Display device for color selection, display method for color selection, and display program for color selection

Abstract

A storage unit (23) stores the color number and color information of color adjustment data corresponding to a combination of the type of selected printing machine and the type of printing medium. A display control unit (211) displays, on a display unit (25), a plurality of unit sections corresponding to respective colors in the color adjustment data in order according to the color number, and displays each unit section in a color according to the color information of each color. The display control unit (211) rearranges and displays the plurality of unit sections on the display unit 25 in response to an instruction for rearrangement in order of one of the hue, saturation, and brightness of each color.

Description

Color selection display device, color selection display method, and color selection display program

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a color selection display device, a color selection display method, and a color selection display program.

[0002] When designing a specific printed matter using a plurality of colors, the colors may be selected with reference to a color palette.

[0003] Japanese Patent No. 4914834 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-350066

[0004] The colors that appear in printed materials vary depending on the combination of the type of printing machine and the type of printing medium. Therefore, even if you design a printed material by selecting each color using a color palette as a reference, it does not necessarily mean that the desired color will appear in the printed material. If the desired color does not appear in the printed material, you will need to adjust the color using color toning and print again to check whether the desired color has been expressed.

[0005] One or more embodiments aim to provide a color selection display device, a color selection display method, and a color selection display program that allow users to easily select the desired color to be expressed in a printed matter depending on the combination of the type of printing machine and the type of printing medium.

[0006] A first aspect of one or more embodiments provides a color selection display device comprising: a storage unit that stores the color numbers and color information of the color matching data corresponding to a selected combination of a type of printing press and a type of print medium in a color matching database that sets color matching data for each combination of the type of printing press and the type of print medium, the color numbers including color numbers indicating each color of a plurality of colors of ink used in accordance with a combination of a type of printing press and a type of print medium, and color information that identifies each of the colors corresponding to each color number, and the color matching data registering each color within the color gamut of process printing and each color outside the color gamut of process printing as spot colors, and a display control unit that displays, on a display unit, a plurality of unit sections corresponding to each of the colors in the color matching data stored in the storage unit in an order according to the color numbers, and displays each unit section in a color according to the color information of each color, wherein the display control unit sorts and displays the plurality of unit sections on the display unit in response to an instruction to sort the colors in the color matching data stored in the storage unit in any order of hue, saturation, or lightness.

[0007] A second aspect of one or more embodiments provides a color selection display method comprising: storing, in a storage unit, color numbers indicating each of a plurality of ink colors used in correspondence with a combination of a type of printing press and a type of print medium, and color information specifying each of the colors corresponding to each color number, the color numbers and color information of the color matching data corresponding to a selected combination of a type of printing press and a type of print medium in a color matching database set for each combination of the type of printing press and the type of print medium, the color matching data including each color within the color gamut of process printing and each color outside the color gamut of process printing registered as spot colors; displaying, on a display unit, a plurality of unit segments corresponding to each of the colors in the color matching data stored in the storage unit in an order according to the color numbers; displaying each unit segment in a color according to the color information of each of the colors; and sorting and displaying the plurality of unit segments on the display unit in response to an instruction to sort in order of hue, saturation, or lightness of the colors in the color matching data stored in the storage unit.

[0008] A third aspect of one or more embodiments provides a color selection display program that causes a computer to execute the following steps: accessing a memory unit that stores the color numbers and color information of the color matching data corresponding to a selected combination of a type of printing press and a type of print medium in a color matching database that sets, for each combination of the type of printing press and the type of print medium, color matching data that includes color numbers indicating each color of a plurality of colors of ink used in accordance with a combination of a type of printing press and a type of print medium and color information that identifies each of the colors corresponding to each color number, and that registers each color within the color gamut of process printing and each color outside the color gamut of process printing as spot colors; displaying, on a display unit, a plurality of unit segments corresponding to each of the colors in the color matching data stored in the memory unit in an order according to the color numbers, and displaying each unit segment in a color according to the color information of each color; and sorting and displaying the plurality of unit segments on the display unit in response to an instruction to sort in order of hue, saturation, or lightness of the colors in the color matching data stored in the memory unit.

[0009] According to one or more embodiments of the color selection display device, color selection display method, and color selection display program, the desired color to be expressed in the printed matter can be easily selected according to the combination of the type of printing machine and the type of printing medium.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a first exemplary configuration of a printing system including a color selection display device according to one or more embodiments. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a second exemplary configuration of a printing system including a color selection display device according to one or more embodiments. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a color matching database used in the printing systems shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a process printing color table used in the printing systems shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a color selection window displayed on a display unit by a color selection display device according to one or more embodiments. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a state in which a first color has been selected in the color selection window shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a state in which six colors have been selected in the color selection window shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a color replacement palette used to replace colors outside the gamut of process printing in FIG. 7. FIG. 9A is a diagram illustrating a state in which two colors outside the gamut of process printing in FIG. 7 have been replaced with colors within the gamut using the color replacement palette shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 9B is a diagram illustrating a state in which two colors outside the gamut of process printing in FIG. 7 have been process-converted using the color replacement palette shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a main palette for turning on or off a filter for a unit section displayed in the color display area of ​​a color selection window. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which a filter for a unit section is turned on and multiple unit sections are set to be sorted by hue. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which a filter for a unit section is turned on, red is selected as the color type, and multiple unit sections are set to be sorted by hue, limited to colors within the color gamut for process printing. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which a filter for a unit section is turned on and multiple unit sections are set to be sorted by hue, limited to colors within the color gamut for process printing, the saturation range is set to low saturation, the lightness range is set to high lightness. FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a color selection display device according to one or more embodiments. FIG. 15A is a partial flowchart showing processing executed by a computer by a color selection display method according to one or more embodiments or a color selection display program according to one or more embodiments.15B is a partial flowchart illustrating processing executed by a computer in accordance with one or more embodiments of a display method for color selection according to the present invention, or a display program for color selection according to the present invention, following FIG. 15A . FIG. 15C is a partial flowchart illustrating processing executed by a computer in accordance with one or more embodiments of a display method for color selection according to the present invention, or a display program for color selection according to the present invention, following FIG. 15B .

