Color Gamut Determination System, Color Gamut Determination Method, and Program

Abstract

To provide a color gamut determination system, a color gamut determination method, and a program that are capable of reducing the possibility that discrepancy in color tone recognition occurs between a requester and a checker for color tone check of printed matters.SOLUTION: A color gamut determination system includes a colorimetric value acquisition unit that acquires a colorimetric value of a solid color of ink to be used for printing a print material, and a variation colorimetric value calculation unit that calculates a variation colorimetric value set which is a set of colorimetric values that can be taken by the colorimetric value of a solid color due to variation, based on a colorimetric value acquired by the colorimetric value acquisition unit and variation information related to the variation of the colorimetric value, a color gamut determination unit for determining, based on a variation colorimetric value set calculated by the variation colorimetric value calculation unit and a color profile of an output device for outputting information on a printed material, whether each colorimetric value included in the variation colorimetric value set is contained in a color gamut of the output device, and a color gamut determination information generation unit that generates color gamut determination information indicating the relationship between the colorimetric value and the color gamut based on a determination result of the color gamut determination unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a color gamut determination system, a color gamut determination method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, various techniques have been proposed for checking the color tone of a printed matter at a remote location. For example, a technique has been proposed that enables checking the color tone of a printed matter at a remote location by capturing an image of the printed matter and displaying the image of the printed matter on a display device at the remote location.

[0003] The following Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for photographing a printout and a sample of the printout at a printing factory, and transmitting each of the obtained images from a device at the printing factory to a device at a remote location. The image of the printout and the image of the sample received from the device at the printing factory are displayed on the device at the remote location. This allows an observer (verifier) ​​at the remote location to check the image of the printout and the image of the sample displayed on the device at the remote location, and thus to check the color tone of the printout and give adjustment instructions without having to go to the printing site. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-176546 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the range of colors that can be expressed in a printed matter (color gamut) may differ from the range of colors that can be expressed in a display device. For example, assume that some colors expressed in a printed matter are outside the range of colors that can be expressed in a display device. In this case, when an image of the printed matter is displayed on a display device as in the technology of Patent Document 1, the colors of the printed matter that are outside the range of colors that can be expressed in the display device are not accurately expressed, and the colors expressed in the actual printed matter differ from the colors of the image of the printed matter expressed by the display device. This can cause a discrepancy in the perception of the colors of the printed matter between the person requesting the color tone check and the person checking it, which can affect subsequent work.

[0006] In view of the above-mentioned problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a color gamut determination system, a color gamut determination method, and a program that can reduce the possibility of discrepancies in color tone perception between a person requesting color tone confirmation of a printed matter and a person checking the color tone. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a color gamut determination system according to one aspect of the present invention includes a colorimetric value acquisition unit that acquires colorimetric values ​​of solid colors of inks used in printing a printed material; a color adjustment colorimetric value calculation unit that calculates a color adjustment colorimetric value set which is a set of values ​​that the colorimetric values ​​acquired by the colorimetric value acquisition unit can take when adjusting the solid color within the adjustment range of the solid color by calculating all combinations of values ​​that the colorimetric values ​​acquired by the colorimetric value acquisition unit can take within the adjustment range of the solid color based on color range information that indicates an adjustment range of the solid color; a color adjustment colorimetric value calculation unit that calculates ink blending ratios corresponding to each colorimetric value included in the color adjustment colorimetric value set calculated by the color adjustment colorimetric value calculation unit based on approximate color information that indicates a correspondence relationship between the colorimetric values ​​and the blending ratios of the inks; calculates absorption and scattering coefficients of spot colors for each of the calculated blending ratios based on absorption and scattering coefficient information that indicates a correspondence relationship between the inks and the absorption and scattering coefficients; calculates the spectral reflectance of the spot color using the calculated absorption and scattering coefficients of the spot color; and calculates the density range information that indicates an adjustment range of the density of the ink. a density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit that calculates a density-adjusted colorimetric value set which is a set of possible values ​​of the colorimetric values ​​that vary when the density is adjusted within the density adjustment range by calculating all combinations of values ​​that each colorimetric value included in the color-adjusted colorimetric value set can take within the density adjustment range based on the spectral reflectance; a platemaking image acquisition unit that reads and acquires the platemaking image corresponding to information on the platemaking image of the printed matter input by a user; and a print color prediction unit that generates a print color set which is a set of predicted values ​​of the colorimetric values ​​at each pixel by predicting the colorimetric values ​​of the print colors at each pixel of a printed matter printed using the colorimetric values ​​included in the density-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit as primary colors of the platemaking image acquired by the platemaking image acquisition unit based on gradation characteristic information indicating a correspondence relationship between the ink and gradation characteristics; An output device that outputs the above-mentioned printed matter The colorimetric values ​​included in the color gamut are shown Color Profile To Based on The print color prediction unit generates The above printing color set Each included in Prediction a color gamut determination unit that determines whether or not the color is included in the color gamut of the output device, and based on a result of the determination by the color gamut determination unit, Whether or not, or the degree to which, each of the predicted values ​​is within the color gamut of the output device and a color gamut determination information generating unit that generates color gamut determination information indicating A color gamut determination system according to one aspect of the present invention includes a colorimetric value acquisition unit that acquires colorimetric values ​​of solid colors of inks used in printing a printed matter, a color adjustment colorimetric value calculation unit that calculates a color adjustment colorimetric value set that is a set of possible values ​​of the colorimetric values ​​that fluctuate when the solid color is adjusted within the adjustment range of the solid color by calculating all combinations of values ​​that the colorimetric values ​​acquired by the colorimetric value acquisition unit can take within the adjustment range of the solid color based on color range information that indicates an adjustment range of the solid color, and a color adjustment colorimetric value calculation unit that calculates a color adjustment colorimetric value set that is a set of possible values ​​of the colorimetric values ​​that fluctuate when the solid color is adjusted within the adjustment range of the solid color based on approximate color information that indicates a correspondence relationship between the colorimetric values ​​and the blending ratios of the inks. calculating a blending ratio of inks corresponding to each colorimetric value included in the color adjustment colorimetric value set calculated by the adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit, calculating an absorption / scattering coefficient of a spot color for each of the calculated blending ratios based on absorption / scattering coefficient information indicating a correspondence between the inks and the absorption / scattering coefficients, calculating a spectral reflectance of the spot color using the calculated absorption / scattering coefficient of the spot color, and calculating all combinations of values ​​that each colorimetric value included in the color adjustment colorimetric value set can take within the concentration adjustment range based on concentration range information indicating an adjustment range of the ink concentration and the calculated spectral reflectance; a density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit that calculates a density-adjusted colorimetric value set which is a set of possible values ​​of the colorimetric value that varies when the density is adjusted within the density adjustment range; a halftone dot multiplication generation unit that generates a halftone dot multiplication set which is a set of colors obtained by multiplying at least two colors indicated by the colorimetric values ​​included in the density-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit in a halftone dot of a printed matter; a print color prediction unit that generates a print color set which is a set of predicted values ​​of each color by predicting the colorimetric values ​​of the print colors when each color included in the halftone dot multiplication set generated by the halftone dot multiplication generation unit is reproduced on the printed matter based on gradation characteristic information indicating gradation characteristics of primary color inks; a color gamut determination unit that determines whether each predicted value included in the print color set generated by the print color prediction unit is included in the color gamut of an output device that outputs related to the printed matter, based on a color profile indicating colorimetric values ​​included in the color gamut of the output device; and a color gamut determination unit that determines whether the predicted value of each color included in the halftone dot multiplication set is included in the color gamut of the output device, based on a result of the determination by the color gamut determination unit.or a color gamut determination information generating unit that generates color gamut determination information indicating a degree to which the color gamut is included.

[0008] A color gamut determination method according to one aspect of the present invention includes a step of acquiring colorimetric values ​​of solid colors of inks used in printing a printed material by a colorimetric value acquisition unit; a color adjustment colorimetric value calculation unit, based on color range information indicating an adjustment range of the solid color, calculating all combinations of values ​​that the colorimetric values ​​acquired by the colorimetric value acquisition unit can take within the adjustment range of the solid color, thereby calculating a color adjustment colorimetric value set which is a set of values ​​that the colorimetric values ​​that fluctuate when the solid color is adjusted within the adjustment range of the solid color; and a density adjustment colorimetric value calculation unit, based on approximate color information indicating a correspondence relationship between the colorimetric values ​​and the ink blending ratios, calculates ink blending ratios of inks corresponding to each colorimetric value included in the color adjustment colorimetric value set calculated by the color adjustment colorimetric value calculation unit, based on absorption and scattering coefficient information indicating a correspondence relationship between the inks and the absorption and scattering coefficients, calculates absorption and scattering coefficients of spot colors for each of the calculated blending ratios, and calculates the spectral reflectance of the spot color using the calculated absorption and scattering coefficients of the spot color, thereby calculating a density range indicating an adjustment range of the density of the ink. a step of calculating all combinations of values ​​that each colorimetric value included in the color-adjusted colorimetric value set can take within the density adjustment range based on the information and the calculated spectral reflectance, thereby calculating a density-adjusted colorimetric value set which is a set of values ​​that the colorimetric values ​​that vary when the density is adjusted within the density adjustment range can take; a step of a platemaking image acquisition unit reading and acquiring the platemaking image corresponding to the platemaking image information of the printed matter input by a user; and a step of a print color prediction unit predicting the colorimetric values ​​of the print colors at each pixel of the printed matter printed using the colorimetric values ​​included in the density-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit as primary colors of the platemaking image acquired by the platemaking image acquisition unit, based on gradation characteristic information indicating the correspondence between the ink and gradation characteristics, thereby generating a print color set which is a set of predicted values ​​of the colorimetric values ​​at each pixel; Color gamut determination section ,before An output device that outputs the above-mentioned printed matter The colorimetric values ​​included in the color gamut are shown Color Profile To Based on The print color prediction unit generates The above printing color setEach included in Prediction is included in the color gamut of the output device, and a color gamut determination information generation unit determines whether or not the color gamut is included in the color gamut of the output device based on the result of the determination by the color gamut determination unit. Whether or not, or the degree to which, each of the predicted values ​​is within the color gamut of the output device and generating color gamut determination information indicating A color gamut determination method according to one aspect of the present invention includes a step of a colorimetric value acquisition unit acquiring colorimetric values ​​of solid colors of inks used in printing a printed matter, a step of a color adjustment colorimetric value calculation unit calculating all combinations of values ​​that the colorimetric values ​​acquired by the colorimetric value acquisition unit can take within the adjustment range of the solid color based on color range information indicating the adjustment range of the solid color, thereby calculating a color adjustment colorimetric value set that is a set of values ​​that the colorimetric values ​​that fluctuate when the solid color is adjusted within the adjustment range of the solid color can take, and a step of a density adjustment colorimetric value calculation unit calculating approximate color information indicating a correspondence relationship between the colorimetric values ​​and the blending ratio of the inks. calculates the blending ratio of inks corresponding to each colorimetric value included in the color adjustment colorimetric value set calculated by the color adjustment colorimetric value calculation unit based on information on the blending ratio of inks corresponding to the inks and the absorption and scattering coefficients of the inks; calculates the absorption and scattering coefficients of spot colors for each blending ratio calculated based on absorption and scattering coefficient information indicating the correspondence between the inks and the absorption and scattering coefficients of the spot colors; calculates the spectral reflectance of the spot colors using the calculated absorption and scattering coefficients of the spot colors; and calculates all combinations of values ​​that each colorimetric value included in the color adjustment colorimetric value set can take within the adjustment range of the density based on density range information indicating the adjustment range of the density of the inks and the calculated spectral reflectance. a step of calculating a density-adjusted colorimetric value set which is a set of values ​​that the colorimetric value that varies when the density is adjusted within the density adjustment range can take, a step of a halftone dot multiplication generating unit generating a halftone dot multiplication set which is a set of colors obtained by multiplying at least two colors represented by the colorimetric values ​​included in the density-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit in a halftone dot of a printed matter, and a step of a print color prediction unit predicting the colorimetric values ​​of print colors when each color included in the halftone dot multiplication set generated by the halftone dot multiplication generating unit is reproduced on the printed matter, based on a primary color image. a step of generating a print color set which is a set of predicted values ​​of each color by predicting based on gradation characteristic information indicating the gradation characteristics of the ink; a step of a color gamut determination unit determining whether each predicted value included in the print color set generated by the print color prediction unit is included in the color gamut of the output device which performs output related to the printed matter, based on a color profile indicating colorimetric values ​​included in the color gamut of the output device; a step of a color gamut determination information generation unit determining whether the predicted value of each color included in the halftone dot multiplication set is included in the color gamut of the output device, based on a result of the determination by the color gamut determination unit;or generating color gamut determination information indicating the degree to which the color gamut is included.

