Information processing apparatus, image forming system including the information processing apparatus, and program

Abstract

To provide an information processor that provides a technique for suppressing deterioration of colorimetric accuracy.SOLUTION: An information processor includes: setting means for setting one or more colorimetric regions in an image formed by image data; and transmitting means for transmitting a print job including the image data and colorimetric region information indicating the one or more colorimetric regions to an image formation device. The setting means has a first mode in which the setting means selects a colorimetry region from the image formed by the image data according to a selection criterion, and a second mode in which a user identifies the colorimetry region.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus for suppressing deterioration in color measurement accuracy, an image forming system including the information processing apparatus, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] In an image forming apparatus that forms an image using an electrophotographic process, the density, color tone, etc. of the output image may change due to changes over time or environmental changes. For this reason, the image forming apparatus performs image stabilization control. For example, in density stabilization control, the image forming apparatus forms a test image on a photoreceptor, an intermediate transfer belt, etc., and detects the density of the test image with an optical sensor or the like. Then, the image forming apparatus sets image forming conditions for making the output image an appropriate density based on the density detection result of the test image. Note that the detection result of the test image formed on the photoreceptor, the intermediate transfer belt, etc. cannot determine the quality of the image finally formed on the recording material. For this reason, setting image forming conditions based on the detection result of the test image formed on the recording material is also performed.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration for a user to visually confirm an image formed on a recording material and adjust a color that the user wants to correct by specifying it.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] A sensor that measures the color of an image formed on a recording material irradiates the recording material with light and detects the color of the color measurement area based on the reflected light. At this time, a phenomenon called "specular reflection" may occur in principle, in which the color of the color measurement area to be detected is blurred by the reflected light from the vicinity of the color measurement area. When specular reflection occurs, the color measurement accuracy deteriorates, and appropriate image formation conditions may not be set.

[0006] The present invention provides a technique for suppressing deterioration of color measurement accuracy.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, an information processing apparatus includes a setting unit that sets one or more color measurement areas in an image formed from image data, and transmits a print job including the image data and color measurement area information indicating the one or more color measurement areas to an image forming apparatus. The setting unit has a first mode in which the setting unit selects a color measurement area from the image formed from the image data according to a selection criterion, and a second mode in which a user designates a color measurement area. and the selection criterion includes a first condition that the colorimetric region is selected from a region where the maximum value of the color difference is equal to or less than a predetermined value in the image formed by the image data It is characterized by this.

Effects of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, deterioration of color measurement accuracy can be suppressed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

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Figure 9

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims. Although a plurality of features are described in the embodiments, not all of these plurality of features are essential for the invention, and the plurality of features may be arbitrarily combined. Further, in the accompanying drawings, the same or similar configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions are omitted.

[0011] <First Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image forming system including an image forming apparatus 100. The image forming system includes an image forming apparatus 100 and a host computer 101. The image forming apparatus 100 and the host computer 101 can communicate with each other via a network 105. The network 105 is, for example, a LAN or a WAN. In FIG. 1, one image forming apparatus 100 and one host computer 101 are connected to the network 105, but a plurality of image forming apparatuses 100 and a plurality of host computers 101 can be connected to the network 105.

[0012] The host computer 101, which is an information processing apparatus, transmits a print job to the image forming apparatus 100 via the network 105. The print job includes various information necessary for printing, such as image data of the image to be formed, the type of sheet on which printing is to be performed (image formation is to be performed), the number of printed sheets, and whether it is double-sided printing or single-sided printing.

[0013] The image forming apparatus 100 forms an image on a sheet based on a print job received from the host computer 101. The sheet is an object to be formed with an image by the image forming apparatus 100, such as recording paper or an OHP sheet, and its material is arbitrary. The image forming apparatus 100 includes a controller 110, an operation panel 120, a feeding device 140, a printer 150, and a reading device 160 that can communicate with each other via the system bus 116.

[0014] The ROM 112, which is a non-volatile memory of the controller 110, stores various control programs. The RAM 113 is a volatile memory and functions as a system work memory that reads and stores the control programs stored in the ROM 112. The CPU 114 executes the control programs read into the RAM 113 and comprehensively controls the entire image forming apparatus 100. The HDD 115 is a large-capacity storage device. The HDD 115 stores various data such as control programs and image data used for image forming processing (printing processing). The I / O control unit 111 is an interface that communicates with the host computer 101 and the like via the network 105. Note that these functional blocks within the controller 110 can also communicate with each other via the system bus 116.

