Color tone correction method of textile printer, color tone correction apparatus, and textile printer

Abstract

To provide a color correction method for a textile printer that allows color tone correction when necessary.SOLUTION: A color tone correction method for a textile printer includes the steps of: determining difference data 28 between colorimetric data after printing obtained by measuring a color patch printed on a recording medium and final colorimetric data obtained by measuring a color patch after performing post-process on the recording medium; generating an ICC profile from the final colorimetric data; printing a color patch on a new recording medium based on the ICC profile; estimating estimated colorimetric data 244 of the color patch obtained after performing post-process on the recording medium, from the difference data 28 and colorimetric data after printing 242 obtained by measuring the color patch printed on the medium; and generating an ICC profile 252 from the estimated colorimetric data 241.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for color correction of a textile printer, a color correction device, and a textile printer.

Background Art

[0002] Generally, in industrial color printers, color correction of printed matter is performed so that the printed matter has a desired color development. Specifically, a color patch is printed with the corresponding printer, read by a colorimeter, and an ICC profile is generated. Then, the ICC profile is applied to the RIP (Raster Image Processor) of the printer to correct the color tone of the printed matter.

[0003] Similarly, color correction is also performed in an inkjet textile printer (also called a printing and dyeing printer) for printing on fabrics (textiles), etc. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses that, regardless of the type of fabric, which is a printed matter whose color tone of the final result of an inkjet printed and dyed product can be varied, and other various conditions, a printed and dyed product after a printing and dyeing process under certain conditions is read so that an inkjet printed and dyed product with an expected color tone can always be obtained, and a technique of an inkjet recording apparatus that obtains hue information from the result and corrects a conversion table for image signal processing is disclosed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] According to the above prior art, since image processing can always be performed with optimal parameters for various conditions that affect the color appearance variation of printed and dyed products, such as fabric type, pre-treatment of the fabric, and color development conditions, a resultant product (printed and dyed product) that has been printed and dyed to an expected color tone can always be obtained.

[0006] However, the post-processing step of an inkjet textile printer requires a period of several hours to several days depending on its type, the equipment of the printing factory, etc., so it takes time to obtain optimal parameters. For this reason, it is difficult to perform color correction frequently, and there is a problem that color correction cannot be performed in a timely manner.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a color correction method, a color correction device, and a textile printer that can perform color correction in a timely manner.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] The above problems are solved as follows.

[0009] (1) A color correction method for a textile printer, comprising: a step of obtaining difference data between post-printing colorimetric data obtained by colorimetrically measuring a color patch printed on a recording medium and final colorimetric data obtained by colorimetrically measuring the color patch after performing a post-process on the recording medium; a step of generating a first ICC profile from the final colorimetric data; a step of newly printing a color patch on the recording medium based on the first ICC profile; a step of estimating the final colorimetric data obtained by colorimetrically measuring the color patch after performing a post-process on the recording medium from the post-printing colorimetric data obtained by colorimetrically measuring the color patch printed on the recording medium and the difference data; and a step of generating a second ICC profile from the final colorimetric data.

[0010] (2) A method for color correction of a textile printer, comprising the steps of: measuring the color of a color patch printed on a recording medium with a predetermined accuracy to obtain first post-printing color measurement data; generating a first ICC profile from first final color measurement data obtained by measuring the color of the color patch on the recording medium after performing a post-process with an accuracy higher than the predetermined accuracy; obtaining second post-printing color measurement data by measuring the color of a color patch newly printed on the recording medium based on the first ICC profile with the predetermined accuracy; obtaining second final color measurement data by measuring the color of the color patch on the recording medium after performing the post-process with an accuracy higher than the predetermined accuracy; obtaining a change amount coefficient due to the post-process from the difference between the first post-printing color measurement data and the second post-printing color measurement data, and the difference between the first final color measurement data and the second final color measurement data; obtaining third post-printing color measurement data by measuring the color of a color patch printed on the recording medium based on the first ICC profile with the predetermined accuracy; calculating estimated final color measurement data from the first post-printing color measurement data, the third post-printing color measurement data, the change amount coefficient, and the second final color measurement data; and generating a second ICC profile from the estimated final color measurement data.

[0011] (3) A color correction device comprising: a post-printing product color measurement data acquisition unit that acquires post-printing color measurement data obtained by measuring the color of a color patch printed on a recording medium by a textile printer; a final product color measurement data acquisition unit that acquires final color measurement data obtained by measuring the color of the color patch on the recording medium after performing a post-process; a color measurement data storage unit that stores the post-printing color measurement data and the final color measurement data; and a color correction processing unit that obtains a color change amount due to the post-process based on the post-printing color measurement data and the final color measurement data, adds the color change amount to the post-printing color measurement data before the post-process acquired by the post-printing product color measurement data acquisition unit to calculate estimated color measurement data after the post-process, and creates an ICC profile of the textile printer based on the estimated color measurement data.