[0009] A program according to one aspect of the present invention includes a computer, a colorimetric value acquisition unit that acquires colorimetric values ​​of solid colors of inks used in printing a printed matter, a color adjustment colorimetric value calculation means for calculating a color adjustment colorimetric value set which is a set of values ​​which the colorimetric values ​​acquired by the colorimetric value acquisition means can take when adjusting the solid color within the adjustment range of the solid color by calculating all combinations of values ​​which the colorimetric values ​​acquired by the colorimetric value acquisition means can take based on color range information which indicates an adjustment range of the solid color; a color adjustment colorimetric value calculation means for calculating ink blending ratios corresponding to each colorimetric value included in the color adjustment colorimetric value set calculated by the color adjustment colorimetric value calculation means based on approximate color information which indicates a correspondence relationship between the colorimetric values ​​and the blending ratios of the inks; calculating absorption and scattering coefficients of spot colors for each of the calculated blending ratios based on absorption and scattering coefficient information which indicates a correspondence relationship between the inks and the absorption and scattering coefficients; calculating the spectral reflectance of the spot color using the calculated absorption and scattering coefficients of the spot color; a density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation means for calculating a density-adjusted colorimetric value set which is a set of possible values ​​of the colorimetric values ​​fluctuating when the density is adjusted within the density adjustment range by calculating all combinations of values ​​which each colorimetric value included in the color-adjusted colorimetric value set can take within the density adjustment range based on the light reflectance; a platemaking image acquisition means for reading and acquiring the platemaking image corresponding to information on the platemaking image of the printed matter input by a user; a print color prediction means for predicting the colorimetric values ​​of print colors at each pixel of a printed matter printed using the colorimetric values ​​included in the density-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation means as primary colors of the platemaking image acquired by the platemaking image acquisition means based on gradation characteristic information indicating a correspondence between the ink and gradation characteristics, thereby generating a print color set which is a set of predicted values ​​of the colorimetric values ​​at each pixel; An output device that outputs the above-mentioned printed matter The colorimetric values ​​included in the color gamut are shown Color Profile To Based on generated by the print color prediction means The above printing color set Each included in Prediction a color gamut determination means for determining whether or not the color is included in the color gamut of the output device, and based on a result of the determination by the color gamut determination means, Whether or not, or the degree to which, each of the predicted values ​​is within the color gamut of the output device and a color gamut determination information generating means for generating color gamut determination information indicating Furthermore, a program according to one aspect of the present invention causes a computer to include a colorimetric value acquisition means for acquiring colorimetric values ​​of solid colors of inks used in printing a printed matter, a color adjustment colorimetric value calculation means for calculating, based on color range information indicating an adjustment range of the solid color, all combinations of values ​​that the colorimetric values ​​acquired by the colorimetric value acquisition means can take within the adjustment range of the solid color, thereby calculating a color adjustment colorimetric value set which is a set of values ​​that the colorimetric values ​​that fluctuate when the solid color is adjusted within the adjustment range of the solid color can take, and a color adjustment colorimetric value calculation means for calculating, based on approximate color information indicating a correspondence relationship between the colorimetric values ​​and the blending ratios of the inks, calculating a blending ratio of inks corresponding to each colorimetric value included in the color adjustment colorimetric value set calculated by the color adjustment colorimetric value calculation means, calculating an absorption / scattering coefficient of a spot color for each of the calculated blending ratios based on absorption / scattering coefficient information indicating a correspondence between the inks and the absorption / scattering coefficients, calculating a spectral reflectance of the spot color using the calculated absorption / scattering coefficient of the spot color, and calculating all combinations of values ​​that each colorimetric value included in the color adjustment colorimetric value set can take within the concentration adjustment range based on concentration range information indicating an adjustment range of the ink concentration and the calculated spectral reflectance; a density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation means for calculating a density-adjusted colorimetric value set which is a set of possible values ​​of the colorimetric value fluctuating when the density is adjusted within the density adjustment range; a halftone dot multiplication generation means for generating a halftone dot multiplication set which is a set of colors obtained by multiplying at least two colors indicated by the colorimetric values ​​included in the density-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation means in a halftone dot of a printed matter; a print color prediction means for predicting the colorimetric values ​​of print colors when each color included in the halftone dot multiplication set generated by the halftone dot multiplication generation means is reproduced on the printed matter based on gradation characteristic information indicating the gradation characteristics of primary color inks, thereby generating a print color set which is a set of predicted values ​​of each color; a color gamut determination means for determining whether each predicted value included in the print color set generated by the print color prediction means is included in the color gamut of an output device which performs output related to the printed matter, based on a color profile indicating colorimetric values ​​included in the color gamut of the output device; and a color gamut determination means for determining whether the predicted value of each color included in the halftone dot multiplication set is included in the color gamut of the output device, based on a result of the determination by the color gamut determination means.Alternatively, the color gamut determination information generating means may function as a color gamut determination information generating means for generating color gamut determination information indicating the degree of inclusion. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the possibility that a discrepancy in perception of color tone will occur between a requester for checking the color tone of a printed matter and a checker. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a color gamut determination system according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] 5A to 5C are diagrams illustrating an example of calculation of color adjustment colorimetric values ​​according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] 6A to 6C are diagrams illustrating an example of calculation of density-adjusted colorimetric values ​​according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] 5 is a diagram showing an example of color gamut determination information according to the first embodiment; FIG. [Diagram 5] 5 is a diagram showing an example of color gamut determination information according to the first embodiment; FIG. [Figure 6]5 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing flow in the color gamut determination system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a color gamut determination system according to a second embodiment. [Figure 8] 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating an example of halftone dot multiplication and print colors according to the second embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of color gamut determination information according to the second embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of color gamut determination information according to the second embodiment. [Figure 11] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing flow in a color gamut determination system according to a second embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a color gamut determination system according to a third embodiment. [Figure 13] 13A to 13C are diagrams showing examples of a plate making image and a color measurement value image according to the third embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of color gamut determination information according to the third embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of color gamut determination information according to the third embodiment. [Figure 16] 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing flow in a color gamut determination system according to a third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0013] <<1. First embodiment>> First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0014] <1-1. Configuration of color gamut determination system> An example of the configuration of a color gamut determination system according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a color gamut determination system 10 according to the first embodiment.

[0015] The color gamut determination system 10 is a system that determines whether or not the colors expressed in a printed matter are included in a color gamut that indicates the range of colors that can be expressed by an output device such as a monitor or a printer. In other words, the color gamut determination system 10 determines whether or not the colors expressed in the printed matter can be expressed without discrepancies by the output device.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, the color gamut determination system 10 includes an input unit 101, a colorimetric value acquisition unit 111, a variable colorimetric value calculation unit 121, a color gamut determination unit 131, a color gamut determination information generation unit 141, an output unit 151, a color / density range database 161, an approximate color database 162, an absorption / scattering coefficient database 163, and an output device color characteristic database 164.

[0017] (1) Input unit 101 The input unit 101 has a function of accepting various inputs. A user (e.g., a person requesting color tone confirmation) inputs designation information for designating the color of ink to be used in printing a printed matter via the input unit 101. The input unit 101 accepts the input of the designation information input by the user. As an example, the user specifies a solid color by inputting specification information to the input unit 101. The specification information is, for example, information indicating a solid color. Specifically, the user inputs, to the input unit 101, an identification number (color number) of a color indicated by a color chip as the specification information. It should be noted that the user does not need to use the input unit 101 to specify a solid color. Specifying a solid color by the user includes not only the act of inputting specification information into the input unit 101 but also the act of selecting a solid color. For example, this includes the selection of a color chip that indicates the target solid color, the selection of a printed matter in which the target solid color is expressed, the selection of an ink for the target solid color, and the like.

[0018] Furthermore, the user may input colorimetric values ​​of solid colors as designation information to input unit 101. For example, the user measures the colorimetric values ​​of the solid color he or she wishes to designate with a colorimeter and inputs the measured colorimetric values ​​to input unit 101. Furthermore, the user may measure the colorimetric values ​​of solid colors that he or she may designate in advance, input the measured colorimetric values ​​to input unit 101, and store them in a database (not shown). Note that, if color gamut determination system 10 is configured to be able to communicate with a colorimeter, color gamut determination system 10 may acquire colorimetric values ​​by communicating with the colorimeter. In this case, the user does not need to input colorimetric values ​​to input unit 101. Hereinafter, the colorimetric values ​​in this embodiment are, for example, in the CIE L*a*b* color space, and the color values ​​are represented by L*, a*, and b*.