[0015] The operation panel 120 provides a user interface. As shown in FIG. 2, the operation panel 120 has operation buttons 121 and a display unit 122. The operation buttons 121 are input interfaces for the user to operate the image forming apparatus 100. The display unit 122 is an output interface that displays the state of the image forming apparatus to the user.

[0016] Returning to FIG. 1, the feeding device 140 includes a plurality of feeding units that accommodate sheets, and feeds the sheets of the feeding units to the printer 150. The printer 150 forms an image on the sheets fed by the feeding device 140 based on the image data from the host computer 101. Details of the configuration of the printer 150 will be described later with reference to FIG. 2. The reading device 160 reads the surface of the sheet and outputs the reading result to the controller 110.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus 100. The image forming apparatus 100 includes a feeding device 140, a printer 150, a reading device 160, and a finisher 190.

[0018] The printer 150 includes four image forming units 222 that form yellow, magenta, cyan, and black images. The configurations of the respective image forming units 222 are basically common. The photoreceptor 153 of the image forming unit is rotationally driven in the counterclockwise direction in the figure during image formation. The charger 220 charges the surface of the photoreceptor 153. The exposure device 223 exposes the photoreceptor 153 based on image data to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor 153. The developing device 152 develops the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor 153 using a developer (toner). As a result, the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor 153 is visualized, and an image is formed on the photoreceptor 153.

[0019] The intermediate transfer belt 154 is rotationally driven in the clockwise direction in the figure during image formation. The images formed by the respective image forming units 222 are transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 154. Note that a full-color image can be formed on the intermediate transfer belt 154 by overlapping the images formed by the respective image forming units 222 and transferring them to the intermediate transfer belt 154. The image transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 154 is conveyed toward the opposing position of the transfer roller 221.

[0020] The feeding device 140 includes feeding units 140a, 140b, 140c, 140d, and 140e that accommodate sheets. The feeding device 140 feeds the sheets of any one of the feeding units to the printer 150. The printer 150 conveys the fed sheets toward the opposing position of the transfer roller 221. The transfer roller 221 transfers the image on the intermediate transfer belt 154 to the sheet.

[0021] The printer 150 has a first fuser 155 and a second fuser 156 that heat and press the image transferred onto the sheet to fix the image on the sheet. The first fuser 155 includes a fixing roller having a heater inside and a pressure belt for pressing the sheet against the fixing roller. These rollers are driven by a motor (not shown) to convey the sheet. The second fuser 156 is disposed downstream of the first fuser in the sheet conveyance direction. The second fuser 156 is provided to increase the gloss of the image on the sheet that has passed through the first fuser 155 or to ensure fixability. The second fuser 156 includes a fixing roller having a heater inside and a pressure roller having a heater inside. Depending on the type of sheet, it may not be necessary to use the second fuser 156. In this case, the sheet is conveyed to the conveyance path 130 and does not pass through the second fuser 156. The flapper 131 switches whether to guide the sheet to the conveyance path 130 or to the second fuser 156.

[0022] The flapper 132 switches whether to guide the sheet to the conveyance path 135 or to the discharge path 139. For example, in the duplex printing mode, the flapper 132 guides the sheet with an image formed on the first side to the conveyance path 135. Also, for example, in the face-up paper discharge mode, the flapper 132 guides the sheet with an image formed on the first side to the discharge path 139. Further, for example, in the face-down paper discharge mode, the flapper 132 guides the sheet with an image formed on the first side to the conveyance path 135.

[0023] The sheet conveyed to the conveyance path 135 is conveyed to the inversion unit 136. After being conveyed to the inversion unit 136, the conveyance direction of the sheet is inverted. The flapper 133 switches whether to guide the sheet in the inversion unit 136 to the conveyance path 138 or to the conveyance path 135. For example, in the duplex printing mode, the flapper 133 guides the sheet to the conveyance path 138. Also, for example, in the face-down paper discharge mode, the flapper 133 guides the sheet that has been switched back to the conveyance path 135. The sheet conveyed to the conveyance path 135 by the flapper 133 is guided to the discharge path 139 by the flapper 134. The sheet conveyed to the conveyance path 138 by the flapper 133 is conveyed again to the position opposite the transfer roller 221, whereby images are formed on both sides of the sheet.