[0011] Hereinafter, a color selection display device, a color selection display method, and a color selection display program according to one or more embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, a printing system including a color selection display device according to one or more embodiments will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0012] Figure 1 shows a first configuration example of a printing system. In Figure 1, a data server 1 includes a color matching database storage unit 11, a process printing color table storage unit 12, and a transmission unit 13. A color matching database is stored in the color matching database storage unit 11. A process printing color table is stored in the process printing color table storage unit 12. For example, the applicant or an affiliated company uploads the color matching database and the process printing color table to the data server 1 and stores the color matching database and the process printing color table in the color matching database storage unit 11 and the process printing color table storage unit 12, respectively.

[0013] FIG. 3 conceptually illustrates a color-matching database. The color-matching database includes multiple sets of color-matching data corresponding to combinations of printing machine types (printing method types) and print media types. As shown in FIG. 3 , the multiple sets of color-matching data include color-matching data corresponding to, for example, film / reverse-printing gravure printing, coated paper UV offset printing, liner paper flexographic printing, and wood-free paper oil-based offset printing. The multiple sets of color-matching data may also include film / surface-printing gravure printing, film / reverse-printing flexographic printing, film / surface-printing flexographic printing, coated paper gravure printing, coated paper UV flexographic printing, thin paper gravure printing, thin paper flexographic printing, thin paper oil-based offset printing, plastic UV flexographic printing, plastic screen printing, and aluminum gravure printing, which are not shown in FIG. 3 . The color-matching database is required to include at least one set of color-matching data.

[0014] Each set of color-matching data contains color information specifying each color and an ink recipe for each color, corresponding to a color number indicating each of the multiple ink colors. The color information is, for example, a spectral value. By using spectral values ​​as color information, the color of an object can be expressed regardless of metamerism, which causes the color of an object to appear differently depending on the viewing conditions. The ink recipe represents the blending ratio of multiple color components required to achieve each color, and the sum of the blending ratios of the multiple color components is 100%. The color-matching data includes colors within the process printing gamut and colors outside the process printing gamut as spot colors.

[0015] FIG. 4 conceptually illustrates a process printing color table. The process printing color table contains color gamut information indicating the color gamut that can be expressed by process printing, corresponding to, for example, film / reverse printing gravure printing, UV offset printing for coated paper, flexographic printing for liner paper, and oil-based offset printing for fine paper. The process printing color table may also include color gamut information corresponding to film / surface printing gravure printing, film / reverse printing flexographic printing, film / surface printing flexographic printing, coated paper gravure printing, UV flexographic printing for coated paper, thin paper gravure printing, thin paper flexographic printing, thin paper oil-based offset printing, and UV flexographic printing for plastic, which are not shown in FIG. 4 . The process printing color table need only include process printing color gamut information corresponding to the color matching data set in the color matching database.

[0016] The ICC profile established by the International Color Consortium (ICC) can be used as the color gamut information set in the process printing color table. The color gamut range can be determined from the color gamut information. ＊ a ＊ b ＊ Color system L ＊ Value, a ＊ value, b ＊ The Lab values ​​(hereinafter abbreviated as Lab values) can be converted into C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black) values ​​(hereinafter referred to as CMYK values). The Lab values ​​may also be converted into five to seven color values ​​by adding at least one color from orange, green, and blue to the CMYK values.

[0017] Returning to FIG. 1 , the user terminal 2 includes a central processing unit 21 (hereinafter, CPU 21), a transceiver unit 22, a storage unit 23, a non-transitory storage medium 24, a display unit 25, and an operation unit 26. The user terminal 2 can be configured as a computer such as a personal computer. The transceiver unit 22 receives the color matching data and the process printing color gamut information corresponding to the color matching data selected by the operation unit 26 from among multiple sets of color matching data and transmitted from the transmission unit 13 of the data server 1. The color matching data received by the transceiver unit 22 need only include each color number and the color information corresponding to each color number; the transceiver unit 22 does not need to receive the ink recipe corresponding to each color number. However, the transceiver unit 22 may also receive each color number, the color information corresponding to each color number, and the ink recipe corresponding to each color number.

[0018] The storage unit 23 stores the received color matching data (each color number and each color information) and color gamut information. The storage unit 23 may be a temporary storage unit. The display unit 25 is, for example, a liquid crystal panel. The display unit 25 may also be an external component attached to the user terminal 2. The operation unit 26 is, for example, a mouse, a keyboard, etc.

[0019] The sending unit 13 and the sending / receiving unit 22 may send and receive the color matching data and color gamut information by email, or the sending / receiving unit 22 may download the color matching data and color gamut information from the sending unit 13 via a network such as the Internet. For example, the color matching data and color gamut information may be stored in a portable storage medium such as a USB memory, and the user terminal 2 may read the color matching data and color gamut information from the storage medium. The method by which the user terminal 2 obtains the color matching data and color gamut information is arbitrary.

[0020] A color selection display program and a DTP (Desktop Publishing) editing program are stored in the non-transitory storage medium 24. The CPU 21 executes the color selection display program to display a color selection window for selecting a color on the display unit 25. As will be described in detail later, the user can select multiple colors to be used in the printed matter on the color selection window displayed on the display unit 25. The CPU 21 executes the DTP editing program to create design data for the printed matter using the multiple colors selected by executing the color selection display program.

[0021] In the design data for printed materials, color information corresponding to each color number is expressed in Lab values ​​for spot colors outside the process printing color gamut, and in CMYK values ​​for colors within the process printing color gamut that are not spot colors but are to be printed using process printing. When printing corporate logos or trademarks, even colors within the color gamut may be printed using spot colors to reduce printing variables. Therefore, not all colors within the color gamut are necessarily printed using process printing. The CPU 21 executes a color selection display program to convert spectral values ​​for spot colors to Lab values, and when colors within the color gamut are to be printed using process printing, the spectral values ​​are converted to Lab values ​​and then to CMYK values. As an example of a DTP editing program, Adobe Illustrator, a graphic design software sold by Adobe Inc., can be used.

[0022] The color matching site 3 is provided with a mixer control terminal 30 and an ink mixer 300. The mixer control terminal 30 includes a central processing unit 31 (hereinafter referred to as CPU 31), a receiving unit 32, a memory unit 33, a non-transitory storage medium 34, a display unit 35, and an operation unit 36. The mixer control terminal 30 can be configured by a computer such as a personal computer. The receiving unit 32 receives design data transmitted from the transmitting / receiving unit 22 of the user terminal 2. The memory unit 33 stores the received design data. The memory unit 33 may be a temporary memory unit. The display unit 35 may be an external component attached to the mixer control terminal 30. The operation unit 36 ​​is a mouse, keyboard, etc.

