Printing apparatus, colorimetric method, and colorimetric program

Abstract

To provide a printing device, a color measurement method, and a color measurement program capable of improving accuracy of color calibration.SOLUTION: A printing device includes: a printing unit that prints a patch chart on a print medium; a color measuring unit which measures colors of a plurality of first patches arranged in a first area in the patch chart printed by the printing unit on the print medium and corresponding to a plurality of predetermined colors and one or more second patches arranged in a second area different from the first area in the patch chart and pertaining to a color designated by a user; and a control apparatus. The patch chart is configured by arranging multiple patch sequences in parallel, the patch sequence having a plurality of patches arranged in line. The control apparatus causes the color measuring unit to calibrate measurement accuracy of color values before causing the color measuring unit to perform color measurement on patches included in a patch sequence when the patch sequence includes the second patches.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing apparatus such as an inkjet printer, a color measurement method, and a color measurement program to be executed by a computer in the printing apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] As a conventional color measurement system for printed matter, for example, the information processing apparatus of Patent Document 1 is known. This information processing apparatus extracts all the colors represented by the print target data, and obtains the occupancy rate in the print area for each color. The information processing apparatus generates data of a calibration patch image based on this occupancy rate, and prints the calibration patch image by a printer. Then, the information processing apparatus measures the printed calibration patch image with a colorimeter, and corrects the image data of the print target based on this color measurement data.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The information processing apparatus uniformly measures the printed calibration patch image with a colorimeter, and corrects the image data of the print target based on this color measurement data. However, in the method of uniformly measuring the calibration patch image with a colorimeter, the accuracy of color measurement decreases, and there is a risk that the accuracy of color correction decreases.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus, a color measurement method, and a color measurement program that can improve the accuracy of color correction.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The printing apparatus of the present invention comprises a printing unit that prints a patch chart on a printing medium, a colorimetric unit that measures the color of first patches, which are a plurality of patches corresponding to a predetermined plurality of colors and are arranged in a first region of the patch chart printed on the printing medium by the printing unit, and one or more second patches, which are patches for a color specified by the user and are arranged in a second region different from the first region of the patch chart, and a control device, wherein the patch chart is composed of a plurality of parallel rows of patches, each row of patches arranged in a straight line, and the control device, when a second patch is included in the patch row, performs a process to calibrate the accuracy of the color value measurement by the colorimetric unit before causing the colorimetric unit to perform color measurement on the patches included in the patch row.

[0007] According to the present invention, when a second patch is included in a patch sequence, a process is performed to calibrate the accuracy of the color value measurement by the colorimeter before the colorimeter is allowed to perform color measurement on the second patch included in the patch sequence. This improves the accuracy of color measurement for the second patch that the user wishes to color-calibrate, thereby improving the accuracy of the color calibration. This increases user satisfaction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a printing apparatus, a colorimetric method, and a colorimetric program that can improve the accuracy of color proofing. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a plan view showing a colorimetric system according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control system of the printing device. [Figure 3] This figure shows an example of a specified image designated by the user in a preview image related to image data displayed in the user interface. [Figure 4] This figure shows an example of a patch chart printed on a printing medium. [Figure 5]This figure shows another example of a patch chart printed on a printing medium. [Figure 6] This figure shows a patch column table that stores patch column information. [Figure 7] This figure shows a table that maps patch color values ​​to measured color values. [Figure 8] This figure shows an example of the number of placements of the first and second marker images in a patch chart. [Figure 9] This figure shows an example of the relationship between the number of color measurements and calibration. [Figure 10] This figure shows the raw colorimetric waveform data in Figure 9. [Figure 11] This figure shows another example of the relationship between the number of color measurements and calibration. [Figure 12] This figure shows another example of the relationship between the number of color measurements and calibration. [Figure 13] This figure shows another example of a patch chart printed on a printing medium. [Figure 14] This is a plan view showing a printing apparatus according to one embodiment. [Figure 15] Figure 14 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control system of the printing device. [Figure 16] This figure shows an example of a patch chart printed using the printing device shown in Figure 14. [Figure 17] This figure shows another example of a patch chart printed on a printing medium. [Figure 18] This is a flowchart showing a colorimetric measurement method using a control device according to one embodiment. [Figure 19] This is a diagram showing another example of a colorimeter. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The embodiments described below are merely one embodiment of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and additions, deletions, and modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0011] (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a color measurement system 100 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, the directions orthogonal to each other are taken as the first direction Ds, the second direction Df, and the third direction. In the present embodiment, for example, the first direction Ds is the moving direction of a carriage 41 described later, the second direction Df is the conveyance direction of a printing medium W described later, and the third direction is the vertical direction. In the following description, Ds is referred to as the moving direction, Df is referred to as the conveyance direction, and the third direction is referred to as the vertical direction.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, the color measurement system 100 includes a printing device 1 which is an inkjet printer that prints an image on a printing medium W such as printing paper, a color measuring machine 201 provided separately from the printing device 1, and a personal computer 301.

[0013] The printing device 1 is, for example, of a serial head type and includes a plurality of ejection heads 20, a platen 11, a plurality of tanks 12, a conveyance device 30, and a scanning device 40. Note that the printing device 1 may be of a line head type. In this case, the printing device 1 does not include the scanning device 40, and the ejection head 20 does not move and has a dimension longer than the length of the printing area of the printing medium W in the moving direction Ds.

[0014] The ejection head 20 prints an image on the printing medium W based on image data with the ink of a basic color described later. The image data includes color values. The color values are represented, for example, by RGB values in an RGB color space as color coordinates in a device-dependent color space. The RGB value is represented as one color by a combination of a red color value of 0 to 255, a green color value of 0 to 255, and a blue color value of 0 to 255.

[0015] The ejection head 20 prints a patch chart PT (Figure 4), which will be described in detail later, onto the printing medium W. In this embodiment, the ejection head 20 corresponds to the printing unit. The ejection head 20 includes, for example, two first ejection heads 21 and two second ejection heads 22. The platen 11 has a flat upper surface and defines the distance between the printing medium W placed on its upper surface and the lower surface of the ejection head 20 provided opposite it. The tanks 12 are containers for storing ink, and their number is equal to or greater than the number of ink types. For example, the tanks 12 have four first tanks 12a, each storing one of four basic color inks, and one or more second tanks 12b, each storing one of the special color inks.

