Information processing device and information processing program

Abstract

To solve the problem in which: when the usage of a color material becomes excessive, there may be cases where only a color different from the intended color can be printed.SOLUTION: An information processing device comprises: a color value acquisition unit which acquires a first color value indicative of the color of a first color patch included in a color chart and a second color value indicative of the color of a second color patch; a reproduction accuracy acquisition unit which acquires first reproduction accuracy indicative of color reproduction accuracy when the first color patch is printed on the printing device on the basis of the first color value and second reproduction accuracy indicative of color reproduction accuracy when the second color patch is printed on the printing device on the basis of the second color value; and a generation unit which generates printing data for printing the color chart. When first reproduction accuracy is lower than second reproduction accuracy, the generation unit generates print data for printing the color chart where first color patch characteristics differ from second color patch characteristics.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing device and an information processing program. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a configuration has been known in which a color chart including a plurality of patches is printed and color adjustment is performed based on the color chart. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for printing a central patch and a plurality of patches obtained by varying the Lab values ​​of the central patch on a color chart. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7314628 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In conventional technology, the amount of color material used can be specified using CMYK values, but if the amount used is excessive, it may be possible to print only colors different from the intended color. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] An information processing device according to one embodiment includes a color value acquisition unit that acquires a first color value indicating the color of a first color patch included in a color chart and a second color value indicating the color of a second color patch included in the color chart; a reproducibility acquisition unit that acquires, based on the first color value, a first reproducibility indicating the color reproducibility when the first color patch is printed by a printing device, and acquires, based on the second color value, a second reproducibility indicating the color reproducibility when the second color patch is printed by the printing device; and a generation unit that generates print data for printing the color chart; wherein, when the first reproducibility is lower than the second reproducibility, the generation unit generates the print data for printing the color chart in which the first color patch and the second color patch have different appearances.

[0006] An information processing program according to one embodiment causes a computer to function as: a color value acquisition unit that acquires a first color value indicating the color of a first color patch included in a color chart and a second color value indicating the color of a second color patch included in the color chart; a reproducibility acquisition unit that acquires, based on the first color value, a first reproducibility indicating the color reproducibility when the first color patch is printed by a printing device, and acquires, based on the second color value, a second reproducibility indicating the color reproducibility when the second color patch is printed by the printing device; and a generation unit that generates print data for printing the color chart; and when the first reproducibility is lower than the second reproducibility, the generation unit causes the computer to function such that it generates the print data for printing the color chart in which the first color patch and the second color patch have different appearances. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a usage mode of an information processing device. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a color measurement device. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printing device. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an information processing device. [Figure 5] 10 is a flowchart of a print control process. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a usage amount designation screen. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a creation condition specification screen. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the arrangement of color patches. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 illustrates color values ​​in a device independent color space. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Here, the embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order. (1) System configuration: (1-1) Colorimeter configuration: (1-2) Printer configuration: (1-3) Configuration of information processing device: (2) Printing control process: (3) Other embodiments:

[0009] (1) System configuration: FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a usage mode of an information processing device 10 according to an embodiment. In this embodiment, the information processing device 10 is connected to a colorimeter 20 and a printer 30. The information processing device 10 converts image data into color data to generate print data, and causes the printer 30 to print based on the print data. A user can also specify a desired color, print a color chart, and print the desired image after checking the color reproduction based on the color chart. In this embodiment, a user can specify a reference color included in the color chart by measuring a color sample with the colorimeter 20. The color chart includes patches printed based on color values ​​representing the reference color and patches printed based on color values ​​of surrounding colors generated by varying the reference color.

[0010] (1-1) Colorimeter configuration: 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the colorimeter 20. The colorimeter 20 includes a processor 20a, a communication unit 20b, a nonvolatile memory 20c, a sensor 20d, and a UI unit 20e. The processor 20a includes a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc. (not shown), and can execute a control program recorded in the nonvolatile memory 20c to control each unit of the colorimeter 20.

[0011] The processor 20a may be configured as a single chip, may be configured as multiple chips, or may be configured as an SoC with various functional blocks. For example, an ASIC may be used instead of a CPU, or a CPU and an ASIC may work together. When each device in this embodiment includes a processor, the processor can be realized in various ways, similar to the processor 20a.

[0012] The communication unit 20b includes a communication interface for communicating with the information processing device 10 according to various wired or wireless communication protocols. The sensor 20d is a device that irradiates the object of color measurement with light of a predetermined color temperature and detects the spectral distribution of the reflected light. Based on the results read by the sensor 20d, the processor 20a acquires color values ​​(e.g., CIELAB values, HSV values, XYZ values, etc.) that indicate the color of the object of color measurement using colors in a device-independent color space. The following explanation will be given assuming an example in which the color values ​​are HSV values ​​(hue value, saturation value, lightness value).

[0013] In this embodiment, the user can specify the color value of the reference color based on the color measurement results of the colorimeter 20. In this embodiment, a sample color is measured by the colorimeter 20 to specify the color value of the reference color. The sample color may be a color printed on various objects, but here we assume that a medium colored to match the sample color is measured. In this way, by specifying the reference color based on the color measurement results of the colorimeter 20, the reference color can be accurately specified.

[0014] In this embodiment, when color matching is performed using a color chart, printing is performed so that the color values ​​of one specific color are reproduced, but the printing device 30 can also print colors similar to the matched color as colors that reflect the results of the color matching. In this way, in order to reflect the results of color matching in multiple colors, in this embodiment, the image data is made up of one or more layers.

[0015] In this embodiment, each layer is referred to as a plate. The number of color channels available for each plate is predetermined, and in this embodiment, there are process color plates that can be used by varying any color across the entire range of gradation values, and spot color plates for printing colors that are matched based on a color chart. A process color plate is a plate that can be used by varying any of the available colors. For example, image data that can use all of RGB (R: red, G: green, B: blue) or image data that can use all of CMYK (C: cyan, M: magenta, Y: yellow, K: black) is conceivable.

[0016] A spot color image data consists of a representative color, which is a color that represents the spot color, and a color whose density differs from that of the representative color. In spot color image data, the representative color is specified in the header using RGB or CMYK tone values, and the color of any pixel is specified by a tone value that represents the relative density difference from the representative color. For example, when expressing the tone values ​​of a spot color using 1-channel 8-bit tone values, a tone value of 128 corresponds to the representative color, and pixels with tone values ​​greater than 128 are considered darker than the representative color, while pixels with tone values ​​less than 128 are considered lighter than the representative color. Furthermore, a tone value of 256 indicates a color obtained by making the representative color as dark as possible, and a tone value of 0 indicates a color obtained by making the representative color as light as possible.

[0017] In this embodiment, the representative color of the spot color plate is determined by a color matched using a color chart. That is, the user specifies the representative color by selecting one of the patches printed on the color chart. In this embodiment, when a color sample is measured by the colorimeter 20 to specify a reference color included in the color chart, colorimetric data 20c1 indicating the color values ​​that are the colorimetric results are stored in the nonvolatile memory 20c.

