Program, storage medium, control method for information processing device, and information processing device.

Abstract

To provide a mechanism enabling subtractive color processing of reducing types of colors set in print data to be a print object at a printer to two or more kinds of colors to enable printing of the print data at the printer.SOLUTION: An extended application 204 supports general-purpose printing software 202 configured to generate print data printable in a printer 102 of a plurality of manufacturers. The extended application 204 causes a computer to execute: a display control process of displaying a detail setting screen (setting reception screen) 300C configured to receive a setting of a two-color printing function (subtractive color processing) reducing types of colors set in print data to be a print object at a printer 102 to two or more kinds of colors to enable printing of the print data at the printer 102; and a transmission process capable of transmitting to the printer 102 the setting of the subtractive color processing received at the detail setting screen 300C.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] A host computer (information processing device) capable of processing information exchanged between the printing device and the printing device is communicatively connected to the printing device. The control software for controlling the printing device is, for example, a printer driver installed on the host computer by the printing device. This printer driver allows the host computer to issue print instructions to the printing device. An operating system (hereinafter referred to as "OS"), which is the basic software, is pre-installed on the host computer. The printer driver is configured in accordance with specifications defined by the OS and can be called and operated by the OS. Furthermore, such printer drivers differ depending on the vendor supplying the printing device; in other words, they are model-specific printer drivers suited to each printing device.

[0003] In recent years, Windows® has provided standard class drivers (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "standard drivers") that can be commonly used with printing devices supplied by multiple different vendors. Such standard drivers are pre-installed in the OS. Any printing device can be connected to a host computer with an OS that incorporates the standard drivers and use the standard drivers. This eliminates the need to install model-specific printer drivers. Furthermore, the standard drivers can be used by specifying the printing functions of the printing device according to Print Device Capabilities (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "PDC") generated based on information obtained from the printing device. This allows printing functions to be specified for each printing device using a single standard driver. A function-extension application (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "extension application") that extends the functionality of a standard driver can be associated with the standard driver. The extension application is provided by each vendor. Therefore, it is difficult to execute the functions of an extension application using only the standard driver.

[0004] Patent Document 1 discloses a support program used when printing on a printer communicably connected to an information processing device. This support program performs correction to reduce the amount of colorant (toner or ink) used when a print instruction is given to a general-purpose printing program pre-installed in the operating system of the information processing device and a colorant saving mode is selected. This correction processing function is not included in the general-purpose printing program, but can be executed by the support program.

[0005] In addition to the correction processing function, the functions of the extended application include, for example, a two-color printing function, which is a function unique to printing devices provided by each vendor. The "two-color printing function" is a function that prints image data that can be printed in full color in two specified colors. With the two-color printing function, for example, image data that can be printed in full color can be printed in two colors, green and black, or red and black. This allows image data to be printed in two colors of the user's choice, for example. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-93081 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, the support program of Patent Document 1 cannot execute a two-color printing function, which may result in the user being unable to print image data in the two colors of his or her choice.

[0008] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a mechanism for enabling color reduction processing that reduces the number of colors set in print data to be printed by a printing device to two or more colors, thereby enabling the printing device to print the print data. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to achieve the above object, the program of the present invention is a program that supports a general-purpose program that generates data that can be printed on printing devices from multiple manufacturers, and is characterized by having a computer execute a display control process that reduces the types of colors set in the print data to be printed on the printing device to two or more colors and displays a setting acceptance screen that accepts settings for color reduction processing that enables the print data to be printed on the printing device, and a transmission process that can transmit the color reduction processing settings accepted on the setting acceptance screen to the printing device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to perform color reduction processing that reduces the number of colors set in print data to be printed on a printing device to two or more colors, thereby enabling the printing of the print data on the printing device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a printing system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2A] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a software configuration of the printing system. [Figure 2B] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining an example of execution of a two-color printing function. [Figure 2C] 10 is a flowchart showing the execution process of a two-color printing function. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of the printing system. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a process in which a print function extension unit edits print function information. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a list of capability information of a printing device. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a list of print functions supported by an extension application. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a list of capability information of general-purpose printing software. [Figure 8]10 is a sequence diagram showing processing executed between the drawing application, general-purpose printing software, extension application, and printing device after the drawing application accepts print settings. FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the software configuration of a printing system according to a second embodiment. [Figure 10] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a process in which a print function extension unit edits print function information. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a list of capability information of a printing device. [Figure 12] 10 is a sequence diagram showing processing executed between the drawing application, general-purpose printing software, extension application, and printing device after the drawing application accepts print settings. FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram showing processing executed between the drawing application, general-purpose printing software, extension application, and printing device after the drawing application accepts print settings in a printing system according to a third embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram showing the processing executed between the drawing application, general-purpose printing software, extension application, and printing device after the drawing application accepts print settings in the printing system according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of the printing system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Each embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the configurations described in each of the following embodiments are merely examples, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the configurations described in each embodiment. For example, each component constituting the present invention can be replaced with any configuration that can perform the same function. Also, any component may be added. Furthermore, any two or more configurations (features) of each embodiment can be combined.

[0013] <<First Embodiment>> The first embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS.

[0014] <Printing system hardware configuration> Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a printing system according to a first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the printing system 1000 includes a host computer 101, a printing device 102, a pointing device 117, a keyboard 118, and a display unit 119, which are communicatively connected to one another. The host computer 101 is an information processing device and includes an input interface 110, a CPU 111, a ROM 112, a RAM 113, an external storage device (storage medium) 114, an output interface 115, an input / output interface 116, and a NET interface 120. Note that the host computer 101 may be, for example, a desktop personal computer, but is not limited thereto, and may also be, for example, a notebook personal computer, a tablet terminal, a smartphone, or the like.

[0015] The CPU 111 is a computer that executes programs stored in the ROM 112 and the external storage device 114. An initialization program is stored in the ROM 112. The external storage device 114 stores application programs, an operating system (OS), print data generation software, and various other data. In this embodiment, the host computer 101 is equipped with Microsoft Windows® 11 as the OS. The RAM 113 is used as a work memory for executing various programs stored in the external storage device 114, enabling the various programs to run within the host computer 101. A pointing device 117 and a keyboard 118 are connected to the input interface 110 as input devices. A display unit 119 is connected to the output interface 115 as a display device. The display unit 119 displays, for example, a print setting screen 300A and a detailed setting screen 300C (described later). The NET interface 120 is a network interface that controls data transfer between the host computer 101 and external devices via a network. The printing device 102 is connected to the input / output interface 116. This allows the host computer 101 to communicate with printing devices 102 from multiple manufacturers, regardless of the manufacturer of the printing device 102, i.e., allows information to be processed between the host computer 101 and printing devices 102 from multiple manufacturers.

[0016] The printing device 102 may be, for example, a multi-function peripheral (MFP) having multiple functions such as copying, printing, and faxing, but is not limited to this. In addition, the printing performed by the printing device 102 is electrophotographic printing in this embodiment, but is not limited to this and can also be inkjet printing, for example. In addition, in this embodiment, the host computer 101 and the printing device 102 are configured as separate devices, but are not limited to this. For example, the host computer 101 and the printing device 102 may be configured as an integrated device.

[0017] <Software-based printing system configuration> FIG. 2A is a block diagram showing the software configuration of a printing system. FIG. 2A(a) shows a general configuration when an extension application (program) 204 is not associated with the general-purpose printing software (general-purpose program) 202 and the printing device 102. FIG. 2A(b) shows a configuration when the extension application 204 is associated with the general-purpose printing software 202 and the printing device 102. The general-purpose printing software 202 generates data that can be printed on printing devices 102 from multiple manufacturers, i.e., is a program that can be used for printing on printing devices 102 from multiple manufacturers, and is pre-installed in the OS. A program that operates based on the IPP (Internet Printing Protocol) is used as this general-purpose printing software 202. The extension application 204 is a program that supports, i.e., assists, the general-purpose printing software 202. In this embodiment, the extension application 204 is an extension program (a program that executes a control method) that can extend functions that the general-purpose printing software 202 cannot execute on the printing device 102, but is not limited to this. For example, the extension application 204 may be a program that improves the convenience of the functions that the general-purpose printing software 202 can execute for the printing device 102. The extension application 204 is stored in the external storage device 114 together with the OS (general-purpose printing software 202), for example. As a result, the host computer 101 has the general-purpose printing software 202 and the extension application 204.