[0023] A file creation program and an ink formulation program are stored in the non-transitory storage medium 34. The CPU 31 executes the file creation program to create an ink formulation file that the ink formulation machine 300 uses to formulate inks. When creating the ink formulation file, the CPU 31 receives, from the transmission unit 13 of the data server 1, ink formulas that correspond to the color numbers of multiple colors in the received design data and that are stored in the color matching database storage unit 11. The storage unit 33 stores the received ink formulas. By receiving the ink formulas that correspond to the color numbers of multiple colors in the design data, the CPU 31 can create an ink formulation file that the ink formulation machine 300 uses to formulate inks.

[0024] The CPU 31 executes the ink formulation program and controls the ink formulation machine 300 to formulate ink based on the created ink formulation file. When the CPU 31 executes the file creation program or the ink formulation program, necessary information may be displayed on the display unit 35, and the operation unit 36 ​​may be operated as necessary.

[0025] In the example shown in Fig. 1, the CPU 31 executes both the file creation program and the ink formulation program, but the CPU that executes the file creation program and the CPU that executes the ink formulation program may be provided separately. That is, in the example shown in Fig. 1, the compounder control terminal 30, which is a single computer, executes both the file creation program and the ink formulation program, but the computer that executes the file creation program and the computer that executes the ink formulation program may be provided separately. In this case, the two computers are connected, for example, by a local network and operate in cooperation with each other.

[0026] The ink blender 300 blends ink for printing design data under the control of the CPU 31 that executes an ink blending program. The ink blended by the ink blender 300 is supplied to the printing machine 5.

[0027] The transmitting / receiving unit 22 transmits the design data to the platemaking site 4. The transmitting / receiving unit 22 may transmit the design data to the platemaking site 4 by email, or the platemaking site 4 may download the design data from the user terminal 2 via a network. A portable storage medium may be used to transfer the design data from the user terminal 2 to the platemaking site 4. Based on the acquired design data, the platemaking site 4 produces plates for process printing of C, M, Y, and K, and plates for, for example, two spot colors. The plates produced at the platemaking site 4 are provided to the printing press 5. The printing press 5 is assumed to be a printing press capable of printing in six colors, including four colors for process printing and a maximum of two spot colors.

[0028] The printing machine 5 uses a plate provided by the plate making site 4 and ink provided by the ink mixer 300 to print on a printing medium such as coated paper, thereby producing a printed matter.

[0029] FIG. 2 shows a second exemplary configuration of the printing system. In FIG. 2, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals, and their description will be omitted. In FIG. 2, the data server 1 includes a transceiver unit 13' instead of the transmitter unit 13, and the mixer control terminal 30 includes a transceiver unit 32' instead of the receiver unit 32. A non-transitory storage medium 34 stores a color-matching database creation program in addition to a file creation program and an ink blending program. In this second exemplary configuration, the CPU 31 at the color-matching site 3 executes the color-matching database creation program to create the color-matching database. The transceiver unit 32' transmits the color-matching database to the transceiver unit 13'. Thus, in this second exemplary configuration, the color-matching database is uploaded from the color-matching site 3 to the data server 1.

[0030] The color matching database storage unit 11 stores the color matching database received by the transmission / reception unit 13′. The process printing color table stored in the process printing color table storage unit 12 may be uploaded to the data server 1 by the applicant or its affiliates, as in the first configuration example, or may be uploaded to the data server 1 from the color matching site 3.

[0031] As in the first configuration example, the transmitting / receiving unit 22 receives the color matching data and the color gamut information for process printing from the data server 1. As indicated by the two-dot chain line, the user terminal 2 may directly obtain the color matching data (or the color matching data and the color gamut information for process printing) from the color matching site 3.

[0032] In the second configuration example as well, the user terminal 2 transmits design data of a printed matter to the color matching site 3 and the plate making site 4. The color matching site 3 mixes ink for printing the design data and provides it to the printing machine 5. The plate making site 4 produces plates for printing the design data and provides them to the printing machine 5. The printing machine 5 prints on a printing medium using the plates provided by the plate making site 4 and the ink provided by the ink blender 300 to create a printed matter.

[0033] 5 to 13, the details of the color selection window displayed on the display unit 25 and how to select multiple colors to be used in the print on the color selection window will be described. It is assumed that the user terminal 2 has acquired from the data server 1 each color number, each color information, and color gamut information of the color matching data corresponding to film / reverse gravure printing.

[0034] FIG. 5 shows an example of a color selection window 60 displayed on the display unit 25. The color selection window 60 is configured to allow a user to select a color taking into consideration how a person with color vision deficiency sees colors. Here, an overview of color vision deficiency will be explained. The retina of the human eye contains photoreceptor cells necessary for humans to distinguish the shape and color of objects. Photoreceptor cells include rods, which perceive light and dark, and cones, which perceive color. Cones include L cones, which perceive R (red), M cones, which perceive G (green), and S cones, which perceive B (blue).

[0035] If a person has all the L, M, and S cones in their photoreceptor cells, they can recognize each of the three primary colors R, G, and B, and can normally see colors represented by the three primary colors. However, if some cones are absent, they cannot normally see colors. Color vision deficiency in which R cannot be recognized due to the absence of L cones is called protanopia (P-type color vision), color vision deficiency in which G cannot be recognized due to the absence of M cones is called deuteranopia (D-type color vision), and color vision deficiency in which B cannot be recognized due to the absence of S cones is called tritanopia (T-type color vision).

[0036] As shown in FIG. 5 , the color selection window 60 has a selection section 61 for selecting between normal color vision, P-type, D-type, and T-type color vision; a selected color display area 62 for displaying the selected color; and a color display area 63 for displaying each color of the color-matching data in each unit section 631. If normal color vision is selected in the selection section 61, the CPU 21 displays the color number of each color and the colors seen by a person with normal color vision in each unit section 631 of the color display area 63. If P-type color vision is selected in the selection section 61, the CPU 21 displays the color number of each color and the colors seen by a person with P-type color vision deficiency in each unit section 631 of the color display area 63. In this example, general color vision is selected. The color-matching data contains a large number of colors, such as 1,000 colors. If the scroll bar 64 is operated, the CPU 21 sequentially advances the colors displayed in the color display area 63.

[0037] Based on the process printing color gamut information corresponding to the toning data, the CPU 21 determines whether the color to be displayed in each unit section 631 is a color within the process printing color gamut or a spot color outside the color gamut. Based on the determination result, the CPU 21 adds a first mark 632 to each unit section 631 if it is the former, or a second mark 633 if it is the latter.