[0018] The UI unit 20e is a button or the like provided on the housing of the colorimeter 20. A user can operate the UI unit 20e to give instructions such as to start color measurement of a color sample. The processor 20a receives the user's instructions from the output information of the UI unit 20e.

[0019] (1-2) Printer configuration: 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the printing device 30. The printing device 30 includes a processor 30a, a communication unit 30b, a non-volatile memory 30c, a printing unit 30d, and a UI unit 30e. The processor 30a includes a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc. (not shown), and can execute a control program recorded in the non-volatile memory 30c to control each unit of the printing device 30.

[0020] The communication unit 30b includes a communication interface for communicating with the information processing device 10 according to various wired or wireless communication protocols. The communication unit 30b may also include an interface for communicating with various removable memories attached to the printing device 30.

[0021] The printing unit 30d includes actuators, various devices, sensors, drive circuits, mechanical components, and the like for printing on the print medium. The sensors include sensors for detecting various detectable objects that may change in the printing device 30. Examples include sensors for detecting the remaining amount of print medium and sensors for detecting the remaining amount of color materials for each color used for printing. In this embodiment, the printing unit 30d includes a mechanism for recording predetermined color materials on the print medium. In this embodiment, the printing unit 30d records on the print medium using CMYKGGyROr (C: cyan, M: magenta, Y: yellow, K: black, G: green, Gy: gray, R: red, O: orange) color materials. Hereinafter, the printing device 30 is assumed to be an inkjet printer that uses ink as the color material, but the printing method is not limited to the inkjet method. The color materials used for recording are not limited to the CMYKGGyROr combination and can be changed as appropriate.

[0022] Furthermore, printing unit 30d is capable of printing on print media of various sizes. That is, printing unit 30d is equipped with a storage unit for storing print media of various sizes, and is capable of transporting and printing on the stored print media.

[0023] The UI unit 30e is composed of an input unit such as buttons or a touch panel provided on the housing of the printing device 30, and a display unit that displays various information. The user can operate the input unit to give various instructions based on the information displayed on the display unit of the UI unit 30e.

[0024] The processor 30a of the printing device 30 performs printing based on the print data 10c3 sent from the information processing device 10. That is, when printing is performed, the print data 10c3 is sent together with a print instruction from the information processing device 10 and stored in the non-volatile memory 30c. The processor 30a controls the printing unit 30d and the like based on the print data 10c3, and executes printing on the print medium stored in the printing unit 30d.

[0025] (1-3) Configuration of information processing device: 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the information processing device 10. In this embodiment, the information processing device 10 includes a processor 10a, a communication unit 10b, a nonvolatile memory 10c, a display unit 10d, and an input unit 10e. The processor 10a includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, etc. (not shown), and can execute various programs recorded in the nonvolatile memory 10c to control each unit of the information processing device 10, the colorimeter 20, etc. In other words, the processor 10a functions as a control unit.

[0026] The communication unit 10b includes a communication interface for communicating with the colorimeter 20 and the printing device 30 according to various wired or wireless communication protocols. The communication unit 10b may also include an interface for communicating with various removable memories attached to the information processing device 10.

[0027] Various types of data can be stored in the nonvolatile memory 10c. In this embodiment, colorimetric data 20c1, a color conversion model 10c1, image data 10c2, and print data 10c3 are stored in the nonvolatile memory 10c. The colorimetric data 20c1 is data transmitted from the colorimeter 20, and is data indicating color values ​​(HSV values) that are the colorimetric results of the sample colors.

[0028] Color conversion model 10c1 is data for converting the color of image data, and is data that associates colors in a device-independent color space with colors in a device-dependent color space. In this embodiment, color conversion model 10c1 includes an input-side model that performs color conversion on the input side, and an output-side model that performs color conversion on the output side.

[0029] The input-side model that performs input-side color conversion is a model that converts between RGB gradation values ​​or CMYK gradation values ​​that represent colors in a device-dependent color space and HSV values ​​that represent colors in a device-independent color space. In this embodiment, a model that converts RGB gradation values ​​or CMYK gradation values ​​to HSV values ​​is machine-learned. Furthermore, a model that converts HSV values ​​to RGB gradation values ​​or CMYK gradation values ​​based on the training data is machine-learned. These trained models are the input-side model. The input-side model may take various forms, such as a neural network that converts input values ​​to output values, or, like the output-side model described below, may be configured by a machine-learned model and an optimization module that performs optimization. Furthermore, an existing ICC profile can be used in place of the input-side model for the color conversion model 10c1. This ICC profile is a lookup table used for various devices. For example, in this embodiment, a display profile corresponding to the display used as the display unit 10d can be used.

[0030] The output-side model that performs color conversion on the output side is a model that converts between colors in a device-dependent color space, that is, CMYKGGyROr gradation values ​​that indicate the color materials used by the printing device 30, and HSV values ​​that indicate colors in a device-independent color space. In this embodiment, the output-side model includes a model that converts the amount of color material used into color values ​​(hereinafter referred to as a color prediction model) and an optimization module.

[0031] Here, the color prediction model includes a model that converts CMYKGGyROr gradation values, which indicate the amount of colorant used, into spectral reflectance. The model is generated, for example, by preparing training data in advance that associates CMYKGGyROr gradation values ​​with spectral reflectance, and then performing machine learning on a neural network that converts CMYKGGyROr gradation values ​​into spectral reflectance based on the training data. Note that spectral reflectance can be determined, for example, by measuring printed colors based on CMYKGGyROr gradation values ​​using a colorimeter 20. Furthermore, spectral reflectance can be converted into color values ​​using known calculation methods, and this conversion is also included in the color prediction model. Therefore, the color prediction model is a model that converts CMYKGGyROr gradation values ​​into color values ​​via spectral reflectance.

[0032] The optimization module is used to convert the color values ​​of the conversion target into color material usage amounts using a color prediction model. Specifically, the optimization module converts the color values ​​of the conversion target into provisional color material usage amounts, which are input into the color prediction model and converted into color values. The color values ​​obtained by this conversion are called predicted color values. If the color difference between the predicted color values ​​and the color values ​​of the conversion target is equal to or less than a reference value, the optimization module considers them to match. In this case, the color values ​​of the conversion target have been converted into provisional color material usage amounts.

[0033] On the other hand, if the color difference between the predicted color values ​​and the color values ​​of the conversion target is greater than the reference value, the optimization module modifies the provisional color material usage. Furthermore, the optimization module inputs the modified provisional color material usage into the color prediction model and determines whether the color difference between the obtained predicted color values ​​and the color values ​​of the conversion target is equal to or less than the reference value. The optimization module repeats the above process until the color difference between the predicted color values ​​and the color values ​​of the conversion target is equal to or less than the reference value. When the color difference between the predicted color values ​​and the color values ​​of the conversion target is equal to or less than the reference value, the optimization module considers the color values ​​of the conversion target to have been converted to the provisional color material usage. As described above, the output-side model of color conversion model 10c1 can convert CMYKGGyROr gradation values ​​using the color prediction model. Furthermore, HSV values ​​can be converted to CMYKGGyROr gradation values ​​using the color prediction model and the optimization module.