[0018] First, with reference to FIG. 2A(a), a configuration will be described for a case in which the extension application 204 is not associated with the general-purpose printing software 202 and the printing device 102. The drawing application 201 is software for creating content (print data) to be printed by the printing device 102. The drawing application 201 is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a word processing application and a spreadsheet application. The drawing application 201 issues a print instruction to the OS upon receiving a print request from a user, for example, via the keyboard 118. The print instruction includes print setting information for instructing the operation of the general-purpose printing software 202 and the printing device 102. The print setting information is also called a "Print Ticket (PT)." In addition, in order to output the print setting information, the drawing application 201 can display a print setting screen 300A (see FIG. 4(a)) provided by any of the general-purpose printing software 202, the OS, and the drawing application 201 on the display unit 119. Furthermore, by operating (pressing) a control 405 in the print setting screen 300A, the detailed setting screen 300B (see FIG. 4B) or the detailed setting screen 300C (see FIG. 4C) can be displayed on the display unit 119. The print setting screens 300A to 300C will be described later. The print setting screen 300A includes setting items indicating settable print functions and control items indicating their setting values ​​according to capability information acquired from the general-purpose printing software 202, i.e., information that can be set as print settings. The capability information is also referred to as Print Capabilities (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as "PC"). It is also possible to determine whether the capability information includes information that enables the display of the detailed setting screen 300C (a determination step). Then, if it is determined as a result of this determination that the information that enables the display of the detailed setting screen 300C is included, the detailed setting screen 300C can be displayed. On the other hand, if it is determined that the information that enables the display of the detailed setting screen 300C is not included, the detailed setting screen 300C is not displayed.

[0019] The general-purpose printing software 202 determines the PC based on the printing capability information 203. The printing capability information 203 is data indicating printing capabilities, including all configurable printing functions, their setting values, and the exclusive relationships between the setting values. The printing capability information 203 is also called PDC (Print Device Capabilities). The printing capability information 203 is included in a configuration file of the general-purpose printing software 202 and stored in the external storage device 114 as an unmodifiable file. Alternatively, the printing capability information 203 is dynamically generated by the general-purpose printing software 202. Specifically, the general-purpose printing software 202 acquires attribute data of the printing device 102 from the printing device 102. The general-purpose printing software 202 generates the printing capability information 203 based on the attribute information in this attribute data. Note that when the printing capability information 203 is dynamically generated in this manner, the printing capability information 203 can be edited. The attribute data of the printing device 102 is a response acquired by issuing an IPP "Get-Printer-Attributes" operation to the printing device 102. The response includes functions that can be specified by the printing device 102, that is, attribute information indicating the capabilities of the printing device 102, and setting values ​​related to the attribute information. The response is also stored in the RAM 113.

[0020] With this configuration, the general-purpose printing software 202 allows the user to specify print functions available on the printing device 102, depending on the printing device 102 connected to the general-purpose printing software 202. This allows the user to specify print functions available on the printing device 102, regardless of the printing device 102 connected to the general-purpose printing software 202. This allows the user to specify print functions available on the printing device, regardless of the printing device 102 connected to the general-purpose printing software 202, even when the printing device has different functions or is developed by a different printer manufacturer. In this embodiment, the general-purpose printing software 202 is configured to use the "IPP Class Driver" included in Windows® 11. The "IPP Class Driver" is a printer driver that executes printing processing according to the specifications of a standard printing protocol called IPP, and is included in the OS package. The "IPP Class Driver" is not a printer driver specific to the model of the printing device 102, but a standard class driver that can be used by printing devices 102 of various printer manufacturers, regardless of the printer manufacturer. The "IPP Class Driver" also acquires capability information from the printing device 102 and generates print capability information 203 based on that information.

[0021] Furthermore, an extension application 204 can be associated with the general-purpose printing software 202. This allows the general-purpose printing software 202 to execute functions that are not available in the general-purpose printing software 202. For example, the IPP Class Driver (general-purpose printing software 202) cannot execute a two-color printing function, i.e., it does not support two-color printing processing. The "two-color printing function" refers to two-color processing (color reduction processing) that reduces the number of colors set in print data to be printed by the printing device 102 to two (or more) colors, enabling the printing device 102 to print the print data. This is because the two-color printing function is a function that is executed independently by the printing device 102 manufactured by a specific printer manufacturer. The extension application 204 can extend the IPP Class Driver to execute the two-color printing function that the IPP Class Driver cannot execute. In this embodiment, the IPP Class Driver cannot execute the two-color printing function, and the extension application 204 can extend the two-color printing function to execute the two-color printing function, but this is not limited to this. For example, the IPP Class Driver may be able to perform part of the two-color printing function, and the extension application 204 may supplement the missing parts of the two-color printing function and further extend the scope of execution.

[0022] <Two-color printing function> The colors of the input data are assumed to be RGB data composed of three commonly used RGB channels, taking 8-bit values ​​from 0 to 255, but are not limited to this. As described above, the two-color printing function is a function that reduces the number of colors set in the print data to be printed by the printing device 102 to two predetermined colors and prints using these two colors. The two colors used in the two-color printing function may be determined by selecting a desired combination from multiple preset two-color combinations. The two colors used in the two-color printing function may also be determined by selecting a mode. In this embodiment, the modes are, for example, a first mode, "Mode 1," and a second mode, "Mode 2," but are not limited to these. Modes 1 and 2 will be described later. In this embodiment, a color with an RGB value of (255, 255, 255) is defined as white, a color with an RGB value of (128, 128, 128) is defined as gray, and a color with an RGB value of (0, 0, 0) is defined as black. In addition, in this embodiment, colors in which the values ​​of all components of the RGB value are equal, such as white, gray, and black, are considered achromatic colors, and other colors are considered chromatic colors, but the definitions of achromatic colors and chromatic colors are not limited to this.

[0023] <Example of two-color printing function> In this embodiment, a case where the printing device 102 executes a two-color printing function will be described. In printed materials, two-color printing may be used to, for example, improve the visual impression of the printed material. However, preferences for the appearance of colors in printed materials vary depending on the person viewing the printed material. In particular, for images including photographs and graphics, or office document images containing objects such as photographs and graphs in presentation materials, the preferred colors may vary depending on the person viewing the image and the environment in which the image is viewed. For this reason, it is preferable to execute a two-color printing function that takes into account various conditions.

[0024] <Mode 1> FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating an example of the execution of the two-color printing function. FIG. 2C is a flowchart illustrating the execution process of the two-color printing function. "Mode 1" is a mode in which all chromatic colors in the print data are converted (unified) into a single desired (predetermined) chromatic color, regardless of the type of chromatic color, and achromatic colors are left unchanged, regardless of the type of achromatic color. Here, two-color printing of green and black is used as an example of two-color printing. That is, as an example of Mode 1, all chromatic colors in the print data are converted into green, and achromatic colors are left as black. The execution of the two-color printing function in Mode 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2B(a), 2B(b), and 2C(a). As shown in FIG. 2B(a), print data 901 includes character 902, character 903, object 904, and object 905. Character 902 is the black character "TEXT." Character 903 is the yellow character "TEXT." Object 904 is a red object called "sun." Object 905 is a green object called "mountain." As shown in FIG. 2B(b), in the lookup table 906, a color with an RGB value of (0,0,0) is black. A color with an RGB value of (255,0,0) is red, a color with an RGB value of (0,255,0) is green, and a color with an RGB value of (255,255,0) is yellow. In this embodiment, the CMYK values ​​are assumed to be "0" (lightest) and "255" (darkest), but are not limited to this. In this example, a color with a CMYK value of (255,0,255,0) is green, and a color with a CMYK value of (0,0,0,255) is black.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 2C(a), in step S1701A, the printing device 102 uses the lookup table 906 to convert the print data 901 into an 8-bit image consisting of four channels: C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black).

[0026] In step S1702A, the printing device 102 determines whether the number of colors set in the print data 901 is "two-color printing." If the result of the determination in step S1702A is "two-color printing," the process proceeds to step S1703A. On the other hand, if the result of the determination in step S1702A is not "two-color printing," the process ends.