[0012] The color correction device according to (4)(3), wherein the recording medium is a fabric, the color correction device.

[0013] The color correction device according to (5)(3), wherein the textile printer is an inkjet printer, the color correction device.

[0014] A textile printer that prints on fabric by an inkjet method and is color-corrected by the color correction device according to (6)(3), wherein the post-process is a fabric coloring process, a washing process, and a drying process, the textile printer.

[0015] A textile printer that prints on fabric by an inkjet method and is color-corrected by the color correction device according to (7)(3), comprising a colorimetric sensor that acquires colorimetric data of a color patch of a printed matter, and the colorimetric data detected by the colorimetric sensor is acquired by the printed product colorimetric data acquisition unit, the textile printer.

[0016] The textile printer according to (8)(7), wherein the colorimetric sensor is integrated with the carriage and measures the color of a color patch after printing while printing, the textile printer.

[0017] The textile printer according to (9)(7), wherein the colorimetric sensor is placed on a rail that moves in the main scanning direction and measures the color of a color patch after printing while printing, the textile printer.

[0018] The textile printer according to (10)(7), wherein the colorimetric sensor is a CCD sensor, a CIS sensor, an RGB sensor, a CCD camera, an area camera, or a line sensor, the textile printer.

[0019] The textile printer according to (11)(7), wherein the colorimetric sensor measures the color of a color patch developed in accordance with the printed content of the fabric, the textile printer.

[0020] In the textile printer according to (12)(7), the colorimetric sensor measures the color of a color patch developed in a direction intersecting the conveyance direction at the head of the fabric. A textile printer.

[0021] In the textile printer according to (13)(7), the colorimetric sensor measures the color of a color patch developed along the conveyance direction of the fabric. A textile printer.

Advantages of the Invention

[0022] According to the color tone correction method, color tone correction device, and textile printer of the present invention, color tone correction can be performed in a timely manner.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0023]

Figure 1

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Figure 12

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Figure 15

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0024] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0025] First, a configuration example of the printing mechanism of an inkjet textile printer 4 incorporating a color difference meter as a color measuring device will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

[0026] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a printing mechanism in which a color measuring device 45 (color difference meter) is attached to and integrated with a carriage 44 of an inkjet textile printer 4. The textile printer 4 forms an image while conveying a fabric, which is a recording medium, in the sub-scanning direction in the X direction by a fabric conveyance belt 41, and scanning a carriage 44 with an inkjet head (not shown) attached thereto in the main scanning direction in the ±Y direction along a main scanning rail 43. Since the colorimeter 45 is integrated with the carriage 44, it is possible to measure the color of a color patch immediately after printing while printing with the inkjet head. In FIG. 1, the inkjet head provided on the carriage 44 is protected by a moisture retention unit 46. Further, the carriage 44 is driven by an actuator (not shown) along an LM (Linear Motion) guide 42 provided on the main scanning rail 43.

[0027] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an inkjet textile printer 4 in which a colorimeter 49 (color difference meter) is placed on a measuring instrument rail 48 that scans in the main scanning direction. The textile printer 4 scans the colorimeter 49 in the main scanning direction by an actuator (not shown) along an LM guide 47 provided on the measuring instrument rail 48. In conjunction with the conveyance of the fabric in the sub-scanning direction by the fabric conveyance belt 41, by scanning the colorimeter 49 in the main scanning direction, it is possible to measure the color of the color patch after printing while printing.

[0028] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an inkjet textile printer 4 in which an area camera 401 is arranged as a colorimeter to image the printing surface of a fabric, which is a recording medium. The color of the color patch immediately after printing is measured by an RGB image of the area camera 401 taken in conjunction with the conveyance of the fabric by the fabric conveyance belt 41. The imaging range of the area camera 401 is adjusted to the printing area of the color patch. The colorimeter may be a CCD camera, a line sensor, or a CCD sensor instead of the area camera 401.

[0029] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an inkjet textile printer 4 in which a CIS (Contact Image Sensor) 402 is arranged in the main scanning direction as a colorimeter. In conjunction with the conveyance of the fabric, the CIS 402 measures the color of the color patch immediately after printing. The imaging area of the CIS 402 is adjusted to the printing area of the color patch.