[0024] The sheet guided to the discharge path 139 is conveyed along the conveyance path 313 of the reading device 160. The original document detection sensor 311 of the reading device 160 detects the sheet conveyed along the conveyance path 313. The original document detection sensor 311 is, for example, an optical sensor having a light emitting element and a light receiving element. The line sensor unit 312a reads one side of the sheet through the flow-through glass 314a. The line sensor unit 312b reads the other side of the sheet through the flow-through glass 314b. Note that the controller 110 controls the reading timing of the line sensor units 312a and 312b based on the detection timing of the leading edge of the sheet by the original document detection sensor 311.

[0025] The sheet that has passed through the reading device 160 is discharged to the outside of the image forming apparatus 100 via the finisher 190. The finisher 190 is a post-processing device that performs post-processing on the printed matter of the printer 150. The finisher 190 can perform staple processing and sorting processing on a plurality of sheets on which images have been formed according to a print job.

[0026] FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the reading device 160. The configurations of the line sensor units 312a and 312b are the same, and each has a memory 300, a line sensor 301, and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 302. The line sensor 301 is, for example, a contact image sensor (CIS). FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of the line sensor 301. LEDs 400a and 400b are light sources that emit white light. LEDs 400a and 400b are respectively arranged at different ends in the longitudinal direction of the light guide 402a. Note that the line sensor 301 is arranged such that the longitudinal direction is orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction. Hereinafter, the longitudinal direction is also referred to as the main scanning direction, and the sheet conveyance direction is also referred to as the sub-scanning direction. The light emitted by LEDs 400a and 400b diffuses inside the light guide 402a in the main scanning direction and irradiates the sheet from the entire main scanning direction of the light guide 402a. The reflected light on the sheet enters a plurality of light receiving elements 401a arranged along the main scanning direction via the lens array 403a. Note that the reflection position of the reflected light incident on each light receiving element 401a on the sheet is also referred to as a pixel. The plurality of light receiving elements 401a has a three-line configuration coated with color filters of red (R), green (G), and blue (B). The line sensor 301 of the present embodiment has a "both-side illumination configuration" that irradiates light from both sides of the lens array 403a in the sub-scanning direction.

[0027] Returning to FIG. 3, the memory 300 stores correction information for correcting variations in the amount of light received by the plurality of light receiving elements 401a of the corresponding line sensor 301. The line sensor 301 corrects the amount of light received by each light receiving element 401a with the correction information, and outputs an analog signal indicating the corrected amount of light received by each light receiving element 401a to the ADC 302 in order as the amount of light received by the pixel. The ADC 302 converts the analog signal output by the corresponding line sensor 301 into a digital signal and outputs it to the color detection processing unit 305 as read data. The read data indicates the luminance values of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) of each pixel. The line sensor 301 repeatedly reads an image of one line in the main scanning direction while the sheet is being conveyed, thereby reading an image of the entire sheet.

[0028] The color detection processing unit 305 outputs the color information of the color measurement area as detected color information to the CPU 114 from the RGB read data of the entire sheet. Note that the color measurement area is notified from the CPU 114 as will be described later. The color detection processing unit 305 is composed of an FPGA, an ASIC, a combination thereof, and the like. The image memory 303 is used to temporarily store the read data in the processing in the color detection processing unit 305. In this way, the reading device 160 is also a color measurement device that measures the color measurement area of the sheet.

[0029] In the present embodiment, the user operates the host computer 101 to set the color to be subjected to image stabilization control (hereinafter, target color) and the color measurement area of the target color on the sheet. The host computer 101 transmits color measurement area information indicating the color measurement area to the controller 110 of the image forming apparatus 100 included in the print job. The CPU 114 notifies the reading device 160 of the color measurement area, and the reading device 160 outputs the detected color information of the color measurement area to the CPU 114. The CPU 114 performs image stabilization control of the target color by comparing the detected color information that is the color measurement result of the color measurement area with the data value (color information) of the color measurement area indicated by the image data included in the print job. More specifically, the CPU 114 sets and adjusts the image forming conditions so that the target color of the image formed by the image forming apparatus 100 approaches the color indicated by the image data.

[0030] Hereinafter, the host computer 101 will be described. FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of the host computer 101. The communication unit 101f performs communication processing via the network 105. The input / output unit 101d has, for example, input devices such as a mouse and a keyboard, and output devices such as a display. Note that when the host computer 101 is not a personal computer but, for example, a tablet, the input / output unit 101d can be a touch panel display. The setting unit 101e includes a color information determination unit 101a, a selection unit 101b, and an input / output control unit 101c. The setting unit 101e is a functional block that can be realized by causing one or more processors (not shown) of the host computer 101 to execute an appropriate program. Note that the program is stored in a memory device (not shown) of the host computer 101.