[0027] In step S1703A, the printing device 102 generates two-color print data 907 from the print data 901 converted to CMYK values ​​using the two-color conversion formula shown in formula (1) below. As mentioned above, an example of two-color printing is two-color printing of green and black. The parameters of formula (1) differ depending on the two colors being converted. Formula (1) is an example, and is not limiting.

[0028]

number

[0029] The maximum value of each CMYK component calculated by equation (1) is set to 255. Then, by equation (1), the yellow character 903 in FIG. 2B(a) is converted into green character 908, and the red object 904 is converted into green object 909. Note that the character 902 remains black, and the object 905 remains green. In this way, print data 907 consisting of the two colors, green and black, can be generated.

[0030] <Mode 2> "Mode 2" is a mode in which, of all colors in the print data, one chromatic color (a predetermined color) and colors close to that chromatic color are converted (unified) to that chromatic color, and all other colors are converted to achromatic colors (one other predetermined color). Here, two-color printing of green and black is used as an example of two-color printing. That is, as an example of Mode 2, green and colors close to green are converted to green, and all other colors are converted to black. The execution of the two-color printing function in Mode 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2B(c), 2(d), and 2C(b). As shown in FIG. 2B(c), print data 901 contains black text 902, yellow text 903, red object 904, and green object 905, similar to FIG. 2B(a). 2B(d), in the lookup table 910, as in FIG. 2B(b), the RGB value (0,0,0) is black, (255,0,0) is red, (0,255,0) is green, and (255,255,0) is yellow. For example, an HSV value can be calculated from the RGB value (0,255,0) of green. The HSV value is a color space value expressed by Hue, Saturation, Chroma, and Value Brightness. This calculation method is well known, so its explanation is omitted. For example, if the calculated H (hue) component value is 120 (value range: 0 to 360), an RGB value with an H component value of 100 to 140 is considered to be a similar color. A lookup table is used in which the CMYK values ​​of similar colors are (255,0,255,0) and the other colors are (0,0,0,255). This makes it possible to generate print data 911 made up of two colors. Note that the lookup table 910 is an example and is not limiting. The values ​​in the lookup table 910 differ depending on the two colors being converted.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 2C(b), in step S1701B, similar to step S1702A (see FIG. 2C(a)), the printing device 102 determines whether the number of colors set in the print data 901 is "two-color printing." If the determination in step S1701B indicates "two-color printing," the process proceeds to step S1702B. On the other hand, if the determination in step S1701B indicates that "two-color printing" is not set, the process proceeds to step S1703B.

[0032] In step S1702B, the printing device 102 uses the lookup table 910 to generate two-color print data 911, each of which is 8 bits for each CMYK component, for the print data 901, and then the process ends. By the two-color conversion process using the lookup table 910, the yellow character 903 is converted into black character 912, and the red object 904 is converted into black object 913. Note that the character 902 remains black, and the object 905 remains green. In this way, the print data 911 consisting of the two colors, green and black, can be generated.

[0033] In step S1703B, similar to step S1701A (see FIG. 2C(a)), the printing device 102 uses the lookup table 906 to convert the print data 901 into an 8-bit image, and the process ends. Unlike mode 1, mode 2 can convert only colors close to the specified color to green. This makes it possible to generate print data 911 in which the green object 905 is more emphasized.

[0034] Returning now to the explanation with reference to FIG. 2A(a), the OS generates intermediate data (sometimes referred to as "input data") based on a print instruction output from the drawing application 201 and transmits the intermediate data to the general-purpose printing software 202. The data output by the drawing application 201 for printing is not particularly limited, and is preferably, for example, data in Graphic Device Interface format (GDI format). The data output by the drawing application 201 for printing may also be data in XML Paper Specification format (XPS format). When an IPP Class Driver is used as the general-purpose printing software 202, if the data output by the drawing application 201 is GDI format data, the OS converts the GDI format data into XPS format data. The OS then transmits the converted XPS format data to the general-purpose printing software 202 as intermediate data. If the data output by the drawing application 201 is XPS format data, the OS transmits the XPS format data to the general-purpose printing software 202 as intermediate data. The intermediate data includes drawing data, which is information such as characters and figures to be formed on the print medium, and print setting information set by the user.

[0035] The general-purpose printing software 202 converts the intermediate data into print data (image data) that can be processed by the printing device 102, i.e., printable, and sends it to the printing device 102. Here, "print data" in this embodiment refers to Page Description Language (PDL) data conforming to IPP. PDL data is, for example, data in PDF (Portable Document Format) or PWG-Raster format. Note that the print data includes drawing data, which is information such as characters and figures to be formed on the print medium, and print setting attribute information that is generated based on print setting information set by the user and specifies the print settings. The print setting attribute information includes attribute information that indicates functions that can be specified by the printing device 102, i.e., the capabilities of the printing device 102, and setting values ​​related to the attribute information.

[0036] The printing device 102 prints on a print medium based on the print data sent from the general-purpose printing software 202. At this time, the printing device 102 performs operations in accordance with the print setting attribute information included in the print data, thereby forming the drawing data included in the print data on the print medium. The print setting attribute information includes, for example, print quality such as image quality priority or speed priority, attribute information for specifying double-sided printing or single-sided printing, and setting values ​​for the attribute information. For example, if the print setting attribute information includes attribute information specifying double-sided printing, the printing device 102 can perform double-sided printing.

[0037] <If an extension application is associated> Referring to FIG. 2A(b), a case where an extension application 204 is associated with the general-purpose printing software 202 and the printing device 102 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2A(b), unlike FIG. 2A(a), an extension application 204 is added. That is, the host computer 101 has a drawing application 201, general-purpose printing software 202, and print function information 203, and also has an extension application 204. The extension application 204 is software for extending the functions of the general-purpose printing software 202. Note that the extension application 204 is not pre-installed (bundled) in the OS. Therefore, the extension application 204 is downloaded from a server (not shown) via the Internet by a user operating the host computer 101 and installed on the host computer 101. Alternatively, when the printing device 102 is connected to the host computer 101, the extension application 204 may be automatically installed on the host computer 101 based on this connection. Specifically, when the printing device 102 is connected to the host computer 101, the OS acquires device identification information from the printing device 102. The OS may download and install the extension application 204 corresponding to this device identification information from a server via the Internet. As a result, the host computer 101 stores the general-purpose printing software 202 and the extension application 204 as separate control programs. Note that the general-purpose printing software 202 and the extension application 204 may be updated and upgraded. In this case, the general-purpose printing software 202 update process and the extension application 204 update process may be performed at the same time or at different times. Furthermore, the trigger for the host computer 101 to acquire the general-purpose printing software 202 and the trigger for the host computer 101 to acquire the extension application 204 may be the same trigger or different triggers.Furthermore, when the extension application 204 is installed, the OS associates the extension application 204 with the general-purpose printing software 202 and the printing device 102 .

[0038] As shown in FIG. 2A(b), the extension application 204 can exchange information (send and receive information) with the general-purpose printing software 202 and the printing device 102. That is, the extension application 204 is associated with the general-purpose printing software 202 and the printing device 102. In this embodiment, the extension application 204 includes a print setting screen extension unit 205, a print function extension unit 206, an intermediate data editing unit 207, and a notification unit 209. The extension application 204 also includes shared information 208 that can be accessed by each of the print setting screen extension unit 205, the print function extension unit 206, the intermediate data editing unit 207, and the notification unit 209. The shared information 208 is a file saved in the external storage device 114 or information stored in the RAM 113. The extension application 204 can write and read the shared information 208 by using an API (Application Program Interface) provided by the OS.

[0039] The extension application 204 may terminate its operation as a whole upon completion of processing of each unit from the print setting screen extension unit 205 to the notification unit 209. In this case, the OS launches the extension application 204 each time it receives a processing execution request for each unit. The OS also terminates the operation of the extension application 204 as a whole, for example, when processing of the print setting screen extension unit 205 is completed. The extension application 204 may also cancel processing of each unit from the print setting screen extension unit 205 to the notification unit 209 during that processing. In this case, the OS deletes the job being processed in the print queue. As described above, the drawing application 201 issues a print instruction to the OS upon receiving a print request from the user. The drawing application 201 can also display a print setting screen. In the configuration shown in FIG. 2A(b), the drawing application 201 can display a print setting screen 300A (detailed setting screen 300C) provided by the print setting screen extension unit 205 (extension application 204). Furthermore, the print setting screen expansion unit 205 can save the detailed settings set by the user in the shared information 208. The print setting screen expansion unit 205 will be described in detail later.

