Printing apparatus, method for controlling a printing apparatus, program, and printing system

Abstract

To provide a printer which can more appropriately perform color calibration along intention of a user.SOLUTION: A printer 10 includes a display device 15 for displaying a print object image C including a plurality of objects, an input device 16 for inputting a specified object from the plurality of objects in the print object image C displayed on the display device 15, a print part 20 for printing the print object image C on a print medium A, and a control device 11, wherein the control device 11 executes printing operation of printing a patch chart D including a first patch D1 based on a specified color that is a color included in the specified object and a second patch D2 based on a predetermined color on the print medium A by the print part 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, a control method for a printing apparatus, a program, and a printing system.

Background Art

[0002] As a conventional printing apparatus, for example, the information processing apparatus of Patent Document 1 is known. This information processing apparatus automatically extracts the color represented by the print target data and calculates the occupancy rate of that color, and also extracts the color specified by the operator from the coordinates of the print target data. Then, the information processing apparatus prints a calibration patch image based on the color with a high occupancy rate and the specified color by the operator, and performs color calibration of the print target data based on the colorimetric data of the calibration patch image.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The above information processing apparatus performs color calibration of print target data based on the color with a high occupancy rate and the specified color by the operator. However, there are cases where the operator cannot specify the color intended, and there are cases where the intended color is not included in the color with a high occupancy rate. In such cases, color calibration of the print target data cannot be performed based on the color intended by the operator.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus, a control method for a printing apparatus, a program, and a printing system that can more appropriately perform color calibration in accordance with the intention of a user.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A printing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a display device that displays a print target image including a plurality of objects, an input device that inputs a specified object from the plurality of objects in the print target image displayed on the display device, a printing unit that prints the print target image onto a printing medium, and a control device, wherein the control device performs a printing operation in which the printing unit prints a patch chart on the printing medium, the patch chart including a first patch based on a specified color which is a color included in the specified object and a second patch based on a predetermined color.

[0007] A method for controlling a printing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a display device that displays a print target image including a plurality of objects, an input device that inputs a specified object from the plurality of objects in the print target image displayed on the display device, and a printing unit that prints the print target image onto a printing medium, wherein the method causes the printing unit to perform a printing operation that prints a patch chart on the printing medium, the patch chart including a first patch based on a specified color which is a color included in the specified object and a second patch based on a predetermined color.

[0008] A program according to one aspect of the present invention causes a computer in a printing apparatus comprising a display device that displays a print target image including a plurality of objects, an input device that inputs a specified object from the plurality of objects in the print target image displayed on the display device, and a printing unit that prints the print target image onto a printing medium to perform a printing operation in which the printing unit prints a patch chart on the printing medium, the patch chart including a first patch based on a specified color which is a color included in the specified object and a second patch based on a predetermined color.

[0009] A printing system according to one aspect of the present invention is a printing system comprising an information processing device and a printing device, wherein the information processing device comprises a display device that displays a print target image including a plurality of objects, an input device that inputs a specified object from the plurality of objects in the print target image displayed on the display device, and a transmission device that transmits information about the specified object input to the input device to the printing device, the printing device comprises a printing unit that prints the print target image onto a printing medium, a receiving device that receives information about the specified object transmitted from the transmission device, and a control device, the control device performs a printing operation in which the printing unit prints a patch chart on the printing medium, the patch chart including a first patch based on a specified color which is a color included in the specified object and a second patch based on a predetermined color. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a printing apparatus, a control method for the printing apparatus, a program, and a printing system that can perform color calibration more appropriately in accordance with the user's intentions.

[0011] The above-mentioned objectives, other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, viewed from above. [Figure 2] This is a block diagram showing the configuration of the printing apparatus according to Embodiments 1 and 2. [Figure 3] This figure shows a display device that shows the image to be printed. [Figure 4] This is a diagram showing the list of specified colors. [Figure 5] This is a diagram of a patch chart. [Figure 6] This figure shows a display device that shows the image to be printed and a list of objects. [Figure 7] It is a flowchart showing an example of a control method for a printing apparatus according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 8] It is a flowchart showing an example of a method for obtaining a designated color in FIG. 7. [Figure 9] It is a flowchart showing an example of a method for obtaining the first color in FIG. 7. [Figure 10] It is a flowchart showing an example of a method for obtaining a designated color in the control method for a printing apparatus according to Modification 1. [Figure 11] It is a flowchart showing an example of a method for obtaining a designated color in the control method for a printing apparatus according to Modification 2. [Figure 12] It is a diagram for explaining the third reduction operation in FIG. 11. [Figure 13] It is a flowchart showing an example of a control method for a printing apparatus according to Embodiment 2. [Figure 14] It is a flowchart showing an example of a method for obtaining a designated color in FIG. 13. [Figure 15] It is a flowchart showing an example of a method for obtaining the first color in FIG. 13. [Figure 16] It is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a printing apparatus according to Embodiment 3.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. In the following, the same or corresponding elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout all the drawings.

[0014] (Embodiment 1) <Configuration of the Printing Apparatus> As shown in the example of FIG. 1, a printing apparatus 10 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention includes a printing unit 20 and is an apparatus that prints an image on a print medium A with a coloring material of the printing unit 20. Hereinafter, an example in which an inkjet printer that prints with ink is applied to the printing apparatus 10 will be described.

[0015] <Printing Unit> In the example shown in Figure 1, the printing unit 20 is a serial head system and includes a head 21, a platen 22, a tank 23, a transport device 30, and a moving device 40. The direction in which the transport device 30 transports the printing medium A is referred to as the front-rear direction. The directions that intersect (e.g., orthogonal) the front-rear direction and intersect (e.g., orthogonal) each other are referred to as the left-right direction and the up-down direction. However, the arrangement of the printing device 10 is not limited to this.

[0016] The print head 21 has a plurality of nozzles 24 and a plurality of drive elements 25 (Figure 2). The nozzles 24 open to the lower surface of the print head 21. The drive elements 25 are piezoelectric elements, heating elements, electrostatic actuators, etc., and are provided for each nozzle 24, applying pressure to the ink to eject ink from the nozzles 24. The platen 22 has a flat upper surface and defines the distance between the printing medium A placed on its upper surface and the lower surface of the print head 21, which is provided opposite it. The tanks 23 store the ink ejected from the nozzles 24. In the example in Figure 1, four types of tanks 23 are provided, each storing cyan ink, yellow ink, magenta ink, and black ink, respectively. The tanks 23 are connected to the print head 21 by tubes and supply ink to the corresponding nozzles 24 via the tubes.