[0031] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the color measurement area setting process. The process of FIG. 6 is executed when the user transmits a print job for performing stabilization control to the image forming apparatus 100. In S101, the input / output control unit 101c displays an image formed of image data included in the print job on the display of the input / output unit 101d. FIG. 7 is an example of a screen displayed on the display of the input / output unit 101d. As shown in FIG. 7, an image 501 formed of image data is displayed on the display.

[0032] In S102, the input / output control unit 101c determines which of the automatic mode and the manual mode is selected as the setting mode. Note that the user can select and set the automatic mode or the manual mode by operating the mode button 503 displayed on the display.

[0033] When the manual mode is selected, the user inputs a user input for specifying an area by operating the input / output unit 101d in S105. This area is determined, for example, when the user designates an area including the target color of the image 501 displayed on the display using a mouse. When the user designates an area, the color information determination unit 101a determines whether the area designated by the user meets a predetermined criterion. The predetermined criterion can be configured to be satisfied when the maximum value of the color difference within the designated area indicated by the image data is less than or equal to a threshold value. Note that the threshold value can be set to 0. When the threshold value is 0, the predetermined criterion is satisfied when the color values of each pixel in the area designated by the user are the same. When the maximum value of the color difference within the designated area is greater than the threshold value, the input / output control unit 101c warns the user that the color difference in the designated area is large and prompts the user to re-designate the area.

[0034] On the other hand, when the maximum value of the color difference within the designated area is less than or equal to the threshold value, the input / output control unit 101c lists the area designated by the user as a candidate for the color measurement area within the area 502 on the display. The color measurement area #1 and the color measurement area #2 displayed in the area 502 of FIG. 7 are color measurement areas designated by the user. Also, as shown in FIG. 7, the input / output control unit 101c superimposes the color measurement areas #1 and #2 designated by the user on the image 501 and displays them on the display. Further, the color information determination unit 101a determines the color values of the color measurement areas #1 and #2 designated by the user based on the image data and displays them in the area 502 as shown in FIG. 7. Note that in FIG. 7, the color values in the Lab color space are displayed, but color values in other color spaces such as the RGB color space can also be displayed. When the color values of each pixel in the color measurement area are the same, this color value is displayed as the color value of the color measurement area. On the other hand, when there are variations in the color values of each pixel in the color measurement area, a representative color value is displayed as the color value of the color measurement area. The representative color value is, for example, the color value with the largest number of pixels in the color measurement area. Also, the representative color value is, for example, the average value of the color values of each pixel in the color measurement area. Also, although not shown in FIG. 7, it is also possible to configure to display the color corresponding to the color value displayed in the area 502 in the area 502.

[0035] When the automatic mode is selected, in S103, the selection unit 101b selects a color measurement area based on the selection criteria. The input / output control unit 101c lists and displays the color measurement area selected by the selection unit 101b as a candidate for the color measurement area within the area 502 of the display. The color measurement areas #3 to #5 displayed in the area 502 of FIG. 7 are the color measurement areas selected by the selection unit 101b. Also, as shown in FIG. 7, the input / output control unit 101c superimposes the color measurement areas #3 to #5 selected by the selection unit 101b on the image 501 and displays them on the display. Further, the color information determination unit 101a displays the color values of the color measurement areas #3 to #5 selected by the selection unit 101b in the area 502 as shown in FIG. 7. Note that the color values to be displayed are the same as in the manual mode. Although not shown in FIG. 7, the color measurement areas can be displayed on the area 502 or the image 501 so that the user can distinguish between the color measurement area specified by the user and the color measurement area selected by the selection unit 101b.

[0036] The selection criteria are the criteria for the selection unit 101b to select a color measurement area from the image 501. This selection criteria is determined in advance and stored in a memory device (not shown) of the host computer 101. First, the selection criteria include conditions regarding color values. The condition regarding color values is a condition that an area where the variation of the color value is below a predetermined value is set as the selection area. For example, a maximum allowable color difference ΔE is determined in advance and stored in a memory device (not shown) of the host computer 101. Then, the selection unit 101b selects, as the selection area, an area composed only of pixels where the maximum value of the color difference between any two pixels is below the maximum allowable color difference ΔE. Note that the maximum allowable color difference ΔE can be set to 0. In this case, the color values of each pixel in the color measurement area are the same. Also, the maximum allowable color difference ΔE may be the same as or different from the threshold value in the manual mode.