[0030] FIG. 5 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of a color tone correction device 1 of an inkjet textile printer 4 that implements the color tone correction method of the present invention.

[0031] The color tone correction device 1 corrects the color tone of the inkjet textile printer 4. Note that it may be implemented as one functional unit of the printer controller of the inkjet textile printer 4. The color tone correction device 1 includes a post-print product color measurement data acquisition unit 11, a final product color measurement data acquisition unit 12, a color tone correction processing unit 13, and a color measurement data storage unit 14.

[0032] The post-print product color measurement data acquisition unit 11 is a processing unit that acquires the post-print color measurement data of the color patch on the fabric before post-processing output by the inkjet textile printer 4 and stores it in the color measurement data storage unit 14. Specifically, the post-print product color measurement data acquisition unit 11 acquires the color measurement data measured using a spectrophotometer as a colorimeter. The post-print product color measurement data acquisition unit 11 acquires the post-print color measurement data from the colorimeter by means of a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory or wireless communication, etc. Also, the post-print product color measurement data acquisition unit 11 may acquire the post-print color measurement data from an offline colorimeter.

[0033] Alternatively, the post-print product color measurement data acquisition unit 11 acquires the post-print color measurement data measured using a color difference meter using an RGB color sensor or the like as a colorimeter. The post-print product color measurement data acquisition unit 11 acquires the post-print color measurement data from the colorimeter by means of a USB memory or wireless communication, etc.

[0034] Specifically, the post-print product color measurement data acquisition unit 11 acquires post-print color measurement data from a colorimeter (color difference meter) attached to and integrated with the carriage of the textile printer 4. Alternatively, the post-print product color measurement data acquisition unit 11 acquires color measurement data from a colorimeter (color difference meter) provided with a rail that moves in the main scanning direction of FIG. 2. The post-print product color measurement data acquisition unit 11 acquires post-print color measurement data from an area camera arranged to image the printed surface of the fabric as the colorimeter of FIG. 3. The post-print product color measurement data acquisition unit 11 acquires post-print color measurement data from a CIS arranged in the main scanning direction as the colorimeter of FIG. 4.

[0035] The final product color measurement data acquisition unit 12 is a processing unit that acquires the final color measurement data of the color patches of the fabric after the post-process of the fabric output by the textile printer 4 and stores it in the color measurement data storage unit 14. Specifically, it acquires the final color measurement data obtained by the textile printer 4 or the operator 5 using a spectrophotometer as the colorimeter. The final product color measurement data acquisition unit 12 acquires the final color measurement data from the colorimeter by means of a USB memory or wireless communication, etc. Also, the final product color measurement data acquisition unit 12 may acquire the final color measurement data from an offline colorimeter.

[0036] Alternatively, the final product color measurement data acquisition unit 12 acquires the final color measurement data obtained by using a spectrophotometer as the colorimeter. The final product color measurement data acquisition unit 12 acquires the final color measurement data from the colorimeter by means of a USB memory or wireless communication, etc. Also, the final product color measurement data acquisition unit 12 may acquire the final color measurement data from an offline colorimeter.

[0037] The color tone correction processing unit 13 stores the difference data or the change amount coefficient calculated from the color measurement data in the color measurement data storage unit 14, and generates an ICC profile from the color measurement data stored in the color measurement data storage unit 14 and the difference data or the change amount coefficient, and applies it to the RIP processing unit 20 described later.

[0038] The printer controller 2 includes a RIP processing unit 20 that controls the printing of the textile printer 4 and forms color patch image data. Alternatively, it may be implemented as one functional unit of a printing image generation device that generates a printed image of the textile printer 4.

[0039] The RIP processing unit 20 is an internal function of the printer controller 2 and is a processing unit that generates print data based on an ICC profile.

[0040] Next, with reference to FIG. 6, the dyeing process of the inkjet textile printer 4 will be described.

[0041] The dyeing process using the inkjet textile printer 4 includes a printing process 22 that forms an ink image on the pre-treated fabric 31 to be printed, a coloring process 231 and a washing process 232 that fix the dye of the printed product 32 after the printing process 22 and wash away excess dye and paste, and a drying process 233 that dries the printed product 32 after the coloring process 231 and the washing process 232 to obtain the final product 33.

[0042] Here, the coloring process 231, the washing process 232, and the drying process 233 are collectively referred to as the post-process 23. The post-process 23 may take several hours to several days depending on the type of process and the equipment of the factory.

[0043] In the inkjet textile printer 4, the color of the printed product 32 immediately after printing is different from the desired color, and it becomes the desired color tone through the post-process 23 such as the coloring process 231, the washing process 232, and the drying process 233. Therefore, when generating an ICC profile for color tone correction, it is necessary to judge based on the color of the final product 33.