[0040] The intermediate data editing unit 207 acquires intermediate data from the general-purpose printing software 202. The intermediate data editing unit 207 then converts the intermediate data into print data and transmits the print data to the printing device 102. The intermediate data editing unit 207 also acquires detailed setting information from the shared information 208 and adds the detailed settings to the print data. The printing device 102 prints on paper based on the print data from the intermediate data editing unit 207. The extension application 204 may also be configured to acquire print data generated by the general-purpose printing software 202 and add detailed settings to the print data. Even in the configuration of FIG. 2A(b), there are cases where the two-color printing function is not executed. In this case, the general-purpose printing software 202 may transmit the print data to the printing device 102 without going through the extension application 204.

[0041] The print function extension unit 206 can edit the print function information 203 (PDC) generated by the general-purpose printing software 202 or the OS. This allows functions provided by the extension application 204 to be added. It can also add processes that can be executed by the printing device 102 but not by the general-purpose printing software 202 (e.g., two-color printing), and add exclusive relationships between print function setting values. The OS starts the print function extension unit 206 when the extension application 204 is first associated with the printing device 102 and the general-purpose printing software 202. The OS may also start the print function extension unit 206 at other times (e.g., when the OS starts). Even if printing-related functions are subsequently extended by such activation, the print function extension unit 206 can detect the extended functions and add them to the print function information 203. An example of a later extension of printing-related functions is adding an optional device (e.g., a finisher) to the printing device 102.

[0042] The notification unit 209 can notify the user when an error occurs in the printing device 102. For example, if an out-of-paper error occurs in the printing device 102, the general-purpose printing software 202 detects the occurrence of this error. The OS uses a notification function called a toast notification, which is one of the OS's functions, to display a message on the display unit 119 indicating the occurrence of the out-of-paper error, which is the result of detection by the general-purpose printing software 202. When the user operates the toast notification, the OS calls the notification unit 209, and a user interface screen (UI screen) of the notification unit 209 is displayed. The user interface screen can display, for example, a detailed message about the out-of-paper error, instructions on how to refill paper, etc.

[0043] As described above, in this embodiment, the extension application 204 can be said to have the following four functions. The first function is to display a settings screen. This function is executed by the print setting screen extension unit 205. The second function is to edit intermediate data, convert it into print data, and add detailed settings to the print data. This function is executed by the intermediate data editing unit 207. The third function is to extend the functions that can be specified by the print data generation software. This function is executed by the print function extension unit 206. The fourth function is to display a screen in response to an error occurring in the printing device 102. This function is executed by the notification unit 209. Note that the configuration of the extension application 204 is not limited to having these four functions; it is preferable that the configuration include at least one of these functions, and it may also be configured to include other functions. Furthermore, once the extension application 204 has sent print data to the printing device 102, it is unable to display screens such as guides associated with the print data during processing by each unit.

[0044] <Example of print settings screen / details settings screen> FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit of the printing system. FIG. 3(a) is a print setting screen displayed by the drawing application 201. FIG. 3(b) is a detailed setting screen displayed when the extended application 204 is not associated. FIG. 3(c) is a detailed setting screen displayed when the extended application 204 is associated. Note that the units and modules that display each screen are not particularly limited. For example, the print setting screen extension unit 205 may be configured to only generate a display screen. In that case, the print setting screen extension unit 205 transmits the generated display screen to the drawing application 201 via the general-purpose printing software 202. The drawing application 201 may be configured to display the acquired display screen.

[0045] The print setting screen 300A shown in FIG. 3(a) is a screen on which printing conditions for printing on the printing device 102 can be set. This print setting screen 300A includes controls (buttons) 301, 302, 303, 304, and 305. Control 301 allows the user to set the printing device 102 to be used for printing, the print orientation on the printing device 102, and the number of copies to be printed on the printing device 102. In FIG. 3(a), as an example, the printing device 102 to be used for printing is set to "printer 200a," the print orientation on the printing device 102 is set to "portrait," and the number of copies to be printed on the printing device 102 is set to "1." Control 302 displays a preview screen. Control 303 allows the user to instruct the printing device 102 to start printing. Control 304 allows the user to instruct the printing device 102 to cancel printing. Control 305 allows the user to configure detailed settings.

[0046] In a configuration in which the extension application 204 is not associated, operating control 305 displays a detailed settings screen 300B shown in FIG. 3B. The detailed settings screen 300B includes controls 306, 307, 308, and 309. Control 306 allows the user to select and set the type of paper to be used for printing on the printing device 102. In FIG. 3B, "plain paper" is selected as an example. Control 307 allows the user to select and set the paper size to be used for printing on the printing device 102. In FIG. 3B, "A4" is selected as an example. Control 308 allows the user to select the paper feed slot for the paper to be used for printing on the printing device 102. In FIG. 3B, "automatic" is selected as an example. Control 309 allows the user to end the settings made in controls 306 to 308. Operating control 309 also returns the user to the print settings screen 300A shown in FIG. 3A.

[0047] In a configuration in which the extension application 204 is associated, operating the control 305 displays a detailed settings screen (settings acceptance screen) 300C shown in FIG. 3(c) (display control process). The detailed settings screen 300C is a screen displayed together with the print settings screen 300A, but its display manner is not particularly limited. For example, the detailed settings screen 300C may be displayed overlapping the print settings screen 300A, or may be displayed adjacent to the print settings screen 300A, or the print settings screen 300A may disappear and then the detailed settings screen 300C may be displayed. The detailed settings screen 300C includes controls 306, 307, 308, and 309, similar to the detailed settings screen 300B. The detailed settings screen 300C also includes controls 310, 311, and 312 for accepting various settings for the two-color printing function.

[0048] Control 310 allows the user to set the number of colors to be reproduced in the printed material. By operating control 310, a list (not shown) containing options such as "full-color printing," "single-color printing," and "two-color printing" is displayed, and one option can be selected from these options. If "full-color printing" is selected, all colors will be reproduced in the printed material; if "single-color printing" is selected, one color will be reproduced in the printed material; and if "two-color printing" is selected, two colors will be reproduced in the printed material. Thus, in this embodiment, control 310 is a selection unit that selects whether or not to execute the two-color printing function as a setting for the two-color printing function. Note that, in FIG. 3(b), "two-color printing" is selected as an example.

[0049] When "two-color printing" is selected in control 310, control 311 allows the user to select a two-color printing mode. Operating control 311 displays a list (not shown) containing options "Mode 1" and "Mode 2," allowing the user to select one of these options. When "Mode 1" is selected, the two-color conversion process in Mode 1 described above is executed, and when "Mode 2" is selected, the two-color conversion process in Mode 2 described above is executed. Thus, in this embodiment, control 311 functions as a switch for switching between Mode 1 and Mode 2 as the two-color printing function settings. Note that, in FIG. 3B, "Mode 1" is selected as an example. Furthermore, when "two-color printing" is not selected in control 310, control 311 is grayed out. This prohibits the user from operating control 311, i.e., from selecting a mode.

[0050] Control 312 is a color specification section for specifying two colors to be reproduced in the mode selected by control 311, i.e., two colors to be used in the two-color printing function. Operating control 312 displays list 313 (see FIG. 3(d)). List 313 includes "Black / Red," "Black / Green," "Black / Blue," "Black / Cyan," "Black / Magenta," and "Black / Yellow." Note that "Black / Red" is selected as an example in FIG. 3(d). In this embodiment, multiple combinations of two colors to be reproduced in two-color printing are preset, and one combination can be selected from these combinations, for example, depending on the intended use of the printed material. Note that, for example, if the printing device 102 is configured to be capable of printing with ink or toner, the options displayed in list 313 may be grayed out depending on the remaining amount of ink or toner. For example, if the remaining amount of yellow is insufficient for printing, the "Black / Yellow" option may be grayed out. This prohibits the selection of "Black / Yellow."