[0019] (2) Colorimetric value acquisition unit 111 The colorimetric value acquisition unit 111 has a function of acquiring colorimetric values. For example, the colorimetric value acquisition unit 111 acquires colorimetric values ​​of a solid color of ink used in printing a printed matter. Specifically, the colorimetric value acquisition unit 111 acquires colorimetric values ​​of a solid color designated by a user. When specification information specifying a solid color is input to the input unit 101, the colorimetric value acquisition unit 111 acquires the colorimetric value of the solid color indicated by the input specification information. For example, when a database in which the colorimetric values ​​of each solid color are stored is prepared, the colorimetric value acquisition unit 111 acquires the colorimetric value corresponding to the specified solid color from the database. Also, when the colorimetric value of the solid color specified by the user is measured with a colorimeter, the colorimetric value may be acquired from the input unit 101 or the colorimeter.

[0020] (3) Variation colorimetric value calculation unit 121 The variation colorimetric value calculation unit 121 has a function of calculating the varying colorimetric values. For example, based on the colorimetric values ​​acquired by the colorimetric value acquisition unit 111 and variation information related to the variation of the colorimetric values, the variation colorimetric value calculation unit 121 calculates a variation colorimetric value set, which is a set of colorimetric values ​​that the colorimetric value of a solid color can take due to the variation. As shown in FIG. 1, the fluctuation colorimetric value calculation unit 121 includes a color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 122 and a density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 in order to realize this function.

[0021] (3-1) Color Adjustment Colorimetric Value Calculation Unit 122 The color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 122 has a function of calculating colorimetric values ​​that vary as a result of adjusting a solid color. For example, the color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 122 calculates colorimetric values ​​after adjustment of a color based on the variation information and the colorimetric values ​​acquired by the colorimetric value acquisition unit 111. When multiple colorimetric values ​​of an adjusted color are calculated, the color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 122 calculates a color-adjusted colorimetric value set that is a set of multiple colorimetric values ​​after the color adjustment.

[0022] The variation information used by the color adjustment colorimetric value calculation unit 122 to calculate the colorimetric values ​​is, for example, color range information. The color range information is information indicating the color adjustment range. The color range information is stored in the color / density range database 161. For example, the color range information indicates the adjustable range of the colorimetric values ​​in the colorimetric value area (area where the ranges of the L*, a*, and b* values ​​are determined). As an example, the adjustable range of L* is indicated as -3 to +3, the adjustable range of a* is indicated as -5 to +5, and the adjustable range of b* is indicated as -5 to +5.

[0023] Based on the colorimetric values ​​and the color range information, the color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 122 calculates the colorimetric value of a solid color after the color has been adjusted to a value within the adjustment range of the color indicated by the color range information. When multiple adjustment directions and adjustment amounts for each of the L*, a*, and b* values ​​are set as in the above example, the color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 122 calculates colorimetric values ​​for all combinations after adjustment by adjusting the colorimetric values ​​acquired by the colorimetric value acquisition unit 111 with all combinations of the L*, a*, and b* values ​​indicated by the color range information. As a result, multiple adjusted colorimetric values ​​are calculated, so that the color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 122 can calculate a color-adjusted colorimetric value set that is a set including all the calculated colorimetric values.

[0024] Here, an example of calculation of color-adjusted colorimetric values ​​will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of calculation of color-adjusted colorimetric values ​​according to the first embodiment. In Fig. 2, an example will be described in which a user selects a color chip indicating a target solid color.

[0025] First, assume that the user selects color chip 20A with color number 0011 (hereinafter also referred to as "chip 0011") and color chip 20B with color number 0034 (hereinafter also referred to as "chip 0034"), and specifies the colors indicated by these color chips as solid colors. The user measures the colorimetric values ​​of chip 0011 and chip 0034. As a result of the measurement, it is assumed that a colorimetric value Lab1 of chip 0011 and a colorimetric value Lab2 of chip 0034 are obtained. The colorimetric value acquisition unit 111 acquires the colorimetric values ​​Lab1 and Lab2. The color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 122 calculates color-adjusted colorimetric values ​​based on the colorimetric values ​​acquired by the colorimetric value acquisition unit 111 and the color adjustment ranges stored in the color / density range database 161. The adjustment ranges of L*, a*, and b* are -3 to +3, -5 to +5, and -5 to +5, respectively, as shown in FIG. 2. The color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 122 adjusts the colorimetric values ​​acquired by the colorimetric value acquisition unit 111 using all combinations of values ​​that each of these L*, a*, and b* values ​​can take within the adjustment ranges. Then, the color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 122 calculates the adjusted colorimetric values ​​as color-adjusted colorimetric values. Hereinafter, the color-adjusted colorimetric values ​​of chip 0011 are indicated by color-adjusted colorimetric values ​​Lab1_1 and color-adjusted colorimetric values ​​Lab1_2. Also, the color-adjusted colorimetric values ​​of chip 0034 are indicated by color-adjusted colorimetric values ​​Lab2_1 and color-adjusted colorimetric values ​​Lab2_2. Note that the number of color-adjusted colorimetric values ​​calculated by color-adjusted colorimetric value calculator 122 is not limited to this example, and the number of color-adjusted colorimetric values ​​may be calculated in the number of all combinations of values ​​that each of L*, a*, and b* can take within the adjustment range.

[0026] (3-2) Density Adjusted Colorimetric Value Calculation Unit 123 The density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 has a function of calculating colorimetric values ​​that vary as a result of adjusting the density of a solid color. For example, the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 calculates colorimetric values ​​after density adjustment based on the variation information and the color-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 122. When multiple colorimetric values ​​after density adjustment are calculated, the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 calculates a density-adjusted colorimetric value set that is a set of multiple colorimetric values ​​after density adjustment. Note that in this embodiment, the density-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 is a variation colorimetric value set.

[0027] The variation information used by the density adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 to calculate the colorimetric value is, for example, density range information, approximate color information, and absorption / scattering coefficient information. The density range information is information indicating the adjustment range of density. The density range information is stored in a color / density range database 161. The approximate color information is information indicating the correspondence between the colorimetric value and the blending ratio of the ink. The approximate color information is stored in an approximate color database 162. The absorption / scattering coefficient information is information indicating the correspondence between the ink and the absorption / scattering coefficient. The absorption / scattering coefficient information is stored in an absorption / scattering coefficient database 163.

[0028] The density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 calculates the colorimetric values ​​of the print colors when printed at the adjusted density based on the color-adjusted colorimetric value set, the density range information, the approximate color information, and the absorption / scattering coefficient information. First, the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 obtains the blending ratio of inks corresponding to each colorimetric value included in the color-adjusted colorimetric value set, and calculates the absorption and scattering coefficients of the special color. The blending ratio is obtained from the approximate color information stored in the approximate color database 162. The absorption and scattering coefficients of the special color can be calculated based on the absorption and scattering coefficients of the primary color inks stored in the absorption and scattering coefficient database 163. Next, the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 calculates the spectral reflectance of the special color by changing the film thickness of the Kubelka-Munk formula using the calculated absorption and scattering coefficients of the special color. Then, the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 calculates the colorimetric value after density adjustment based on the calculated spectral reflectance. When multiple density adjustment directions and adjustment amounts are set by the density range information, the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 calculates all adjusted colorimetric values ​​for each possible density of the spot color. This allows multiple adjusted colorimetric values ​​to be calculated, so the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 can calculate a density-adjusted colorimetric value set that is a set including all the calculated colorimetric values.

[0029] The processes performed by the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 to determine the ink blending ratio, calculate the absorption and scattering coefficients of the spot colors, calculate the spectral reflectances of the spot colors, and calculate the colorimetric values ​​from the spectral reflectances of the spot colors are specifically described in paragraphs 0043 to 0060 of Japanese Patent No. 6623679.

[0030] Here, an example of calculation of density-adjusted colorimetric values ​​will be described with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of calculation of density-adjusted colorimetric values ​​according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 3, an example will be described in which the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 calculates density-adjusted colorimetric values ​​based on the color-adjusted colorimetric values ​​calculated by the color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 122 in the example shown in FIG. 2. In the example shown in FIG. 3, a part of the color-adjusted colorimetric values ​​calculated by the color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 122 will be described. For example, in FIG. 3, the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 calculates density-adjusted colorimetric values ​​of the color-adjusted colorimetric values ​​Lab1_1 and Lab1_2 of chip 0011 and the color-adjusted colorimetric values ​​Lab2_1 and Lab2_2 of chip 0034 calculated by the color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 122.

[0031] The density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 calculates all density-adjusted colorimetric values ​​after adjustment to each possible density of each color-adjusted colorimetric value, indicated by the density range information in the color-density range database 161, for the four color-adjusted colorimetric values ​​shown in Fig. 3. Specifically, the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 obtains the blending ratio of inks corresponding to each color-adjusted colorimetric value from the approximate color information in the approximate color database 162, and calculates the absorption and scattering coefficients of the special colors based on the absorption and scattering coefficients of the primary color inks in the absorption and scattering coefficient database 163. Next, the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 uses the calculated absorption and scattering coefficients of the special colors to change the film thickness of the Kubelka-Munk formula, and calculates the spectral reflectance after the density adjustment. The density-adjusted colorimetric value is calculated based on the calculated spectral reflectance. Hereinafter, the density-adjusted colorimetric values ​​of chip 0011 are indicated as density-adjusted colorimetric values ​​Lab1_1+, density-adjusted colorimetric values ​​Lab1_1, density-adjusted colorimetric values ​​Lab1_1-, and density-adjusted colorimetric values ​​Lab1_2+. Also, the density-adjusted colorimetric values ​​of chip 0034 are indicated as density-adjusted colorimetric values ​​Lab2_1+, density-adjusted colorimetric values ​​Lab2_1, density-adjusted colorimetric values ​​Lab2_1-, and density-adjusted colorimetric values ​​Lab2_2+. A "+" added to the name of a density-adjusted colorimetric value indicates that the density has been adjusted to be darker (density+). A "-" added to the name of a density-adjusted colorimetric value indicates that the density has been adjusted to be lighter (density-). A density-adjusted colorimetric value with neither a "+" nor a "-" added to the name of a density-adjusted colorimetric value indicates that the density is the standard density (standard density). The number of density-adjusted colorimetric values ​​calculated by the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 is not limited to this example, and the number of densities that each color-adjusted colorimetric value can have within the density adjustment range can be calculated.

[0032] (4) Color gamut determination unit 131 The color gamut determination unit 131 has a function of determining whether or not the colorimetric values ​​fluctuated by the color adjustment and density adjustment can be reproduced by an output device that performs output related to a printed matter. For example, the color gamut determination unit 131 has a function of determining whether or not each colorimetric value included in the fluctuating colorimetric value set calculated by the fluctuating colorimetric value calculation unit 121 is included in the color gamut of the output device.