[0044] FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a color tone correction method of a conventional inkjet textile printer 4.

[0045] In the color correction method, first, in the patch generation step 21, the RIP processing unit 20 of the printer controller 2 generates color patch image data and transmits it to the textile printer 4.

[0046] In the printing step 22, the textile printer 4 prints a color patch on the fabric 31 to be printed using the color patch image data. When printing on the fabric 31 with an inkjet textile printer 4, the color tone of the final product 33 after the subsequent step 23 varies depending on the fabric 31 and the type of pre-treatment of the fabric 31. Therefore, when performing color correction, the same fabric as the fabric 31 to be printed is used to print the color patch. The fabric on which the color patch is printed is the post-print product 32.

[0047] Next, an operator in the subsequent process performs the subsequent process 23 including the color development step 231, the washing step 232, and the drying step 233 on the post-print product 32. As a result, the final product 33, which is the fabric with the color patch printed thereon, is created.

[0048] Furthermore, in the color measurement step 24, the color patch of the final product 33 created in the subsequent process 23 is color-measured with a colorimeter (spectrophotometer) by the textile printer 4 or the operator 5, and the final color measurement data 241 is obtained.

[0049] In the color correction step 25, the color correction processing unit 13 in FIG. 5 creates an ICC profile 251 based on the final color measurement data 241 color-measured in the color measurement step 24.

[0050] Finally, in the RIP application step 26, the color correction device 1 applies the ICC profile 251 generated in the color correction step 25 to the RIP processing unit 20 in FIG. 5 to complete the color correction.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 6, in the conventional color tone correction method, when creating the ICC profile 251 for color tone correction, it is necessary to determine the color measurement of the color patch based on the color of the final product 33 generated in the post-process 23, rather than the printed product 32 generated in the printing process 22. Since the post-process 23 takes several hours to several days depending on the type of process and the equipment of the factory, it is difficult to perform color tone correction in a timely manner with the conventional color tone correction method.

[0052] Here, "in a timely manner" means the time when color tone correction becomes necessary due to circumstances related to the textile printer 4, such as when the inkjet head is replaced, when the inkjet head deteriorates over time, when the ink is replaced, or when there are significant changes in environmental temperature and humidity. That is, in this specification, it is assumed that the influence on the color tone in the post-process is constant.

[0053] Hereinafter, the color tone correction method of the present invention that can perform color tone correction in a timely manner will be described in detail. The color tone correction method of the present invention is generally as follows.

[0054] In the first color tone correction of the color tone correction method of the present invention, the printed product and the final product after the post-process are color-measured, an ICC profile is generated from the color measurement data of the final product, and the difference data between the color measurement data of the printed product and the color measurement data of the final product is obtained. This difference data is the difference in color measurement data before and after the post-process and indicates the amount of color change in the post-process.

[0055] In the color tone correction after the first time, the color tone correction method of the present invention adds the difference data obtained in the first color tone correction to the color measurement data of the printed product measured, and estimates it as the color measurement data of the final product. Then, the color tone correction method of the present invention creates an ICC profile based on the calculated color measurement data of the final product.

[0056] That is, the color tone correction method of the present invention obtains the amount of color change in the post-process, adds the amount of color change in the post-process to the color measurement data before the post-process, estimates the color measurement data after the post-process, and generates an ICC profile based on the color measurement data after the post-process.

[0057] The color tone correction method of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the color tone correction process in the first printing.

[0058] In the color tone correction method in the first printing, first, in the patch generation step 21, the printer controller 2 in FIG. 5 generates color patch image data and transmits it to the textile printer 4.

[0059] In the printing step 22, the textile printer 4 prints a color patch on the cloth 31 to be printed using the color patch image data. The cloth with the color patch printed is the printed product 32.

[0060] In the color measurement step 29, the textile printer 4 measures the color patch of the printed product 32 in the first printing with a color measuring device (spectrophotometer) to obtain the printed color measurement data 291 in the first printing.

[0061] Next, in the subsequent process 23, a color development process 231, a washing process 232, and a drying process 233 are performed on the printed product 32 in the first printing to obtain the final product 33 in the first printing, which is the cloth with the color patch printed.

[0062] Next, in the color measurement step 24, the color patch of the final product 33 obtained in the subsequent process 23 is measured with a color measuring device (spectrophotometer) to obtain the final color measurement data 241 in the first printing.