[0051] Here, the reason why the items included in the detailed setting screen 300B shown in FIG. 3B are different from the items included in the detailed setting screen 300C shown in FIG. 3C will be explained. The detailed setting screen 300B and the detailed setting screen 300C are each generated based on print function information (capability information). As described above, the general-purpose printing software 202 does not support execution of a two-color printing function. Therefore, the general-purpose printing software 202 alone cannot add the two-color printing function to the print function information. Furthermore, even if the print function information originally includes the two-color printing function, the general-purpose printing software 202 cannot interpret the two-color printing function included in the print function information. Therefore, the settings of the two-color printing function cannot be displayed on the detailed setting screen. Therefore, the print function extension unit 206 adds the two-color printing function to the print function information 203. Then, the print setting screen extension unit 205 references the capability information and displays the detailed setting screen 300C. This allows the extension application 204 to display the settings of the two-color printing function on the detailed setting screen.

[0052] <Flowchart of the print function extension unit for editing print function information> FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the process by which the print function extension unit edits print function information. The program based on the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 is executed by the CPU 111 controlling the print function extension unit 206. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a list of capability information for a printing device. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a list of print functions supported by an extension application. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a list of capability information for general-purpose printing software. As shown in FIG. 4, in step S401, the print function extension unit 206 acquires capability information from the printing device 102 (acquisition process). The capability information is a setting value included in a response acquired by issuing an IPP "Get-Printer-Attributes" operation to the printing device 102. The setting value is attribute information indicating functions that can be specified on the printing device 102 and is associated with the attribute information. Table 501 shown in FIG. 5 lists the capability information for the printing device 102. The capability information may include, for example, information about the size of paper used for printing on the printing device 102. Other information includes information about the type of paper (media) used for printing on the printing device 102, information about the paper feed slot for paper used for printing on the printing device 102, and information about a two-color printing function that can be executed on the printing device 102. Note that this information about the two-color printing function includes the "full color printing" and the like that can be set using the control 310 described above, "mode 1" and the like that can be set using the control 311, and "black / red" and the like that can be set using the control 312.

[0053] In step S402, the print function extension unit 206 acquires print functions supported by the extension application 204 from the shared information 208. The shared information 208 stores a list of print functions supported by the extension application 204. This list includes all print functions that the extension application 204 can process and their setting values. Table 601 shown in FIG. 6 includes information on paper sizes supported by the extension application 204 as print functions. Other information includes information on paper types supported by the extension application 204, information on paper feed slots supported by the extension application 204, and information on two-color printing functions supported by the extension application 204. Note that the information on two-color printing functions includes "full-color printing" and the like, similar to Table 501. The print functions supported by the extension application 204 may be updated by updating the extension application 204, for example.

[0054] In step S403, the print function extension unit 206 acquires the print function information 203 created by the general-purpose printing software 202 from the OS. The print function information 203 is created based on the capability information 501 acquired by the general-purpose printing software 202 from the printing device 102. The print function information 203 (PDC) created by the general-purpose printing software 202 includes only the print functions supported by the general-purpose printing software 202 from the capability information acquired from the printing device 102. For example, the table 601 shown in FIG. 6 includes paper sizes such as "7x10 inches" and "Regular size 6," but the general-purpose printing software 202 does not support these paper sizes. Therefore, the print function information 203 does not include these paper sizes. Furthermore, the table 601 shown in FIG. 6 includes information regarding the two-color printing function, but the general-purpose printing software 202 does not support this function. Therefore, the print function information 203 does not include this function. The print function extension unit 206 adds functions and options to the print function information 203, which enables the extension application 204 to compensate for insufficient functions of the general-purpose printing software 202. The print function extension unit 206 can also delete unnecessary functions and options from the print function information 203 created by the general-purpose printing software 202.

[0055] Steps S404, S405, and S406 are processes that are repeatedly performed for the list of functions included in the capability information acquired from the printing device 102 in step S401. In this embodiment, steps S404, S405, and S406 are repeatedly performed for all 21 options included in table 501.

[0056] In step S404, the print function extension unit 206 determines whether the currently processed function or option exists in the print function information 203 generated by the general-purpose printing software 202. If the determination in step S404 determines that the function or option exists in the print function information 203, and the last option is currently being processed, the process ends. Alternatively, if the last option is not currently being processed, the next option is selected and step S404 is executed again. On the other hand, if the determination in step S404 determines that the function or option does not exist in the print function information 203, the process proceeds to step S405. For example, in this embodiment, table 501 includes a paper size "A4," and table 701 also includes a paper size "A4." In this case, in step S404, it is determined that the currently processed function or option exists in the print function information 203. In contrast, table 501 includes "full-color printing," but table 701 does not include "full-color printing." In this case, in step S404, it is determined that the function or option currently being processed does not exist in the print function information 203.

[0057] In step S405, the print function extension unit 206 determines whether the currently processed function (option) is present among the functions (options) supported by the extension application 204. If it is determined in step S405 that the currently processed function exists, the process proceeds to step S406. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S405 that the currently processed function does not exist, the process ends if the last item among the options is being processed, as in the case where the determination in step S404 is "Yes." Alternatively, if the last item among the options is not being processed, the next item among the options is selected and step S404 is executed again. For example, in this embodiment, if the currently processed function is "full-color printing," "full-color printing" also exists in table 601. Therefore, in step S405, it is determined that the currently processed function exists.

[0058] In step S406, the print function extension unit 206 adds the function (option) currently being processed to the print function information 203. After step S406 is executed, the process ends if the last item among the options is being processed, just as if the answer was "Yes" in step S404. Alternatively, if the last item among the options is not being processed, the next item among the options is selected and step S404 is executed again.

[0059] As described above, the extension application 204 can add functions (options) that are not supported by the general-purpose printing software 202, are supported by the printing device 102, and are compatible with the extension application 204, to the printing function information 203. Then, capability information (PC) is generated based on the printing function information 203 edited by this addition process. Furthermore, the print setting screen extension unit 205 generates a display screen based on this capability information, thereby extending the functions that are not supported by the general-purpose printing software 202 and displaying the detailed setting screen 300C shown in FIG. 3(c).

[0060] <Processing after the drawing application accepts print settings> 8 is a sequence diagram showing the processing executed between the drawing application, general-purpose printing software, extension application, and printing device after the drawing application accepts print settings. The processing in the drawing application, general-purpose printing software, and extension application is executed by the CPU 111 of the host computer 101. This processing program is stored in the external storage device 114. The CPU 111 then reads the processing program from the external storage device 114 to the RAM 113 and executes it. Furthermore, the processing in the printing device 102 is executed by the CPU (not shown) of the printing device 102. Furthermore, the software configuration of the printing system 1000 is the software configuration shown in FIG. 2A(b).

[0061] 8, in step S801, the drawing application 201 accepts print settings from the user. The user can instruct the drawing application 201 to set print settings by operating the pointing device 117 or the keyboard 118, for example.

[0062] In step S802, the drawing application 201 displays the print setting screen 300A shown in FIG.

[0063] In step S803, the drawing application 201 accepts a detailed setting instruction from the user. The user can instruct the detailed setting by, for example, operating the pointing device 117 or the keyboard 118 to select the control 305 on the print setting screen 300A.

[0064] In step S804, the drawing application 201 requests the general-purpose printing software 202 to display detailed settings.

[0065] In step S805, the general-purpose printing software 202 requests the extension application 204 to display the detailed settings.

[0066] In step S806, the print setting screen extension unit 205 of the extension application 204 displays the detailed setting screen 300C of Fig. 3(c). As described above, the print function extension unit 206 adds a two-color printing function to the print function information 203 (PDC). The print setting screen extension unit 205 can display the detailed setting screen 300C by referencing the capability information (PC) generated based on this added print function information 203.

[0067] In step S807, the print setting screen expansion unit 205 accepts the user's detailed settings on the detailed setting screen 300C. As an example, it is assumed that on the detailed setting screen 300C, the paper type "plain paper" is selected in control 306, the paper size "A4" is selected in control 307, and the paper feed slot "automatic" is selected in control 308 (see FIG. 3(c)). It is also assumed that "two-color printing" is selected in control 310, "mode 1" is selected in control 311, and "black / red" is selected in control 312 (see FIG. 3(c)). In this setting state, the print setting screen expansion unit 205 accepts that the user has operated control 309 on the detailed setting screen 300C.