[0017] The conveying device 30 includes, for example, two conveying rollers 31 and a conveying motor 32 (Figure 2). The two conveying rollers 31 are positioned with a platen 22 in between them in the front-rear direction. Each conveying roller 31 has an axis extending in the left-right direction and is connected to the conveying motor 32. Driven by the conveying motor 32, the conveying rollers 31 rotate around their axis and convey the printing medium A on the platen 22 in the front-rear direction.

[0018] The moving device 40 includes a carriage 41, two guide rails 42, a moving motor 43, and an endless belt 44. The carriage 41 mounts the head 21 and is supported by the two guide rails 42 so as to be movable in the left-right direction. The two guide rails 42 extend in the left-right direction above the platen 22 so as to sandwich the head 21 between them in the front-rear direction. The endless belt 44 extends in the left-right direction and is attached to the carriage 41 and is also attached to the moving motor 43 via a pulley 45. When the moving motor 43 is driven, the endless belt 44 travels, and the carriage 41 reciprocates in the left-right direction along the guide rails 42. This causes the carriage 41 to move the head 21 in the left-right direction.

[0019] <Control device> As shown in the example in Figure 2, the printing apparatus 10 includes a printing unit 20, a control device 11, a storage device 12, and an interface 13. The control device 11 is a computer and is electrically connected to the storage device 12 and the interface 13. The interface 13 receives various data, such as image data, from external devices B such as computers, cameras, communication networks, storage media, displays, and printers, and outputs it to the control device 11. The image data is raster data showing images such as the image to be printed C (Figure 3) and the patch chart D (Figure 5). The control device 11 may be composed of a single device, or it may be composed of multiple devices distributed and configured to cooperate in controlling each part of the printing apparatus 10.

[0020] The storage device 12 is a memory accessible from the control device 11, and includes RAM and ROM, and may also include E2PROM and NVRAM. The storage device 12 stores image data, specified colors (described later), data acquired or converted by the control device 11, programs for various data processing, information related to the second patch D2, and conversion tables that associate input and output values. The programs may be stored on an external storage medium different from the storage device 12 and accessible from the control device 11, such as a CD-ROM.

[0021] The control device 11 may include, for example, a processor such as a CPU, and may also include an integrated circuit such as an ASIC. The control device 11 controls each part of the printing device 10 by executing a program and performs various operations such as printing. Details of these operations will be described later.

[0022] Such a control device 11 is electrically connected to the drive element 25 of the head 21 via the head drive circuit 26. The control device 11 outputs a control signal for the drive element 25 to the 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 in accordance with the drive signal, and ink is ejected from the nozzle 24.

[0023] Furthermore, the control device 11 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 A by the transport device 30. In addition, the control device 11 is electrically connected to the move motor 43 of the move device 40 via the move drive circuit 46, and controls the drive of the move motor 43. This controls the movement of the head 21 by the move device 40.

[0024] <Colorimeters, display devices, input devices> As shown in the example in Figure 2, the printing apparatus 10 includes a colorimeter 14, a display device 15, and an input device 16 in addition to the printing unit 20. The control device 11 is electrically connected to the colorimeter 14, the display device 15, and the input device 16, and controls their operation. The colorimeter 14 is, for example, a spectrophotometer, which measures the color of the patch chart D and inputs the measured color values ​​to the control device 11. The measured color values ​​are color values, which are color coordinates in a device-independent color space, for example, L * a * b * It is expressed as Lab values ​​in the color space, and XYZ values ​​in the XYZ color space, etc.

[0025] The display device 15 is, for example, a display that shows an image such as a print target image C which includes multiple objects. The input device 16 is a device operated by the user to input information to the control device 11, for example, to input a specified object from the multiple objects in the print target image C displayed on the display device 15 to the control device 11. Examples of input devices 16 include key buttons, a mouse, a touch panel integrated with the display device 15, and an interface 13 that receives information from an external device B.

[0026] <Printing operation> In such a printing apparatus 10, the control device 11 acquires image data of the image to be printed C and the patch chart D, and executes a printing operation based on this image data. For example, the control device 11 moves the head 21 to the right or left and ejects ink from the head 21 onto the printing medium A. The control device 11 then transports the printing medium A forward. In this way, the printing apparatus 10 repeatedly alternates between moving the head 21 and ejecting ink and transporting the printing medium A, thereby carrying out the printing operation to print images such as the image to be printed C onto the printing medium A with ink.

[0027] <Image to be printed> As shown in the example in Figure 3, the printable image C contains multiple objects. The objects may include multiple types of objects that are different from each other. For example, the multiple types of objects include a first object C1, a second object C2, and a third object C3. The printable image C may contain at least two of the first object C1, the second object C2, and the third object C3. Alternatively, the printable image C may contain multiple objects of the same type.

[0028] The first object C1 contains symbols, such as letters, numbers, and marks. In the example in Figure 3, multiple symbols are arranged side by side. The second object C2 contains shapes, such as graphs. The third object C3 contains paintings or photographs, such as gradients. For example, the number of colors in the first object C1, the second object C2, and the third object C3 increases in that order.

[0029] The print target image C is composed of multiple pixels and contains an image color, which is the color of each pixel. One or more objects from among the multiple objects in the print target image C are input as a designated object by the input device 16. The designated color, which is the image color of this designated object, is stored in the designated color list of the storage device 12, associated with its importance, as shown in the example in Figure 4.

[0030] The importance of a specified color includes, for example, the area occupied by the specified color, the order in which the specified objects are specified, and combinations of these. The area occupied by the specified color is, for example, the number of pixels of the specified color in the print target image C. In this case, the more pixels of the specified color there are, the larger the area occupied by the specified color and the higher the importance of the specified color. The order in which the specified objects are specified is the order in which the objects are specified when multiple objects are specified in the print target image C. In this case, the earlier an object is specified, the higher the importance of the specified color contained in that object.

[0031] As shown in the example in Figure 6, the print target image C and the object list E are displayed on the display device 15. The object list E is a list of objects contained in the print target image C. For example, the print target image C contains one first object C1, one second object C2, and two third objects C3. In this case, the objects in the print target image C and the objects in the object list E are displayed on the display device 15 in association with each other by being enclosed in the same type of frame.