[0033] Specifically, the color gamut determination unit 131 determines whether each colorimetric value included in the variable colorimetric value set is included in the color gamut of the output device based on the variable colorimetric value set calculated by the variable colorimetric value calculation unit 121 and the color profile of the output device. The color profile is information indicating the color characteristics of the output device. The color profile is stored in the output device color characteristic database 164. The color profile includes a color gamut information table. The color gamut information table is a table that describes whether or not a colorimetric value divided into a predetermined interval is included in the color gamut of the output device. The color gamut determination unit 131 refers to the color gamut information table and determines whether or not each colorimetric value included in the variable colorimetric value set is included in the color gamut of the output device.

[0034] In addition, the color gamut determination unit 131 may use the above-mentioned color profile to calculate device values ​​(e.g., RGB values) for outputting the colorimetric values ​​to be determined to an output device, and then calculate the color difference before and after the conversion (color difference due to round trip) when the device values ​​are converted back into colorimetric values ​​using the color profile, and if the color difference exceeds a predetermined threshold value, determine that the color is outside the color gamut.

[0035] (5) Color gamut determination information generation unit 141 The color gamut judgment information generating unit 141 has a function of generating color gamut judgment information. The color gamut judgment information is information indicating the relationship between colorimetric values ​​and the color gamut of the output device. For example, the color gamut judgment information generating unit 141 generates color gamut judgment information based on the result of judgment by the color gamut judgment unit 131. Specifically, the color gamut judgment information generating unit 141 generates information indicating whether or not each colorimetric value included in the variable colorimetric value set is included in the color gamut, or the degree to which it is included, as color gamut judgment information.

[0036] The information indicating whether each colorimetric value included in the variable colorimetric value set is included in the color gamut is, for example, output capability information. The output capability information is information indicating whether the output device is capable of outputting a color corresponding to each colorimetric value included in the variable colorimetric value set. When the color gamut determination unit 131 determines whether each colorimetric value included in the variable colorimetric value set is included in the color gamut of the output device, the color gamut determination information generation unit 141 generates the output capability information as color gamut determination information.

[0037] The information indicating the degree to which each colorimetric value included in the variable colorimetric value set is included in the color gamut is, for example, color difference information. The color difference information is information indicating the color difference between the color corresponding to each colorimetric value included in the variable colorimetric value set and the color that the output device can output. When the color gamut determination unit 131 calculates the color difference before and after conversion of the colorimetric value based on the color profile, the color gamut determination information generation unit 141 generates the color difference information as color gamut determination information.

[0038] Here, an example of color gamut determination information will be described with reference to Fig. 4 and Fig. 5. Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 are diagrams showing an example of color gamut determination information according to the first embodiment. Fig. 4 shows output feasibility information, and Fig. 5 shows color difference information. Note that Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 show a determination result based on the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculated in Fig. 3.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 4, as output availability information of chip 0011, the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab1_1 and the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab1_1- are indicated with "◯", and the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab1_1+ and the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab1_2+ are indicated with "X". Also, as output availability information of chip 0034, the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab2_1+, the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab2_1, and the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab2_1- are indicated with "◯", and the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab2_2+ is indicated with "X". "◯" in FIG. 4 indicates that the density-adjusted colorimetric value is within the color gamut of the output device, and the output device can output (reproduce) the color corresponding to the density-adjusted colorimetric value. On the other hand, "X" in FIG. 4 indicates that the density-adjusted colorimetric value is outside the color gamut of the output device, and the output device cannot output (reproduce) the color corresponding to the density-adjusted colorimetric value.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 5, the color difference information of chip 0011 shows "3.4" for the color difference of the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab1_1+, "0.0" for the color difference of the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab1_1, "0.0" for the color difference of the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab1_1-, and "1.2" for the color difference of the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab1_2+. Also, the color difference information of chip 0034 shows "0.0" for the color difference of the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab2_1+, "0.0" for the color difference of the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab2_1, "0.0" for the color difference of the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab2_1-, and "4.8" for the color difference of the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab2_2+. When the color difference shown in FIG. 5 is "0.0", it indicates that there is no color difference before and after the conversion of the colorimetric value based on the color profile. On the other hand, when the color difference shown in FIG. 5 is other than "0.0", it indicates that there is a color difference before and after the conversion of the colorimetric value based on the color profile.

[0041] (6) Output unit 151 The output unit 151 has a function of outputting various information. For example, the output unit 151 outputs color gamut judgment information generated by the color gamut judgment information generation unit 141. The function of the output unit 151 is realized by an output device such as a monitor or a printer. When the output device is a monitor, the output unit 151 causes the monitor to display the color gamut judgment information. When the output device is a printer, the output unit 151 may cause the printer to print the color gamut judgment information.

[0042] (7) Color and density range database 161 The color and density range database 161 has a function of storing color range information and density range information. The color range information and density range information used in this embodiment may be information stored in advance in the color and density range database, or may be information specified by a specification or the like. When the color range information and density range information are specified by a specification or the like, they are input to the input unit 101 by, for example, a user. In this case, the color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 122 and the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 respectively acquire the color range information and density range information input to the input unit 101 and use them in various calculation processes.

[0043] (8) Approximate Color Database 162 The approximate color database 162 has a function of storing approximate color information. The approximate color database 162 stores in advance the color measurement values ​​of spot color inks and the mixture ratios of primary colors for multiple types of spot color inks (reference spot color inks) that have different combinations of blended primary color inks.

[0044] (9) Absorption and scattering coefficient database 163 The absorption / scattering coefficient database 163 has a function of storing absorption / scattering coefficient information. In the absorption / scattering coefficient database 163, the absorption coefficient K(λ) and scattering coefficient S(λ) of each primary color ink are written and stored in advance by an external computer or the like.

[0045] (10) Output device color characteristic database 164 The output device color characteristic database 164 has a function of storing color profiles. The output device color characteristic database 164 stores in advance the color profiles of output devices that are used by a person who checks the color tones of a printed matter to check the color tones of a printed matter.

[0046] <1-2. Processing flow> An example of the configuration of the color gamut determination system 10 according to the first embodiment has been described above. Next, an example of the flow of processing in the color gamut determination system 10 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing in the color gamut determination system 10 according to the first embodiment.

[0047] 6, first, the user specifies a solid color of ink to be used in printing the printed matter (step S101). Depending on the method for specifying the solid color, the user measures the colorimetric value of the solid color with a colorimeter or inputs the colorimetric value into the input unit 101.

[0048] Next, the colorimetric value acquisition unit 111 acquires the colorimetric value of the solid color designated by the user (step S102). Depending on how the user designates the solid color, the colorimetric value acquisition unit 111 acquires the colorimetric value from a colorimeter, acquires the colorimetric value from the input unit 101, or acquires the colorimetric value from a database.

[0049] Next, the variation colorimetric value calculation unit 121 calculates a set of variation colorimetric values. First, the color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 122 calculates color-adjusted colorimetric values ​​based on the colorimetric values ​​acquired by the colorimetric value acquisition unit 111 and color range information, which is variation information (step S103). When multiple color-adjusted colorimetric values ​​are calculated, the color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 122 calculates a set of color-adjusted colorimetric values. The density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 calculates density-adjusted colorimetric values ​​based on the color-adjusted colorimetric values ​​(color-adjusted colorimetric value set) calculated by the color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 122, and the density range information, which is the variation information, the approximate color information, and the absorption / diffusion coefficient information (step S104). When multiple density-adjusted colorimetric values ​​are calculated, the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 calculates a density-adjusted colorimetric value set.

[0050] Next, the color gamut determination unit 131 determines whether each colorimetric value indicated by the density-adjusted colorimetric value (set of density-adjusted colorimetric values) calculated by the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 is included in the color gamut of the output device based on the color profile of the output device (step S105).

[0051] Next, the color gamut determination information generating unit 141 generates color gamut determination information based on the result of the determination by the color gamut determining unit 131 (step S106). Next, the output unit 151 displays the color gamut determination information generated by the color gamut determination information generation unit 141 (step S107).

[0052] As described above, the color gamut determination system 10 according to the first embodiment includes the colorimetric value acquisition unit 111, the variable colorimetric value calculation unit 121, the color gamut determination unit 131, and the color gamut determination information generation unit 141. The colorimetric value acquisition unit 111 acquires colorimetric values ​​of the solid colors of inks used in printing the printed matter. The variation colorimetric value calculation unit 121 calculates a variation colorimetric value set, which is a set of colorimetric values ​​that a solid color colorimetric value can take due to variation, based on the colorimetric values ​​acquired by the colorimetric value acquisition unit 111 and variation information regarding the variation of the colorimetric values. The color gamut determination unit 131 determines whether each colorimetric value included in the variable colorimetric value set is included in the color gamut of the output device based on the variable colorimetric value set calculated by the variable colorimetric value calculation unit 121 and the color profile of the output device that outputs the printed matter. A color gamut determination information generating unit 141 generates color gamut determination information indicating the relationship between the color measurement value and the color gamut based on the result of the determination by the color gamut determining unit 131 .

[0053] With this configuration, a requester (user) of a color tone check of a printed matter can check whether each color that can be expressed by the ink used in printing the printed matter to be checked for color tone can be reproduced by the output device of the checker by checking the color gamut determination information generated by the color gamut determination system 10. This allows the requester to take measures based on the determination result so as not to cause a discrepancy between the checker and the user in recognizing the color tone. For example, the requester can print the printed matter without using the color that is determined to be unable to be reproduced by the output device of the checker, adjust the color or density so that it is included in the color gamut of the output device of the checker, or change the output method of the checker (for example, change from output by a monitor to output by a printer). Also, based on this determination result, color proofing using a conventional color sample (proof print) may be performed without performing color confirmation at a remote location.

[0054] Therefore, the color gamut determination system 10 according to the first embodiment makes it possible to reduce the possibility of discrepancies occurring in the perception of color tones between the person requesting the color tones of a printed matter and the person checking them.

[0055] <<2. Second embodiment>> Having described the first embodiment of the present invention, a second embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to Figs. In the above-described first embodiment, an example was described in which it was determined whether or not each colorimetric value included in the density-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 is included in the color gamut of the output device. In the second embodiment, an example is described in which it is determined whether or not the colorimetric value of a printed color obtained by multiplying each color indicated by the colorimetric values ​​included in the density-adjusted colorimetric value set is included in the color gamut of the output device when the color is actually reproduced on a printed material. Note that descriptions that overlap with the first embodiment will be omitted.

[0056] <2-1. Configuration of color gamut determination system> An example of the configuration of a color gamut determination system according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a color gamut determination system 10A according to the second embodiment.