[0068] In step S808, the print setting screen expansion unit 205 accepts that the user has completed the detailed settings based on the operation of the control 309 in step S807. The user can instruct the user to complete the detailed settings by operating the pointing device 117 or the keyboard 118, for example, to select the control 309.

[0069] In step S809, the extension application 204 transmits detailed setting completion information indicating that the detailed setting in step S808 has been completed to the general-purpose printing software 202.

[0070] In step S810, the general-purpose printing software 202 receives the detailed setting completion information transmitted in step S809 from the extension application 204. The general-purpose printing software 202 transmits this detailed setting completion information to the drawing application 201.

[0071] In step S811, the drawing application 201 accepts a print instruction from the user. The user can issue a print instruction by, for example, operating the pointing device 117 or the keyboard 118 to select a control 303 on the print setting screen 300A (see FIG. 3(a)).

[0072] In step S812, the drawing application 201 issues the print instruction received in step S811 to the general-purpose printing software 202.

[0073] In step S813, the general-purpose printing software 202 uses an OS module to generate intermediate data based on the print instruction in step S812.

[0074] In step S814, the general-purpose printing software 202 stores the print setting information (PT) based on the print instruction in step S812 in the shared information 208.

[0075] In step S815, the general-purpose printing software 202 transmits the drawing data of the intermediate data generated in step S813 to the extension application 204.

[0076] In step S816, the intermediate data editing unit 207 of the extension application 204 obtains the print setting information saved in step S814 from the shared information 208.

[0077] In step S817, the intermediate data editing unit 207 of the extension application 204 generates print data using the drawing data sent in step S815 and the print setting information acquired in step S816. This print data has been converted into data that includes the two-color printing function settings accepted on the advanced setting screen 300C.

[0078] In step S818, the intermediate data editing unit 207 of the extension application 204 transmits the print data generated in step S817 to the printing device 102 (transmission step). Note that this print data includes the setting information for the two-color printing function accepted on the detailed setting screen 300C.

[0079] In step S819, the printing device 102 receives the print data sent in step S818. The printing device 102 interprets the print data and performs the necessary image processing on the print data. This image processing involves executing a two-color printing function using black and red.

[0080] In step S820, the printing device 102 prints the print data that was image processed in step S819. As a result, the printed matter is a two-color print using black and red. Furthermore, this printed matter has, for example, an emphasized red compared to when the two-color printing function is not executed.

[0081] As described above, in the printing system 1000, even if the general-purpose printing software 202 does not support the two-color printing function, the extension application 204 can cause the printing device 102 to execute the two-color printing function. As a result, a printed material with (reflecting) two-color printing is obtained from the printing device 102. Note that in the description with reference to FIG. 8, the software configuration of the printing system 1000 is assumed to be the software configuration shown in FIG. 2A(b), and the detailed settings screen 300C shown in FIG. 3(c) is displayed, but this is not limited to this. For example, when a request to display detailed settings is made to the general-purpose printing software 202 in step S804, the general-purpose printing software 202 displays the detailed settings screen 300B shown in FIG. 3(b). In this case, after operating the control 309 on the detailed settings screen 300B, the general-purpose printing software 202 requests the extension application 204 to display an additional detailed settings screen. Next, the extension application 204 may display an additional detailed settings screen that allows the two-color printing function to be set. In addition, in this embodiment, the extension application 204 generates print data from the intermediate data generated by the general-purpose printing software 202, but this is not limited to this. For example, the extension application 204 itself may generate the intermediate data.

[0082] <<Second embodiment>> The second embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 9 to 12. The differences from the previous embodiment will be mainly described, and similar points will not be described again. In the first embodiment, the extension application 204, together with the general-purpose printing software 202, generates print data including two-color printing function settings. This print data is sent to the printing device 102. The printing device 102 can interpret the print data including the two-color printing function settings and execute two-color printing processing. In this way, in the first embodiment, the extension application 204, together with the general-purpose printing software 202, causes the printing device 102 to execute two-color printing processing.

[0083] However, some printing devices are unable to perform two-color printing. In such cases, even if the extension application 204 generates print data that includes two-color printing function settings, the printing device 102 cannot perform two-color printing. If the printing device 102 is unable to perform two-color printing, it is preferable for the extension application 204 to generate print data that has undergone two-color printing and send it to the printing device 102.

[0084] Therefore, in this embodiment, it is determined whether the printing device 102 can perform two-color printing processing based on the capability information of the printing device 102. If it is determined that the printing device 102 can perform two-color printing processing as a result of this determination, the extension application 204 generates print data that reflects the two-color printing function settings and transmits it to the printing device 102. On the other hand, if it is determined that the printing device 102 cannot perform two-color printing processing, the extension application 204 generates print data that has been subjected to two-color printing processing on the drawing data and transmits it to the printing device 102. This makes it possible to provide the user with the two-color printing function even if the printing device 102 cannot perform two-color printing processing. Note that this embodiment is similar to the first embodiment except for the configuration of the printing system 1000 when the extension application 204 is associated, the PDC editing processing, and the processing after the drawing application 201 accepts the print settings.

[0085] <Software-based printing system configuration> FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the software configuration of a printing system according to the second embodiment. The block diagram in FIG. 9 illustrates a configuration in which an extension application 1002 is associated with general-purpose printing software 202 and a printing device 102. As shown in FIG. 9, the host computer 101 includes a drawing application 201, general-purpose printing software 202, print function information 203, and an extension application 1002. The extension application 1002 is communicably connected to a printing device 1001. Unlike the printing device 102 in the first embodiment, the printing device 1001 is unable to perform two-color printing. The extension application 1002 includes a print setting screen extension unit 205, an intermediate data editing unit 207, a notification unit 209, a print function extension unit 1003, and a two-color printing processing unit 1004. The print function extension unit 1003 can add a two-color printing function to the print function information 203 even if it is determined that the printing device 102 cannot perform two-color printing based on capability information acquired from the printing device 1001. The two-color printing processing unit 1004 performs two-color printing processing on intermediate data (drawing data) from the general-purpose printing software 202 based on two-color printing function settings set by the user.

[0086] <Flowchart of the print function extension unit for editing print function information> FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the process by which the print function extension unit edits print function information. The program based on the flowchart shown in FIG. 10 is executed by the CPU 111 controlling the print function extension unit 1003. The flowchart shown in FIG. 10 is a flowchart in which steps S1101 and S1102 have been added to the flowchart shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a list of capability information of the printing device. As shown in FIG. 10, when the repeated processing of steps S404 to S406 is completed, the processing proceeds to step S1101. Table 1201 shown in FIG. 11 shows a list of capability information of the printing device 1001. This table 1201 includes, as capability information, information on paper size, information on paper type, and information on the paper feed slot. However, unlike table 501 shown in FIG. 5, it does not include information on the two-color printing function. Therefore, it can be seen that the printing device 1001 is unable to perform two-color printing processing. Therefore, the two-color printing function is not added to the printing function information 203 after the processing of steps S404 to S406 is completed.

[0087] 10, in step S1101, the print function extension unit 1003 determines whether the extension application 1002 has a two-color print processing unit 1004, i.e., whether the two-color print processing unit 1004 is present. If the determination in step S1101 determines that the two-color print processing unit 1004 is present, processing proceeds to step S1102. On the other hand, if the determination in step S1101 determines that the two-color print processing unit 1004 is not present, processing ends. As described above, since the extension application 1002 has a two-color print processing unit 1004, processing proceeds to step S1102.

[0088] In step S1102, the print function expansion unit 1003 adds all options such as "full color printing" which are information relating to the two-color printing function in the table 601 to the print function information 203.

[0089] As described above, the extension application 1002 can add functions (options) that are not supported by the general-purpose printing software 202, are supported by the printing device 102, and are supported by the extension application 204 to the print function information 203. The extension application 1002 then determines whether or not the two-color print processing unit 1004 is present. If it is determined that the two-color print processing unit 1004 is present, the two-color printing function is added to the print function information 203. As a result of this addition process, even if the printing device 1001 is unable to perform two-color printing, capability information is generated based on the print function information 203 to which the two-color printing function has been added. The extension application 1002 can display the detailed setting screen 300C shown in FIG. 3(c) by generating a display screen based on this capability information.