[0063] In the color tone correction step 25, the color tone correction processing unit 13 in FIG. 5 generates an ICC profile 251 based on the final color measurement data 241 measured in the color measurement step 24.

[0064] In the RIP application step 26, the printer controller 2 in FIG. 5 applies the ICC profile 251 generated in the color tone correction step 25 to the RIP processing unit 20 in FIG. 5.

[0065] Next, in the difference step 281, the color tone correction unit 13 in FIG. 5 calculates the difference data 28 between the post-print colorimetric data 291 and the final colorimetric data 241, and finishes the color tone correction in the first printing. That is, in the difference step 281, the difference data 28 between the post-print colorimetric data 291 obtained by colorimetrically measuring the color patches printed on the recording medium and the final colorimetric data 241 obtained by colorimetrically measuring the color patches after performing the post-process on the recording medium is obtained. Note that the post-print colorimetric data 291, the final colorimetric data 241, and the difference data 28 are table data of brightness for the number of colors of the color patches.

[0066] FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the color tone correction process in the second and subsequent printings. In the color tone correction method for the second and subsequent printings, first, in the patch generation step 21, the printer controller 2 in FIG. 5 generates color patch image data and transmits it to the textile printer 4. At this time, the color patch image data is generated based on the ICC profile 251 in FIG. 8.

[0067] In the printing step 22, the textile printer 4 prints color patches on the cloth 31 to be printed using the color patch image data. The cloth with the color patches printed is the post-print product 32.

[0068] In the colorimetric step 29, the textile printer 4 colorimetrically measures the color patches of the post-print product 32 in the second and subsequent printings with a colorimeter (spectrophotometer) to obtain the post-print colorimetric data 292.

[0069] Next, in the post-process 23, for the post-print product 32 in the second and subsequent printings, the post-process 23 of the color development step 231, the washing step 232, and the drying step 233 is performed to obtain the final product 33 which is the cloth with the color patches printed.

[0070] In the addition process 282, the post-print color measurement data 292 measured in the color measurement process 29 of the second and subsequent prints is added to the difference data 28 obtained in the difference process 281 of FIG. 8 to calculate the estimated color measurement data 242 that estimates the color measurement data of the final product 33 in the second and subsequent prints. Then, this estimated color measurement data 242 is used as the estimated value of the color measurement data of the final product 33 in the second and subsequent prints.

[0071] In the color tone correction process for the first print described with reference to FIG. 8, the color patches of the final product 33 were measured in the color measurement process 24 after the subsequent process 23. However, as described above, in the second and subsequent prints, the estimated value of the color measurement data of the final product 33 is obtained without measuring the final product 33. Thereby, the color tone correction process can proceed without waiting for the execution of the subsequent process 23.

[0072] In the color tone correction process 25, an estimated ICC profile 252 is generated based on the estimated color measurement data 242 of the final product estimated in the addition process 282 of the second and subsequent prints.

[0073] In the RIP application process 26, the estimated ICC profile 252 generated in the color tone correction process 25 of the second and subsequent prints is applied to the RIP processing unit 20 in FIG. 5 to complete the color tone correction in the second and subsequent prints.

[0074] When the type of the fabric or the pre-treatment of the fabric changes, the color tone correction method needs to be restarted from the patch generation process 21 in FIG. 8 because the color of the final product 33 will be different. However, when the type of the fabric or the pre-treatment of the fabric does not change, the patch generation process 21 to the RIP application process 26 described with reference to FIG. 9 may be performed on the premise that the subsequent process 23 also does not change. Thereby, the color tone correction method can correct the color tone without measuring the final product 33 (the fabric printed with the color patches) after the subsequent process, so that the color tone can be corrected in a timely manner.

[0075] Next, with reference to FIGS. 10, 11, and 12, a color tone correction method for generating an ICC profile by measuring colors using an RGB color sensor that is less expensive than a spectrophotometer will be described. The color difference meter measures the color patches with a predetermined accuracy. The spectrophotometer measures the color patches with a higher accuracy than the color difference meter. In this color tone correction method, color tone correction is performed by three steps of processing.

[0076] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the color tone correction process in the first printing. In the color tone correction method for the first printing, first, in the patch generation step 21, the printer controller 2 in FIG. 5 generates color patch image data and transmits it to the textile printer 4.

[0077] In the printing step 22, the textile printer 4 prints color patches on the cloth 31 to be printed using the color patch image data. The cloth with the color patches printed is the printed product 32 after printing.

[0078] In the color measurement step 29, the textile printer 4 measures the color patches of the printed product 32 after the first printing with a color difference meter (RGB color sensor) to obtain the post-printing color measurement data 291 in the first printing. In the color measurement step 29, the post-printing color measurement data 291 is measured with a predetermined accuracy.