[0032] For example, the first object C1 in print target image C and the first object C1 in object list E are enclosed in a dashed line frame. Also, the second object C2 in print target image C and the second object C2 in object list E are enclosed in a dotted line frame. Furthermore, the first third object C3 in print target image C and the first third object C3 in object list E are enclosed in a solid line frame. The second third object C3 in print target image C and the second third object C3 in object list E are enclosed in a double line frame.

[0033] The user uses the input device 16 to select an object from the object list E displayed on the display device 15. The object selected by the input device 16 is then input to the control device 11 as the designated object.

[0034] <Conversion Table> When printing an image such as the image to be printed C, a conversion table is used to convert the image data into a format that can be printed by the printing device 10. The conversion table is, for example, a lookup table that associates input values ​​with output values ​​and is pre-stored in the storage device 12. The output values ​​are colors that can be printed by the colorants provided by the printing device 10 and are defined by color values ​​in a predetermined color space, for example, CMYK values ​​in the CMYK color space. The output values ​​may also be defined by color values ​​in a device-dependent color space, such as RGB values ​​in the RGB color space.

[0035] The input value is defined by a color value in a given color space, for example, an RGB value in the RGB color space. For example, the input value is a representative value in the color range of RGB values ​​from (0,0,0) to (255,255,255). This representative value is, for example, a color value obtained by dividing the 256-level color range for each RGB value into 17 steps of 16 levels each, i.e., (256 / 16+1) 3 It has 4913 different colors. In this way, multiple input values ​​are provided for each predetermined color difference in the color conversion table.

[0036] <Patch Chart> The patch chart D for color calibration of the conversion table includes a first patch D1 and a second patch D2, as shown in the example in Figure 5. The first patch D1 is a patch based on a specified color, which is a color contained in a specified object, and has a first color. The second patch D2 is a patch based on a predetermined color and has a second color.

[0037] A patch is, for example, a rectangular color sample of a size that can be measured by the colorimeter 14. The size of the patch may be predetermined according to the resolution of the colorimeter 14. Alternatively, the size of the patch may be determined according to the number of patches included in the patch chart D and the size of the printing area on the printing medium A on which the patch chart D is printed.

[0038] The first colors of multiple first patches D1 in patch chart D have different color values ​​from each other. The first color is represented by color coordinates in a device-dependent color space, for example, RGB values ​​in the RGB color space. The first color is all or part of the specified colors contained in the specified object.

[0039] The second colors of multiple second patches D2 in patch chart D have different color values ​​from each other. The second color is represented by color coordinates in a device-dependent color space, such as RGB values ​​in the RGB color space. For example, the second color is a color value obtained by dividing a 256-level color range for each RGB value into 9 steps of 32 levels each, i.e., (256 / 32+1) 3 = It has 729 different colors, some of which are the same as some of the input values ​​in the conversion table. The second color is pre-stored in the memory device 12, so the information regarding the second patch D2 is stored in the memory device 12.

[0040] Patch chart D has a first patch region Da and a second patch region Db. Multiple first patches D1 are arranged in the first patch region Da, and multiple second patches D2 are arranged in the second patch region Db. For example, patch chart D may be divided into two regions: the second patch region Db and the first patch region Da. In this case, each of the second patch region Db and the first patch region Da is a closed region, and the second patch region Db and the first patch region Da may be arranged side by side in the left-right or front-back direction.

[0041] The patch chart D is printed on one or more sheets of printing medium A, depending on the number of patches. If there are few patches, both the first patch area Da and the second patch area Db fit on one sheet of printing medium A, as shown in the example in Figure 5. If there are many patches, the patch chart D spans multiple sheets of printing medium A, with the first patch area Da and the second patch area Db placed on at least one of the multiple sheets of printing medium A.

[0042] <Control method for printing devices> The control method for the printing device 10 is performed by the control device 11 according to the flowchart shown in Figure 7, for example. Here, when the control device 11 receives image data from the external device B via the interface 13, it executes this flowchart. The control device 11 acquires the image data of the image to be printed C from the external device B (step S1).

[0043] The control device 11 then performs known image processing, such as shape analysis, on the image data of the image to be printed C, and extracts objects from the image to be printed C. The control device 11 then obtains the type and position of the objects in the image to be printed C based on the image data (step S2).

[0044] Then, as shown in the example in Figure 6, the control device 11 displays the print target image C and the object list E in association on the display device 15. When a user selects an object from the object list E using the input device 16, the control device 11 acquires the object selected by the input device 16 as the designated object (step S3). In this way, one or more designated objects are acquired.

[0045] Next, the control device 11 obtains the specified color of the specified object (step S4). This acquisition of the specified color is performed by the control device 11 according to the flowchart shown in the example in Figure 8. Here, the control device 11 determines whether there are multiple specified objects input by the input device 16 (step S11). If there are multiple specified objects (step S11: YES), one specified object is selected from the unprocessed specified objects (step S12), and the processing from step S13 onwards is performed on the selected specified object. On the other hand, if there is only one specified object (step S11: NO), the processing from step S13 onwards is performed on this specified object.

[0046] Next, the control device 11 obtains a specified color from the specified object (step S13) and determines whether this specified color is already stored in the specified color list of the storage device 12 (step S14). If the specified color is not yet stored (step S14: NO), the specified color is stored in the specified color list shown in the example in Figure 4 (step S15). Then, the control device 11 performs the first acquisition operation (step S16). On the other hand, if the specified color is already stored in the process of step S14 (step S14: YES), the control device 11 performs the first acquisition operation (step S16).

[0047] In the first acquisition operation of step S16, the control device 11 acquires a predetermined importance level for the specified color. For example, if the importance level of the specified color includes the occupied area, the control device 11 increases the number of pixels of the specified color by one, using the occupied area of ​​the specified color as the value, and acquires an importance level corresponding to the occupied area. Then, the control device 11 performs a storage operation to store the specified color and its importance level in the storage device 12 (step S17).

[0048] Here, if multiple specified objects are input, the control device 11 performs a memory operation to obtain importance based on all the specified colors contained in the multiple specified objects and stores it in the storage device 12. For example, the second object C2 and the third object C3 may be specified objects and each contain the same specified color (for example, blue). In this case, the sum of the number of blue pixels contained in the second object C2 and the number of blue pixels contained in the third object C3 is obtained as the blue occupied area. Then, importance is obtained such that the larger the occupied area, the higher the importance.