[0057] As shown in FIG. 7, color gamut determination system 10A includes an input unit 101, a colorimetric value acquisition unit 111, a variable colorimetric value calculation unit 121, a color gamut determination unit 131, a color gamut determination information generation unit 141, an output unit 151, a color / density range database 161, an approximate color database 162, an absorption / scattering coefficient database 163, an output device color characteristic database 164, and a gradation characteristic table database 165.

[0058] (1) Input unit 101 The function of the input unit 101 according to the second embodiment is similar to the function of the input unit 101 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

[0059] (2) Colorimetric value acquisition unit 111 The function of the colorimetric value acquisition unit 111 according to the second embodiment is similar to the function of the colorimetric value acquisition unit 111 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

[0060] (3) Variation colorimetric value calculation unit 121 The variable colorimetric value calculation unit 121 according to the second embodiment has a function of calculating variable colorimetric values, similar to the variable colorimetric value calculation unit 121 according to the first embodiment. Furthermore, the variable colorimetric value calculation unit 121 according to the second embodiment has a function of generating an arbitrary halftone dot multiplication based on the calculated variable colorimetric value set, and a function of predicting the colorimetric values ​​of printed colors when each color indicated by the halftone dot multiplication is actually reproduced on a printed matter. As shown in FIG. 7, the fluctuation colorimetric value calculation unit 121 includes a color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 122, a density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123, a halftone dot multiplication generation unit 124, and a print color prediction unit 125 in order to realize the function.

[0061] (3-1) Color Adjustment Colorimetric Value Calculation Unit 122 The function of the color adjustment colorimetric value calculation unit 122 according to the second embodiment is similar to the function of the color adjustment colorimetric value calculation unit 122 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

[0062] (3-2) Density Adjusted Colorimetric Value Calculation Unit 123 The function of the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 according to the second embodiment is similar to the function of the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

[0063] (3-3) Halftone dot multiplication generation unit 124 The halftone dot multiplication generating unit 124 has a function of generating halftone dot multiplications. Halftone dot multiplications are information indicating combinations of command dot area rates for printing. For example, the halftone dot multiplication generating unit 124 generates all combinations of 10% increments of each plate used for printing as halftone dot multiplications. The halftone dot multiplications may be calculated by the halftone dot multiplication generating unit 124 as described above, or may be predetermined halftone dot multiplication data. When the halftone dot multiplications are predetermined data, the halftone dot multiplication generating unit 124 may, for example, read and acquire the data from a database, or may acquire data provided by a user via the input unit 101. When multiple halftone dot multiplications are generated, the halftone dot multiplication generating unit 124 generates a halftone dot multiplication set that is a set of multiple halftone dot multiplications.

[0064] The halftone dot multiplication generating unit 124 may generate halftone dot multiplication by combining set values ​​at regular intervals for all plates (ink colors) used in printing (for example, all combinations of CMYK and two spot colors in 20% increments). The halftone dot multiplication generating unit 124 may also generate halftone dot multiplication by multiplying spot colors and multiplying spot colors and processes. The halftone dot multiplication generating unit 124 may also use halftone dot multiplications stored in advance in a database for each number of colors.

[0065] (3-4) Print color prediction unit 125 The print color prediction unit 125 has a function of predicting the colorimetric values ​​of the print colors when each multiplication indicated by the halftone dot multiplication is actually reproduced on a printed matter. The colorimetric values ​​predicted by the print color prediction unit 125 are hereinafter also referred to as "predicted values". For example, the print color prediction unit 125 calculates a predicted value corresponding to each multiplication indicated by the halftone dot multiplication set based on the variation information and the halftone dot multiplication set generated by the halftone dot multiplication generation unit 124. When multiple predicted values ​​are calculated, the print color prediction unit 125 generates a print color set that is a set of the multiple calculated predicted values. Note that in this embodiment, the print color set generated by the print color prediction unit 125 is a variation colorimetric value set.

[0066] The information used by the print color prediction unit 125 to calculate the predicted value is, for example, tone characteristic information. The tone characteristic information is information indicating the correspondence between the setting value (command dot area ratio) and the tone characteristic. The tone characteristic information is stored in the tone characteristic table database 165.

[0067] The print color prediction unit 125 predicts (calculates predicted values) the colorimetric values ​​of the print colors for all the multiplications indicated by the halftone dot multiplication set generated by the halftone dot multiplication generation unit 124 based on the tone characteristic information. Specifically, the print color prediction unit 125 predicts the print colorimetric values ​​for all multiplications included in the halftone dot multiplication set generated by the halftone dot multiplication generation unit 124 for all combinations in which one value is selected from the density-adjusted colorimetric value set of each plate used for printing.

[0068] The process in which the print color prediction unit 125 predicts the colorimetric values ​​of the print colors is specifically described in paragraphs 0061 to 0094 of Japanese Patent No. 6623679.

[0069] Here, an example of halftone dot multiplication and print colors will be described with reference to Fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a diagram showing an example of halftone dot multiplication and print colors according to the second embodiment.

[0070] The halftone dot multiplication 30 shown in Fig. 8 is an example of the multiplication and the printed color when the multiplication of the printing by two plates is performed in all combinations of 20% increments. For example, if the solid colors of the ink corresponding to the two plates are the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab1_1+ of chip 0011 and the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab2_2+ of chip 0034 among the density-adjusted colorimetric values ​​shown in Fig. 3, the color corresponding to the multiplication of cell 31A, for example, among the multiplications shown by the halftone dot multiplication 30, is the color obtained by multiplying the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab1_1+ of 100% and the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab2_2+ of 0%, that is, the color of the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab1_1+ itself. Also, for example, the color of cell 31B is the color obtained by multiplying the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab1_1+ of 0% and the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab2_2+ of 100%, that is, the color of the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab2_2+ itself. For example, the color of cell 31C is the color when the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab1_1+ and the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab2_2+ are printed with a dot area rate of 60% and a dot area rate of 40%, respectively, assuming that the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab1_1+ and the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab2_2+ are solid colorimetric values. The print color prediction unit 125 predicts the colorimetric value of the print color when the color of each cell (multiplication) of the halftone dot multiplication 30 shown in FIG. 8 is printed.

[0071] (4) Color gamut determination unit 131 The function of the color gamut determining unit 131 according to the second embodiment is similar to the function of the color gamut determining unit 131 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, and therefore a duplicated description will be omitted. The color gamut determination unit 131 according to the second embodiment determines whether or not the predicted values ​​predicted by the print color prediction unit 125 can be reproduced by an output device that performs output related to a printed matter. Note that the color gamut determination unit 131 performs the determination for all predicted values ​​included in the print color set generated by the print color prediction unit 125.

[0072] (5) Color gamut determination information generation unit 141 The function of the color gamut determination information generation unit 141 according to the second embodiment is similar to the function of the color gamut determination information generation unit 141 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, so a duplicated description will be omitted. The color gamut determination information generation unit 141 according to the second embodiment generates color gamut determination information indicating whether or not each predicted value included in the print color set generated by the print color prediction unit 125 is included in the color gamut of the output device, or the degree to which it is included.

[0073] The information indicating whether each predicted value included in the print color set is included in the color gamut of the output device is, for example, an output possibility image. The output possibility image is an image in which information indicating whether the output device can output the print color predicted for the image multiplication is added to the image indicating all multiplications indicated by the halftone dot multiplication set. When the color gamut determination unit 131 determines whether each predicted value included in the print color set is included in the color gamut of the output device, the color gamut determination information generation unit 141 generates the output possibility image as color gamut determination information. As an example, the color gamut determination information generation unit 141 adds information indicating whether output is possible to each cell indicated by each halftone dot multiplication included in the halftone dot multiplication set.

[0074] The information indicating the degree to which each predicted value included in the print color set is included in the color gamut of the output device is, for example, statistical information. The statistical information is information that statistically indicates whether or not the output device can output all colors indicated by the halftone dot multiplication set. When the color gamut determination unit 131 determines whether or not each predicted value included in the print color set is included in the color gamut of the output device, the color gamut determination information generation unit 141 generates the statistical information as color gamut determination information. As an example, the color gamut determination information generation unit 141 generates information indicating the proportion of colors included in the color gamut of the output device among the print colors predicted for each halftone dot multiplication as the statistical information.

[0075] Here, an example of the color gamut determination information will be described with reference to Fig. 9 and Fig. 10. Fig. 9 and Fig. 10 are diagrams showing an example of the color gamut determination information according to the second embodiment. Fig. 9 shows an output feasibility image, and Fig. 10 shows statistical information.

[0076] The output possibility image 40 shown in FIG. 9 shows whether output is possible for multiplication when the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab1_1+ of chip 0011 and the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab2_2+ of chip 0034 are set as solid colors among the density-adjusted colorimetric values ​​shown in FIG. 3. In the output possibility image 40, an object is superimposed on a cell showing a color that cannot be output, and the object is not superimposed on a cell showing a color that can be output. For example, an object 42A is superimposed on cell 41A, and an object 42B is superimposed on cell 41B. That is, the colors of cell 41A and cell 41B cannot be output by the output device. On the other hand, an object is not superimposed on cell 41C. That is, the color of cell 41C can be output by the output device. The color gamut determination information generating unit 141 may generate an output feasibility image 40 in which the color of the object 42 is changed, thereby indicating the degree to which each predicted value is not included in the color gamut of the output device in the output feasibility image 40. For example, the color gamut determination information generating unit 141 may change the color of an object according to the magnitude of the difference between the predicted value and the color gamut, as in the case of objects 42A and 42B shown in Fig. 9. This allows the user to easily visually recognize the degree to which each predicted value is not included in the color gamut of the output device. It should be noted that the shape and color of the object to be superimposed on each cell are not limited to this example.

[0077] The statistical information 50 shown in FIG. 10 shows, as examples of individual statistics, statistical information for the combination of the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab1_1+ of chip 0011 and the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab2_2- of chip 0034, and the combination of the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab1_1- of chip 0011 and the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab2_2+ of chip 0034, among the density-adjusted colorimetric values ​​shown in FIG. 3. For example, it is shown that the ratio of colors included in the color gamut of the output device in the printing color set is 90% for the combination of the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab1_1+ of chip 0011 and the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab2_2- of chip 0034. Also, it is shown that the ratio of colors included in the color gamut of the output device in the printing color set is 85% for the combination of the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab1_1- of chip 0011 and the density-adjusted colorimetric value Lab2_2+ of chip 0034. It also shows that the total number of multiplications (the number of all combinations of density-adjusted colorimetric values ​​shown in Figure 3 multiplied by the number of multiplications generated by the halftone dot multiplication generation unit 124) is nnn, of which the number of multiplications that the output device can output is mmm, which is 80%.

