determined according to the performance of the monitors 1 and 2. If it is greater than 700 lx, it may be too bright.

[0022] The image data captured by the imaging device 6 is supplied to the computer 3 . As shown in FIG. 2, the computer 3 includes an input / output unit 3A, a processing unit 3B, a storage unit 3C, and a communication unit 11. The input / output unit 3A receives data from the imaging device 6 and stores it in the storage unit 3C. The arithmetic processing section 3B includes an image correction section 3Ba, an image conversion section 3Bb, and an image storage section 3Bc. Conversion information 20 is stored in advance in the storage unit 3C.

[0023] The conversion information 20 is information for correcting at least the unevenness in the amount of light and the color characteristics that occur due to the above-mentioned imaging conditions from data information obtained by imaging a sheet for correcting unevenness in the amount of light and the color characteristics under the same imaging conditions as the imaging of the printed matter 10 for proofreading. The color characteristics are, for example, the spectral reflectance of the material of the printed matter. This conversion information may be processed by referring to the technology described in, for example, JP-A-2022-6827.

[0024] In this embodiment, a correction sheet is imaged in the same environment as the above-mentioned imaging environment (the imaging environment in which the printed matter 10 for proofreading is imaged). As the correction sheet, a plain (e.g., white) sheet and a color chart are imaged separately. The plain sheet is used to correct unevenness in the amount of light (difference in the amount of light between imaging areas in one imaging area) that occurs due to the way the lighting is applied. Based on image data obtained by imaging this plain sheet, first conversion information (light amount profile) that corrects the unevenness in the amount of light in the imaging area is created. In this embodiment, since the image is captured in a darkroom 8, unevenness in the amount of light due to the way the light is applied becomes relatively noticeable, and correction of unevenness in the amount of light becomes important.

[0025] Similarly, the correspondence between the pixel values ​​and colorimetric values ​​indicated by the camera profile (conversion information) is obtained from the pixel values ​​of an image obtained by capturing a color chart as a correction sheet, and second conversion information (camera profile) is created from this correspondence. Here, the camera profile may include correspondence between pixel values ​​and colorimetric values ​​that are not included when the color chart is captured. The more types of printing colors there are for correcting the color characteristics, the more detailed the pattern that can be handled; for example, 400 or more colors.

[0026] When image data is displayed on monitors 1 and 2, there is a possibility that the color of the displayed image may differ between the corrected image and the appearance of the actual proofread printout 10. For this reason, third conversion information (monitor profile) according to the characteristics of monitors 1 and 2 may be provided.

[0027] The image correction unit 3Ba performs correction (image conversion processing) on ​​the raw data of the printed matter 10 for proofreading obtained by imaging with the imaging device 6, based on the conversion information (profile) stored in the storage unit 3C. At least first conversion information and second conversion information are used as the conversion information. For example, after performing correction using the first conversion information, correction using the second conversion information is performed. In other words, after correction is performed to reduce unevenness in the amount of light between pixels, correction is performed to make the printed color closer to the printed color of the actual printed matter 10 for proofreading. This corrects the unevenness in the amount of light that occurs in the image capturing environment, and also corrects the color characteristics, resulting in image data that is closer to the appearance of the actual printout 10 for proofreading.

[0028] The image conversion unit 3Bb converts the image data corrected by the image correction unit 3Ba into image data in a format that can be modified, for example, tiff, tif, or pdf. By making the image data in an editable format, it is possible to edit the image data 10A of the proofread printout 10 displayed on the monitor 1 at the first location ARA-1 and the monitor 2 at the remote location ARA-2 on the spot and present (confirm) it immediately.

[0029] The image saving unit 3Bc transfers the image data 10A converted by the image conversion unit 3Bb to the cloud 21 via the communication unit 11 and also stores the image data 10A in the storage unit 3C. This makes it possible to display the same image data on the cloud 21 on the monitor 1 at the first location ARA-1 and the monitor 1 at the remote location ARA-2. As a result, it becomes possible to check color matching at the first location ARA-1 and the remote location ARA-2 based on an image of the proofreading printout 10 of the same color. Note that at the first location ARA-1, it is possible to work while looking at the actual proofreading printout 10 and the data displayed on the monitor 1.

[0030] Then, once the proof print 10 (33 cm square version) is deemed OK, a 33 cm square proof is printed and the final version is created. This final version is then shown to the client in the same way using the system described above for confirmation, and if there are no problems at this point, a final proof is printed and mass production is started.

[0031] Here, in this embodiment, imaging is performed in a darkroom 8 to eliminate blurring due to the imaging environment as much as possible, and further, the captured image is corrected using conversion information (light intensity profile, camera profile, monitor profile) to make the image data 10A as close as possible to the actual proofread printout 10. It is preferable to create the profile from spectral data rather than from color data, in order to display and check it on the monitor 1. Also, by creating the profile in the darkroom 8, it is possible to obtain a more accurate profile.