[0038] The color selection window 60 has a main palette 65, a user palette 66, and a color replacement palette 67 adjacent to a scroll bar 64. Figure 5 shows a state in which the user palette 66 is selected and positioned at the top, making the user palette 66 visible. The user palette 66 lists one or more colors selected by the user in the color display area 63. The user palette 66 has a column displaying the color number, a column indicating whether or not the color is to be set as a spot color, and columns displaying each color as seen by a person with normal color vision, and by a person with P-type, D-type, or T-type color vision deficiency.

[0039] It is preferable that the CPU 21 be able to set the printing machine 5 as a printing machine capable of printing a maximum of two spot colors. In this example, the CPU 21 sets the printing machine 5 as a printing machine capable of printing a maximum of two spot colors. Therefore, the CPU 21 displays the maximum number of colors for the printing machine 5 (here, six) in the color selection window 60, for example, above the main palette 65, user palette 66, and color replacement palette 67. When the user selects a color in the color display area 63, the CPU 21 displays the current number of colors.

[0040] 6, it is assumed that the user selects the color with color number CF10001. The CPU 21 displays the selected color, color number CF10001, in the selected color display area 62. The CPU 21 writes color number CF10001 in the color number column of the user palette 66. The CPU 21 displays, in a rectangular area 661, each color seen by a person with normal color vision, and by a person with P-type, D-type, and T-type color vision deficiency, corresponding to color number CF10001 in the user palette 66.

[0041] The CPU 21 displays a check box 662 indicating whether to set a color as a spot color in the column indicating whether to set a color as a spot color in the user palette 66. As described above, each color is registered as a spot color in the toning data regardless of whether it is within or outside the color gamut of process printing, so in the initial state when the user selects a color of any color number, a check mark indicating that the color has been set as a spot color is placed in the check box 662. By providing the check box 662, it is possible to set a color to be printed as a spot color even if it is within the color gamut.

[0042] When the CPU 21 sets any one of the colors as the selected color, it displays the unit sections 631 having a color that a person with P-, D-, or T-type color vision deficiency cannot distinguish from the selected color as unselectable unit sections 631. As an example, the CPU 21 superimposes an unselectable mark 634 on the unit sections 631 having a color that a person with color vision deficiency cannot distinguish from the selected color.

[0043] The CPU 21 makes the unit section 631 with the unselectable mark 634 superimposed thereon unselectable, thereby preventing the user from selecting, as the second or subsequent color, a color that a person with color vision deficiency cannot distinguish from the selected color. Therefore, by using the color selection window 60 to select multiple colors that make up the design data of a printed material, it is possible to create a printed material that complies with universal design.

[0044] FIG. 7 shows the user palette 66 when color numbers CF10001, CF10136, CF10145, CF11365, and CF10073 are selected in this order, and then color number CF10192 is selected last. Here, assume that the four colors, color numbers CF10145, CF11365, CF10073, and CF10192, are outside the process printing gamut. The CPU 21 displays identification information 663 indicating that the colors are outside the gamut, adjacent to color numbers CF10145, CF11365, CF10073, and CF10192. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the identification information 663 is an exclamation mark. It is sufficient for the identification information 663 to identify whether each selected color is within the process printing gamut or outside the gamut. Therefore, identification information indicating that the colors are within the gamut may be displayed on colors within the gamut.

[0045] In the example shown in FIG. 7 , four out-of-gamut colors are selected. Therefore, in the example shown in FIG. 7 , the current number of colors is eight, and printing cannot be performed by the printing machine 5. Therefore, the CPU 21 may display a warning message 664 stating, for example, "The selected colors exceed the color limit. Please reduce the number of spot colors." In this case, the user may delete any two of the four out-of-gamut colors and select new in-gamut colors from the color display area 63, or may use the color replacement palette 67 shown in FIG. 8 to replace the out-of-gamut colors with in-gamut colors. The user may also use the color replacement palette 67 shown in FIG. 8 to perform process conversion, which converts the out-of-gamut colors into CMYK values ​​printable by process printing.

[0046] FIG. 8 illustrates the replacement of the color of color number CF10192, which was last selected in FIG. 7 . First, the replacement of color number CF10192 with an approximate color will be described. As shown in FIG. 8 , the CPU 21 displays a selected color display area 671 showing the color of color number CF10192 and a replacement candidate color display area 672 showing replacement candidate colors, arranged vertically, on the color replacement palette 67. The CPU 21 displays a color information display area 673 showing the Lab values, RGB values, and CMYK values ​​of the color of color number CF10192 or the replacement candidate colors, adjacent to the selected color display area 671 and the replacement candidate color display area 672. When the selected color display area 671 is selected, the CPU 21 displays color information of color number CF10192 in the color information display area 673. When the replacement candidate color display area 672 is selected, the CPU 21 displays color information of the replacement candidate colors in the color information display area 673.

[0047] The color replacement palette 67 has a tolerance setting section 674 for setting a ΔE value (allowable ΔE value) indicating the allowable color difference for the color number CF10192. For example, the allowable ΔE value is set to 20,000. The allowable ΔE value is the color difference tolerance calculated using the color difference formula CIEDE2000. The CPU 21 extracts colors from all colors in the toning data that satisfy the allowable ΔE value of 20,000 or less and displays the replacement candidate color list 675. One or more replacement candidate colors are displayed in the replacement candidate color list 675. The replacement candidate color display area 672 displays the color number CF10203, which has the smallest ΔE value in the replacement candidate color list 675. If a color other than color number CF10203 is selected in the replacement candidate color list 675, the selected replacement candidate color is displayed in the replacement candidate color display area 672.

[0048] The user compares the color displayed in the selected color display area 671 with the color displayed in the replacement candidate color display area 672, and, if necessary, displays other colors in the replacement candidate color list 675 in the replacement candidate color display area 672 to select a final replacement candidate color. For example, when the replacement candidate color display area 672 is double-clicked, the CPU 21 determines the replacement candidate color as the replacement color. In this example, the color with color number CF10203 is assumed to be the replacement color. Once the replacement color is determined, the CPU 21 replaces the color with color number CF10192 with the replacement color.