[0049] Next, the control device 11 determines whether or not it has performed the processing from S13 onwards for all specified colors in the specified object (step S18). Here, if there are any unprocessed specified colors in the specified object that have not undergone the processing from S13 onwards (step S18: NO), the control device 11 returns to the processing in step S13. Then, the control device 11 obtains one of the unprocessed specified colors (step S13) and performs the processing from S14 to S17 for that specified color. In this way, the processing from S14 to S17 is performed sequentially for all specified colors in the specified object.

[0050] If the control device 11 has processed all specified colors in the specified object (step S18: YES), it determines whether it has processed all specified objects in the print target image C (step S19). If there are any unprocessed specified objects that have not been processed since S13 (step S19: NO), the control device 11 returns to the process in step S12. The control device 11 then obtains one of the unprocessed specified objects (step S12) and performs the processing in S13 to S18 on that specified object. If the processing in S13 to S18 is performed on all specified objects in the print target image C in this way (step S19: YES), the control device 11 assumes that it has obtained the specified color list for all specified colors and returns to the process in the example in Figure 7.

[0051] Next, the control device 11 obtains the first color of the first patch D1 from the specified colors obtained in step S4 (step S5). This acquisition of the first color is performed by the control device 11 according to the flowchart shown in the example in Figure 9. In other words, if there are many specified colors, the number of first patches D1 with first colors based on the specified colors increases, and the printable area of ​​the patch chart D including the first patch D1 may exceed the printable area of ​​the printing medium A. For this reason, if there are few specified colors, all of the specified colors in the specified color list are obtained as the first color, but if there are many specified colors, only some of the specified colors in the specified color list are obtained as the first color.

[0052] Therefore, first, the control device 11 obtains one specified color from the specified color list (step S21). Then, the control device 11 determines whether the number of possible additions of the first color to the patch list is one or more (step S22). The patch list is a table listing the first color of the first patch D1 placed on the patch chart D, and the importance of the first color.

[0053] The number of possible additions of the first color corresponds to the number of first patches D1 that can be placed on the patch chart D printed on print medium A, i.e., the number of possible placements of the first patch D1. The initial value of the number of possible additions of the first color is the number of possible placements of the first patch D1 in the patch chart D printed on a predetermined number of print mediums A (e.g., 1 sheet). For example, the number of possible placements of the first patch D1 is the quotient obtained by dividing the area of ​​the first patch region Da by the area of ​​the first patch D1. The more print mediums A on which the patch chart D can be printed, the more possible placements of the first patch D1 in the patch chart D increase, and the more possible additions of the first color to the first patch D1 increase. The number of possible placements of the first patch D1 on one sheet of print medium A, i.e., the number of possible additions of the first color, is determined based on the printing area of ​​print medium A, the areas of the first patch D1 and the second patch D2, and the number of second patches D2. These may be predetermined or entered by the user.

[0054] If the number of possible additions of the first color is 1 or more (step S22: YES), the control device 11 adds the specified color to the patch list as the first color (step S23). The control device 11 also obtains the importance of the specified color from the specified color list as the importance of the first color, and adds that importance to the patch list in association with the first color. Then, the control device 11 subtracts 1 from the number of possible additions (step S24) and determines whether processing has been performed for all specified colors in the specified color list (step S25). If processing has been performed for all specified colors in the specified color list (step S25: YES), the control device 11 returns to the process of step S5 in Figure 7.

[0055] On the other hand, if there are any unprocessed specified colors remaining in the specified color list in step S25 (step S25: NO), the control device 11 retrieves the specified color from the specified color list (step S21) and repeats the processing from step S22 onwards for that specified color. By repeating this process, the number of first colors in the patch list, that is, the number of first patches D1, reaches, for example, the number of first patches D1 that can be placed on the patch chart D on the first print medium A. As a result, the number of possible additions of the first color becomes less than 1 (step S22: NO).

[0056] Then, the control device 11 performs a reception operation to receive the number of prints, which is the number of print media A on which the patch chart D is printed (step S26). In this reception operation, the control device 11 may have the user input, using the input device 16, whether it is possible to add print media A on which the patch chart D is printed, or the number of additional print media A on which the patch chart D is printed. If it is input that it is possible to add print media A, or if the number of additional print media A is 1 or more, the control device 11 determines whether it is possible to add prints (step S27).

[0057] Here, if the control device 11 determines that it is possible to add more prints (step S27: YES), it performs a second acquisition operation to obtain the number of first patches D1 that can be placed on the patch chart D according to the number of print media A (step S28). For example, if the user inputs that it is possible to add print media A, the control device 11 obtains the number of first patches D1 that can be placed on the additional print media A. Also, if the user inputs the number of additional print media A, the control device 11 obtains the number of first patches D1 that can be placed on the additional print media A. Then, the control device 11 takes the number of first patches D1 that can be placed as the number of possible additions for the first color and adds this number to the current number of possible additions (step S29). Then, the control device 11 adds the specified color to the patch list as the first color along with its importance (step S23) and subtracts 1 from the number of possible additions (step S24).

[0058] On the other hand, if it is entered in step S27 that it is not possible to add more printable media A on which patch chart D is printed, or if the number of additional printable media A on which patch chart D is printed is 0, the control device 11 determines that it is not possible to add more printable media (step S27: NO). Then, the control device 11 obtains the importance of the specified color obtained in S21 from the specified color list and compares this importance of the specified color with the lowest importance in the patch list (step S30).

[0059] If the importance of a specified color is higher than the minimum importance (step S30: YES), the control device 11 performs a first reduction operation to reduce the number of specified colors with low importance if the number of specified colors is greater than the number of possible placements in the first patch D1 on the patch chart D (step S31). In this first reduction operation, the control device 11 removes the specified colors with the lowest importance, which are lower than the importance of the specified color, from the patch list. Then, the control device 11 adds the specified color to the patch list as the first color, along with its importance (step S32).

[0060] On the other hand, if the importance of the specified color in step S30 is not higher than the minimum importance (step S30: NO), the control device 11 performs a first reduction operation (step S33). In the first reduction operation, the control device 11 deletes specified colors with an importance lower than the minimum importance in the patch list without adding them to the patch list.

[0061] The control device 11 then determines whether or not it has processed all of the specified colors in the specified color list (step S34). If there are any unprocessed specified colors remaining in the specified color list (step S34: NO), the control device 11 retrieves the specified color from the specified color list (step S35) and repeats the processing from step S30 onwards for that specified color. On the other hand, if the control device 11 has processed all of the specified colors in the specified color list (step S34: YES), it returns to the processing shown in the example in Figure 7.