[0032] In addition, by capturing images from directly above and shining the light source 7 from the side, it is not necessary to convert the images into images captured from directly above. Also, if the light source 7 is placed directly above, there is a risk that the light will be totally reflected and correct color information will not be obtained, but this can be avoided.

[0033] The imaging resolution is set to 12 million pixels or more; however, when targeting patterns on building materials (such as knots in the wood grain), a certain level of resolution is required; in this case, it is preferable for the resolution to be 60 million pixels or more.

[0034] (others) This disclosure may also take the following amendments. (1) A shared system for checking printed matter, in which a proofread printed matter that has been color-matched to a sample printed matter is shared between a monitor at a first location and a monitor provided at a remote location away from the first location, Calibrating the monitor at the first location and the monitor at the remote location so that they display the same colors; In the first place above, a placement table on which the printed matter for proofreading is placed; an imaging device that images the proofreading printout placed on the placement table; a light source for illuminating the proofreading printout placed on the placement table during the imaging; a darkroom means for making the imaging environment of the imaging device into a darkroom state where no external light enters; Equipped with a conversion information for correcting the unevenness in the amount of light and the color characteristics caused by at least the imaging conditions is stored in advance from data information obtained by imaging a sheet for correcting the unevenness in the amount of light and the color characteristics under the same imaging conditions as those for imaging the printed matter for proofreading; The raw data of the print for proofreading obtained by imaging with the imaging device is corrected based on the conversion information, and the corrected raw data is converted into image data in a format that can be modified to obtain image data of the print. The image data is then stored in a cloud, and the sharing is enabled on the cloud. A shared system for checking printed matter. (2) The imaging device captures an image from directly above the printed matter for proofreading, and the light source irradiates the printed matter for proofreading with illumination light from an oblique side. (3) The image data of the printed matter stored in the cloud is image data converted into tiff, tif or pdf format. (4) The color of the light source is neutral white or daylight color. (5) The imaging device has an imaging range on the mounting table with an angle of view of 300 mm x 300 mm or more. (6) The number of printing colors for correcting the above color characteristics is 400 or more. (7) A printed matter sharing device used in the printed matter confirmation sharing system of the present disclosure, A placement table on which a printed matter is placed; an imaging device that images the proofreading printout placed on the placement table; a light source for illuminating the proofreading printout placed on the placement table during the imaging; A darkroom in which the imaging environment is a darkroom state where no external light enters; a storage unit that stores conversion information for correcting at least the unevenness in light quantity and color characteristics that occurs due to the imaging conditions, based on data information obtained by imaging a sheet for correcting unevenness in light quantity and color characteristics under the same imaging conditions as those for imaging the printed matter for proofreading; an image correction unit that corrects raw data of the printout for proofreading obtained by imaging with the imaging device based on the conversion information; an image conversion unit that converts the image data corrected by the image correction unit into image data in a format that can be modified; an image storage unit that transfers the image data converted by the image conversion unit to a cloud; Equipped with. (8) The illuminance of the light source on the top surface of the mounting table is set to 400 lx or more and 700 lx or less. EXAMPLES

[0035] Next, examples based on this embodiment will be described. <Example 1> A 2m cubic imaging booth framework was created and covered with a blackout curtain. A work desk (mounting platform) with a width of 1800mm and a height of 700mm was placed inside the framework, and a 30.4 megapixel imaging camera (Canon EOS 5D Mark IV) was placed directly above the center of the work desk as the imaging device. D50 and D65 LEDs (Screen) were attached as light sources to the sides of the imaging booth, and the illuminance was set to 550lx within a range of 300mm from the center of the work desk to the left, right, top, and bottom.

[0036] A calculation device (Apple Macpro) was connected to the camera as a computer, and a display monitor (EIZO CG2730-Z) was also connected to the calculation device. Using this set of equipment, we performed color adjustments in advance using 402 color data items, then photographed wood grain prints and color chart prints as proofreading prints, created image data, and displayed it on a monitor.

[0037] <Example 2> Image data was obtained under the same conditions as in Example 1, except that the number of color data items used for color adjustment for correction was 3,000.

[0038] <Comparative Example 1> Image data was obtained under the same conditions as in Example 1, except that the illuminance of the LED was 300 lx. <Comparative Example 2> Image data was obtained under the same conditions as in Example 1, except that the illuminance of the LED was 1,000 lx.

[0039] <Comparative Example 3> Image data was obtained under the same conditions as in Example 1, except that the imaging camera was a 5 megapixel camera. <Comparative Example 4> Image data was obtained under the same conditions as in Example 1, except that 100 pieces of color data were used for color adjustment for correction.