[0078] (6) Output unit 151 The function of the output unit 151 according to the second embodiment is similar to the function of the output unit 151 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

[0079] (7) Color and density range database 161 The function of the color and density range database 161 according to the second embodiment is similar to the function of the color and density range database 161 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

[0080] (8) Approximate Color Database 162 The function of the approximate color database 162 according to the second embodiment is similar to the function of the approximate color database 162 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

[0081] (9) Absorption and scattering coefficient database 163 The function of the absorption / scattering coefficient database 163 according to the second embodiment is similar to the function of the absorption / scattering coefficient database 163 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

[0082] (10) Output device color characteristic database 164 The function of the output device color characteristic database 164 according to the second embodiment is similar to the function of the output device color characteristic database 164 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

[0083] (11) Tone characteristic table database 165 Parameters representing the tone characteristics of primary color inks (appearance rate of density tone regions corresponding to command dot area ratios) are calculated and stored in advance in the tone characteristic table database 165. Specifically, the parameters can be calculated by the process described in paragraphs 0061 to 0094 of Japanese Patent No. 6623679.

[0084] <2-2. Processing flow> An example of the configuration of the color gamut determination system 10A according to the second embodiment has been described above. Next, an example of the flow of processing in the color gamut determination system 10A according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 11. Fig. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing in the color gamut determination system 10A according to the second embodiment. Note that steps S201 to S204, S208, and S209 shown in FIG. 11 are similar to steps S101 to S104, S106, and S107 shown in FIG. 6 described in the first embodiment, respectively, and therefore will not be described.

[0085] The halftone dot multiplication generating unit 124 generates a halftone dot multiplication (step S205).

[0086] Next, the print color prediction unit 125 calculates a prediction value of each color indicated by the halftone dot multiplication set based on the gradation characteristic information and the halftone dot multiplication set generated by the halftone dot multiplication generation unit 124 (step S206).

[0087] Next, the color gamut determining unit 131 determines whether or not the predicted value predicted by the print color predicting unit 125 is included in the color gamut of the output device based on the color profile of the output device (step S207).

[0088] As described above, the color gamut determination system 10A according to the second embodiment includes a colorimetric value acquisition unit 111, a color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 122, a density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123, a halftone dot multiplication generation unit 124, a print color prediction unit 125, a color gamut determination unit 131, and a color gamut determination information generation unit 141. The colorimetric value acquisition unit 111 acquires colorimetric values ​​of the solid colors of inks used in printing the printed matter. Based on the variation information and the colorimetric values ​​acquired by the colorimetric value acquisition unit 111, the color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 122 calculates a color-adjusted colorimetric value set, which is a set of colorimetric values ​​that have varied as a result of adjusting solid colors. The density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 calculates a density-adjusted colorimetric value set, which is a set of colorimetric values ​​that have fluctuated due to adjustment of the ink density, based on the fluctuation information and the color-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 122. The halftone dot multiplication generating unit 124 generates a halftone dot multiplication set that indicates a multiplication of at least two types of colors in halftone dots of a print. The print color prediction unit 125 generates a print color set, which is a set of predicted colorimetric values ​​of the print colors in each multiplication printed material indicated by the halftone dot multiplication set, based on the variable colorimetric value set and the halftone dot multiplication set generated by the halftone dot multiplication generation unit 124. The color gamut determination unit 131 determines whether each colorimetric value included in the print color set is included in the color gamut of the output device based on the print color set generated by the print color prediction unit 125 and the color profile of the output device that outputs the printed matter. A color gamut determination information generating unit 141 generates color gamut determination information indicating the relationship between the color measurement value and the color gamut based on the result of the determination by the color gamut determining unit 131 .

[0089] With this configuration, a requester (user) of a printout color tone check can check whether each color that can be expressed by the ink used to print the printout to be checked can be reproduced on the checker's output device by checking the color gamut determination information generated by color gamut determination system 10A. This allows the requester to take measures based on the determination result so that there is no discrepancy between the checker and the user in recognizing the color tone. For example, the requester can print the printout without using a color that is determined to be unable to be reproduced on the checker's output device, adjust the color or density so that it is included in the color gamut of the checker's output device, or change the output method on the checker's side (for example, from output by monitor to output by printer).

[0090] Therefore, the color gamut determination system 10A according to the second embodiment makes it possible to reduce the possibility of discrepancies occurring in the perception of color tones between the person requesting confirmation of color tones of a printed matter and the person confirming the same.

[0091] <<3. Third embodiment>> Having described the second embodiment of the present invention, a third embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to Figs. In the above-described first embodiment, an example is described in which it is determined whether or not each colorimetric value included in the density-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 is included in the color gamut of the output device, and in the second embodiment, an example is described in which it is determined whether or not the colorimetric value of the printed color when the color obtained by multiplying each color indicated by the colorimetric value included in the density-adjusted colorimetric value set is actually reproduced on a printed matter, is included in the color gamut of the output device. In the third embodiment, an example is described in which it is determined whether or not the colorimetric value of the printed color at each pixel of the platemaking image is included in the color gamut of the output device when the platemaking image of the printed matter is printed using the colorimetric value included in the density-adjusted colorimetric value set as the primary colors. Note that descriptions overlapping with the first and second embodiments will be omitted.

[0092] <3-1. Configuration of color gamut determination system> An example of the configuration of a color gamut determination system according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 12. Fig. 12 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a color gamut determination system 10B according to the third embodiment.

[0093] As shown in FIG. 12, color gamut determination system 10B includes an input unit 101, a colorimetric value acquisition unit 111, a platemaking image acquisition unit 112, a variable colorimetric value calculation unit 121, a color gamut determination unit 131, a color gamut determination information generation unit 141, an output unit 151, a color / density range database 161, an approximate color database 162, an absorption / scattering coefficient database 163, an output device color characteristic database 164, and a gradation characteristic table database 165.

[0094] (1) Input unit 101 The function of the input unit 101 according to the third embodiment is similar to the function of the input unit 101 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

[0095] (2) Colorimetric value acquisition unit 111 The function of the colorimetric value acquisition unit 111 according to the third embodiment is similar to the function of the colorimetric value acquisition unit 111 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

[0096] (3) Platemaking image acquisition unit 112 The platemaking image acquisition unit 112 acquires a platemaking image of a printed matter. The platemaking image is, for example, a file written in a common image format (such as TIFF (Tagged Image File Format)). The platemaking image acquisition unit 112 acquires the platemaking image, for example, based on a user's selection. As an example, the user inputs information about the selected platemaking image to the input unit 101. The platemaking image acquisition unit 112 reads and acquires the platemaking image corresponding to the information about the platemaking image input to the input unit 101.

[0097] (4) Variation colorimetric value calculation unit 121 The variable colorimetric value calculation unit 121 according to the third embodiment has a function of calculating variable colorimetric values, similar to the variable colorimetric value calculation unit 121 according to the first embodiment. Furthermore, the variable colorimetric value calculation unit 121 according to the third embodiment has a function of predicting the colorimetric value of the printing color at each pixel of the platemaking image based on the calculated variable colorimetric value set. As shown in FIG. 12, the fluctuation colorimetric value calculation unit 121 includes a color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 122, a density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123, and a print color prediction unit 125.

[0098] (4-1) Color Adjustment Colorimetric Value Calculation Unit 122 The function of the color adjustment colorimetric value calculation unit 122 according to the third embodiment is similar to the function of the color adjustment colorimetric value calculation unit 122 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

[0099] (4-2) Density adjustment colorimetric value calculation unit 123 The function of the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 according to the third embodiment is similar to the function of the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

[0100] (4-3) Print color prediction unit 125 The print color prediction unit 125 has a function of predicting the colorimetric values ​​of the print colors at each pixel of the platemaking image when the platemaking image is printed using the colors indicated by the density-adjusted colorimetric values ​​as primary colors. The colorimetric values ​​predicted by the print color prediction unit 125 are also called "predicted values" as in the second embodiment. For example, the print color prediction unit 125 calculates predicted values ​​at each pixel of the printed matter on which the platemaking image is printed, based on the platemaking image acquired by the platemaking image acquisition unit 112, the density-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123, and gradation characteristic information. When multiple predicted values ​​are calculated, the print color prediction unit 125 generates a print color set that is a set of the multiple calculated predicted values. In this embodiment, the print color set generated by the print color prediction unit 125 is a variable colorimetric value set.

[0101] Based on the gradation characteristic information, the print color prediction unit 125 predicts (calculates predicted values) the colorimetric values ​​of the print colors for each pixel of the printed matter on which the platemaking image is printed. When there are multiple images that make up the platemaking image, the print color prediction unit 125 predicts the colorimetric values ​​of the print colors obtained by multiplying the colors of corresponding pixels between the images. In this way, the print color prediction unit 125 can obtain a colorimetric value image when the platemaking image is printed with specified ink colors.

[0102] The process in which the print color prediction unit 125 predicts the colorimetric values ​​of the print colors is specifically described in paragraphs 0061 to 0094 of Japanese Patent No. 6623679.

[0103] Here, an example of a plate making image and a color measurement value image will be described with reference to Fig. 13. Fig. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a plate making image and a color measurement value image according to the third embodiment. The plate making image 60 shown in Fig. 13 is composed of six images. The six images correspond to, for example, the channels (plates) C, M, Y, K, S1, and S2, respectively. The print color prediction unit 125 predicts the colorimetric values ​​of the print colors in the plate making image 60 consisting of these six images from the multiplication value of corresponding pixels of each image. In this way, the print color prediction unit 125 can obtain the colorimetric value image 70 shown in Fig. 13.

[0104] (5) Color gamut determination unit 131 The function of the color gamut determining unit 131 according to the third embodiment is similar to the function of the color gamut determining unit 131 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, and therefore a duplicated description will be omitted. The color gamut determination unit 131 according to the third embodiment determines whether or not the predicted values ​​predicted by the print color prediction unit 125 can be reproduced by an output device that performs output related to a printed matter. Note that the color gamut determination unit 131 performs the determination for all predicted values ​​included in the print color set generated by the print color prediction unit 125.

[0105] (6) Color gamut determination information generation unit 141 The function of the color gamut determination information generation unit 141 according to the third embodiment is similar to the function of the color gamut determination information generation unit 141 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, so duplicated explanations will be omitted. The gamut determination information generation unit 141 of the third embodiment generates, as gamut determination information, an image indicating whether or not each predicted value included in the print color set generated by the print color prediction unit 125 is included in the color gamut of the output device, or the degree to which it is included, for at least a portion of the pixels of the platemaking image.

