Per-Page Color Mode Control in Printing Data Generation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional printing systems cannot set color or monochrome printing for each page according to user designation, leading to inefficient use of resources and increased costs, as pages with color images or annotations are incorrectly determined as color pages, resulting in unnecessary color printing fees.
Innovation Solution
A printing control system that allows users to designate color or monochrome printing for each page or chapter, with a mechanism to generate printing data containing instructions for changing the color mode based on user settings, enabling precise control over printing modes for each unit of document data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If the auto-color function is used to determine color printing based on the presence of color data, then color printing is automatically set for pages containing color images or annotations, but this causes unnecessary color printing fees for pages that should be printed in monochrome
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the document into individual page units and allows independent color/monochrome setting for each page. The printing control apparatus processes each page separately, reading printing setting data for each original page and generating printing data with page-specific color mode instructions, enabling fine-grained control to avoid unnecessary color printing fees while maintaining automation where needed.
2Loss of energy
If monochrome setting is applied to the entire printing job, then color printing fees are saved, but this prevents color printing for pages that should be printed in color
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements local quality by allowing different color modes for different pages within the same printing job. Each page can be independently set to color or monochrome mode based on its specific requirements. The printing control apparatus reads printing setting data for each original page and generates printing data that specifies the color mode for each page individually, enabling precise local control rather than uniform global setting.
3Manufacturing precision
If separate designation of color and monochrome pages is performed through the DTP application, then precise color mode control is achieved, but the operation becomes cumbersome and the user cannot utilize optional printer functions
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a printing control apparatus as an intermediary between the DTP application and the printer. This intermediary automatically handles the complex task of reading printing setting data, determining color modes for each page, and generating printing data with appropriate color mode instructions. The user simply designates color or monochrome printing at the page level through the printing control interface, and the system automatically processes the rest, making operation convenient while achieving precise control and enabling optional printer functions.
4Reliability
If color printing is set for all pages containing any color data, then all color images and annotations are printed in color, but this increases printing costs and reduces efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies partial action by selectively enabling color printing only for pages that truly require it, rather than applying color printing excessively to all pages with any color data. The printing control apparatus carefully determines whether each page should be printed in color or monochrome based on its specific content and user designation, avoiding unnecessary color printing while ensuring color printing accuracy for pages that need it, thereby improving printing efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
This invention provides an information processing apparatus having a generation function of generating printing data to be transmitted to a printer, including a storage which saves printing data of each original page in an intermediate format together with printing setting data, a printing controller which causes the user to change a printing setting and issue a printing instruction, and a printing data reading unit which reads out the printing setting data from the storage in accordance with the printing instruction, changes the color mode setting of the read printing setting data in accordance with the color mode setting in the printer that is changed by the printing controller, and generates by using the generation function the printing data containing an instruction of changing the color mode on the basis of the printing setting data.