[0079] Next, in the post-process 23, a coloring process 231, a washing process 232, and a drying process 233 are performed on the printed product 32 after the first printing to obtain the final product 33 which is the cloth with the color patches printed.

[0080] Next, in the color measurement step 24, the color patches of the final product 33 obtained in the post-process 23 are measured with a color measuring instrument (spectrophotometer) to obtain the final color measurement data 241 in the first printing. Here, the color measurement of the color patches is performed with a spectrophotometer instead of a color difference meter. In the color measurement step 24, the final color measurement data 241 is measured with a higher accuracy than the predetermined accuracy.

[0081] In the color correction step 25, the color correction processing unit 13 in FIG. 5 generates an ICC profile 251 based on the final color measurement data 241 measured in the color measurement step 24 of the first printing.

[0082] In the RIP application step 26, the ICC profile 251 generated in the color correction step 25 of the first printing is applied to the RIP processing unit 20 in FIG. 5 to complete the first color correction process.

[0083] FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the color correction process in the second printing for calculating the measurement value conversion data (change coefficient) of a color difference meter (RGB color sensor).

[0084] In the color correction method, first, in the patch generation step 21, the printer controller 2 in FIG. 5 generates color patch image data and transmits it to the textile printer 4. At this time, the color patch image data is generated based on the ICC profile 251.

[0085] In the printing step 22, the textile printer 4 prints a color patch on the fabric 31 to be printed using the color patch image data. The fabric with the color patch printed is the post-printing product 32.

[0086] In the color measurement step 29, the textile printer 4 measures the color patch of the post-printing product 32 in the second printing with a color measuring instrument (color difference meter) to obtain the post-printing color measurement data 293 in the second printing. The post-printing color measurement data 293 in the color measurement step 29 is measured with a predetermined accuracy.

[0087] Next, in the post-process step 23, the post-process step 23 including the color development step 231, the washing step 232, and the drying step 233 is performed on the post-printing product 32 in the second printing to obtain the final product 33 which is the fabric with the color patch printed.

[0088] Next, in the color measurement step 24, the color patches of the final product 33 of the second printing obtained in the subsequent step 23 are color-measured with a color measuring device (spectrophotometer), and the final color measurement data 243 for the second printing is obtained. Here, the color measurement of the color patches is performed with a spectrophotometer instead of a color difference meter. In the color measurement step 24, the final color measurement data 243 is color-measured with higher accuracy than the predetermined accuracy.

[0089] In the change amount calculation step 283, the difference [a1 - a2] between the value [a2] of the final color measurement data 243 color-measured in the color measurement step 24 during the second printing and the value [a1] of the final color measurement data 241 color-measured in the color measurement step 24 during the first printing is obtained. In the change amount calculation step 283, further, the difference [c1 - c2] between the value [c2] of the post-printing color measurement data 293 color-measured during the second printing and the value [c1] of the post-printing color measurement data 291 color-measured in the color measurement step 29 during the first printing is obtained. Then, as shown in Equation (1), the color tone correction method obtains the ratio of the difference in the color measurement data of the spectrophotometer to the difference in the color measurement data of the color difference meter as the change amount coefficient T. T = [a1 - a2] / [c1 - c2] ··· (1)

[0090] If the change amounts of the color measurement data of the spectrophotometer and the color difference meter are linear, the color tone correction method can calculate the value [a3] of the estimated color measurement data 244 of the color patch of the final product 33 at that time from the value [c3] of the post-printing color measurement data 294 of the color patch of the post-printing product 32 printed in the third and subsequent printings according to Equation (2). [a3] = T * [c1 - c3] + [a1] ··· (2)

[0091] Note that when the measurement characteristics of the RGB color sensor are not linear, the color tone correction method may be corrected in advance to be linear based on information in the data sheet or the like.

[0092] FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the color tone correction process in the third and subsequent printings.

[0093] In the color correction method for printing after the third time, in the patch generation step 21, the printer controller 2 in FIG. 5 generates color patch image data and transmits it to the textile printer 4. At this time, the color patch image data is generated based on the ICC profile 251 in FIG. 10.

[0094] In the printing step 22, the textile printer 4 prints a color patch on the cloth 31 to be printed using the color patch image data.

[0095] In the color measurement step 29, the textile printer 4 measures the color patch of the printed product 32 after printing with a color difference meter (RGB color sensor) to obtain post-print color measurement data 294 for printing after the third time. In the color measurement step 29, the post-print color measurement data 294 is measured with a predetermined accuracy.