[0049] Similarly, let's assume that the user uses the color replacement palette 67 to replace the color with color number CF10073 shown in FIG. 7 with color number CF10099. Then, as shown in FIG. 9A , two of the four out-of-gamut colors among the selected colors displayed in the user palette 66 are replaced with in-gamut colors. In addition, the user unchecks the check boxes 662 for colors with color numbers other than color numbers CF10145 and CF11365, thereby setting the colors with color numbers other than color numbers CF10145 and CF11365 to be process printed. This results in six selected colors that can be printed by the printing machine 5. The CPU 21 displays the current number of colors as six, allowing the user to easily understand that the printing machine 5 is now ready to print.

[0050] If the CPU 21 is not set to indicate that the printing machine 5 is capable of printing a maximum of two spot colors, the warning message 664 shown in Fig. 7 cannot be automatically displayed. However, if the user understands that the printing machine 5 is capable of printing a maximum of two spot colors, they can determine whether printing is possible on the printing machine 5 based on whether or not there is a check mark in the check box 662 and the number of color numbers to which the identification information 663 is added. If the user determines that printing is not possible on the printing machine 5, they can select a replacement candidate color as shown in Fig. 8 and determine the replacement color.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 8 , the CPU 21 displays a process conversion instruction button 676 in the color replacement palette 67 to instruct process conversion of an out-of-gamut color. Here, a case where the color with color number CF10145 is selected as the selected color will be described, with the process conversion of the color with color number CF10145 being performed by pressing the process conversion instruction button 676. The selected color, color number CF10145, is displayed in the selected color display area 671. When the user presses the process conversion instruction button 676, the CPU 21 separates the color with color number CF10145 into C, M, Y, and K values, thereby process-converting the color with color number CF10145 into CMYK values. The CPU 21 displays the process-converted color of color number CF10145 in the replacement candidate color display area 672. The color of color number CF10145, which is the spot color before process conversion, is slightly different from the color of color number CF10145 after process conversion.

[0052] The user compares the color displayed in selected color display area 671 with the colors displayed in replacement candidate color display area 672, and if the user decides to use the process-converted color of color number CF10145 as the replacement color, double-clicks replacement candidate color display area 672. Once the CPU 21 has decided on the replacement color, it replaces it with the process-converted replacement color of color number CF10145, which is a spot color.

[0053] Similarly, let us assume that the user selects the color with color number CF11365 shown in FIG. 7 and presses the process conversion instruction button 676 to process convert the color with color number CF11365. Then, as shown in FIG. 9B , of the four out-of-gamut colors in the selected colors displayed in the user palette 66, two colors with color numbers CF10145 and CF11365 are set to process printing by unchecking the checkboxes 662. In addition, the user unchecks the checkboxes 662 for the two colors with color numbers CF10001 and CF10136, setting these two colors to process printing. This results in six selected colors that can be printed by the printing machine 5.

[0054] 9B, unlike FIG. 9A in which selected colors are replaced with similar colors with different color numbers, the color numbers of all selected colors shown in FIG. 7 are maintained as they are.

[0055] In each of the color-matching data sets stored in the color-matching database storage unit 11, such as that shown in FIG. 3, the colors are not arranged in a specific order and assigned color numbers. Moreover, since each of the color-matching data sets contains a large number of colors, such as 1,000 colors, it is not easy for a user to select multiple desired colors from the color display area 63 while considering universal design. In particular, if colors of different hues are randomly arranged in the color display area 63, the task of selecting a desired color becomes cumbersome. Therefore, the color selection window 60 is configured to allow the user to sort the colors (unit sections 631) in the color display area 63 using the main palette 65 and to limit the colors displayed in the color display area 63.

[0056] 10 , the main palette 65 includes a filter setting section 651 for turning a filter on or off, a sort setting section 652 for sorting colors in the color display area 63, and a color selection section 653 for selecting a color type. The main palette 65 also includes a saturation range setting section 654 for setting a saturation range, a brightness range setting section 655 for setting a brightness range, and a color gamut setting section 656 for setting a color gamut. The sort setting section 652 includes an option for sorting colors in order of hue, an option for sorting colors in order of saturation, and an option for sorting colors in order of brightness. The color selection section 653 includes options for color types: red, yellow-red, yellow, yellow-green, green, blue-green, blue, blue-purple, purple, and red-purple.

[0057] 10 , the saturation range setting section 654 and the brightness range setting section 655 include sliders each consisting of an inward-facing triangle that can slide left and right. When the left and right sliders in the saturation range setting section 654 are positioned at the left and right ends, they indicate the entire saturation range from the lowest saturation to the highest saturation. When the left and right sliders in the brightness range setting section 655 are positioned at the left and right ends, they indicate the entire brightness range from the lowest brightness to the highest brightness. By moving the sliders in the saturation range setting section 654 and the brightness range setting section 655, it is possible to set a saturation range that is a part of the entire saturation range and a brightness range that is a part of the entire brightness range, respectively.

[0058] If the user selects to turn off the filter in the filter setting section 651, the CPU 21 displays all the colors in the toning data in the order of the color numbers in the color display area 63. As shown in FIG. 11, it is assumed that the user selects to turn on the filter in the filter setting section 651, selects the hue in the sort setting section 652, and selects all the color types in the color selection section 653. In this case, the CPU 21 rearranges all the unit sections 631 in the color display area 63 in the order of the hue. The order of the hue means the order of the L ＊ C ＊ 11 to 13, the display of the unselectable mark 634 that may be displayed in the unit section 631 in the color display area 63 is omitted.

[0059] In the initial state after switching the filter from off to on in the filter setting section 651, none of the hue, saturation, or brightness is selected in the sort setting section 652, and all color types are selected in the color selection section 653. Also, in the initial state, the saturation range setting section 654 is set to the saturation range from the lowest saturation to the highest saturation, and the brightness range setting section 655 is set to the saturation range from the lowest brightness to the highest brightness. Furthermore, the color gamut setting section 656 is set to the state in which inside the color gamut and outside the color gamut are selected.

[0060] 12, it is assumed that the user selects filter on in the filter setting section 651, selects hue in the sort setting section 652, selects only red as the color type in the color selection section 653, and limits the color gamut to within the color gamut using the color gamut setting section 656. In this case, the CPU 21 extracts only the unit sections 631 whose color type is red and whose color is within the color gamut from all the unit sections 631 in the color display area 63, and sorts them in order of hue.