[0016] Examples of basic ink colors include cyan, yellow, magenta, and black. Special inks, on the other hand, are inks of different colors from the basic inks, such as red, green, and blue.

[0017] The first tank 12a stores the basic color ink and is connected to the first discharge head 21 via the first channel 13a. The basic color ink is supplied from the first tank 12a to the first discharge head 21 via the first channel 13a. The second tank 12b is connected to the second discharge head 22 via the second channel 13b. When the special color ink is stored in the second tank 12b, the special color ink flows from the second tank 12b to the second channel 13b, fills it, and is supplied to the discharge head 20. Before the special color ink is stored in the second tank 12b, it is filled with a storage liquid different from the special color ink. The first channel 13a and the second channel 13b are, for example, rubber tubes or plastic tubes, preferably those that are resistant to bending.

[0018] The conveying device 30 has, for example, two sets of conveying rollers 31 and a conveying motor 32 (Figure 2). The two sets of conveying rollers 31 are arranged in the conveying direction Df with a platen 11 in between them. Each conveying roller 31 has an axis extending in the direction of movement Ds. Each set of conveying rollers 31 is arranged vertically with the printing medium W between them. One of the conveying rollers 31 in each set is connected to the conveying motor 32. The conveying rollers 31 rotate around their axis when driven by the conveying motor 32, and convey the printing medium W on the platen 11 in the conveying direction Df.

[0019] The scanning device 40 includes a carriage 41, a pair of guide rails 42, a scanning motor 43, and an endless belt 44. The pair of guide rails 42 extend in the direction of movement Ds above the platen 11 so as to sandwich the discharge head 20 between them in the transport direction Df. The carriage 41 holds the discharge head 20 and is supported by the pair of guide rails 42 so as to be movable in the direction of movement Ds. The endless belt 44 extends in the direction of movement Ds and is attached to the carriage 41 and is attached to the scanning motor 43 via a pulley 45. When the scanning motor 43 is driven, the endless belt 44 travels and the carriage 41 reciprocates along the guide rails 42 in the direction of movement Ds. This causes the carriage 41 to move the discharge head 20 in the direction of movement Ds.

[0020] The colorimeter 201 is connected to the personal computer 301 via a network such as a wired LAN or wireless LAN. The colorimeter 201 has a base 202 and an arm 204. The base 202 is positioned in the colorimeter system 100, for example, at a predetermined location on the side of the printing device 1. The base 202 is provided with a white reference 210 for a process (hereinafter sometimes referred to as calibration) to calibrate the accuracy of color value measurement by the colorimeter unit 208 described below. The white reference 210 is positioned within a range that can be measured by the colorimeter unit 208. For example, the white reference 210 is positioned within a range that the colorimeter unit 208 can move by the arm 204 in the movement direction Ds, and within a range that can face the colorimeter unit 208 in the vertical direction. The white reference 210 has a predetermined color value, which is represented by a color value that is a color coordinate in a device-independent color space, such as a Lab value. In calibration, the white reference 210 is measured by the colorimeter unit 208, and its measured color value is obtained. Then, the color value of a predetermined white standard 210 is obtained from the storage unit, and the measurement accuracy of the colorimeter 208 is calibrated based on the color value, the measured colorimetric value, and the colorimetric conditions.

[0021] The arm 204 has, for example, a first link 205 and a second link 206. The base end of the first link 205 is connected to the base 202 by, for example, a first revolute joint 203. The first revolute joint 203 has an actuator such as a motor and rotates the arm 204 relative to the base 202 about a central axis in the vertical direction. The base end of the second link 206 is connected to the tip of the first link 205 by a second revolute joint 207. The second revolute joint 207 has an actuator such as a motor and rotates the second link 206 relative to the first link 205 about a central axis in the vertical direction. The tip of the second link 206 is connected to the colorimeter 208 by, for example, a linear joint 209. The linear joint 209 has a linear actuator such as a motor and a solenoid and moves the colorimeter 208 vertically relative to the second link 206. In this way, the colorimeter 208 is moved three-dimensionally.

[0022] The colorimeter 208 is, for example, a spectrophotometer and a colorimeter, and has a light-emitting element 211 (Figure 13) and a light-receiving element 212 (Figure 13). The light-emitting element 211 is, for example, a light source such as an illuminant D65, C, or A, and irradiates light onto a patch P (Figure 4) on the printing medium W. The light-receiving element 212 receives the light emitted from the light-emitting element 211 and reflected by the patch P. The colorimeter 208 measures the color of the patch P based on the light received by the light-receiving element 212. This measured color value is expressed as a color value, which is a color coordinate in a device-independent color space, for example, a Lab value in the L*a*b* color space and an XYZ value in the XYZ color space.

[0023] The personal computer 301 is connected to the printing device 1 and the colorimeter 201 via a network such as a wired LAN or wireless LAN. The personal computer 301 includes a user interface 302, a CPU 303, a working memory 304, a storage unit 305, and a data input / output unit 306. The user interface 302 processes user input and display information for the user, and includes input devices such as a keyboard and mouse, as well as a display. The storage unit 305 is, for example, a hard disk. The CPU 303 executes various processes according to the program stored in the storage unit 305, and the working memory 304 is used as a work area during these processes. The data input / output unit 306 is used as an interface for inputting and outputting image data as data to be printed. The user can use the user interface 302 of the personal computer 301 to send instructions to the printing device 1 to print the patch chart PT (Figure 4).

[0024] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control system of the printing apparatus 1 in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 2, the ejection head 20 has a plurality of drive elements 25. The drive elements 25 are piezoelectric elements, heating elements, electrostatic actuators, etc., and are provided in correspondence with the nozzles 27 of the ejection head 20, and apply pressure to the ink to eject ink droplets from the nozzles 27.

[0025] The printing device 1 further includes a display device 14, an input device 15, and a control device 50. The control device 50 has an interface 51, an arithmetic unit 52, and a storage unit 53. The interface 51 receives various data, such as image data, from external devices 200 such as a computer, camera, communication network, recording medium, display, and printer. The image data is raster data that shows the image to be printed on the printing medium W, and includes information on printing conditions, including the type of the printing medium W. The control device 50 may consist of a single device, or multiple devices may be distributed and configured to cooperate in the operation of the printing device 1.