[0090] <Processing after the drawing application accepts print settings> 12 is a sequence diagram showing the processing executed between the drawing application, general-purpose printing software, extension application, and printing device after the drawing application accepts print settings. The sequence diagram shown in FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram in which steps S1301 to S1304 have been added to the sequence diagram shown in FIG. 8. As shown in FIG. 12, after step S815 is executed, the processing proceeds to step S1301. In step S1301, the two-color print processing unit 1004 of the extension application 1002 acquires the print setting information (PT) saved in step S814 from the shared information 208. The two-color print processing unit 1004 also acquires information related to the two-color printing function settings included in the print setting information.

[0091] In step S1302, the two-color print processing unit 1004 acquires the capability information of the printing device 1001 from the shared information 208. If the shared information 208 does not include the capability information of the printing device 1001, the print function extension unit 1003 may request the capability information from the printing device 1001. In this case, the capability information is also saved in the shared information 208.

[0092] In step S1303, the two-color print processing unit 1004 determines whether the printing apparatus 1001 is capable of two-color printing based on the capability information acquired in step S1302 (determination step). That is, the two-color print processing unit 1004 determines whether the capability information acquired in step S1302 includes information indicating that the printing apparatus 1001 is capable of two-color printing (conversion step). As described above, in this embodiment, the printing apparatus 1001 is a printing apparatus that is incapable of two-color printing. Therefore, the determination result in step S1303 is that the printing apparatus 1001 is incapable of two-color printing. Note that if the determination result in step S1303 determines that the printing apparatus 1001 is capable of two-color printing, the process skips step S1304 and proceeds to step S817. This is because the printing apparatus 1001 is capable of two-color printing faster than the two-color print processing unit 1004. Specifically, this is because the printing device 1001 can perform processing at higher speeds than the two-color print processing unit 1004 by using an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit).

[0093] In step S1304, the two-color print processing unit 1004 executes two-color printing processing on the intermediate drawing data based on the information related to the two-color printing function settings acquired in step S1301, i.e., converts the data into print data that can be printed in two colors (conversion step). The result of this processing is saved in the shared information 208. The two-color print processing unit 1004 also deletes the information related to the two-color printing function settings from the print setting information. After executing step S1304, the process proceeds in order from step S817 to step S820. Note that the print data sent in step S818 reflects the results of the two-color printing processing executed in step S1304. The printed material obtained in step S820 is the result of the two-color printing processing having been executed.

[0094] As described above, in this embodiment, even if the printing device 1001 is unable to execute two-color printing, the extension application 1002 can execute two-color printing. As a result, the printing device 1001 can also print a printed material that has undergone two-color printing.

[0095] <<Third Embodiment>> The third embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. 13. The description will focus on differences from the previously described embodiment, and similar aspects will be omitted. The extended application 1002 is capable of two-color printing in both mode 1 and mode 2. Meanwhile, some printing devices 1001 are capable of two-color printing in mode 1, for example, out of mode 1 and mode 2. If the printing device 1001 is equipped with a dedicated high-speed processing module for executing two-color printing in mode 1, it is preferable to execute the two-color printing in mode 1 in the printing device 1001 rather than in the extended application 1002. In this embodiment, as an example, when mode 1 is selected, the two-color printing in mode 1 is executed by the printing device 1001, and when mode 2 is selected, the two-color printing in mode 2 is executed by the extended application 1002.

[0096] <Processing after the drawing application accepts print settings> FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram showing the processing executed between the drawing application, general-purpose printing software, extension application, and printing device after the drawing application accepts print settings in a printing system according to the third embodiment. The sequence diagram shown in FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram in which steps S1401 and S1402 have been added to the sequence diagram shown in FIG. 12. As shown in FIG. 13, in step S1401, the two-color print processing unit 1004 of the extension application 1002 determines whether the mode is mode 1 based on the information related to the two-color printing function settings acquired in step S1301. If the determination in step S1401 indicates mode 1, the processing proceeds to steps S817 to S820. On the other hand, if the determination in step S1401 indicates that the mode is not mode 1, i.e., mode 2, the processing proceeds to step S1402.

[0097] In step S1402, similar to step S1304, the two-color print processing unit 1004 executes two-color printing processing. This two-color printing processing is two-color printing processing in mode 2. After step S1402 is executed, the processing proceeds in order from step S817 to step S820. Note that in step S819, necessary image processing is performed on the print data, but if two-color printing processing is performed in step S1402, image processing excluding the two-color printing processing is performed.

[0098] <<Fourth Embodiment>> 14 and 15, the fourth embodiment will be described. Differences from the previous embodiments will be mainly described, and similar details will not be described. Because color printing significantly changes the color of the printed matter, it is convenient to know the results of two-color printing before the printed matter is obtained. Therefore, in this embodiment, a preview image of the printed matter obtained by the printing device 102 after two-color printing can be displayed.

[0099] <Processing after the drawing application accepts print settings> FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram showing the processing executed between the drawing application, general-purpose printing software, extension application, and printing device after the drawing application accepts print settings in a printing system according to the fourth embodiment. The sequence diagram shown in FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram in which steps S1501 to S1504 are added to the sequence diagram shown in FIG. 12. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit of the printing system. A detailed setting screen (setting acceptance screen) 1600A shown in FIG. 15(a) is displayed by the print setting screen extension unit 205 of the extension application 1002. The detailed setting screen 1600A includes controls 306 to 312, similar to the detailed setting screen 300C (see FIG. 3(b)). The detailed setting screen 1600A also includes an additional control 1601. The control 1601 is a selection unit for selecting whether to display a preview image, i.e., whether to display or hide the preview image. By operating control 1601, a list containing the options "Yes (display preview image)" and "No (do not display preview image)" is displayed, and one option can be selected from these options. In FIG. 15(a), "Yes" is selected as an example. By operating control 1602, execution of step S1503 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 14 is started. Furthermore, if "No" is selected with control 1601, two-color printing processing is performed by either the two-color print processing unit 1004 or the printing device 1001, or by both the color print processing unit 1004 and the printing device 1001, depending on the capability information, etc.

[0100] 15B is a modified example of the detailed setting screen 1600A. The detailed setting screen 1600B includes a control 1602 instead of the control 1601 of the detailed setting screen 1600A. Operating the control 1602 executes the processing from step S807 to step S1504 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 14. The detailed setting screen 1600C shown in FIG. 15C is a screen in which a portion of the detailed setting screen 1600A is changed after operating the control 1601 of the detailed setting screen 1600A. The detailed setting screen 1600C displays an area 1603 instead of the controls 306 to 308. The area 1603 displays a preview image of a printout obtained by the printing device 102 when two-color printing is performed. The preview image may be displayed as part of the detailed setting screen 1600A. The area 1603 also includes a control 1604. Operating the control 1604 returns to the detailed setting screen 1600A.

[0101] 14, after step S805 is executed, the process proceeds to step S1501. In step S1501, the print setting screen extension unit 205 of the extension application 1002 displays the detailed setting screen 1600A (see FIG. 15(a)). After step S1501 is executed, the process proceeds in order to steps S807 to S815, step S1301, and step S1302.

[0102] After step S1302 is executed, the process proceeds to step S1502. In step S1502, the print setting screen expansion unit 205 determines whether or not the control 1601 on the detailed setting screen 1600A displayed in step S1501 has been operated, that is, whether or not a preview image display instruction has been issued. If it is determined in step S1502 that the control 1601 has been operated, the process proceeds to step S1503.

[0103] In step S1503, similar to step S1304, the two-color print processing unit 1004 executes two-color print processing.

[0104] In step S1504, the print setting screen extension unit 205 of the extension application 1002 displays the detailed setting screen 1600C (see FIG. 15(b)). As mentioned above, the detailed setting screen 1600C includes a preview image. This allows the user to understand the state of the printed matter to which the color printing process has been applied before printing the printed matter. Furthermore, by operating control 1604 on the detailed setting screen 1600C, the user returns to the detailed setting screen 1600A. Then, by operating control 309 with "No (do not display preview image)" selected in control 1601 on the detailed setting screen 1600A, the process proceeds in order from step S817 to step S820.