[0037] Furthermore, the selection criteria include conditions related to the number of consecutive pixels. The conditions related to the number of consecutive pixels are conditions for setting a color measurement region in an area that is less likely to be affected by specular reflection. For example, the conditions related to the number of consecutive pixels may include a first condition of selecting a color measurement region from a region where the number of consecutive pixels in the main scanning direction within a region satisfying the conditions related to the color value is greater than a first predetermined number. The first predetermined number can be, for example, 8 mm in terms of distance conversion. Furthermore, the conditions related to the number of consecutive pixels may include a second condition of selecting a color measurement region from a region where a pixel column satisfying the first condition continues for more than a second predetermined number in the sub-scanning direction. Note that it is not necessary for the positions and ranges in the main scanning direction of two pixel columns adjacent in the sub-scanning direction and satisfying the first condition to be the same, and it is sufficient if the ranges in the main scanning direction of the two pixel columns have an overlapping section of a predetermined number of pixels. Furthermore, the conditions related to the number of consecutive pixels may include a third condition of selecting a color measurement region from a region obtained by removing a third predetermined number of pixels from the edge within the region of pixels satisfying the second condition. Note that the third predetermined number is smaller than the first predetermined number and the second predetermined number.

[0038] The size and shape of the color measurement region are arbitrary as long as the selection criteria are satisfied. For example, under the condition of satisfying the selection criteria, a configuration can be adopted in which the largest region is selected as the color measurement region. Note that when there are a plurality of regions satisfying the selection criteria, the selection unit 101b may be configured to select not all of the regions satisfying the selection criteria as the color measurement region, but only some of them as the color measurement region. For example, the selection unit 101b can select a predetermined number of regions with large areas as the color measurement region from among the plurality of regions satisfying the selection criteria.

[0039] In area 502, corresponding check boxes are displayed for each candidate of each color measurement area. The user can input whether to actually use the corresponding color measurement area in the image stabilization control by operating the check box with, for example, a mouse. For example, in the case of the color measurement area specified by the user in the manual mode (S105), the initial value of the corresponding check box can be set to "used". On the other hand, in the case of the color measurement area selected in the automatic mode (S102), the initial value of the corresponding check box can be set to "not used".

[0040] In S104, the input / output control unit 101c waits until the user completes the selection of the color measurement area actually used in the image stabilization control. This selection completion is input by the user clicking the confirmation button 504 in FIG. 7 with a mouse. If the selection completion has not been input, the input / output control unit 101c determines in S106 whether the setting mode (automatic mode or manual mode) has been changed. As described above, the user can switch between the automatic mode and the manual mode using the mode button 503. That is, the setting mode is configured to be switchable until the user clicks the confirmation button 504 with a mouse. If the setting mode has not been changed, the input / output control unit 101c repeats the process from S104. On the other hand, if the setting mode has been changed, the input / output control unit 101c repeats the process from S102.

[0041] Also, in S104, when the user clicks the confirmation button 504 in FIG. 7 with a mouse, the host computer 101 ends the process in FIG. 6. After that, when the user inputs the execution of printing to the input / output control unit 101c via the input / output unit 101, the input / output control unit 101c transmits a print job including color measurement area information indicating the color measurement area selected to be used to the image forming apparatus 100 via the communication unit 101f.

[0042] FIG. 7 shows a state where the user first specifies color measurement regions #1 and #2 in the manual mode, and then, after switching to the automatic mode, color measurement regions #3 to #5 are selected by the selection unit 101b. The user has selected to use color measurement region #5 selected in the automatic mode, in addition to color measurement regions #1 and #2 specified in the manual mode, for image stabilization control.

[0043] As described above, in the present embodiment, the host computer 101 can select an automatic mode and a manual mode as setting modes for setting a color measurement region. When the automatic mode is selected, the host computer 101 presents to the user a region that is less affected by specular reflection as the color measurement region. Therefore, when the color that the user wants to use as the target color is included in the color measurement region presented by the host computer 101, the user can select the presented color measurement region, thereby suppressing deterioration of color measurement accuracy and setting appropriate image formation conditions. For example, when the color that the user wants to use as the target color is not included in the presented color measurement region, the user can specify a color measurement region including the target color in the manual mode, thereby improving the convenience for the user.