[0026] The storage unit 53 stores the patch chart PT (Figure 4). The storage unit 53 is a memory accessible from the arithmetic unit 52 and includes RAM and ROM. The RAM temporarily stores various data, such as data received from an external device 200, such as image data, and data converted by the arithmetic unit 52. The ROM stores printing programs, colorimetric programs, and predetermined data for various data processing. The printing program and colorimetric program may be stored on an external storage medium different from the storage unit 53 and accessible from the arithmetic unit 52, such as a CD-ROM.

[0027] The arithmetic unit 52 includes at least one circuit, such as a processor like a CPU and an integrated circuit like an ASIC. The arithmetic unit 52 controls each part by executing a color measurement program and performs various operations such as printing.

[0028] The display device 14 is, for example, a display, which displays images related to image data according to instructions from the control device 50. The input device 15 is, for example, a button, which is operated by the user. Alternatively, the input device 15 may be a touch panel integrated with the display device 14.

[0029] The control device 50 is electrically connected to the transport motor 32 of the transport device 30 via the transport drive circuit 33 and controls the drive of the transport motor 32. This controls the transport of the printing medium W by the transport rollers 31 of the transport device 30. The control device 50 is also electrically connected to the scanning motor 43 of the scanning device 40 via the scanning drive circuit 46 and controls the drive of the scanning motor 43. This controls the movement of the ejection head 20 by the carriage 41 of the scanning device 40. Furthermore, the control device 50 is electrically connected to the drive element 25 via the ejection head drive circuit 26. The control device 50 outputs a control signal for the drive element 25 to the ejection head drive circuit 26, and the head drive circuit 26 generates a drive signal based on the control signal and outputs it to the drive element 25. The drive element 25 is driven according to the drive signal, thereby ejecting ink droplets from the nozzle 27.

[0030] In the printing apparatus 1 having the above configuration, the control device 50 acquires image data and executes a printing operation based on the image data. In this case, the control device 50 moves the ejection head 20 in the movement direction Ds during the printing path and ejects ink from the ejection head 20 onto the printing medium W. The control device 50 then transports the printing medium W forward in the transport direction Df. In this way, the printing apparatus 1 alternately repeats the printing path and the transport operation. As a result, the image related to the image data is printed on the printing medium W.

[0031] Figure 3 shows an example of a specified image designated by the user in the preview image PI related to the image data displayed on the user interface 302.

[0032] In the personal computer 301, the CPU 303 displays a preview image PI related to image data stored in the memory unit 305 on the user interface 302. The preview image PI includes, for example, an apple preview image PI1 and a paprika preview image PI2. When the preview image PI is displayed on the user interface 302, the user specifies the image (pixels) related to the color for which they want to create a patch P (the second patch Ps described later). In Figure 3, the apple preview image PI1, for example, specified by the user, is pointed to by the pointer 302a on the user interface 302. Information related to the image specified by the user is transmitted to the control device 50 of the printing device 1 via the data input / output unit 306.

[0033] Figure 4 shows an example of a patch chart PT printed on a printing medium W. Figure 5 shows another example of a patch chart PT printed on a printing medium W. In Figures 4 and 5, the direction parallel to the direction from upstream to downstream of the transport direction Df is the colorimetric direction Dm.

[0034] As shown in Figure 4, the patch chart PT consists of multiple patches P arranged in a grid pattern in the front-to-back and left-to-right directions. Therefore, the position of patch P in the patch chart PT can be defined by columns and rows. In this case, the position of patch P in the left-to-right direction is defined by columns, and the position of patch P in the front-to-back direction is defined by rows. The patch chart PT includes a first region R1 where the first patch Pb as patch P is arranged, and a second region R2 which is a blank region different from the first region R1 and adjacent to the first region R1 in the movement direction Ds, where the second patch Ps as patch P is arranged. The first region R1 and the second region R2 are formed, for example, in a rectangular shape in plan view. The patch chart PT is composed of multiple parallel patch rows PR in which multiple patches P are arranged linearly along the transport direction Df. The first patch Pb is arranged in the first region R1 forming a patch row PR, and the second patch Ps is arranged in the second region R2 forming a patch row PR.

[0035] The first patch Pb is a patch P placed at a predetermined position on the patch chart PT corresponding to each of the multiple basic colors in the image data. In contrast, the second patch Ps is a patch P generated by the control device 50 for the color specified by the user in the preview image PI described above. In the preview image PI shown in Figure 3 described above, the patch P for the color of the image specified by the user is placed as the second patch Ps in the second region R2 of the patch chart PT. When the control device 50 generates the second patch Ps, it generates raster data including the ink color, droplet size, and ink droplet ejection order (arrangement) for forming the patch P related to the second patch Ps. The first patch Pb is sometimes called a basic patch, and the second patch Ps is sometimes called an important patch.

[0036] The patch chart PT in Figure 4 includes a dummy patch, called patch Pd1, located at the upstream end of the colorimetric direction Dm. This patch Pd1 is positioned, for example, at the upstream end of the colorimetric direction Dm in the second region R2 of the patch chart PT. Patch Pd1 may be the same color as the first patch Pb or the second patch Ps, or it may be a different color. Furthermore, patch Pd1 may have the same area as the first patch Pb or the second patch Ps, or it may have a different area. Patch Pd1 will be described in more detail later.

[0037] The patch chart PT shown in Figure 5 is basically the same as the patch chart PT in Figure 4, but the position of the dummy patches is different. In the patch chart PT of Figure 5, the patch row PR may have a coexisting patch row PRc that includes a first patch Pb and a patch Pd2 different from the first patch Pb in the same row. The coexisting patch row PRc includes a plurality of first patches Pb located upstream of the colorimetric direction Dm and a plurality of patches Pd2 located downstream of the colorimetric direction Dm. In the example of Figure 5, the plurality of patches Pd2 are arranged so as to be sandwiched between the first patch Pb and the second patch Ps in a direction parallel to the movement direction Ds. Patch Pd2, like patch Pd1, is also called a dummy patch and may be the same color as the first patch Pb or the second patch Ps, or a different color. Furthermore, patch Pd2 may have the same area as the first patch Pb or the second patch Ps, or a different area. Patch Pd2 will be discussed further later.

[0038] Here, when measuring the color of each patch P, it is necessary to perform a process (position correction) to acquire the positional information of that patch P. Therefore, before performing the color measurement of patch P, a process is carried out to acquire the positional information of each patch sequence PR. This will be explained in detail below.