[0034] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when converting using the output model of the color conversion model 10c1, it is possible to impose constraints to limit the color materials used by the printing device 30. Specifically, when converting the color values ​​to be converted into color material usage amounts, the optimization module sets provisional color material usage amounts. At this time, it is possible to set a specific color material not to be used. For example, if at least one color of each color material of CMYKGGyROr is not used, the usage amount of that color material is fixed to 0. With this configuration, the optimization module identifies provisional color material usage amounts such that the color difference between the predicted color values ​​and the color values ​​to be converted is equal to or less than a reference value when the usage amount of that color material is fixed to 0. Therefore, once provisional color material usage amounts such that the color difference between the predicted color values ​​and the color values ​​to be converted is equal to or less than a reference value are identified, the color values ​​can be converted into color material usage amounts while restricting the use of specific color materials. Note that when converting color material usage amounts into color values, the usage amounts of unused color materials can be set to 0 and input into the prediction model.

[0035] The color conversion using the color conversion model 10c1 is merely an example, and color conversion may be performed using various functions or lookup tables. However, using the color conversion model 10c1 can reduce the resources required for the information processing device 10 and the man-hours required for data generation. For example, a lookup table is data that associates HSV values ​​with colors in a device-dependent color space for multiple representative points, and the number of representative points is generally very large. In particular, when associating CMYKGGyROr gradation values ​​with HSV values, the CMYKGGyROr gradation values ​​are eight-dimensional coordinate values, and it is necessary to associate many points in the eight-dimensional coordinate space with coordinate values ​​in the three-dimensional HSV space, resulting in a very large amount of data. Furthermore, in the case of a lookup table, in order to limit color materials, it is necessary to create lookup tables for all possible cases after the limitation. For example, when limiting cyan or magenta, it is necessary to create a lookup table for each case.

[0036] On the other hand, although a trained model obtained by machine learning may require a large amount of data for creation, the amount of data is generally smaller than that of a lookup table. Furthermore, in this embodiment, there is no need to create a different trained model for each condition in order to limit the color materials. Therefore, assuming a situation in which there are multiple conditions under which a specific color material is not used and a color conversion model 10c1 and a lookup table corresponding to each condition are prepared, when the color conversion model 10c1 is prepared, the amount of data can be reduced compared to when a lookup table is prepared.

[0037] Furthermore, creating a lookup table generally requires a significant number of steps. And preparing a lookup table for each condition also requires an extremely large number of steps. However, to generate an output model for the color conversion model 10c1 of this embodiment, it is not necessary to generate a different model for each condition. Therefore, the color conversion model 10c1 can be generated with fewer steps than creating a lookup table.

[0038] The image data 10c2 represents an image to be printed. As described above, the image data 10c2 includes image data for multiple plates. In this embodiment, it is assumed that there is at least one process color plate and one spot color plate. Therefore, the image data 10c2 includes data for process color plates, in which the color of each pixel is specified using RGB gradation values ​​or CMYK gradation values. The image data 10c2 also includes data for spot color plates, which include RGB gradation values ​​or CMYK gradation values ​​of a representative color specified in the header and gradation values ​​for each pixel indicating the relative density difference from the representative color. Of course, this configuration is merely an example, and the number of plates that can exist is not limited; multiple plates may exist, or no specific plate may exist. The image data 10c2 also includes information indicating a weighting coefficient for overlaying each plate, and the image to be printed is specified by overlaying the data for each plate using this weighting coefficient.

[0039] The print data 10c3 is data for printing by the printing device 30. In this embodiment, the processor 10a generates the print data 10c3 by performing image processing, including color conversion using the color conversion model 10c1, based on the image data 10c2. Specifically, the image data 10c2 includes a printer description language, and the processor 10a performs rendering processing, including analysis based on the printer description language and conversion to raster data. After rasterization, the processor 10a also converts the raster data using the color conversion model 10c1 to obtain the amount of each colorant required to print the color of each pixel. For example, for process color plates, the processor 10a converts the RGB or CMYK values ​​of each pixel to HSV values ​​using an input model or ICC profile, and then converts the HSV values ​​of each pixel to CMYKGGyROr gradation values ​​using an output model. For spot color plates, the processor 10a obtains the CMYKGGyROr gradation value of each pixel based on the CMYKGGyROr gradation value of the representative color and the gradation value of each pixel. Then, the processor 10a performs page layout determination processing on the print medium, halftone processing, etc. to generate print data 10c3. Once the print data 10c3 is generated, the print data 10c3 is sent to the printing device 30, where printing is performed.

[0040] The display unit 10d is a display device that displays any image. The input unit 10e is a device through which a user performs input operations. The information processing device 10 can be realized in various forms, and may be a desktop computer or a portable computer. In the former case, the display unit 10d can be configured, for example, as a display independent of the computer main body, and the input unit 10e can be configured, for example, as a keyboard and mouse independent of the computer main body. In the latter case, the display unit 10d and the input unit 10e can be configured, for example, as a touch panel display integrated with the computer main body. In either case, the user can operate the input unit 10e to input their intentions while viewing the images and text displayed on the display unit 10d. In the following description of this embodiment, it is assumed that the information processing device 10 is a desktop computer.

[0041] The processor 10a is capable of executing an information processing program (not shown). The information processing program according to this embodiment causes the display unit 10d to display a screen for making settings when printing a spot color plate so as to reproduce a sample color measured by the colorimeter 20. The user can use this screen to print a color chart including patches of the reference color and surrounding colors, and specify the representative color of the spot color plate by selecting a patch on the color chart.

[0042] In this embodiment, the information processing program has a function for performing color matching using the color chart. When the information processing program is executed, the processor 10a functions as a color value acquisition unit 10a1, a reproducibility acquisition unit 10a2, and a generation unit 10a3.

[0043] The color value acquisition unit 10a1 has a function for acquiring color values ​​indicating the colors of multiple color patches included in a color chart. Specifically, the color value acquisition unit 10a1 receives information from a user for identifying the color values ​​of each of the multiple color patches. In this embodiment, the processor 10a acquires the color values ​​(HSV values) of sample colors measured by the colorimeter 20 and converts the color values ​​into the usage amounts of each color material using the output model of the color conversion model 10c1. Note that the HSV values ​​are values ​​in a device-independent color space.