[0061] The color display area 63 shown in FIG. 11 or 12 allows the user to easily select a desired color and enables a harmonious color scheme. Although not shown, selecting saturation or lightness in the sort setting unit 652, extracting only the unit sections 631 whose color type is red, and sorting them in order of saturation or lightness also allows the user to easily select a desired color and enables a harmonious color scheme in which multiple colors are selected. The order of saturation may be from low to high saturation, or from high to low saturation. The display may be configured so that ascending or descending order of saturation can be selected. The order of lightness may be from low lightness to high lightness, or from high lightness to low lightness. The display may be configured so that ascending or descending order of lightness can be selected.

[0062] 13, assume that the user sets the saturation range to low saturation using the saturation range setting section 654 and the lightness range to high lightness using the lightness range setting section 655. In Fig. 13, the hue is selected using the sort setting section 652, all color types are selected using the color selection section 653, and the color gamut is limited to within the color gamut using the color gamut setting section 656. In this case, the CPU 21 extracts only those unit sections 631 within the color display area 63 that have colors within the saturation range set in the saturation range setting section 654, colors within the lightness range set in the lightness range setting section 655, and colors within the color gamut, and sorts these unit sections in order of hue.

[0063] 13, the color display area 63 has limited saturation and lightness ranges, enabling a uniform and easy-to-see color scheme. Although not particularly shown, the saturation range setting unit 654 may set the saturation range to high saturation, and the lightness range setting unit 655 may set the lightness range to low lightness. The saturation range setting unit 654 may set the saturation range to high saturation, and the lightness range setting unit 655 may set the lightness range to high lightness. The saturation range setting unit 654 may set the saturation range to low saturation, and the lightness range setting unit 655 may set the lightness range to low lightness.

[0064] As described above, when the filter is set to on using the filter setting section 651, the unit sections 631 in the color display area 63 can be restricted or rearranged using any combination of the sort setting section 652, color selection section 653, saturation range setting section 654, brightness range setting section 655, and color gamut setting section 656.

[0065] When the CPU 21 in the user terminal 2 executes the color selection display program, the user terminal 2 functions as a color selection display device 20 as shown in FIG. 14. The display control unit 211 is a functional configuration obtained by the CPU 21 executing the color selection display program. As described above, the storage unit 23 stores the color numbers and color information of the color matching data corresponding to the combination of the selected printing press type and the type of print medium from the color matching database. The storage unit 23 also stores color gamut information corresponding to the selected combination of the selected printing press type and the type of print medium from the process printing color table.

[0066] The display control unit 211 displays on the display unit 25 a plurality of unit sections 631 corresponding to each color in the color-matching data stored in the storage unit 23 in order according to the color numbers, and displays each unit section 631 in a color according to the color information of each color. When an instruction is given by the operation unit 26 to rearrange the colors in the color-matching data stored in the storage unit 23 in order of hue, saturation, or brightness, the display control unit 211 rearranges and displays the plurality of unit sections 631 on the display unit 25 in response to the instruction. With this configuration, the color selection display device 20 makes it possible to easily select a desired color to be expressed in a printed matter according to the combination of the type of printing press and the type of printing medium.

[0067] 12, the user can use the operation unit 26 to instruct the user to select a color type from among the multiple colors in the color-matching data. In response to the instruction to select a color type, the display control unit 211 displays some of the multiple unit sections 631 that correspond to the selected color type on the display unit 25. This makes it easier for the user to select a desired color, enabling a harmonious color scheme.

[0068] 13 , the user can use the operation unit 26 to issue an instruction to narrow down the colors to at least one of a saturation range within the entire saturation range and a brightness range within the entire brightness range. In response to the instruction to narrow down the saturation range or the brightness range, the display control unit 211 displays some of the unit sections 631 corresponding to the narrowed-down colors among the multiple unit sections 631 on the display unit 25. In this way, a uniform and easy-to-see color scheme can be achieved.

[0069] When one of the multiple unit sections 631 or some of the unit sections 631 is selected and a predetermined color is set as the selected color, the display control unit 211 may display the unit sections 631 having a color that a person with color vision deficiency cannot distinguish from the selected color as unselectable unit sections 631. As an example, by superimposing an unselectable mark 634 on the unselectable unit sections 631, the user can select the second or subsequent colors from the unit sections 631 having a color that a person with color vision deficiency can distinguish from the selected color. This makes it possible to create design data for printed materials that comply with universal design.

[0070] The display control unit 211 preferably displays identification information 663 that identifies whether each selected color is within the color gamut for process printing or outside the color gamut, corresponding to a color number that indicates one or more selected colors that have been set. As an example, the display control unit 211 displays identification information 663 corresponding to a color number that indicates a color that is outside the color gamut for process printing. Whether a selected color is within the color gamut or outside the color gamut can be determined based on the color gamut information in the process printing color table. In this way, it can be easily determined whether a selected color can be printed by process printing or must be printed as a spot color.

[0071] The display control unit 211 may be configured to replace the selected color with a replacement color as follows. As shown in FIG. 8 , when one or more selected colors outside the color gamut of process printing are set, the display control unit 211 displays on the display unit 25 one or more replacement candidate colors that are similar to the designated selected colors among the one or more selected colors outside the color gamut. When one of the one or more replacement candidate colors is determined as the replacement color, the display control unit 211 replaces the designated selected color with the replacement color. The display control unit 211 may display on the display unit 25 a list of replacement candidate colors that are within a color difference tolerance value set for the designated selected color.

[0072] The flowcharts shown in FIGS. 15A to 15C will be used to describe the processing executed by a computer according to a color selection display method according to one or more embodiments or a color selection display program according to one or more embodiments.

[0073] 15A , when the user terminal 2 starts operation, the CPU 21 stores the color number and color information of the selected toning data and the color gamut information for process printing in the storage unit 23 in step S1. The CPU 21 determines whether an instruction to display the color selection window 60 has been given in step S2. If an instruction to display the color selection window 60 has not been given (NO), the CPU 21 repeats the processing of step S2. If an instruction to display the color selection window 60 has been given (YES), the CPU 21 accesses the storage unit 23 in step S3 to acquire information (the color number and color information of the toning data, and the color gamut information for process printing). The CPU 21 displays the color selection window 60 on the display unit 25 in step S4.

[0074] In step S5, the CPU 21 determines whether the filter for the unit section 631 has been turned on. If the filter for the unit section 631 has not been turned on (NO), the CPU 21 shifts the process to step S22 in Fig. 15C. If the filter for the unit section 631 has been turned on (YES), the CPU 21 determines in step S6 whether an instruction to rearrange the unit sections 631 in order of hue has been given. If an instruction to rearrange the unit sections 631 in order of hue has not been given (NO), the CPU 21 shifts the process to step S8. If an instruction to rearrange the unit sections 631 in order of hue has been given (YES), the CPU 21 rearranges the unit sections 631 in order of hue in step S7, and shifts the process to step S8.