[0039] The user places the printing medium W on which the patch chart PT has been printed by the printing device 1 onto the base 202 of the colorimeter 201. The user then rotates the arm 204 to position the colorimeter 208 toward each of the at least three first marker images Mi1 located on the printing medium W, either surrounding or within the first region R1, as shown in Figure 4. In Figure 4, the first marker images Mi1 can be, for example, a patch P located at the front end of the left edge of the first region R1, a patch P located at the rear end of the left edge of the first region R1, and a portion located at the front end of the right edge of the second region R2. The CPU 303 acquires the position information of the colorimeter 208 when it is facing each first marker image Mi1, based on the rotation angles of the first link 205 and the second link 206 of the arm 204. The CPU 303 may also control the movement of the arm 204. Furthermore, there may be four or more first marker images Mi1.

[0040] Based on the three acquired first marker position information, CPU303 obtains the position information for each of the first patches Pb in the patch chart PT. In this case, since the area of ​​the first region R1, the area of ​​each patch row PR, and the area of ​​each patch P are known, the position information for each of the first patches Pb can be obtained by calculation as long as the three first marker position information is acquired.

[0041] The method for acquiring the position information of the second patch Ps is basically the same as that for the first patch Pb. The user rotates the arm 204 to position the colorimeter 208 opposite each of the at least three second marker images Mi2 located around or within the second region R2 on the printing medium W. In Figure 4, the second marker images Mi2 can be, for example, patch P located at the front end of the left end of the second region R2, patch P located at the rear end of the left end of the second region R2, and the portion located at the rear end of the right end of the second region R2 (patch Pd1 in Figure 4). The CPU 303 acquires the second marker position information, which is the position information of the colorimeter 208 when it is positioned opposite each second marker image Mi2, based on the first marker position information and the rotation angles of the first link 205 and the second link 206 of the arm 204. Note that there may be four or more second marker images Mi2. Based on the acquired location information of the three second markers, CPU303 obtains the location information of each second patch Ps in the patch chart PT.

[0042] Figure 6 shows the patch column table Tp which stores patch column information. As described above, after obtaining the position information of each first patch Pb and each second patch Ps in the patch chart PT, the CPU 303 generates the patch column table Tp and stores it in the storage unit 305. As shown in Figure 6, the patch column table Tp is a table that shows for each patch column PR whether or not the second patch Ps exist, the number of patches P placed, the starting position of the patch column PR (specifically, the x and y coordinates of the patch P located upstream of the colorimetric direction Dm), and the ending position of the patch column PR (specifically, the x and y coordinates of the patch P located downstream of the colorimetric direction Dm). Based on the patch column table Tp, the CPU 303 calculates and obtains the position of each patch P in each patch column PR. The information on whether or not the second patch Ps exist and the number of patches P placed is stored in advance in the patch column table Tp.

[0043] In the colorimetric system 100, when measuring the color of patch P on patch chart PT, the user rotates the arm 204 to position the colorimetric unit 208 toward the patch P to be measured. In this state, the light-emitting element 211 of the colorimetric unit 208 shines light onto the patch P. The light-receiving element 212 of the colorimetric unit 208 receives the light that has been emitted from the light-emitting element 211 and reflected by patch P. The colorimetric unit 208 measures the color of patch P based on the light received by the light-receiving element 212. The measured color value is transmitted to the CPU 303 via the data input / output unit 306, and the CPU 303 receives the measured color value.

[0044] Figure 7 shows a table Ta in which the color values ​​and measured values ​​of patch P are associated. In table Ta, the type, position, color value, and measured value of patch P are associated for each patch P, indicating whether it is the first patch Pb or the second patch Ps. Table Ta is stored in the storage unit 305. The CPU 303 stores the received measured value in table Ta as the measured value for the first patch Pb or the second patch Ps.

[0045] Figure 8 shows an example of the number of placements of the first marker image Mi1 and the second marker image Mi2 in a patch chart PT.

[0046] In this embodiment, more second marker position information may be acquired than first marker position information. As shown in Figure 8, the number and arrangement of the first marker images Mi1 are the same as in Figure 4. There are three first marker images Mi1. In contrast, for the second marker images Mi2, for example, six additional second marker images Mi2 can be added to the three second marker images Mi2 shown in Figure 4. These six second marker images Mi2 are a second patch Ps or portion positioned to surround the second region R2. Based on the first marker images Mi1 and second marker images Mi2 arranged in this way, first marker position information and second marker position information are acquired. Note that the number and arrangement of the first marker images Mi1 and second marker images Mi2 are not limited to the example in Figure 8 and can be set arbitrarily.

[0047] Figure 9 shows an example of the relationship between the number of color measurements and calibration of the colorimeter 208. Figure 10 shows the plotted data of one colorimetric value waveform WF in Figure 9. As shown in Figure 10, the colorimetric values ​​are represented as plotted data, but in Figure 9, for simplification, this plotted data is represented as a waveform curve.

[0048] As shown in Figure 9, if the colorimeter 208 continues to measure the color of patch P, the brightness of the measured colorimetric value decreases. More specifically, after each calibration is completed, the brightness of the measured colorimetric value tends to be relatively high for a predetermined number of measurements, but after that, the brightness of the measured colorimetric value tends to be relatively low. Therefore, in this embodiment, in order to further improve the reliability of the measured colorimetric value, the colorimeter 208 measures patch P (including the first patch Pb and the second patch Ps) immediately after calibration. More specifically, the colorimetric measurement of patch P is performed by measuring color a predetermined number of times after each calibration.

[0049] For example, in Figure 9, colorimetric measurements for patch P are performed in the following intervals: KN from the first measurement to a predetermined number of measurements; KN from the first calibration in period N1 to a predetermined number of measurements; and KN from the second calibration in period N2 to a predetermined number of measurements.

[0050] Alternatively, colorimetric measurements for patch P may be performed as follows. Figure 11 shows another example of the relationship between the number of color measurements and calibration.

[0051] As shown in Figure 11, the colorimeter 208 is calibrated after a predetermined number of color measurements are performed on patch P. In Figure 11, N1 indicates the timing of the first calibration, which is performed after a predetermined number of color measurements have been completed on the first patch Pb, and N2 indicates the timing of the second calibration, which is performed after the first calibration and after a predetermined number of color measurements have been completed on the first patch Pb.