[0062] In this way, if the control device 11 can acquire the first color (step S5), it creates a patch chart D (step S6). Here, the control device 11 acquires the first color from the patch list. The control device 11 also acquires a predetermined color pre-stored in the storage device 12 as the second color. Then, the control device 11 generates image data of the patch chart D, which includes the first patch D1 of the first color and the second patch D2 of the second color.

[0063] Here, the control device 11 may arrange the first patches D1 in the patch chart D in order of importance of the first color. As a result, the first patches D1 are arranged in the patch chart D in order of importance in the print target image C. For example, in a column of first patches D1 arranged in the front-to-back direction, the first patches D1 are arranged from back to front in order of importance, starting with the most important first patch D1. Also, the columns of first patches D1 are arranged from left to right in order of importance, starting with the most important first patch D1.

[0064] Next, the control device 11 performs a printing operation in which the printing unit 20 prints a patch chart D, which includes a first patch D1 based on a specified color that is a color contained in a specified object, and a second patch D2 based on a predetermined color, onto the printing medium A (step S7). In the printing operation, the control device 11 prints the patch chart D onto the printing medium A based on the image data of the patch chart D. If the color values ​​of the image data are defined by RGB values, the control device 11 converts the image data using a conversion table and prints the patch chart D onto the printing medium A based on the converted image data.

[0065] Next, the control device 11 performs a color measurement operation in which the colorimeter 14 measures the color of the first patch D1 and the second patch D2 of the patch chart D printed on the printing medium A (step S8). The control device 11 acquires the measured color values ​​of the first patch D1 and the second patch D2 obtained from the color measurement operation. Then, the control device 11 associates the Lab value of the measured color value of the first patch D1 with the RGB value of the first color, and associates the Lab value of the measured color value of the second patch D2 with the RGB value of the second color, and stores this as patch information in the storage device 12.

[0066] Next, the control device 11 performs a color calibration operation to calibrate the conversion table based on the colors measured by the colorimetric operation (step S9). In this color calibration operation, the control device 11 calibrates the output values ​​of the conversion table based on the patch information and stores the calibrated conversion table in the storage device 12. Following step S9, the print target image C may be printed using the calibrated conversion table. In this case, the control device 11 converts the image data of the print target image C using this calibrated conversion table and prints the print target image C on the printing medium A based on the converted image data. As a result, the printed print target image C is calibrated according to the specified color of the specified object entered by the user. In this way, by specifying an object by the user, color calibration is performed based on the specified color of that specified object, so that color calibration can be performed more appropriately in line with the user's intentions.

[0067] <Example 1> In the printing apparatus 10 according to Modification 1, in Embodiment 1, if the number of specified colors is greater than the number of possible placements in the first patch D1 on the patch chart D, the control device 11 performs a second reduction operation to reduce the number of specified colors by reducing the number of pixels constituting the specified object from the original number of pixels, and setting the colors included in the specified object after the number of pixels has been reduced as the specified colors.

[0068] For example, this second reduction operation is performed as shown in the flowchart of the example in Figure 10. In this flowchart of Figure 10, the processes in steps S41 and S42 are performed before the process in step S11 in the flowchart of Figure 8.

[0069] Specifically, the control device 11 determines whether the specified object includes the third object C3 (step S41). The third object C3 is a painting or photograph and usually contains more image colors than the first object C1 and the second object C2. Therefore, if the specified object includes the third object C3 (step S41: YES), the control device 11 performs a second reduction operation, assuming that the number of specified colors is greater than the number of possible placements of the first patch D1 in the patch chart D (step S42).

[0070] As a second reduction operation, for example, the control device 11 reduces the size of the image data of the image to be printed C. As a result, the number of pixels in the image to be printed C after reduction is less than the original number of pixels before reduction. Therefore, the number of image colors, which are the colors of the pixels after reduction, is less than the number of image colors before reduction, and the number of specified colors after reduction is less than the number of specified colors before reduction. In this way, the number of specified colors is reduced. For the specified colors that remain after this reduction, the control device 11 performs the processing from step S11 onwards.

[0071] On the other hand, if the specified object in step S41 does not include the third object C3 (step S41: NO), the control device 11 does not perform the second reduction operation, but instead performs the processing from step S11 onwards on the specified color of the specified object acquired in step S3. Therefore, by performing the second reduction operation on the specified object specified by the user, processing time can be shortened while performing color calibration more appropriately in line with the user's intentions.

[0072] The second reduction operation is not limited to reducing the size of the image data of the print target image C. For example, in the second reduction operation, the control device 11 reduces the resolution of the print target image C. As a result, the number of pixels in the print target image C after reduction is less than the original number of pixels before reduction. Therefore, the number of image colors, which are the colors of the pixels after reduction, is less than the number of image colors before reduction, and the number of specified colors after reduction is less than the number of specified colors before reduction. In this way, the specified colors are reduced.

[0073] Furthermore, between step S41 and step S42, the control device 11 may perform an acceptance operation and a second acquisition operation. In this case, if the specified object includes the third object C3 (step S41: YES), the control device 11 accepts the number of print media A on which the patch chart D will be printed, and acquires the number of possible placements of the first patch D1 in the patch chart D according to the number of print media A. Then, the control device 11 acquires the number of specified colors of the specified object based on the image data, and if the number of specified colors is greater than the number of possible placements of the first patch D1, it performs a second reduction operation (step S42). Note that the control device 11 may perform an acceptance operation and a second acquisition operation before performing the operation in step S42, instead of the operation in step S41.

[0074] <Modification 2> The printing apparatus 10 according to the modified example 2 includes a storage device 12 for storing a color conversion table, as in the embodiment 1 and modified example 1. The color conversion table has a plurality of input values ​​provided for each predetermined color difference. If the number of specified colors is greater than the number of first patches D1 that can be placed on the patch chart D, and there are multiple specified colors between two input values ​​that are spaced apart by a predetermined color difference, the control device 11 performs a third reduction operation to reduce the number of specified colors by deleting all specified colors except for the specified color that is closest to the midpoint value G3 between the two input values.

[0075] For example, the third reduction operation is performed as shown in the flowchart in the example in Figure 11. In this flowchart in Figure 11, the process of step S43 is performed instead of step S42 in the flowchart in Figure 10. Note that the processes of steps S42 and S43 may be performed after step S41.

[0076] Specifically, the control device 11 determines whether the specified object includes the third object C3 (step S41). If the specified object includes the third object C3 (step S41: YES), the control device 11 performs a third reduction operation, assuming that the number of specified colors is greater than the number of first patches D1 that can be placed on the patch chart D (step S43).