[0075] In step S8, the CPU 21 determines whether an instruction to rearrange the unit sections 631 in order of saturation has been given. If an instruction to rearrange the unit sections 631 in order of saturation has not been given (NO), the CPU 21 proceeds to step S10. If an instruction to rearrange the unit sections 631 in order of saturation has been given (YES), the CPU 21 rearranges the unit sections 631 in order of saturation in step S9, and proceeds to step S10.

[0076] In step S10, the CPU 21 determines whether an instruction to rearrange the unit sections 631 in order of brightness has been given. If an instruction to rearrange the unit sections 631 in order of brightness has not been given (NO), the CPU 21 proceeds to step S12 in Fig. 15B. If an instruction to rearrange the unit sections 631 in order of brightness has been given (YES), the CPU 21 rearranges the unit sections 631 in order of brightness in step S11, and proceeds to step S12.

[0077] 15B, the CPU 21 determines in step S12 whether or not an instruction to select a color type has been given. If an instruction to select a color type has not been given (NO), the CPU 21 proceeds to step S14. If an instruction to select a color type has been given (YES), the CPU 21 proceeds to step S13, where the CPU 21 displays only the unit sections 631 corresponding to the selected color type in the color display area 63, and proceeds to step S14.

[0078] In step S14, the CPU 21 determines whether an instruction to limit the saturation range has been given. If an instruction to limit the saturation range has not been given (NO), the CPU 21 proceeds to step S16. If an instruction to limit the saturation range has been given (YES), the CPU 21 proceeds to step S15, causing the color display area 63 to display only the unit sections 631 corresponding to the colors in the limited saturation range, and proceeds to step S16.

[0079] In step S16, the CPU 21 determines whether an instruction to limit the brightness range has been given. If an instruction to limit the brightness range has not been given (NO), the CPU 21 proceeds to step S18. If an instruction to limit the brightness range has been given (YES), the CPU 21 proceeds to step S17, causing the color display area 63 to display only the unit sections 631 corresponding to the colors in the limited brightness range, and proceeds to step S18.

[0080] In step S18, the CPU 21 determines whether the selection within the process printing color gamut has been released. If the selection within the process printing color gamut has not been released (NO), the CPU 21 proceeds to step S20. If the selection within the process printing color gamut has been released (YES), in step S19, the CPU 21 displays only the unit sections 631 corresponding to colors outside the process printing color gamut in the color display area 63, and proceeds to step S20.

[0081] In step S20, the CPU 21 determines whether the selection of the color gamut outside the process printing has been canceled. If the selection of the color gamut outside the process printing has not been canceled (NO), the CPU 21 proceeds to step S22 in Fig. 15C. If the selection of the color gamut outside the process printing has been canceled (YES), in step S21, the CPU 21 displays only the unit sections 631 corresponding to colors within the color gamut of the process printing in the color display area 63, and proceeds to step S22.

[0082] 15C , the CPU 21 determines in step S22 whether any of the unit sections 631 has been selected. If any of the unit sections 631 has not been selected (NO), the CPU 21 proceeds to step S31. If any of the unit sections 631 has been selected (YES), the CPU 21 adds the selected color to the user palette 66 in step S23. In FIG. 15C , the processes related to displaying the check box 662 and clearing the check mark are omitted. Next, in step S24, the CPU 21 determines whether the selected color is outside the color gamut for process printing. If the selected color is not outside the color gamut for process printing (NO), the CPU 21 proceeds to step S26. If the selected color is outside the color gamut for process printing (YES), the CPU 21 displays identification information 663, for example, near the color number, in step S25.

[0083] In step S26, the CPU 21 determines whether any selected color outside the color gamut has been designated. If any selected color outside the color gamut has been designated (YES), the CPU 21 determines in step S27 whether a decision has been made to replace the selected color with a replacement color. If a decision has not been made to replace the selected color with a replacement color (NO), the CPU 21 proceeds to step S29. If a decision has been made to replace the selected color with a replacement color (YES), the CPU 21 replaces the selected color with the replacement color in step S28, and returns the process to step S26.

[0084] If no selected color outside the color gamut is specified in step S26 (NO), the CPU 21 determines in step S29 whether or not to end the selection of the unit section 631. If the selection of the unit section 631 is not to be ended (NO), the CPU 21 returns the process to step S22. If the selection of the unit section 631 is ended (YES), the CPU 21 sets the selected color as the color to be used in the DTP editing program in step S30 and ends the process. The selected color set as the color to be used in the DTP editing program is stored in the memory unit 23. As a result, when the CPU 21 executes the DTP editing program, it is possible to create design data for a printed matter using multiple selected colors executed by the color selection display program.

[0085] In step S31, the CPU 21 determines whether or not to close the color selection window 60. If the color selection window 60 is not to be closed (NO), the CPU 21 returns the process to step S5 in Fig. 15A. If the color selection window 60 is to be closed (YES), the CPU 21 ends the process.

[0086] The order of the set of steps S6 and S7, the set of steps S8 and S9, the set of steps S10 and S11, the set of steps S12 and S13, the set of steps S14 and S15, the set of steps S16 and S17, the set of steps S18 and S19, and the set of steps S20 and S21 is arbitrary.

[0087] The present invention is not limited to one or more of the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0088] This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-141579, filed with the Japan Patent Office on August 31, 2023, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

1. A color selection display device comprising: a memory unit that stores the color numbers and color information of the color matching data corresponding to a selected combination of a type of printing press and a type of printing medium in a color matching database in which color matching data is set for each combination of a type of printing press and a type of printing medium, the color numbers and color information including color numbers indicating each of a plurality of colors of ink used corresponding to a combination of a type of printing press and a type of printing medium, and color information specifying each of the colors corresponding to each color number, and in which each color within the color gamut of process printing and each color outside the color gamut of process printing are registered as spot colors; and a display control unit that displays on a display unit a plurality of unit sections corresponding to each of the colors in the color matching data stored in the memory unit in an order according to the color numbers, and displays each unit section in a color according to the color information of each color, wherein the display control unit sorts and displays the plurality of unit sections on the display unit in response to an instruction to sort the colors in the color matching data stored in the memory unit in any order of hue, saturation, or brightness.