[0052] Here, even if it is still possible to perform continuous color measurement on the first patch Pb after the second calibration at time N2, if the patch sequence PR includes the second patch Ps, the colorimeter 208 is calibrated before performing color measurement on the patch P included in the patch sequence PR (i.e., only the second patch Ps, and the first patch Pb and second patch Ps included in the coexisting patch sequence PRc). For this reason, the third calibration when performing color measurement on the second patch Ps is performed at time N3, after fewer color measurements have been completed than the number of color measurements used as the basis for the first and second calibrations. That is, while continuously measuring the first patch Pb, the colorimeter 208 is calibrated after each first specified number of color measurements, and while continuously measuring the second patch Ps, the colorimeter 208 is calibrated after each second specified number of color measurements, which is fewer than the first specified number. As a result, the frequency of calibration for color measurement on the second patch Ps is higher than the frequency of calibration for color measurement on the first patch Pb. In Figure 11, for example, patches P from the 730th onward become the second patch Ps, so the above time N3 corresponds to the point when, for example, color measurement for the 729th first patch Pb is completed.

[0053] On the other hand, in Figure 11, after each calibration is completed, the brightness of the measured colorimetric values ​​tends to be relatively high up to a predetermined number of times, but after that, the brightness of the measured colorimetric values ​​tends to be relatively low. Therefore, in order to further improve the reliability of the measured colorimetric values, the colorimetric unit 208 performs color measurement on the second patch Ps immediately after calibration. More specifically, the colorimetric measurement on the second patch Ps is performed by performing color measurements a predetermined number of times after each calibration. In Figure 11, the colorimetric measurement on the second patch Ps is performed a predetermined number of times between the calibration performed at time N3 and the calibration performed at time N4, and a predetermined number of times between the calibration performed at time N4 and the calibration performed at time N5. The same applies from time N5 onwards.

[0054] Alternatively, colorimetric measurements for the second patch Ps may be performed as follows. Figure 12 shows another example of the relationship between the number of color measurements and calibration.

[0055] As shown in Figure 12, immediately after each calibration is completed, the difference between the maximum and minimum brightness values ​​of each colorimetric value tends to be relatively large for a predetermined number of measurements. In other words, the variation in colorimetric values ​​is relatively large for a predetermined number of measurements immediately after calibration. Therefore, color measurement is performed on the second patch Ps during color measurement sessions where the variation in colorimetric values ​​is relatively small. Specifically, the CPU 303 acquires the colorimetric values ​​obtained from the first predetermined number of measurements to the second predetermined number of measurements, based on the calibration time of the colorimetric unit 208, as colorimetric values ​​obtained from color measurement on the second patch Ps. Specifically, in Figure 12, in the colorimetric interval KD from the calibration at time N3 to the first predetermined number of measurements (color measurement at time N4), the CPU 303 performs color measurement on the aforementioned dummy patches Pd1 and Pd2 a predetermined number of times. After that, in the colorimetric interval KS from the first predetermined number of measurements to the second predetermined number of measurements (color measurement at time N5), the CPU 303 performs color measurement on the second patch Ps. This makes it possible to suppress variations in the colorimetric values ​​of the second patch Ps.

[0056] Here, as described above, the patch chart PT may be formed such that the number of color measurements from the first predetermined number (color measurement at time N4 in Figure 12) to the second predetermined number (color measurement at time N5 in the same figure) are the number of color measurements for the second patch Ps, without performing color measurements on the dummy patch. This will be explained in detail below.

[0057] Figure 13 shows another example of a patch chart PT printed on a printing medium W. The patch chart PT shown in Figure 13 is different from the patch chart PT in Figure 4. Specifically, in the patch chart PT of Figure 13, a patch row PR containing a number of first patches Pb corresponding to a first predetermined number of measurements, a patch row PR containing a number of second patches Ps corresponding to the number of measurements from the first predetermined number to the second predetermined number of measurements (i.e., the number of measurements in the above-mentioned colorimetric interval KS), and a patch row PR containing a number of first patches Pb corresponding to the number of measurements from the second predetermined number to the third predetermined number of measurements are arranged in this order in a predetermined arrangement direction Da. The arrangement direction Da is perpendicular to the colorimetric direction Dm. For the sake of ease of understanding in Figure 13, the patch row PR containing the second patches Ps corresponding to the above-mentioned colorimetric interval KS is colored gray.

[0058] The CPU 303 can perform color measurement on each patch row PR on the patch chart PT sequentially along the array direction Da using the colorimeter 208. The CPU 303 also performs color measurement a third predetermined number of times, which is at least a second predetermined number of times, based on the previous calibration (time N3 in Figure 12), and then performs calibration of the colorimeter 208.

[0059] (Second Embodiment) The printing apparatus 1A according to the second embodiment is basically the same as the printing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment, but differs from the first embodiment in that the printing apparatus 1A has a built-in colorimeter 70. Also, the colorimetric processing by the CPU 303 in the first embodiment can be performed in the same way by the control device 50 of the second embodiment, so a description is omitted. In this embodiment, the calculation unit 52 corresponds to the computer and the colorimetric control means. In the following, for the printing apparatus 1A of the second embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for components that are the same as those in the printing apparatus 1 of the first embodiment, and their descriptions may be omitted.

[0060] Figure 14 is a plan view showing a printing apparatus 1A according to the second embodiment. Figure 15 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control system of the printing apparatus 1A in Figure 14. As shown in Figure 14, in addition to the configuration of the printing apparatus 1, the printing apparatus 1A includes another transport roller 31 having the same function as the transport roller 31 in the printing apparatus 1, a pair of guide rails 60, a scanning device 65 having a scanning motor 61, an endless belt 62, a pulley 63, and a colorimeter 70. The colorimeter 70, like the colorimeter 201 in the first embodiment, has a base 202, a first rotary joint 203, an arm 204, a second rotary joint 207, a colorimeter 208, a linear joint 209, and a white reference 210.

[0061] A pair of guide rails 60 are positioned downstream of the carriage 41 in the transport direction Df. The pair of guide rails 60 extend in the movement direction Ds. The transport rollers 31 are positioned downstream of the pair of guide rails 60 in the transport direction Df. An endless belt 62 extends in the movement direction Ds and is attached to the base 202 of the colorimeter 70 and is attached to the scanning motor 61 via a pulley 63. When the scanning motor 61 is driven, the endless belt 62 travels, and the base 202 reciprocates along the guide rails 60 in the movement direction Ds. This causes the base 202 to move the colorimeter 208 in the movement direction Ds. The base 202 corresponds to the moving part.