[0044] <Second Embodiment> Subsequently, the second embodiment will be described focusing on differences from the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the color measurement region setting process according to the present embodiment. For the processing steps similar to those in the flowchart of the setting process in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the same step numbers are assigned and the description thereof is omitted.

[0045] When the automatic mode is selected in S102, the user specifies a selection region in S200. The selection region can be specified by the same method as the specification of the color measurement region in the manual mode. FIG. 9 shows a state where the user selects region 505 as the selection region in S200. In this case, the selection unit 101b selects candidates for the color measurement region from within the selection region 505 in S201. FIG. 9 shows a state where the selection unit 101b selects regions #1 to #3 within the selection region 505 as candidates for the color measurement region.

[0046] As described above, the selection unit 101b selects a color measurement area from within the selection area 505 specified by the user. By the user designating an area including the target color as the selection area, the number of color measurement areas selected by the selection unit 101b can be narrowed down. Also, as described in the first embodiment, when the upper limit value of the number of color measurement areas selected by the selection unit 101b is determined, by selecting the selection area 505, the target color is likely to be included in the color measurement areas selected by the selection unit 101b. Therefore, an area that is less likely to be affected by specular reflection can be used as the color measurement area, and appropriate image forming process conditions can be set while suppressing deterioration in color measurement accuracy.

[0047] [Other Embodiments] Note that the functions of the host computer 101 for setting the color measurement area described above can be incorporated into the image forming apparatus 100. Specifically, the CPU 114 of the image forming apparatus 100 displays an image formed from image data stored in the HDD 115 on the operation panel 120. Then, the user can set the color measurement area by operating the operation panel 120 to switch between the automatic mode and the manual mode, and to specify the color measurement area in the case of the manual mode.

[0048] The present invention can also be realized by supplying a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and causing one or more processors in a computer of the system or apparatus to read and execute the program. Further, it can also be realized by a circuit (for example, an ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

[0049] The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various changes and modifications are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the claims are appended to disclose the scope of the invention.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0050] 101e: Setting unit, 101f: Communication unit

Claims

1. Setting means for setting one or more color measurement regions in an image formed from image data; Transmission means for transmitting a print job including the image data and color measurement region information indicating the one or more color measurement regions to an image forming apparatus; Comprising: The setting means has a first mode in which the setting means selects a color measurement region from the image formed from the image data according to a selection criterion, and a second mode in which a user designates a color measurement region; The selection criterion includes a first condition that the color measurement region is selected from a region in the image formed from the image data where the maximum value of the color difference is equal to or less than a predetermined value. An information processing apparatus characterized by this.

2. The selection criterion according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes a second condition that the color measurement region is selected from a region in which the number of consecutive pixels in a first direction is greater than a predetermined number among the regions satisfying the first condition. Information processing apparatus described.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the first direction is a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the sheet when the image forming apparatus forms the image on the sheet based on the image data.

4. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that when the color measurement region designated by the user in the second mode does not satisfy a predetermined criterion, the setting means prompts the user to re-designate the color measurement region.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the predetermined criterion is satisfied when the maximum value of the color difference of the color measurement region designated by the user is equal to or less than a threshold value.

6. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the setting means displays, on a display means, the color measurement region selected by the setting means when the first mode is set and the color measurement region designated by the user when the second mode is set.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the setting means determines, based on the image data, the color value of the color measurement region displayed on the display means and displays it on the display means.

8. The setting means displays the image formed from the image data on the display means, and displays the color measurement area selected by the setting means and the color measurement area designated by the user on the display means so as to be superimposed on the image displayed on the display means. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that.

9. The setting means receives a first user input for selecting whether to use the color measurement area displayed on the display means, The one or more color measurement areas indicated by the color measurement area information are the color measurement areas selected to be used by the first user input. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that.

10. When the first mode is set, the setting means receives a second user input for designating a selection area in the image formed from the image data, and when the selection area is designated by the second user input, The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the color measurement area is selected from the selection area.

11. The first mode and the second mode are configured to be switchable before the transmission means transmits the print job. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that.

12. When executed by the one or more processors of a computer having one or more processors, a program for causing the computer to function as the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, An image forming apparatus, An image forming system including: The image forming apparatus is Image forming means for forming the image on a sheet based on the image data included in the print job, Color measurement means for measuring the one or more color measurement areas in the image formed on the sheet, Control means for controlling the image forming conditions based on the color measurement results of each of the one or more color measurement areas by the color measurement means and the data values corresponding to each of the one or more color measurement areas indicated by the image data, An image forming system characterized by comprising.

Images