[0077] For example, in a color conversion table, multiple input values ​​are set with a predetermined color difference between them. Furthermore, a third object C3, such as a painting or photograph, often has a gradient. In such cases, the third object C3 has multiple specified colors with a color difference smaller than the predetermined color difference. Therefore, the multiple specified colors in the third object C3 may be located between two adjacent input values ​​separated by a predetermined color difference.

[0078] In the example shown in Figure 12, the first designated color F1 and the second designated color F2 are located between the first input value G1 and the second input value G2, which are separated by a predetermined color difference H. In this case, the control device 11 obtains the first input value G1 and the second input value G2 from the conversion table and obtains the intermediate value G3 between the first input value G1 and the second input value G2. Then, the control device 11 obtains the first designated color F1 and the second designated color F2 from the image data of the print target image C and obtains the first color difference H1 between the intermediate value G3 and the first designated color F1, and the second color difference H2 between the intermediate value G3 and the second designated color F2. Then, the control device 11 determines that the first color difference H1 is shorter than the second color difference H2, and therefore the first designated color F1 is closer to the intermediate value G3 than the second designated color F2, and thus the first designated color F1 is retained as a designated color and the second designated color F2 is removed from the designated colors. In this way, the number of designated colors is reduced.

[0079] For the remaining specified colors after this reduction, the control device 11 executes the processing from step S11 onwards. Also, if the specified object does not include the third object C3 (step S41: NO), the control device 11 does not perform the third reduction operation, but instead executes the processing from step S11 onwards on the specified colors of the specified object obtained in step S3. Therefore, by performing the third reduction operation on the specified object specified by the user, processing time can be shortened while performing color calibration more appropriately in line with the user's intentions.

[0080] In addition, between step S41 and step S43, the control device 11 may perform an acceptance operation and a second acquisition operation. In this case, if the specified object includes the third object C3 (step S41: YES), the control device 11 accepts the number of print media A on which the patch chart D will be printed, and acquires the number of possible placements of the first patch D1 in the patch chart D according to the number of print media A. Then, the control device 11 acquires the number of specified colors of the specified object based on the image data, and if the number of specified colors is greater than the number of possible placements of the first patch D1, it performs a third reduction operation (step S43). In addition, the control device 11 may perform an acceptance operation and a second acquisition operation before performing the operation in step S43 instead of the operation in step S41.

[0081] (Embodiment 2) In the printing apparatus 10 according to Embodiment 2, the object includes multiple types of objects that are different from each other. The control device 11 performs a third acquisition operation to obtain the upper limit of the first patch D1 in the patch chart D based on the type of object. Here, the upper limit of the first patch D1 in the patch chart D may differ depending on the type of object.

[0082] For example, multiple types of objects include a first object C1 containing symbols and a second object C2 containing shapes. In patch chart D, the maximum number of first patches D1 relating to the second object C2 is greater than the maximum number of first patches D1 relating to the first object C1.

[0083] Furthermore, the multiple types of objects include a second object C2 containing a shape, and a third object C3 containing a painting or photograph. In patch chart D, the upper limit of the first patch D1 relating to the third object C3 is greater than the upper limit of the first patch D1 relating to the second object C2.

[0084] Specifically, in the printing apparatus 10 according to Embodiment 2, the control device 11 controls the device according to the flowchart in the example shown in Figure 13. In this flowchart of Figure 13, the processes of steps S4' to S6' are executed instead of the processes of steps S4 to S6 in the flowchart of Figure 7. Also, in the flowchart of Figure 13, the processes of steps S51 to S55 are executed between the process of step S3 and the process of step S4'.

[0085] In the flowchart of the example in Figure 13, the control device 11 acquires image data of the image to be printed C from the external device B (step S1). Then, the control device 11 performs known image processing on the image data of the image to be printed C and acquires objects and their types from the image to be printed C (step S2). Then, the control device 11 acquires the object specified by the input device 16 as the specified object (step S3).

[0086] Next, the control device 11 performs a third acquisition operation (step S51). In this third acquisition operation, the control device 11 acquires the upper limit number of first patches D1 corresponding to the type of specified object acquired in step S3. The correspondence between the type of specified object and the upper limit number of first patches D1 is stored in the storage device 12 beforehand. The upper limit number of first patches D1 increases in the order of first object C1, second object C2, and third object C3. For example, the upper limit number of first patches D1 for first object C1 is 1, the upper limit number of first patches D1 for second object C2 is 5, and the upper limit number of first patches D1 for third object C3 is 30.

[0087] Next, the control device 11 obtains the total upper limit, which is the sum of the upper limits of the first patch D1 for all specified objects in the print target image C. In the example in Figure 6, one first object C1, one second object C2, and two third objects C3 in the print target image C are input as specified objects. In this case, the total upper limit of the first patch D1 is 66, which is the sum of the upper limit of the first patch D1 for the one first object C1 (1), the upper limit of the first patch D1 for the one second object C2 (5), and the upper limit of the first patch D1 for the two third objects C3 (30 × 2 = 60).

[0088] The control device 11 then compares the upper limit total number of first patches D1 with the number of first patches D1 that can be placed on the patch chart D (step S52). The number of first patches D1 that can be placed is the number of first patches D1 that can be placed on the patch chart D on a predetermined number of print media A (for example, 1 sheet). If the upper limit total number of first patches D1 is greater than the number of patches that can be placed (step S52: NO), the control device 11 adds the number of print sheets, which is the number of print media A on which the patch chart D is printed, so that the upper limit total number becomes less than or equal to the number of patches that can be placed (step S53).

[0089] Next, if the total number of first patches D1 is less than or equal to the maximum number of patches that can be placed (step S52: YES), the control device 11 assigns placements in the patch chart D for the first patch D1 of the first object C1, the first patch D1 of the second object C2, and the first patch D1 of the two third objects C3 (step S54). Here, the control device 11 may assign placements of the first patches D1 such that the total number of first patches D1 in each printing medium A is less than or equal to the maximum number of patches that can be placed, and the number of patches in multiple printing mediums A are equal to or close to each other.

[0090] For example, when printing a patch chart D related to the example in Figure 6 onto two sheets of printing medium A, the control device 11 assigns 30 first patches D1 related to the first third object C3 to the first sheet of printing medium A, and assigns 30 first patches D1 related to the second third object C3, 5 first patches D1 related to the second object C2, and 1 first patch D1 related to the first object C1 to the second sheet of printing medium A.