[0044] The user can modify the amount of each colorant used or limit the colorants used by inputting information into a screen described below, and can specify the amount of colorant used to a desired value. The color specified in this way is the reference color. Once the reference color is specified, the user specifies the parameters to be changed among the parameters used to identify the color. These parameters to be changed are called change parameters. The change parameters may be various parameters, and in this embodiment, the user can select three types of change parameters from among hue value (H value), saturation value (S value), lightness value (V value), and amount of colorant used.

[0045] The user further specifies the range of change in the value of the change parameter. The color value acquisition unit 10a1 generates surrounding colors by changing the value of the change parameter among the parameter values ​​of the reference color according to the change range. The number of surrounding colors generated according to the change range may be fixed or may be specified by the user. Note that if the change parameters include the amount of color material used, the color value acquisition unit 10a1 converts the amount of use into a color value based on the output side model of the color conversion model 10c1. With the above configuration, the user can generate surrounding colors by changing the reference color in a desired manner.

[0046] Once the color values ​​of the reference color and the surrounding colors are identified, each color is considered to be a color value indicating the color of multiple color patches. In other words, the above process results in the acquisition of color values ​​for multiple color patches. When any two of the acquired color patches are selected, one can be considered the first color patch and the other the second color patch. Therefore, the color value acquisition unit 10a1 can be said to have a function of acquiring a first color value indicating the color of the first color patch included in the color chart and a second color value indicating the color of the second color patch included in the color chart.

[0047] The reproducibility acquisition unit 10a2 is a function that acquires the reproducibility of colors when each of a plurality of color patches is printed by the printing device 30. In this embodiment, the reproducibility is the color difference between a color value that indicates the color of the color patch and a print color value that is the color value of the color that the printing device 30 prints based on the color value. In other words, the color value that indicates the color of the color patch indicates the ideal color when printing the color patch. When printing is performed by the printing device 30 based on the color value, the output side model of the color conversion model 10c1 converts the color value into the usage amount of each color material, and the color patch is printed using the usage amount.

[0048] If the conversion by the output model of the color conversion model 10c1 is accurate, the color of the printed color patch will match the color value that indicates the color of the color patch. However, if the conversion is inaccurate, the color value will not match. This situation can occur when the color indicated by the color value cannot be reproduced by the printing device 30, i.e., when the color indicated by the color value is out of the color gamut.

[0049] Therefore, in this embodiment, the reproducibility acquisition unit 10a2 acquires print color values, which are color values ​​of the colors printed by the printing device 30, and acquires the color difference between the print color values ​​and color values ​​indicating the colors of the color patches as reproducibility. Details of these conversions will be described later. As described above, the reproducibility acquisition unit 10a2 acquires the color reproducibility for each color patch. However, when any two color patches are extracted from multiple color patches, one can be considered a first color patch and the other a second color patch. Therefore, the reproducibility acquisition unit 10a2 can be said to have a function of acquiring, based on the first color values, a first reproducibility indicating the color reproducibility when the first color patch is printed by the printing device 30, and acquiring, based on the second color values, a second reproducibility indicating the color reproducibility when the second color patch is printed by the printing device 30.

[0050] Furthermore, the reproducibility acquisition unit 10a2 can be said to have a function that acquires the color difference between the first color value and the first printed color value, which is the color value of the color printed by the printing device 30 based on the first color value, as the first reproducibility, and acquires the color difference between the second color value and the second printed color value, which is the color value of the color printed by the printing device 30 based on the second color value, as the second reproducibility.

[0051] The generation unit 10a3 has a function of generating print data for printing a color chart. That is, the generation unit 10a3 generates print data 10c3 for printing a color chart including a reference color and peripheral colors and stores the print data in the non-volatile memory 10c. However, at this time, the generation unit 10a3 changes the appearance of the color patches depending on the reproducibility. Specifically, when the first reproducibility is lower than the second reproducibility, the generation unit 10a3 generates print data for printing a color chart in which the appearances of the first color patches and the second color patches are different.

[0052] In this embodiment, when the color difference indicating the color reproducibility is equal to or greater than a threshold, the reproducibility is considered to be low. The threshold is a value set in advance for evaluating whether the color reproducibility is low. In this embodiment, a color patch whose color difference indicating the color reproducibility is equal to or greater than the threshold is a first color patch, and a color patch whose color difference is smaller than the threshold is a second color patch. That is, in this embodiment, whether the first reproducibility, which is the color reproducibility of the first color patch, is lower than the second reproducibility, which is the color reproducibility of the second color patch, is determined based on whether the color difference is equal to or greater than a threshold.

[0053] The generation unit 10a3 then generates print data 10c3 so that the first and second color patches printed on the color chart can be distinguished from each other. In this embodiment, the first color patch is surrounded by a dashed frame to warn that the color reproducibility is low. The second color patch is not surrounded by a dashed frame. In this embodiment, the print data 10c3 is generated so that each color patch is printed in association with a character string indicating the identification information of the color patch. Specific examples of such color patches will be described later.

[0054] When the user issues a print instruction after the print data 10c3 has been generated, the processor 10a transmits the print data 10c3 to the printing device 30 via the communication unit 10b. The printing device 30 receives the print data 10c3 via the communication unit 30b and executes printing based on the print data 10c3. As a result, a color chart including the reference color and surrounding colors is printed. The user compares the color patches on the color chart, identifies the color patch that is the desired color, and specifies identification information using the input unit 10e.

[0055] The processor 10a identifies a color patch based on the identification information specified by the user, identifies the color value and the amount of each color material used for that color patch, and acquires it as the representative color of the spot color plate. That is, it records the color value or the amount of each color material used in the header indicating the representative color of the spot color plate.

[0056] As a result, the user's settings are reflected when printing spot color plates thereafter. Specifically, when printing spot color plates, the representative color is printed in the color of the color patch specified by the user. Furthermore, colors other than the representative color are printed as colors in which the density of the color patch specified by the user is increased or decreased based on the gradation values ​​associated with the pixels. With the above configuration, when selecting a desired color patch from the color chart, the user can recognize the first color patch, which is printed as a color different from the color value when the change parameter is changed as instructed by the user, and the second color patch, which reproduces the color value when the change parameter is changed as instructed by the user. This allows the user to select a representative color while recognizing whether the color value can be accurately reproduced.

[0057] (2) Printing control process: Next, the print control process for a color chart will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in Figure 5. Before starting the print control process, the user prepares image data 10c2 to be printed and saves it in the non-volatile memory 10c. When starting printing, the user operates the input unit 10e of the information processing device 10 to cause the processor 10a to execute the print control program.

[0058] When the print control program is started, the processor 10a of the information processing device 10 controls the display unit 10d to display a usage amount specification screen (step S100). The usage amount specification screen is a screen for specifying the color value of the reference color and the usage amount of each color material to be used when printing the reference color with the printing device 30.

[0059] FIG. 6 is an example of a usage amount specification screen. At the top of this screen, a character string indicating that this is a screen for creating a color chart is displayed, and below that, two tabs allow the user to switch between screens. The tabs include one for setting a reference color and another for specifying color creation conditions. The screen shown in FIG. 6 shows the state in which the tab for setting a reference color is selected, and this screen is the default display screen for the usage amount specification screen.