[0106] The information indicating whether each predicted value included in the printing color set is included in the color gamut of the output device is, for example, an output possibility image. The output possibility image is an image to which, for each pixel of the platemaking image whose predicted value is not included in the color gamut of the output device, information indicating whether the output device can output the color of the pixel is added. When the color gamut determination unit 131 determines whether each predicted value included in the printing color set is included in the color gamut of the output device, the color gamut determination information generation unit 141 generates the output possibility image as color gamut determination information. As an example, the color gamut determination information generation unit 141 superimposes a mask image on each pixel of the platemaking image (colorimetric value image) whose predicted value is determined to be not included in the color gamut of the output device. In addition, the color gamut determination information generating unit 141 may generate an output feasibility image in which the color of the mask image is changed, thereby generating color gamut determination information indicating the degree to which the predicted value is not included in the color gamut of the output device.

[0107] An example of color gamut determination information will now be described with reference to Fig. 14 and Fig. 15. Fig. 14 and Fig. 15 are diagrams showing an example of color gamut determination information according to the third embodiment. Fig. 14 shows an output feasibility image indicating whether or not each predicted value is included in the color gamut of the output device, and Fig. 15 is an output feasibility image indicating the degree to which each predicted value is not included in the color gamut of the output device. Note that the platemaking image (colorimetric value image) in the output feasibility image shown in Fig. 14 and Fig. 15 is a color image.

[0108] In an output feasibility image 80 shown in FIG. 14, a mask image 81 is superimposed on pixels of the platemaking image (colorimetric value image) whose predicted values ​​are not included in the color gamut of the output device. In the output feasibility image 80 shown in Fig. 15, a mask image 91 or a mask image 92 is superimposed on pixels of the platemaking image (colorimetric value image) whose predicted values ​​are not included in the color gamut of the output device. As in the mask images 91 and 92 shown in Fig. 15, the color of the mask image may be changed according to the magnitude of the difference between the predicted value and the color gamut. This allows the user to easily visually recognize the degree to which each predicted value is not included in the color gamut of the output device. 14 and 15, an example in which the platemaking image in the output feasibility image is a color image is described, but the present invention is not limited to such an example. In order to make the color of the mask image easily visible, the color of the platemaking image (colorimetric value image) may be a monochrome image with only light and dark, and the mask image may be superimposed thereon.

[0109] (7) Output unit 151 The function of the output unit 151 according to the third embodiment is similar to the function of the output unit 151 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

[0110] (8) Color and density range database 161 The function of the color and density range database 161 according to the third embodiment is similar to the function of the color and density range database 161 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

[0111] (9) Approximate Color Database 162 The function of the approximate color database 162 according to the third embodiment is similar to the function of the approximate color database 162 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

[0112] (10) Absorption and scattering coefficient database 163 The function of the absorption / scattering coefficient database 163 according to the third embodiment is similar to the function of the absorption / scattering coefficient database 163 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

[0113] (11) Output device color characteristic database 164 The function of the output device color characteristic database 164 according to the third embodiment is similar to the function of the output device color characteristic database 164 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

[0114] (12) Tone characteristic table database 165 The function of the gradation characteristic table database 165 according to the third embodiment is similar to the function of the gradation characteristic table database 165 according to the second embodiment described with reference to FIG. 7, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0115] <3-2. Processing flow> An example of the configuration of the color gamut determination system 10B according to the third embodiment has been described above. Next, an example of the flow of processing in the color gamut determination system 10B according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 16. Fig. 16 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing in the color gamut determination system 10B according to the third embodiment. Note that steps S301 to S304, S308, and S309 shown in FIG. 16 are similar to steps S101 to S104, S106, and S107 shown in FIG. 6 described in the first embodiment, respectively, and therefore will not be described.

[0116] The platemaking image acquisition unit 112 acquires the platemaking image (step S305).

[0117] The print color prediction unit 125 calculates predicted values ​​for each pixel of the printed material on which the platemaking image is printed based on the gradation characteristic information, the platemaking image acquired by the platemaking image acquisition unit 112, and the set of density-adjusted colorimetric values ​​calculated by the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 (step S306).

[0118] Next, the color gamut determining unit 131 determines whether or not the predicted value predicted by the print color predicting unit 125 is included in the color gamut of the output device based on the color profile of the output device (step S307).

[0119] As described above, the color gamut determination system 10B of the third embodiment includes a colorimetric value acquisition unit 111, a color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 122, a density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123, a platemaking image acquisition unit 112, a print color prediction unit 125, a color gamut determination unit 131, and a color gamut determination information generation unit 141. The colorimetric value acquisition unit 111 acquires colorimetric values ​​of the solid colors of inks used in printing the printed matter. Based on the variation information and the colorimetric values ​​acquired by the colorimetric value acquisition unit 111, the color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 122 calculates a color-adjusted colorimetric value set, which is a set of colorimetric values ​​that have varied as a result of adjusting solid colors. The density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 123 calculates a density-adjusted colorimetric value set, which is a set of colorimetric values ​​that have fluctuated due to adjustment of the ink density, based on the fluctuation information and the color-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit 122. The platemaking image acquisition unit 112 acquires a platemaking image of a printed matter. The print color prediction unit 125 generates a print color set, which is a set of predicted colorimetric values ​​of the print colors at each pixel of a printed matter on which the platemaking image is printed, based on the variable colorimetric value set, the platemaking image acquired by the platemaking image acquisition unit 112, and gradation characteristic information. The color gamut determination unit 131 determines whether each colorimetric value included in the print color set is included in the color gamut of the output device based on the print color set generated by the print color prediction unit 125 and the color profile of the output device that outputs the printed matter. A color gamut determination information generating unit 141 generates color gamut determination information indicating the relationship between the color measurement value and the color gamut based on the result of the determination by the color gamut determining unit 131 .

[0120] With this configuration, a requester (user) of a printout color tone check can check whether each color that can be expressed by the ink used to print the printout to be checked can be reproduced on the checker's output device by checking the color gamut determination information generated by color gamut determination system 10A. This allows the requester to take measures based on the determination result so that there is no discrepancy between the checker and the user in recognizing the color tone. For example, the requester can print the printout without using a color that is determined to be unable to be reproduced on the checker's output device, adjust the color or density so that it is included in the color gamut of the checker's output device, or change the output method on the checker's side (for example, from output by monitor to output by printer).

[0121] Therefore, the color gamut determination system 10B according to the third embodiment makes it possible to reduce the possibility of discrepancies occurring in the perception of color tones between the person requesting the color tones of a printed matter and the person checking them.

[0122] The above describes the embodiments of the present invention. Note that some or all of the functions of each unit of the color gamut determination system 10, color gamut determination system 10A, and color gamut determination system 10B in each of the above-mentioned embodiments may be realized by a computer. In that case, a program for realizing the functions may be recorded in a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded in the recording medium may be read into a computer system and executed to realize the functions. Note that the term "computer system" here includes hardware such as an OS and peripheral devices. Furthermore, the term "computer-readable recording medium" refers to portable media such as flexible disks, optical magnetic disks, ROMs, and CD-ROMs, and storage devices such as hard disks built into a computer system. Furthermore, the term "computer-readable recording medium" may include those that dynamically hold a program for a short period of time, such as a communication line when a program is transmitted via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line, and those that hold a program for a certain period of time, such as a volatile memory inside a computer system that is a server or client in that case. Furthermore, the above program may be for realizing part of the functions described above, or may be capable of realizing the functions described above in combination with a program already recorded in a computer system, or may be realized using a programmable logic device such as an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).

[0123] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to the above, and various design changes, etc. are possible within the scope that does not deviate from the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0124] 10. Color Gamut Determination System 101 Input section 111 Colorimetric value acquisition unit 112 Plate making image acquisition section 121 Variable colorimetric value calculation unit 122 Color adjustment colorimetric value calculation unit 123 Density adjustment colorimetric value calculation unit 124 Halftone dot multiplication generator 125 Print Color Prediction Department 131 Color Gamut Judgment Unit 141 Color gamut determination information generation unit 151 Output section 161 Color and Density Range Database 162 Approximate Color Database 163 Absorption and Scattering Coefficients Database 164 Output Device Color Characteristics Database 165 Tone characteristic table database

Claims

1. a colorimetric value acquisition unit that acquires colorimetric values ​​of solid colors of inks used in printing a printed matter; a color adjustment colorimetric value calculation unit that calculates all combinations of values ​​that the colorimetric values ​​acquired by the colorimetric value acquisition unit can take within the adjustment range of the solid color based on color range information that indicates the adjustment range of the solid color, thereby calculating a color adjustment colorimetric value set that is a set of values ​​that the colorimetric values ​​that vary when the solid color is adjusted within the adjustment range of the solid color can take; a density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit that calculates ink blending ratios corresponding to each colorimetric value included in the color-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit based on approximate color information indicating the correspondence between colorimetric values ​​and ink blending ratios, calculates absorption and scattering coefficients of spot colors for each of the calculated blending ratios based on absorption and scattering coefficient information indicating the correspondence between inks and absorption and scattering coefficients, calculates a spectral reflectance of the spot color using the calculated absorption and scattering coefficients of the spot color, and calculates a density-adjusted colorimetric value set which is a set of values ​​that the colorimetric values ​​that vary when the density is adjusted within the density adjustment range can take, based on density range information indicating an adjustment range of the ink density and the calculated spectral reflectance; a platemaking image acquisition unit that reads and acquires the platemaking image corresponding to information on the platemaking image of the printed matter input by a user; a print color prediction unit that predicts the colorimetric values ​​of print colors at each pixel of a printed matter printed using the colorimetric values ​​included in the density-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit as primary colors of the platemaking image acquired by the platemaking image acquisition unit, based on gradation characteristic information indicating a correspondence relationship between the ink and gradation characteristics, thereby generating a print color set that is a set of predicted colorimetric values ​​at each pixel; a color gamut determination unit that determines whether or not each predicted value included in the print color set generated by the print color prediction unit is included in the color gamut of an output device that performs output related to the printed matter, based on a color profile indicating color measurement values ​​included in the color gamut of the output device; a color gamut determination information generation unit that generates color gamut determination information indicating whether or not each of the predicted values ​​is included in the color gamut of the output device, or the degree to which each of the predicted values ​​is included, based on a result of the determination by the color gamut determination unit; A color gamut determination system comprising:

