Image processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, and program

Abstract

To provide an image processing apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and a program that can more suitably form patches for image quality adjustment.SOLUTION: A print controller 5 as an image processing apparatus comprises: a detection unit (control unit 5a) that detects a blank area in a recording medium (continuous recording medium PM) on which an image according to print data of a print job is not formed; and a control unit 5a that generates image data for printing in which patches for image quality adjustment (patch P1 for gradation correction, patch P2 for coverage ratio correction, and dual purpose patch P3) are arranged in the blank area in the print data detected by the detection unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Claims

1. The control unit detects blank areas in a recording medium where no image is formed by print data of a print job, and generates print image data by placing image quality adjustment patches in the detected blank areas of the print data. The control unit, Based on the ratio of the blank area to the recording medium, the frequency of placing the image quality adjustment patch is determined. An image processing apparatus that, among multiple types of image quality adjustment patches, places the image quality adjustment patch with the highest priority more frequently than a predetermined standard, and places the image quality adjustment patch with the lowest priority less frequently than a predetermined standard.

2. A control unit that detects blank areas in a recording medium where no image is formed by print data of a print job, and generates print image data in which an image quality adjustment patch is placed in the detected blank areas of the print data, The control unit, Determine whether the size of the blank area is less than a predetermined threshold, An image processing device that, when it is determined that the size of the blank area is less than the threshold, places a patch having the function of multiple types of image quality adjustment patches.

3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit detects the blank area by analyzing the RIP image data obtained by RIP processing the print data.

4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit detects the blank area by analyzing the description language of the print data.

5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the image quality adjustment patch includes a gradation correction patch and a coverage rate correction patch.

6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the control unit arranges the image quality adjustment patches in order of the highest priority set in the plurality of types of image quality adjustment patches.

7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the control unit accepts the setting of the priority order by user operation.

8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit places the image quality adjustment patch, which has no restrictions on placement, in an area other than the area where the image quality adjustment patch, which has restrictions on placement, is placed.

9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the control unit is capable of arranging the image quality adjustment patch, which has no restrictions on its placement position, throughout the entire blank area.

10. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, An image forming apparatus comprising an image forming unit that forms an image on the recording medium based on the printable image data.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the recording medium includes a continuous recording medium.

12. A print controller that performs predetermined processing on the print data of a print job, It comprises a main body and, The print controller detects blank areas in the recording medium where no image is formed by the print data, and transmits the detection result to the main unit. The main body is, A control unit that generates print image data by placing image quality adjustment patches in the blank areas detected by the print controller of the print data, The recording medium comprises an image forming unit that forms an image based on the printable image data, The control unit, Based on the ratio of the blank area to the recording medium, the frequency of placing the image quality adjustment patch is determined. An image forming apparatus that, among multiple types of image quality adjustment patches, places the image quality adjustment patch with the highest priority more frequently than a predetermined standard, and places the image quality adjustment patch with the lowest priority less frequently than a predetermined standard.

13. A print controller that performs predetermined processing on the print data of a print job, It comprises a main body and, The print controller detects blank areas in the recording medium where no image is formed by the print data, and transmits the detection result to the main unit. The main body is, A control unit that generates print image data by placing image quality adjustment patches in the blank areas detected by the print controller of the print data, The recording medium comprises an image forming unit that forms an image based on the printable image data, The control unit, Determine whether the size of the blank area is less than a predetermined threshold, An image forming apparatus that, when it is determined that the size of the blank area is less than the threshold, places a patch having the function of multiple types of image quality adjustment patches.

14. A print controller that performs predetermined processing on the print data of a print job, It comprises a main body and, The aforementioned print controller is The system detects blank areas in the recording medium where no image is formed by the print data, places a first image quality adjustment patch in the detected blank areas of the print data, and transmits information relating to the remaining blank areas after the placement of the first image quality adjustment patch to the main unit. The main body is, A control unit generates printable image data in which a second image quality adjustment patch is placed in the remaining blank area, The recording medium comprises an image forming unit that forms an image based on the printable image data, The first image quality adjustment patch and the second image quality adjustment patch are included in the image quality adjustment patch. The aforementioned print controller is Based on the ratio of the blank area to the recording medium, the frequency of placing the image quality adjustment patch is determined. An image forming apparatus that, among multiple types of image quality adjustment patches, places the image quality adjustment patch with the highest priority more frequently than a predetermined standard, and places the image quality adjustment patch with the lowest priority less frequently than a predetermined standard.

15. A print controller that performs predetermined processing on the print data of a print job, It comprises a main body and, The aforementioned print controller is The system detects blank areas in the recording medium where no image is formed by the print data, places a first image quality adjustment patch in the detected blank areas of the print data, and transmits information relating to the remaining blank areas after the placement of the first image quality adjustment patch to the main unit. The main body is, A control unit generates printable image data in which a second image quality adjustment patch is placed in the remaining blank area, The recording medium comprises an image forming unit that forms an image based on the printable image data, The first image quality adjustment patch and the second image quality adjustment patch are included in the image quality adjustment patch. The aforementioned print controller is Determine whether the size of the blank area is less than a predetermined threshold, An image forming apparatus that, when it is determined that the size of the blank area is less than the threshold, places a patch having the function of multiple types of image quality adjustment patches.

16. The computer of the image processing device, This control unit detects blank areas in a recording medium where no image is formed by print data from a print job, and generates print image data by placing image quality adjustment patches in the detected blank areas of the print data. The control unit, Based on the ratio of the blank area to the recording medium, the frequency of placing the image quality adjustment patch is determined. A program that sets the frequency of placing the image quality adjustment patch with the highest priority among multiple types of image quality adjustment patches to a higher frequency than a predetermined standard, and the frequency of placing the image quality adjustment patch with the lowest priority to a lower frequency than a predetermined standard.

17. The computer of the image processing device, This control unit detects blank areas in a recording medium where no image is formed by print data from a print job, and generates print image data by placing image quality adjustment patches in the detected blank areas of the print data. The control unit, Determine whether the size of the blank area is less than a predetermined threshold, A program that, when it is determined that the size of the blank area is less than the threshold, places a patch having the function of multiple types of image quality adjustment patches.

Images