[0060] In the example shown in Fig. 6, a character string indicating the spot color to be applied is displayed on the left side of the screen, and information about the reference color is displayed on the right side of the screen. The spot color plates included in the image data 10c2 are listed on the left side of the screen, with the selected spot color plate colored gray. On the right side of the screen, an icon I that resembles the reference color is displayed at the top, and a user interface for specifying the amount of each color material to be used is displayed at the bottom. The icon I that resembles the reference color is a rectangular sample that resembles a color corresponding to the color value indicating the reference color, and is not displayed on the initial screen.

[0061] In the user interface for specifying the amount of each colorant to be used, the names of colorants usable by the printing device 30 are displayed as a list, and check boxes for specifying whether or not to use each colorant are associated with the name of the colorant. A colorant designated as a colorant to be used by a checkbox is called a "used colorant." Each colorant name is associated with an icon that resembles the color of the colorant and an input box that indicates the amount of colorant to be used. The amount of colorant to be used can be designated as a value between 0 and 100%, but no numerical value is displayed on the initial screen. In this embodiment, the percentage value indicating the amount of each colorant to be used is associated in advance with a gradation value. Of course, the amount of colorant to be used may also be designated by a gradation value.

[0062] The user can specify color values ​​using various methods to specify a reference color, but in this example, the color values ​​are obtained using the color measurement results obtained by the colorimeter 20. To do this, the user measures the sample color by operating the colorimeter 20. After the color measurement is performed, the processor 20a of the colorimeter 20 obtains color measurement data 20c1 (step S200) and stores it in the non-volatile memory 20c.

[0063] Next, the processor 20a of the colorimeter 20 transmits the colorimetric data 20c1 to the information processing device 10 via the communication unit 20b (step S205). The processor 10a of the information processing device 10 receives the colorimetric data 20c1 via the communication unit 10b using the function of the color value acquisition unit 10a1 (step S105) and stores it in the non-volatile memory 10c. Furthermore, the processor 10a refers to the input model or display profile of the color conversion model 10c1 and converts the HSV values ​​indicated by the colorimetric data 20c1 into RGB gradation values. The processor 10a then controls the display unit 10d (e.g., a display) to display an icon I using the RGB gradation values.

[0064] Next, the color value acquisition unit 10a1 acquires the usage amount for each colorant to be used (step S110). The user determines the colorants to be used and operates the input unit 10e to check the checkboxes displayed on the right side of the usage amount specification screen shown in FIG. 6. This configuration allows the user to specify all or some of the colorants available in the printing device 30 as the colorants to be used. The color value acquisition unit 10a1 acquires the checked colorants as the used colorants. Note that colorants that are not checked are not acquired as the used colorants and are prohibited from being used when printing color patches. In other words, whether or not a checkbox is checked defines the constraint that the used colorants are used and that colorants that are not the used colorants are not used.

[0065] Furthermore, the color value acquisition unit 10a1 converts the color values ​​acquired in step S105 into the usage amounts of each colorant used, with reference to the output model of the color conversion model 10c1 and with the constraint that the used colorants are used and that colorants other than the used colorants are not used. The color value acquisition unit 10a1 controls the display unit 10d to display the usage amounts obtained by the conversion in an input box indicating the usage amounts of the colorants. Note that the user may operate the input unit 10e to modify the usage amounts in the input box. If the usage amounts are modified by the user, the color value acquisition unit 10a1 converts the usage amounts of each colorant into color values ​​with reference to the output model of the color conversion model 10c1 and regards them as the color values ​​of the reference color.

[0066] Next, the user operates the input unit 10e to select a tab for specifying color creation conditions shown in Fig. 6. In response to this selection, the reproducibility acquisition unit 10a2 displays a creation condition specification screen (step S115). Fig. 7 is an example of the creation condition specification screen. In the example shown in Fig. 7, a diagram that schematically shows a color chart is displayed on the left side of the screen, and a user interface for specifying creation conditions when generating surrounding colors by changing the reference color is displayed on the right side of the screen.

[0067] In the example shown in FIG. 7, the user interface is a screen for configuring each of three change parameters. The three change parameters are associated with the letters X, Y, and Z. Each change parameter is associated with a type, a change width, and a quantity, and the user can specify the content of each. The type is the type of change parameter, and by selecting the type, the user can specify which parameter of the color representing the reference color to change. In this embodiment, the user can specify any three of the amount of colorant used, hue value, saturation value, and brightness value as change parameters. If the change parameter is the amount of colorant used, the user can select the color of the colorant to be changed. In the example shown in FIG. 7, magenta is selected.

[0068] The change width is the amount of one step when gradually changing the value of the change parameter. For example, the user can specify the change width by the percentage of usage or hue value. The number indicates the number of color patches generated by changing the change parameter. The user can specify the number using a number or a slide bar.

[0069] When the variation width and number are specified, the manner in which the color patches are arranged is determined. Specifically, the variation parameter associated with X is a parameter that changes when the position of the color patch changes horizontally, and the variation parameter associated with Y is a parameter that changes when the position of the color patch changes vertically. These X and Y correspond to the horizontal and vertical axes, and color patches generated by changing the variation parameter associated with X are arranged horizontally in the number specified for that variation parameter. Color patches generated by changing the variation parameter associated with Y are arranged vertically in the number specified for that variation parameter.

[0070] The specified number of color patches arranged vertically and horizontally in this manner is called a block. For example, if three is specified for both the change parameter associated with X and the change parameter associated with Y, three color patches will be arranged vertically and horizontally in one block. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the block in the center is surrounded by a solid line and is displayed with the letter Z. The change parameter associated with Z is a parameter that changes in different blocks. In other words, the value of the change parameter associated with Z will be different in the color patches included in multiple blocks printed on the color chart.

[0071] Furthermore, when comparing such color patches, the change parameters associated with X, Y, and Z each change by a change width. For example, the colors of horizontally adjacent color patches are colors in which the value of the change parameter associated with X differs by the change width. The colors of vertically adjacent color patches are colors in which the value of the change parameter associated with Y differs by the change width. Furthermore, colors included in different blocks are generated by changing the value of the change parameter associated with Z by the change width.

[0072] Fig. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of color patches generated when the settings for X, Y, and Z are the example shown in Fig. 7. In this example, the numbers for X and Y are 3 and 3, respectively, so the number of color patches arranged in one block is 9. In the example shown in Fig. 8, each color patch is printed with a corresponding numerical value (01 to 81) that serves as identification information.

[0073] In the color patch diagram shown in FIG. 8, the color patch with identification information 41 located at the center is the color patch of the reference color. Block B1, which includes the reference color, is made up of nine color patches. The amount of magenta used, which is the associated variation parameter X, varies horizontally by a variation width ΔX. Therefore, for example, the color patch with identification information 42 is printed with an amount of magenta that is ΔX greater than the reference color, and the color patch with identification information 40 is printed with an amount of magenta that is ΔX less than the reference color.