[0096] Next, in the post-process 23, the post-process 23 including the color development process 231, the washing process 232, and the drying process 233 is performed on the printed product 32 after printing in the printing after the third time to obtain the final product 33 which is the cloth with the color patch printed. It is not necessary to measure the color of the color patch on the cloth for the final product 33 of the third post-process 23. Thereby, the color correction process can be advanced without performing the post-process 23.

[0097] In the estimation step 284, from the post-print color measurement data 294 obtained by measuring the printed product 32 after printing in the printing after the third time in the color measurement step 29, the post-print color measurement data 291 obtained by measuring the printed product 32 after printing by the first printing in the color measurement step 29, the change amount coefficient T obtained in the change amount calculation step 283, and the final color measurement data 241 obtained by measuring the final product 33 by the first printing in the color measurement step 29, the estimated color measurement data 244 for estimating the color patch of the final product 33 is calculated according to Equation (2).

[0098] In the color correction step 25, an estimated ICC profile 254 is generated based on the estimated color measurement data 244 calculated in the estimation step 284.

[0099] In the RIP application process 26, the estimated ICC profile 254 generated in the color correction process 25 is applied to the RIP processing unit 20 in FIG. 5 to complete the color correction process in the second and subsequent printings.

[0100] The above color correction method is premised on the fact that the type of fabric or pre-treatment of the fabric remains unchanged and the post-processes are also not changed, and each process described in FIGS. 10 and 11 is carried out in advance. As a result, in the color correction process in the third and subsequent printings in FIG. 12, the color patch of the printed final product 32 is measured with a colorimeter (a color difference meter using an RGB color sensor) to generate the estimated ICC profile 254. Since the color correction method can perform color correction without measuring the final product after the post-process, color correction can be performed in a timely manner.

[0101] The RGB color sensor described as a color difference meter in the above color correction method is a small and lightweight sensor and can be built into the printing mechanism of the textile printer 4. As a result, at the same time as printing the color patch, the value [c3] of the post-printing color measurement data 294 can be measured, improving the operability of the printer and enabling easy color correction.

[0102] Next, an example of the deployment of the color patch in the color correction method of the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 13, 14, and 15.

[0103] FIG. 13 shows an example of deploying a color patch by printing it on the entire surface of the fabric 50. This color patch is dedicated to color correction, and the user can perform accurate color correction because it can be measured and corrected with a full patch.

[0104] FIG. 14 shows an example of deploying a color patch 52 in which patches selected at the head and in the main scanning direction of the fabric 51 to be printed in the print job are embedded. By measuring this color patch 52 with the colorimeter shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the user can monitor the printing state during the execution of the print job. Furthermore, the user can perform color correction during the execution of the print job by the color correction method described in FIGS. 5 to 7.

[0105] FIG. 15 shows an example of the development of a color patch 53 for embedding patches selected along the conveyance direction of the fabric 51 to be printed in a print job. By measuring the color of this color patch 53 with the colorimeter shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the user can monitor the printing state during the execution of the print job. Further, the user can perform color tone correction during the execution of the print job by the color tone correction method described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 12. Further, the example of the development of the color patch in FIG. 15 enables high-frequency or continuous color measurement, so that changes in the printing state can be detected in a short time.

[0106] With reference to FIGS. 14 and 15, an example of embedding the color patch 52 in a direction intersecting the conveyance direction at the head of the fabric 51 and an example of embedding the color patch 53 in the conveyance direction of the fabric have been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and color patches may be embedded in the empty area of the fabric outside the print area of the print job so that the color patches are embedded together with the print content.

[0107] In the above embodiment, an example in which an inkjet textile printer prints on a fabric has been described. However, any printed matter that undergoes post-processing may be used, and the printed matter is not limited to a fabric. Further, the present invention can also be implemented with a sublimation transfer textile printer.

[0108] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and includes various modifications. The above embodiments have been described in detail for easy understanding of the present invention, and are not necessarily limited to those having all the configurations described. Further, a part of the configuration of one embodiment can be replaced with the configuration of another embodiment, and the configuration of another embodiment can be added to the configuration of one embodiment.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0109] 1 Color tone correction device 11 Printed product color measurement data acquisition unit 12 Final product color measurement data acquisition unit 13 Color tone correction processing unit 14 Color measurement data storage unit 2 Printer controller 20 RIP Processing Unit 21 Patch Generation Process 22 Printing Process 23 Post-Process 231 Color Development Process 232 Washing Process 233 Drying Process 24 Color Measurement Process 25 Color Tone Correction Process 26 RIP Application Process 281 Difference Process 251 ICC Profile 28 Difference Data 29 Color Measurement Process 291 Color Measurement Data after Printing 241 Final Color Measurement Data 31 Fabric 32 Product after Printing 33 Final Product