[0105] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention. The present invention can also be realized by supplying a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or storage medium, and having one or more processors in the computer of the system or device read and execute the program. The present invention can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., an ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

[0106] The disclosure of each embodiment includes the following programs, storage media, methods, and configurations. (Program 1) A program that supports a general-purpose program that generates data that can be printed on printing devices from multiple manufacturers, On the computer, a display control process for reducing the number of colors set in the print data to be printed by the printing device to two or more colors and displaying a setting acceptance screen for accepting settings for color reduction processing that enables printing of the print data by the printing device; a transmission step capable of transmitting the color reduction processing settings accepted on the setting acceptance screen to the printing device. (Program 2) A program described in Program 1, characterized in that the printing device converts the data generated by the general-purpose program into print data that is printed using the color reduction processing settings sent in the transmission process, thereby making it possible to print the print data. (Program 3) A program that supports a general-purpose program that generates data that can be printed on printing devices from multiple manufacturers, On the computer, a display control process for reducing the number of colors set in the print data to be printed by the printing device to two or more colors and displaying a setting acceptance screen for accepting settings for color reduction processing that enables printing of the print data by the printing device; a conversion step of converting the data generated by the general-purpose program into print data to be printed using the color reduction processing with the color reduction processing settings accepted on the setting acceptance screen; a transmitting step of transmitting the print data obtained in the converting step to the printing device. (Program 4) to the computer, an acquisition step of acquiring, prior to the display control step, capability information relating to the printing capability of the printing device from the printing device; a determination step of determining whether the capability information acquired in the acquisition step includes information indicating that the conversion step can be performed in the printing device; A program described in program 3, characterized in that if the result of the judgment in the judgment process is that the information contains information indicating that the conversion process can be executed on the printing device, the program omits execution of the conversion process and executes the conversion process on the printing device. (Program 5) The program according to Program 3 or 4, wherein the printing device is capable of printing the print data transmitted in the transmitting step. (Program 6) to the computer, an acquisition step of acquiring, prior to the display control step, capability information relating to the printing capability of the printing device from the printing device; a determination step of determining whether or not the capability information acquired in the acquisition step includes information that enables display of the setting reception screen, A program described in any one of programs 1 to 5, characterized in that in the display control process, if it is determined as a result of the judgment in the judgment process that information that enables the display of the setting reception screen is included, the setting reception screen is displayed, and if it is determined that information that enables the display of the setting reception screen is not included, the setting reception screen is not displayed. (Program 7) The program described in any one of Programs 1 to 6, wherein the setting acceptance screen includes a selection section for selecting whether or not to execute the color reduction processing as a setting for the color reduction processing. (Program 8) A program described in any one of Programs 1 to 7, characterized in that the setting acceptance screen includes a switching unit that switches between a first mode in which chromatic colors are converted into a single predetermined chromatic color regardless of the type of chromatic color and achromatic colors are left as achromatic colors regardless of the type of achromatic color, and a second mode in which a predetermined color and colors similar to that color are converted into a single predetermined color and colors other than the predetermined color and colors similar to that color are converted into another single predetermined color, as settings for the color reduction processing. (Program 9) A program described in any one of Programs 1 to 8, characterized in that the setting acceptance screen includes a color designation section that designates the color to be used in the color reduction processing as a setting for the color reduction processing. (Program 10) The program according to Program 9, wherein the color designation unit has a plurality of combinations of two colors preset, and one of the plurality of combinations can be selected. (Program 11) The program according to any one of Programs 1 to 10, wherein the setting acceptance screen includes a preview image of a printed matter obtained by printing the print data on the printing device. (Program 12) The program according to Program 11, wherein the setting acceptance screen includes a selection section for selecting whether to display or not display the preview image. (Program 13) The program described in any one of Programs 1 to 12, wherein the color reduction processing is a processing that cannot be executed on the printing device by the general-purpose program. (Program 14) The program according to any one of Programs 1 to 13, wherein the general-purpose program is a program that operates based on IPP (Internet Printing Protocol). (Storage Medium 1) A storage medium having stored therein any one of the programs 1 to 14. (Method 1) A control method for supporting a general-purpose program that generates data that can be printed on printing devices from multiple manufacturers, comprising the steps of: a display control process for reducing the number of colors set in the print data to be printed by the printing device to two or more colors and displaying a setting acceptance screen for accepting settings for color reduction processing that enables printing of the print data by the printing device; a transmission step capable of transmitting the color reduction processing settings accepted on the setting acceptance screen to the printing device. (Method 2) A control method for supporting a general-purpose program that generates data that can be printed on printing devices from multiple manufacturers, comprising the steps of: a display control process for reducing the number of colors set in the print data to be printed by the printing device to two or more colors and displaying a setting acceptance screen for accepting settings for color reduction processing that enables printing of the print data by the printing device; a conversion step of converting the data generated by the general-purpose program into print data to be printed using the color reduction processing with the color reduction processing settings accepted on the setting acceptance screen; a transmitting step of transmitting the print data obtained in the converting step to the printing device. (Configuration 1) An information processing device that is communicably connected to printing devices of multiple manufacturers and can process information between the printing devices, a general-purpose program that generates data that can be printed on printing devices from multiple manufacturers; a program that supports the general-purpose program, The program On the computer, a display control process for reducing the number of colors set in the print data to be printed by the printing device to two or more colors and displaying a setting acceptance screen for accepting settings for color reduction processing that enables printing of the print data by the printing device; a transmission step capable of transmitting the color reduction processing settings accepted on the setting acceptance screen to the printing device. (Configuration 2) An information processing device that is communicably connected to printing devices of multiple manufacturers and can process information between the printing devices, a general-purpose program that generates data that can be printed on printing devices from multiple manufacturers; a program that supports the general-purpose program, The program On the computer, a display control process for reducing the number of colors set in the print data to be printed by the printing device to two or more colors and displaying a setting acceptance screen for accepting settings for color reduction processing that enables printing of the print data by the printing device; a conversion step of converting the data generated by the general-purpose program into print data to be printed using the color reduction processing with the color reduction processing settings accepted on the setting acceptance screen; and a transmitting step of transmitting the print data obtained in the converting step to the printing device. [Explanation of symbols]

[0107] 101 host computer 102 Printing device 202 General-purpose printing software 204 Extended Applications 205 Print setting screen expansion unit 206 Printing function expansion unit 207 Intermediate Data Editing Unit 300C detailed setting screen 310, 311, 312 Control

Claims

1. An application program that supports a standard driver, In an information processing device, The image processing device displays a reception screen that accepts a setting for two-color printing, which reduces the colors in the printed material to two colors (a certain chromatic color and black) based on the print data to be printed. An application program characterized in that the two-color printing settings received on the reception screen are reflected in the print data.

2. The application program according to Claim 1, characterized in that the setting for two-color printing is a setting that causes the image processing device to reduce the colors included in the print data to be printed to two colors, black and a chromatic color, and print them.

3. The information processing device, The capability information of the image processing device is obtained according to the Internet Printing Protocol. The application program according to claim 1, characterized in that it displays the reception screen based on the aforementioned capability information.

4. The information processing device, The application program according to claim 1, characterized in that it further accepts other settings that cause the image processing device to print the print data to be printed with only one color.

5. The information processing device, The aforementioned image processing device is further configured to accept a full-color setting that does not reduce the colors included in the print data to be printed to the two colors. The application program according to feature 1.

6. The application program according to claim 1, characterized in that the two-color printing setting is a setting not supported by the standard driver.

7. The application program according to claim 1, characterized in that the chromatic color is selectable by the user.

8. The application program according to claim 1, characterized in that the chromatic color is red.

9. The application program according to claim 1, characterized in that the chromatic color is blue.

10. The application program according to claim 1, characterized in that the chromatic color is cyan.

11. The application program according to claim 1, characterized in that the chromatic color is magenta.

12. The application program according to claim 1, characterized in that the chromatic color is yellow.

13. A storage medium storing the application program according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. An application program that supports a standard driver is used to display a reception screen for accepting a setting for two-color printing, which reduces the colors contained in a printed document to be printed based on print data to be printed by an image processing device to two colors: a certain chromatic color and black. A control method for an information processing device, characterized in that the two-color printing settings received on the reception screen are reflected in the print data.

15. An image processing device has a display means that displays a reception screen for receiving a setting for two-color printing, which reduces the colors contained in a printed material to be printed based on print data to be printed, to two colors: a certain chromatic color and black, by executing an application program that supports a standard driver, The information processing device is characterized in that the two-color printing settings received on the reception screen are reflected in the print data.

Images