[0091] Next, the control device 11 determines the processing order according to the arrangement of patches on the printing medium A (step S55). For example, the control device 11 performs the processing of the patches placed on the first printing medium A and the processing of the patches placed on the second printing medium A in parallel.

[0092] In the example shown in Figure 6, the first print medium A contains the first patch D1 and the second patch D2 relating to the first third object C3. Therefore, the control device 11 determines the processing order of steps S4' to S6' for the first patch D1 and the second patch D2 according to the placement order of the first patch D1 and the second patch D2 on the first print medium A. Similarly, the second print medium A contains the first patch D1 relating to the second third object C3, the second object C2, and the first object C1. Therefore, the control device 11 determines the processing order of steps S4' to S6' for the first patch D1 relating to the second third object C3, the second object C2, and the first object C1 according to the placement order of the first patch D1 relating to the second third object C3, the second object C2, and the first object C1 on the second print medium A. In this way, processing of patches placed on multiple print mediums A is executed in parallel, thereby reducing processing time.

[0093] Then, the control device 11 obtains the specified color for the first object C1 of the specified objects (step S4'). This acquisition of the specified color is performed by the control device 11 according to the flowchart shown in the example in Figure 14. Here, since the process in step S4' is performed for each specified object, the processes in steps S11, S12, and S19 in the flowchart of Figure 8, which relate to the number of specified objects, are omitted in the flowchart of Figure 14. By executing the processes in steps S13 to S18 of Figure 14, the control device 11 obtains a list of specified colors that associate the specified color and importance of the specified object.

[0094] Next, the control device 11 obtains the first color of the first patch D1 from the specified color of the specified object obtained in step S4' of Figure 13 (step S5'). This acquisition of the first color is performed by the control device 11 according to the flowchart shown in the example in Figure 15. Here, since the upper limit of the first patch D1 is obtained in the third acquisition operation, the processing in steps S26 to S29 of the flowchart in Figure 9, which relates to the number of possible additions of the first color corresponding to this upper limit, is omitted in the flowchart in Figure 15. Also, the initial value of the number of possible additions in the processing of step S22 is the upper limit of the first patch D1 obtained in the third acquisition operation. Then, the control device 11 obtains the patch list of the first color by executing the processing in steps S21 to S25 and steps S30 to S35 of Figure 15.

[0095] In this way, the control device 11 creates a patch chart D based on the first color acquired in step S5' (step S6'). Here, the control device 11 generates image data of the patch chart D so that the first patch D1 of the first color related to the first third object C3 acquired in step S5' and the second patch D2 of the second color acquired from the storage device 12 are placed on the patch chart D to be placed on the first print medium A. The control device 11 also generates image data of the patch chart D so that the first patch D1 of the first color related to the second third object C3, the second object C2, and the first object C1 acquired in step S5' are placed on the patch chart D to be placed on the second print medium A.

[0096] Furthermore, the control device 11 may arrange the first patch D1 of each object in the patch chart D in order of importance of the first color. For example, the second print medium A has 30 first patch D1s of third objects C3 and 5 first patch D1s of second objects C2. These 30 first patch D1s of third objects C3 may be arranged in order of importance, and the 5 first patch D1s of second objects C2 may also be arranged in order of importance.

[0097] Next, the control device 11 prints the patch chart D onto the printing medium A based on the image data of the patch chart D in a printing operation (step S7). Then, the control device 11 measures the color of the first patch D1 and the second patch D2 of the patch chart D printed on the printing medium A using the colorimeter 14 in a color measurement operation (step S8). Subsequently, the control device 11 color-calibrates the conversion table based on the measured color values ​​of the first patch D1 and the second patch D2 in a color proofing operation (step S9). In this way, by specifying an object, color proofing is performed based on the specified color of that specified object, so that color proofing can be performed more appropriately in line with the user's intentions. In addition, by using the upper limit of the number of first patches D1 related to an object, processing of multiple specified objects can be executed in parallel, so that processing can be performed quickly.

[0098] Furthermore, in the printing apparatus 10 according to Embodiment 2, a second reduction operation may be performed as shown in Modification 1. Also, in the printing apparatus 10 according to Embodiment 2, a third reduction operation may be performed as shown in Modification 2.

[0099] (Embodiment 3) The printing system 100 according to Embodiment 3 is a printing system 100 comprising an information processing device 101 and a printing device 102, as shown in the example in Figure 16. The information processing device 101 comprises a display device 115 that displays a print target image C containing multiple objects, an input device 116 that inputs a specified object from the multiple objects in the print target image C displayed on the display device 115, and a transmission device 103 that transmits information about the specified object input to the input device 116 to the printing device 102. The printing device 102 comprises a printing unit 120 that prints the print target image C onto a printing medium A, a receiving device 104 that receives information about the specified object transmitted from the transmission device 103, and a control device 111. The control device 111 performs a printing operation in which the printing unit 120 prints a patch chart D, which includes a first patch D1 based on a specified color that is a color contained in the specified object, and a second patch D2 based on a predetermined color, onto the printing medium A.

[0100] Furthermore, the information processing device 101 is, for example, a personal computer, and in addition to the display device 115, input device 116, and transmission device 103, it includes a control unit 105 and a storage unit 106. The control unit 105 includes a processor such as a CPU and controls the display device 115, input device 116, and transmission device 103 by executing a program stored in the storage unit 106. The storage unit 106 is memory such as ROM and RAM. The transmission device 103 is, for example, an interface capable of transmitting information to a receiving device 104 via a network, and this interface may have a receiving function in addition to a transmitting function.

[0101] The printing device 102 includes a printing unit 120, a receiving device 104, and a control device 111, as well as an interface 113, a storage device 112, and a colorimeter 114. The receiving device 104 of the printing device 102 is an interface capable of receiving information from the transmitting device 103 via, for example, a network, and this interface may have both a receiving and a transmitting function. This receiving device 104 may be configured with an interface 113 capable of communicating with an external device B.

[0102] The configurations of the control device 111, storage device 112, interface 113, colorimeter 114, display device 115, input device 116, and printing unit 120 of the printing system 100 are identical or similar to the configurations of the control device 11, storage device 12, interface 13, colorimeter 14, display device 15, input device 16, and printing unit 20 of the printing device 10. These configurations in the printing system 100 are represented by reference numerals obtained by adding 100 to the reference numerals of the corresponding configurations in the printing device 10. Also, similar to the printing device 10, the control methods in the printing system 100 are executed by the control device 111 and the control unit 105 according to the flowcharts in the examples shown in Figures 7 to 11 and Figures 13 to 15.