[0062] As shown in Figure 15, the control device 50 is electrically connected to the scanning motor 61 via the scanning drive circuit 64 and controls the drive of the scanning motor 61. This controls the movement of the colorimeter 208 by the base 202 in the movement direction Ds. The control device 50 is also connected to a rotary actuator 91, which is composed of, for example, a motor, via the rotary drive circuit 90. This controls the rotational movement of the arm 204 by the rotary joints 203 and 207 described above.

[0063] Furthermore, the colorimeter 70 includes a linear drive circuit 80, a linear actuator 81 (including, for example, a motor) attached to the linear joint 209, and a linear sensor 82 to move the colorimeter 208 vertically. The linear actuator 81 moves the colorimeter 208 up and down, bringing it into contact with or away from the printing medium W. The control device 50 is connected to the linear actuator 81 via the linear drive circuit 80 and also to the linear sensor 82. The linear sensor 82 is, for example, an encoder, and detects the amount of movement of the linear actuator 81. The control device 50 controls the operation of the linear actuator 81 based on the detection result from the linear sensor 82. As a result, the vertical movement of the colorimeter 208 is controlled based on the detection result from the linear sensor 82.

[0064] Thus, the printing apparatus 1A includes, as means for relatively moving the printing medium W and the colorimeter 208, a transport device 30 for transporting the printing medium W in the transport direction Df, a base 202 for moving the colorimeter 208 along the movement direction Ds, a rotary actuator 91 for moving the colorimeter 208 in the movement direction Ds and the transport direction Df, and a linear actuator 81 for moving the colorimeter 208 in the vertical direction.

[0065] Figure 16 shows an example of a patch chart PT printed on a printing medium W by the printing device 1A of Figure 14. Unlike the patch chart PT in the colorimetric system 100, the colorimetric direction Dm in the patch chart PT of Figure 16 is parallel to the direction moving from one side (left) to the other side (right) of the movement direction Ds. The control device 50 controls the movement of the base 202 and the rotation of the arm 204 of the colorimeter 70 in the movement direction Ds, and causes the colorimetric unit 208 to perform color measurements on multiple patches P in the patch row PR along the colorimetric direction Dm along the patch row PR.

[0066] The position of patch P in the patch chart PT of Figure 16 is the same as in the first embodiment (Figure 4, etc.) in that it can be defined by columns and rows, but the position in the left-right direction of the patch chart PT is defined by rows, and the position in the front-back direction is defined by columns. The first region R1 and the second region R2 of the patch chart PT are adjacent in the transport direction Df. The second region R2 is located upstream of the first region R1 in the transport direction Df. The first patch Pb and the second patch Ps are arranged, for example, in the first region R1 or the second region R2, starting from the downstream side of the transport direction Df and one side (right side) of the movement direction Ds. Such arrangement is carried out for each patch column PR toward the upstream side of the transport direction Df. In the patch chart PT of Figure 16, the dummy patch Pd1 is located, for example, at the downstream end of the colorimetric direction Dm in the second region R2.

[0067] In this embodiment as well, similar to Figure 11 of the first embodiment, if the patch sequence PR includes a second patch Ps, the colorimeter 208 calibration is performed before performing color measurement on the second patch Ps.

[0068] Furthermore, in this embodiment as well, similar to Figure 12 of the first embodiment, the control device 50 acquires the color measurement results from a first predetermined number of measurements to a second predetermined number of measurements, based on the calibration time of the colorimeter 208, as the color measurement value for the second patch Ps. Specifically, in the color measurement interval KD from the calibration at time N3 in Figure 12 to the first predetermined number of measurements (color measurement at time N4 in the same figure), the control device 50 performs color measurement on the dummy patch Pd1 a predetermined number of times. Subsequently, in the color measurement interval KS from the first predetermined number of measurements to the second predetermined number of measurements (color measurement at time N5 in the same figure), the control device 50 performs color measurement on the second patch Ps. This makes it possible to suppress variations in the color measurement value of the second patch Ps.

[0069] Figure 17 shows another example of a patch chart PT printed on a printing medium W. The patch chart PT shown in Figure 17 is basically the same in concept as the patch chart PT in Figure 13. That is, in the patch chart PT of Figure 17, a patch row PR containing a number of first patches Pb corresponding to a first predetermined number of times, a patch row PR containing a number of second patches Ps corresponding to the number of color measurements in the color measurement section KS above, and a patch row PR containing a number of first patches Pb corresponding to the number of color measurements in the second predetermined number of times to a third predetermined number are arranged in this order in a predetermined arrangement direction Da. The control device 50 causes the color measurement unit 208 to perform color measurements on the patch row PR on the patch chart PT in order along the arrangement direction Da. Note that the arrangement direction Da is the direction orthogonal to the color measurement direction Dm in Figure 17. Also, in Figure 17, for ease of understanding, the patch row PR containing the second patches Ps corresponding to the color measurement section KS above is colored gray.

[0070] Figure 18 is a flowchart showing the color measurement method by the control device 50 according to this embodiment. The flowchart in Figure 18 is executed by the control device 50 when, for example, the user instructs the user to rewrite table Ta. Before the processing in the flowchart in Figure 18, the control device 50 obtains patch creation conditions from an external device 200 or input device 15, etc. The patch creation conditions are, for example, the size or type of the printing medium W for printing patch P, the size of patch P, etc. Subsequently, the control device 50 forms a first patch Pb in the patch chart PT based on the above patch creation conditions, and also obtains information (color information) related to the preview image PI corresponding to the position specified by the user from the image data and forms a second patch Ps in the patch chart PT.

[0071] As shown in Figure 18, the control device 50 first obtains color measurement conditions, including the number of patches P in the patch chart PT, the type of light-emitting element 211 of the colorimetric unit 208, and the user's observation field of view angle, from an external device 200 or an input device 15, etc. (Step S1).

[0072] Next, the control device 50 acquires positional information for the second patch Ps (step S2). In this case, the control device 50 acquires positional information for the second patch Ps for each patch sequence PR from an external device 200 or an input device 15, etc.

[0073] Next, the control device 50 performs the position correction process described above (step S3). Then, the control device 50 performs calibration of the colorimetric unit 208 (step S4). In this case, the control device 50 performs calibration based on the colorimetric conditions acquired in step S1.

[0074] Next, the control device 50 acquires information for each patch column PR as patch column information, based on the patch column table Tp described above, regarding whether or not the second patch Ps is included in each patch column PR (step S5). Then, the control device 50 determines whether or not the second patch Ps is included in each patch column PR (step S6). If the second patch Ps is included in the patch column PR (Yes in step S6), the control device 50 causes the colorimeter 208 to perform calibration (step S7).