[0074] In the vertical direction, the brightness value, which is the associated variation parameter of Y, varies by a variation width ΔY. Therefore, for example, the color patch of identification information 37 is printed with a usage amount corresponding to a color value whose brightness value is ΔY greater than that of the color patch of identification information 40, and the color patch of identification information 43 is printed with a usage amount corresponding to a color value whose brightness value is ΔY smaller than that of the color patch of identification information 40.

[0075] 8, nine blocks are arranged, and in each block, the saturation value, which is the associated change parameter Z, changes by a change width ΔZ. Therefore, for example, the color patch of identification information 72 in block B2 has a saturation value ΔZ greater than the color patch of identification information 45 in block B1, and the color patch of identification information 16 in block B3 is printed at a usage amount corresponding to a color value whose saturation value is ΔZ less than the color patch of identification information 43 in block B1. Note that the dot-dash lines, character strings B1, B2, B3, ΔX, ΔY, ΔZ, and arrows indicating the blocks in FIG. 8 are for explanatory purposes only and are not printed on the color chart.

[0076] In the color chart described above, a warning regarding color reproducibility is printed. Specifically, a color patch in which the color difference indicating the color reproducibility, i.e., the color difference between the color value indicating the color of the color patch and the print color value, which is the color value of the color patch printed by the printing device 30, is equal to or greater than a threshold, is printed with a dashed frame. In the example shown in Fig. 8, the color patches with identification information 01 to 05, 07, 22, and 25 are marked with dashed frames indicating low color reproducibility.

[0077] Returning to Figure 5, the explanation will continue. To generate the above-described color chart print data 10c3, the color value acquisition unit 10a1 sets one of the color patches as a target patch based on the input contents on the creation condition specification screen, and performs the processing of steps S125 to S160 for the target patch. Specifically, the color value acquisition unit 10a1 sets the target patch (step S125). The target patch is one of the color patches printed on the color chart, and is a color patch that is not the target of the loop processing of steps S125 to S160.

[0078] The target patch is set, for example, by the following process. The color value acquisition unit 10a1 acquires the total number of color patches to be printed on the color chart based on the numbers specified for each of the three change parameters corresponding to X, Y, and Z. The color value acquisition unit 10a1 then associates identification information with each of these color patches. Furthermore, the color value acquisition unit 10a1 sorts the color patches based on the identification information, and sequentially selects and sets as the target patch identification information that has not been subject to the loop processing of steps S125 to S160.

[0079] Next, color value acquisition unit 10a1 acquires the color values ​​of the target patch (step S130). That is, color value acquisition unit 10a1 acquires the color values ​​and usage amounts of each colorant acquired for the reference color in steps S100, S105, and S110. Furthermore, color value acquisition unit 10a1 identifies the change width of the change parameter to be changed from the reference color and the number of changes within that change width, based on the change width specified in step S120. Here, the first color value and the second color value are examples of color values ​​acquired in step S130.

[0080] For example, in the example shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, if the target patch is a color patch with identification information 45, the color value acquisition unit 10a1 determines the amount of magenta used when the amount of the reference color is increased once by a change width ΔX. Furthermore, the color value acquisition unit 10a1 references the output model of the color conversion model 10c1 and converts the obtained amount of each colorant into a color value. Furthermore, the color value acquisition unit 10a1 decreases the obtained color value once by a change width ΔY and regards it as the color value of the color patch with identification information 45, which is the target patch. Furthermore, if the target patch is a color patch with identification information 72, the color value acquisition unit 10a1 increases the saturation value of the color patch with identification information 45 once by a change width ΔZ and regards it as the color value of the color patch with identification information 72, which is the target patch.

[0081] Once the color values ​​of the target patch are acquired, the reproducibility acquisition unit 10a2 converts the color values ​​into amounts of color materials used (step S135). That is, the reproducibility acquisition unit 10a2 converts the color values ​​into amounts of color materials used, referring to the output model of the color conversion model 10c1. Note that the values ​​converted by the output model of the color conversion model 10c1 indicate amounts of color materials used, and therefore are within the color gamut of the printing device 30. However, the color values ​​that are input values ​​to the output model of the color conversion model 10c1 are not necessarily colors within the color gamut of the printing device 30. In particular, in this embodiment, even if the reference color is within the color gamut, changing the variation parameters may cause the surrounding colors to go outside the color gamut.

[0082] Even if the color value of the target patch is outside the color gamut of the printing device 30, the amount of color material used after conversion by the output model of the color conversion model 10c1 will be within the color gamut of the printing device 30. In other words, the output model of the color conversion model 10c1 according to this embodiment may convert color values ​​outside the color gamut of the printing device 30 to colors within the color gamut of the printing device 30. Figure 9 illustrates color values ​​within a device-independent color space. In Figure 9, the area inside boundary B is within the color gamut of the printing device 30. Figure 9 also illustrates the color gamut of the printing device 30 on a plane obtained by cutting the device-independent color space in a direction perpendicular to a certain lightness axis. In this example, C1 is assumed to be the color value of the reference color. When a surrounding color is generated from the reference color by changing the value of the variation parameter, the color value C2 of the surrounding color may be outside the color gamut.

[0083] Even such color value C2 is converted into a usage amount for each color material when converted by the output side model of color conversion model 10c1. The color printed in printing device 30 using this usage amount is a color within the color gamut of printing device 30. In FIG. 9, the color value of a color within the color gamut is shown as color value C3. As described above, in this embodiment, a color outside the color gamut may be converted into a color within the color gamut. When such a conversion is performed, the accuracy of color conversion by the output side model of color conversion model 10c1 decreases, and the color reproducibility decreases.

[0084] Therefore, in this embodiment, the reproducibility acquisition unit 10a2 further converts the amounts of color materials used obtained by the conversion in step S135 back into color values ​​(step S140). That is, the reproducibility acquisition unit 10a2 refers to the output side model of the color conversion model 10c1 and converts the amounts of color materials used obtained in step S135 into color values.

[0085] Then, the reproducibility acquisition unit 10a2 acquires the color difference between the color value acquired in step S130 and the color value acquired in step S140, and determines whether the color difference is equal to or greater than a threshold (step S145). That is, the reproducibility acquisition unit 10a2 determines that the color reproducibility is lower than the standard when the color difference is equal to or greater than the threshold, and determines that the color reproducibility is within the standard range when the color difference is smaller than the threshold. Here, the first reproducibility is the reproducibility corresponding to the first color value, and is an example of a reproducibility where the color difference is smaller than the threshold and is within the standard range. Furthermore, the second reproducibility is the reproducibility corresponding to the second color value, and is an example of a reproducibility where the color difference is equal to or greater than the threshold and is outside the standard range.