[0103] <Other variations> In the above embodiment, an inkjet printer was given as an example of the printing device 10, but the printing device 10 is not limited to this. The printing device 10 may be other printers such as laser printers or thermal printers. A laser printer has a printing unit. The printing unit of a laser printer has 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 a printing medium, and a fixing unit such as a fixing roller or fixing belt that heat-fixes the toner transferred to the printing medium. Not limited to the direct tandem laser printer described above, there may also be an intermediate transfer 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 the transfer unit. A thermal printer also has 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.

[0104] In the above embodiment, the printing device 10 was a serial head type, but it is not limited to this. For example, the printing device 10 may be a line head type. In this case, the printing device 10 does not have a moving device 40, and the length of the head 21 is longer than the length of the printing medium A in the left-right direction.

[0105] Furthermore, all of the above embodiments may be combined with each other, provided that they do not exclude one another. Also, many improvements and other embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the above description. Therefore, the above description should be interpreted as illustrative only and is provided for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode of carrying out the invention. The details of its structure and / or function can be substantially modified without departing from the spirit of the invention. [Industrial applicability]

[0106] The present invention can be applied to a printing apparatus, a control method for the printing apparatus, a program, and a printing system that can perform color calibration more appropriately in accordance with the user's intentions. [Explanation of symbols]

[0107] 10:Printing device 11: Control device 12:Storage device 15:Display device 16: Input device 20:Printing Department 100: Printing System 101: Information Processing Device 102:Printing device 103: Transmitter 104: Receiving device 111: Control device 112: Storage device 115:Display device 116: Input device 120:Printing Department

Claims

1. A display device that displays a printable image containing multiple objects, An input device for inputting a specified object from the plurality of objects in the print target image displayed on the display device, A printing unit that prints the aforementioned image to be printed onto a printing medium, A control device is provided, The control device is The printing operation is performed by the printing unit to print a patch chart on the printing medium, which includes a first patch based on a specified color that is a color included in the specified object, and a second patch based on a predetermined color, and the specified color is selected from multiple colors included in one of the specified objects. Printing device.

2. The patch chart has a first patch region where the first patch is placed, and a second patch region where the second patch is placed. The printing apparatus according to claim 1.

3. The device includes a storage device that stores information about the second patch, The printing apparatus according to claim 1.

4. The device includes a memory device that stores the specified color, The control device is A first acquisition operation to obtain a predetermined importance level for the specified color, The following is a storage operation that stores the specified color and the importance in the storage device: If multiple specified objects are input, the first acquisition operation acquires the importance based on all the specified colors included in the multiple specified objects. The printing apparatus according to claim 1.

5. The first patch is arranged in the patch chart in order of increasing importance in the image to be printed. The printing apparatus according to claim 4.

6. The control device is A reception operation that receives the number of copies of the printing medium on which the patch chart will be printed, A second acquisition operation is performed to obtain the number of first patches that can be placed on the patch chart according to the number of sheets of the print medium. The printing apparatus according to claim 1.

7. If the number of specified colors is greater than the number of first patches that can be placed on the patch chart, the control device performs a first reduction operation to reduce the number of specified colors by reducing the number of specified colors of lower importance. The printing apparatus according to claim 5.

8. If the number of specified colors is greater than the number of first patches that can be placed on the patch chart, the control device performs a second reduction operation to reduce the number of specified colors by reducing the number of pixels constituting the specified object from the original number of pixels, and setting the color included in the specified object after the number of pixels has been reduced as the specified color. The printing apparatus according to claim 1.

9. It is equipped with a memory device that stores a color conversion table, The aforementioned color conversion table has a plurality of input values ​​provided for each predetermined color difference, If the number of specified colors is greater than the number of first patches that can be placed on the patch chart, and there are multiple specified colors between two input values ​​that are spaced apart by a predetermined color difference, the control device performs a third reduction operation to reduce the number of specified colors by deleting all specified colors except the one that is closest to the midpoint between the two input values. The printing apparatus according to claim 1.

10. The aforementioned object includes multiple types of objects that are different from each other, The control device performs a third acquisition operation to obtain the upper limit number of the first patch in the patch chart based on the type of object. The printing apparatus according to claim 1.

11. The upper limit of the first patch in the patch chart varies depending on the type of object. The printing apparatus according to claim 10.

12. The aforementioned multiple types of objects include a first object containing a symbol and a second object containing a figure. In the patch chart, the upper limit of the first patch for the second object is greater than the upper limit of the first patch for the first object. The printing apparatus according to claim 11.

13. The aforementioned multiple types of objects include a second object containing a figure, and a third object containing a painting or photograph. In the patch chart, the upper limit of the first patch for the third object is greater than the upper limit of the first patch for the second object. The printing apparatus according to claim 11.

14. A display device that displays a printable image containing multiple objects, An input device for inputting a specified object from the plurality of objects in the print target image displayed on the display device, A control method for a printing apparatus comprising a printing unit that prints the image to be printed onto a printing medium, The printing operation is performed by the printing unit to print a patch chart on the printing medium, which includes a first patch based on a specified color that is a color included in the specified object, and a second patch based on a predetermined color, and the specified color is selected from multiple colors included in one of the specified objects. A method for controlling a printing device.

15. A display device that displays a printable image containing multiple objects, An input device for inputting a specified object from the plurality of objects in the print target image displayed on the display device, A computer in a printing apparatus comprising a printing unit that prints the image to be printed onto a printing medium, The printing operation is performed by the printing unit to print a patch chart on the printing medium, which includes a first patch based on a specified color that is a color included in the specified object, and a second patch based on a predetermined color, and the specified color is selected from multiple colors included in one of the specified objects. program.

16. A printing system comprising an information processing device and a printing device, The aforementioned information processing device is A display device that displays a printable image containing multiple objects, An input device for inputting a specified object from the plurality of objects in the print target image displayed on the display device, The system includes a transmitting device that transmits information about the specified object input to the input device to the printing device, The aforementioned printing apparatus, A printing unit that prints the aforementioned image to be printed onto a printing medium, A receiving device that receives information about the designated object transmitted from the transmitting device, A control device is provided, The control device is The printing operation is performed by the printing unit to print a patch chart on the printing medium, which includes a first patch based on a specified color that is a color included in the specified object, and a second patch based on a predetermined color, and the specified color is selected from multiple colors included in one of the specified objects. Printing system.

Images