[0075] On the other hand, if the second patch Ps is not included in the patch sequence PR (No in step S6), and after processing in step S7, the control device 50 causes the colorimeter 208 to perform color measurement (step S8).

[0076] The control device 50 then determines whether or not it has completed measuring the color of all patch rows PR in the patch chart PT (step S9). If it has completed measuring the color of all patch rows PR (Yes in step S9), the control device 50 completes the process. On the other hand, if it has not completed measuring the color of all patch rows PR (No in step S9), the control device 50 determines whether or not it is time for calibration (step S10). In this case, the control device 50 determines the timing for calibration based on a comparison between the information related to a predetermined number of times stored in the storage unit 53 and the color measurement instruction to the color measurement unit 208. If it is time for calibration (Yes in step S10), the control device 50 causes the color measurement unit 208 to perform calibration (step S11). On the other hand, if it is not time for calibration (No in step S10), and after the processing in step S11, the control device 50 returns to the processing in step S5 and repeats the subsequent processing.

[0077] As described above, according to the colorimetric system 100 of the first embodiment and the printing apparatus 1A of the second embodiment, when a second patch Ps is included in the patch row PR, calibration of the colorimetric unit 208 is performed before the colorimetric unit 208 is made to perform color measurement on the patch P included in the patch row PR. This improves the accuracy of color measurement for the second patch Ps that the user wants to color-proof, thereby improving the accuracy of color proofing. This increases user satisfaction.

[0078] Furthermore, immediately after each calibration is completed, there is a large variation in the measured color values ​​for a predetermined number of measurements. Therefore, in each of the above embodiments, the measured color values ​​obtained from the first predetermined number of measurements to the second predetermined number of measurements are acquired as the measured color values ​​for the second patch Ps, based on the calibration time of the colorimeter 208. This makes it possible to suppress the variation in the measured color values ​​of the second patch Ps that are acquired.

[0079] Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, after calibration, in the color measurement section KD up to the first predetermined number of measurements, color measurements are performed on dummy patches, patches Pd1 and Pd2, a predetermined number of times. This makes it possible to perform color measurements on the second patch Ps in the color measurement section KS from the first predetermined number of measurements to the second predetermined number of measurements, based on the calibration time of the color measurement unit 208.

[0080] Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, a patch chart PT can be employed in which a patch row PR containing a number of first patches Pb corresponding to a first predetermined number of repetitions, a patch row PR containing a number of second patches Ps corresponding to the first to second predetermined number of repetitions, and a patch row PR containing a number of first patches Pb corresponding to the second to third predetermined number of repetitions are arranged in this order along the array direction Da. Color measurement is performed sequentially by the colorimeter 208 on the patch row PR on the patch chart PT along the array direction Da. This eliminates the need to separately form dummy patches to be color-measured in the color measurement section KD up to the first predetermined number of repetitions after calibration.

[0081] Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, while continuously measuring the color of the first patch Pb, the colorimeter 208 is calibrated after each first predetermined number of color measurements, and while continuously measuring the color of the second patch Ps, the colorimeter 208 is calibrated after each second predetermined number of color measurements, which is fewer than the first predetermined number of measurements. This makes it possible to make the calibration frequency for color measurements of the second patch Ps higher than the calibration frequency for color measurements of the first patch Pb. This makes it possible to improve the reliability of the color measurement values ​​of the second patch Ps.

[0082] Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, more second marker position information is acquired than first marker position information. This makes it possible to appropriately acquire position information for the second patch Ps, for which relatively high-precision color measurement is desired.

[0083] Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, it is determined whether or not the second patch Ps is included in each patch column PR based on the patch column table Tp. This makes it possible to quickly and easily determine whether or not the second patch Ps is included in the patch column PR.

[0084] (modified version) The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the following:

[0085] Figure 19 shows a modified colorimeter 70A of the colorimeter 70 in Figure 14. In the colorimeter 70 of Figure 14, an arm 204 having two links (first link 205 and second link 206) is employed, but it is not limited to this. As shown in Figure 19, a colorimeter 70A having only one link 206 may also be employed. In this case, the number of components to be controlled can be reduced compared to the colorimeter 70 of Figure 14.

[0086] Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, when the patch sequence PR includes the second patch Ps, the colorimeter 208 is calibrated before performing color measurement on the patches P included in the patch sequence PR (i.e., only the second patch Ps, and the first patch Pb and second patch Ps included in the coexisting patch sequence PRc). However, the calibration of the colorimeter 208 may also be performed before color measurement even when the patch sequence PR includes only the first patch Pb.

[0087] Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, color measurement was performed on dummy patches Pd1 and Pd2 in the color measurement interval KD from the calibration at time N3 up to the first predetermined number of measurements (color measurement at time N4), but this is not limited to this. The target of color measurement in the color measurement interval KD may be any patch other than the second patch Ps, in which case color measurement may be performed on the first patch Pb.

[0088] Furthermore, although inkjet printers were given as examples of printing devices 1 and 1A in the above embodiments, the printing devices 1 and 1A are not limited to these, and may be other printers such as laser printers or thermal printers. A laser printer includes a printing unit. The printing unit of a laser printer includes an image carrier such as a photosensitive drum or photosensitive belt, a charging unit that charges the image carrier by contact or non-contact, an exposure unit that forms an electrostatic latent image on the charged image carrier using a laser semiconductor or the like (so-called exposure), a toner cartridge or developing cartridge that supplies toner to the image carrier on which the electrostatic latent image has been formed, a transfer unit such as a transfer roller or transfer belt that directly transfers the toner image developed on the image carrier to the printing medium, and a fixing unit such as a fixing roller or fixing belt that heat-fixes the toner transferred to the printing medium. The laser printer is not limited to the direct tandem type described above, but may also be an intermediate transfer type laser printer, in which the toner image developed on the image carrier is transferred to an intermediate transfer belt, and then transferred from the intermediate transfer belt to the printing medium using a transfer unit. A thermal printer also includes a printing unit. The printing unit of a thermal printer comprises a thermal head and an ink ribbon. The thermal head is in contact with the ink ribbon and, when transferring the ink from the ink ribbon to the printing medium, heats up a corresponding heating element, thereby transferring the ink from the ink ribbon to the printing medium.

[0089] Furthermore, although the printing devices 1 and 1A in the above embodiments are described as using a serial head system, the invention is not limited to this, and a line head system may also be used.