[0086] If it is determined in step S145 that the color difference is equal to or greater than the threshold, the generation unit 10a3 generates a patch including a warning (step S150). Specifically, the generation unit 10a3 generates image data for printing a uniform rectangular color patch of a predetermined size using each colorant in the amount acquired in step S135, and printing a dashed frame around the color patch. Here, the second color patch corresponding to the second color value and the second reproducibility is an example of a color patch with a dashed frame printed around it, i.e., a color patch with a warning.

[0087] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S145 that the color difference is not equal to or greater than the threshold, the generation unit 10a3 generates a patch that does not include a warning (step S155). Specifically, the generation unit 10a3 generates image data for printing a uniform rectangular color patch of a predetermined size using each colorant in the amount acquired in step S135. Here, the first color patch corresponding to the first color value and the first reproducibility does not have a dashed frame printed around it, that is, it is an example of a color patch without a warning.

[0088] When step S150 or step S155 is executed, the generation unit 10a3 determines whether all patches have been processed (step S160). That is, the generation unit 10a3 determines that all patches have been processed when the processes of steps S125 to S160 have been performed on all color patches printed on the color chart as target patches. If it is not determined in step S160 that all patches have been processed, the processor 10a repeats the processes from step S125 onwards.

[0089] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S160 that all patches have been processed, the generation unit 10a3 generates print data 10c3 of the color chart (step S165). Specifically, the generation unit 10a3 arranges the color patch images generated in steps S150 and S155 in the order shown in FIG. 8. That is, the generation unit 10a3 arranges the color patches so that when the horizontal position changes to an adjacent one, the change parameter corresponding to X changes by the change width, and when the vertical position changes to an adjacent one, the change parameter corresponding to Y changes by the change width. In this way, blocks are formed. The generation unit 10a3 arranges the blocks so that the change parameter corresponding to Z changes by the change width between adjacent blocks. Furthermore, the generation unit 10a3 generates print data 10c3 so that the amount of color material used in each color patch is the amount obtained in step S135.

[0090] Next, generation unit 10a3 determines whether a print instruction has been issued (step S170). Specifically, when the user operates input unit 10e to issue an instruction using print button Bp shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, generation unit 10a3 determines that a print instruction has been issued. If it is determined in step S170 that a print instruction has been issued, generation unit 10a3 outputs print data 10c3 (step S175). That is, generation unit 10a3 outputs print data 10c3 to printing device 30 via communication unit 10b.

[0091] The processor 30a of the printing device 30 acquires the print data 10c3 via the communication unit 30b and prints a color chart (step S300). The user compares the color patches printed on the color chart, selects the desired color patch, and operates the input unit 10e to input the identification information of the selected color patch. The processor 10a determines that the representative color is identified by the color value and color material usage amount of the color patch corresponding to the input identification information. With the above configuration, the user can set the desired color as the representative color of the spot color plate.

[0092] In the above configuration, when comparing color patches printed on a color chart, a user can determine whether the color differs from the color values ​​generated by changing the change parameters as instructed, based on whether a dashed frame is attached. In other words, the user can determine whether the color has low color reproducibility. Furthermore, in this embodiment, even if the color reproducibility is low, the color patch is not not printed, but is printed with an associated warning. Therefore, the user can select a color patch with low color reproducibility as long as it is closest to the desired color, even if the color reproducibility is low. This increases the number of options available to the user compared to when color patches with low color reproducibility are not printed.

[0093] (3) Other embodiments: The above embodiment is one example for implementing the present invention, and various other embodiments are also possible. For example, the information processing device 10 and other devices (at least one of the colorimeter 20 and the printing device 30) may be integrated. Furthermore, the connection between the devices is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. 1, and communication between any devices may be performed via any network. Furthermore, at least some of the functions of each device may be distributed among multiple devices; for example, at least some of the functions of the information processing device 10 may be realized by a cloud server. Furthermore, at least some of the functions of the information processing device 10 may be realized by other devices, and configured as an information processing system.

[0094] The color value acquisition unit is only required to acquire a first color value indicating the color of a first color patch included in the color chart and a second color value indicating the color of a second color patch included in the color chart. That is, the color value acquisition unit acquires color values ​​indicating multiple colors. Various methods for acquiring color values ​​may be used. Therefore, various configurations may be adopted other than a configuration in which the color of a color sample is measured with respect to a reference color. For example, color values ​​may be associated with identification numbers of color samples, and the color values ​​may be acquired based on the identification numbers. Alternatively, the color values ​​may be specified by a user. The first color value and the second color value may be different color values. Since the number of patches included in the color chart is not limited to two, one of any two patches included in the color chart may be the first color value and the other the second color value. The color values ​​may be values ​​indicating colors, and may be values ​​other than coordinate values ​​in a color space, such as spectral reflectance.

[0095] The reproducibility acquisition unit may acquire, based on the first color value, a first reproducibility indicating the degree of color reproducibility when a first color patch is printed by a printing device, and may acquire, based on the second color value, a second reproducibility indicating the degree of color reproducibility when a second color patch is printed by a printing device. In other words, the degree to which a color of a given color value can be reproduced when printed by a printing device varies depending on the color. Therefore, the reproducibility acquisition unit may acquire the reproducibility of the colors of the first color patch and the second color patch. The reproducibility may be an index that evaluates the degree to which the color of the printed color patch matches the color indicated by the color value. The form of reproducibility is not limited, and may be represented by color difference or whether or not the color is within the color gamut.

[0096] The generation unit is only required to generate print data for printing a color chart. That is, the generation unit is only required to generate print data for printing a color chart including a first color patch and a second color patch. However, when the first reproducibility is lower than the second reproducibility, the generation unit generates print data for printing a color chart in which the first color patch and the second color patch have different appearances. That is, the color chart is printed so that the user can recognize color patches with relatively low reproducibility. Note that the number of patches included in the color chart is not limited to two and may be three or more.

[0097] The manner in which the first reproducibility of the first color patch is recognized as being lower than the second reproducibility is not limited to the manner using the dashed frame as described above. Specifically, the first color patch and the second color patch printed on the color chart may be configured to differ from each other in at least one of the patterns printed around the patch, the characters printed around the patch, the patch shape, the patch size, and the patch position.

[0098] The pattern printed around the patch is not limited to the dashed line frame described above, and may be a pattern formed of various shapes, colors, etc. Furthermore, a configuration may be adopted in which text printed around the patch indicates that the first reproducibility is lower than the second reproducibility. Furthermore, a configuration may be adopted in which the patch has a different shape, size, or position that indicates that the first reproducibility is lower than the second reproducibility. Furthermore, a combination of these various configurations may be adopted. Furthermore, a description may be printed on the color chart indicating that dashed line frames or the like are attached to color patches with low color reproducibility.