[0040] (evaluation) The evaluation method will be explained. <Imaging environment (illuminance / brightness)> The evaluation was as follows: "○": When the image on the monitor is displayed with the same brightness as the wood grain print. "X": The image on the monitor is displayed too dark or too bright compared to the wood grain print.

[0041] <Shooting environment (tone)> The evaluation was as follows: "○": When the image on the monitor is displayed with the same resolution as the wood grain print. "X": When the image on the monitor is blurred compared to the wood grain print

[0042] <Profile accuracy> A random color chart was printed and the data measured with a colorimeter was compared with the data obtained by photographing the color chart printout with a camera and measuring the colors displayed on a monitor with a spectroradiometer. And it was evaluated as follows: "Good": When the average color difference is less than 3.0 "×": 3.0 or higher

[0043] (Evaluation Results) The evaluation results are shown in Figure 3. In this embodiment, the condition is that the image is captured behind a blackout curtain (darkroom). For this reason, although it depends on the performance of the camera, it is clear from Comparative Example 1 that a certain degree of light source is necessary. On the other hand, from Comparative Example 2, if the light source 7 is too bright, it affects the captured image.

[0044] In addition, in this example, because the printouts for proofreading were made of fine patterns, the patterns in the images were blurred when the camera had a low pixel count, as in Comparative Example 3. In addition, as can be seen from the comparison between Example 1 and Comparative Example 4, it was found that for fine patterns, it is preferable to set the color data to 400 or more items during color adjustment for correction. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 1. First Place Monitor 2 Remote monitoring 3. Computer 3A input / output section 3B Processing unit 3Ba Image Correction Unit 3Bb Image conversion section 3Bc Image storage section 3C storage section 5. Placement table 6. Imaging device 7 light source 8 Darkroom (darkroom means) 10 Printed proofreading materials 10A Image data 11 Communications Department 20 Conversion Information 21. Cloud ARA-1 1st place ARA-2 Remote Area

Claims

1. A shared system for checking printed matter, in which a proofread printed matter that has been color-matched to a sample printed matter is shared between a monitor at a first location and a monitor provided at a remote location away from the first location, calibrating the monitor at the first location and the monitor at the remote location so that they display the same colors; In the first location, a placement table on which the printed matter for proofreading is placed; an imaging device that images the proofreading printout placed on the placement table; a light source for illuminating the proofreading printout placed on the placement table during the imaging; a darkroom means for making the imaging environment of the imaging device into a darkroom state where no external light enters; Equipped with a conversion information for correcting the unevenness in the amount of light and the color characteristics caused by at least the imaging conditions is stored in advance from data information obtained by imaging a sheet for correcting the unevenness in the amount of light and the color characteristics under the same imaging conditions as those for imaging the printed matter for proofreading; The raw data of the printout for proofreading obtained by imaging with the imaging device is corrected based on the conversion information, and the corrected raw data is converted into image data in a format that allows correction of the image data of the printout, which is then stored in a cloud, and the sharing is enabled on the cloud. A shared system for checking printed matter.

2. the imaging device captures an image from directly above the printed matter for proofreading, and the light source irradiates the printed matter for proofreading with illumination light from an oblique side thereof; 2. A shared system for checking printed matter according to claim 1.

3. The image data of the print to be stored in the cloud is image data converted into tiff, tif or pdf format.

2. A shared system for checking printed matter according to claim 1.

4. The color of the light source is neutral white or daylight color.

2. A shared system for checking printed matter according to claim 1.

5. The imaging device has an imaging range on the mounting table of 300 mm x 300 mm or more, 2. A shared system for checking printed matter according to claim 1.

6. The number of printing colors for correcting the color characteristics is 400 or more; 2. A shared system for checking printed matter according to claim 1.

7. A printed matter sharing device for use in the printed matter confirmation sharing system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, A placement table on which a printed matter is placed; an imaging device that images the proofreading printout placed on the placement table; a light source for illuminating the proofreading printout placed on the placement table during the imaging; A darkroom in which the imaging environment is a darkroom state where no external light enters; a storage unit that stores conversion information for correcting at least the unevenness in light quantity and color characteristics that occurs due to the imaging conditions, based on data information obtained by imaging a sheet for correcting unevenness in light quantity and color characteristics under the same imaging conditions as those for imaging the printed matter for proofreading; an image correction unit that corrects raw data of the printout for proofreading obtained by imaging with the imaging device based on the conversion information; an image conversion unit that converts the image data corrected by the image correction unit into image data in a format that can be modified; an image storage unit that transfers the image data converted by the image conversion unit to a cloud; A print sharing device comprising:

8. The illuminance of the light source on the top surface of the mounting table is set to 400 lx or more and 700 lx or less.

8. The print sharing device according to claim 7.

Images