[0090] Furthermore, although multiple links are provided on the colorimeter 70 in each of the above embodiments, a configuration is also possible in which only a linear joint 209 is provided on the base 202 without providing such links. In this case, the movement of the colorimeter 208 in the movement direction Ds is performed by the base 202, and the vertical movement of the colorimeter 208 is performed by the linear actuator 81 of the linear joint 209.

[0091] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the CPU 303 acquired the position information of each of the second patches Ps in the patch chart PT based on the three acquired second marker position information, but it is not limited to this, and the CPU 303 may also acquire the position information of each of the second patches Ps in the patch chart PT based on the acquired first marker position information and second marker position information.

[0092] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the control device 50 executes the flowchart in Figure 18 when instructed by the user to rewrite table Ta, but is not limited to this. The control device 50 may also execute the flowchart in Figure 18 when it receives a print job. When the control device 50 executes the flowchart in Figure 18 when it receives a print job, after color measurement for all patch rows PR is completed (Yes in step S9), it then starts printing on the print medium W based on the print job. The flowchart in Figure 18 may be terminated when printing on the print medium W is finished.

[0093] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a patch Pd1, called a dummy patch, is placed at the upstream end of the colorimetric direction Dm in the second region R2 of the patch chart PT, or a patch Pd2, also called a dummy patch, is placed in the coexisting patch row PRc. However, the placement of dummy patches is not limited to these. For example, a dummy patch may be placed at the downstream end of the colorimetric direction Dm in the second region R2 of the patch chart PT in Figure 4, or it may be placed outside the first region R1 and the second region R2. [Explanation of symbols]

[0094] 1,1A printing device 20 Discharge heads 50 Control device 100 colorimetric systems 208 Color measurement section Da array direction Dm color measurement direction Mi1 First Marker Image Mi2 Second Marker Image P Patch Pb Patch 1 PR patch row PRc coexisting patch sequence Ps. 2nd Patch PT Patch Chart R1 1st area R2 2nd area Tp Patch Column Table W Printing medium

Claims

1. A printing unit that prints a patch chart onto the printing medium, A colorimeter unit measures the color of a first patch, which is a plurality of patches corresponding to a predetermined number of colors, located in a first region of the patch chart printed on the printing medium by the printing unit, and one or more second patches, which are patches for colors specified by the user, located in a second region different from the first region of the patch chart. A control device is provided, The aforementioned patch chart is composed of multiple rows of patches arranged in a straight line, with each row of patches being arranged in parallel. The control device is A printing apparatus that, when the patch row includes the second patch, performs a process to calibrate the accuracy of the color value measurement by the colorimeter before having the colorimeter perform color measurement on the patch included in the patch row.

2. The control device is The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the color measurement values ​​obtained by color measurement for the second patch are the color measurement results obtained by color measurement from a first predetermined number of times to a second predetermined number of times, with reference to the time of calibration of the color measurement unit.

3. The colorimeter performs color measurement of the plurality of patches in the patch row along the colorimeter direction along the patch row. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control device causes the colorimeter to perform color measurements by the colorimeter from the time of calibration up to a first predetermined number of times on the patch located at the upstream end in the colorimeter direction among the plurality of patches in the patch row.

4. The aforementioned patch column has a coexisting patch column that includes the first patch and a patch different from the first patch in the same column. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control device causes the colorimeter to perform color measurements by the colorimeter from the time of calibration up to a first predetermined number of times on a patch among the patches included in the coexisting patch row that is different from the first patch.

5. The control device performs calibration of the colorimeter unit when it has performed color measurement a third predetermined number of times, which is more than the second predetermined number of times, based on the previous calibration time. In the patch chart, a patch column containing a number of first patches corresponding to the first predetermined number of repetitions, a patch column containing a number of second patches corresponding to the first to second predetermined number of repetitions, and a patch column containing a number of first patches corresponding to the second to third predetermined number of repetitions are arranged in this order in a predetermined arrangement direction. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control device causes the colorimeter to perform color measurement on the patch rows on the patch chart in order along the arrangement direction.

6. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control device calibrates the colorimeter unit every time it performs a first predetermined number of color measurements while continuously measuring the color of the first patch, and calibrates the colorimeter unit every second predetermined number of color measurements which is less than the first predetermined number while continuously measuring the color of the second patch.

7. The control device is A process for acquiring first marker position information, which is the position information of the colorimeter when the colorimeter is positioned opposite each of at least three first marker images that are placed on the printing medium at positions surrounding the first region or within the first region, A process to obtain the position information of each of the first patches in the patch chart based on the first marker position information, A process for acquiring second marker position information, which is the position information of the colorimeter when the colorimeter is positioned opposite at least one second marker image located on the printing medium at a position surrounding the second region or at a position within the second region, Based on the second marker position information, the process of obtaining the position information of each of the second patches in the patch chart is performed. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, which acquires more second marker position information than first marker position information.

8. The control device is A process to generate a patch column table that includes information on whether or not the second patch is included in one of the patch columns, and information on the number of the second patch in the one patch column, based on a color specified by the user. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, which performs a process of determining whether or not the second patch is included in the patch column based on the patch column table.

9. A colorimetric method using a colorimetric unit that measures the color of a first patch, which is a plurality of patches corresponding to a predetermined plurality of colors, located in a first area of ​​a patch chart printed on a printing medium, and one or more second patches, which are patches for a color specified by a user, located in a second area different from the first area of ​​the patch chart, The aforementioned patch chart is composed of multiple rows of patches arranged in a straight line, with each row of patches being arranged in parallel. A color measurement method in which, when the patch row includes the second patch, a process is performed to calibrate the accuracy of the color value measurement by the color measurement unit before performing color measurement on the patch included in the patch row.

10. A colorimetric program to be executed by a computer that controls a colorimetric unit that measures the color of a first patch, which is a plurality of patches corresponding to a predetermined plurality of colors, located in a first area of ​​a patch chart printed on a printing medium, and one or more second patches, which are patches for a color specified by the user, located in a second area different from the first area of ​​the patch chart, The aforementioned patch chart is composed of multiple rows of patches arranged in a straight line, with each row of patches being arranged in parallel. The aforementioned computer, A colorimetric program that functions as a colorimetric control means, which performs a process to calibrate the accuracy of color value measurement by the colorimetric unit before performing color measurement on the patches included in the patch sequence, when the second patch is included in the aforementioned patch sequence.

Images