2. The color selection display device of claim 1, wherein the display control unit, in response to an instruction to narrow down the colors among the plurality of colors in the color adjustment data stored in the memory unit to at least one of a portion of the saturation range of the entire saturation range from the lowest saturation to the highest saturation and a portion of the lightness range of the entire lightness range from the lowest lightness to the highest lightness, displays on the display unit a portion of the unit sections corresponding to the narrowed-down colors among the plurality of unit sections.

3. The color selection display device of claim 1, wherein the display control unit, in response to an instruction to select a color type from among the plurality of colors in the color-matching data stored in the memory unit, displays on the display unit a portion of the unit sections corresponding to the selected color type from among the plurality of unit sections.

4. The memory unit further stores color gamut information corresponding to the combination of the selected type of printing press and the type of printing medium in a process printing color table that sets color gamut information indicating the color gamut of the process printing for each combination corresponding to the combination of the type of printing press and the type of printing medium, and the display control unit displays on the display unit identification information that identifies whether each selected color is a color within the color gamut of the process printing or a color outside the gamut based on the color gamut information of the process printing color table stored in the memory unit, corresponding to the color number indicating the set one or more selected colors. A color selection display device as described in any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The color selection display device according to claim 4, wherein the display control unit, when one or more selected colors outside the color gamut of the process printing are set, displays on the display unit one or more replacement candidate colors having colors approximating a specified selected color from among the one or more selected colors outside the color gamut of the process printing, and when any of the one or more replacement candidate colors is determined as a replacement color, replaces the specified selected color with the replacement color.

6. A color selection display method comprising: storing in a memory unit in a color matching database in which color matching data is set for each combination of a type of printing press and a type of printing medium, the color numbers and color information of the color matching data corresponding to a selected combination of a type of printing press and a type of printing medium, the color numbers and color information of the color matching data including color numbers indicating each color of a plurality of colors of ink used corresponding to a combination of a type of printing press and a type of printing medium, and each color within the color gamut of process printing and each color outside the color gamut of process printing being registered as spot colors; displaying on a display unit a plurality of unit sections corresponding to each color in the color matching data stored in the memory unit in an order according to the color numbers, and displaying each unit section in a color according to the color information of each color; and sorting and displaying on the display unit the plurality of unit sections in response to an instruction to sort in the order of any of the hue, saturation, and brightness of the colors in the color matching data stored in the memory unit.

7. A color selection display method as described in claim 6, in which, in response to an instruction to narrow down the colors among the plurality of colors in the color-adjusting data stored in the memory unit to at least one of a portion of the saturation range of the entire saturation range from the lowest saturation to the highest saturation and a portion of the lightness range of the entire lightness range from the lowest lightness to the highest lightness, a portion of the unit sections corresponding to the narrowed-down colors among the plurality of unit sections are displayed on the display unit.

8. A color selection display method as described in claim 6, in which, in response to an instruction to select a color type from among the plurality of colors in the color matching data stored in the memory unit, a portion of the unit sections corresponding to the selected color type from among the plurality of unit sections is displayed on the display unit.

9. A color selection display method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, further storing in the memory unit color gamut information corresponding to the selected combination of the type of printing press and the type of printing medium among the process printing color tables in which color gamut information indicating the color gamut of the process printing for each combination is set corresponding to the combination of the type of printing press and the type of printing medium, and displaying on the display unit identification information identifying whether each selected color is a color within the color gamut of the process printing or a color outside the color gamut, based on the color gamut information of the process printing color table stored in the memory unit, corresponding to the color number indicating the set one or more selected colors.

10. A color selection display method as described in claim 9, wherein, when one or more selected colors outside the color gamut of the process printing are set, one or more replacement candidate colors having colors approximating a designated selected color from among the one or more selected colors outside the color gamut of the process printing are displayed on the display unit, and when any of the one or more replacement candidate colors is determined as a replacement color, the designated selected color is replaced with the replacement color.

11. A color selection display program that causes a computer to execute the following steps: accessing a memory unit that stores the color numbers and color information of color matching data corresponding to a selected combination of a type of printing press and a type of printing medium in a color matching database that sets color matching data for each combination of a type of printing press and a type of printing medium, the color numbers including color numbers indicating each color of a plurality of ink colors used in accordance with a combination of a type of printing press and a type of printing medium, and color information specifying each of the colors in accordance with each color number, and in which each color within the color gamut of process printing and each color outside the color gamut of process printing are registered as spot colors; displaying a plurality of unit sections corresponding to each of the colors in the color matching data stored in the memory unit on a display unit in an order according to the color numbers, and displaying each unit section in a color according to the color information of each of the colors; and sorting and displaying the plurality of unit sections on the display unit in response to an instruction to sort the colors in the color matching data stored in the memory unit in any order of hue, saturation, or brightness.

12. The color selection display program of claim 11, further causing the computer to execute a step of displaying on the display unit a portion of the unit sections corresponding to the narrowed-down colors among the plurality of unit sections in the color-adjusting data stored in the memory unit in response to an instruction to narrow down the colors to at least one of a portion of the saturation range of the entire saturation range from the lowest saturation to the highest saturation and a portion of the lightness range of the entire lightness range from the lowest lightness to the highest lightness.

13. A color selection display program as described in claim 11, further causing the computer to execute a step of displaying on the display unit some of the unit sections corresponding to the selected type of color from among the plurality of unit sections in response to an instruction to select a color type from among the plurality of colors in the color matching data stored in the memory unit.

14. The memory unit further stores color gamut information corresponding to the combination of the selected type of printing press and the type of printing medium in a process printing color table in which color gamut information indicating the color gamut of the process printing for each combination is set corresponding to the combination of the type of printing press and the type of printing medium, and the color selection display program described in any one of claims 11 to 13 further causes the computer to execute a step of displaying on the display unit identification information identifying whether each selected color is a color within the color gamut of the process printing or a color outside the gamut based on the color gamut information of the process printing color table stored in the memory unit, corresponding to the color number indicating the set one or more selected colors.

15. The color selection display program according to claim 14, further causing the computer to execute the steps of: when one or more selected colors outside the color gamut of the process printing are set, displaying on the display unit one or more replacement candidate colors having colors approximating a specified selected color from among the one or more selected colors outside the color gamut of the process printing; and when any of the one or more replacement candidate colors is determined as a replacement color, replacing the specified selected color with the replacement color.

Images