[0099] The reproducibility may be any index for evaluating the discrepancy between the color indicated by the color value and the color value of the color that is actually printed when the color value is printed, and is not limited to a configuration indicated by color difference. For example, the processor 10a may acquire the color gamut of the printing device 30, acquire the relationship between the first color value and the color gamut as the first reproducibility, and acquire the relationship between the second color value and the color gamut as the second reproducibility.

[0100] The color gamut may be represented, for example, by a plurality of color values ​​existing on the boundary of the color gamut, or by a plurality of color values ​​existing within the color gamut. Once the color gamut is acquired, the processor 10a can define the reproducibility based on the relationship between the color values ​​and the color gamut. For example, if a color value exists outside the color gamut, the reproducibility of the color when a color patch is printed by the printing device 30 based on the color value can be considered to be lower than if the color value exists within the color gamut.

[0101] Therefore, by defining the color reproduction degree when the color value is outside the color gamut as the first reproduction degree and the color reproduction degree when the color value is inside the color gamut as the second reproduction degree, and by differentiating the appearance of the first color patch and the second color patch, the user can identify color patches with low reproduction degree.

[0102] Furthermore, color conversion is not limited to a configuration performed using color conversion model 10c1. In other words, a configuration in which first and second color values ​​are converted into amounts of each color material based on any conversion data that converts color values ​​into amounts of each color material to generate print data and the appearance of color patches can be varied. For example, even in a configuration in which color conversion is performed using a color conversion profile, a lookup table, or a combination of these, the accuracy of color conversion can be reduced for colors near the boundaries of the color gamut or colors included in areas of the lookup table where the data density is lower than in other areas. For this reason, a first color patch with a relatively low reproducibility can be printed in a different manner from the second color patch to make it more recognizable to the user. This configuration allows the user to recognize the reduced color reproducibility in a configuration using various conversion data.

[0103] Furthermore, it may be possible to select whether or not to print a first color patch having low color reproducibility on the color chart. For example, the generation unit may be configured to generate print data for printing a color chart including the first color patch in a first mode in which the first color patch is printed on the color chart when the first reproducibility is lower than a threshold, and to generate print data for printing a color chart not including the first color patch in a second mode in which the first color patch is not printed on the color chart when the first reproducibility is lower than the threshold.

[0104] Such a configuration can be realized, for example, by configuring the above-described embodiment so that the user selects the first mode or the second mode before step S100 or before or after any of steps S100 to S120. In the first mode, the processing from step S125 onward is similar to the processing shown in FIG. 5. In the second mode, step S150 is omitted from the processing from step S125 onward. As a result, image data is not generated for target patches whose color difference is determined to be equal to or greater than the threshold in step S145, and print data that does not include the target patches is generated in step S165. This configuration prevents a user who does not want to select a color with reduced reproducibility from selecting the second mode and erroneously selecting a color with reduced reproducibility.

[0105] Furthermore, the above-mentioned systems, programs, and methods may be realized as a single device or may be realized using components of multiple devices, and include various embodiments. They may also be modified as appropriate, such as being partly software and partly hardware. Furthermore, the invention may also be realized as a recording medium for a program that controls a device or system. Of course, the recording medium for the program may be a magnetic recording medium or a semiconductor memory, and any recording medium developed in the future may be considered in the same way. [Explanation of symbols]

[0106] 10...information processing device, 10a...processor, 10a1...color value acquisition unit, 10a2...reproducibility acquisition unit, 10a3...generation unit, 10b...communication unit, 10c...non-volatile memory, 10c1...color conversion model, 10c2...image data, 10c3...printing data, 10d...display unit, 10e...input unit, 16...identification information, 20...colorimeter, 20a...processor, 20b...communication unit, 20c...non-volatile memory, 20c1...colorimetric data, 20d...sensor, 20e...UI unit, 30...printing device, 30a...processor, 30b...communication unit, 30c...non-volatile memory, 30d...printing unit, 30e...UI unit

Claims

1. a color value acquisition unit that acquires a first color value that indicates the color of a first color patch included in a color chart and a second color value that indicates the color of a second color patch included in the color chart; a reproducibility acquisition unit that acquires, based on the first color value, a first reproducibility indicating a degree of color reproducibility when the first color patch is printed by a printing device, and acquires, based on the second color value, a second reproducibility indicating a degree of color reproducibility when the second color patch is printed by the printing device; a generating unit that generates print data for printing the color chart, When the first reproducibility is lower than the second reproducibility, the generation unit generates the print data for printing the color chart in which the first color patch and the second color patch have different aspects. Information processing device.

2. The reproducibility acquisition unit acquiring, as the first reproducibility, a color difference between the first color value and a first print color value, which is a color value of a color printed by the printing device based on the first color value; acquiring, as the second reproducibility, a color difference between the second color value and a second print color value, which is a color value of a color printed by the printing device based on the second color value; The information processing device according to claim 1 .

3. The reproducibility acquisition unit obtaining the color gamut of the printing device; A relationship between the first color value and the color gamut is obtained as the first reproducibility; The relationship between the second color value and the color gamut is obtained as the second reproducibility. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

4. The first color patch and the second color patch printed on the color chart are different from each other in at least one of a pattern printed around the patch, a character printed around the patch, a patch shape, a patch size, and a patch position. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

5. The color value acquisition unit A change parameter that is a parameter to be changed among parameters indicating color values ​​and a change width of the value of the change parameter are obtained; changing the value of the variation parameter by the variation width to obtain the first color value and the second color value; The information processing device according to claim 1 .

6. the first color value and the second color value are values ​​in a device-independent color space; The generation unit generating the print data by converting the first color value and the second color value into a usage amount of each color material based on conversion data for converting the color value into a usage amount of each color material; The information processing device according to claim 1 .

7. The color value acquisition unit acquiring color materials to be used in the printing device and the amounts of each of the color materials to be used, and acquiring the first color value and the second color value based on the amounts of each of the color materials to be used; The information processing device according to claim 1 .

8. The generation unit generating the print data for printing the color chart including the first color patch in a first mode in which the first color patch is printed on the color chart when the first reproducibility is lower than a threshold value; generating the print data for printing the color chart not including the first color patch in a second mode in which the first color patch is not printed on the color chart when the first reproducibility is lower than a threshold value; The information processing device according to claim 1 .

9. Computer, a color value acquisition unit that acquires a first color value that indicates the color of a first color patch included in a color chart and a second color value that indicates the color of a second color patch included in the color chart; a reproducibility acquisition unit that acquires, based on the first color value, a first reproducibility indicating a reproducibility of color when the first color patch is printed by a printing device, and acquires, based on the second color value, a second reproducibility indicating a reproducibility of color when the second color patch is printed by the printing device; an information processing program that causes the computer to function as a generating unit that generates print data for printing the color chart, When the first reproducibility is lower than the second reproducibility, the generation unit causes the computer to function to generate the print data for printing the color chart in which the first color patch and the second color patch have different aspects. Information processing program.

Images