Claims

1. A method for color tone correction of a textile printer, comprising: obtaining difference data between post-print colorimetric data obtained by colorimetrically measuring a color patch printed on a recording medium and final colorimetric data obtained by colorimetrically measuring the color patch on the recording medium after performing a post-process; generating a first ICC profile from the final colorimetric data; printing a color patch on a new recording medium based on the first ICC profile; estimating final colorimetric data obtained by colorimetrically measuring the color patch on the recording medium after performing the post-process from the post-print colorimetric data obtained by colorimetrically measuring the color patch printed on the recording medium and the difference data; generating a second ICC profile from the final colorimetric data; A method for color tone correction of a textile printer, comprising the above steps.

2. A method for color tone correction of a textile printer, comprising: obtaining first post-print colorimetric data by colorimetrically measuring a color patch printed on a recording medium with a predetermined accuracy; generating a first ICC profile from first final colorimetric data obtained by colorimetrically measuring the color patch on the recording medium after performing a post-process with an accuracy higher than the predetermined accuracy; obtaining second post-print colorimetric data by colorimetrically measuring a color patch newly printed on a recording medium with the predetermined accuracy based on the first ICC profile; obtaining second final colorimetric data by colorimetrically measuring the color patch on the recording medium after performing the post-process with an accuracy higher than the predetermined accuracy; obtaining a change amount coefficient of the post-process from the difference between the first post-print colorimetric data and the second post-print colorimetric data, and the difference between the first final colorimetric data and the second final colorimetric data; obtaining third post-print colorimetric data by colorimetrically measuring a color patch printed on a recording medium with the predetermined accuracy based on the first ICC profile; calculating estimated final colorimetric data from the first post-print colorimetric data, the third post-print colorimetric data, the change amount coefficient, and the second final colorimetric data; generating a second ICC profile from the estimated final colorimetric data; A method for color tone correction of a textile printer, comprising the above steps.

3. A post-print product colorimetric data acquisition unit that acquires post-print colorimetric data obtained by colorimetrically measuring a color patch printed on a recording medium by a textile printer; A final product colorimetric data acquisition unit that acquires final colorimetric data obtained by colorimetrically measuring color patches on the recording medium after the post-process; A colorimetric data storage unit that stores the post-printing colorimetric data and the final colorimetric data; Based on the post-printing colorimetric data and the final colorimetric data, determine the amount of color change due to the post-process, add the amount of color change to the post-printing colorimetric data before the post-process acquired by the post-process product colorimetric data acquisition unit, calculate the estimated colorimetric data after the post-process, and create an ICC profile for the textile printer based on the estimated colorimetric data; a color tone correction processing unit; A color tone correction device comprising the above.

4. In the color tone correction device according to claim 3, The recording medium is a fabric. Color tone correction device.

5. In the color tone correction device according to claim 3, The textile printer is an inkjet printer. Color tone correction device.

6. An inkjet textile printer that prints on fabric and is color tone corrected by the color tone correction device according to claim 3, The post-process is a color development process, a washing process, and a drying process of the fabric. Textile printer.

7. An inkjet textile printer that prints on fabric and is color tone corrected by the color tone correction device according to claim 3, Equipped with a colorimetric sensor that acquires colorimetric data of color patches printed on the recording medium, The colorimetric data detected by the colorimetric sensor is acquired by the post-process product colorimetric data acquisition unit. Textile printer.

8. In the textile printer according to claim 7, The colorimetric sensor is integrated with the carriage, Colorimetrically measure the color patches after printing while printing. Textile printer.

9. In the textile printer according to claim 7, The colorimetric sensor is placed on a rail that moves in the main scanning direction, Colorimetrically measure the color patches after printing while printing. Textile printer.

10. In the textile printer according to claim 7, The colorimetric sensor is a CCD sensor, a CIS sensor, an RGB sensor, a CCD camera, an area camera, or a line sensor. Textile printer.

11. In the textile printer according to claim 7, The colorimetric sensor colorimetrically measures color patches developed in accordance with the printed content of the fabric. Textile printer.

12. In the textile printer according to claim 7, The colorimetric sensor measures the color of a color patch developed in a direction intersecting the conveyance direction at the head of the fabric. Textile printer.

13. In the textile printer according to claim 7, The colorimetric sensor measures the color of a color patch developed along the conveyance direction of the fabric. Textile printer.

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