2. A step in which a colorimetric value acquisition unit acquires colorimetric values ​​of solid colors of inks used in printing a printed material; a step of calculating a color adjustment colorimetric value set, which is a set of values ​​that the colorimetric value that varies when the solid color is adjusted within the solid color adjustment range, by a color adjustment colorimetric value calculation unit calculating all combinations of values ​​that the colorimetric value acquired by the colorimetric value acquisition unit can take within the solid color adjustment range based on color range information that indicates the solid color adjustment range; a density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit calculating, based on approximate color information indicating the correspondence between colorimetric values ​​and ink blending ratios, ink blending ratios corresponding to each colorimetric value included in the color-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit, calculating absorption and scattering coefficients of spot colors for each calculated blending ratio based on absorption and scattering coefficient information indicating the correspondence between inks and absorption and scattering coefficients, calculating a spectral reflectance of the spot color using the calculated absorption and scattering coefficients of the spot color, and calculating, based on density range information indicating an adjustment range of the ink density and the calculated spectral reflectance, all combinations of values ​​that each colorimetric value included in the color-adjusted colorimetric value set can take within the density adjustment range, thereby calculating a density-adjusted colorimetric value set which is a set of values ​​that the colorimetric values ​​that vary when the density is adjusted within the density adjustment range can take; a step of reading and acquiring the platemaking image corresponding to the information of the platemaking image of the printed matter input by a user by a platemaking image acquisition unit; a printing color prediction unit predicts the colorimetric values ​​of the printing colors at each pixel of a printed matter printed using the colorimetric values ​​included in the density-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit as primary colors of the platemaking image acquired by the platemaking image acquisition unit, based on gradation characteristic information indicating the correspondence between the ink and gradation characteristics, thereby generating a printing color set which is a set of predicted colorimetric values ​​at each pixel; a step of determining whether or not each predicted value included in the print color set generated by the print color prediction unit is included in the color gamut of an output device that performs output related to the printed matter, based on a color profile indicating color measurement values ​​included in the color gamut of the output device; a step of generating color gamut determination information indicating whether or not each of the predicted values ​​is included in the color gamut of the output device, or the degree to which each of the predicted values ​​is included, based on a result of the determination by the color gamut determination unit; A color gamut determination method comprising:

3. Computer, a colorimetric value acquisition means for acquiring colorimetric values ​​of a solid color of ink used in printing a printed matter; a color adjustment colorimetric value calculation means for calculating all combinations of values ​​that the colorimetric values ​​acquired by the colorimetric value acquisition means can take within the adjustment range of the solid color based on color range information indicating the adjustment range of the solid color, thereby calculating a color adjustment colorimetric value set that is a set of values ​​that the colorimetric values ​​that vary when the solid color is adjusted within the adjustment range of the solid color can take; a density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation means for calculating ink blending ratios corresponding to each colorimetric value included in the color-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation means based on approximate color information indicating the correspondence between colorimetric values ​​and ink blending ratios, calculating absorption and scattering coefficients of spot colors for each of the calculated blending ratios based on absorption and scattering coefficient information indicating the correspondence between inks and absorption and scattering coefficients, calculating a spectral reflectance of the spot color using the calculated absorption and scattering coefficients of the spot color, and calculating a density-adjusted colorimetric value set which is a set of values ​​that the colorimetric values ​​that vary when the density is adjusted within the density adjustment range can take, based on density range information indicating an adjustment range of the ink density and the calculated spectral reflectance; a platemaking image acquisition means for reading and acquiring the platemaking image corresponding to the platemaking image information of the printed matter input by a user; a print color prediction means for predicting the colorimetric values ​​of print colors at each pixel of a printed matter printed using the colorimetric values ​​included in the density-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation means as primary colors of the platemaking image acquired by the platemaking image acquisition means, based on gradation characteristic information indicating the correspondence between the ink and gradation characteristics, thereby generating a print color set which is a set of predicted colorimetric values ​​at each pixel; a color gamut determination means for determining whether or not each predicted value included in the print color set generated by the print color prediction means is included in the color gamut of an output device that performs output related to the printed matter, based on a color profile indicating color measurement values ​​included in the color gamut of the output device; a color gamut determination information generating means for generating color gamut determination information indicating whether or not each of the predicted values ​​is included in the color gamut of the output device, or indicating the degree to which each of the predicted values ​​is included, based on a result of the determination by the color gamut determining means; A program that functions as a

4. A colorimetric value acquisition unit that acquires colorimetric values ​​of solid colors of inks used in printing a printed matter; a color adjustment colorimetric value calculation unit that calculates all combinations of values ​​that the colorimetric values ​​acquired by the colorimetric value acquisition unit can take within the adjustment range of the solid color based on color range information that indicates the adjustment range of the solid color, thereby calculating a color adjustment colorimetric value set that is a set of values ​​that the colorimetric values ​​that vary when the solid color is adjusted within the adjustment range of the solid color can take; a density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit that calculates ink blending ratios corresponding to each colorimetric value included in the color-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit based on approximate color information indicating the correspondence between colorimetric values ​​and ink blending ratios, calculates absorption and scattering coefficients of spot colors for each of the calculated blending ratios based on absorption and scattering coefficient information indicating the correspondence between inks and absorption and scattering coefficients, calculates a spectral reflectance of the spot color using the calculated absorption and scattering coefficients of the spot color, and calculates a density-adjusted colorimetric value set which is a set of values ​​that the colorimetric values ​​that vary when the density is adjusted within the density adjustment range can take, based on density range information indicating an adjustment range of the ink density and the calculated spectral reflectance; a halftone dot multiplication generating unit that generates a halftone dot multiplication set, which is a set of colors obtained by multiplying at least two colors represented by the colorimetric values ​​included in the density-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculating unit, in a halftone dot of a printed matter; a print color prediction unit that predicts the color measurement values ​​of the print colors when each color included in the halftone dot multiplication set generated by the halftone dot multiplication generation unit is reproduced on the printed matter based on gradation characteristic information indicating the gradation characteristics of the primary color inks, thereby generating a print color set that is a set of predicted values ​​of each color; a color gamut determination unit that determines whether or not each predicted value included in the print color set generated by the print color prediction unit is included in the color gamut of an output device that performs output related to the printed matter, based on a color profile indicating color measurement values ​​included in the color gamut of the output device; a color gamut determination information generating unit that generates color gamut determination information indicating whether or not the predicted value of each color included in the halftone dot multiplication set is included in the color gamut of the output device, or indicating the degree to which the predicted value is included, based on a result of the determination by the color gamut determining unit; A color gamut determination system comprising:

5. A process in which a colorimetric value acquisition unit acquires colorimetric values ​​of solid colors of inks used in printing a printed matter; a step of calculating a color adjustment colorimetric value set, which is a set of values ​​that the colorimetric value that varies when the solid color is adjusted within the solid color adjustment range, by a color adjustment colorimetric value calculation unit calculating all combinations of values ​​that the colorimetric value acquired by the colorimetric value acquisition unit can take within the solid color adjustment range based on color range information that indicates the solid color adjustment range; a density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit calculating, based on approximate color information indicating the correspondence between colorimetric values ​​and ink blending ratios, ink blending ratios corresponding to each colorimetric value included in the color-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit, calculating absorption and scattering coefficients of spot colors for each calculated blending ratio based on absorption and scattering coefficient information indicating the correspondence between inks and absorption and scattering coefficients, calculating a spectral reflectance of the spot color using the calculated absorption and scattering coefficients of the spot color, and calculating, based on density range information indicating an adjustment range of the ink density and the calculated spectral reflectance, all combinations of values ​​that each colorimetric value included in the color-adjusted colorimetric value set can take within the density adjustment range, thereby calculating a density-adjusted colorimetric value set which is a set of values ​​that the colorimetric values ​​that vary when the density is adjusted within the density adjustment range can take; a step of generating a halftone dot multiplication set, which is a set of colors obtained by multiplying at least two colors represented by the colorimetric values ​​included in the density-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation unit in the halftone dots of the printed matter; a step of generating a print color set, which is a set of predicted values ​​of each color, by a print color prediction unit predicting color measurement values ​​of print colors when each color included in the halftone dot multiplication set generated by the halftone dot multiplication generation unit is reproduced on the printed matter based on gradation characteristic information indicating gradation characteristics of primary color inks; a step of determining whether or not each predicted value included in the print color set generated by the print color prediction unit is included in the color gamut of an output device that performs output related to the printed matter, based on a color profile indicating color measurement values ​​included in the color gamut of the output device; a step of generating color gamut determination information indicating whether or not the predicted value of each color included in the halftone dot multiplication set is included in the color gamut of the output device, or indicating the degree to which the predicted value is included, based on a result of the determination by the color gamut determination unit; A color gamut determination method comprising:

6. A computer comprising: a colorimetric value acquisition means for acquiring colorimetric values ​​of a solid color of ink used in printing a printed matter; a color adjustment colorimetric value calculation means for calculating all combinations of values ​​that the colorimetric values ​​acquired by the colorimetric value acquisition means can take within the adjustment range of the solid color based on color range information indicating the adjustment range of the solid color, thereby calculating a color adjustment colorimetric value set that is a set of values ​​that the colorimetric values ​​that vary when the solid color is adjusted within the adjustment range of the solid color can take; a density-adjusted colorimetric value calculation means for calculating ink blending ratios corresponding to each colorimetric value included in the color-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the color-adjusted colorimetric value calculation means based on approximate color information indicating the correspondence between colorimetric values ​​and ink blending ratios, calculating absorption and scattering coefficients of spot colors for each of the calculated blending ratios based on absorption and scattering coefficient information indicating the correspondence between inks and absorption and scattering coefficients, calculating a spectral reflectance of the spot color using the calculated absorption and scattering coefficients of the spot color, and calculating a density-adjusted colorimetric value set which is a set of values ​​that the colorimetric values ​​that vary when the density is adjusted within the density adjustment range can take, based on density range information indicating an adjustment range of the ink density and the calculated spectral reflectance; a halftone dot multiplication generating means for generating a halftone dot multiplication set, which is a set of colors obtained by multiplying at least two colors represented by the colorimetric values ​​included in the density-adjusted colorimetric value set calculated by the density-adjusted colorimetric value calculating means, in a halftone dot of a printed matter; a print color prediction means for predicting the color measurement values ​​of the print colors when each color included in the halftone dot multiplication set generated by the halftone dot multiplication generating means is reproduced on the printed matter based on gradation characteristic information indicating the gradation characteristics of the primary color inks, thereby generating a print color set which is a set of predicted values ​​of each color; a color gamut determination means for determining whether or not each predicted value included in the print color set generated by the print color prediction means is included in the color gamut of an output device that performs output related to the printed matter, based on a color profile indicating color measurement values ​​included in the color gamut of the output device; a color gamut determination information generating means for generating color gamut determination information indicating whether or not the predicted value of each color included in the halftone dot multiplication set is included in the color gamut of the output device, or indicating the degree to which the predicted value is included, based on the result of the determination by the color gamut determining means; A program that functions as a

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